Interview with Jennifer Donnelly

Hello Readers! It’s time for the second surprise promised earlier this week. Are you ready? Are you sure? In the previous post, my thoughts about THE WINTER ROSE by Jennifer Donnelly were posted and now you all know how much I loved the book. Well, today I am fortunate to be able to post an interview with her. Cool, huh? I am still on cloud nine!

Here’s what we chatted about:

Jennifer, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat about your recent book. As a reader, I found THE WINTER ROSE to be an intense book, full of emotion. Some parts literally took my breath away. Did you find writing parts of the book to be as intense? If so, how did you unwind after a day of writing?

I basically didn't unwind. For something like three years. I'd just had my daughter when I started writing the book, and that changed me tremendously. It opened my heart a lot wider. I suddenly saw, in a way I never had before, just how fragile and vulnerable children are, and that their welfare should be the prime directive of every world leader, every politician, every person on the planet. And unfortunately, it isn't. And that realization really got me. What India wants for the women and children of Whitechapel, I want for women and children everywhere. And the despair she feels at the needless, preventable suffering that so many women and children endure, is also my despair. I think, in many ways, The Winter Rose is a darker book than its predecessor, The Tea Rose. It certainly was more emotionally wrenching for me.

I can only imagine what you went through, especially just having a child. Love how you brought this experience to your book. I wondered about this throughout the book and am glad to finally have the chance to ask, where did the idea of the Rose trilogy germinate from?

Strangely, from Maud Selwyn Jones, a minor character in The Tea Rose. I knew I wanted to do three Rose books, and I was thinking about the second one when Maud suddenly made an appearance and introduced me to her remarkable sister India.

I’ll come clean here. I didn’t read the first book of this series. I jumped right in and read THE WINTER ROSE, which is the second book in this trilogy. Before I got a quarter of the way through, I was online locating me a copy of THE TEA ROSE. I want to be caught up with the trilogy before the final installment. Speaking of which, could you tell me about the next book to come?

A reader just scolded me soundly for giving too much info away about the third book, so let me put up a big SPOILER ALERT right now for any readers who haven't finished The Tea Rose. STOP READING RIGHT HERE, OK? Ok. Good.

The third book will be called The Wild Rose, and will follow the story of Seamie Finnegan and Willa Alden, who, as readers may remember from The Winter Rose, fall in love, but are soon separated from each other by the consequences of a horrible accident. Will they get back together? Hmmm, I don't know. I hope so, but I just don't know. You all will have to read the book to find out, and I will have to write it!

Seamie Finnegan and Willa Alden? Really? That bit of news gave me goose bumps. I loved them in THE WINTER ROSE! And now to find out they’ll have their own story to share, I can’t thank you enough. With this wonder news, I’ve gotta ask, what are your writing plans after the Rose trilogy?

I'm currently working on two very demanding books at once -- The Wild Rose and a new young adult title. Right now, my only plan is to survive!

After reading one of your books, it’s hard to believe you are working on two books. You are amazing! I now see why your women characters are so strong. Speaking of which, I loved how you highlighted women’s rights and the early days for women doctors. What made you decide to make this India’s career?

India decided it. I just chronicled it. These characters are very strong-willed, very stubborn, and largely do as they please, and I just kind of run along behind them, notebook in hand. I will say that I loved the medical research I did for this book. It was both fascinating and harrowing and left me with an enormous amount of respect for early women doctors. They were truly dedicated, truly brave women.

Trust me when I say, they have a masterful writer holding that notebook. I’m not alone either. All of my reading buddies who have read your book have raved about it. They say you are a phenomenal writer and THE WINTER ROSE is one of the best books they’ve read this year. What response are you hearing back from other readers?

Well, my head's now as big as a blimp! Thank you so much. I'm hearing many good things about the book -- but maybe that's just because readers who don't like it can't be bothered to write to me. I'm especially happy when readers say it's the sort of book they can't find anymore. That's why I wrote it. Because when I was maybe 12 or 13, I fell in love with books like A Woman of Substance and The Thornbirds, and I always wanted to write something like those big, fat, fabulous stories.

I am so glad you did! You have also written a children’s book, HUMBLE PIE and a young adult book, A NORTHERN LIGHT. Do you plan on writing more children’s and YA books?

I've no plans for a new picture book right now, but I am busily working away on a new young adult novel. As always, the work is kicking my behind. It never seems to get any easier. Sometimes I think I just want to make cupcakes for a living -- All that buttercream! All that sugar! Woo-hoo! -- but I keep coming back to writing. It's the best, most horrible, job in the world.

Speaking as one of your newest fans, I am glad you are sticking with writing. You have an amazing talent that shouldn’t be tucked away.

Something I was curious about…

I understand that A NORTHERN LIGHT and A GATHERING LIGHT are the same book, but with different titles. Is this true? If so, why two different titles?

A Gathering Light is A Northern Light's UK title. In the UK, the title of the first novel in Philip Pullman's Dark Materials triology is Northern Lights, and my UK publishers felt the similarity would be confusing for readers. Northern Lights is The Golden Compass in the USA.

That makes sense! Thanks for clearing that up for me. Now for something personal. When you aren’t writing, what do you do for fun?

I go sledding at some really great hills in Dutchess County, New York. I love it for many reasons, but I love it the most because of the laughter I hear. From my daughter. From other kids. And from grown-ups, too. If you ever want to hear a grown-up laugh like a child again, go sledding.

Wow, sounds like a blast. Now what is your least favorite thing in the world to do?

Take out the trash. At night. I live in the country now, and I just know there's a skunk out there with my name on it.

LOL - that would be bad! Jennifer, you have made this chat so much fun! I have so enjoyed this opportunity.

Me, too! Thanks so much for inviting me to chat.

Any advice you’d like to give aspiring novelists? Something unique you’ve learned and would like to pass on?

The best advice I have for aspiring novelists is to keep the faith. I often got discouraged -- really, really discouraged -- when I was struggling to get published, but I believed one thing and it kept me going: Nothing and no one could ever guarantee that I'd get published, but I myself would guarantee that I didn't if I gave up. Don't give up.

That’s an awe-inspiring statement!

To learn more about Jennifer Donnelly, go to her website at www.jenniferdonnelly.com. For my review of THE WINTER ROSE, click here. Stay tuned as there will be more book reviews posted by this author coming soon. Yes, she’s that good! :)

Until the Next Review,

Happy Reading!



Special Note From J. Kaye: Both comments from the interview & review will be entered in a raffle for my ARC of THE WINTER ROSE.



This message is posted on many blogs and articles. Only comments posted at http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com will be entered in the raffle for THE WINTER ROSE by Jennifer Donnelly. For more details, go to http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com and follow the details in the right sidebar. If you have any questions, email jkayeoldner@yahoo.com. This raffle will be held on the 30th of March.

Interview with Jennifer Donnelly

http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/2008/03/interview-with-jennifer-donnelly.html