Ok first of all, wow on the picture! You look beautiful Jennifer. So, can you tell us about yourself to kick things off?
I’d describe myself in many ways – daughter, sister, friend, Irish, Dub, writer (I’ve been a writer for as long as I can remember, but I guess now that I’ve had a novel published I can describe myself as one officially!), solicitor (that’s the day job!), choir singer, tag rugby enthusiast, traveller at heart, sun-worshipper…the list could go on.
The fact that you are a solicitor by day and writer by night makes you a superwoman of some description in my book! Do you wear a cape? lol! So can you share with everyone what genre you write and when did you start?
Contemporary, commercial fiction often with a literary bent. Not sure that narrows it down! I suppose if you’re looking for an actual category – general fiction. I totally understand the publishing world needing to define my writing for publicity purposes but I try not to limit myself to a genre too much in case I end up stifling an idea because it doesn’t fit what I “usually” write.
I can understand that. I find the whole genre issue confusing. I write contemporary romance, but some would describe it as chick lit, others as women’s fiction. Out of interest of the characters you’ve created through writing, which one is your favourite and why so?
That’s a really tough one. In The Secret Son, one of the main characters is a woman named Tors Shaw. I have a real soft spot for her. She has many of the characteristics I admire most in others – she’s very down-to-earth, caring and genuinely devoted to her family. She has a vulnerability I think is endearing and has handled life’s crueller misfortunes with grace and dignity.
I have to admit I really liked Tors Shaw and recognised her quiet grace in some people I know. If you have been following these weekly interviews you know that I always want a scoop. So can you share something with us about one of your books that you’ve not shared with anyone else before?
I had to change the name of one of the central characters…because I met someone with that name. It was a very confusing day for me, because I met the person in a work meeting and was completely blindsided. It was when I had just started writing the book and no one knew I was writing. I had a completely paranoid moment when I wondered how they about my character! I couldn’t concentrate in the meeting at all. Of course, it was just a co-incidence, but considering I kill off that character in the prologue, I thought it best to change the name!
Oh My God! Seriously what are the odds of that, I can imagine how you must have reeled when he was introduced! What are you working on right now?
My second book which is due to be published in Autumn 2014. I’ve completed the first draft and am working my way through the first re-write.
Congratulations on getting that first re-write done Jennifer! I’ve done my first re-write on book 2 and will start work on edit no3 in the New Year, so I understand! Can you share a sample of your writing?
The below is an extract from The Secret Son:
More clearly than in years, my father’s voice chimes loud in my head. “C’mon, Seány lad, get it over! Yes . . . yes! My son, Seán Murtagh, scores the winning point for Wicklow!”
A childish laugh of delight escapes my lips, as though Dad is really lifting me above his head again, just the two of us, practising after dark. Then just as abruptly, silence descends once more and the sound of my father’s voice is just a memory ringing in my ears, fading further with every second. Only the blackness of the night remains, with no answers.
I feel the blood pulsating through my veins, rushing to my brain, as question after question spits from my mouth. “Why did you do this?” I grip my hair in my fists. It hurts.
I don’t know how Dad could leave this boy – Andrew – without a father during his life and his acknowledged family without support when he died. There was no justification for him leaving everything to the other son. He could have left him something, a token. But to expect Mum to give up the house, to cast me and the girls from our childhood home, is nothing short of cruel. He must have known this day would come, that the truth would emerge.
That was such a powerful moment Jennifer. Really beautifully written. Just to add to all here, that Jennifer won TV3’s Write a Bestseller competition this year. She’s being very modest by not mentioning here herself!
So as the big day is fast approaching, can you share a Christmas memory with us?
I remember my brother coming into my bedroom really early on Christmas morning – too early to go into Mum and Dad. So he squeezed into bed beside me – he was practically shaking with excitement. Eventually he couldn’t hold it in any longer and bolted from the room into our parents before I had even picked up my stocking!
Aw thats so cute, I know how close you are to your brother. I loved the dedication in your book to your family. Describe a perfect Christmas Holiday for us, who are you with, where are you, what are you eating?
My perfect Christmas holiday is basically what we do every year. Singing Christmas music with my choir at mass in the morning. Then arriving at my uncle’s house for present swapping and Christmas hugs with my cousins. Finally, home with my immediate family where we do our own gift-giving and tuck into Mum’s amazing turkey and ham. Finish off the day with a Christmas movie and if there’s room (and even if there’s not) something from the selection box Santy is SURE to have brought me even though I’m thirty!
That sounds a lot like our Christmas’s and pretty perfect to me! Do you have a favourite Christmas Movie? Why!
There’s so many great ones but it’s got to be Home Alone. It’s an absolute classic – is there a better hero than Kevin McCallister – “This is my house…I have to defend it!” What’s not to love?!
Great choice, love that movie too! Do you have a favourite Christmas Song? Why!
Ooh, controversial – there’s so many classics. I’d say it’s a toss-up between Oh Holy Night because there is nothing more hauntingly beautiful and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas because it has that perfect combination of heartbreak and hope in not just the words, but the melody too.
Both amazing choices. Oh Holy Night is my favourite, so I’ll share a little clip of one of my favourite versions sung by Placido Domingo and Charlotte Church. Just stunning.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gemjzIzsek
Can you complete this sentence….’All I Want For Christmas……..’
Ok you’ll laugh at this! When I read that sentence, my mind immediately jumped to the cheesy song by Donald Yetter Gardner “All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth” and funnily enough, I think that has to be my answer! I was knocked off my bicycle back in June. No need to feel sorry for me – I was extremely lucky and thankfully I didn’t lose my teeth. But I did damage the ones at the front and, almost six months later, they are still injured. So I guess this year my answer is…a working pair of two front teeth! And a selection box. I can still bite with my back teeth after all 😉
Oh no! But I’m kind of laughing, not many have a song that sums up really want they want! And I’ve found a pretty wonderful clip for everyone. I give you Michael Buble and Elmo. Nuff said!
Can you say Sister Susie Sitting On A Thistle Jennifer? lol.
What are you reading right now? And is it a paper book or ebook?
I’ve just finished Jennifer Barrett’s Look Into The Eye (a paper book). A very tender and funny read – told in a way that makes it clear that the story is important to the author. Both Jennifer and I got our book deals with Poolbeg Press through TV3’s Write A Bestseller competition so I was almost as excited to see her book on the shelves as I was my own!
I cannot wait to read Jennifer’s book. It looks amazing and when I see Jennifer next week I’ll be booking her into the hot seat here in the New Year! If you could pick any career in the world other than what you do now, what would it be?
A career on Broadway. Fantine. Christine. From Dorothy to Elphaba. The many Marias. I’d play them all! I’m going to move onto the next question now before start to sing out loud!
Oh wow, that would be amazing. I should have insisted you share a clip of yourself singing! Next time Jennifer. Who would you like to meet most for a chat? Dead or alive. Fictional or real.
There are so many profound answers I could give to this question. But as it follows from the previous question all I can think of is Neil Patrick Harris! Have you seen his opening number to the 2013 Tony Awards (basically the Oscars for Broadway)? I insist you look it up on YouTube immediately. You’ll understand…
I hadn’t seen that before, he’s a legend! Love that Jennifer. So tell me what is the best compliment anyone could give you?
That I’m kind. And loyal. Those are the traits I would value most in others.
Although I only know you a short time, I can see those traits in abundance Jennifer. Thank you so much for stopping by and for being so honest and fun!
To everyone else, here are the links to find Jennifer and her beautiful book.
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