Interview with Jenny Holiday

 

Biography

Jenny Holiday is a USA Today-bestselling author whose books have been featured in The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, and The Washington Post. She grew up in Minnesota and started writing when her fourth-grade teacher gave her a notebook to fill with stories. When she’s not working on her next book, she likes to hike, throw theme parties, and watch other people sing karaoke. Jenny lives in London, Ontario, Canada.

Credit for picture and bio :   About Jenny - Jenny Holiday

Questions

Why did you decided to write romance?

I have always been a writer professionally—not of romance, or even of fiction, but in communications and public relations. When I started reading romance, I eventually started to think, Hmm, maybe I should try this!

What struggles did you met when you wrote your first novel?

My first novel was not good! It was too long and rambling and the characters made wildly unmotivated decisions and flew off the handle without cause. I of course didn’t see any of these problems until I was done. I had to accept that it was unsalvageable. But writing that book in many ways taught me how to write.

What advices will you give to a new author?

You have to have a thick skin and not take negative feedback—whether it’s in the form of rejection, bad reviews, whatever—personally. I also believe that the way to be a writer is to write. A schedule won’t necessarily work for everyone and I’m not saying you have to write a certain amount per day or per week, but I’m a fan of the butt-in-chair method. I have a sign on my office wall that says, “Motivation will die. Let discipline take its place.”

Which one of your books will you recommend to a new reader?

I would start with One and Only from my Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series.

What are the differences between writing a standalone and a series?

They’re not that different, really. I try to make sure every book works as a standalone, so anyone picking up a series in the middle is not lost. If a book is in a series, of course there are challenges to do with timelines and continuity, so I find series books harder in that sense. But on the other hand, series books have the advantage of an already-built world and a familiar cast of characters.

What are your future projects?

I have two books out in 2024. In January 2024 I have a contemporary rom-com out called Canadian Boyfriend about a teenager who invents a fake boyfriend to gain social status at school, only to meet the man who inspired him again as an adult . Midyear, I am returning to my Regency roots with a book called Earls Trip, which will be the first of a series about a group of earl friends whose annual holiday is disrupted by inconveniently timed affairs of the heart.