Jackie Ivie was born and raised in a suburb outside Utah's capital, beautiful Salt Lake City. The second in a family of four daughters and one son, Jackie was constantly amusing her siblings with her invented games, escapades, and stories. And she was always reading. She would even walk the family dog, with one hand holding the leash, while the other held the ever-present book. No subject went unread, but once she discovered Historical Romances, there was no doubting her favorite genre.

Jackie has always been the busy type, rarely sitting still without being occupied in at least one activity, and usually more. When she was younger, it was nothing to find her watching television, while doing her homework, listening to music, crocheting like a madwoman, and reading, all at the same time.

After graduating, Jackie gained secure employment with a large service company and relocated with her growing family to the neighboring, sparsely-populated state of Wyoming. She then spent several years enjoying the wildlife, scenery, and open space that Wyoming is known for.  In addition to writing, Jackie is an accomplished artist in several mediums, preferring mixed media. She has several pictures in print and has exhibited in art showings throughout the West. There was never anything she loved doing more than reading, however, and once she discovered the thrill involved with putting her own words and fantasies on paper there was no stopping her.

In 2001, Jackie and her family took a huge step and moved to the largest state of the nation; Alaska. Although it was her job that brought her here, Jackie has grown to love this land of amazing contrasts, breathtaking vistas, and the ever-present resident, the Alaskan moose. There's nothing else like it, and the very long days of summer lend themselves to hours and hours of energizing tasks, while the long winter nights are just right for her real love...writing.

Jackie has now written thirteen novels and is continually starting more. The thrill of writing has now been enhanced by seeing her actual story in print. Lady of the Knight is her first published work. It will be followed by Tender is the Knight scheduled for release this summer.

Q -

People seem to have pretty strong feelings about Lady of the Knight. Are you surprised by their reaction?

JI -

Not at all. I had strong reactions while I was writing it. I live my stories. I suffer the back pain, I sob my eyes out. I hate. I love. I live. Why, I've never thrown a knife in my life, or killed an animal. I was almost gagging at the keyboard on some of this. (not to mention my little sister, Barbara, who I dedicated it to. I would write some chapters, call her on the telephone and read them to her, and we'd both be sobbing, or gagging, or arguing, or whatever.) She actually made me tone some of it down!

Q -

Is this book (Lady of the Knight) typical of future books we can expect from you? In what way or how not?

JI -

Typical only in the way it's written. Fast and furious. I never know what's going to happen when I'm inspired to write. I never know what scene, what setting, what characters are going to come out. I've sat down to work on one thing, and when I pull away, I find I've written first chapters of two new books!

Q -

Why medievals?

JI -

The Medieval time period lends itself to the way I write. Fast and furious...driven. I've been described as maniacal by another writer because it flows so rapidly, it's hard to get on the screen/page in time. Thank heaven for spell check! I can type as fast as possible and look at it later. And the Medieval time frame is so...vivid and wild. There was so much turmoil and trauma. Death. Violence. Dismemberment. Pain. Lust. Plague. Magic. Ah! There's nothing else like it.

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Q -

What type of books do you read? Who are your favorite authors?

JI -

As my mother says: I've been reading since I could see. My children call me super nerd. I call it gathering information...from anywhere. Always. If there's nothing else available, I'm reading through the old encyclopedias. Great info in there! (and it beats the Dictionary. I actually tried reading that in 8th grade!)

Q -

Do you have an agent?

JI -

Yes. Elizabeth Pomada from the Larsen-Pomada Agency in San Francisco She started her agency with co-founder Michael Larsen in 1972. She's wonderful. She's charming. She understands me...and she was in it for the long haul.

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Q -

How did you make your first sale?

JI -

You know how I did it? I found the right agent. I bought a book of agents/publishers, available at any book store, and then I wrote a WOW! query letter. You know how I knew it was a WOW! query letter? It gave me chills reading it. That's how. I kept it short and simple, and I let the writing talk for me. I put the first line of Lady of the Knight as the first paragraph. "The screams faded by midday, leaving the groans of the dying." and I italicized it. That was the entire first paragraph. My second paragrah simply said, ...so begins my novel, LADY OF THE KNIGHT. Then, I gave a one-line description. Third paragraph? How to reach me via SASE.

I didn't list one thing about who I was or what education I had or anything else. That was it. Ten queries were mailed out I got back 10 yes answers. All of them. All of them wanting exclusive looks at it. That was a first for me. I then had to go back and look at which agent I wanted to trust with my future. I sent it out. She called four days later with a contract.

That's a WOW! Chills! letter.

Q -

What advice do you have for unpublished writers?

JI -

My agent has a saying. I don't know who to attribute it to, but here goes: If anything can stop you from being a writer, it will. If nothing can stop you from being a writer, it won't. I never wrote to get published. I write because I absolutely LOVE it. It takes the experience of reading and makes it more intense, more personal, and more long-lasting. THAT's why I write. It's that much fun. Write what you love. Always. Go the distance. Persevere. Don't ever give up. EVER. No matter how many refusals and rejections you get.

Lady of the Knight isn't the first book I've written. It's the ninth. Ninth. My agent has three or four ready to go (differing time periods). I'm supposed to be re-working 2-3 others for her (...but every time I sit down to do that, guess what happens? Another work in progress.) I now have 13 fully written novels, (and four of them are set in the Highlands. One is actually in an earlier time period than Lady of the Knight!), with 2 more in various stages.

And last...finish that book. I've met so many writers who are writing a book. Dedicate yourself to getting it written. Finished. 2005. Get it finished. Then, do what you can to get it into the hands of your readers. then, do it. Go the distance.

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