Meet author Jane Daly

Jane Daly is addicted to coffee, purple pens, and her husband, not necessarily in that order. A self-proclaimed introvert, she enjoys the solitude of riding shotgun in Rigsby, her 37-foot motor home. But when they pull into a new campground, her favorite thing is to make new friends and find hangouts featuring local musicians. Her fantasy involves writing lyrics for country music songs and listening to them on the radio.

Tell us about your newest book.

The Pastor’s Perfect Wife is a contemporary romance set in the small town of Main, Oregon, not far from the Oregon Coast. Ethan is filling the pulpit for the pastor whose sister-in-law is in the hospital. Ethan has a young son and is a widower. He comes face to face with former Mean Girl Mariah, who has no intention of getting involved with a minister.

What inspired you to write The Pastor’s Perfect Wife?

When I was dating my husband, he told me he was studying to be a pastor. I decided then and there I wasn’t the one for him. I had a tumultuous past with a not-so-great reputation as a partier.  My life BC wasn’t something I felt would be acceptable as a pastor’s wife. My main character, Mariah, feels the same way.

How would you describe this book to someone in a 30-second blurb?

What happens when a grieving widower with a small son meets a feisty former mean girl? Neither is looking for love, but when they’re thrown together to battle a false accusation of sexual assault from a teenage girl, the result is a perfect match.

What genre do you focus on?

I’m a sucker for a happy ending, so whether I’m writing women’s contemporary fiction or romance, I want the Hallmark-type ending.

Why do you write?

God gives gifts to all His children. Mine happens to be the ability to make up stories to show His redemption and forgiveness. I can’t NOT write, because of this incredible gift I’ve been given.

What is your work schedule like when you’re writing a book?

I am training myself to write faster, so I try to write at least 2,000 words a day. That means I can finish a romance or romantic suspense in a month. It usually takes me a couple of months to edit and get input from beta readers. I like to spend more time writing full-length novels of around 90,000 to 100,00 words and these can take me up to a year.

What’s the best part of your author’s life?

I get huge satisfaction of encouraging other writers. I remember starting out and how difficult it was. Rejection after rejection, criticism from other ‘know it all’ authors, and harsh judgements from contest judges – this is a quick path to self-doubt and imposter syndrome. With my new role as acquisitions editor for Elk Lake Publishing, Inc., I want to encourage the brave writers who have the guts to submit to a publisher.

What’s one unusual fact about you?

In January of 2022, my husband and I sold everything and moved into our motor home. We live and travel full-time in Rigsby with our two cats. We supplement our income by work camping. Hubby does maintenance and guides campers to their sites while I work in the office, making reservations and selling merch. We’ve been across the country three times from the West Coast to the East Coast. Our goal is to stay in each of the 48 lower states before we quit. We’re only about half-way through now, but even when we hit all 48, we plan to do this for as long as we physically can.

Do you have other books? We’d love to know.

You can find all my books on my website. I have 2 nonfiction and 7 novels.

My most recent releases (July 2024) are Broken Trust and The Pastor’s Perfect Wife (Winged Publications) – Book 2 in the Hearts of Main series. #3 The Heart of a Hero will be out later this year.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on the 2^nd in a 3-book series under contract with Elk Lake Publishing, Inc. It’s a romantic suspense called High Heels and Horses. All 3 take place in the Gold Country of Northern California. They’ll be released in 2025 and 2026.

I also have a contract to finish a book I’ve tentatively titled “Why Are My Eyebrows Growing Out of My Chin (Aging with Snark and Spirituality.” It is nonfiction and I hope to encourage other women of a ‘certain age’ that aging doesn’t disqualify you from accomplishing things. It will be released later in 2025.

Website: https://www.janeSDaly.com

Link to book: https://amzn.to/3W7WIg9