- a fantasy author, lover of learning and escape room expert
Readers, thanks for checking out another Author Spotlight Interview. Let’s give a good, hearty welcome to this week’s guest!
Jennifer is from Alberta, Canada and lives with her large cat and boyfriend. She loves to spend time with her friends and family, especially while playing board games or completing escape rooms.
Starting writing stories at age eight, the love of sharing her imagination has always been there and continued to grow over the years as she wrote longer and more in-depth stories.
Jennifer loves to read and travel to gain inspiration for her creations. Often including her friends in her works of fiction, Jennifer writes to make people smile and feel enjoyment.
Jennifer, thanks for agreeing to be here today. Most interviews start off with the boring stuff, but I know what readers REALLY want to know.
If you could have any pet (real/fantasy/no-allergies/no worries about feeding it) what would it be?
Well although I love my cat Jerry (big orange tabby) I would LOVE to have a Dragon!! I got my first tattoo this year and it was of a dragon. Not just because I could ride it but also because I just find the creatures fascinating.
Cats and dragons are a must for most writers! I’m sure a fan!
What do you write? And how did you get started?
In the broadest terms I write fiction, but especially my more recent writings have been specifically Fantasy based. I started writing probably when I was eight and we had to write short stories in Grade 3 that we had coil bound and read by our classmates. I still have them for memories and inspiration and ever since then I have loved writing. I have a binder full of ideas and started stories as well as completed shorter stories that I revisit from time to time.
I loved those ‘create a book’ assignments in school! I hope you get the chance to bring all of your ideas to life.
What do you like to read?
I tend to mostly read Fantasy, especially if Dragons are involved. But I read all degrees of fantasy, low magic or high magic, as well as mixing it with historical fiction. I also enjoy reading just historical fiction, primarily stories set in Japan or Rome. Finally, I will read whatever is recommended to me, especially smaller authors, to support their work.
Dragons rule. But yes, reading widely and supporting our fellow authors is a lovely thing.
Name one commonly accepted piece of writing advice that doesn’t work for you
Write chronologically.
Although I do make a rough outline at the start of my work, I tend to write out of order otherwise. I start with the end and then I write parts of whatever chapters speak to me at the time. Sometimes I am jumping back and forth, other times it’s a review day and I go through what I have written so far and elaborate.
I love the rough outline that I then ignore, but I usually hate writing out of order. I might pop back if I find I needed something to happen later. Then again, my biggest worry is flow, and only going in order can help with that. I understand other writers have different trouble spots.
Name one commonly accepted piece of writing advice that works for you
Write what you love and write because you love it.
I published my first book because I love my story and the world I created and I want to share it with others. I am not writing solely to make money but rather to increase the amount of literature that is available to continue the art. I continue to write because it is a creative outlet for me, I enjoy it and I want to keep creating my world for others to enjoy.
I’m definitely my own target audience. I have to write my stories, or else I’ll never know exactly what these worlds are, who my characters are, and why they’re achieving these goals.
Shameless Self-Promotion time!
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The Cardinal War
With no known heir to the Empire, four conflicting noble families will use whatever means necessary to claim power for themselves, but only one can become the next ruler. While the nobles fight amongst themselves, some people of the Empire struggle to survive.
Growing up on the streets of Mordale, Eileen has never known her family, or much else beyond the best place to steal a meal. This all changes after one stormy night of loss, fear, and escape. Eileen is suddenly plunged into Mordale’s political turmoil, and her fate is intertwined with a warm-hearted but strict-to-his-duty messenger of the Empire, Daithi.
Although raised in the political world, Daithi’s loyalties are challenged as he must decide between his duties as a messenger and a hidden truth that could change the course of not only his life, but that of every citizen in Mordale, as the imminent civil war has taken in more than just the noble families. He must stay unbiased while making decisions best for the Empire while helping those he cares about make the best decisions for themselves.
In the end, Eileen must determine who she is and who she will become as the struggle to rule consumes Mordale, while Daithi must choose between duty and his heart before too much is lost.
WRITING TIPS & WRITERLY MUSINGS 
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