My Friend, Author Jena Morrow

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Come on, folks, and enjoy learning about fellow author, Jena. Read on . . .

How long have you known that you were a writer? Did you receive a clear "call"? Or have you loved writing all your life?

• I have loved writing since I was about eight years old. Writing has always sort of been my way of responding to the world--when I'm angry, I write; when I'm sad, I write. When I'm overjoyed or inspired, I write. So if I did receive a clear call, it must have happened sometime before second grade!

What is the genre you write in? Would you explain it?

• Well, the book that is releasing in May is a memoir. What I write most often are personal essays which usually end up as blog entries or articles at some point. I love fiction and enjoy creating characters and placing them in precarious situations, and then "discovering" how they will respond. I've written several short, one-act plays and have enjoyed that creative process. It has given me an itch to dig into fiction writing.
  

How do you spend your writing days? Do you set goals to reach a certain amount of words per day?

• No, I don't set word count goals, but it seems most of the writers I meet do, and I'm sure they're onto to something. I'm embarrassed to admit how unstructured I am in my approach to writing. I just sit down and write and hope for the best. Some days my fingers fly faster than other days. It's really fun when the words come faster than the fingers can type. But that isn't every day!

What is the spiritual message in your latest book? What can readers expect to get from reading it?

• My upcoming book, Hollow, is a memoir about my struggle with anorexia, but there is a spiritual message for sure. It is a message of what I call "realistic hope." So often, as Christians, we set ourselves up for failure by assuming that the entire point of our journey is arriving at its end.
• I've been learning differently; the point of the journey IS the journey. The journey is its own reward. In my own recovery process, relapses have taught me an important lesson, which is applicable to so many areas in the life of the believer: life can be chosen one day at a time. God's mercies are new every morning, and baby steps DO count.

When will your book be released?

• Hollow will hit stores on May 1st.

Where do you get your ideas? Character names? Do you find your characters similar to you in any way?

• Ideas come from all sorts of sources . . . A stranger I see in the mall, a conversation I overheard in a coffee house, things my friends might be enduring. And a really good book or movie will almost always inspire me to create something. Most of these ideas get stored on the hard drive of my brain until later. Character names just pop into my head randomly; certain names "seem" like certain types of people to me, and I go with that.
• Some of my characters, like in the plays I have written, have been similar to me, but mostly I enjoy creating characters who are unique. It's fun to get outside my own head and learn to "think" like someone else, figure out how they might react in certain situations, what they would say, what their strengths are, their weaknessess. People are fascinating to me--even fictional ones.

Do you ever feel like giving up? Most people don't understand the stress, the work, and the joy of being a writer. How tenuous becoming a writer is. Do you care to share how it feels, what discouraging/encouraging times you've gone through? Who's inspired you the most?

• Well, I'm still pretty new. Ask me in another five or ten years! Honestly, though, the ride so far has included all those things--the stress, the work, the joy. And so far, I wouldn't trade a bit of it. I'm just relying on God and truly enjoying the ride.

Would you explain how you "chose" (or was chosen by) a publisher? Do you just go "inny, minny, miny, moe?" Grin. Now, that you're published, can you sit back and relax from the success you've experienced?

• My agent knew before she signed me that Moody was somewhere she wanted to pitch, and I just trusted her insider's perspective. It has turned out to be a great fit, and I feel extremely blessed. They are some very cool people.

Do you mind telling us some of your likes and dislikes? Hobbies, interests?

• Oh, where to start? Well, I'm a people person, and I love hanging out and laughing with my friends. My kid makes me laugh daily. Sometimes I laugh all by myself . . . so I guess laughter is one of my "likes." I love good movies--I have a lo-o-ong list of favorites; anything well written and character driven. Music is huge in my life, and I have a wide range of musical interests. Probably one of my favorite things to do is to just drive around, listening to music and clearing my head. Oh, and coffee. Gotta have a good cup o' java in the cupholder.

Would you give us your blog or webpage so everyone can check it out? Anything else you'd like to share? Promotional information?

• My blog is http://www.jenamorrow.blogspot.com/
• Folks can follow me on Twitter as jena_morrow.
• The Facebook fan page has been set up and can be found by searching for "Hollow the Book."
• My own author website is currently under construction and will be launched in time for the book's release.

Thank you, Jena, for being on my blog today. I wish you the very best for your writing career and Hollow.

Folks, if you know someone struggling with anorexia, please consider sharing this book with them. And don't forget to share your comment to encourage Jena!


Blessings!