Author Interview – J.R. Luis – The Beautiful Game, On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, J.R. Luis shares what inspired her to co-write her new book, The Beautiful Game with Vanessa Lanang, and their creative writing process.
Written by JJ Barnes
I interviewed J.R. Luis about her life and career, what inspired the story of her new book, The Beautiful Game, and the experience of co-writing with Vanessa Lanang.
Tell me a bit about who you are.
My name is J.R. Luis and I write adult contemporary romance. When I’m not writing, you will most likely find me doing all the fun things with my kids, exploring the great outdoors, or trying in vain to keep up with the laundry.
When did you first WANT to write a book?
I had been writing short stories since I was in elementary school, but I got the idea to try my hand at a novel when I was seventeen.
When did you take a step to start writing?
Maybe it was because I was an introverted teen with time on my hands, but I did in fact sit down and write the first novel I had an idea for. However, it is what we call a drawer novel, and it shall stay there forever, because it was… terrible, lol.
How long did it take you to complete your first book from the first idea to release?
My debut novel, Lucky Star: A Hollywood Love Story, took me (no joke) about eight years from conception to publication. I kicked the idea around for several months before getting the confidence to write it, and then drafted it in about a year. But since I knew nothing about story structure or what actually makes compelling literature, I ended up having to rewrite it several times, queried it without success, shelved it and wrote three other books, picked it back up and revised it, queried it again, shelved it again, wrote two more books, and then picked it back up, rewrote it AGAIN, then finally found its home at Winding Road Stories… Where I still had to do edits on it, lol. It was a process!
How long did it take you to complete your latest book from the first idea to release?
My newest book, The Beautiful Game (co-written with the amazing Vanessa Lanang), didn’t have quite as bizarre a journey as my debut, but it still took about six years from conception to publication. Throughout those years, Vanessa and I wrote and polished, queried, rewrote for editors that showed interest (but subsequently passed on the project), took several years off to focus on our individual novels, and eventually picked it back up when our shared editor, Michael Dolan at Winding Road Stories, showed interest in publishing it. Vanessa and I can’t wait to finally have this book out in the world on June 4th, 2024.
Focusing on your latest release. What made you want to write The Beautiful Game?
As a resident of western Pennsylvania, I was gifted with tickets to a Riverhound’s game (the soccer team from Pittsburgh), and one of the players quickly caught my attention because he was A) terribly sexy, and B) causing all kinds of trouble on the field. Arguing with the refs, being super dramatic and such. This line sparked into my author brain, something like, “Maybe it’s a bad idea, but this guy looks like the perfect rebound.” And I thought, “Oh dang, I need to write this book.” I messaged Vanessa and told her I had this plot bunny that I wanted to pitch as How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days meets Bend It Like Beckham and asked if she wanted to write it with me. The rest, as they say, is history.
What were your biggest challenges with writing The Beautiful Game?
Vanessa and I work really well together, so there weren’t many challenges in getting the novel down. But as we queried and got feedback from agents and editors, we were getting mixed opinions about what needed to change before someone would acquire it, and we struggled to decide which criticisms were valid and needed to be addressed and which we would ignore since they didn’t match our vision of the book. So, I’d say our biggest challenge was staying true to our vision while also trying to find the book a home.
Who or what inspired you when creating your Protagonist?
As previously mentioned, our male protagonist, Joey, was inspired by the sexy, troublesome member of the Bloodhounds team (and I will not name names just to be safe, lol). Of course, we changed and adapted Joey to be his own character for the novel, but he was based on that player to begin with. I actually don’t have an exact inspiration for our female protagonist, Vera, but in hindsight, I’d say she’s based a little bit off me and Vanessa! Vera is part Mexican like me, and she’s awkward like me, but she’s also brave enough to chase what she wants, like Vanessa. I think Vanessa and I put a lot of our personal heartbreak into Vera, too, because at the start of the novel, Vera is reeling from a bad breakup.
Who or what inspired you when creating your Antagonist?
Since The Beautiful Game is a romance, there isn’t an outward antagonist, per say, but each of the characters have inner antagonists (or issues) that they need to overcome to find their personal happiness. I will say Vera and Joey have some exes that complicate matters, but they also cause a lot of their own problems!
What is the inciting incident of The Beautiful Game?
Without giving away too much, I’ll say that after seeing Joe play a soccer game and deciding to make Joe her perfect rebound, Vera gets a chance to meet him after the game, and Joe winds up penning his number on her foot in permanent ink. That’s really the point of no return for Vera and the spark that starts Joe’s interest in pursuing a relationship with her.
What is the main conflict of The Beautiful Game?
The conflict in The Beautiful Game is two-fold. One of our comp titles is How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days because just like in that movie, our main characters are unknowingly working against each other! Vera is trying to have a rebound fling with a well-known playboy, but Joe has been told by his coach (who’s like a father to him) that if he doesn’t get his act together and have a serious relationship, he’s going to be benched for the remainder seasons of his career.
To add to that, Joe’s buddy makes an incentivizing bet with him to hold off on sleeping with Vera for at least a month with hopes it’ll naturally lengthen their relationship, which means Vera isn’t getting the care-free romp she’d signed up for and has no idea why Joe is restraining himself with her. This leads to some serious conflict as Vera does everything in her power to seduce Joe, while Joe is doing everything in his power to not be seduced while maintaining the relationship.
Did you plot The Beautiful Game in advance, or fly by the seat of your pants and write freely?
I am definitely a plotter. I adore beat sheets, and outlines, and well charted character arcs. With that being said, if I reach a point in the book and the characters want to shove things around a little bit, as long as I think it fits into the overall story arc, I’m open to adjusting things.
Did you get support with editing, and how much editing did The Beautiful Game need?
Editing this particular book was an interesting experience, because for my solo novels at Winding Road Stories, Vanessa IS my editor. But since she and I co-wrote The Beautiful Game, we had a blend of writing and editing from the start, which meant that when we completed the novel, our shared editor, Michael Dolan, had very few notes for us overall. (Keep in mind though, Vanessa and I had rewritten and overhauled this manuscript many times before it reached Michael’s desk, so don’t go thinking we’re just that good, lol.)
What is the first piece of writing advice you would give to anyone inspired to write a story?
As a plotter, I would say familiarize yourself with story structure! Even if you turn out to be a pantser, I think knowing what works and what makes a story compelling is a great first step to getting that idea out of your brain and onto the page.
Can you give me a hint about any further books you’re planning to write?
I can! I’m actually hard at work on three simultaneous projects that have nothing to do with each other but are part of my larger writing goals. I’ll give you a one-word hint for each. Project 1: Cupcakes. Project 2: Hypothetical. Project 3: Ghost. Oh, and they’re all adult contemporary romances!
And, finally, are you proud of your accomplishment? Was it worth the effort?
Vanessa and I are immensely pleased with how The Beautiful Game turned out! Despite the years of rewriting and disappointments along the way, I can say for sure it is absolutely worth the effort. There’s nothing quite like holding your book baby for the first time and knowing that it exists because of you and a team of people that believed in your words. So keep chasing that dream, friends!
Pop all your book, website and social media links here so the readers can find you:
Kindle: https://amzn.to/4dBBluQ
Paperback: https://amzn.to/4dDO5RQ
Learn more about J.R. Luis on her website here: https://jlusmith88.wixsite.com/website
Find J.R. Luis’ other books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/J.R.-Luis/author/B09NP2891Y?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
Find J.R. Luis on her social media sites here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072461585640
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/AuthorJRLuis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_jrluis/
Substack (Who’s Got Time for Romance?): https://jrluis.substack.com/
Support The Table Read
We strive to keep The Table Read free for everyone. If you’ve enjoyed our work, consider donating to help us continue providing quality content!
2 comments
Comments are closed.
Author
jjbarnes@sirenstories.co.uk
Related posts
La Pâte À Bombe By Michelle Christensen Takes Readers Into The Sweet And Savage World Of Michelin-Star Pastry
On The Table Read Magazine, “the best arts and entertainment magazine UK“, in La Pâte à Bombe by Michelle Christensen, an ambitious...
Read out all
9 YA Books That Blend Genres Like Never Before (You’ll Love #4!)
On The Table Read Magazine, “the best arts and entertainment magazine UK“, these YA books that blend genres bring you stories unconfined...
Read out all
Initial Condition By Ian Domowitz Is A Timeless Quest For Identity In The Mechanic’s Diary Series
On The Table Read Magazine, “the best arts and entertainment magazine UK“, in Initial Condition by Ian Domowitz, an artificial being known...
Read out all
Sisters Of The Sword By Rod Sproson Is A Sweeping Epic Of Faith, Intrigue, And Redemption Across Six Centuries
On The Table Read Magazine, “the best arts and entertainment magazine UK“, in Sisters of the Sword, Rod Sproson weaves a gripping,...
Read out all
The Forgetful Elf By Robert Fidgett Is A Magical Journey To Spark Family Adventures And A Love For The Outdoors
On The Table Read Magazine, “the best arts and entertainment magazine UK“, “The Forgetful Elf” is a enchanting children’s picture book that...
Read out all
Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone Celebrates 25 Years Of Magic
On The Table Read Magazine, “the best arts and entertainment magazine UK“, join the magical celebration of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s...
Read out all
hgh kaufen apotheke
References:
http://www.multichain.com
How a lot muscle you achieve will rely upon how many earlier cycles you’ve carried out and your present
physique condition. Newer customers can see features between 15 and
25 lbs in the occasion that they eat and prepare right.
For more important anabolic effects, testosterone at performance doses is certainly one of the best stacks we will do.
Your muscle features utilizing HGH will heavily depend upon which (if any) anabolic steroids you stack it with, as this is the most common technique.
HGH will compound upon the anabolic and muscle-building results of steroids.
Utilizing a powerful bulking steroid with HGH may see you
gaining 10-20lbs of muscle in a normal cycle. Count On good quality muscle gains with HGH-X2 with no water retention or bloating.
HGH-X2’s effects on fat loss shouldn’t be underestimated, and the
objective of fats loss typically leads folks to make use of development hormones.
HGH-X2 speeds up Fat Loss and Brain Health loss by
making it extra environment friendly to use stored fat as vitality.
HGH is little question a robust and efficient hormone to include in a steroid cycle.
Some steroid customers might try to forestall gynecomastia when working this cycle by administering an aromatase inhibitor (AI) to lower progesterone (not estrogen).
Nevertheless, we find this exacerbates cardiovascular strain due to decrease ranges of estrogen. Furthermore, Anadrol-induced gynecomastia remains a priority
even when administering an AI. Progesterone is a feminine sex hormone, like estrogen,
that has a stimulating impact on breast tissue within the
mammary glands, doubtlessly causing gynecomastia.
The reason why men may struggle to get an erection on Deca-Durabolin is due to its deficiency in androgenicity.
Androgenic steroids facilitate nitric oxide manufacturing,
which research exhibits is crucial in supplying blood
circulate to the penis.
However, some athletes proceed to make use of these substances,
in search of physical benefits that might help them excel in their careers.
Steroids enhance protein synthesis in muscle cells, resulting in quicker muscle development and elevated power.
This makes them a standard remedy for muscle-wasting situations like HIV/AIDS and most cancers
cachexia. Anabolic steroids are prescribed in medical settings
to deal with situations such as delayed puberty, muscle-wasting diseases, and severe hormonal imbalances.
Endurance and stamina are essential elements for athletes in disciplines that require
prolonged physical exertion. Steroids have been proven to have a optimistic impression on these elements of athletic efficiency, enabling
athletes to push themselves more durable and perform at a higher
level for extended intervals. Nandrolone was first
developed in 1960 and made out there worldwide in 1962 by
Organon within the type of Nandrolone Phenylpropionate beneath the trade name Durabolin. Nonetheless, it might be the
commerce name Deca Durabolin that may gain a hold on the Nandrolone drug.
Not surprisingly, most negative reviews and comments about Anadrol concentrate
on its wide-ranging unwanted effects. For some people (especially
anyone with minimal steroid experience), these opposed results of Anadrol could be intense sufficient to warrant stopping the utilization of
the steroid completely.
Dianabol, an oral steroid, will stress the liver, in contrast to
Deca-Durabolin, which has no recognized effect on the liver.
Some bodybuilders consider Deca is greater than usable for chopping cycles where
you’re operating a calorie deficit food regimen. But to do it proper, you’ll want to
ensure estrogen is controlled so water retention doesn’t turn out to be an issue – preserving in mind you’ll nonetheless need to stack with testosterone
at TRT doses. For guys utilizing NPP for bodybuilding, a dosage of as a lot as 400mg weekly is right.
In addition to improving endurance, steroids improve energy ranges and scale back the feeling of fatigue.
This permits athletes to perform extra reps, raise heavier weights,
and complete longer exercise classes, all of which contribute to raised
overall performance and muscle progress. Anabolic steroids
boost the production of erythropoietin (EPO), a hormone that stimulates the
manufacturing of red blood cells. More pink blood cells mean higher
oxygen-carrying capability, which improves stamina and endurance throughout train.
All The Time keep a watch on how your physique reacts and change the
amount with a doctor’s assist to get the best results safely.
If you think you might have a HGH or testosterone deficiency, contact us today to get your ranges examined and discover out
the correct treatment plan for you. This article is for informational purposes solely and isn’t meant as an various to medical advice.
If you might be experiencing a catabolic condition, seek the advice of your physician with
any questions concerning the use, benefits,
or unwanted side effects of Deca-Durabolin. Strict penalties and sanctions are imposed on athletes
who check constructive or are found responsible of utilizing
steroids. These penalties might embody fines, suspensions, disqualification from competitions, and the stripping of titles, medals, and records.
This would possibly help explain the results of a population-based cohort examine
by which men that examined positive for AAS had twice the cardiovascular morbidity and mortality rate as those that tested adverse (149).
Nonetheless, it ought to be acknowledged that causality can’t be drawn from such research and further analysis
is important to better explore this detrimental avenue
of AAS use on well being. AAS are predominantly bioinactivated
in the liver, but in addition in the kidneys and numerous other androgen-sensitive tissues (25).
In general, part I metabolism mainly includes
discount at carbons 3 and 5 of the A-ring and oxidation of
the hydroxyl group at carbon 17 of the D-ring of the steroid nucleus (24).
These part I metabolites may then undergo conjugation into glucuronides
and be subsequently excreted (26). Supports hormone balance, reduces unwanted aspect effects, and improves well-being.
This leads to an increase in muscle size,
density, and general energy. Athletes who use steroids usually experience speedy gains in muscle
mass, allowing them to succeed in their desired physique or efficiency objectives more quickly.
Oral anabolic steroids are thought of to be a powerful tool for
rising lean muscle mass and power, although among athletes or folks taking part in strength-gained sports.
On the opposite hand, there is a need to be extremely cautious in utilizing every compound as a
outcome of there are advantages and liabilities.
Engagement with a certified healthcare supplier and
following the really helpful dosing directions assist
lessen the side effects and allow a profitable steroid regime.
Deca also can improve collagen synthesis, which provides this
steroid for its well-known advantages on joints and connective tissue.