Ask the Author: Jenn Thorson
Answered Questions (11)
Jenn Thorson
I’ve been thinking about this for a couple of days now. I’m fortunate I don’t have outstanding questions in that regard. I was, however, reminded of a humorous item— when I was young, a family friend gifted me an object we had no idea what it was. It was knitted or crocheted of silver yarn— a long flat rectangle with a loop on either end, attached to a second identical item.
Was it an unusual Christmas ornament? A strange bookmark? A bikini top for a stuffed animal? No idea. We didn’t know how to ask her what it was without being rude, particularly because we weren’t sure if she had made it.
To this day, my family doesn’t know what it was.
Not a great plot for a mystery tale, mind you. It also wasn’t great for writing the thank you know. “I appreciate you thinking of me this Christmas with your kind and sparkly gift.” :)
Was it an unusual Christmas ornament? A strange bookmark? A bikini top for a stuffed animal? No idea. We didn’t know how to ask her what it was without being rude, particularly because we weren’t sure if she had made it.
To this day, my family doesn’t know what it was.
Not a great plot for a mystery tale, mind you. It also wasn’t great for writing the thank you know. “I appreciate you thinking of me this Christmas with your kind and sparkly gift.” :)
Jenn Thorson
After a restless night of hot and cold dreams, cycling like the distant squeak of the spinning rooftop weathervane, Annabel padded worn and weary down creaking steps to the kitchen dim. A flip of the switch illuminated the monstrous truth she had somehow dared forgotten, that which had been neglected by careful ink-stained lists and the sweetest daylight intentions: the coffee canister was empty.
Jenn Thorson
While I was older than the original intended age range for it when I first read it, I loved the world of Harry Potter so much, I STILL find myself longing for my letter to Hogwarts. The magic and surprises of JK Rowling's world have an appeal I cannot deny. Also, ever since I was a kid, I've been trying to find my way to Wonderland and Looking-Glass Land. I actually got the opportunity to go there in a way, by writing my recent Lewis Carroll-inspired humorous fantasy mystery, THE CURIOUS CASE OF MARY ANN. It was a treat to be able to adapt and dive into the places I'd read about and marveled at as a child, but show different sides of them for a grown-up audience. It was a project that really became a dream come true.
Jenn Thorson
I'm currently reading THE PURIFIED, by Melinda Tyler-- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... -- it's a serial killer mystery set in San Francisco. And I've got Terry Pratchett's WEE FREE MEN on my Kindle waiting to be read. Embarrassingly, I also have a stack of books that's taller than I am ahead of me to read. I've been so involved in getting my Wonderland-based humorous fantasy novel, THE CURIOUS CASE OF MARY ANN, out to the world, I haven't had as much time to dedicate to reading as I'd like lately.
Jenn Thorson
I've always been fond of Agatha Christie's Tuppence and Tommy Beresford and Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody Emerson and Radcliffe Emerson-- and for similar reasons. Both work as an entertaining team for a common goal, and the focus isn't getting them together but how they operate differently and unite within their relationship to solve a case. It's a partnership in both instances and I really appreciate that. We don't see it too often in books and film.
Jenn Thorson
I think it was probably in the shower or in the car, while driving. Both places can be almost magical for the production of sudden, useful ideas. Note: both places also rarely have a readily-accessible pen and paper.
Jenn Thorson
I have an excuse for seeing people that aren't there and talking to myself. Some might say good meds would fix that, but those folks probably also don't write that much. :)
Jenn Thorson
You're likely to get a lot of feedback. Some of it will be useful, some of it may not. But if you love to write, don't let negativity deter you from moving forward with your projects. Ultimately, you're the one who has to make the decisions about your story. You have to love it. And generally when you love what you're doing and you give your all to it, there'll be someone else out there who will eventually love it, too.
Jenn Thorson
I'm currently working on the third book in the THERE GOES THE GALAXY trilogy. This one is called TRYFLING MATTERS. (Earth is called "Tryfe" by the aliens in my universe.) I likely will do other books using the characters from my universe, but this book will end the current plot arc.
Jenn Thorson
Most often through reading other peoples' work, though sometimes something in day-to-day life just steps forward and demands to be parodied.
Jenn Thorson
I've found the best way to get over my plot roadblocks is to write out the issues and questions I need to answer, then write out various directions the story could take for each. By writing out the brainstorming session, it forces me to really focus on the pros and cons of each, and the logic behind them. (Because even though I write humorous sci-fi, I do like it to be within the logical weirdness of my universe.) Usually I hit on the answer for what I need to do next. Sometimes I discover the answer was even there all along. (Sort of like Dorothy with the ruby slippers, only jet-powered levitational space boots.)
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