Jenn Kelly: Author

Interview on 91.5FM

My mind is still reeling.

That was so much fun.

I was so nervous waiting in the waiting room.

But once I sat down?

It was awesome.  I loved it. I’ve always wanted to be a dj/announcer/newsperson etc.  This small part of me seems to thrive in the spotlight/on stage etc. 

I don’t really remember half of what I said. I just remember a sneaky question that Alan Neal asked.

“So, Jackson is a lonely little guy without a lot of purpose. Was that you growing up?”

Sneaky.

Interview #4

Ok, so we find Jenn to be on the couch in the sunroom with a laptop on her lap and she’s watching SYTYCD. She’s wearing a worn gray t-shirt and green Hollister jogging pants, that are far too large. She’s drinking the new pink grapefruit Perrier water and her neurotic dog, Daisy, is asleep on a very large pillow, the size of a couch.

So, Jenn, can you answer some questions?

Yah, sure, but only during commercials, ok?

No, problem. First of all, who do you think will win SYTYCD?

Ah, that’s a tough one. I’m starting to love Lauren because she’s so adorable and so strong, but I think  it’ll be Kent. He’s a great dancer and he’s really grown.  And all the teen girls love him.  Although if Alex was still on the show, he’d win for sure.

Ok, so what have you been up to lately?

Do you not read my blog?

Uh, yes, yes, of course. So, um. How exactly did you find a publisher? I mean, it’s really hard out there getting published, especially by someone as reputable as Zondervan.

It is hard, actually.  When I finished my manuscript, I spent about a year editing it and during that time I researched a whole bunch of publishing companies and possible agents (I did not just send it to anyone, I carefully checked out what that agent had done to make sure there was a common theme.) and I had signed up for the Writer’s Guild writing conference in June of ’08 I believe.  During that year I sent out my query letter to 76 possible places and I received 35 rejections.

Does any one rejection stand out?

Oh yes. This one guy, I thought he would be a perfect agent because he was quirky and funny.  I received a rejection letter written on behalf of his assistant, who told he wasn’t interested. No reason, just not interested. And he had his assistant do it! A friend of mine was kind enough to say that he was probably the kind of guy who was too busy to answer it himself because he was doing his mom’s laundry.

That’s kind of funny.

Yah, I thought so. After. I was pretty crushed though. Anyway, so I went to the conference in Guelph, and hubby allowed me to book a hotel because I didn’t want to share a room with 6 other women while I was there. I signed up for some cool classes (ie How to Write Christian Fiction) and I signed up to sit and talk with a few members. I got to meet Bonnie Grove (who wrote Talking to the Dead) and she read my manuscript and told me I had a unique voice. I had no idea what that meant, but she explained it well.  I got to sit with Bill Jensen (an agent) and he said to send him my manuscript. I also met Lloyd Kelly who at the time was with HarperCollins, and then I met Andy Meisenheimer from Zondervan and he was awesome.  Granted he told me that they didn’t even have a children’s editor and that he was not interested in children’s fiction. But after I wore him down (impressed him with my wit and weirdness) he consented to take my manuscript when the time was right.  And then I went home. Tired, but happy.  A few months later I emailed Andy and he told me to send my manuscript to him.  I did and then two weeks later I heard from Kathleen.  It was such a high.

So you heard from Kathleen, the Zonderkids editor, and then what happened?

I waited. She contacted me in November and told me she’d get back to me near Christmas. In January I emailed her and said, Hello? Remember me? And she said, yes of course, everyone is interested, I’ll get back to you. Six months later I emailed her and said, “Um, clearly you aren’t interested, so thank you for your time” and she quickly got back to me and said, “No, no! We want you!” And then more waiting and then a contract. And then I knew it was for real.

So do you think that this is normal for most writers? I mean, you were picked up within a year of looking.

Gosh, no. I don’t think it’s normal at all. I’ve read awful stories about people taking 9 years to get picked up or they give up after a year and self-publish.  I think in my situation God was definitely on my side.  I firmly believe that all things happen for a reason, and this is happening for a reason.

So were you ever part of any writer’s clubs or critique groups?

I would have loved to have been part of one, but things weren’t in the cards for that. I mean, most writing groups around here or either not in my genre, or they were closed.  Also, with Dan working shift work and cutting trees part-time, when he’s home – I make sure I’m home. And I wasn’t going to take that time away from Jackson either.

Would you join a group now?

Honestly? Probably not.  I have a couple of friends that do a little poetry with me and I’ve tried to set up a little writing thing twice a month, but everyone is too busy.  And I kind of don’t want any feedback until I’ve written most of it. Except from my editor. Sometimes I get so ridiculously vulnerable I send her 10 emails a day.

Do you think that makes her crazy?

Oh gosh I hope not! (laughs)  She’s very kind and sweet and puts up with me. She has a ridiculously awesome sense of humour so she gets me.  I’m so blessed to have her.  I made her promise if I made it huge she’d quit and become my manager or something.  But she loves her job, so I doubt it.  Ok, can you leave me alone now? I’m trying to watch this.

yah, yah, of course.  Enjoy your show.  Can we come back again?

(Left the room to get berries and frozen yoghurt with chocolate sauce)

Just a quick interview because I know you’re terribly busy…

We arrive at Mrs. Kelly’s house to discover the strong smell of paint fumes coming from the front door. Mrs. Kelly’s husband, Mr. Kelly, is painting the hallways a lovely ‘Bicycle Yellow’ courtesy of Home Depot. He’s wearing a gray t-shirt that shows off his huge muscle-y arms and a pair of hideous green work pants and sneakers. He waves us off upstairs to Ms. Kelly’s library where she is working on another book.

But she’s not in there. We knock on each door upstairs to hear a small voice say ‘come in’.

Mrs. Kelly, this is very strange, but are we allowed to interview you in your bedroom?

Whatever. Do you want an almond?

Um, no thank you. We actually just came by to do a quick interview but if you’re having a nap…

No, I’m not napping.

Well, what are you doing? We expected to find you typing away on your new book.

I am.

I don’t mean to point out the obvious, but you aren’t typing at all. Actually, you don’t even have a computer in here. And you’re lying in bed, under a very thick gray blanket with a bag of almonds beside you.

I’m working.

?

I’m working.  She pops an almond in her mouth.

Well, the reason we’re here today is to ask you a very specific question in which all writers have different answers.

Gray.

Excuse me?

Gray. My snuggly blanket is gray. Isn’t that what you wanted to know?

Ah, no. The question we would like answered is, ‘How do you deal with Writer’s Block?’

You’re looking at it.

From what I understand, you’re lying in bed with a gray fuzzy blanket on top of you, your snuggly-blanket, and you’re eating almonds?

And staring out the window.

And staring out the window.

And feeling sorry for myself. Hence, the gray blanket.

Why do you feel sorry for yourself?

Because I have writer’s block.

Um, is that a good cause to feel sorry for yourself? I mean, I could understand if your dog just died, but to feel sorry for yourself because you have writer’s block?

Self-pity doesn’t need a logical excuse. She stares out the window.

No, I guess it doesn’t. So what you’re saying is, when you have writer’s block, you lie in bed and stare out the window and eat almonds?

Pretty much.

You know some people deal with writer’s block differently. They do some freehand writing, they go for a walk, they read some encouraging words. Have you tried that?

I did freehand writing this morning. I don’t want to go for a walk, I want to go for sushi. But hubby is painting. I don’t feel like reading. I’m quite happy lying here feeling sorry for myself.

You do know you’re being ridiculous right?

Yep. But this is how I deal with writer’s block. In a few minutes I’ll probably crawl underneath my duvet as well and cover my head. Then I’ll think sad thoughts about myself and my lack of writing skills. I’ll think that there is no way I can write another book and that my writing is crap. Then I’ll hide even further underneath the blankets. Then I might cry. But I don’t really feel like it. Then I’ll get very hot underneath the blankets and get seriously annoyed because I can’t breathe that well and I’ll come out. But probably because I have to pee. Then I might eat something. Then I might write again. Or not.

Thank you for your time.