Janina Grey

Janina Grey has been writing since she could hold a crayon, and there has been no stopping her since. Journaling, short stories, poetry, newsletters, news, feature, columns, Op/Eds, and press releases have kept her busy her whole life. But it was the sweet Harlequin romances she read in her downtime that stayed forever in her heart and gave her the inspiration to write her own contemporary romances now published with Soul Mate Publishing.

By day, Janina guides domestic and sexual assault survivors down their path of healing and empowerment. But in the wee hours of the morning, she hunkers down at her childhood writing desk with Imagine Dragons, Coldplay, Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, or Led Zep streaming through her earbuds while she brings to life her characters as they face their real-life sorrows and successes, and best of all, their happily-ever-afters.

Growing up on Long Island and living periodically in Tennessee as a youth has given her the opportunity to meet many different types of people and experience many different lifestyles. After moving from Long Island to settle in the Mohawk Valley in Upstate New York with her family, she found the support needed to pursue her writing endeavors with Central New York Romance Writers and Romance Writers of America.

When Janina is not writing, she may be marching for women’s rights, kayaking, camping, drumming, or dancing around the fire.

Uncaged welcomes Janina Grey

Welcome to Uncaged! Your latest book, Life is for Living is the second book in the Earth and Sky series. Can you tell us more about the book and the series? How many books are you planning for the series?

There are three books set for the series . . . but who knows what the future holds? There are plenty of stories to tell, so if readers want more, they can drop me a line and I’ll see what I can do. 2 of the Earth and Sky Series), overlaps and picks up where Brooke Meadow’s and Josh Quinn’s tale from Book 1 LOVE IN THE left off. I had to write Barefoot Dan’s story after readers were introduced to him in Book 1. LIFE IS FOR LIVING is full of surprises, for the reader as well as Barefoot Dan himself!

The majority of the characters are in some way connected to Earth and Sky, an alternative healing retreat situated on a lakeside camp in Demilune, New York. Nestled in the Adirondack Mountains, Earth and Sky works with clients overcoming vari-

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ous traumas, ranging from the death of loved ones to drug addiction. Demilune is a fictitious town inspired by Halfmoon, New York.

In LIFE IS FOR LIVING, we meet Dan and Jayde, who we learn shared a sizzling night of passion at a spring festival. Four years later, they bump into one another in a café in the village of Demilune and soon learn that some one night stands are meant to last forever.

I’m currently working on LOST IN YOUR RHYTHM (Book 3), which is nearly completed. This story overlaps the end of LIFE IS FOR LIVING, and focuses on two characters we meet in Book 2. Jack Issa is the owner of the Demilune drum shop called Beats N’ Things, and Liza Minelli

What is the most difficult scene for you to write? What is the easiest?

Romantic scenes are the most difficult and the easiest to write. I love writing about love. My alter ego has been writing erotica since the mid-1990s. The difficult part is trying to decide when enough is enough in writing romantic scenes for my romance novels. I’m not very good at following formulas. So I usually let the characters tell me how much they want to share, and when it’s time to stop. Some characters are more shy than others. Other characters want me to tell it all.

Oh, my Goddess! I’d love to talk about LOST IN YOUR RHYTHM! Liza Minelli Purkypile and Jack Issa are an amazing couple, thrown together by fate after overcoming life challenges that could have destroyed anyone else.

Contrary to her name, Liza couldn’t carry a note if it had a handle on it. Liza is an only child, still living with her parents, even though to steal a quote from her, she’s “almost thirty, for god’s sake!” They live in the fictitious upstate New York Village of Purkyville, which was founded by her ancestors 300 years prior.

When Liza was finishing her fourth year of college she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and underwent a double mastectomy at only 22 years old. She returned home to live with her helicopter parents, hiding away from the world, tucked away safely in the village ‘she should have never left.’ One morning she wakes up and realizes she’s lost seven years of her life, and decides it’s time to start living again. On a whim, she applies for the photographer’s position at Earth and Sky, and that’s when life begins again for Liza.

Jack Issa is also hiding away in the embrace of the Adirondack Mountains, in the Village of Demilune. An only child whose parents were murdered when he was two years old, Jack was sent to live in Manhattan with his Irish immigrant Aunt Maddy and Uncle Hank. Unlike Liza, Jack is very musically inclined, a graduate of Julliard, and was fulfilling a life dream of performing as a highly acclaimed percussionist when life had a change of plans. Co-founder of THUMP! (a musical troupe that was inspired by the real-life performance group called STOMP!), Jack experiences a near fatal accident during a rehearsal, turning his world upside down. After nearly a year of recuperating, healing, and learning how to live and walk again, he retreats to the mountains to lick his wounds and avoid the crushing reality that everything he’d worked for, including his wife, had been lost in the aftermath of his tragedy. Yes and no. In all three books there’s a jewelry shop called Nurtured by Nature. The owner of the shop is mentioned, but never makes an appearance. Her name is Jo, and in real life she’s engaged to my son, Anthony. She’s a very talented silversmith and artist and actually has an online shop called Nurture by Nature Designs.

Most of my other characters are conglomerates and caricatures of people I’ve crossed paths with my whole life—some nice and some not-so-nice—but not any one specific person.

What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?

Hmmm. The most surprising tidbits . . . Some things that surprise people the most about me include the fact I’m a three-time cancer survivor (three different, unrelated cancers). Many people don’t know how to digest that I’m a Pagan Third-Degree High Priestess minister and witch of my own tradition that’s been around for more than thirteen years. I’m also a certified Death Midwife. When I’m not writing, I work with survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

All that seems so dark and scary, but when people meet me they see this Polly-Anna, rose-coloredglasses, eternal optimist, and die-hard romantic who can’t watch sad or scary movies. I think my reallife details are all a bit surprising and confusing for them to wrap their heads around considering my stories are so happy.

Which comes first, the plot or the characters in the planning stages?

My characters approach me with a basic concept for their story. Usually my main protagonists introduce themselves in a dream. I’ll then do a Tarot spread to find out who they are, what makes them tick, and what their goals, motivations, and conflicts

The characters laugh at me a lot, and argue, and tell me what works for them and where the story is really going to go. I think I worry my husband and family and friends sometimes, because as I’m writing each book the characters ‘move in’ to my life. I fall asleep talking to them and I wake up with them. We usually spend a couple hours together every morning before I begin my day job.

What are some things you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing or working?

My life is jam-packed, between writing, my day job, family and friends, and coven life. So when I’m not doing any of that, or cleaning or doing a house project or working on the yard, you may find me napping. Especially if it’s raining outside.

If I’m not napping you might find me dabbling with my Canon Rebel, drumming around a campfire, kayaking, or camping with my hubby David in our little Teardrop we named Forevermore. Or playing D&D with our grown kids. Not too much time to relax, but hey, I’m never bored.

What’s your favorite holiday? Do you have any special traditions?

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday because my birthday and my daughter Allie Rose’s birthday fall within that same week. And since it’s not a Christian holiday per say, my sisters and family have always looked to me to host this holiday while they took Easter and Christmas.

We start early in the morning, getting the turkey in the oven by 6 a.m. Then we spend the morning watching the Macy’s Day Parade. My favorite parts are the Peanuts Gang floats and Santa and Mrs. Claus arriving at the end.

At either 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m. or 6 p.m. we tune in to whichever radio station is playing Alice’s Restaurant, something we’ve done since I was a teenager. I guilt everyone present into singing it with me even though I don’t sing very well (hello, Liza!). When my daughter was in South Africa one Thanksgiving, we Zoomed and sang it all together. That is a favorite memory I will hold on to forever.

As a Pagan, we follow the Wheel of the Year, which includes eight holy days throughout the year based on naturally occurring events, like the equinoxes and solstices and their cross-quarter days. Imbolc, Samhain, Beltane, Midwinter’s Day are my favorite of those celebrations. They always involve lots of loved ones gathering together, feasting, drumming, and celebrating life.

Do you prefer e-books, audiobooks or physical books? Are you reading anything now?

I prefer physical books, especially those autographed by the author. But I do read e-books on my tablet. I’ve listened to two audio books in my life, and that was interesting, but I’m not sure I can jump on that bandwagon yet.

I’m currently reading two books, depending on my location and time of day. I’m reading DEAR WRITER, ARE YOU INTUITIVE? by Becca Syme and Susan Bischoff, which is really helping me understand myself and how and why I write the way I do.

The other book is a novel called, THE VANISHING HALF by Brit Bennett, which is a story of twin sisters and the opposite paths they choose to walk in life. Uncle, Anthony Solicito, a writer who has inspired me from the time I was a little girl. He writes thriller/mystery homicide detective genre which isn’t exactly my kind of thing, but I’m always guaranteed a great story.

What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you?

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I can never say thank you enough to my fans for reading my stories, loving my stories, and supporting me along this journey. It’s been a crazy and wonderful ride so far, and we still

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janinagrey.com Enjoy an excerpt from: Life is for Living

Life is for the Living Janina Grey Contemporary Romance

Single mom Jayde MacMillan does not need the headache of another man in her life, as she devotes her every breath for caring for her two toddler twins, and working full time to give them a stable and happy home.

Daniel Cameron is a free-spirited lover of all things beautiful—including women. He’s perfectly content with drumming around a fire and winding his way barefoot through the forests of upstate New York.

Neither expected to see each other again after a wild and passionate night of lovemaking at a local spring festival. A chance encounter and two precocious toddlers four years later says Fate has other plans for Jayde and Dan.

Excerpt | JANINA GrEy |

dipped his head, trying to capture her gaze. “Really, Dan?” Jayde’s cheeks warmed as she checked him without hesitation. “That was so cheesy. So bad.”

“I got you to laugh, so it was worth it.” He grew quiet as he studied her. “What do you say? Want to make some music?”

“Um? No?”

“With the drums, I mean.” He patted a quick tempo on the countertop. “For old times’ sake.”

“Old times’ sake? We had one night.” She called him out using the same look she reserved for the kids when they tried to fib.

“That wasn’t my fault,” he said as his dimples disappeared. Lifting a strand of chestnut curls resting on her shoulder, he confided, “I loved your purple hair.” His words, barely above a whisper, stirred her core.

“Things are different now, and I’m not talking about my hair.” Struggling to speak, Jayde drew back enough so that her lock of hair slipped from his fingers.

Resting his elbows lightly on the countertop, he moved his head closer. “Things aren’t that different for me. Are they really different for you?”

Mesmerized by his blue sky eyes, she had to force her lungs to work, her vocal cords to make sounds, and her lips to move. “Very,” she whispered, unable to focus on anything but her need to taste him—his kissable, delicious lips.

She licked hers in memory, forcing herself to look away trying to gain control of the situation, or at the very least, her hormones. How long had it been since—? Ugh. Four years. Beltane.

“It’s . . . complicated,” she murmured, inclining her head slightly.

He dropped his focus to her mouth, and brought a crooked finger up to cup her chin, nudging her to look at him. “Like this kind of complicated?”

Eyes veiled, he tilted his head to the side, waiting for her consent. And when she parted her lips and exhaled breathlessly, he teased her with a gentle kiss, lightly at first, lifting his gaze to search her eyes. He was so close she could feel his energy pulsing and mingling into her own aura. Lowering her lids once more, unable to think clearly, she leaned in, hesitating at first, until her body betrayed her. She gave in to her need to feel him, to taste him if only for this moment.

The shop grew cold as they pulled away from one another, both struggling to regain composure. Jayde brought a hand to her mouth, looking at Dan in wonder.

“You feel it too,” he said simply.

She nodded, unable to speak. She should never have kissed him. And if she had her way, that would never happen again.

“Can I see you?” he asked, his eyes warm and intense.

“No. You can’t,” she said, swallowing a sob. “You need to go.”

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Your father and I met during the Olympics in Russia in our early teenage years. We were introduced to one of the most concentrated performance enhancers known to mankind. They were assuring us that the majority of the athletes were on them as well. Being young and foolish, we believed them, and before you knew it, seven years went by. During the Olympics, Sergei was wrestling with an American Olympian named Jerome Hayes, one of the most talented athletes in the US team. They battled to the end, and the finale decision was a draw. Sergei was much stronger, but Jerome was an expert in ju-jitsu. They gained a lot of respect for each other and became friends. The other Russian Olympians weren’t so friendly, they felt Jerome cheated by using martial arts on a wrestling match. Three of the Russian teammates ran into Jerome a couple of nights after the match and started picking a fight with Jerome. When Jerome started getting the upper hand, not one but all three of them started to fight him at once. Sergei heard the commotion from inside the bar and came out to see what was going on. When he saw Jerome, Sergei came to his defense.

Speaking in Russian, he said to them, “You couldn’t take him on one at a time so you embarrass us all by ganging up on him. Well, I’m not having it.” Sergei jumped in, and between him

and Jerome, they sent all three to the hospital.

Your father and I were secretly dating. After the Olympics, we were drafted into the military to become one of the strongest group of soldiers in the Russian army. After four years in the special forces, your dad and I were separated by our assignments. I started feeling sick and strange, so fearing the worst, I decided to see a private doctor. He told me I was three weeks pregnant. I was afraid of the consequences. You see, once you sign up in the special forces, your life is completely controlled by the military. I can be court-martialed or incarcerated, or even worse, I can be forced to have an abortion. I escaped the military, and now I’m on the run. I figured the best thing for me is to leave the country. My only regret was not telling your father in person, but I left a note in one of his books knowing he would find it in a few days.

Dear Sergei,

Please forgive me for leaving you this way. I want you to know that I am carrying your child and felt that this was the best course of action for the safety of us all. I will find a way to contact you as soon as I feel it’s safe.

Love, Katya

In order for me to escape from the military, I had to wait for the weekend. That was when the sergeants would get together and go to a bar about eight miles away. Since they would usually take one vehicle, my plan was to hide in the trunk of one of their vehicles and escape after they entered the bar. The first two attempts, I hid in the wrong vehicle. I finally guessed right and made it out of the base.

Once I was out of the base, I started looking through people’s backyard for clothing left outside to dry. That way I can change my appearance. I had to stay on the move because once morning comes, they will surely start looking for me. My best bet was to make it to the airport and book a flight by 5:00 a.m. I would have about an hour before they red flag my name all over the country, making it nearly impossible to escape. I couldn’t stop worrying about getting caught, so I decided to use a different name with a false passport. I finally made it to the United States. Tired of the cold weather, I decided to live in California, a warm and large enough state to blend into and start a new life.

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Author Interview

What’s the hardest thing about being an author?

A: Personally, the hardest part is the grammar of writing. I have dyslexia so writing can be difficult. Having friends and family to help proofread is always the best too.

What is the best thing about being an author?

A: I absolutely loved doing the illustrations. I have always enjoyed drawing so being able to show off my art is so heartwarming.

What book changed your life?

A: The books that my grandmother read to me when I was young really shaped my world and imagination to this day.

What inspired you to write this book?

A: Well for my book about Ellie May the pig. It is about my very own pet pig. As for the Viking and Cryptids that has just been an interest to me.

How would you describe your style of writing to someone that has never read your work?

A: Some say that my writing is adventurous and out-of-the-box.

Do you feel that writing is an ingrained process or just something that flows naturally?

A: That really depends on the topic. For children’s books, I try to do little rhythms to my stories.

What is the take home lesson you wish your readers will learn after reading this book?

A: To give ideas to people to look for things that interest them or to adopt a pet pig for yourself.

What books are currently in your to be read pile?

A: The series “Extinction” by Nicholas Smith is what I am reading right now. It is an extreme contrast to what I write.

Anything you would like to say to your readers and fans?

A: If you have a drive to draw or to tell stories, please make a book or a show, and share your work to the world!