Autumn Deception / Contemporary Romance by N. Jade Gray ~ Author Interview #Blog

Please help me welcome today’s guest, N. Jade Gray with her new book Autumn Deception, released November 13, 2023, The Wild Rose Press

Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?

I am an Oklahoma/Kansas transplant living in Missouri. My husband and I moved to Missouri in 2021.

I was born in Kansas, but the farm where I grew up was barely over the border in Oklahoma. Most of my life I’ve lived in either Oklahoma or Kansas, with a one-year stint in South Carolina, until we recently moved to Missouri. We had all kinds of animals on the farm. Old McDonald didn’t have anything on us… Rabbits (barns of rabbits), Pigs, Chickens, Cows, a dog, cats and one horse.

Currently, my husband and I have three rescue cats, Mango, Meera, and Pancake and one stray who has “claimed” us as his owners and he lives outside. I am the cat lady, and my husband has one dog, Fabio, that he’s responsible for entertaining. Unfortunately, my husband is married to a romance writer, and I thought it was hilarious to name the dog Fabio. I believe our new neighbors in Missouri are getting a kick out of it as well.

Our two boys are grown with our oldest being married with two daughters of his own. 

That’s kind of us in a nutshell.

Where did you get the idea for ‘Autumn Deception’?

Autumn Deception is my Oklahoma story. I have had a few people ask me when I was going to have one of my stories set in Oklahoma. There are a lot of references to family stories ingrained in Autumn Deception since I dedicated the story to my mom and dad. We lost my dad earlier this year and he knew about my current story, but passed before it was finished. Mom had read my previously published books out loud dad since he was legally blind. So, Autumn Deception is a story going back to my Oklahoma roots.

Why did you choose this genre (is it something you’ve written in before)?

I have written a couple of Christmas stories that are Contemporary, and I have two historical time travel romances. I was trying for a romantic comedy vibe with Autumn Deception and from a few comments I have seen from readers, I hit the mark.

What is the most difficult thing about writing a book? What was the most difficult thing about this one in particular?

Sometimes it’s just sitting my bottom down and writing. The hardest thing about this story was I knew my dad wasn’t going to get to listen to mom read it to him.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read Autumn Deception?  

I’m hoping readers will get a laugh and an escape from concerns going on in the world…if only for a little while.

Your most prized material possession? Why?

Material possessions are fleeting. My husband and my home was robbed last year and a lot of possessions taken we will never see again. Memories are my most prized possession and I hope that my mind retains them for many years to come.  

Have you written any other books that are not published?

There are notes stashed here and there with characters sitting on the sidelines just waiting. These ideas are written down in hopes that one day they will make it into book form.

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

It’s a mixture. I love to tell people, to freak them out, that names have been changed to protect the innocent, but truthfully, it’s more like characteristics of people I know that I weave into a story.

I’ve also been told there is a lot of me in the story from readers who truly know me. Whether I have done so intentionally or not.

How did you come up with the title? 

The original title was Midsummer Night’s Dream or something along those lines. When the time of year changed to Fall, I began playing with Autumn in the Title. Because, let’s face it, Autumn just sounds so much better than Fall. And the Deception part popped into my head one day when I was struggling to put into words what the story was going to convey. Fall Deceit just didn’t pop with me. 😊

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Enjoy the read and I hope the humor lightens your day.

How did your interest in writing originate?

It started in high school and continued in college as a way to entertain my friends.

Money can’t buy you love…

Stressed and burned out, Sierra Scott is coerced by her grandmother into taking a vacation to Harts Valley, Oklahoma for the annual apple festival. Owning and running a multi-million dollar company is a piece of cake compared to deflecting the matchmaking efforts of a determined senior citizen and her sidekick. Before long, Sierra needs a vacation from her vacation.

Widowed Sheriff Cade Collins isn’t prepared for the naked female hiding by Dooley’s pond when he responds to a disturbance call. His days are filled with juggling his job and raising a teenage daughter. No matter how strong the pull of attraction, he simply can’t afford to fall for a woman who is out of his league.

Excerpt:

He met her at the front of the car. “Do you need me to carry you?”

As tempting as his offer was, she cursed the fact he didn’t need to bother. Tucking an errant curl behind her ear, she shook her head. “No. Clara has stepping-stones from the drive to the front steps. I should be fine.” A board creaked under her weight as she treaded onto the porch. She peered into a window nearby. Through a crack in the curtain, she spied Gram.

The serene picture made her want to laugh hysterically. She sat in a rocker with her fingers flying with her crochet hook in her hands making her famous miniature red hearts. Beside her on the end table were a stack of finished ones. The tranquil scene caused her to shake her head. The big faker. She wouldn’t be surprised if she was humming one of her favorite hymns while she worked.

“Is something wrong?”

The deep voice from behind jolted her back to the fact she wasn’t alone. She stuttered a moment. “Just look…” Her hands fluttered. “Sitting there all innocent.” She could feel an angry blush creeping over her body under the scratchy blanket. “Do you have your handcuffs on you?” In the dim light cast through the curtains a quizzical expression appeared on his face.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Well, keep them handy.” She unclenched her fists by her sides. “I may strangle her!”

Buy links:

Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/Autumn-Deception-N-Jade-Gray-ebook/dp/B0CHGRFJJ2

Amazon CA https://www.amazon.ca/Autumn-Deception-N-Jade-Gray-ebook/dp/B0CHGRFJJ2

Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/Autumn-Deception-N-Jade-Gray-ebook/dp/B0CHGRFJJ2

Nook https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/autumn-deception-n-jade-gray/1144035617?ean=2940185923306

Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/autumn-deception

Google Books https://www.google.com/books/edition/Autumn_Deception/-7gm0AEACAAJ?hl=en

Wal-mart https://www.walmart.com/ip/Autumn-Deception-Paperback-9781509252435/5035736088?from=/search

Books a Million https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Autumn-Deception/N-Jade-Gray/9781509252435?id=8993751048402#

Indie Bound https://bookshop.org/p/books/autumn-deception-n-jade-gray/20608902?ean=9781509252435

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199096329-autumn-deception

BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/books/autumn-deception-by-n-jade-gray-2023-11-08

About the author:

N. Jade Gray grew up on a farm in Oklahoma with one sister and three brothers. She began reading romance novels in high school and was hooked. In an attempt to entertain her friends, she began writing stories. The biggest hurdle she had to overcome with her writing was sharing her stories. Her former writing groups, the Wichita and Regional Authors and Low Country Romance Writer’s, helped with her confidence and shook the needed pom poms to get her motivated for publication. She is also a former member of the Romance Writers of America. She met her husband while attending college and has two grown sons and two granddaughters. Not really knowing what she wanted to do when she grew up, she’s held various jobs in the accounting and legal fields. She lives in Missouri with her husband, rescue cats and one spoiled dog-named Fabio. Yes, she helped name the dog. She loves to hear her husband calling for his four-legged companion.

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