Guest author day with Jenelle Lee

Please give a warm welcome to author Jenelle Lee who joins us in the Reading Nook today.

Thanks for stopping by to talk a little about your writing! Let's jump right in. When did you begin writing and why? I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t writing. When I was younger I wrote plays where I made my siblings act them out. Naturally I had top billing and naturally my venture was soon shut down by my less than enthusiastic brothers and sisters. I took to writing poetry and short stories- usually my siblings bore the brunt. My first novel published was a children’s book. By the time I had 3 published I had a column in the local newspaper, which gave me my current position as the writer in residence at the local public school.

Do you have a favorite genre? Is it the same genre you prefer to write? I don’t any one favourite genre although I seem to be writing more and more saga/romance due to the fact that this series seems to have a life of its own. Regardless of the genre I can’t help but add humour.  

Do certain themes and ideas tend to capture your writer’s imagination and fascinate you? I love the obscure. Mostly it’s the people around me that say something, do something or know someone that intrigues me. Sometimes it can be just as simple as a news article that sticks with me – that’s probably why my WP pile is huge.  

How do you balance long-term thinking vs. being nimble in today's market? I don’t really concern myself with anything other than writing what I want to write. As long as I write every day I’m happy.

How do you find readers in today's market? That’s a tough one. I’ve read everything there is to read on this subject where I was told I needed to sign up for this or join that? Then I decided the only way to find readers is to write something people want to read.

Do you come up with the hook first, or do you create characters first and then dig through until you find a hook?  It’s all about the characters for me. I like to use ‘what if’. What if this character was thrown into this situation? How would this character cope or react?  

How do you create your characters?  My characters evolve as the story progresses. If I feel the story isn’t going the way it should I usually throw in the proverbial grenade and watch as the dust clears. I don’t go in for describing the character and most times my characters remain unnamed until well into the story.

What's on the top of your TBR pile right now? Mischling – Affinity Konar

Tell me a little about the characters in Forevermore. Forevermore continues the saga from Book 1 Towards Forever. The main characters are Alex and David and revolves around their relationship – the good, the bad and the sad. Writing a series is great for allowing the characters to grow, warts and all.

Where’s the story set? How much influence did the setting have on the atmosphere/characters/development of the story? This particular book is the 2^nd in the series and it mainly set in London, England. I am fascinated with the history of England.

If you had to write your memoir in five words, what would you write? Please Don’t Get Me Started.

What do readers have to look forward to in the future from you? Apart from continuing The Yellow Rose series I am working on The Black Rose series which explores the villains from the Yellow Rose series. I have a few WP that I want to get edited and published as well. I’m also working on a couple of screenplays which I hope to find a home for them – I have begun networking with producers and managers in LA – it’s all about the networking.  

Forevermore

Contemporary Romance/Family Saga

The Yellow Rose Series- Forevermore Book 2 

 I Heart Book Publishing

For Australian heiress, Alexandra, marrying David, a prince of the crown, was the easy part, learning the way of life for a royal is a challenge she battles with every day.

Never one to toe any line, she struggles to find a path that doesn’t take her away from herself for a system she sees as antiquated. She’s a free spirit and David a staunch conservative, and their differences not only sees them at personal odds but the establishment as well.

An act of terror might break them and their loss too much to endure.

Can they heal from the trauma and their love survive forevermore?

Available at: Amazon / Smashwords

Excerpt:

         The time Alex had been dreading, making her first speech, had arrived. She was a bundle of nerves. Alex stood up and walked over to the podium. She looked to the audience, all staring back at her. She swallowed hard. “My husband’s advice to me for today was to be myself, which is weird as I don’t know who else I could be. And then I thought he has been doing this all his life and all he had for me was that little gem. Lucky for me, his mother gives better advice.”

The laughter rang out.

She spoke for five minutes before retaking her seat to the applause. David leaned close and kissed her cheek with affection. “Well done, darling.”

“Do you think anyone would notice if I vomited?”

He laughed and looked to his watch. “We will be on our way to Surrey in an hour.”

She nodded. “I do hope you like the property.”

Two hours later, David stood looking over the land. The neglected house would need extensive renovations to bring it up to code. The grounds fared little better. “I’ve spoken to the hospital administrator, and he thinks we will be able to link the foundation so those children suffering from trauma can come here to recuperate.” She hooked her arm through his. “What do you think?”

“I think it has potential.”

“Potential.” She scowled. “That’s what people say when they don’t really like something and are trying not to say it.”

He laughed. “I like it just fine, darling.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

“Oh,” she cooed, “it’s going to be wonderful.”

The following day after she had put in an offer for the property, she waited by the phone. “Darling, they probably won’t be contacting you for a few days,” David offered.

“Why not?”

“Because they have to get in touch with the owners and discuss the offer. Why don’t we go into the city for lunch?”

“But what if they ring?”

“They are called mobile phones for a reason.”

She smiled. “Am I being too eager?”

“Just a bit.”

Her phone rang, and her eyes opened wide. “This is it.” She stared at the phone.

“Answer the phone.”

“They may have rejected the offer.”

“Only one way to find out.”

She held the phone out. “You answer it.”

“Seriously?” He rolled his eyes and took the phone. “Hello… Alex’s husband’s speaking… No, I can give her the message…” His eyebrow rose.

She tugged at his arm.

“…Really?... Well, I’m not sure if that is what she was expecting.”

Alex hung her head.

“Relax, Duchess, you have the property.”

She squealed and launched herself at him. He struggled to keep them both upright. “Oh, this is wonderful.”

“I’m still on the phone, darling,” he reminded her as she hugged him tighter. “Yes, my wife is extremely pleased with the news… Thank you… Goodbye.” He hung up. “Well, my clever darling, you are a property mogul.”

“David, this is going to be huge.”

“I’m sure. Now can we have lunch?”

She grinned.

Two days later, Alex entered her lawyers’ offices to sign for the property. She was so excited to call in the contractors to turn the property into her vision. “They are waiting for you, ma’am,” the woman greeted her as she opened the door.

Alex smiled and entered. “Good afternoon, gentlemen.”

“Alex, come in. We need to talk.”

An hour later Alex entered her home, slammed the front door shut, strode up the stairs and threw herself down on her bed.

David came into the room with a bottle of champagne to see Alex in bed. He frowned. “What happened?”

“They pulled out of the deal.”

David looked to the bottle in his hand and quickly put it behind him.

About the Author and where to find them online:

Janelle knows absolutely nothing about Forget-Me-Nots, she has no idea where Kazakhstan is and has an irrational fear of heights, public toilets and peas. She has three children and yes, she does have a favourite. Janelle loves to visit new places although she doesn't like to travel. And, she spends most of her life in pyjamas. She grew up in the Western Suburbs of Sydney. Janelle now lives in Gol Gol, NSW, Australia with her husband and a cat that she isn't supposed to know they have.

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