Jen first began writing poetry as a child. A Michigander by birth, she now lives and writes in the beautiful state of North Carolina. A graduate of Western Michigan University, she also holds a MS in Library Science from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. When she isn't crafting worlds of fiction, she teaches college writing composition and yoga. Once upon a time, she was a middle school teacher, a librarian, and a bookseller, but those are stories for another time.
Q&A
If you could be best friends with another author (past or
present), who would it be?
I would LOVE to be BFFs with Jane Austen. Can’t you just picture
it? Afternoon tea with a side of scathing remarks about high society? I’d
probably talk too much for her tastes, but I still think it would be so much
fun to pal around with her.
What’s the best book you’ve read recently?
That’s a tough question, but I’m still swooning over THE GOLEM
AND THE JINNI by Helen Wecker. It’s this beautiful mish-mash of historical
fiction, fairy tale magic, and mystery. Absolutely a must-read if you like
otherworldly tales!
How long does it take you to draft a novel? Tell us a bit about
your writing process.
I’m a pantser when it comes to drafting, but a planner when I
hit revisions. I tend to fast-draft, so I can usually finish a first draft in
under two months. Then, I set it aside for a while to marinate while I rotate
my attention to another project: I like to have two or three projects at different
stages at a time. It may seem manic, but I’ve found that it helps me establish
a rhythm.
Do you write every day? Do you set word goals?
I try to do something writing-related every day, and when I’m
drafting, then I absolutely write daily. When I’m writing, I usually set a
minimum goal of 1,000 words, but I’ve found my sweet spot is between 1k and 3k.
It changes a little bit for every project, though, so I’m learning to be more
flexible with myself.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?
I love yoga, and I teach it as well as practicing. I’m also
lucky enough to live near a great park, and my husband and I try to take a walk
every evening. Like many writers, I’m an avid reader, too, so one of my
favorite pastimes is curling up on the couch with a new book.
DAUGHTER OF CHAOS
Jen McConnel
308 pages
Publisher: Month9Books
Publish date: March 25, 2014
Synopsis:
Nothing is
more terrifying than the witch who wields red magic.
There comes a
time in every witch's life when she must choose her path. Darlena's friends
have already chosen, so why is it so hard for her to make up her mind? Now,
Darlena is out of time. Under pressure from Hecate, the Queen of all witches,
Darlena makes a rash decision to choose Red magic, a path no witch in her right
mind would dare take. As a Red witch, she will be responsible for chaos and
mayhem, drawing her deep into darkness. Will the power of Red magic prove too
much for Darlena, or will she learn to control it before it's too late?
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Thank you so much for hosting me today! :)
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