Author Interview: Jennifer Wenn

Please welcome Jennifer who is joining me in the hotseat this week! What is your full name and where do you live now?

My name is Jennifer Wenn and I live in Sweden with my husband and our four children.

First off, how has your week been?

Wonderful but quite hectic and with too little sleep I’m afraid. Having the kids’ home for their summer holiday means that there isn’t that much time left for me to write. So I’ve spent the nights writing with a huge never-ending cup of coffee beside me and the daytime yawning at the beach.

I can sympathise! What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarise it what would you say?

It’s called A FAMILY AFFAIR, the first in ‘The Royal Family’ series and is my debut novel. To keep it short – it’s about a sassy young woman, highly loved by a large, overbearing family, who meets a magnificent man who has nothing but the scars from his childhood. It’s about family, love and the importance of learning how to ignore interfering family members.

Sounds fab, I'm hooked already! What was your favourite chapter to write and why?

I love writing the last chapter and the epilogue. I am a huge fan of Happily Ever After and it’s so satisfying to let the book end with a loud bang. I hate reading a good book that ends without telling you what happened next or leaves you wondering if the couple actually got together at all.
For example (spoiler warning here) the movie SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE, one of the best movies I’ve ever seen (except the ending). It ends without you knowing anything but that they met. But then? What happened then? Did the magic stay? Who moved where? Or did they do the long-distance-thing? Did they have kids? What did their families and friends think about it? Did the couple actually become happy together? What happened?

I am a huge end of epilogues even though they are no the 'done thing'. On the few books I haven't done them, my readers got annoyed with me. So when you started your book, did you plan on writing it as a series, or did it just grow into one?

I’m writing about a very special family and so yes, I had plans for a couple of books from the beginning.  I have quite many secondary characters in my novels and I can’t stop myself from creating stories for every single one of them, so be aware, if no one stops me this series will be another never-ending story!

Do you have plans for a new book?

I’m currently working on the draft for my second novel together with my editor from The Wild Rose Press and am on the same time scribbling on a fourth novel in my ‘The Royal Family’ series.

What genre would you place your books into?

I write historical romances set in the Regency Era

What made you decide to write that genre of book?

I’ve always been a champion of great endings and Happily Ever After, so for me there was only one genre – romance. And since I’m a real history geek I never thought of anything but write stories in a historical setting.  

That's pretty much my reason for writing medieval ones. It's a great way of indulging a love of history. How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?

I write historical romances set in England and when I have decided upon what first names my characters will have I then move on to the next step which is to decide what county they come from/live in. Sometimes I want a certain landscape, sometimes I want them to live nearby a certain larger city but mostly I just want them somewhere that I find mystical or attractive because of the history of the place.
Last names and titles I get from looking on old periodic maps from the chosen county as well as the name of their hometown or country home.

Do you have to do much research?

Yes I do. Writing romances in historical settings means you have to make sure that as much as possible is historical accurate; that the characters are dressed correctly, that they act according to their period’s etiquette and that they don’t use too modern words. Unfortunately faults do slip through sometimes and I’ve already found three things in A FAMILY AFFAIR which I, the editor and the copy editor missed. Bummer.
But lesson learnt, I will never do the same mistakes again!

Thanks for joining me here today, Jennifer. I wish you the best of luck with your book and the series.

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A FAMILY AFFAIR – to be published July 19th 2013 by The Wild Rose Press.

Lady Francesca Darling has been in love with Devlin Ross, the Duke of Hereford, since she was five years old. When they meet again at her debutante ball she finds her feelings remain the same, and to her joy he is mesmerized by her. To the gossipy matrons of the ton it’s the perfect match—the richest heiress and the most eligible bachelor.

But can their budding love survive her interfering family and the deep scars from his father’s abuse? Enchanted as he is with the delightful woman Fanny has become, Devlin intends never to repeat that abuse, vowing not to live with his wife and children.

Fanny is a determined young lady — she wants Devlin and a true marriage. Is her love strong enough to tear down all his walls?

Find Jennifer on her website and keep an eye out for A Family Affair on Amazon.