interview with Suzanne Jenkins

Lets welcome Suzanne Jenkins to Julie's Book Review. Suzanne is giving away a _$100 Amazon Gift Card, so don't forget to check out the rafflecopter to the right of the pg. 


Welcome to Julies Book Review. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
 Hi Julie, Thanks for having me. I am a former Operating Room nurse, fiber artist, wife, mother and grandmother. I am lucky to be able to write full time now.

 What kind of books do you write? Newest release?
 The closest classification for my books would be women’s contemporary fiction. But The Greeks of Beaubien Street, which is my latest book, has been classified as police procedural because of the murder investigation that the protagonist is involved with. 

What should we expect in your book? action,adventure, drama etc.
 I’m compelled by the reaction people have when confronted with the deepest human emotion. So I’d have to say Drama is probably the strongest element in my stories.

 How do you get ideas for your books? 
They are inspired! I’ll just get an idea and it develops as I write. In the Bible it says “out of the heart the mouth speaks”….I hope all of the dark stories I write about aren’t in my heart! Anything in your stories based on real experiences? Not intentionally. However, the sense of an experience will often be portrayed, or a location. In my book Pam of Babylon, Sandra’s apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan was my daughter’s place when she was in college back in the 1990’s.

 Toughest criticism? Best compliment? 
Some readers have a difficult time with the editing of my first few books. As a self-published author, it’s my responsibility to see to it that everything in the work is perfect. But the best compliments are from those readers who say that in spite of typos, the stories are compelling. Readers say they are unable to put my books down once they start reading and that is probably the biggest propellant to get me back to the computer.

 any advice for aspiring authors?
 Keep doing it! And while you are searching for an agent or a publisher, publish yourself.

 How about some fun stuff?Favorite past time?
 I am a dye (pun intended) hard textile lover. I have a studio with a dye kitchen, raise sheep for their wool, process it to spin into yarn, and knit lace from my handspun. Of course, right now I am a writing machine so the dye studio is waiting for my return.

 Dogs or cats or some other pet?
 We currently have two dogs which is an all time low number for us; an aging Boston Terrier and an adult shepherd mix. They are spoiled. We also had two sheep until last week when one passed away. They have been with us for ten years, moved with us from New Jersey to Michigan, and it was so sad when Slick died. Spot is the remaining sheep and soon we will get a friend for her.

 1 Fav book? why?( or one you can recommend) 
 Probably my favorite book of all time is The Good Earth. I love the family drama. 

Favorite place to travel? 
I have one kid in San Diego and one near Philadelphia, so travel is divided going back and forth to see our children and grandchildren. 

1 fav author? Why?( or one you can recommend)
 Joyce Carol Oates is my favorite author. When I read We Were the Mulvaneys, I was so enmeshed in the characters that when I finished, I became clinically depressed. It was like old friends had died.

 Is this your full time job? if yes, anything else you want to do? if no what else do you do?
Yes, I am lucky to be able to be a full time author. I can’t imagine doing anything else but write.

 Where can we find you and your books?(links)
 I sell the ebook versions exclusively on Amazon so I can utilize the Kindle Direct Publishing promotions they offer. But my books can also be ordered in paperback from all bookstores. Here’s a link to my author page on Amazon which lists my books. http://www.amazon.com/Suzanne-Jenkins/e/B005CRQC5I My website is www.suzannejenkins.net 

 http://www.amazon.com/The-Greeks-Beaubien-Street-ebook/dp/B00A1SONJK/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_2_MN7M

 Thanks, Julie!

Thanks for Being with us here on Julies Book Review. We wish you Great Success! 
Julie Ramsey
Administrator of JBR