Author Interview: JENNY O'BRIEN

I'm ending the week chatting with another wonderful author who's both self published and traditionally published a range of books for a range of ages and whose next book is about to be born.

Check it out... 

Born in Dublin, Jenny O'Brien moved to Wales and then Guernsey, where she tries to find time to write in between working as a nurse and ferrying around 3 teenagers.

She's an avid reader and book blogger. In her spare time she can be found frowning at her wonky cakes and even wonkier breads. You'll be pleased to note she won't be entering Bake-Off. She's also an all-year-round sea swimmer.

Follow Jenny here!

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A MISSING BABY. A MOTHER’S NIGHTMARE.

When Izzy Grant’s newborn daughter Alys disappears, her world shatters around her. Despite an extensive search the police find no trace of the missing girl, but Izzy refuses to give up hope that her daughter will be found.

Then a note is pushed through her letterbox, warning her off.

For Izzy it’s a ray of hope, another lead for the police to follow. For DC Gaby Darin it’s another piece of the puzzle that just won’t fit. But as a long-lost friend returns to Izzy’s life with a shocking secret, Gaby realises the truth of who took Izzy’s daughter from her might lie in the past – and far closer to home than anyone could have imagined…

​Grab your copy here! 

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The Interview... 

​Who are you and what do you write?

Hi Kate, firstly thank you for inviting me onto your blog today. I've been writing for 12 years and have self published books for children, romantic fiction and psychological thrillers. Last year I signed a three book deal with HQ Digital for three books in my Welsh-set Crime Thriller series featuring second generation Italian detective, Gaby Darin. I'm also a nurse and work on a busy rehabilitation unit. 


Where and when and how did the writing life begin for you?

It all started with the character of a little boy called Dai Monday. I kept him tucked in the corner of my mind for a year before having the courage to write his story. The book, Boy Brainy, is perma-free on Amazon and addresses self-esteem issues with children who are bullied. 


How has the journey to this point been? Can you give us a basic rundown?

Ha, up until last year it was rejection-filled. Well over a decade of rejections, which is impossible not to take personally. But after each email I just picked myself up and carried on writing. Then I wrote The Stepsister and Silent Cry (self-published as Missing in Wales) back on back in 2018. They both did amazingly well, which brought me to the attention of the team at HQ Digital. The rest, as they say, is history. 


What's been the hardest part of your writing/publishing experience so far? And the most enjoyable?

The hardest part is keeping going with all those rejection letters coming in. The most enjoyable was when HQ Digital signed me up. I was pretty much at the end of my tether then as 2019 was a particularly bad vintage for me. I think if they'd rejected me there's a good chance I wouldn't still be writing now. With my nursing and writing, I frequently put in 60 hour weeks. There has to be some reward to keep that level of commitment up. 
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DARKEST NIGHT 
OUT JULY 17!

​Would you go back and change anything?

In hindsight probably not. I couldn't have written either The Stepsister or Silent Cry twelve years ago. It's taken those years for my writing style to develop. 


Where would you like to be in 5 years time? And 10?

I have no plans. As a nurse I see all too often planners being disappointed when life intervenes. I live for the moment and try and take some pleasure in each day, no matter how small. However I'd like to see my teenagers settled on their own journey and retire from nursing sooner rather than later - 38 years and counting on the wards. 


What's one piece of advice you'd give to new writers just starting out? 

Think about why you want to write as this will influence what you write. There's a huge difference between a personal memoire/non-fiction work and writing commercial/literary fiction. 


And most importantly...

Ketchup or Mayo?
Mayo
Night or Day?
Having worked a huge amount of night duty over the years, definitely day! 
Inside or Outside?
Outside
Dogs or Cats?
Both but as I have cats...
Twitter or Facebook?
Facebook is kinder but I spend more time on Twitter.
e-book or Paperback?
Paperback
Sun or Rain?
Sun
Keyboard or Pencil & Notebook?
Either
Comedy or Drama?
Drama
Chips or Chocolate?
Chocolate