Going For a Literary Ride
Or...The Dragon reviews Jane Kennedy Sutton's The Ride

What’s a middle-aged gal to do when she realizes her disappointing marriage is truly over? Well, her best friend just took off on a cruise out of cell phone range and her aunt-actually-mother just passed away so she’s kinda on her own to figure it out. Vulnerable, it would seem. This is how Author Jane Kennedy Sutton hands us the tormented Barbie in the contemporary fiction novel The Ride. Whether you’ve got a strong feminist streak that wants to scream at Barbie each time she takes a risk or you identify a little too well with her worries, Sutton has created a character that forces emotion from you. Mix in an obnoxious husband that too many women in today’s society know, an inheritance that we need to hide from said husband, and a seductive stranger who reeks of self-assurance, and Sutton has a recipe for a coming-of-age story for a woman who’s already come-of-age once.

I definitely recommend The Ride, not just because the author and editors obviously took time in refining it technically, but also because the story moves at a brisk pace, keeping the reader engrossed in the plot as it takes its twists. I was thoroughly impressed with Sutton’s style and enjoyed her first offering in contemporary fiction. Hopefully we won’t have to wait long for another adventure!

From Fantasy Author, Sandy Lender
“Some days, I just want the dragon to win.”
Tags: The Ride, Jane Kennedy Sutton, contemporary fiction

Interview with Author Jane Kennedy Sutton

Welcome to The Dragon, Jane. Today we're conducting an interview that one might experience while participating in an Online Book Tour. So let me ask you a few questions about your recent release The Ride.

The Dragon: First, can you tell us what genre you would use to classify The Ride? I saw it more as a women's adventure story, but I don't know if that's a real category or not!

Jane Kennedy Sutton: The Ride is classified as contemporary women’s fiction. However, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the positive comments and reviews received from men, which leads me to believe contemporary fiction best describes the genre.

The Dragon: The reviews for The Ride have been largely positive whether people love the main character, Barbie, or want to yell at her. How do you feel toward this character that you lived with while writing for so long? (And how long did you live with her in your head?)

Jane Kennedy Sutton: I can so identify with many of Barbie’s less favorable qualities that I was shocked when I first heard someone didn’t like her. However, in retrospect, I can understand how people can be frustrated with how her low self-esteem leads her to make choices in her life that are not in her best interest. Barbie has been in my head for so many years I’ve lost count and at times I still think of her as an actual ‘being.’

The Dragon: When was The Ride released?

Jane Kennedy Sutton: August 2008 – a month I’ll never forget.

The Dragon: This is your first novel and I know the process was long. Can you share with our visitors what feelings you had when you finally got to hold your book in your hand?

Jane Kennedy Sutton: As the commercial says, “Priceless.” There are times I still find myself hesitant to list my occupation as an author.

The Dragon: You have vast experiences from your travels and the many places you've lived. Will you be working more of those life experiences into more books? Are there more stories already in the works?

Jane Kennedy Sutton: I think my travels and experiences always work their way into my writing but not necessarily in a literal context. I have finished the first draft of my second novel and I do have a million other ideas for books floating around in my head.

The Dragon: Where can visitors go now to get a copy of The Ride? Or to learn more about you?

Jane Kennedy Sutton: The Ride is available at Amazon and other online bookstores. If you don’t see it in your favorite local bookstore, they should be able to order it for you through Ingrams or Baker & Taylor. It’s also available at a discounted price through the publisher, ArcheBooks Publishing. Please visit my web site janesutton.com or my blog janekennedysutton.blogspot.com for additional information, including upcoming events.

The Dragon: It was a joy to have you stop by The Dragon today, Jane. I'm glad you could make some time to show our visitors how an Online Book Tour interview looks, and I hope they check out your book!

Sandy, it was a pleasure to be here and to participate. Thanks for thinking about me.

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."
Tags: Jane Kennedy Sutton, The Ride, online book tour

Sweet Jane
Or…The Dragon is at Jane Sutton's Blog Today

See Jane blog. See Sandy blog. See Sandy blog with Jane. All day long.

My friend Jane Sutton has a contemporary women's fiction novel being released later this summer from ArcheBooks Publishing called The Ride. I'm stoked! So we've been corresponding. She's got herself a handy little blog that she's set up connected to her website to assist in marketing this new book. I applaud this. I read it every Friday when she posts. And I thought, "Hey! I need a tour stop at the end of my Choices Meant for Gods Online Book Tour! Wonder if Jane would help me out with that…"

And she said yes.

So you can see this wonderful (and sometimes difficult – I can't believe you forced me to think so much, Jane!) interview at http://janekennedysutton.blogspot.com all day. We welcome your comments and questions, of course.

And if you don't already own a copy of Choices Meant for Gods, order your copy from http://www.amazon.com/Choices-Meant-Gods-Sandy-Lender/dp/1595071652/ref=dp_return_1/104-9089752-5140754?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books&qid=1175821346&sr=8-1 or the publisher's site at http://www.archebooks.com/BookIDX/Indexes/Fantasy/CMG/CMGDesc.htm. Jane's book The Ride will be available at Amazon.com and www.archeboooks.com shortly, as well!

"Some days, I just want the dragon to win."

Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, The Ride, online book tour, Jane Sutton, Sandy Lender, ArcheBooks Publishing, dragon