Ask the Author: Jolene R. Whitten
Answered Questions (7)
Jolene R. Whitten
I just published The Archer's Mark yesterday so am busy with the marketing side of writing now. But ideas are already swirling around in my mind for my next book, which I hope to begin writing soon. It will be a learning experience for me, as it will be a historical novel, requiring a lot of research and hopefully, some travel. I plan to go back in time to the setting of The Archer's Mark to explore the lives of the early settlers of Joshua Falls, including the enslaved man Joshua, the town's namesake. If you read The Archer's Mark and have some ideas for my prequel, please let me know! You can go to my website at www.jolenewhitten.com and send me an e-mail. It would be greatly appreciated!
Jolene R. Whitten
I have two answers for you!
First, the 1940s London of A J Pearce's novel, Dear Mrs. Bird. Why would I want to live in London during WWII? Because my mom grew up in England during the war and after hearing all of her stories about it over the years, I'd like to experience what she lived through as a girl, firsthand.
Second, the much calmer book world of Three Pines, the rural village south of Montreal depicted in Louise Penny's Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels. Though a lot of murders seem to occur there, ironically it seems like a fun and relaxing place, filled with interesting people. I can just see myself sitting in the bistro, drinking coffee and munching on a delicious pastry!
First, the 1940s London of A J Pearce's novel, Dear Mrs. Bird. Why would I want to live in London during WWII? Because my mom grew up in England during the war and after hearing all of her stories about it over the years, I'd like to experience what she lived through as a girl, firsthand.
Second, the much calmer book world of Three Pines, the rural village south of Montreal depicted in Louise Penny's Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels. Though a lot of murders seem to occur there, ironically it seems like a fun and relaxing place, filled with interesting people. I can just see myself sitting in the bistro, drinking coffee and munching on a delicious pastry!
Jolene R. Whitten
My recent book - Garment of Destiny - hasn't yet been published. It's a sequel to A Thousand Fibers. I first decided to write a sequel because people kept asking me about the characters, imagining what might happen next in their lives. Then, I became very interested in the plight of refugees around the world and decided to try to somehow bring attention to the issue in my writing. My hope is that readers see refugees simply as ordinary people like themselves - that they feel a connection.
Jolene R. Whitten
Be confident - you can do this!
Jolene R. Whitten
Wow, this is an interesting question! Being a writer is sort of like being a kid, sitting in class and daydreaming, but I get to put those daydreams down on paper. It's just fun to create these characters and see where my ideas take them. Then, it's quite scary, but also amazing, when other people read my words and connect with my stories. While writing, it's such a solitary experience, but then once the book is published, it becomes a very social experience. So, I guess being a writer attracts both my introvert self and my extrovert self - because I'm pretty much an even mix of both!
Jolene R. Whitten
I find that creative ideas often come to me when I'm doing something other than staring at the computer screen. So, while I'm taking my morning walk I'll start thinking about my characters, and their lives just sort of take shape in my mind. Or maybe someone will say something to me in a conversation totally unrelated to my book, that will spark an idea and I'll make note of it and use that idea later when I'm writing.
Jolene R. Whitten
Reading a good book is what inspires me most. I've been an avid reader since I was a young girl, which I believe has fueled my imagination and creativity.
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