Women named Jill Walker all over the United States are being murdered and these seems to not be any reason for it. Jill Walker, a very talented weathergirl on the local news at night is destined to become the ninth victim in a string of complex murders- unless FBI agent Ian Hamlin has anything to say about it. A love triangle like no other, Jill is caught between the seemingly perfect Mr. Right and the dark, brooding man sent to see her.

Reader Views is talking today with J.D. Tynan, author of mystery/suspense novel “Jill 9.” J.D. is speaking with Juanita Watson, Assistant Editor of Reader Views.

Juanita:  Hi J. D., thanks for talking with us today.  Please give your readers an idea of the storyline of “Jill 9.”

J.D.:Jill 9 is a suspenseful story of a weathergirl who has been targeted by a serial killer from afar. There is a bit of a love triangle also, keeping the reader very much on the edge of their seats, wondering why these men have come into her life at the same time.

Juanita: What inspired you to write “Jill 9”?

J.D.:I had started off writing women’s fiction and a little romance, but wanted to try my hand at a good mystery. To see if I could create diversions to keep the reader guessing around every turn of the page.

Juanita: Who are the main characters and what motivates them in this story?

J.D.: Jill is a weathergirl who has spent her life in pursuit of her career. In the back of her mind, she’s always thought about a boy she saw on a Connecticut beach many years before. She lives with her roommate, Anita who is a kick in the pants and the best friend a girl can have.  Ian is the FBI agent who has been assigned to the Jill murders in CT. He’s divorced, incredibly bitter and a workaholic with no time for a life. His motivation is to stop a killer before they strike again, knowing full well what it feels like to let someone down, Ian is obsessed with never getting to personal ever again.

Juanita:  Are any of the characters in “Jill 9” based on anyone you know?

J.D.: I used a little bit of a couple different men I knew in Connecticut many years ago to create Elias. Sort of a spoiled, arrogant man who gets everything he ever wants. Anita might be a few of my friends all mixed together, but generally, everyone is a creation of my imagination.

Juanita:  Did you have to do any research in preparation for writing “Jill 9”?

J.D.: Just a little bit of FBI research, like where the branches are in different US cities. I made up most of the locations in Vancouver, WA, although the story takes place in a city in which I live in. I just tweaked the scenery a bit to keep it fictional. Other than that, I just kept things general and didn’t go into too much detail about crime fighting and all that.

Juanita:  Tell us about the theme of love that runs through your story and the love triangle predicament Jill Walker finds herself in?

J.D.:Jill has a long time thing for a boy she saw on the beach years ago. Her friend Anita finally convinces Jill to give up on the mystery boy and start dating ‘real’ men. So, Jill accepts a date with a handsome man she meets. When Ian Hamlin shows up, Jill is already involved with Elias and yet, seeing the boy (Ian) from her past again, has her heart torn in two. It’s a very steamy, exciting love triangle and I can’t say anything more than that without giving secrets away.

Juanita:  What do the main characters have to teach your readers?

J.D.:Forgiveness is a huge one. Forgiving yourself and others. I guess following your heart would be another. But I think the huge one is that…Fashion magazines cannot be a deciding factor in who you love…LOL!

Juanita: The book takes place in the Pacific Northwest.  What is your connection with this area and how did you decide for this to be the setting of “Jill 9”?

J.D.: I was born in Portland, lived in Bend, Oregon and then 6 years ago, I moved to Vancouver, where the novel takes place. I love the Pac Northwest. It’s a beautiful place to live and I like writing about my surroundings. It helps me stay connected to my characters.

Juanita: Your book has the possibility of a wide range of readers.  Who would enjoy reading “Jill 9”?

J.D.: I think fans of both romance and mysteries will like Jill 9. There is a bit of swearing and some steamy love scenes, but it’s a lot of fun. It’s a quick read and very entertaining. I think it’s got something for every reader.

Juanita: What motivates you to write and what about the process do you most enjoy?

J.D.: I get motivated by the voices in my head. Sometimes it’s as if I have a soap opera going on in my head and people are talking and laughing and sometimes arguing. It’s quite distracting, but when I get a chance to sit down and get it all out, I feel at peace. I guess what I love most about the process is just being able to create an entirely different world and I get to say what goes on in that little private world. It’s rather fun!

Juanita: Do you have any other books in the works?

J.D.: Yes, I am constantly editing and rewriting the other 8 manuscripts that I have completely, but right now, I am slowly working on the sequel to Charlie Ford Meets Secret Agent Man, a novel that will be out next January through A Better Be Write Publisher.

Juanita:  What has been your experience with self publishing and getting “Jill 9” out there the public?

J.D.: Jill 9 is not self published. It’s published through a very small company called A Better Be Write. It’s difficult to get the word out just because I have a limited budget and I work two jobs. I think publishing has changed dramatically and now authors are expected to do much of our own publicizing, which can be a downer sometimes when I realize just how many books there are out there. It’s a humbling experience to walk into a bookstore.

Juanita:  How can readers find out more about you and your endeavors?

J.D.:  They can visit www.jdtynan.com for more information. Also, www.abetterbewrite.com for all the publishers information. We are small, but we are holding our own and getting our names into the publishing world.

Juanita:  Thanks for talking with us today J.D.  We look forward to seeing many more books from you in the future.  Do you have any last thoughts for your readers?

J.D.: I’d like to say that reading fiction should be fun and I’m trying to do is bring a little entertainment to my readers. Happy reading!