Jenny B. Jones Interview

Q: Let me start with asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself.

A: I’ve been writing books for about ten years. I’ve written a little bit of everything—from YA to New Adult to Contemporary Romance to Inspy and now. . .cozy. I live in Arkansas, home of Walmart, I’m a stray animal magnet, a news junkie, and a foster parent.

Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

A: Forever. I can remember writing plays in first grade, creating puppets, and my teacher letting me put on a one-woman show. I’m not sure why my classmates didn’t beat me up at recess.

Q: Could you give us the highlights of your professional writing career including how you got your first writing break?

A: In 2005, I went to my first writing conference, totally clueless and overwhelmed. I had a book idea, but no complete book. In fact, I only had a few chapters written. I had a paid critique on those first chapters with author Kristin Billerbeck, and she spoke to a publisher about the work. Six months later, I had my first contract. (And still had yet to write the book.) So that book, In Between (free at all e-tailers), got my into publishing and changed my life, and then when I got the rights back to the book and rereleased it, it totally changed my life. I will forever be grateful to Kristin and that conference.

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release Engaged in Trouble?

A: Engaged in Trouble is my first cozy. I’d written a mystery YA series, but never attempted a mystery for adults. I love the cozy genre because it’s like an off-shoot of chick-lit, which is the genre and style that got me into publishing. I love writing with humor, love quirky characters, and love writing in first person.
Here’s the back cover blurb:
When a washed-up pop star inherits a wedding planning business, it’s all bouquets and bliss until a bride turns up dead.

Paisley Sutton shot to stardom as a teenage rock sensation, but ten years later that star has fizzled out, just like her bank account. When she unexpectedly inherits her aunt’s wedding planning business, Paisley leaves the glamour of Los Angeles for a charming small town in Arkansas. Thinking she’ll arrive in Sugar Creek and liquidate the moldly property, Paisley’s shocked to find Enchanted Events has experienced a major makeover and is now the place for brides. She’s got two months to keep Enchanted Events afloat if she wants to sell and rekindle her music career with the profits.

Paisley’s tossed into a world of vows and venues, but her most difficult challenge comes in the form of one demanding bride. When this Bridezilla’s found facedown in her cake, all fingers point to Paisley as the prime murder suspect. And she does not look good in prison orange.

This former pop princess will need the help of her gun-toting, ex-CIA grandmother and her handsome neighbor, Beau Hudson, to unravel the mystery and clear her good name. As she and her unruly posse dig into Bridezilla’s life, she discovers the woman had a long list of enemies. The closer Paisley gets to the truth, the more her own life is in danger.

Love is in the air this wedding season, but before Paisley can help the ladies of Sugar Creek say, “I do,” she’s got to unveil a killer. Or find herself the next target.

Q: Where did you get your inspiration for Engaged in Trouble?

A: A year-and-a-half ago, I spontaneously and randomly flew to Oregon to attend a mystery writing intensive class. I went because I had a spy-themed YA I was thinking about writing. But toward the end of the class, the instructor pulled me aside and said, “You should write cozies.” And a light bulb just went OFF. And I thought, “I SHOULD write cozies!” A good portion of the general plot comes from a writing exercise we had to do in class.

Q: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?

A: In all my books, especially Engaged in Trouble, I want readers to just have a mini-vacation from all the stresses of life. It’s my goal to make a reader smile, laugh, and just have a good time. I love to hear how a book has made someone happy or given them a little break from kids, bills, work, or the hectic world.

Q: What inspires you to write?

A: Everything. Travel, TV, people-watching, reading Garden &Gun, movies, the news, nearly twenty years in education. I get inspiration from all of that and a ridiculous amount of caffeine.

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?

A: Engaged in Trouble is book one in the Enchanted Events mystery series, so I’m working on book two right now. Book two will see more development and conflict in the possible romance between Paisley and Beau, there will definitely be more of the retired CIA ladies helping her, and Paisley will get to use her new event-planning and murder-solving skills when the town hosts a conference for paranormal enthusiasts. (Next week I’m going people watching at a local paranormal conference. Can’t wait to take some notes!)

Q: When you’re not writing what do you like to do?

A: I’m a foster mom of two children under six, so that’s my big time priority right now. I go to t-ball games, love movies (Did you see Hidden Figures? GO SEE IT.) , attend concerts when I can (I so want to see Bruno Mars), am a theater nerd, adore my church, travel when I can, LOVE the beach, and read lots of fiction, as well as boring books on clean eating (as I grab a bag of chips…). I’m kind of obsessed with Leah Remini’s documentary series on A&E on Scientology, eagerly anticipating Netflix’s second season of Stranger Things, and read celebrity gossip sites on the daily. At some point, I’m going to have to get real hobbies.