TERESA: Looking back over everything that you have achieved to date including TV shows etc, do you still pinch yourself in the mornings?
JENNY: If someone, even an angel, had told me 15 years ago that I’d have done all that I’ve done, and that by now I’d have achieved my lifetime dream of earning a living by writing, I would have laughed and said they were crazy, yet here I am. So, yes, sometimes I smile in incredulity at what’s going on. This is one reason I wanted to join your forum, to try and help others with the same dream.
TERESA: I know that we would all value your expertise Jenny. So when you have the time, just drop into SA and I’ll put the kettle on!!
We do have a lot of banter going on at times and we rib one another mercilessly but without Richard, Sammi and Colwyn (Reg) I would have fallen by the wayside long ago.
TERESA: You have written several books, Jenny do you have a favourite, and can you remember how you felt when your first book was published?
JENNY: Oh, good question Teresa! No-one ever asked me that before….I have to think. Weirdly, closest to my heart in some ways are my series of children’s spiritual books, yet to find a publisher. I’m very connected to them and to the characters in them, so an ongoing dream yet to be realised. Of my published books I only have one fiction, The Tree That Talked (so far) and it was one of those way out there ideas that only certain publishers would ‘get’. So, I’m very fond of that as fiction is my greatest love – I love the freedom. Of non-fiction, so far I think Pets Have Souls Too if my top one, but Angel Whispers is a close second. But I think when I look back my next one Soul Angels, make well turn out to be my favourite non-fiction. Sorry, not a straightforward answer – all books are the author’s babies, and it would be hard to pick a favourite child.
TERESA: I have to admit when I wrote my trilogy for young adults I was hard pushed to choose one for publication. Eventually the Eye of Erasmus decided for me. (Only another psychic would understand that I guess)
TERESA: Jenny, I have only read one of your books so far -
The Tree That Talked. I found this a very hypnotic read.
As a successful novelist, how are you able to achieve that sort of inspirational hold over the reader?
JENNY: Thank you very much J My answer is you have to make the reader feel that they are there, that they can see and hear and feel what the characters are, and so as the writer, YOU have to be there first. When I’m in full flow Tony can come and speak to me and I answer him, but later I have no idea what he said or what I said. I also learned a marvellous tip from writers I admire such as Dean Koontz. If the atmosphere and the mood of the characters is dark, then make the surroundings dark – stormy, cloudy, dark, menacing. And if their mood is light, then do the reverse, sunshine, flowers, blue skies. It helps a lot.
TERESA: Interesting thought from Dean Koontz Jenny I will bear that in mind when I write. Many times I have been told my readers have entered into the storyline with me.
TERESA: Many thanks for taking time out for our interview Jenny.
Struggling Authors has regular competitions, on the site and is not backward in coming forward in asking for freebies. Would it be presumptuous of me to ask for a signed book that we could offer as a prize please?
JENNY: I’d be honoured. You choose……
Competition Prize
TERESA: Oh lor that will be a hard one as my personal favourite is THE TREE THAT TALKED. However thinking out of the box for the winner I would choose...........SOULS DON’T LIE involving the American singer Garth Brooks.