Jo Segura Interview - Temple of Swoon ~ JeanBookNerd

Photo Credit: Sean Hoyt

USA Today bestselling author Jo Segura lives in the Pacific Northwest with her doggo, who vies for her attention with his sweet puppy dog eyes whenever she’s trying to write.

Jo's stories feature strong, passionate heroines and draw upon aspects of her life, such as her love of good food and great cocktails, dancing, her Mexican heritage, and her fascination with archaeology which inspired her debut romcom, RAIDERS OF THE LOST HEART, published December 2023 by Berkley Romance, and the forthcoming sequel, TEMPLE OF SWOON (Jan. 7, 2025).

When she’s not writing you can find her practicing law, perusing the aisles at Trader Joe's, 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).

When/how did you realize you had a creative dream or calling to fulfill?

I’ve wanted to be an author for as long as I can remember. I loved going to the library with my mom when I was a kid, picking out a whole stack of books to take home with me. I loved the Book-It program, Scholastic book fairs, and the used book sales at the local library. And I used to write all sorts of stories and glued the pages together to make my own “books.” But as I got older and for the longest time, I didn’t think being an author was something I could actually do. It seems so daunting. Publishing books was a career for other people. I needed to have a “real job” (whatever that means). And even though I continued writing stories, it wasn’t until I was in my late thirties that I started to wonder, “why not me?” Once I got to that point, I never looked back, and now I’m so proud to say I’m an author.

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.

Having readers reach out and say they felt like my book was written specifically for them. To be able to connect with readers on that level is such an amazing feeling. You put so much of yourself into a book, and for a reader to say, “I love this book and feel like it was written for me” gives you such a special connection.

What was the single worst distraction that kept you from writing this book?
Imposter syndrome. I wrote TEMPLE OF SWOON before my debut, RAIDERS OF THE LOST HEART, had come out. What if readers didn’t like Raiders? What if writing Raiders was a fluke and I couldn’t recreate the magic? What if no one wants to read my books? Imposter syndrome is a powerful thing, and it’s hard to not let it consume your thoughts.

What chapter was the most memorable to write and why?

There’s a scene in TEMPLE OF SWOON when the team gets in some deep trouble (vehicle issues, an injury, and an unplanned detour) and the heroine, Dr. Miri Jacobs, is starting to doubt herself so she takes off into the Amazon Rainforest alone to blow off some steam. The love interest, Rafa, finds her trying to swing from vines like Tarzan, but she just keeps falling. Yet she never gives up. I loved peeling back Miri’s layers in this scene—her tenacity, her insecurity—and watching Rafa start to truly fall for her. Plus it was just fun. We’ve all seen movies of people swinging from jungle vines like it’s so easy, but in actuality, we’d probably all fall on our faces like Miri.

Can you tell us when you started TEMPLE OF SWOON, how that came about?

I started TEMPLE OF SWOON a month after I signed my two-book contract. The first book, RAIDERS OF THE LOST HEART, had already been written, but my editor wanted to see a pitch for the second book right away. I’d ended Raiders in a way that left it possible for a sequel, and we ended up deciding to pick up where that book left off but with new characters.

What were your feelings when your first novel was accepted/when you first saw the cover of the finished product?

Shock that it was actually happening. Validated that publishing professionals (and someone other than my friends and family) thought my stories were worth telling and reading. And enamored when I first saw the final cover—I may be biased, but I think my covers are fantastic. The cover artist, Camila Gray, is a true talent.

RANDOM FACTS ABOUT TEMPLE OF SWOON

1. I chose Miriam’s name as nod to Marion Ravenwood from the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark.
2. LiDAR technology is actually used by archaeologists to help locate lost cities, such as the Lost City of the Monkey God, which was uncovered in Honduras in 2015.
3. Brazilian actor Rodrigo Santoro was my inspiration for Journalist Rafael Monfils (you can see the inspiration in the cover art). Rafa is half-Brazilian and half-French Canadian.
4. Miri loves snacks (like me), so it seemed only fitting to incorporate them into her meet-cute with Rafa. I added Pringles because it seemed like they wouldn’t get crushed in her bag like other chips might and were the perfect vessel for runaway snacks, but in actuality, Miri probably wouldn’t have brought can of Pringles because they would have taken up too much space in her bag.
5. There’s a running joke throughout the book involving potatoes—Rafa’s nickname for Miri, some phrases he says, etc. I even managed to squeeze in a quote from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom when Short Round says, “Hold onto your potatoes!”
6. The Moon City and its descendants, the Protectors, are completely fictional and are not modeled after any particular group of people, although there are still many indigenous people living in the Amazon.
7. Miri appears twice in RAIDERS OF THE LOST HEART—in the first and last chapters. At one point, her mentor Dr. Socorro Mejía says about Miri, “She’ll be swinging from vines in no time.” And as it just so happens, Miri picks up vine swinging in the Amazon.
8. I tried to incorporate lots of the Amazon rainforest’s flora and fauna into the book, which meant lots of research. One of the most interesting things I learned was that despite being the world’s largest spider by mass and weight (and despite the name), the Goliath birdeater spider is relatively harmless to humans. But I still had to work one into the book because, I’m sorry, but if a giant spider landed on me in the jungle, I’d be freaking out, dangerous or not.

What is the first job you have had?

Working concessions at a local golf tournament. I can even say that I served a hamburger to the actor, Jamie Farr (he was my hometown celebrity and starred in M*A*S*H for those who don’t know who he is).

What is your happiest childhood memory?

Going on bike rides to the park with my mom and siblings where I sat in the kid seat behind my mom. We’d stop on the way at this little carry-out and I’d always get a root beer and a bag of sour cream and onion potato chips (Miri gets her love of SC&O chips from me). Then we’d head to the park, and I’d search for fossils in the rock wall along the river.

What was your favorite subject when you were in school and why?

In grade school, I loved English because I loved books and writing. But in college, hands down Geology. The study of rocks and the structure of the Earth is absolutely fascinating.

Name one thing you miss about being a kid.

The lack of responsibility.

What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning?

“If I don’t move, maybe Henrik (my dog) won’t notice I’m awake and I can get another five minutes of sleep before he gets up.” I literally think this just about every day.

What is your most memorable travel experience?

Traveling to Belize to participate in a Mayan archaeological dig for a month.

What's your most missed memory?

I miss waking up early on Thanksgiving to help my mom prep the turkey. I moved from home almost 20 years ago and haven’t been back for Thanksgiving, but it was something I looked forward to every year.

When you looked in the mirror first thing this morning, what was the first thing you thought?

Mmm… my fave soap! (Trader Joe’s peppermint foaming hand soap)

What do you usually think about right before falling asleep?

Honestly, my stories. I use bedtime to plot whatever I’m working on.

If you had to go back in time and change one thing, if you HAD to, even if you had “no regrets” what would it be?

I would have studied abroad. I was signed up to spend a summer in Spain in college but pulled out at the last minute. After that, it took me almost twenty years to go to Europe for the first time.

First Love?

Indiana Jones.

What event in your life would make a good movie?

Probably right now. I’m living on a farm in a small town, and within the first week I saw a bear, got swarmed by slugs on the doorstep, caught a mouse in the bathtub, and locked myself out on the balcony without my phone. My sister said it was like the start of a horror film, but I said it’s the start of a romcom.

What is one unique thing are you afraid of?

It’s not necessarily unique, but it may be irrational since I almost never encounter them, but sharks. I used to think sharks would bite off my feet as I was getting in bed as a kid. To this day, I can’t look at pictures of sharks. If I’m flipping through a book and suddenly there’s a photo of a shark, I’ll toss the book away from me.

A plucky librarian and an archaeologist on the run fake an engagement to save their lives, leading them into the labyrinth of their own desires.

Daniela Guiterrez has been in love with her brother’s best friend, Theo, for as long as she can remember—until he went missing over a year ago during an archaeological expedition. But on a solo trip to Greece, the intrepid librarian discovers that Theo is very much alive, although judging by the criminals holding him hostage, he is not doing well.

An expert in ancient Greek archaeology, Dr. Theo Galanis was abducted by artifact smugglers in search of a priceless gemstone—the eye of the Minotaur. This ridiculous assignment was supposed to get Dani out of his system, not keep her tied up next to him. But when a little white lie spirals into his captors believing Theo and Dani are engaged, the “couple” must utilize her research skills and his expertise to solve the millennia-old Minoan mystery, all while feigning a romance to keep each other alive.

Now with six days to find the jewel, underground societies, mythological beings, and pesky abductors are only half the battle. Because among the ancient ruins and temples they explore is an even bigger danger: falling in love for real.

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