*** Special Feature - January 2016 ***
Quick Recap
1st Jan - Introducing Author Jennifer Renson
8th Jan - Carousel Book Trailer & Teasers
15th Jan - How Carousel came to be
22nd Jan - What the readers have to say about Carousel!
Meet the Author
Writing is my passion and I hope to one day make it my full time career. I graduated from Monmouth University with my major in Public Relations/Journalism and a minor in History.
I acquired my Masters Degree in Counselor Education with a New Jersey State Certificate for School Counselor.
I participate in Open Mic events throughout New Jersey, attend book signings, and when I am not writing poetry/books freelance write for Lost Treasure Magazine covering a variety of topics such Captain Kidd, Cesare Borgia, King Arthur, The Library of Alexandria and Richard III.
My first young adult novel Carousel about the abandoned ride bringing together two young people while the elusive doll maker tries to keep them apart in a alternative Lucca, Italy was released in August 2015 with the prequel The Cottontail in the works. A portion of my endless poetry has been published into three poetry books: Delightfully Dark: A Collection of Poems and Tales, Eo: Go, walk, ride, sail, pass, travel and Uncharted.
I’ve had the honor and liberty to meet well known actor and photographer Norman Reedus, the talented Michael Rooker, and the creative minds behind The Lego Movie/21 & 22 Jump Street: Phil Lord and Chris Miller. Not only have I been a extra in Chris Rockwell and The Stickball Social Club’s music video “We Don’t Play To Win” but I’ve been featured in Monmouth University’s Monmouth Magazine and have been on internet radio including 40footholestudio.
I hope to inspire the world with my works and if they make just one person smile, make one day bright, make just bit more of happiness, I feel accomplished!
Contact the Author
Interview with the Author
When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer/ a storyteller?
It was during my childhood. I started writing these stories for fun, drawing pictures to accompany them when I realized how much I loved it. I found out being a writer was a actual career and since then it has been my dream to be a professional writer.
What kind of research goes into your book?
Even though Carousel takes place in an alternative timeline, I wanted to look into the late 1490’s into early 1500’s clothing, names, and environment of Italy. I already had some knowledge of the time period but I wanted to cover my bases just in case to give readers a better visual. In short: think carousels existing in 1492 Italy.
What are you working on at the moment?
Currently I am putting the finishing touches on the prequel to Carousel, titled The Cottontail. Pulse LLC will be publishing this one as well and I look forward to seeing the final product.
How did you come up with the idea for your current story?
When I finished Carousel, I felt as though the story wasn’t quite complete. I was satisfied with the ending however wanted to expand the plot with a suspicion readers were going to want to know more about what happened before Carousel. What was Lucca like before the plague?
Instead of making it a continuation with Princio and Marian I decided to go with a prequel and introduce two new characters and reveal the origins behind the villain Feletti. It seemed only proper since Carousel began with Feletti. I had his image and character set and wanted the story literally developed around him. Like the title Carousel, The Cottontail is the center of the story and readers will have to find out how when it’s released.
Name three things that you believe are important to character development?
The three things that I believe are important to character development are:
Effectiveness- How does the character affect you? Are you scared? Inspired? Intrigued? Can you relate to this character? Are you grateful you are not this character? Everyone will experience something different with the character. Point is when the book is done does this character still linger in your thoughts?
Less is More-Sometimes the less we know and are told about a character provides more depth. Readers are then able to put themselves into the story, interpreting things for themselves. By showing us what a character is or is not is more productive than telling us what the character is or is not.
Heart-As you are reading this story and following the character, you can tell the writer put every inch of themselves into their creation. They are dedicated to their craft and the characters are proof of that. This character was not thrown in for convenience or boredom. Even the minor characters have a reason to be created. Readers are able to see that these are not just characters but actually people in the writer’s eyes.
Do you ever experience writer’s block? If so what helps you to get over it?
Yes I do, not often thankfully. Writer’s block is a living nightmare for writers. It was so prominent that while obtaining my Bachelor’s Degree from Monmouth University I wrote an article about the very subject for The Outlook. In the past I used to just go through the motions that anything I write down will not suffice and thus avoided writing entirely until it passed. Nowadays I’ve been trying a new tactic which is to write through it anyway. The last time I had writer’s block was about a month or so ago. I was drawing a blank about how to progress the plot of my story forward pretty much trying to figure out how to connect the important events so that it made sense when I realized I wrote myself into a corner. Instead of stepping away from the material I did some research about minor details I knew I needed to cover at some point anyway and by writing those down I was slowly crawling my way out of the writer’s block hole. Before I knew it by the end of the very same day the writer’s block was gone and on top of that was able to connect the important events.
People are different, just like books. Try walking away, take your mind away from it. If that doesn’t work, write through it, even if you don’t like what you wrote down. Work through it.
What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most?
I love the very beginning where you have this idea, you start writing it down and the more time you spend with it, the more excited you become to the point where you could be driving and you are overwhelmed with this sense of accomplishment and pride in yourself thinking of all these new additions to the story. You’re anxious to get to your destination so you can write it down and save it before you forget. The story becomes your own personal obsession. You can’t stop thinking about it. It’s an incredible feeling that I love experiencing over and over that gets better every time. It never gets old.
Do you know the ending of your books before you finish writing them?
Sometimes I do and sometimes I don’t. With Carousel, I wasn’t quite sure how it was going to end however while working on The Cottontail I knew exactly how I wanted the ending to play out.
What is the best piece of advice you have received, as a writer, till date?
The best piece of advice I have received as a writer is: Never…give…up. Write, write, write, regardless of what anyone says. You have potential, you have a ambition, a drive to be a famous writer. Do it and never give up!
Carousel
After living in the countryside for years, Princio returns to his homeland, the tiny yet prosperous Kingdom of Lucca, upon the orders of his dying grandfather. Living alone in the annexed building next to the palace, Princio is discovered by the kingdom’s chief doll maker, Feletti, who purposely withholds his knowledge of Princio’s past in order to gain his trust and friendship. Princio believes Feletti to be a true friend until he meets Marian, a girl with a penchant for cooking and a natural curiosity, and their chance meeting in the kingdom’s carousel sets off a series of events with the potential to change everything. As Princio, Marian, and Feletti’s dark secrets begin to unfurl, their lives slowly come to light.
Book Trailer
Other Books by the Author
"Delightfully Dark", A Collection of Poems and Tales is the first published book of poetry by New Jersey native Jennifer Renson. Readers are invited into unpredictable poetic tales written through vivid characters and colorful settings from the Victorian Era, post apocalyptic Georgia, and the middle of nowhere. While some characters are reunited after unforeseen circumstances others are able to find inner strength, accept changes, and embrace the world around them. Photographs taken from beautiful up state New York accompany this thematic combination of fantasy and reality.
Welcome to the unknown and unexplored in "Uncharted", Jennifer Renson's third book of poetry. Prepare to dive deep into the thoughts and dreams of several lives from a leader struggling to keep his group alive, to a dark horse deserving of a title, a lovesick London man, a water sprite, a man worthy of being called a Prince, and men of liberty.
From tale to photograph be immersed in times almost forgotten as you trek through the uncharted roads ahead of your life.
Book Buy Links
Amazon.com: Carousel, Delightfully Dark, Eo, Uncharted
Barnes and Noble: Carousel, Delightfully Dark, Eo
GooglePlay: Carousel
Giveaway
PDF Copy of Carousel & PDF Copy of Uncharted - Open Internationally
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