Today’s author interviewee is Jennifer Labelle who lives in Ottawa and whose latest release Meant to Be came to her in a dream. Here she is to tell us about her approach to writing and her books.
http://www.jenniferlabelle.com/
Susan Palmquist (SP)-What prompted you to start writing?
Jennifer Labelle (JL)-I began my journey at a very young age. Parentless by the age of thirteen, I moved around a lot. I was a loner, and for the most part I liked it that way. It was around that time that I really started to get into books. It was an out for me, my escape from the horror that was my life at the time, and I couldn’t stop myself from then on.
After my third child and only daughter was born I decided to be a stay at home mom. It was then I decided to take up writing again, and decided to peruse being published professionally.
SP-You live in Ottawa; do you draw any inspiration from your surroundings?
LB-Not really. My inspiration comes from things I can relate to and my life experiences for the most part.
SP-Your career was in Additions Work, so it probably makes you a people person? Does that reflect in the characters you create?
LB-I’d like to think I’m a people person, but my training and job experience has nothing to do with the characters that I create. Addictions work is a pretty stressful job, and most often you’re dealing with people at their lowest. It wouldn’t make for a very appealing character trait.
SP-I saw your Web site has your WIPs, and Deadly Consequences is based on a true story, would you like to tell us about it and what made you base a story on an actual event?
LB-After witnessing her mother’s murder, Holly Hewitt struggles to cope. Parentless by a very young age, the only thing she longs for is acceptance and a place to call home. She’s given up hope and is left to fend for herself, until the one person she’s afraid to trust teaches her that life is worth living, and love is worth the fight to go on.
Zander Sinclair is a young, carefree, good looking guy who didn’t think he was looking for anything permanent in his life, especially when it came to women. Until, Holly came into his life. The beautiful, messed up vixen has him turned inside out, and longing to be with her. She’s had a hard life, and is fighting her attraction for him, but with a little persistence he’s determined to become her very own modern day hero.
This is a story about deadly consequences and the lives left behind. I chose to write this story because it’s heartfelt and I think a lot of people will be able to relate to it. Tragic beginning meets happy ending, not to mention I had quite a few requests for it.
SP-Your new release is Meant to Be; how did the story come about and maybe you can fill us in on the plot and characters?
LB-Meant To Be actually came to me in a dream, and then I just added onto it from there. It’s an emotional story about love, loss, and new beginnings.
Jenna Baker is shaken after her recovery with a near death experience. As if being haunted with visions and losing her husband in a car accident weren’t hard enough. Could she be losing her mind? She finally moves on, only to have the husband she thought was dead suddenly reappear.
After the shocking task of convincing Jenna that she’s not seeing his ghost, Tyler becomes overwhelmed with guilt for saving himself and leaving her to almost die. Jenna’s recovery takes its toll while Tyler’s vulnerability gets the best of him. He’s harbouring secrets that will devastate her and as Jenna unravels the truth her life takes an unexpected journey.
SP-You have lots of links to fellow authors and groups on your site. Do you belong to many writer’s groups?
LB-I’m a member of the Canadian Authors association, and am a member on several yahoo loops. Most of the links on my site are the authors from Secret Cravings Publishing and several great ones that I’ve met through the loops, interviews, and chats.
SP-If you could pass along three tips to fellow writer…maybe it’s mistakes you’ve made, things you’d do differently, what would they be?
LB-First I’d probably say to be patient. Waiting for submissions can be very time consuming and frustrating. Second, I’d tell them to keep writing. Use your time to work on the next great novel while you wait for the other one to be accepted. And, third, don’t let a rejection get you down. We all get them. Take it like a grain of salt and keep trying.
SP-What are some of your long term goals?
LB-To keep writing and publish as many books as I possibl