JAN BORNSTEIN Jan Bornstein makes her literary debut with Beyond Beautiful, volume one of The Song Trilogy. A registered nurse and native New Englander, with degrees in psychology from Bridgewater State College and nursing from UMass Boston, Bornstein granted herself a hiatus from a busy career in home nursing care management to indulge her inner writer. She makes her home south of Boston.     "A well balanced mix of romance and suspense keeps this absorbing plot moving from page one to the final climax, leaving the reader eager for the upcoming sequel. Deceitful relationships, selfish goals, unresolved issues from the past all add to the difficulty Jenna and Scott are faced with in their struggle to build a relationship of love and trust. A police investigation, physical and psychological trauma, and a predatory press add to the insurmountable pressure faced by Jenna and Scott. Bornstein is able to convey to the reader the beat of the music, and the perfection of the musicians and song writers. She has the ability to reveal a progression of growth from a shallow one dimensional character to caring, sensitive, believable personalities creating an empathy with the reader.If you enjoy suspense, drama, and romance you will enjoy "Beyond Beautiful." Book Review   PageOneLit.com:  Where did you grow up and was reading and writing a part of your life? Who were your earliest influences and why? JAN BORNSTEIN: I grew up in Swansea, Ma. and but for 4 years have lived in Ma. I did a lot of reading but never wrote anything. My grandmother had the earliest and biggest influence on me. She always told me I could be whatever I wanted to be and encouraged me to go after what I wanted. PageOneLit.com:   Why do you write? JAN BORNSTEIN: I started writing just as a "tinkering around thing" and once I got into it, I couldn't stop. It was amazing to me how creative I could be.   PageOneLit.com:  Discuss your background and how it may have helped write your new book -- "BEYOND BEAUTIFUL - BOOK ONE OF THE SONG TRILOGY." JAN BORNSTEIN: I grew up being the oldest of 5 children. I was surrounded by music growing up. My great-aunt was a pianist and music teacher. She taught me how to play. I later tried the violin and drums but that didn't last too long. I ended up playing the trumpet in high school for 3 years. I also love to sing. In high school I sang in both the glee club and chorus. Later on I did some amateur singing with some people I knew in a band. I think my love my music helped in this book.   PageOneLit.com:   "BEYOND BEAUTIFUL - BOOK ONE OF THE SONG TRILOGY" is set in the music industry -- Do you enjoy music? What genres? What inspired this particular genre/industry for a plot? JAN BORNSTEIN: Yes, I like music. About the only type I don't like is rap. I've like rockn' roll for too many years to mention. I saw the movie A Star is Born years ago and looked to see what other movies or books were written about singers since then. To my surprise I found there weren't any. Since I like rock music and know some musicians in the field, I decided to incorporate it into a love story.   PageOneLit.com:  In "BEYOND BEAUTIFUL - BOOK ONE OF THE SONG TRILOGY" your two main characters are Jenna and Scott - Talk a little about these characters and what makes them interesting to you? JAN BORNSTEIN: Jenna and Scott are two successful rock singers each with their own set of "baggage." Scott is a very loving and caring man but can also be very controlling and has a quick temper. He has everything he could ever want in life but one very important thing is missing. Real love. Then he meets Jenna. Jenna is a very successful singer in her own right. Most of her relationships have ended because of her insecurities and fear but she doesn't know why. It's not until she meets Scott that she find the truths of her past. Together their love helps them overcome odds most other couples wouldn't encounter in a life time.   PageOneLit.com:  "BEYOND BEAUTIFUL - BOOK ONE OF THE SONG TRILOGY" has wonderfully written dialogue -- Do you find yourself listening a lot in public? Where did your great talent for dialogue come from? JAN BORNSTEIN: I always watch and listen to people when I'm in public. You can learn an awful lot about people from both. There were times when I was accused of being nosey by listening to others conversations but it wasn't like that at all. I would often find out a lot of information about so many topics. PageOneLit.com:   Plot or character - Which do you feel is more important and why? JAN BORNSTEIN: I think they are equally as important because you can't have one without the other. You need good plots to keep reader's attention. On the same token, they will either love or dislike the characters. PageOneLit.com: What's next? JAN BORNSTEIN: The next two books of the trilogy are written. I had so much in my original manuscript my editor felt there would be too much for one book. The plots were such they could be split and make the trilogy. Together with my editor we have begun editing. I am working on a couple of ideas for other books including a sequel.   PageOneLit.com:   What was the last book you read? JAN BORNSTEIN: I have been so busy the past year and a half I've hardly had time to fully read a book. I partially read The DaVinci Code and Savannah. I recently went back to The DaVinci Code. PageOneLit.com:   Do you have any hobbies? What are they? How do they enhance your writing? JAN BORNSTEIN: I love to walk and try to do it everyday while listening to music on my Ipod. I like to read, write, dance, travel, go to dinner with friends, shop and do antiquing. Walking and writing have inspired my writing. It's when I do a lot of thinking and ideas come to me.