Sit Down Saturday with Muriel Jensen



Today we’re celebrating the release of Love Me Forever.

So, Muriel,  where did you get the idea for this novel?

When I wrote Always Florence, released August, 2013, I thought of it as a stand-alone book.  But I became invested in the lives of Sandy Evans, the heroine's friend, and Hunter Bristol, who works for the hero and is also his friend.  They had to work out the issues that provided a good subplot to the August book.





In looking at the cover, if you could add a caption or captions, what would they say?

"Friends Forever." 


I think love does its best work when under the passion and the dedication is the friendship that makes all that possible.

How long did it take you to write?

With revisions and AAs about four months.

What is your favorite scene?

There's a scene toward the end when the hero has finally resolved his obstacles to love.  It's late at night, he's gone to the grocery to find a bouquet of flowers but they're out and thanks to the advice of someone in the produce department, buys a watermelon - a good hostess gift in other parts of the world.  The heroine is shocked to see him - particularly with a watermelon - and when he explains that he's there to tell her that he loves her, she faints dead away.  It was the first moment of relief for ME in the story - he's finally free of his burden, and she is vulnerable at last.

Who was your favorite character and why?


Sandy, my heroine.  She's everbody's advocate and loves the hero so much - but there's so much in his way.  She stays strong, though, and wins him over.


If you could pick fictional characters to play the hero and heroine, who would they be?

Sandra Bullock as a redhead, Nathan Fillion with sandy blond hair.


Tell us one thing you learned during research.

That a watermelon is a fine hostess gift in China and Japan!

What music would match the mood of this novel?

Does anyone remember, "Could I Have This Dance" by Anne Murray?  "Could I have this dance, for the rest of my life?  Would you be my partner, every night? when we're together, it feels so right.  Could I have this dance for the rest of my life?"

This is your  90th book.  Exactly what does that mean to you?

That I have more endurance than I ever imagined.  And that rejection doesn't kill you - it just feels like it.

What do you plan to work on next?

I'm working on the first book in a new series about three siblings separated as little ones when their mother went to jail for murder.


What are you reading for pleasure right now?

HEIST by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg.

Comments

  1. Hi, Muriel! Congratulations on 90 books. WOW. It is inspiring to beginners like me. I do remember that Anne Murray song because my parents had a cassette of it and played it over and over on long trips. We loved singing along to her gorgeous alto voice and the romance infused in that song in particular. I love that you had the chance to develop characters we'd already met and given them a love story. That must be such a satisfying feeling! Someday I hope to have that opportunity. Love Me Forever sounds terrific and if cast- Sandra Bullock is my favorite romantic female lead!

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    1. Hi, Karen! I replied to you but must have forgotten to hit 'publish.' Thank you - you're always so generous with praise. It is fun to solve the problems that have existed for characters in other books. And you learn things about them you didn't know when you first breathed life into them. I guess writing is like life that way - live and learn.

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  2. Ninety? Really? That's amazing! I agree with you about Sandra Bullock and "Could I Have This Dance" too. :-)

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    1. Really. 90. Been a long, long time in the biz! Though, I think Loree's had more and looks better!

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  3. Muriel, You make me feel like I've been shilly shallying around. Congratulations on a long and stellar career. I've been waiting for this book since I read Always Florence.

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    1. Thanks, Roz. Hope it works for you. Watch for the watermelon.

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  4. Muriel, Congrats on 90 books! What a phenomenal accomplishment. That song was my granddad's favorite and he used to sing it to my grandma--I'm not kidding. Theirs was a sweet and true love and every time I hear it I think of them...so thanks for that (: I love this watermelon tidbit...I'm always trying to think of a hostess gift that's more creative than wine. I'm so using this and I'm going to research it and maybe print out a little note about it, too. How fun! Your book sounds great--can't wait to read it!

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    1. Carol - happy to be of help to you on so many levels! Love knowing that your grandparents loved that song. I thought the watermelon thing was a hoot. Happy to have you with us!

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  5. What an accomplishment! Congrats! As for this book, you had me at "Nathan Fillion"

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    1. Oh, I know. Isn't he the hunkiest thing? Do you remember him as the husband of one of the secondary women on "Desperate Housewives?" I missed the whole "Firefly" thing, Pity.

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    2. Oh, my, I just went and looked at him. Hunky is right!

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    3. Liz! Does that mean you've never seen 'Castle?' Monday night 10:00 ABC. You've got to see him at work.

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  6. Muriel, 90 books! You are amazing, and you will surely make that one hundred mark. I am currently reading Love Me Forever and enjoying it very much. You're very skillful, especially, at describing your characters. I can really see them in my mind's eye. Those two little girls are darling. Are they patterned after real children? Your grandchildren, perhaps?

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    1. Thank you, Linda. You're very astute. Actually, they are my great-granddaughters. Zoey looks just as she's described, but Addie's father is Laotian and Viet Namese. She's gorgeous, but not blond.

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  7. Muriel, Ninety books is such an achievement and you should be so proud. BUT DON'T STOP! I love your books. I just ordered Love Me Forever and can't wait to read it. I wish you great success with it. You go, girl!!!

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    1. Thank you, Catherine. I pray that the old brain keeps functioning.

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  8. I love Anne Murray. She had one song called Somebody's Always Saying Goodbye. When my college love dumped me, I'd sit and listen to that song for hours and cry.

    Ninety Books! All with Harlequin?

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    1. I did one novella for Berkeley (sp?) My agent happened to be talking with that editor who was grousing about a writer having fallen out of the plan and Pat got me on the other line and asked if I wanted to do it. The motto, of course, is never turn down work. So I did it - was about a chocolate cruise. Great fun. Everything else was for one Harlequin line or another. How did you manage without electricity all weekend?

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    2. Sorry - so interested in myself, I neglected to express outrage over the what-was-he-thinking? college dufus who dumped you. Best he's sorry now - award-winning author that you are and all.

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    3. Muriel, we're campers, and I take my MAC pro and we watched a movie on it and such. Plus, I had to get back because I'm doing drama and puppets, (directing grades 3 - 12)

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    4. Pam, you are such a champ! Camping AND directing children! I'd need a Valium to do wither.

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  9. Muriel, you're my hero! 90 books - amazing! Congrats and this story sounds fantastic :)

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    1. Thank you, Amy. Hope you like it - Romantic Times gave it a pretty good review. Bless Victoria, who sent it to me. She's trying to keep the old girl pumped!

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  10. I'm late, Muriel, but I had to say that I loved reading your interview! 90th book! Congratulations!! And the part about the watermelon...well, I have to tell my youngest. He absolutely loves watermelons and could eat entire one by himself if I let him lol.

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