When it comes to passion for writing, author Janice L. Dennie has plenty of it. We recently spoke to her about her latest release, Brandon’s Artistic Passion.

Tell me about your new book, Brandon’s Artistic Passion.
Brandon’s Artistic Passion is about a Napa Valley artist who loses his passion for painting. He finds inspiration in a brilliant ballerina and claims her as his ideal woman. But Brandon’s failed relationships haunt him until someone reveals a family secret.

Ciara Alexander is a talented principle dancer at a small ballet company. She dreams of joining a major ballet company, but finds that competition is stiff, and her biological clock is ticking.

Brandon attends one of her fiery performances and regains his passion for painting by creating a dramatic masterpiece of a ballerina wearing a red tutu with a purple feather in her hair, which he entitles Ciara.

Now that Brandon has regained his passion for painting and found his ideal woman, will he ruin his chance for love by falling back into old habits? Will Ciara’s ambitious dream of joining a major ballet company, take precedence over the man who she loves?

Why did you decide to write it?
I wrote this story because I thought a story about the life of a ballerina and an artist would be interesting. I enjoyed writing this book. In fact, this book was originally book number one in my Underwoods of Napa Valley Series.  I changed it to book number four because of Brandon’s place in the family. As the youngest brother, I thought his book should come after his other brothers’ stories.

What is the biggest lesson you want readers to learn from the book?
I want people to listen to their heart when it comes to the career they choose. People should realize that their heart’s desire never really changes, no matter how old you get. You can choose to work in a high-paying career and feel unfulfilled if your heart’s desire lies in another field. People should be honest with themselves and be careful for what they ask for because they just might get it and then realize that they never really wanted it after all.

What has been the biggest surprise about your Underwoods of Napa Valley series?
My biggest surprise is how much I enjoy writing this series and creating these characters.  C.S. Lewis said, “You can make anything by writing.”

What advice do you have for women who want to write a book?
Learn about the publishing industry, sit down and write your story, and learn the mechanics of putting a book together. I feel lucky because I gained exposure to the world of publishing by working at a small University Press at the University of California, Berkeley, where I worked with editors, graphics artists, typesetters and salespeople. I transferred those skills to my own publishing company, Kente Publications. I continue to study my craft by reading books, particularly The Elements of Fiction Writing by Writer’s Digest, which I would highly recommend.

How do you juggle being an author and wife?
I believe family comes before everything. I can always write a book, but I can never replace family members.  I watch football with my husband on Sundays during football season. I travel and visit my family all over the United States.

What advice do you have for women interested in pursuing their dreams?
Follow your heart. If I would have followed my heart, I would have become an English teacher, but I took a different career path.  Now I’m working in the field that I’ve always loved.

What’s next for Janice l. Dennie?
I have a new contemporary series coming out next year.

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Check out the new book trailer for Brandon’s Artistic Passion.  To learn more about Janice Dennie, visit her website or connect with her on Facebook or Twitter.