Interview

Hi Joyce, Jim, and welcome. I am so glad you could join us here at RomanceJunkies. To start, will you please tell us a little bit about your current projects?

 

Thanks for having us!

 

[Joyce Lavene] We are working on DEADLY DAGGERS, book 3 in the REN FAIRE MYSTERIES AND DEATH WATCH, the debut book in the MISSING PIECES MYSTERIES. This new series is about a woman who is a finder of lost things. She can find lost items by touching people and is the mayor of Duck, NC.

 

How did you come about writing together? What sparked your creative imaginations and sent you on this adventure?

 

[Joyce Lavene] I've been writing all of my life, I think. Jim was a late bloomer but it was something he always wanted to do. We worked together selling office supplies for 15 years in Charlotte, NC but we were looking for something more exciting. Both of us love books and reading. Writing was a natural progression.

 

What difficulties do you encounter co-writing books? What do you find beneficial about writing together?

 

[Joyce Lavene] There are always disagreements over character, plot, etc. But we have one rule and that is: we both have to agree or it doesn't go in the book.

 

[Jim] Probably the best part about writing together is that we always have each other at book signings, etc. It can be really lonely sitting there at a table in a mall with people walking by.

 

Have you ever been in the position of having an editor ask you to cut out or significantly change something in a story that you strongly felt you should not compromise on? If so, how did you handle the situation?

 

[Joyce Lavene] Yes. We decided once to pull the story because the changes would have ruined the story.

 

[Jim] That only happened once. Any other time, we've found a way to work it out.

 

What does your writing space look like?  If you could, what would you change about it?

 

[Joyce Lavene] We'd have more room!

[Jim] We have a huge desk all ready for us and our big cat who thinks he has to help us write. We have two flat panel monitors back to back that we tell the story across as we write it down. We have a window that overlooks a large patch of woods. The room is filled with books, maps, pictures and charts.

 

What if you received a call tomorrow and on the other end was a movie producer asking you for advice on which actor and actress should play your parts in the story of your life? Who do you think would be the perfect candidates?

 

[Joyce Lavene] Ha! That's easy. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio could play me because she has curly hair!

[Jim] Ed Harris from The Abyss (he was Mary Elizabeth's husband in that movie!)

 

If you had one day completely free of obligations, how would you most like to spend it?

 

[Joyce Lavene] When we have days like this we drive out to the Uwharrie Mountains and the town of Badin, NC and its fabulous lake. We like to hike around the mountain and drive the back roads getting there. Our SHERIFF SHARYN HOWARD mysteries were set here.

 

When it comes to feeding the family, do each of you have your own special signature dish that your family raves over?

 

[Joyce Lavene] Mine is vegetable lasagna.

 

[Jim] I am best known for my Volcano Pop Tarts.

 

How did guys meet? Was it “love-at-first-sight”?

 

[Joyce Lavene] Yes. We met in DC at a peace rally, protesting the Vietnam war. I knew right away because I had written stories describing him.

 

[Jim] Yes. I had dreams about her.

 

What is your idea of the perfect romantic vacation?

 

[Joyce Lavene] A long, slow drive. A boat ride to dinner.

[Jim] Then a long night and some good wine. Maybe a hot tub.

 

Joyce: How do you describe Joyce Lavene? How does Joyce Lavene’s husband describe her?

 

[Joyce Lavene] Curly hair. Inquisitive. Gemini. Likes to be busy.

 

[Jim] Beautiful voice. Lovely blue eyes. My favorite person.

 

Jim: Same question: How do you describe Jim Lavene? How does Jim Lavene’s wife describe him?

 

[Jim] Likes computers. Too many freckles. Cat lover. Virgo.

 

[Joyce Lavene] Analytical. Detailed. Fun to be with. Temperamental. My favorite person.

 

MORE FUN…

 

Aside from each other, who has been most influential in your writing career?

 

[Joyce Lavene] Our agent, Jacky Sach. Joyce's grandfather. Jim's sister, Tere.

 

What is your family's favorite holiday, and how do you like to celebrate it?

 

[Joyce Lavene] Halloween! We have HUGE masquerade parties that last all night. We decorate like crazy and go trick or treating. Our next book, GHASTLY GLASS, coming out in September this year, is set during Halloween. It was a blast! This is the second book in our RENAISSANCE FAIRE series.

 

Name the one place you’d most like to visit.

 

[Joyce Lavene] Wales.

 

[Jim] Hawaii.

 

And lastly, no interview of a writer would be complete without this question: what is your favorite comfort food?

 

[Joyce Lavene] Macaroni and cheese.

 

[Jim] Lasagna.

 

Ah… two of my favorites!  Thank you both for taking time out of writing schedule to spend with us.  Continued success!

By Brooke Wills

Romance Junkies Publishing Editor

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