Ask the Author: Jenny Andersen
Answered Questions (5)
Jenny Andersen
Good question! Answering it isn't so easy, because sometimes characters just float into my head with names attached...that feels like I don't have any say in the matter! Hannah arrived in the story already and firmly named Hannah, but she didn't have a last name. So I looked at her life (lonely, kind of repressed by her dictatorial father) and at her home (beautiful mountain ranch). Blue could describe both her feelings about her life and about missing her recently deceased father and the mountain scenery. That gave me a surname that started with Blue. Blue what? Field just followed naturally. Hannah agreed, and the story began.
Thank you for asking. What kind of art do you do? I'll look forward to seeing Hannah Bluefield's success!
Thank you for asking. What kind of art do you do? I'll look forward to seeing Hannah Bluefield's success!
Jenny Andersen
Wow. That's a hard one. The honest, probably not very interesting answer is, 'What would my life be like if I'd been more alert to what I should have done rather than coasting along'. And really, I hate to think about how much better I could have done things. But that's not really a mystery. I'm guessing that almost everyone has moments of wondering what they could have done better.
On the other hand, much in my life has been fodder for my writing. I've never used my experiences as a plot for a whole book, but certainly they have colored moments. I grew up in the city, with crowds and concerts and white gloves, and on a farm, with horses and dogs and chickens and cats and snakes and outdoor plumbing and no electricity. So I have log cabin moments of feeling like Abraham Lincoln, reading by firelight. As a younger adult, I did much outdoor stuff--more horses and camping and geology and such. All of this colors my books.
It's a good question, and I'm sure I'll be looking a bit harder for mysteries in my life. After all, plots are where you find them. :-)
But what about readers? What mysteries (or experiences) in your life color your reading?
On the other hand, much in my life has been fodder for my writing. I've never used my experiences as a plot for a whole book, but certainly they have colored moments. I grew up in the city, with crowds and concerts and white gloves, and on a farm, with horses and dogs and chickens and cats and snakes and outdoor plumbing and no electricity. So I have log cabin moments of feeling like Abraham Lincoln, reading by firelight. As a younger adult, I did much outdoor stuff--more horses and camping and geology and such. All of this colors my books.
It's a good question, and I'm sure I'll be looking a bit harder for mysteries in my life. After all, plots are where you find them. :-)
But what about readers? What mysteries (or experiences) in your life color your reading?
Jenny Andersen
Oh, gosh, so many things! It's easy to get discouraged by thinking about the downsides...deadlines, rejections, having to deal with marketing instead of just enjoying readers, more work than time, the overwhelming need for self-discipline, the misery when the book isn't coming together and the characters won't cooperate...you know, all that stuff.
But the good things--wow! Working at home, or the coffee shop, or the beach, wherever, as the mood strikes you. Not having to dress up to go to work. Getting to hang out with the cool characters you make up. Telling Lies for Fun and Profit (as James Frey says in his book of that name). The unbelievable rush when it all falls into place. The unbelievable rush when the gr*n!xl* book is done and you're free Free FREE! (for at least an hour or so).
Yes, all of the above are true, but the real best thing about being a writer is the joy of successful creating. Having an idea and bringing it to the page (or screen), creating something tangible, a story, from nothing, and being able to share it, brings such a sense of accomplishment...well, it's just wonderful, that's all.
P.S. Bringing your laptop to the beach on a windy day...not such a good idea.
But the good things--wow! Working at home, or the coffee shop, or the beach, wherever, as the mood strikes you. Not having to dress up to go to work. Getting to hang out with the cool characters you make up. Telling Lies for Fun and Profit (as James Frey says in his book of that name). The unbelievable rush when it all falls into place. The unbelievable rush when the gr*n!xl* book is done and you're free Free FREE! (for at least an hour or so).
Yes, all of the above are true, but the real best thing about being a writer is the joy of successful creating. Having an idea and bringing it to the page (or screen), creating something tangible, a story, from nothing, and being able to share it, brings such a sense of accomplishment...well, it's just wonderful, that's all.
P.S. Bringing your laptop to the beach on a windy day...not such a good idea.
Jenny Andersen
Two months ago I would have given you a sanctimonious answer, something about not letting it win, just keep writing, you'll get through it, blah, blah, blah. Then came some physical problems and some surgery. Something about pain followed by anesthesia followed by more pain did me in and hey, presto! I had a monumental case of writers block. I spent almost two months without writing a single word. Aaargghhh!
Am I over it? Maybe. How did I deal with it? I progressed from not even noticing the problem to cutting myself some slack. After all, I was sick. Then came guilt, followed by massive amounts of guilt caused by staring at all the deadlines on the calendar. And then, at last, came the first crack in the dike. I eased back into being a writer by organizing. (I love to organize. If only I could convince myself that writing tasks on a list doesn't really accomplish anything.) Organizing allowed me to pick the most urgent thing (the next book, of course) and sneak up on it by talking to the hero. Once I knew his needs, goals, and weaknesses, we were in business.
So, tentatively, I have triumphed. We'll see. I don't ever want another two months like that, I can tell you.
Am I over it? Maybe. How did I deal with it? I progressed from not even noticing the problem to cutting myself some slack. After all, I was sick. Then came guilt, followed by massive amounts of guilt caused by staring at all the deadlines on the calendar. And then, at last, came the first crack in the dike. I eased back into being a writer by organizing. (I love to organize. If only I could convince myself that writing tasks on a list doesn't really accomplish anything.) Organizing allowed me to pick the most urgent thing (the next book, of course) and sneak up on it by talking to the hero. Once I knew his needs, goals, and weaknesses, we were in business.
So, tentatively, I have triumphed. We'll see. I don't ever want another two months like that, I can tell you.
Jenny Andersen
Oh, hard choice! There are so many possible answers, but my lightning, gut response was Claire & Jamie (the Outlander novels). Since I (mostly*) write romances, this might seem a little out of the norm. Perhaps I should have picked a couple from a more 'normal' romance? I remember the fuss when Outlander won a RITA. Some disgruntled people claimed it wasn't a romance. I disagree, btw. I should write that well!
So. Jamie and Claire. They certainly love each other, with a love that transcends time and space. They are, separately and together, fully individual people. And they get an HEA by the end of each book. Mostly.
* As Jenny Andersen I write romance and women's fiction; Lilac James writes erotic romance; P.J. Metz writes horror/fantasy short stories.)
So. Jamie and Claire. They certainly love each other, with a love that transcends time and space. They are, separately and together, fully individual people. And they get an HEA by the end of each book. Mostly.
* As Jenny Andersen I write romance and women's fiction; Lilac James writes erotic romance; P.J. Metz writes horror/fantasy short stories.)
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Sep 15, 2017 10:54AM · flag