Jesse Bond is primarily a romance author, and you’ll find Jesse’s books range from paranormal romance, urban, and high fantasy and all shades in between right down to contemporary. We enjoyed having this Author Interview – Jesse Bond, for our blog. Check out this fantastic author and follow them for more amazing stories.

Born in 1981, Jesse Bond is the pen name for Heather MacDougall. Growing up, Jesse split her time between living in Southern Oregon and Arizona. In 2001, Jesse moved to Colorado to live in the Great Rocky Mountains in a tiny mountain town where she still resides.

Wife and mother of two, her favorite activities include video and board gaming, hiking, camping, and reading. That is, of course, when she isn’t writing her next steamy romance novel. Nothing makes Jesse happier than eight-legged mollusks, dragons and other fantasy creatures, magic, and tacos. Primarily a romance author, you’ll find Jesse’s books range from paranormal romance, urban, and high fantasy and all shades in between, right down to contemporary.

In addition to traditional romance, she also enjoys writing reverse harem and LGBTQ+ love stories. Don’t be surprised if you find something outside of the romance genre, though. Jesse loves to write any chance she gets and will try everything if the inspiration hits.

When did you start writing?

March of 2020

What was it like growing up?

I was raised by my mother and grandmother from the age of six. Being self-sufficient and taking pride in my accomplishments was instilled in me at an early age by both independent women. My childhood was filled with outdoor adventure, playing in the desert sun, riding horses, fishing, and spending time with my family.

How was your early life?

My mother and father divorced when I was one, and my mother remarried. That relationship didn’t last long, and we moved from Oregon to Arizona before I turned six. My grandmother joined us in that move, and from then on, my childhood was extremely supportive and stable.

What has been the biggest influence in your career?

The largest influence I have experienced has been reading the works of a multitude of other Indy authors. Some are those I aspire to call peers; others teach me ways in which to better my own writing. Anne Rice and Ken Follet are the authors who really made a difference in my love to read early on and now my love to write.

Tell us about your newest release.

Cabernet & Desires of the Dead was released in December 2022. The twins Checo and Ajla find themselves employed by the most prestigious opera house in the world, but what they find inside is a whole lot different than the dreams they had of it.

The work is difficult, the people are questionable, and there is definitely something happening to Ajla. Checo finds a release from his worries when he meets a beautiful man who seems to cherish their time together. Mystery, suspense, and love, can all be found in this gripping novella.

Which book of yours would you call your favorite child?

Cabernet & Desires of the Dead

What inspired you to write this book?

A little bit of Phantom of the Opera vibes can be felt in this novella, but it is also a spin-off of the same world from another book, the Stranger Side of Mystic Soup. These shop series novellas took place in a world full of magic, and the idea of the Pinnacle Opera and the possibilities behind its closed curtains intrigued me.

What are you usually found doing when you’re not writing?

I love to camp and hike with my family, play massive board games, play some video gaming, grow roses, and cook big meals.

What does your writing space look like?

I have a small area set aside for creativity. In that space, I have a lovely three-piece ghost ship for artwork and eleven dual-sided octopus plushies. There is a dragon sleeping under the gentle blue shaded lamp and an interesting book or two for reference next to my laptop. I love my space and find comfort in the small additions I make to it from time to time. (Usually, that is another octopus or dragon!)

If you wrote your autobiography, what would you name it?  

Love or Regret – Nothing In Between

How long did it take to write your novel, and what was your process?

Words flow from me at a rapid pace. It took two months to write Cabernet & Desires of the Dead. Some other novels only take me a month. The only process I keep is an account of names, races, and their motives or personality quirks.

Favorite reads?

I have so many. Jennifer Cody’s Diviner’s Game series is pretty high on the list. Anne Rice’s Vampire Lestat will always be a favorite. I enjoy Louisa Masters, Ella Frank, KM Neuhold, NR Walker, Keira Andrews, Roe Horvat, and many others who write M/M Romance which is my favorite genre to read.

Do you have any book recommendations?

Keira Andrews – Semper Fi and CP Harris’s The Boy Who Loved Wicked are absolutely amazing, heart-wrenching, and totally worth every word.

What’s your next big project?

I have two books in editing currently. The first is a complete rewrite of my first-ever novel, The White River Pack. It never felt perfectly told to me, and I plan to do it justice in the M/M category of Paranormal Romance. Shifters, mates, enemies, magic, and a multitude of personalities fill out this lovely novel.

The second is a spinoff of Wilde Persuasion, a contemporary romance in the M/M category, called The Unexpected Mr. Smith. This next-door neighbor romance is a bi-awakening love story of a single father and the down-to-earth man who falls in love with him.

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Just keep writing. If you have words in you, put them on paper. They are never perfect the first or twentieth time around, but they get better. There’s nothing like the accomplished feeling of finally getting your story out of your head and finally seeing it’s creation.

Follow Jesse:

https://www.facebook.com/jesse.bond

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