Interview with Irene Hannon

About the Author

Irene Hannon, who writes both romance and romantic suspense, is the author of more than 45 novels. Her books have been honored with two coveted RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America (the “Oscar” of romantic fiction), a National Readers' Choice Award, three HOLT Medallions, a Daphne du Maurier Award, a Retailers Choice Award, a Booksellers' Best Award and two Reviewers' Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews magazine. She is also a two-time Christy Award finalist.

A former corporate communications executive with a Fortune 500 company, Irene now writes full time. In her spare time, she enjoys singing, long walks, cooking, gardening, traveling and spending time with family.

To learn more about Irene and her books, visit www.irenehannon.com. ​​

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The Interview

1. How did you get started as an author?  What or whom inspired you?I didn’t really “get started” as an author; I was born a writer. So I’ve written for as long as I can remember. It’s part of my DNA. I’m also an avid reader and book lover. I can’t say any one person inspired me, but the support of my parents, an incredible high school English teacher, and the amazing writers who whetted my appetite for fiction all encouraged me when I began to think about writing my first book.
 
2. What writing projects are you currently working on?  What can you tell us about these projects?With the release of Tangled Webs in October, I’m wrapping up my Men of Valor series, which features three brothers with special forces background. The McGregor men have been phenomenal! In 2017, I’ll be continuing my Hope Harbor contemporary romance/women’s fiction series, which is set in a charming small town on the Oregon coast where hearts heal…and love blooms. Sandpiper Cove will be out in April. I’ve been so gratified by reader response to this special place. And in October, I’ll be launching my Code of Honor suspense series, which stars three longtime friends who had challenging childhoods. I should point out that all of my series books can be read as standalone novels. No plot points carry over from book to book.
 
3. What does your writing process look like?I typically spend a fair amount of time upfront learning about my characters and developing the major conflicts. Once I have a good handle on those elements, I start to think about the best way to open the book, and begin to work on the first chapter. From there, I dive in and let the characters guide the story. I don’t outline. Each day, I sit at my computer and review and edit the words I’ve written the day before, then move on to new material and follow where the story leads.
 
4. What are some of your favorite books/authors?I read so many authors, it would be difficult to name a favorite. But I know I can always count on Linda Goodnight, Becky Wade and Kathryn Springer to deliver a good story—among many others.
 
5. What period of history interests you the most?  Does this influence your writing?I don’t write historical novels. All of my books are set in present day. So no particular period of history influences my writing.
 
6. When did you write your first novel?  How old were you?I wrote my first book—more of a novella, because it was short—in my early twenties. And it was really, really, really bad. I don’t think I even showed it to my mother. I still have it, but it’s in the deepest, darkest corner of my closet, where it shall forever remain!
 
7. What did you want to be when you grew up?  Did becoming an author ever cross your mind?I considered quite a few professions in my younger years. Actress (I wrote/produced/directed/and starred in many backyard shows), astronomer (until I found out how much math was required), and organizational psychologist. The latter almost became my profession; I majored in psychology in college. But I ended up getting a master’s degree in journalism. I honestly never thought about being an author as a career. I came from a family that was rich in love, but we didn’t have an abundance of material blessings. At one point, my dad worked three jobs at once. So I knew when I went to college I had to find a practical career that would pay the bills. Once I graduated, I worked in corporate American for more than twenty years, writing novels on the side. I didn’t become a full-time author until I’d laid a firm groundwork for a career in publishing.
 
8. What hobbies do you enjoy when you are not writing?I love to sing, so you’ll find me performing in community musical theater productions whenever my schedule permits. I also love to garden, and a vacation isn’t a vacation for me without some long hikes in remote settings with spectacular scenery. J

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