Author June Favor is based just outside of San Antonio. She’s meeting with me today to talk about her many books. June writes steamy contemporary romance and romantic thrillers/mystery/suspense. She loves to kill people … on virtual paper, that is. She is a foodie and an adventurous cook. Determined to preserve generations of family recipes, she’s publishing a series of cookbooks entitled A Texan in the Kitchen. She is owned by a diva cat and a small, yappy rescue dog. As a former educator and healthcare professional, she is an advocate for children, animals and elderly/disabled individuals. She’d rather be sailing or on a beach somewhere, but if not, you can probably find her with her fingers on a keyboard, pouring word images onto the virtual films playing in her head.
SS: Tell us how you came to be a writer.
JF: I went to Catholic schools and have given credit for having evolved into a writer to Sister Anastasia, my amazing second-grade teacher. She was a Carmelite nun and had immigrated from Ireland, Black hair that was longer than her habit, and amazing smoky blue eyes. I was such a shy little girl, but Sister Anastasia encouraged me to write and allowed me to stay in at recess to draw scenery on the three chalk boards … so I could produce the three-act plays I wrote. Thanks to her, I got to write, cast, direct, create scenery and act in my own plays. Not the picture most people have of a Catholic school education. I never saw anyone get their knuckles whacked with a ruler.
SS: What in your childhood do you believe contributed to your becoming a writer?
JF: I was raised in rural Oklahoma. It was beautiful, and we had four real seasons. I recall having a fall coat, a winter coat, and a spring coat. Now, living in the southern part of Texas, I barely remember to throw on a jacket before going outside. I was raised by strong, independent women who raised me to be the same. My grandmother owned two sections of land (about 1240 acres). She raised beef cattle and grew cotton and grain crops for her cattle. The best thing I can recall is that she was a great story teller. (My first ride was a tractor)
On the other side, my grandfather ran away from a Catholic boys school in New Orleans. He and some friends were wild young men in the Oklahoma territory. He was a drug dealer, of sorts, because he sold patent medicine, and later became a newspaperman. He ended up becoming the banker in the small town. He was kind and also kept his bank open during and after the stock market crash.
So, with all this family, and everyone retelling the stories, I had a lot to live up to. My grandmother paid for my college tuition and I took writing classes there. Becoming published seemed like the best way to repay her faith in me.
SS: What was your first recognition/success as an author?
JF: I worked in healthcare and when I finally made it home, I would write for a couple of hours. Not having anyone to critique with, I entered contests, so finaling in and winning a slew of writing contests gave me the confidence to believe my work had merit.
SS: What are you working on at the moment?
JF: I’m continuing to work on the Dark Horse Cowboys series set in north Texas. Four have been released, and another four are under contract with Sourcebooks. In addition, they have contracted a new series that my editor has named the Women of Rambling series. It is set in the Texas Hill Country. This series is a crossover between romance and women’s fiction. I’m really excited to continue both series.
SS: What’s your most recent book? In twenty-five words or less, tell me why your book should be a reader should start your book next.
JF: My most recent release is The Cowboy’s Christmas Homecoming. This is the description that my publisher came up with, and it’s pretty condensed:
This cowboy’s finally coming home for Christmas.
Zach Garrett is home from war, haunted by PTSD, trying to fit in to what has become an alien world. With the holidays fast approaching, his uncle Big Jim Garrett offers him a place on the family ranch. Zach isn’t sure he’s up for a noisy, boisterous Garrett Christmas … until he meets beautiful Stephanie Gale, and all his protests go up in flames.
Firefighter and EMT Stephanie Gale is ready for anything. She’s got her life under control … until she locks eyes with Zack and realizes her heart’s in a whole new kind of danger. But with a little help from Zack’s long-lost army dog, maybe he and Stephanie will be able to make this a Christmas of new beginnings after all.
The heroine is based on a friend of mine who was a firefighter and later became an EMT. She is a remarkable woman and I dedicated the book to her.
SS: Where is your book set? How did you decide on the setting? When is it set?
JF: Most of my books are set in Texas. I have a series set on the Gulf coast close to Mexico and another set in north Texas ranch country. I also just turned in the first of a new series set in the Texas Hill Country. I write contemporary. Perhaps I have a tenuous grasp of reality.
SS: How do you feel when you have finished writing a novel? Are there any particular characters that you have found it hard to let go of?
JF: As a nursing home administrator, I was responsible for everything and everyone in my facility, so long hours. Also, my mother lived with me the last five years of her life. I got up very early to get her lined out for the day, and then by the time I got home, fed her and spent time with her, I was pretty tired. But I would write. My book On Ice was the place I could go. I was really involved with the characters and when I wrote the last chapter of this book, I actually cried. It felt as though I was saying goodbye to friends. During this period I wrote ten novels and did nothing with them. Years later, my author friend, Anne Marie Novark “went rogue” and took me with her into the world of indie publishing. When I published On Ice, my earnings were over $8k the first month. This was validation after other authors had told me it was too long, had too many characters, too much story … I tried to follow their suggestions but gave up and published it anyway. Which causes me to tell aspiring writers that it’s your story to tell, so tell it your way.
SS: What’s something memorable you have heard from your readers/fans? What’s been the best compliment?
JF: I relish opportunities to interact with my readers. After On Ice was published, I had women contact me to tell me that my book had helped them find the courage to leave an abusive relationship. I don’t write wimpy women, but being physically and/or emotionally abused a can take the starch out of anyone. One of the things I always ask is, how does this character need to grow/what do they need to learn? How can they be healed?
The other compliment I cherish most has been from Hispanic readers who compliment me on the multi-cultural series I wrote about South Padre Island. (Book 1: Bad Medicine) I didn’t set about to write a multi-cultural book. I was just writing about Texas. We are a very diverse state, rich in history and culture. I always jump at the opportunity to learn about others, and I lead with my taste buds. Yes, I am a foodie. Invite me to your tamalada. Please.
SS: What advice would you give aspiring writers?
JF: I firmly believe that we writers are a species unto ourselves. It’s good to hang out with other writers, just so you will know you are not completely weird. Writers are generally supportive and generous with their time and advice. Take classes. Join writer organizations. Be a writer. Own it.
SS: What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?
JF: Just write the damned book!!!
SS: How do you get away with the perfect murder?
JF: I have researched this, Suanne and the most dangerous people are shark fishermen (You could become chum, Chum) and medical personnel who could inject you with something fatal.
SS: I’ve heard pig farmers can be dangerous as well—pigs will eat anything. Do you prefer tidy endings, or can you leave a few loose ends?
JF: I’m a Virgo, Suanne, so I like things all neat and tidy. I do like twists that boggle the mind.
SS: Patricia Cornwell (Scarpetta) worked in a morgue to research her books. What is the darkest place your research has taken you?
JF: I wrote a dominatrix/cop book (Bad Girl!) and researched all things Dom. Things I had never imagined actually exist. Yes, I got porn spam in my email for months after that. I loved the CSI series with Gil Grissom and Lady Heather, so that probably whetted my appetite.
SS: When writing, are you a night owl or morning person?
I can write any hour of the day and have written daily for over ten years straight … but I think I am more creative at night. I get warmed up and when I look up it’s 2a.m. <me, with shocked expression!>
SS: Pantser or Plotter?
JF: Both. I don’t plot before I start writing. I usually write at least fifty pages before I work on a plot. I mentally use the three-act play format with appropriate plot twists. I tried writing a very detailed plot in 2007 when planning my first NaNoWriMo. It’s still in a file. But once I had beaten all the dents out of it, I was bored, so I just wrote something else. I seriously just started writing and came up with a 56k word novel in the first eighteen days of NaNo. My writing buds were still working, so I found another work in progress that had sixty-nine pages so I finished that one in the last twelve days of the month. It was a very productive November, and I have always participated in NaNo since then. Of course, I went back and revised my very messy first draft and published Bad Medicine. It grew from 56 to 90k words in revision. The second project to come out of my first NaNo was The Doctor’s Choice, both published by JD Faver. The other me.
SS: I’m so glad you said that about doing a detailed plot outline. The one book I completely plotted out felt “written” by the time I finished the outline, and I lost interest in it. Now, what’s your favorite guilty pleasure?
JF: Dark chocolate & Freddie Mercury, Adele & Sir Elton John … Mmmm …
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Cowboy Christmas Homecoming and the rest of the Dark Horse Cowboys series are available through:
Bad Medicine is available through:
On Ice is available through:
Bad Girl! is available through:
You can find her other books under June Faver & J.D. Faver. Her YA-Fantasy projects can be found under her pseudonym, Calista Anastasia, which is a combination of her granddaughters’ middle names.
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June can be found on social media at:
Website #1 | Website #2 | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest
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An excerpt from Cowboy Christmas Homecoming:
Stephanie held her phone for some time. She knew what she wanted to do but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. If there were only some way to bring it about casually … but that wasn’t an option.
“Don’t be such a pussy,” she chided herself. Resolutely she punched in the main number to the Garrett Ranch.
“Hello?” It was Misty who answered.
“Hi. It’s Stephanie.” She hesitated. “Is Zach there?”
Silence.
“Um, sure. Let me find him.”
Stephanie heard the receiver being put down and after a short wait, picked up again.
“Hello?” Zach’s deep voice caused a tingling sensation low in her belly.
She cleared her throat. “Hello, Zach. It’s Stephanie. Um—”
“It’s nice to hear your voice. What can I do for you?” He sounded focused and upbeat. Not the way he had the last time she saw him.
“I know this is weird, but—I need to know … Can you dance?”
He chuckled. “Well, I don’t know. It’s been a long time since I stepped foot on a dance floor. What’s up?”
“There’s a Christmas dance here in Amarillo. It’s sponsored by law enforcement and firefighters … for charity.”
“Are you asking me to a dance?”
Stephanie swallowed hard, suddenly shy. “Well, the proceeds go to the children’s home.”
“But it’s a dance?” He did sound interested.
“Yes, it’s a huge formal dance … Would you be willing to go with me?” She cringed, in preparation for outright rejection.
“Sure thing … When you say formal, you’re not talking about western wear?”
She gnawed her lower lip. Now, he would back out. “Unfortunately, no. But you can rent a tuxedo here in Amarillo. I’ll pay for it.”
He let out a scoffing noise. “Don’t be ridiculous. I can pay to rent a tux.” He heaved a sigh. “Tuxedo, huh? And what will you be wearing?”
“A dress. A long, formal dress.” She shrugged as though he could see the gesture. “I think you’ll like it.”
“And your hair? Are you going to wear it down? I really like your hair.”
A flush of pleasure washed through her insides. Absently, she touched her hair. “I was going to wear it up, but … if you—”
“Down, please.” The sound of his deep voice was causing strange sensations.
“Sure. I can do that.”
Another silence.
“Can I ask when this event is to take place?”
“Oh, silly me. It’s this next Saturday.” After giving him the important details, she disconnected, smiling, and wondering how that deep, wrap-around voice could lift her up so high.
