I met Jen Gilroy electronically when she won a copy of Irish Magic on my blog. We exchanged emails and I asked her if she would be willing to guest here. Jen, please tell us a little about yourself.
Thank you for inviting me to guest on your blog, Susan. I’m happy to be
here to visit with you and your readers.
I write contemporary romance and women’s fiction with heart, home, and
hopeful endings. Alongside my writing life, I’m a wife to a tech guy husband
(twenty-three years now and counting), and mum to a teen daughter and
floppy-eared hound dog.
After many years of living and working in England, I came home to Canada in
2015 and now live in a small town in Eastern Ontario where my family roots date
to the 1830s.
My small-town life has more than a passing resemblance to the small towns
I write about. In particular, I love living in an interconnected community and the kind of place where it’s not unusual to see a tractor parked in front
of the local bistro on a summer Saturday night.
I love firsts, so tell me about the moment when a
publisher told you they wanted to publish your book.
I’d been on submission with a particular manuscript (a finalist in
Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart contest in 2015) for months, racking
up multiple rejections along the way. When my literary agent called with an offer,
I was already on the phone trying to sort out an issue with a home utility
billing and didn’t receive her voicemail message until about half an hour later.
At first, I thought she was joking that a publisher wanted to publish my
story but, thankfully, she wasn’t! That manuscript became my first book, The Cottage at Firefly Lake. The moment
I knew I was going to realize a long-held dream of becoming a published author
was one of the most joyous of my life. Great story, Thank you,
Other than your own, who are your favorite (heroes/heroines/writers)
in your genre?
I have so many favorite writers that it’s hard to pick only a few! Amongst
romance writers, I’m a big fan of Lori Foster, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and
Jill Shalvis. And in women’s fiction, new books by Kristin Hannah, Karen White,
and Susan Wiggs always go to the top of my to-be-read list.
My go-to comfort author, though, is L.M. Montgomery, best known for the Anne of Green Gables series. One of her
lesser-known series of books, the Emily
trilogy, about a young girl who wants to be a published author, influenced me
in my own writing dreams. We share favorites. I have almost everything
What is the most exciting moment, so far, in your
writing career?
Both an exciting and “pinch me I must be dreaming” moment was when Penguin
Verlag acquired German rights to my first three books (The Cottage at Firefly Lake, Summer
on Firefly Lake, and Back Home at
Firefly Lake) and published translated editions for German-speaking
readers.
It’s special, humbling, and almost surreal to see my books in a language
I don’t speak, read, or write, and to hear from German readers that they’ve
enjoyed my stories.
What is your favorite pastime, other than writing?
Although I’m a writer,
I’ll always be a reader first and one of my favorite things to do is curl up in
a comfy chair with a book.
I also enjoy reading,
travel, singing, and ballet and am known for my love of ice cream, shoes, and
vintage finds.
How
do you motivate yourself when inspiration takes a vacation?
Even when
“inspiration takes a vacation,” I try to get words on the page because for me
the “act of writing” usually sparks new story ideas.
When I’m really
stuck, though, I take a walk, read a book outside my genre, or watch a movie
and let my mind drift.
Cleaning my house
is also surprisingly conducive to solving plot problems!
Any advice for new writers just starting out?
Take time to learn and hone your craft as a writer and recognize that the
first book you write may not be the first you publish. Also, be persistent and
flexible. This business is tough and if you want to build a long-term writing
career, there will be many ups and downs along the way. Keep going, believe in
your stories and your author voice, and don’t give up.
Find a writing community as
well. I belong to Romance Writers of America
(RWA), the Romantic Novelists’ Association (RNA) in the UK, and the Women’s
Fiction Writers Association (WFWA) and all have helped me in my journey to
publication and beyond.
Tell us about The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls
Something I enjoy about your books, Susan, including
your latest release, Irish Magic, is their
mystical element. Thank you! I am so happy you like them.
My new book, The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls, has a similar feel.
My new book, The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls, has a similar feel.
I first learned about wishing trees on a trip to
Asia and was fascinated by the idea of tying a piece of paper (or other item)
with a wish to a mystical tree in the belief that a cherished hope or dream
would then be granted.
I then discovered that wishing trees are popular in
many cultures and different parts of the world, including Ireland. From there, The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls, set in
an Irish-American community in the Adirondack Mountains of northern New York state,
was born.
The story was also sparked by a ‘what if’
question…namely, what if two people who’d given up on wishes lived in a town
with a magical wishing tree?
Sometimes happily ever after is only a wish away . . .
There’s a wishing tree in Irish Falls. The bits of paper tied to its gnarled branches hold the hopes and dreams of everyone in town . . . except Annie Quinn.
Single mom Annie has spent years rebuilding her life and trying not to have regrets. After giving up her dream of music stardom, she returned to her Adirondack hometown—and convinced herself she’s content with a simpler life.
The last thing she needs is a man to remind her of the heartbreak she left behind.
A divorced dad, Seth Taggart used to be a successful LA songwriter. But now his reputation is in tatters, he’s burnt-out, and estranged from his adult son. Inheriting a small-town radio station just might be the do-over he needs.
Although he always planned to go back to LA, when working with Annie turns into sharing music and more, Seth realizes second chances—and home—are where he least expects.
There’s a wishing tree in Irish Falls. The bits of paper tied to its gnarled branches hold the hopes and dreams of everyone in town . . . except Annie Quinn.
Single mom Annie has spent years rebuilding her life and trying not to have regrets. After giving up her dream of music stardom, she returned to her Adirondack hometown—and convinced herself she’s content with a simpler life.
The last thing she needs is a man to remind her of the heartbreak she left behind.
A divorced dad, Seth Taggart used to be a successful LA songwriter. But now his reputation is in tatters, he’s burnt-out, and estranged from his adult son. Inheriting a small-town radio station just might be the do-over he needs.
Although he always planned to go back to LA, when working with Annie turns into sharing music and more, Seth realizes second chances—and home—are where he least expects.
Buy links (free with Kindle Unlimited)
What’s your current WIP? I’m currently working on the sequel to The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls. For anyone who has read the first book in the series, the sequel is the heroine’s sister Tara’s story.
I also have two women’s fiction novels in progress and both have romantic elements.
And finally, where can we find you?
I’m happy for readers to contact me via my website (where I blog every
two weeks, mostly about life and sometimes writing), or via any or all of my
social media profiles. I’m active on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and
usually post and chat with readers there daily.
Thank you for hosting me on your blog, Susan. I'm happy to be here and share my new book, 'The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls' with your readers.
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