New interview with romance author J. A. Boulet

Welcome back to romance author J. A. Boulet! Today we’re chatting about her latest historical western romance, 1833 Brothers & Sisters.

During her virtual book tour, J.A. will be giving away a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn participant. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:
J. A. Boulet is a passionate historical fiction novelist weaving tales with strong romantic themes. Raised in a Hungarian refugee family, J. A. was born and grew up in Canada with strong moral convictions, which she has stood behind all her life. Ms. Boulet began writing poetry at a very young age and progressed to short stories and novels easily. She quickly became a history geek and became fascinated with ancestry and the rough path of immigration. Her university studies ranged from photojournalism to accounting. After decades of working in accounting, J. A. published her first book in 2020 and has since published one to two books annually.

She lives in the Niagara region of Canada with her two sons, a crested gecko, a large Doberdor dog, and a small orchard of fruit trees.

Please tell us about your newest release.
1833 Brothers & Sisters follows the story of Jesse Eastman, the scion who’s now in control of the wealthy Eastman Empire, and his wife Zee. Married for 20 years, with children who are quickly growing into adults, the couple begins to experience a period of uncertainty in their relationship. Along with an estranged brother, an escaped slave, and a ruthless gangster intent on taking over the Eastman Empire, events quickly spiral out of control.

Zee is empowered to do what she can to help, but struggles with the unsettling thought of separation after 20 years. Will Zee and Jesse make it through this turbulent period in American history? Or will the forces against them win?

What inspired you to write this book?
I am fascinated with history, as everyone now knows. The lesser-known periods of American history have recently been capturing my attention and are honestly quite fascinating. In the 1830s, leading up to the American Civil War, there was growing instability in the USA, fueled mostly by the acts to abolish/limit slavery. Northern States agreed to limit slavery, Canada welcomed slaves and gave them freedom, but the Southern states were intent on hunting down the escaped slaves and returning them to work.

During this tumultuous period in history, individuals must learn to keep living. As a romantic-themed family saga author, I love to write about the realistic sides of relationships, and in this book, Zee and Jesse struggle with the issues many long-term marriages face. Romance isn’t always easy.

Excerpt from 1833 Brothers & Sisters:
Jesse grasped the large oak front door. “You are no longer an Eastman,” Jesse stated angrily. “Get out.”

“I live here too,” Billy stated incredulously.

“Not any longer,” Jesse replied.

“I have my belongings here.”

“I will have the servants collect your belongings and deliver them to you by carriage.”

“You can’t do this!” Billy yelled, indignantly.

“I sure can!” Jesse shouted back, systematically rolling up his sleeves. “I noticed that you signed this agreement today, probably at Bartholomew’s office, and you came here right after. Big mistake, Billy. You are officially estranged from the Eastman Empire as of today. Get out and don’t come back. Your signature officially means nothing as of today.” Jesse straightened his shoulders and braced himself for the physical fight. “We have witnesses to attest to this.” Jesse waved his arms around the room.

Billy’s eyes darted toward the stairs where Zee was watching the entire event unfold, and to the hallway where several servants gathered from the kitchen. Almost ten people stared at Billy, waiting for his next move.

“You always were the one that Father hated,” Billy sneered, hoping that his brother would do something stupid.

Jesse leapt at Billy. The younger brother took a few steps back and narrowly escaped the range of Jesse’s arms.

Jesse came closer and growled in Billy’s face angrily. “If you don’t leave now, I will pick you up myself and throw you out.”

What’s the next writing project?
My next book will look at families involved during the Gold Rush period in the USA.

What is your biggest challenge when writing a new book? (or the biggest challenge with this book)
My biggest challenge is, honestly, making the time to place my writing as a priority in my life. There are so many different hats to wear, and choosing the right one is sometimes the hardest part.

If your novels require research – please talk about the process. Do you do the research first and then write, while you’re writing, after the novel is complete and you need to fill in the gaps?
I usually do research beforehand to pick the correct date to write about. Once I’ve isolated the period, then I start writing and research while writing.

What’s your writing space like? Do you have a particular spot to write where the muse is more active? Please tell us about it.
I write on my sofa with a blanket around my shoulders lol.

What authors do you enjoy reading within or outside of your genre?
I enjoy reading William Johnstone for westerns, and lately have enjoyed political books like 1984 and Animal Farm. My taste in reading is eclectic but choosy.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers today?
I hope you enjoy reading my new book, 1833 Brothers & Sisters, available today! Thanks for following along on the first day of my book release! Love ya all!

Links:
Website | Amazon | Twitter/X | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads

Thank you for coming back to Reviews and Interviews!