1.) What do you wish you’d known before you started writing?
I would have liked to know just how unpredictable the
profession is. Prior to making the move from freelance short story writer to
contracted novelist, I was under the impression that once you had a publishing
contract that would be that. That you could relax and write, while having a
secure home for your work.
The
fact I once believed this often has me stunned at my own naivety. The reality is
that a writer needs to prove themselves each and every time – nothing is
certain – and no one has ever really
made it.
Writing really is a love not money profession. Luckily I love to write!
2.) Are you a plotter or a pantster?
I’m a plotter – with a secret yearning to be a
pantster.
When I first wrote, I never planned anything. I
enjoyed just writing and seeing where the words took me. I really was flying by
the seat of my pants!
These days, as publishers
like to know what is going to happen in a story before it is written, I plan a
great deal, and generally know everything that is going to happen all the way
through the novel as I write.
I’d love to write a novel without planning it – just to see what happens!
3.) If you could be the original author for any book, which book would it be? Why?
So many to chose from! But if forced to pick just one,
I do wish I’d written The Rose Revived (a fabulous work of women’s
fiction by Katie Fforde).
Katie’s early books were so fabulous – easy reads with
substance. The Rose Revived is set on a narrow boat and features three
women all trying to work out their own lives, while saving up enough money to
make new starts. It’s funny, touching, relatable and page turning.
I’ve owned my copy of The
Rose Revived for years, and I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve reread
it.
A few years ago Katie accepted my invitation to speak at a literary festival I was running, and she was kind enough to sign my copy for me – she also told me I was every bit as good as her and should never stop writing. I’m not sure she’ll ever understand how much that encouragement meant to me.
4.) What are you working on at the moment?
Having just released Bluebell Season at The Potting
Shed (Book 2 of The Potting Shed series), I’m currently in the throes of
the final edits for Book 3 of the series – Misty Mornings at The Potting
Shed.
At the
same time, I’m writing a new novel – set at the seaside, it will be a
standalone work of contemporary fiction. Sadly, I am unable to tell you more at
this stage!
I am also waiting – with increasing excitement – to share news of an audio drama I’ve written, which should be out later this year…
5.) Do you work on one book at a time? More?
Usually I write one book and one script at a time – novel in the morning and a script in the afternoon. At the moment I’m in between scripts, so I work on the new novel in the morning and write student workshops for my creative writing business (Imagine) in the afternoon.
6.) Do you have a favourite character in your latest release?
I am
very fond of all the characters in Bluebell Season at The Potting Shed,
but I have a particular soft spot for Jo Dunn.
Jo has a bright orange camper van,
which converts into a coffee selling venue. He brings to The Potting Shed every
weekend to provide the garden centre’s customers with hot drinks and snacks.
Jo is modelled on my son, with whom he
shares many characteristics. Unlike Jo however – my son can’t stand coffee.
(How on earth did I raise a child that hates coffee?)
Jo is a quiet kind man with a heart of
gold, who has struggled to find his place in the world – but The Potting Shed
has quickly become his safe place. At least it was… (You’ll have to read the
book to see how that pans out!)
Blurb
Maddie and her sister Sabi are back at The Potting Shed, but are
their troubles over?
Bluebell Season at The Potting Shed is the sequel of Frost Falls at The
Potting Shed, part of a new series by #1 Kindle bestselling author, Jenny Kane,
that revolves around a family-run garden centre.
Spring has arrived at The Potting Shed and things seem to finally be going
Maddie’s way. Her relationship with lovable lawyer Ed is going well and the
business is thriving with the help of her new friend Jo and his bright orange
coffee van.
But troubles are just around the corner... The upgrade of The Potting Shed
from a nursery to a garden centre is at a critical point – turning part of
Maddie’s business into a building site, and just as she has to temporarily move
out of her home, a major garden centre announces its grand opening only twenty
miles away.
With money running out Maddie and her sister Sabi must think fast – they
only have until the end of bluebell season to save The Potting Shed…
(Each novel can be read as a standalone or as part of the series)
You can buy a copy of Bluebell Season at The Potting Shed from all good retailers in either paperback or eBook format.
Amazon.co.uk - Bluebell Season at The Potting Shed: A totally heart-warming and uplifting spring read! eBook : Kane, Jenny: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store
Kobo - Bluebell Season at The Potting Shed eBook by Jenny Kane - EPUB | Rakuten Kobo United Kingdom
Waterstones - Bluebell Season at The Potting Shed by Jenny Kane | Waterstones
Many thanks for hosting me today Rachel.
Happy reading,
Jenny x
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Bio
‘I love Jenny Kane’s writing.’ Katie Fforde
From the comfort of her cafe corner in Mid
Devon, award winning author, Jenny Kane, wrote the contemporary women’s fiction
and romance novels, Bluebell Season at The Potting Shed, (Aria, 2023), Frost
Falls at The Potting Shed, (Aria, 2022), Winter Fires at Mill Grange
(Aria, 2021), Spring Blossoms at Mill
Grange, (Aria 2021), Autumn Leaves at
Mill Grange, (Aria, 2020), Midsummer
Dreams at Mill Grange (Aria, 2020), A
Cornish Escape (2nd edition, HeadlineAccent, 2020), A
Cornish Wedding (2nd edition, HeadlineAccent, 2020), Romancing Robin Hood (2nd
edition, Littwitz Press, 2018), Another Glass of Champagne (Accent
Press, 2016), and Another Cup of Coffee (Accent Press,
2013).
(Misty
Mornings at The Potting Shed will be published by
Aria in September 2023)
Jenny has also written 3 novella length
sequels to her Another Cup of... books: Another Cup of Christmas (Accent Press,
2013), Christmas in the Cotswolds
(Accent, 2014), and Christmas at the
Castle (Accent, 2016). These three seasonal specials are now available in
one boxed set entitled Jenny Kane’s
Christmas Collection (Accent, 2016)
Jenny is also the author of quirky
children’s picture books There’s a Cow in
the Flat (Hushpuppy, 2014) and Ben’s
Biscuit Tin (Hushpuppy, 2015)
Under the pen name, Jennifer Ash, Jenny has
also written The Folville Chronicles
(The Outlaw’s Ransom, The Winter Outlaw,
Edward’s Outlaw, Outlaw Justice - published by Littwitz Press, 2016-2020), The Power of Three (Spiteful Puppet,
2020) and The Meeting Place (Spiteful
Puppet, 2019). She has also created five audio scripts for ITV’s popular 1980’s
television show, Robin of Sherwood.
The
Waterford Boy, Mathilda’s
Legacy, The Baron’s Daughter, The Meeting Place and Fitzwarren’s Well were released by
Spiteful Puppet in 2017/2018/2019/2020.
Jenny Kane is the writer in residence for
Tiverton Costa in Devon. She also co-runs the creative writing business, Imagine. Jenny teaches a wide range of
creative writing workshops including her popular ‘Novel in a Year’ course. (www.imaginecreativewriting.co.uk)
All of Jennifer Ash’s and Jenny Kane’s news
can be found at www.jennykane.co.uk
@JenAshHistory
@JennyKaneAuthor
@Imagine_Writing
Jennifer Ash https://www.facebook.com/jenniferashhistorical/
Jenny Kane https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011235488766
Imagine www.imaginecreativewriting.co.uk
Many thanks for hosting me today xx
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