Today I am pleased to welcome J.P. Hansen, author of Pink Slips and Glass Slippers. J.P. has stopped by to tell us a little more about himself and where he got his inspiration for Pink Slips and Glass Slippers.
About Pink Slips and Glass Slippers:
Brooke Hart was beautiful, smart, and groomed from birth to deal with adversity.
Her widowed father did his best to raise his baby girl to be a strong-minded business woman. Then she found Tanner. Just when her world seemed perfect, everything turned upside down.
Following Tanner’s tragic death, Brooke joins a start-up company that is developing a cure for the disease that killed the love of her life. Just before the treatment is ready to market, the company is gobbled up by a giant conglomerate. She moves to the acquiring company as its youngest VP and becomes enamored with CEO Chase Allman—only to be betrayed by him.
Brooke rebounds again and sets out on a personal journey to discover what will truly make her happy. Sparks fly when she and Chase cross paths again in an unlikely way. Now, they need each other to find an abducted child and save thousands of people.
Welcome, J.P.!
Q. Can you please tell us more about yourself and your book, Pink Slips and
Glass Slippers?
I wrote “The Bliss List—Discover What Truly Makes You Happy, Then Land Your
Dream Job,” a book about finding your dream job. It turned out my dream job
became writing in the process. I still haven’t quit my day jobs though: Life
Coach, Inspirational Speaker, and CEO of an Executive Search company. For “Pink
Slips and Glass Slippers,” I drew from my experiences in corporate America and
the subject of forbidden love (i.e. an affair between a CEO and VP). Ultimately,
I’m a sap for HEA and wanted to tell a unique tale of unconditional love. My
mission statement to write books that inspire, whether non-fiction (“The Bliss
List,” Reader’s Digest) or fiction.
Q. You said you wrote this book based off a dare. How did this come about?
“Pink Slips and Glass Slippers” started out as a dare (“guys can’t write
Romance”), then turned into a magical ride for me. I love it when a reader takes
the time to say she enjoyed my love story—and watching it skyrocket to #1 on
Amazon (twice).
Q. Did you find it difficult to write from a woman's point of view? Was there
something particular that you found harder to write than everything else?
Before I wrote a single word in the novel, I took the time to write a detailed
stepsheet (i.e. plot summary, characters, POV choice, etc.). Then, I wrote
myself a five-page letter from both of my main characters—Brooke and Chase. This
was where the story came to life for me.
My greatest challenge? Writing
steamy love scenes without using dirty words. No doubt about it. One astute
reviewer wrote: “Steam yet Substance.” Let me know if you agree?
Q. With the success of Pink Slips, will you continue to write romantic fiction?
Yes, I returned to the manuscript of an older nasty thriller/horror story and
started a massive re-write, converting it to a romantic thriller. I’m having a
blast with it!
Q. What have been some of the challenges you have faced during writing and on
the road to publication?
I believe it takes ten years to become an overnight sensation. After 308
rejections from literary agents when querying for my first book, “The Bliss
List,” it would have been easy to abandon writing. But, that voice inside
wouldn’t let me quit. I also received a piece of great advice from a bestselling
author: Don't quit your day job! I’d add to that: Develop an impenetrable shield
of thick skin. Persistence pays off!
Q. What are you working on now?
Thanks to the ten-page Reader’s Digest article in June, my Life Coaching and
Public Speaking business has taken off. I’m managing to juggle writing six books
currently: 4 fiction and 2 non-fiction.
Q. What was the book that most impacted your life and why?
“The Bliss List” inspired the courage to write a Romance novel—and to continue
writing.
About J.P. Hansen:
J.P. Hansen is an award-winning, bestselling author of three books, a professional speaker and life coach. In addition, he is CEO of an executive search company, and for the past twenty years, he has helped thousands of people find their dream jobs. A self-made millionaire at a young age, prior to founding his own business, he was the youngest vice president of sales & marketing at a Fortune 30 company (ConAgra). Previously, he successfully ascended the corporate ladders at blue-chip companies Nestle, SC Johnson Wax, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. He graduated from Boston College with a BA in English and an area of concentration in Economics.
Where to find J.P.:
Purchase Pink Slips and Glass Slippers:
*Thank you again to J.P. for stopping by! Be sure to come back tomorrow to check out my review for Pink Slips and Glass Slippers and the chance to win a copy too!
I love the idea of a man writing a romance novel. I like the title of this one, too.
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