Author Archives: Jen

About Jen

I am a writer of fantasy and science fiction, mostly for young adults.

Getting to know a new book

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Jen

When you begin reading a book, what do you need in the first few pages (or paragraphs, or sentences) to get you to keep reading? I finished reading Gillian Flynn‘s Gone Girl the other day.  It’s a highly acclaimed, very … Continue reading →

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“Up” ending or “down” ending?

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Jen

Sometimes predicting an ending isn’t hard.  When you’re reading a book (or watching a movie) within a certain genre, for example, you know the romantic male lead and romantic female lead will get together, or that the evil sorcerer will … Continue reading →

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A beautiful pay-off: Nicole R. Dickson’s Casting Off

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Jen

I just finished reading a book that had a remarkably powerful pay-off for me:  Nicole R. Dickson’s Casting Off.  The story is about a single mom who is six years past being in an abusive relationship.  She’s still struggling to … Continue reading →

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Reading John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Jen

In the past 24 hours I have been a-flurry with thoughts about YA literature, mostly because I had two significant reading experiences.  The first is the YA novel by John Green, The Fault in Our Stars, which I finished last … Continue reading →

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The Drift

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Jen

Both of my long-term critique partners have had special news this October.  Rhonda Mason completed the draft of a new manuscript (I’ll label it space opera romance for now),  and I am SUPER EXCITED to announce that Diana Botsford‘s second novel set … Continue reading →

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