Jennifer McKenzie

[Michelle]

Jennifer McKenzie
Official Site | MySpace

Jenmck is one of our members, and she writes under two names, Jennifer McKenzie and Jennifer Leeland. You can read more on her official site.

Jen will chatting to us over the coming month, about writing, getting published, and her different styles of writing.

[Michelle]

Welcome Jen.. perhaps you could start by telling us a little about your books, and your two names?

[Inver]

What got you interested in writing or has it been something you always intended/wanted to do?

[Kell]

Hi Jen!

I have a three-part question for you:

1.) How do you classify your books (genre-wise)?
2.) Do book shops/sellers tend to classify them the same way, or do they classify them differently?
3.) Do you think this in any way affects the sale of your books / the audience they reach?

[jenmck]

First, let me say what a privilege it is to be considered. Especially following Stuart McBride (who was awesome).

I've always loved to write and did it for fun most of my life. Then, in 2002 my Dad passed away with a completed manuscript that no one ever saw. He never thought it was good enough.
I realized that I'd always talked about being an author "someday" but did the same thing my Dad did. I hid my writing away and didn't let anyone see it.

I was determined to change that. My first manuscript was really about the loss of my Dad and the love we both had of books. When it was done I subbed it to Harlequin. And WALA! My first rejection.

From there, I discovered Romance Divas and started writing short stories for Electronic Publishers.
My pen name, Jennifer Leeland, came about because I loved Erotic Romance and thought I'd try my hand at it. I enjoyed it and The Wild Rose Press took a chance on me.

I write a little of everything, but I love romantic suspense. "Heart Of The Storm" came out with Whiskey Creek Press/Torrid which is my first romantic suspense title to be contracted.

I've got two sequels in the works for "Heart Of The Storm" and two contracted erotic romances being released soon.

I've been VERY lucky. And I love to write. That helps too.

Thank you so very much for inviting me. I'll get to the questions now.

[jenmck]

Originally Posted by Inver

What got you interested in writing or has it been something you always intended/wanted to do?

Weeeelll, you know how you always hear about those people who were writing stuff when they were ten?
Not me.
I was a sporadic writer and only for my own pleasure for most of my life. I journaled, I wrote articles for newsletters and things like that. But I didn't take my writing seriously.
I'm a bibliophile, however. I love to read. The idea of writing something that would give another reader enjoyment was persistent. So, I started to WORK at my writing.
It's amazing how much better my writing has gotten in the last two years.

[jenmck]

Originally Posted by Kell

Hi Jen!

I have a three-part question for you:

1.) How do you classify your books (genre-wise)?
2.) Do book shops/sellers tend to classify them the same way, or do they classify them differently?
3.) Do you think this in any way affects the sale of your books / the audience they reach?

Great questions. I have a tough time classifying my books. I'm a romance writer. I am classified as romance first. It's the sub genres that get tricky.
For example, "Singled Out" was a romance I wrote for my best friend when we were joking around about why she was forty-three and still single. We decided her Guardian Angel must be a drunk. Thomas, the recovering alcoholic Guardian Angel was born and "Singled Out" began The Divine Intervention series.
It's classified as romantic comedy. I guess it's funny, but I hadn't thought of it in that genre. Its sequel "Double Trouble" is considered paranormal. Mmmm.
Honestly, I don't know WHAT affects sales of books. The Divine Intervention series sold itself. I don't think the genre really made a difference.
I do notice that suspense titles sell well second only to erotic romance.

[Inver]

How did you stumble upon 'The Book Club Forum'?
Do reviews etc on here help at all with your writing?

[jenmck]

Originally Posted by Inver

How did you stumble upon 'The Book Club Forum'?
Do reviews etc on here help at all with your writing?

Cinthia Hamner was on Romance Divas and said this was a great place. I signed up and then totally forgot about it. Then, in September, Michelle sent me a "Happy Birthday" from the Book Forum.
I was at a place where I was reading other things besides romance and I wanted to hang out with people who were as eclectic as I am about my book preferences. I've been a daily visitor ever since. The only problem I have is that you all have read SO much more than I have. So, I tend to be quiet on most threads, but I LOVE the opinions on different books.

Reviews here help me to find books to read. And reading always helps my writing.

[Inver]

How do you plan your day when you are writing? Any sort of time you find better and where do you write, or are you one for jotting down notes, whenever?

[jenmck]

Originally Posted by Inver

How do you plan your day when you are writing? Any sort of time you find better and where do you write, or are you one for jotting down notes, whenever?

Mmmm good questions.
I have days set aside for writing (usually in the morning when the kids are at school). I try to keep focused on writing and not get distracted. Which is VERY difficult. I LOVE to visit blogs and I find I have to leave my internet closed while I write.
I need to be alone when I write. (It might be because I'm writing sex scenes on occasion. That's difficult with Thomas The Tank Engine or Scooby Doo in the background). I don't always need quiet and I often have music on.
I see all my stories in scenes, which means I don't really "take notes". A really good scene will stick with me until I'm able to write it down.
I've handwritten entire short stories when I was away from my computer however.
I think my biggest flaw is being too distracted by "new and shiny" stories or blogs or the phone or the fly on the wall......

[Louiseog]

Originally Posted by jenmck

(It might be because I'm writing sex scenes on occasion. That's difficult with Thomas The Tank Engine or Scooby Doo in the background).

And why might that be... welcome to my world