TODAY THE
NOVEL CAFE IS JOINED BY.... JENNY HALE
Jenny's Debut Novel Coming Home for Christmas was released just last month.
Congratulations to Jenny and a huge thank you for joining me for a
chat at the Novel Cafe!
When I graduated
college, one of my friends said, “Look out for this one; she’s going to be an
author one day.” Despite being an avid reader and a natural storyteller, it
wasn’t until that very moment that the idea of writing novels occurred to me.
Sometimes our friends
can see the things that we can’t.
While I didn’t start
straight away, that comment sowed a seed and several years, two children, and
hundreds of thousands of words later, I completed a novel that I felt was
worthy of publication. The result is Coming Home for Christmas - a
heart-warming story about friends, family, and the magic of love at Christmas.
I am currently at work
on my second novel, also under contract.
When I’m not writing,
I’m a District Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages, a mother of
two boys, and a wife to a very supportive husband.
2. Tell us about your journey to becoming a
published author?
Funny! It came around because I over-think things. I am American, so naturally, I tried to
publish stateside with publishers and agents.
I was getting good feedback and requests for the manuscript, but hadn’t
gotten an offer.
My favorite books are
written by British authors, so I wondered if, perhaps, I was writing in a way
that was not as American. I was
wrong. Ha! But, in this moment of self-analysis, I sent
my manuscript to Bookouture, hoping to get some feedback from the UK. I got a contract instead.
3. How do you feel about the term 'Chick Lit'?
I don’t mind it at
all. I don’t really care what’s in or
out or what the newest names are for genres and subgenres as long as there’s a
good story there to be told.
4. I love to read in the bath or to be snuggled
up in bed with a good book. What/Where is your perfect reading situation?
On rainy days, curled up
on the sofa with a blanket.
5. What about when you are writing?
I have two children,
ages 7 and 4. I write anywhere and
anytime I can. Usually, it’s on a floor
somewhere near their rooms while they fall asleep. All I need is quiet, everything else is just
sprinkles on a cupcake. ;)
6. Congratulations on your debut Novel, 'Coming
home for Christmas'. Give us a little insight into the story.
Coming Home for Christmas is a story about family, but it’s also about finding that one person who makes everything in life right. Allie Richfield has grown up with her sister and mother in a lovely, but small, family. She takes a job as House Manager for the Ashford estate where she encounters a larger and more dysfunctional family, The Marleys.
Coming Home for Christmas is a story about family, but it’s also about finding that one person who makes everything in life right. Allie Richfield has grown up with her sister and mother in a lovely, but small, family. She takes a job as House Manager for the Ashford estate where she encounters a larger and more dysfunctional family, The Marleys.
Heading
it up is the 92-year-old grandmother, Pippa, who has three grandchildren:
Robert, who controls the Marley home and wants to sell it, Kip, a well-known
playboy, and Sloane, a divorced mother of two children.
They’re
all coming home for one last Christmas gathering before Robert sells Ashford
out from under them. All Allie has to do
is plan it. What she finds out is that
pulling off this last family Christmas might be harder than it seems, and the
choices she makes while at Ashford may be the biggest ones of her life.
7. Why did you chose to write about Christmas?
Do you love it just like Allie?
I think Christmas is about family and coming
home, and what’s more romantic than finding that one person who will love you
enough to help you build a family and a home?
I think that’s why it’s only fitting to think of romance when we think
of Christmas. I do love it just like Allie! I got married in the month of December.
8. How do you spend your typical Christmas?
I make cookies with the
children, and we set out the homemade cookies and milk for Santa, taking care
to keep it from the family Chihuahua.
Then, my husband and I put the kids to bed, and Santa gets to work while
I man the house! Once a very tired Santa
turns in for the night, Hubby and I sleep like rocks until the wee hours of the
morning when our children awaken, before anyone else in the civilized world,
and drag us downstairs to see their treasures.
We have Christmas breakfast of the children’s choosing and then we open
presents one at a time. After that,
Hubby and I spend most of the day opening, constructing, and finally repairing
Christmas toys.
9. When shall we expect Novel 2?
I’m about 20,000 words deep
in book 2 right now, hoping to get it done by summer. Fingers crossed!
10. Now for some quick fire questions, just for
fun!
Tea or Coffee? Coffee!
Heels or Flats? Flats
Kindle or Book? Both!
Any! All!
Bath or Shower? Shower
Day or Night? Night
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