Jo Segura: On Writing What’s Missing in Romance

Jo Segura lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and doggo, who vies for her attention with his sweet puppy dog eyes whenever she’s trying to write (her dog, that is … though sometimes her husband, too). Her stories feature strong, passionate heroines and draw upon aspects of her life, such as her love of good food, her Mexican heritage, and her fascination with archaeology.

When she’s not writing you can find her practicing law, shaking up a mean cocktail, or sitting out on the patio doing Buzzfeed quizzes (though she doesn’t care what the chicken nugget quiz said–her favorite fruit is not banana). Follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Jo Segura

Photo by Sean Hoyt, 2022

In this post, Jo discusses how she chose to write what she wanted to read in her debut romance novel, Raiders of the Lost Heart, her advice for other writers, and more!

Name: Jo Segura
Literary agent: Eva Scalzo, Speilburg Literary
Book title: Raiders of the Lost Heart
Publisher: Berkley
Release date: December 5, 2023
Genre/category: Contemporary Romance/Rom Com
Elevator pitch: Rival archaeologists must team up on a secret Aztec expedition, or it could leave their careers—and hearts—in ruins.

Bookshop | Amazon
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What prompted you to write this book?

A few months before the start of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), someone tweeted, “What kind of jobs do you wish you saw more of in #romcom books for both the hero and the heroine?” As a lover of the adventure genre, I responded with “archaeologists” but later it got me thinking, What if I actually wrote that? What if Indiana Jones and Lara Croft went on a dig together? Would they be friends? See as they both like to take the lead, probably not. But would they have the hots for each other? Most definitely! So, I decided to give it a go during NaNoWriMo, and Raiders of the Lost Heart came together from page one.

How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?

It will be just over three years from that NaNoWriMo to my pub date in December 2023. Little things changed here and there, but the storyline stayed the same from the original draft to the finished version.

Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?

The entire publishing process has been a learning experience for me. Prior to this, I’d attended writing conferences and talked to friends who’ve published books so I thought I knew what to expect going in, but each author’s experience is so different that you really can’t (and shouldn’t) compare. As for surprises—honestly, every marketing and publicity opportunity I’ve been given has been a wonderful surprise. Three years ago I never would have guessed that my Latinx adventure romance would be published in multiple formats in multiple languages, or that I’d be signing books in bookstores and at festivals and conferences. It’s all still wild to me, and I’m so very grateful.

Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?

I was surprised by how easily the first draft came together. As part of my writing process, I tend to work out the plot in my head, and I write linearly, so by the time I put pen to paper (or rather, fingers to keys), I generally knew where I wanted this story to go. It was the quickest I’d ever drafted a book, thanks in large part to NaNoWriMo. And thankfully, Corrie and Ford helped me to get there.

What do you hope readers will get out of your book?

I hope they’ll get a craving for more adventure romances! I grew up watching movies like The Goonies, Romancing the Stone, and franchises like Indiana Jones, The Mummy, and National Treasure, and I love, love, love these stories—but they need more romance! OK, well, perhaps Romancing the Stone has that one covered. But romance readers like action and adventure, too. I hope readers will also get an appreciation for archaeology. There is so much destruction in the adventure genre—artifacts get destroyed; lost cities are left crumbling. It all makes for great action and fun, but in real life would be devastating. While Raiders of the Lost Heart still has plenty of action and adventure, I wanted to make sure it was not at the expense of the artifacts Corrie and Ford are on their quest to find.

If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?

Find a writing group, whether online or in person. People you can bounce ideas off of, talk about books and writing with, get advice from. My writing groups have been invaluable throughout this process. And one thing I always say is that your non-writing friends and family do not want to talk about books and writing as much as you do, even if they are supportive and excited about your books. So find your people. Also, if you’re thinking about writing a book and aren’t sure where to start, check out NaNoWriMo. It’s a great place to find a writing community and to get words on paper.

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