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The
Jenny B. Jones File: 
Jenny B. Jones Interview
by C.J. Darlington
"Twilight Zone freaked me out as a kid. I was easily scared, and I probably have Twilight Zone to blame for growing up so neurotic. Is there someone I can sue? Is that Rod Serling guy still alive?" -- Jenny B. Jones
Jenny B. Jones writes Christian Fiction with equal parts wit, sass, and
untamed hilarity. When she’s not writing, she’s living
it up as a high school teacher in Arkansas. Since she has very little
free time, she believes in spending her spare hours in meaningful,
intellectual pursuits such as watching E!, going to the movies and
inhaling large buckets of popcorn, and writing her name in the dust
on her furniture.
Last interview we did, you were just releasing the third book in your Katie Parker Production series. Could you catch us up on what’s been going on with you since then?
Wow, a lot has happened since then. Since that time Jon and Kate have broken up, we have our first African American in the big seat of the Oval Office, and the Gloved One is no longer among us. I really can’t top all that, but my new YA series A Charmed Life hit the shelves with book one, So Not Happening. This series is about Bella Kirkwood, a teenage Manhattan socialite who must move to rural Oklahoma where she must deal with farm life, a wrestling step-father, her maddening (yet hot) newspaper editor, and solving the occasional mystery. All while keeping her lipstick fresh.
And in early September my first contemporary romance hit the shelves—as in romance for big girls. So it was fun to branch out from YA for a bit.
I was really excited to read Just Between You And Me since I remember you originally wanted to write chick lit. Share with us how you came to write this book. Is it true you only had a matter of weeks to write it?
My fabulous editor Natalie came to me with this idea to create a novel that would minister to people on the idea of being fearless. We all thought this was the perfect time given the anxiety the world shares right now—with politics, joblessness, real estate woes, and having to hawk Granny’s diamonds for a tank of gas.
By the time we all agreed on the plot elements, I had six weeks. It was a little crazy, but it allowed for me to have months off afterwards which I desperately needed and enjoyed. God totally moved during that six weeks though. I am not a fast writer, but I had miraculous, never-seen-before (for me) page counts each day, especially toward the end. Or maybe it’s just that you can get more done if you forego bathing and leg shaving? I should try that with this current book I’m writing and see if it gets the creativity flowing. . .
There’s a great balance of humor and seriousness in all of your writing, and definitely in Just Between You And Me. Is it different for each book, or do you have to consciously keep that balance in mind as you write?
I think it’s something I check and am aware of, but mostly it’s just a balance that comes from the gut. I can only stay down too long. I don’t like maudlin and I don’t like overly emotional. (And my definition of overly emotional is pretty broad—like anything that doesn’t include smiling or laughing.) That’s not my comfort zone. So the balance comes from my own need to temper the serious with the humorous. And I never feel like any book is funny enough, so I don’t know about balance actually. I’m the last person to be objective about that.
Your character
Maggie’s
dealing with a lot of issues in her life, but especially fear. What do
you hope her story conveys to readers?
I hope her story conveys that fear is normal, but it’s paralyzing and keeps us from moving forward to the places God really wants us. Unfortunately, I think it’s how many of us live our lives—by playing it safe. I want readers to see that Maggie didn’t have a miraculous deliverance from fear. But she decided for the first time in her life to put her head down and just charge through it anyway. And great stuff was waiting for her on the other side. I think as we all endure these uncertain times we can fade into the crowd. For example, if I, as a believer, lose my house, will my reaction be any different from my neighbor, a nonbeliever, if he loses his home? I think often Christians react to fearful or stressful situations just like the rest of the world does—with panic, self-reliance, and negativity. So as Christians, how do we stand out during these hard times? That was a question that stayed with me throughout the writing of the book.
What was the hardest part about writing Just Between You And Me?
It was challenging on a few levels. It was hard because it’s the
deepest I’ve gone with the spiritual element—even with a previous
book about a teen’s salvation—this book was still more in terms
of the spiritual message. I’m very light hearted, so this was a little
uncomfortable for me at times, but I was glad to be pushed out of my comfort
zone as well.
It was hard in that Maggie’s issues (as well as the issues of other characters) are significant enough that I couldn’t crack as many jokes or lighten it up as much as I normally like to. So I had to put on my maturity hat. Which isn’t always fun.
And the jeans size I gained while writing it was not the best either. Anything for the kingdom, right…?
And you have
another novel releasing soon in the YA genre! You’re
one busy gal. What was it like 
writing another teen girl main character
after living with Katie Parker for so long?
Ha. It was interesting. My challenge was to create another character who was sassy and had a sense of humor, but wasn’t just Katie Parker with a new name. I made Bella Kirkwood purposely different in a few ways. She’s from a different economic background, has different family drama, and was overly confident in herself, whereas Katie came on the scene with zero confidence or security in her world. It was a lot of fun to write Bella, who is initially a pampered girl who’s had everything handed to her. I loved the contrast and the idea of flipping that Gossip Girl type of character on her ear by uprooting her from her posh surroundings and putting her in rural Oklahoma.
Most writers
perform a lot of research before ever writing their novels. Is that
true for
you? Did
you have to research a lot to write I’m
So Sure?
I really admire those who do weeks and months of research. Due to time
constraints, I have to keep elements that require research very limited.
So I use my students and their behaviors a lot. In I’m So Sure, Bella
and her family are part of a wrestling reality show (any chance I can get
to work in spandex into a plot, I take it), so I did some research on reality
shows. I had the burden of having to watch a few (tragic). And I did research
on professional wrestling throughout the series. In fact, I drug two friends
to Little Rock, AR to a WWE Smackdown. THAT was interesting. And fun. (We
were overdressed by the way. But now we know—for next time.) For
the last A Charmed Life book, out this winter, I had to quiz a funeral
director on different ways to dig up a casket. The guy didn’t even
blink an eye.
Ever had any unusual or embarrassing moments at a book signing or while
performing research?
No, but my day is coming. I know it.
Of all your
characters, who’s
your favorite, and why?
I don’t have a specific favorite—that would be like picking
a favorite child or student. But I’m drawn to the quirkiest and most
honest characters. I’ve found that I have to have at least one weird,
irreverent character in each book to keep myself entertained. So in the
Katie Parker series it was Mad Maxine, the crazy grandmother. In A Charmed
Life series, it’s a character who shows up in book two—biker
chick Ruthie. And in Just Between You and Me, it would have to
be 10 year old Riley, a girl who's seen too much and whose only defense
is her smart
mouth.
Do you listen to music when you write? If so, what are some of your favorite bands/artists?
I can’t listen to anything with words when I write unless it’s for a social scene, like listening to Crowder to get in the zone for a scene at a youth ministry event or something. I do have a theme song for just about every book that I’ll download on my iPod and listen to sometimes for pre-writing, but other than that, it’s instrumental if anything. If there are words, I’ll feel inclined to take the solo and that’s just distracting to me. And to local wildlife.
I hear you’ve
now started teaching part-time rather than full-time. What has the transition
been
like? Would you like to see yourself writing
full time or does it help you to keep your fingers on the pulse of youth
culture?
Your intel is pretty accurate, C.J. ; ) The transition has been stinkin’ awesome!
I am loving life right now. I am through with teaching every day by 11:40
a.m. During the summer,
I’m barely up with my teeth brushed by this hour. I think it does
me good to have a reason to get up at a normal hour every morning. I’m
too big a fan of morning TV (The View, GMA, etc.) to stay at home full
time. I can waste a morning better than Tiger can golf. It’s just
a talent I have. (Don’t be jealous.) So while teaching can be demanding—even
part time—I like having that routine and order to my day. I’m
a very unstructured, slightly ADD person who needs structure. Teaching
provides that. And my kids are just a wealth of entertainment and resources.
They really are helpful and a joy. I keep a running list of funny things
they say. Like today, we were talking about ways to start a speech. I said
something like, “You can start a speech with a shocking statistic
or a startling statement. They are both really similar, but a statistic
always has to do with….what?” One kid pipes up. “Penguins.” 
Ever find it challenging to head to your keyboard every day? What
do you do when the words don’t seem to come?
I find it a challenge to be there every minute. I am so easily distracted.
Email, Facebook, and Twitter do NOT help. I check them by the millisecond.
When the words don’t
come I do a few things.
1. Stay in my seat. Sometimes I just want to be doing anything but writing,
but I can’t. And I know my lack of words is just my brain wanting
to go shop or watch TV or make faces out the window at the neighbor kid.
2. Get up and move. We are big on brain research at our school, and we
know that the brain needs water and movement and change (shifting gears)
to work at its optimum best. So about every hour I try (but often forget
or fail) to get up and walk for ten minutes or so. Usually this is a walk
to the fridge. Sometimes I make this walk ten times an hour. Just to revive
that brain you know.
3. Go do something totally unrelated to my book or writing. I was really
stuck on major plot elements for Just Between You and Me and at the panic
stage. I decided to go with some friends to see Shopaholic. During this
movie, I tuned out for a bit and all the sudden pieces that I needed for
my story started to develop in my head. They had absolutely nothing to
do with Shopaholic, but I think it was just from NOT trying that finally
released some creativity. In the movie’s honor I did base the appearance
of my Maggie Montgomery on the Isla Fisher from Shopaholic. She hasn’t
written me a thank you note yet, but I’m sure she will…
What do you
know now that you wish you’d known when you first started
writing?
Ha. If I had known then what I know now about writing I might not have
gone through with it.
One thing I’m realizing lately is that I have developed this “I feel guilty” complex for reading. Like I feel guilty for just sitting there when I could be writing or especially doing all those things I put off because I have been writing—cleaning the house, working out, cooking, etc. I don’t know where this weird idea came from (probably from not wanting to do one more thing involving sitting), but I have got to get over it because I personally learn from reading even more than I do from books on writing. So my advice is to read all you can and don’t look at it as an indulgence, but as working on your craft. If you were a tennis player, you’d sure watch other games and players. So by the same token, I need to be reading as much as I can and learning from other writers.
What’s
next for you on the novel front?
I’m So Sure, the second book in A Charmed Life series comes out November
1st, and I’m excited for that. In this book someone is out to sabotage
the prom queen wannabe’s and Bella Kirkwood must get to the bottom
of it while living her life on a reality show and keeping the attention
of her hot editor Luke Sullivan.
And in the meantime I’m currently working on my second contemporary romance involving two characters who fake an engagement. And by currently working I mean I’m doing a lot of staring at a blank screen and eating Halloween candy.
Anything else
you’d
like to share?
We have a great time over at my blog at jennybjones.com/blog. We do giveaways
all the time and just talk about random craziness. Stop by!
Favorite musical:
Oh, Wicked. Without a doubt. I think that is the most brilliant, most fun,
clever thing ever. It’s based on the book Wicked, which I completely
hated. So it blows my mind that the SAME author could create something
so completely different in tone as Wicked the musical. It’s the back
story of The Wizard of Oz, and is so clever, I’m just not worthy
to even sit in the balcony of the show. But I do. I highly recommend this
to anyone if it’s anywhere near you. And get the soundtrack. I’ve
worn it out to the point that I’m a little nauseous when I hear it.
I love musicals though. I sing show tunes all the time. I’m sure it’s really endeared me to my neighbors. I’ve been working on my high notes lately. . .
Favorite Twilight Zone episode:
Twilight Zone freaked me out as a kid. I was easily scared, and I probably
have Twilight Zone to blame for growing up so neurotic. Is there someone
I can sue? Is that Rod Serling guy still alive? 
When you’re
not writing, what do you enjoy doing?
Going to movies, plays, traveling. I went to Ireland and Scotland this
summer and had a fabulous time. Love hanging out with family and friends.
I love cleaning my house, yard work, and cooking. . . just kidding! My
biggest hobby is probably avoiding anything domestic. Obviously I enjoy
reading, and I happen to be an out-of-the-closet magazine addict.
What did you eat for breakfast this morning?
Ha. Good question. I had a Weight Watchers English muffin sandwich (you
can get them in your freezer section), but I swapped out the gross, skanky
looking Canadian bacon and stuck in some deli ham. Glass of milk. For
dinner the night before I had half a salad and a bowl of cereal. I am
quite the gourmet in case you hadn’t heard. . .
Where can we find you on a Friday night?
Rarely at home unless it’s a deadline, then you’ll find me
chained to my seat (where I’m probably Twittering and checking email
and wondering where all my time went).
I’m a huge movie fanatic, so odds are I’m at the movies. And even though I’m really unstructured and loosey goosey, I realized this weekend that I’m very OCD when it comes to the movies. I have to get there early to get a good seat, preferably my “usual” seat. And if I can’t be there in time for previews, then I don’t want to go at all.
Favorite food of all time:
Cereal and anything Mexican, such as queso, quesadillas, and fajitas. I
have the local Mexican restaurant on speed dial.
The best vacation spot in the world is:
Anywhere where I don’t
have an agenda or have to rush, but can just enjoy the day, enjoy the
moment, which I often forget to do. I would go
back to Ireland in a heart beat. I think I could live there. Beautiful
scenery, amazingly friendly people, a respect for local products and
agriculture,
and just a cool vibe. I loved it.
Buying
Options:
C.J.
Darlington's
first
novel, Thicker Than Blood, was the winner of the 2008 Christian
Writers Guild's Operation
First Novel contest. Her second novel, Bound by Guilt, has recently
released
from Tyndale,
and
you
can watch
that trailer today! When
she's not writing, she's reading. Her hobbies include horseback riding, oil painting,
and book collecting.
She is also a contributing editor at Family
Fiction Magazine. Visit her online
at her
author website and at her
blog where she talks about books, writing, and publishing. You can also look
her
up
at
Twitter and Facebook.
