Interview with Jennie Marsland

Jen: This weekend we welcome Jennie Marsland to Romancing the Book. Jennie, will you please share a short bio with us?
Jennie: I’m a teacher, a painter, a musician and, for over thirty years, a writer. I fell in love with words at a very early age and the affair has been life-long. I enjoy writing songs and poetry as well as fiction. I’ve always loved history, and I grew up enjoying the stories my parents and grandparents told about life in rural Nova Scotia in the early years of the last century, and during the Great Depression. When I’m not writing I read, paint with watercolors, play guitar and garden. I live in Nova Scotia with my husband, our cat Emily and our Duck-Tolling Retriever, Chance.

Jen: Tell us about McShannon's Chance and where it's available.
Jennie: McShannon's Chance, my first novel, is now available as an e-book and in print from Bluewood Publishing, and in print from Amazon and Barnes&Noble. The book is a historical Western, set in the Colorado Territory in 1871.

The hero, Trey McShannon, is a Civil War veteran, a Georgia boy who fought for the Union and decided it would be smart to make tracks for the West afterwards. After spending a few years getting his homestead up and running, Trey realizes he’s overworked and lonely and sends for a mail-order bride. He gets Beth Underhill, a watercolor artist from a once-affluent Eastern family, now in reduced circumstances. Trey needs a wife and Beth needs a home, it’s as simple as that…until the sparks of attraction start flying between them. Trey is still haunted by his wartime experiences, and Beth has been hurt by a man she thought she loved, so they have a lot of work to do before they can find happiness together.

You’ll find Bluewood Publishing’s bookstore at http://www.bluewoodpublishing.com. By the time this interview is posted, you should be able to order the book through bookstores as well.

Jen: At what age did you discover writing and when were you first published? Tell us your call story.
Jennie: I started writing poetry and short stories when I was 9 or 10, and moved on to songs when I learned to play guitar as a teenager. I kept writing sporadically through the years, but never attempted anything longer until the hero for McShannon's Chance popped into my head in a moment of inspiration. I was on a camping trip at the time and couldn’t find anything to write on but paper towel. I grabbed three sheets and a pencil and started scribbling. I still have those sheets tucked away. After a lot of revision and several rejections, the book went through two aborted publishing efforts with small publishers that closed. That hurt, but it made me realize that in the end, I write for myself. That makes it worth it. And the third attempt was the charm! The moral of the story is, never give up.


Jen: Are there any other writers, published or not, in your family?
Jennie: My grandfather, Fred Marsland, had short stories published in several newspapers in the 1930s. He’s the only one I know of.

Jen: Do you have a writing routine?
Jennie: Not really. In general I’m a morning person, so I try to get some writing time in before leaving for work. I aim for at least two hours of writing time every day.

Jen: What is it about the romance genre that appeals to you?
Jennie: I believe in happy endings. They might be rare in real life, but they aren’t non-existent. I also believe in commitment and ‘for better, for worse’. My parents celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary last year and my husband and I have been together for fourteen, so I know it can work.

Jen: How do you pick the character’s names?
Jennie: I steal them wherever I find them. Whenever I hear a name I like, I file it away in my mind to be mixed and matched with an appropriate surname. I’ve always liked the name Beth, I once had a student named Trey, and McShannon is a name I found in Lucy Maud Montgomery’s journals. Logan, Trey’s friend, and Sidonie, his mother, are also named after former students.

Jen: Is there a genre that you’d like to write? Is there a genre you’ll probably stay away from and why?
Jennie: I like writing for children. I have a middle-grade novel on the back burner, waiting to be completed. As for genres I’ll probably avoid, I don’t think I’d be very good at writing thrillers, though I enjoy reading them.

Jen: If you could travel back in time for one year, what time and place would you choose? And if you could only take 3 things with you, what would they be?
Jennie: The Victorian period appeals to me, especially the clothes. Not that I could ever lace into them! I once stepped into a 150-year-old Victorian gown, and it was tiny. I wouldn’t mind spending a year in an English country home or a snug farm during those times, but I wouldn’t want to be in London. I’ve read enough Dickens for that. I’d be sure to take antibiotics and painkillers with me...could I sneak in my laptop, too? No, no power. I’d have to resort to paper and pen. Maybe my penmanship would improve.

Jen: If McShannon's Chance was made into a movie, which actors would you choose to play the hero and heroine?
Jennie: I’d choose Jude Law to play my hero. I loved him in Cold Mountain, and he has the right quiet intensity for the part. Laura Prepon would be good for Beth; she’s gorgeous and has the right look of refinement, though her hair isn’t red now. She’d be lovely in period clothes.

Jen: Most people only dream of becoming a published writer. Now that you’ve accomplished that goal, is there anything else you dream of doing?
Jennie: I studied biology in university and I have a fascination with genetics, so I’d like to go to the Galapagos Islands some day and see living tortoises that Charles Darwin might have seen, too.

Jen: Who are some of your favorite authors and books? What are you reading now?
Jennie: I just finished reading Anna Campbell’s Captive of Sin, and thoroughly enjoyed it. There’s a review on my website. It’s so different from most Regency romances. I’ve read Pamela Clare’s MacKinnons’ Rangers stories and found them wonderful, too. I hope to post reviews over the holidays. Next up is Judith James’ Highland Rebel. But I could never pick a favorite author any more than I could pick a favorite child.

Jen: What's next for you?
Jennie: I’ve just finished the first draft of a prequel to McShannon's Chance, McShannon’s Heart. It’s the story of Trey’s twin sister, Rochelle. When her mother dies just before the outbreak of the Civil War, Chelle moves with her father to his old home in Yorkshire. She thinks she’s leaving love behind, but she soon finds herself attracted to a talented local musician, Martin Rainnie. With her brother and lover on opposite sides of the war and her heart torn between two men, Chelle has a lot to learn about love and loyalty, but her honesty and big heart lead her to a happy ending. I’m looking forward to a spring release for this one.

Jen: Where can you be found on the web?
Jennie: You can find me at http://www.jenniemarsland.webs.com

Jen: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?
Jennie: Yes: how many of you are writers? If you are, tell me about your work!

Jen: Readers, we have a download copy of McShannon's Chance to give to a random commenter. Due to the content of the book, the winner must be over the age of 18. To enter the contest, first you need to leave a question or comment for Jennie. Then to finish your entry, you must either leave your email address in your comment or send an email to contests.bookblog@gmail.com (with Jennie in the subject). The winner will be chosen on Thursday, February 11.

Excerpt from "McShannon's Chance" by Jennie Marsland

September sunlight, as thick and golden as molten honey, filtered through the willows and danced along the ripples of the creek. Up to his armpits in the water, a small boy shouted.

“Hey, Trey, you comin’ in or not?”

“Yeah, I’m coming, Justin, keep your pants on.”

Justin slipped underwater, stroked to the bank and came up splashing, sending jeweled droplets flying. “You’re the one with pants on.”

Trey jumped back to avoid being soaked, skinned out of his shirt and overalls and tossed them next to Justin’s clothes. With a running leap, he cannon balled into the creek. The cold water forced the air from his seven-year-old lungs. He bobbed to the surface, gasping.

Justin was nowhere to be seen. Trey steadied himself, expecting an underwater attack, but nothing happened. A magpie called from a nearby branch, the only sound except for the murmur of the water.

“Justin Sinclair’s an old wet hen!” He-n echoed off the bank, but only the magpie answered. The sun slid behind a cloud, stealing some of the day’s warmth. Shivering, Trey hugged himself and scanned the creek up and down. Justin must be planning something, trying to scare him.


Slippery rocks rolling under his feet, Trey took a step toward the shore. Something boomed in the distance, loud enough to send the magpie flying. It sounded too short and sharp for thunder, but what else could it be? Trey glanced at the sky, looking for storm clouds that weren’t there. Best get out of the water, just in case. He yelled again.

“Hell, Justin, this isn’t funny.”

That clap should have brought Justin running, but it didn’t. Stumbling, fighting the current and his growing panic, Trey headed for shore. The thunder cracked again and again in rapid succession – much too rapid.

Cannon.

“Justin!”

The sunlight dissolved into darkness. The clammy chill on Trey’s skin came from cold sweat, not creek water. He sat up in bed, trembling.

He heard nothing from the loft. He hadn’t wakened Beth. Trey rested his head on his knees, waiting for his heart to stop pounding in his ears like the cannon in his dream. Over a year. Congratulations. He’d hoped his nightmares had stopped for good, but he’d learned long ago to focus on the positive.

When he’d settled down, Trey pulled on his pants and lit the lamp. Reading for a while might calm him enough to go back to sleep. As he lifted Two Years Before the Mast from the bookshelf, his hand brushed the picture frame he’d taken from Beth before supper. He’d meant to put it away before she arrived, but in the hurry of getting the place ready for her, he’d forgotten.

If only other things could be forgotten as easily.

Review: "Secrets: Sensual Cravings" (Volume 28)

When Red Sage approached me to review this newest anthology in their Secrets series, I jumped at the chance. I'd been wanting to read one of these books for quite a while, but just never picked one up. I always ended up going with a safer choice, sticking with picking up the newest releases by some of my favorite authors instead of trying an anthology of lesser known names. However, I was not disappointed with my first experience with Secrets and I can't wait to read more.

This anthology had it all: romance, red-hot sex scenes, and a variety of settings (location and times). "Kiss Me at Midnight" by Kate St. James is contemporary story revolving around L.A. talk show co-hosts. "Mind Games" by Kathleen Scott is set in futuristic US and is filled with suspense and had paranormal elements. Jennifer Lynne's "Seducing Serena" is a contemporary tale set in Australia. And the historical offering in this anthology is "The Pirate's Passion" by Juliet Burns.

All of the authors were new to me. I felt a little confused by Kathleen Scott's story, only because it was part of a series that I felt like I was coming in without back story. And the fact that it is a futurist also put it at a disadvantage for me, as I don't read the genre all that often. However, I was able to overcome my preconceived ideas and enjoyed the novella. I would have loved for "The Pirate's Passion" to have been a longer story as I feel there is opportunity to add and expand on the tale. The other two stories were just the right length to tell a satisfying story.

I look forward to reading more books from the Secrets series. The authors of the next volume of Secrets will be our guests during a special week in July. If you want a copy of this volume, you can by the book at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.

Interview with Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke

Jen: Today is the debut of Romancing the Book and we are happy to have Chick Lit authors Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke as your first guests. Will you each please share a short bio with us?
Liz and Lisa: Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke have been friends for over twenty years since the day Lisa walked into Freshman English class wearing eye glasses that made her look like Sally Jesse Raphael’s younger, but much more stylish sister. They both attended Cal Poly Pomona University and each graduated with a degree in Communication. Ten years later, they began writing their debut Chick Lit novel I'll Have Who She's Having. Liz is married with two children and Lisa is engaged. Until six months ago, they both resided in Long Beach, CA. But now Lisa has moved to Chicago and can no longer deny that she is, in fact, living there. They just finished writing their second dual narrative Chick Lit novel. Both Liz and Lisa contribute to the popular women’s website, Sheknows.com, Lisa writes a weekly post for the Unabashedly Bookish blog on BarnesandNoble.com and Liz is a regular contributor to RealMomsGuide.com

Jen: Tell us about I'll Have Who She's Having and where it's available.
Liz and Lisa: What happens when a man comes between one desperately single and one very married sister? Kate’s been depressed ever since yet another long-term boyfriend unceremoniously dumped her. When her younger and married sister Kelly convinces her the way to meet a quality man is for the two of them to sign up for a volleyball class, she’s just desperate enough to agree. But Kate becomes so fixated on her volleyball coach that she fails to see an unlikely but perfect match right in front of her

Kate’s been less than happy for longer than she wants to admit. She’s the one who appears to have it all: the perfect husband, the big house and the beautiful daughter. Despite it all, she feels an emptiness that she can’t explain and is conflicted when it’s her volleyball coach who offers an answer.

I'll Have Who She's Having follows Kate and Kelly as they battle themselves and each other in their search for a happy ending. Through a series of self-doubt and hardship, they both realize they were looking for happiness in all the wrong places. It’s a novel for anyone who ever secretly let their insecurities get the best of them.


Jen: At what age did you each discover writing and when were you first published? Tell us your call story.
Liz and Lisa: I (Lisa) was nine years old when I wrote my first book, There’s a Jungle In My Closet. It wasn’t officially published (unless you count my mom passing it around the neighborhood) but it did help me discover my passion for writing. I (Liz) also started writing at a very young age- short stories and poems, mostly about my brothers and how annoyed I always was with them. I'll Have Who She's Having is our first published work.

Jen: How do your families feel about your career?
Liz and Lisa: (Lisa) My fiancé brings new meaning to the word supportive. About six months ago, I moved from Los Angeles to Chicago to live with him and left my television career behind. His support has allowed me to be able to write full-time. Thank you future hubs!

(Liz) Thankfully my husband is also incredibly supportive. Trying to write in the middle of Grand Central Station (also know as my house) can be challenging but he’s a pro at diverting our two children so I can get some work done. I couldn’t do it without him.

Jen: How do you approach your writing? Do you plot or go with the flow?
Liz and Lisa: Oh we’re very fly by the seat of our pants with our writing. Other than coming up with a hard and fast deadline for when we have to be finished, we “go with the flow”… We come up with our concept, talk about a “direction” the book will go in and see where the writing takes us. Not traditional, but it always seems to work well!

Jen: What kind of research did you do for this book?
Liz and Lisa: Lucky for us, I'll Have Who She's Having didn’t require much research. (Unless you count sitting on the beach checking out hot men playing volleyball research.)

Jen: What’s the most challenging aspect of writing? Easiest?
Liz and Lisa: (Liz) The most challenging aspect for me is making time. I’m still working full time as a pharmaceutical sales rep have two kids under six that think Mommy spends way too much time on the “puter”. The easiest part? Writing with Lisa. We really feed off other and have fun! (Lisa) For me, it’s not succumbing to the addictive side of both Facebook and Twitter. And the easiest? The fact that I can have an extremely productive day without ever stepping foot outside or changing out of my Juicy sweat suit!

Jen: What’s the most rewarding aspect?
Liz and Lisa: For us, the most rewarding part of being a writer is making someone laugh! If we can elicit even a chuckle, we’re happy we’ve entertained you. And if we can get a full LOL, we’re on cloud nine!

Jen: Is there a genre that you’d like to write? Is there a genre you’ll probably stay away from and why?
Liz and Lisa: It’s Chick Lit/women’s fiction all the way for us. We’d probably never attempt to write historical fiction. Three words: Too. Much. Research. And we went through a YA phase for one day. Until we remembered that we hadn’t been YAs in a very, very long time.

Jen: Who has inspired you as an author?
Liz and Lisa: It was after reading, Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin (our absolute favorite Chick Lit novel), that we decided to get off our arses and finally write our novel (Thanks for the push, Emily!). And we’re also very inspired by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus because you’d never know that two people are writing their books- they have a very fluid voice. And as a writing team, we now have a full appreciation for how challenging not only to write with another person but to learn to compromise, take criticism and work as a team while doing it.

Jen: What five authors or people, from the past or present, have been important to you as an author? What question or comment have you always wanted to say to them?
Liz and Lisa: Emily Giffin, Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus are on this list too.

We’re also huge fans of Allison Winn Scotch, Stephanie Klein and Judy Blume. And we would LOVE to know more about their writing process. Are we the only ones who can’t type one word before total caffeination?

Jen: What did you do to celebrate your first book?
Liz and Lisa: We’re not even 100% sure we’ve celebrated yet. We’re not sure it counts as an official celebration, but we clinked our champagne glasses together once and said “congratulations”. Did we mention it was good champagne?

Jen: What's next for you?
Liz and Lisa: We’ve just finished our second dual narrative Chick Lit novel. It’s about two women who never expected to find themselves in the complicated world of divorce.

Jen: Where can you be found on the web?
Liz and Lisa: www.chicklitisnotdead.com @lizandlisa/twitter www.facebook.com/chicklitisnotdead

Jen: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?
Liz and Lisa: Who are your favorite Chick Lit writers? Why?

Jen: Liz and Lisa are giving away 5 copies of I'll Have Who She's Having to 5 random commenters. The contest is open to US residents only. To enter the contest you first need to leave a comment or question for Liz and Lisa. Then to finish your entry, you need to either leave your email address in your comment or send a message to contests.bookblog@gmail.com. The winners will be announced during the evening of Tuesday, February 2. We're extending the contest deadline to Sunday, February 7.

More about "I'll Have Who She's Having" by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke

Here is a video of Liz and Lisa talking about I'll Have Who She's Having.



To read an excerpt from I'll Have Who She's Having, click on the book title. Amazon has the first pages available for you to read.

You can buy the book at Barnes and Noble, or Amazon.