Interview with Lisa Renee Jones, Author of Hard Rules

Tell us a little bit about your new release, Hard Rules.

Hard Rules is book one in my new Dirty Money series. It’s a much different series than my others are. It’s darker and grittier for one. But also I brought in a family drama dynamic I haven’t yet explored in one of my books before. The jist is two brothers, Shane and Derek vying for control of the family empire. Shane, our hero, will do anything to save the company from the corrupt poison Derek is hell-bent on pouring into it. But then he meets Emily. She became his light in the darkness of betrayal and lies that is his family. But the true question is will their love be enough to save them from the destruction that is looming ahead? This is a 4 book series that will pack a lot of suspense, passion and intrigue until the heart-stopping end.

Which book from your childhood or teenage years has stuck with you as an adult?

Not a book, but an author. Victoria Holt. My mom read her books and I would sneak them from her shelf and read them.

Which books would we be surprised to find on your shelves?

Most people don’t know that I come from a corporate world so I have the business book WHO MOVED MY CHEESE forever on my shelf. It’s a remind to never get complacent in business, or life.

What’s it like to have one of your books set to be made into a TV series?

It’s surreal. Hollywood is a MUCH different space than the publishing world. So learning those ins and outs has been exciting and terrifying at the same time. But at the end of the day I cannot wait to see Inside Out come to life on a screen.

BAM. You’re a superhero. What’s your superpower?

Oooh to understand animals? I would love to know what my cat is ACTUALLY saying. Or to stop time. I think I’d like that. I’d be able to just freeze time do my writing and work normal hours! What a dream!

If you had an extra hour each day, how would you spend it?

Sleeping or writing. Those are pretty much my only two modes right now because of my deadlines.

What scene in Hard Rules was your favorite to write?

I have two! The Lipstick scene which is when Shane and Emily meet. It’s fun and flirty, but you also get the intensity from Shane as well. And then there’s the balcony scene… sigh. That scene is hot and sexy and all around probably the most memorable. Not only is it an incredibly erotic encounter between Shane and Emily, but it’s also a building of their trust with one another. I think it was a real turning point in their relationship in book one.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

Everything happens for a reason. I live by the quote. Obviously there are extreme cases that don’t adhere, but it helps me see reason in life. If something I’ve been hoping and dreaming for doesn’t work out, it’s for a reason. There’s something else out there for me. Or I was meant to go through an emotional turmoil to grow and learn as a person. That quote, while a cliché, is something I repeat to myself almost daily.

Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the new book Hard Rules.

Connect with Lisa
Author Website
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