Jenn Kelly: Author » progress

In a Strange Turn of Events…

Jenn Kelly — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:26:57 +0000

I met up with an old friend from high school yesterday. He was a brilliant artist back then and to this day has grown fantastically in his art. We talked about books and illustrations, and the art of selling out (see previous post).

So after our discussion, I became very excited about my next venture. While I am still going to attempt Amish Romance, my heart is very excited about a picture book.

Yes, a picture book. I can’t tell you anything of anything, except to say that he came up with the most perfect character and I have a storyboard and some watercolour backgrounds to try out. Am very excited.

I honestly have no idea what I’m doing, but I’m feeling very confident about this project. Not sure why…

Eating: salted caramel hot chocolate … reheated 5 times.

Watching: snow fall and my dog snore

Listening to: dog snoring.

Reading: Karen Kingsbury thingy, Desecration and picture books

Call Me Crazy…

Jenn Kelly — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 19:07:49 +0000

But I started a new book.

And it ain’t for kids.

See, I was having a fantastic conversation with the lovely Kathleen, and discussed how at her new Publishing house, she’ll be senior editor of women’s fiction and amish romance. For those of you who are unaware, yes, amish romance does exist. So I laughed. And then realized that she just might be an outlet into other, possibly bigger things. Hm…

So as we email chatted, I came up with what I thought was a brilliant storyline for women’s fiction/amish romance. I have yet to figure out which it’ll be.

So today, after the gym and my Farm Boy lunch run, I made it over to my favourite coffee shop, noticed two of my books had sold over the weekend (yay me!) and began to write.

I wrote 1,000 words without breaking a sweat.

While I am all for writing another Jackson Jones (gosh they are fun to write and I’m pretty sure I have the plot down for the third – which will involve a shipwreck), if I don’t sell an adequate amount of the first, there will not be a contract for a third … yet. Deep down I’m hoping for a late start out of the gate and mid-summer things will pick up smoothly (although I pray for a great Christmas spike) and then I’ll be asked to write more. But why limit myself? I’ve always wanted to write a grown-up book. I’ve always wanted to write a teen series. I’ve always wanted to write an adult fiction.

So why not?

Reading: same as before

Eating: pumpkin scone from starbucks. too sweet! ick. shoulda had chocolate square or something

Listening to: the dog chew her feet.

Watching: Hulk with Ed Norton.

You know when …

Jenn Kelly — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 18:07:14 +0000

you’ve got only 15,000 words written and you have the rest already written but it needs to be severely edited, so you section the sections off in four different sections with pretty paper clips and then you just stare at them for about half an hour, so you go get some water and reheat your chai (even though chai after vietnemese food is kinda gross) and you sit back down and play ‘Bookworm’ for fifteen minutes and then you google your own name and read things about yourself and then you look at the sections again and then wonder where the sun is and if you have time to squeeze in a nap, but not because you’re tired, but because you aren’t quite sure where to put those sections that you’ve sectionned and you’re sure if you have a nap you’ll come up with a brilliant idea because it is the ‘cloud’ afterall and it always gives good ideas, and hubby is home so he could go get the child from school so you can figure out your sections, but you’re clearly out of ideas and just want to curl up and read ‘Pollyanna’?

Yah, it’s one of those…

Reading: Pollyanna! Didn’t you read the above? And PS: it was ‘White Fang’ not, Wild something

Eating: chai. hello? look up?

Watching: Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire.

Listening to: the clock ticking

Book Signings and Parties

Jenn Kelly — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 12:46:04 +0000

Actually, it was only one party. But we’ll get to that in a minute.

So I had my first book signing exactly one week ago at Chapters Kanata. I had a lovely new friend come over and blow out my hair so it was lovely and long and straight. Then I put on my best striped socks and off to Chapters. The time was for 1-3, but I got there at 12:30 and immediately people started coming. Granted, most of them were friends and well-wishers, which totally made my heart feel special, but I did get to meet some new kids and talk to them. There are so many lovely kids out there… I believe Chapters sold 28 books, so I was very happy. Then we rushed home, I threw on my sparkly dress and drove to Gigi’s house for the party.

Oh the party!

64 people dressed to impress with lots of food, laughing and encouragement. The best part was when hubby had people go up and say lovely and encouraging things to me. I cried for half an hour straight. It was beautiful. The best part was when m.i.l was talking and I kid you not I had no idea it was even purcolating, but I farted right in the middle of her speech. And it didn’t help that I said, “oh!” right afterwards. It just fell out. Hubby grunted and cleared his throat to make everyone think it was him but I immediately got the giggles. Ah the joys of humility! It was a very special night.

Last night was another book signing, but at Pinecrest Chapters from 6-9. It wasn’t as busy but more friends came to encourage me (which I loved, loved, loved!) and I met some new kids and some new teachers. That was fun too. But so tiring! You forget to eat! Which is bad. Must recuperate from crazy week. Must eat healthy foods and cleansing teas. Am fighting a cold. Not happy about that.

I have to say though, about mid-way through the week I felt a renewed sense of … urgency. To get this second book written (besides the fact that it’s due in 4 weeks?) but I feel that this could be a great book as well. I’m not saying the first book is great … actually, yes I am. It’s a great book and I’m really proud of it. And now it’s time to write another.

How blessed am I that I can use my gifts to do something I love…

Watching: finished Ironman. Am waiting until Tuesday for second one. Love it.

Reading: Jack London’s ‘The Wild’. I think that’s what it’s called. Scary beginning. So vivid!

Drinking: green tea. ick. but so good for you.

Listening to: the gaffer play in the bath. He has a cold too. Poor kid.

Resolved not to hide under duvet …

Jenn Kelly — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:57:19 +0000

I didn’t write much on Wednesday. It was awful. I didn’t do much at all, actually. I think I wrote a thousand words, but that’s how long it took for Jackson Jones to get to his next spot to meet his next character.

Today? I think I’ve written five hundred but I’m stuck on dialogue.

Why didn’t someone tell me that this would be hard? And I even went to my favourite Starbucks writing place and they are CLOSED for renovations! I tried another Starbucks and it was terrible!!! What if my usual haunt doesn’t work because they’ve changed everything inside? Gak!

Reading: Anne of Green Gables (I wish I talked like her all the time. I think my hubby would kill me.)

Watching: Survivor last night but I was looking at Paris on Google.

Listening to: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S1IcTiiLPc[/youtube]