Welcome, Jenny! Tell us about what you write.
I write in a variety of genres. I’ve published a YA fantasy, one children’s picture book (with another in the publishing process), have a Bible Study that’s contracted with a traditional publisher, and am in the process of revising my memoir.
What drew you to writing?
I’ve always loved to write but didn’t think publishing was possible until some friends at the school I taught at in China encouraged me to pursue it. At that point, I began doing what I could to learn more about the craft, improve in my abilities, and post short stories online. Several years later, after I was married and my first daughter was a year old, I stopped teaching so I could be home with her. I wanted something else to keep my mind occupied, so I began looking for paid writing jobs. One of the jobs I received was to help someone write a YA fantasy story.
Writing is part of who I am. It’s a way for me to explore worlds and ideas and share them with others.
What was your inspiration for Princess Lillian and Grandpa’s Goodbye?
Grandpa Marvin.
I wrote Princess Lillian and Grandpa’s Goodbye in December 2020 after my grandpa had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital. My mom kept us updated. “He’s ready to go home,” she told us. A video she later sent us confirmed it. I’ve never seen someone so patiently and eagerly awaiting his call into heaven. Shortly after watching the video, I sat down to process the bittersweet feelings of seeing someone I loved preparing to leave this world. As is often the case, I processed by writing. In this case, I took a fictional character I’d written short stories about and tried to look at the scenario through her eyes. I also pulled from an earlier experience in my life. When I was somewhere between the ages of 5-7, my aunt died. They took us to see her in the hospital right before she went. It was scary. I didn’t like the noise or the smells, didn’t fully understand what was happening. For a long time after that moment, I didn’t like hospitals. Writing this book allowed me to pull from the past and the present to create a story that could explain death and heaven in a way that, while still sad, wasn’t bad or scary.
Do you find inspiration in your own life for your writing?
Yes, a lot of my inspiration comes either from personal experiences, concepts I want to explore, questions I have, or truths I really want to share with others.
How do you explain death and heaven to a child?
Princess Lillian is taken to the hospital to visit her dying grandpa. She’s scared of the noises and machines in the room and uncertain of the man in the strange bed. God knows how she’s feeling and sends an angel who stays close by to give comfort and communicate God’s peace and wisdom to Lillian and her family.
Grandpa says his best friend, the Great King Above the Nations, is coming to take him to his forever home. But what does that mean?
Using the language of her pretend princess world, Lillian’s parents help her understand that Grandpa is getting ready to go to heaven and be with God.
This story looks at grief and the passing of a loved one through the eyes and ears of a half native American Indian child named Lillian. It can be used to instill a sense of comfort, victory, or encouragement to individuals who are facing the death of a loved one or want to explain the concept to the children in their lives
Tell us about your experience with the publishing process.
With the YA fantasy (Invisible Battles: The Quest for Hope), the guy I wrote for went through a self-publishing company where he paid for a variety of services. There were pros and cons with this, but it ultimately convinced me that this method probably wasn’t one I wanted to try.
With Princess Lillian and Grandpa’s Goodbye, I joined forces with a hybrid publisher. While I still paid their stated prices for every aspect of the publishing process, they helped me get set up with some of the things I’d need as an Indy author and helped some with marketing. With hybrid publishing, you really need to make sure your vision for your work and partnership aligns with theirs, because it’s really difficult to maintain this relationship if it doesn’t.
I’m planning on fully self-publishing my ABC fantasy book and am I’m excited to see how that goes.
I have a Bible Study with a traditional publisher, so I’m learning that process as well.
Any new projects on the horizon?
Right now, I’m planning on self-publishing a fantasy-themed Alphabet book. It will be my first time to navigate the self-publishing fully on my own and I’m excited to see how that goes. My Bible Study on 1 Corinthians is being edited by my publisher, and I’m working with a couple of people on my healing/cross-culturally themed memoir. So, a lot of books in the works.
Words of advice for fellow writers in the trenches:
Well, considering we’re all in the trenches... We got this! Keep going!
Find Jenny online: website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook
EXCERPT…
Lillian placed both hands on the railing and stood on her princess toes to see.
Covered in snow-white blankets lay an old man who looked much like Grandpa.
Connected to some tubes and wires, this man looked as fragile as the pottery that mommy kept safe in a cabinet at home.
But Grandpa was strong and active. He played pretend with her and always listened to her stories.
This man breathed like his throat was being tickled by Lillian’s princess sparkles.
“Grandpa?” Lillian asked.
Grandpa’s eyes shone like blue diamonds at the sound of his granddaughter’s voice.
“Yes, Lillian. It’s Grandpa.” Daddy’s voice shivered like a princess shivers in winter. From his eyes flowed a river of royal water.
“Hello, little princess,” said Grandpa.
“What’s wrong, Grandpa? Why is Daddy crying?”
“ ‘Cause, I’m going home.”
“But that’s a happy thing,” said Lillian. “And Daddy doesn’t look very happy.”
“Not my people home,” Grandpa whispered. “No, I’m going to my forever-kingdom home.”