Jenn J McLeod - Australian Fiction

I’ve been biting at the bit ‘bale up’ this lovely debut author (and what a striking book cover).  

So Jennie (with an ‘ie’) I was wondering… Is it possible that when your mum named you that she wanted to name you Jenn (with two ‘Ns’ – as all great Jenns are named) but when explaining the spelling — Jenn with two ens — she spelled out, “J.e.n.n. i.e. – (only to the listener, the ‘ie’ translated to a ‘that is’. So … J.e.n.n. (‘that is’ two Ns!). See? Jenn with two Ns and no ‘ie’. Hmm, you might want to check on that! 😉

Okay…

Let’s start by you telling me if it’s scones and tea or some other homemade delight you have whipped up for me today! 🙂

Welsh cakes cooked on the griddle, with zesty orange butter. (You’ll love them).

(Not sure I’ve had anything cooked on a griddle – not since I visited Jethro and Elle-May Clampet for some of Granny’s cookies, but I’m keen. Must be a WA thing.)

At home with…

My mum says garden gnomes make a house a home! Are you loud and proud in your love of garden gnomes at home, a closet gnomer or with a strict ‘no gnomes’ policy at your place?

It was always no, never – especially the colourful ones. But two years ago we moved house and I found a little stone man in the front garden. There was no way I could bin him. He’s staying (even though he’s lost the top of his hat). The dilemma is – if we move, do we take him or leave him?

(Pic of my gnome attached, if you want to use it)

(A little stoned man? Cool!  Oh, wait, you said STONE man. Not so cool. But I say leave him and tell the next owners to do the same. Imagine the stories he will tell in the dark of night when he comes alive and frolics with all the other stoned gnomes. Oh, sorry, STONE gnomes.)

If I came to your home and looked in the refrigerator, what would I find?

A chicken and an egg – and me, staring at them wondering how I’m going to answer the chicken and road question.

(And obviously a little hash stash for those gnomes, hmm, JJ?)

If you sorted your wardrobe by colour, what colour would stand out? (Ahh, do you sort your wardrobe by colour?!)

Doesn’t everyone sort their wardrobe by colour? And season?

(Oh, you had me at season!)

What are you wearing now? (Be honest!)

Fluffy brown dressing gown with big white spots.

(Hmm, images of Granny Clampet!) The Beverley Hillbillies – For those young’us out there.

Whose home would you like to housesit and why?

Anyone who has a country manor or stately home. They could trust me. I’d walk around loving the atmosphere and might be inclined towards some light dusting of the antiquities. I’d even be happy with any ghosts residing there.

Country curiosities…

We love a sunburnt country (slip, slop, slap and all that). What’s your ideal hat? Or are you a boots person?

I love hats. Here in Australia I go for the baseball cap, but when I lived in the UK I would find any excuse to wear a hat, especially at weddings. This winter I’m also buying me a pair of cowboy boots (high-heeled girly ones).

Now for the big question… Why did the chicken cross the road?

To cross, or not to cross, that is the question: –
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind, to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous side;
Or to take arms against a road of troubles,
And by crossing end them?

(#amspeechless!)

About you…

Your turning point: when was that point in your life that you realized that being an author was no longer going to be just a dream but a reality and a career?

When I received a report from the Romantic Novelists’ Association and their New Writers Scheme. I knuckled down and worked tirelessly (not true – it was exhausting!) to get my manuscript up to scratch for submission. I knew, somewhere deep within me I had a chance. When it was accepted for publication, I couldn’t quite believe that the chance had really come my way, until I reminded myself that all the work, effort and sheer brain-slog had created the magic I wanted.

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

Creating the story plot. The characters and settings come easily, but what will happen to them and why gives me the heebie-jeebies, so I have to delve deeper and darker into the dimness known as: there is fiction at the end of the tunnel.

If someone was to write your biography, what do you think the title should be?

I Googled my name a while back to see how many more Jennie Jones’s were out there, and found a book written by Maggie Osborne entitled:  The Promise of Jenny Jones. (And it’s a western – my favourite!) So if anyone ever wants to bother writing my biography, could you please call it The Promise of Jennie Jones and can there be some nice photos in it too?

(Or Jenn Jones. You’d best check on that spelling first!)

What question have you always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

Reporter: “I understand you’re being ‘baled up’ by the Jenn J McLeod?”

Me: “YES! She asked me! Honestly, I didn’t have to beg or even pay her!”

(LOL Love it! Plus, you’re a Jenn (or a Jennie) and we are special!!!! )

Fun stuff…

What does your protagonist think about you? Would he or she want to hang out with you, the author, his/her creator.

If I lined them up in a room, I think my heroes and heroines might stare at me blankly for a moment, then ask: ‘You’re going to make us do what?”  I suppose at that point, I’d have to buy them all a drink and explain myself.

(Fictional friends. Cheap shout! Is that why it’s a bit of a dry argument right now? Something to wash down those Welsh cakes would be nice.)

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be?

Any woman who owns a stately home (even the ones in disrepair – I wouldn’t mind!)

If I said to you, “Just entertain me for five minutes, I’m not going to talk,” what would you do?

I was an actor for many years, Jenn, so I’d sing and dance for you of course. Name your musical!

My two fave musical songs (you may see a certain seasonal influence):

South Pacific’s ‘Younger Than Spring Time’ because I wish I was! (Do you know that one?  Here, I’ll get you going… “Younger than spring time, are you  /  Gayer than laughter are you… La, la, la!!! )

Oh and State Fair’s – ‘It Might As Well Be Spring’  (Oh, happy days, I just found the ringtone online!!!!) And some lyrics…

I’m as busy as a spider spinning daydreams
I’m as giddy as a baby on a swing
I haven’t seen a crocus or a rosebud or a robin on the wing
But I feel so gay in a melancholy way
That it might as well be spring…..

Gotta love old-time songs.

What was the best thing before sliced bread?

Unsliced bread, ripped apart whilst warm and devoured with real butter and Welsh cheddar cheese.

(I don’t believe you. Prove it – right this minute!)

How weird are you? Rate yourself on a scale of 1 (not) to 10 (very).

I’d like to say 2 but I think those who know me would be frowning. Therefore, I admit to 9, but prefer to think it’s the arty part of me that pushes that envelope.

Thanks Jennie, I am soooooo happy to be welcoming a new House to the block. Pretty soon House for all Seasons will have an entire street. (Oh, there’s a blog idea!) 

Now, tell us about The House on Burra Burra Lane:

A dilapidated house, a city girl looking for a tree change, and a rugged vet with a past. Just another day in rural Australia…

Just ten days after her fresh start in the isolated Snowy Mountains, Samantha Walker trips over a three hundred pound pig and lands in the arms of Dr. Ethan Granger — and the firing line for gossip. It was hardly a ‘date’ but sparks of the sensual kind are difficult to smother in a community of only 87 people. Now there’s a bet running on how long she’ll stay and what she’ll get up to while she’s in town.

Ethan has his own issues — Sammy’s presence in his childhood home brings with it painful recollections of family scandals and a bad‐boy youth. When the gossip around them heightens, his life is suddenly a deck of cards spread on the table for all to see. Then Sammy’s past catches up with her… and it looks like all bets are off.

Wonderful. Now, if you don’t know Jennie, here’s how you can find out more and connect with her. She is a lot of fun to know.

Links:

Buy The House on Burra Burra Lane

Jennie Jones Romance Webpage:  http://www.jenniejonesromance.com

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