Jenna Greene is a writer, podcaster, teacher, clumsy dancer, dragonboat coach, and semi-professional napper. Jenna Greene is also the co-host of “Quill and Ink: A Podcast for Book Lovers” with Miranda Oh. Here is an Interview with author Jenna Greene.
Jenna Greene! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I am a YA/ Children’s author from Lethbridge, Alberta who spends her day teaching six and seven year olds to read and write.
How many hours a day do you write?
I don’t set word count goals, nor do I have standard time ranges for writing. As a teacher, there are times of the year when I can write lots, and other times (report card season) when I can’t produce much. My general goal is to open my laptop 3-4 times a week. Some nights, I will write for hours, and other nights I might fall asleep with my head on my laptop. Of course, I write many hours during the summer months.
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
I have one unpublished book that is being shopped around with publishers and literary agents. I have another book that is with Foundations Publishing waiting in the cue for editing and publishing. It’ll be the third and final book in The Reborn Marks series. And, unsurprisingly, I have one manuscript in progress with about 40,000 words typed so far.
Each book takes its own journey. If I start a book at the beginning of the summer, when I have lots of free time, I can keep that momentum going when students arrive in September and finish it a few months later. Other books, especially those I start in the winter, generally take a bit longer, as life gets in the way.
How do you select the names of your characters?
I like to take names that are familiar and tweak them a bit (Eg. Lexi to Lexil) or use names that relate to literary characters as a hidden Easter Egg. (Eg. Becky Thatcher).
If you didn’t write, what would you do for work?
Well, of course I would still be teaching. I think, though, if writing wasn’t my creative outlet, I would try to make it as an actress. I adore performing. Thespians unite!
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What is your favorite childhood book?
My favorite book that I read as a child, which I also enjoy teaching to teenage students is Avi’s The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. Another book that I adore, is a children’s book, though I read it as an adult: A Monster Calls. It turned me inside out, made me raw, and healed my soul after the loss of my mother.
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
I do read my book reviews, because they make me excited that someone actually read my work. If it’s good, there are helpful details. There might be elements that a reader liked which I hadn’t thought they’d appreciate. That will let me know what to highlight more in my next book. If it’s negative, I take it in stride. Not everyone loves every book they read, even if it is well written. It might not be their genre. It might not suit their mood.
Jenna Greene, What’s your advice for aspiring writers?
Jenna Greene: Just Write and don’t look back. Editing along the way will keep you from making progress. The first few pages will never sit write. A rough draft is a rough draft for a reason. A blank page can’t be fixed. A finished work can be.
What is your preferred method to have readers get in touch with or follow you (i.e., website, personal blog, Facebook page, Goodreads, etc.) and link(s)?
I love for readers to follow/ connect with me in any way they prefer. I’m on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and TikTok. Follow me @jgreenewrites