Meet J.L. Brannick
My hearts, to get ready for the new release of Graveyards & Greed coming May 6, I am excited to fangirl with you over the wonderful writer J.L. Brannick! I’ve read and loved her Palm Springs Poolside series. Graveyards & Greed is the second book in the sizzling, fast-paced, angsty, black comedy romance House of Spades series.
Here’s the blurb:
They are rivals. Enemies. Competitors in the Sin City underworld. But the first time they meet at a seedy biker bar in North Las Vegas, they end up burying bodies together on a hot summer night.
Now, she shares a lethal secret and an unwilling connection with Drakos Creed that could get them killed. When he finds out the clever, beautiful woman who didn’t flinch from broken necks or dead bodies is Sylvie Spade, he comes after her with a ruthless, disarming determination.
She doesn’t have time for the gorgeous, dangerous man with his dirty but brilliant mind and deviant reputation. Sylvie has her family to protect and a mortuary to run.
But when a psychotic gang member targets her, Drakos will do whatever it takes to keep her alive and safe, even if he has to drag Sylvie, kicking and screaming, into his world. Their attraction burns white-hot, but can they overcome the dark cloud of greed and malevolence circling her?
JEN: Janell, thank you for doing this interview and letting me help you celebrate the upcoming launch of your new book! Let’s start with the basics: who are you, and how did this writer life find you?
J.L.: I write contemporary and paranormal romance at night to help myself detox from working as a public defender during the week. I've developed an unhealthy addiction for crunchy Cheetos with red wine, and I live in a small town in the desert mountains that doesn’t have a stoplight. To keep my dog happy and my therapy bills low, I take long hikes most days while listening to an audiobook or a podcast.
JEN: Red wine and Cheetos? Sold! Also, I love that you bring your attorney brain to your writing. Legal knowledge makes for such juicy plot twists—and gives your characters such authority on the page. Who is your favorite author?
J.L.: My favorite romance author is Mariana Zapata. My favorite current author is Pierce Brown, which is weird because he writes sci-fi in this kind of space opera style. My entire family has read or is reading his Red Rising series.
JEN: Wait. Red Rising is space opera?? How did I not know that. I’ll add Pierce Brown to my list! What other creators are you friends with?
J.L.: F. E. Bryce, a romantasy author, talked me into writing my first book. My narrator, Katie Thompson, is amazing and so supportive of all the authors she works with. The two male narrators, John Lane and Troy Durrant who narrated the duet narrations were also wonderful to work with. There are several Bookstagram authors who have become wonderful supports as well.
JEN: Love a good Bookstagram community—I adore hearing when indie creators find their people. That kind of support makes all the difference. What's your favorite snack or beverage while working? What do you need to have within easy reach in order to create?
J.L.: Red wine or a cocktail when I'm writing, and seltzer water when I'm editing.
JEN: Yes to wine while writing and seltzer while editing—respect. I feel like you just revealed your process in beverages and I totally get it. What do you do for fun when you're not creating?
J.L.: Regional music festivals, hiking with my dog…
JEN: Oh, nice! What's your favorite music?
J.L.: I like classic rock, indie rock, instrumental jazz, and some world music.
JEN: What made you want to start creating? Tell me your origin story.
J.L.: I enjoy reading romance but wanted more female main characters to be portrayed as reasonably intelligent and educated, which I believe most women are. A family member also started writing, and we went through the journey together.
JEN: Oof, that origin story hits home. I’m with you—smart, capable, emotionally complex women deserve their love stories too. I’m glad you decided to start writing them. So, let's talk about your work! Let’s show off your bookshelf a little—what are your current series?
J.L.: The Palm Springs Poolside series, The Las Vegas House of Spades series, and just beginning a paranormal romance series centered around an investigator with the National Parks.
JEN: Three series at once?! You’re a superhero. Do you have any planned releases or works in progress?
J.L.: Yes! One from each series. I wouldn't recommend this.
JEN: Haha! Hard relate. So, how are you managing that?? What does your routine look like?
J.L.: I’m a morning person thanks to my dog. Write early in the morning when everyone is sleeping. Then most evenings I work on editing, formatting, and other book-related tasks.
JEN: In what ways does creating energize or exhaust you?
J.L.: Marketing exhausts me. I'm an introvert at heart, and would rather just write and create.
JEN: Honestly? Same. Marketing makes me want to crawl under a weighted blanket and hide. But your stories deserve to be seen, and I’m so glad you’re pushing through the introvert hangover to share them. What has been the toughest criticism of your work you have received? And what has been the biggest compliment?
J.L.: My toughest criticism has been there's too much spice so it must be trashy. I like open-door romance, so of course I'm going to add it to my own writing. My favorite compliments are when reviewers say they like my female main characters because they're smart, typically kind, and reasonably intelligent.
JEN: Ugh, that “too spicy must mean trashy” take is such internalized nonsense. We know spice doesn’t cancel out substance—and your characters are proof of that. Smart, kind, competent women getting theirs? Yes please. On that note, what advice would you give to your younger self?
J.L.: Always try to improve your craft and make your first book a standalone. Spend time and money on editing.
JEN: Ha! Great advice! Editing really is the magic wand, huh? This has been such a blast—thank you for hanging out with me, Janell! I loved getting to peek behind the curtain of your creative world. I’ll be cheering loudly for the launch of Graveyards & Greed.
NOTE FROM JEN: If you like your romance with heat, grit, and a splash of bloodstained Vegas glam, Graveyards & Greed is about to become your new obsession. You can find J.L. Brannick’s books on Amazon and KU, and follow her @jlbrannick.author on Instagram, @jlbrannick.writes on TikTok, and at jlbrannick.com.
Are you a human author? A human who narrates audiobooks? A human who designs book covers? Or a human who does PR and promotion for other authors? I'd love to interview you, too. Let me know when you’re ready!
