Sex on the Beach with Jennifer Probst and Jen McLaughlin
Jennifer Probst and Jen McLaughlin visit HEA today to discuss their second Sex on the Beach New Adult novella series, which includes Jen P's Chasing Me, Jen M's Losing Us and Jenna Bennett's Finding You.
Jen P.: I'm so thrilled to be hanging out here today at Happy Ever After, talking about our New Adult series, Sex on the Beach, take two! Jen, did you ever think a party at RT over cocktails would have led to such a great idea?
Jen M.: I'm so happy to be here, too! I know, it's crazy, isn't it, that a conversation between friends led to something that's so much fun! I love that we got to write the first books in the series, and I love that we got to do it all over again, too, with Sex on the Beach, take two! What did you think was the most challenging part of writing these books, Jennifer?
Jen P.: I think the challenge with continuing the series was keeping the same flirty, fun feel but increasing the conflict with our characters. In Beyond Me, Quinn and James were in Key West, but with Chasing Me, they have to face day-to-day struggles in Chicago. As a young couple, it's hard facing career decisions, financial difficulty, temptations and other hurdles in the "real world." Don't your characters go through the same struggle, Jen?
Jen M.: Oh my God, yes. In Between Us, Mackenzie and Austin decide to try and make what they have work, even though all throughout the book we see Mackenzie basically cataloging all the reasons it won't. They leap into love, even knowing that fame and fortune won't make it easy for them. Losing Us revolves around all those things they were both scared of, and how they deal with the fallout. The real world definitely intervened in this book for Austin and Mac!
OK, so what did you love best about writing the series?
Jen P.: What I really loved about creating this series is the freedom. We decided right away to have fun with this project and take some risks. I had never written in first-person POV or a New Adult, so I loved pushing my writing skills and steeping myself into that world of drama.
Jen, I know you have been very successful at New Adult — was this project really different for you, too, in some ways?
Jen M.: It was, in one major way. I'd never worked on a series with other people so closely looped in before like this. (I have, since, though, as Diane Alberts and the Wedding Dare Continuity.) So it was neat and also fun to do so with you and Jenna (Bennett) — and a bit challenging, too. Which I think is important as a writer — to challenge ourselves.
Don't you agree?
Jen P.: Absolutely! Going back and forth between key scenes that are shown in each of the books made timing and organization so important. But I also loved how each of our individual voices made the series special! Thanks again for letting us chat about our new release!
Jen M.: Yes, thank you so much for having us here today! We really appreciate it!
You can find out more about the Jens and their books at www.jenniferprobst.com and www.jenmclaughlin.com.