Jordan Dane

Welcome to the MWA author profile of Jordan Dane - Avon HarperCollins.

As a crime fiction author, I’m not a well person. Bad men speak to me in my head—and I like it. I visualize a bloody crime scene and all I think about is, “Does viscera have a ‘C’ in it?” When I say, “I’m cracking open a case” I’m not talking Heineken, people. And making a good impression in my world involves shoe prints or tire tracks. In short, what makes most people squeamish puts me on the fiction happy train.

That’s because crime fiction authors aren’t normal people. We have a warped sense of reality and humor. If a man is killed from poisoned chickpeas, this is tragic, but I’m thinking it’s a solid case of hummuscide. And I play deviant “what if” games in my head—like what if Tupperware could kill? What if coffee shops dispensed mind-altering lattes or espresso was discovered as the sole source of global warming?

On the less flippant side of the coin, I also try to capture what courage it takes to run toward a gun shot instead of racing away like a sane person. I have respect for those in law enforcement and hope that’s reflected in my writing. And real crime stories influence me. Author Lee Child said that it’s not about writing what you know but rather writing what you fear. So whenever I imagine the pain of losing a loved one to violence, it’s always a soul-searching experience.

I know by now you’re thinking I really love what I do. I’m conflicted, I suppose. Weighing the consequences of becoming a crime fiction author hasn’t been easy, but I’m optimistic I’ll eventually find the right balance in my life—or be forced to find a whole new set of friends.

Avon/Harpercollins launched Jordan Dane’s debut suspense novels in a back to back publishing event in Spring 2008 after the 3-book series sold in auction. Ripped from the headlines, Jordan's gritty plots weave a tapestry of vivid settings, intrigue, and dark humor. Publishers Weekly compared her intense pacing to Lisa Jackson, Lisa Gardner, and Tami Hoag—romantic suspense that “crosses over into plain thriller country”. Pursuing publication since 2003, this national best selling author received awards in 33 national writing competitions, including Best Book of 2008 by Publishers Weekly in Mass-Market for her debut novel. And she will debut in Young Adult fiction with Harlequin Teen in 2011. Formerly an energy sales manager in the oil and gas industry, she now is following her passion to write full time. Jordan and her husband share their residence with two cats of highborn lineage and the sweet memory of an impossible to forget canine.

For more, visit http://www.jordandane.com.