My interview with Gina Holliday of Apex Reviews:
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Jennifer Brown (Celebrity Secrets)AR: Thanks for joining us for this interview, Jennifer. We're looking forward to learning more about your book.The plot of the story is quite unique. What inspired it?
JB: I enjoy plots that center around a book. I thought it would be interesting to write a story involving a new release that oddly coincides with a celebrity's past. Especially considering everyone has their own secrets, even celebrities.
AR: Who have some of your writing influences been?
JB: My third grade teacher, David Weidner assigned us in groups one day to write a story. Even before that as a preschooler my mom said I was a storyteller, drawing my schoolmates. As as I have grown older, authors from Christopher Pike to VC Andrews have captivated me. And I can't forget Mrs. Joann Butz my journalism teacher, and Mr. Tim Bucey for giving me the chance and training to write for newspapers.
AR: What makes Elissa go into show business?
JB: Elissa won a spot on a sitcom, turning out to be one of those overnight successes. This month I plan to link an "Elissa Harner Fan Club" page to my official site at www.freewebs.com/jenniferbrownauthor/ to accompany the series, and for people to learn more about the Harners.
AR: Was Mark really a bad seed?
JB: Mark was a witness to some pretty horrible things, and on top of it all was coerced to cover for his father. He was not so much a bad seed, as he just needed psychiatric help. Monica spent a lot of years being naive, paying more attention to her business and Elissa than him. Results of her ignorance turn out in the next book, so a lot will be answered then.
AR: What really makes Tom act so mysteriously toward Daniel Kirk (or can you say)?
JB: Obviously Tom has a lot to hide, considering what happens with his character toward the end of the book. He has reason to be worried about this book resurfacing his family's past...not just because of the backlash it will cause Elissa and her mother. What Tom is hiding will come out with a huge bang in the next book. In the meantime his actions toward the book's author reflects all this.
AR: Do you consider yourself a mystery/suspense author? If not, what genres do you prefer?
JB: I consider myself a fiction/suspense author. The term is more broad-ranged. I feel too limited being penned as a mystery author. Besides, the more open my abilities seem to be becoming, I may want to experiment in other genres at some point. Basically right now, I enjoy mystery and suspense though.
AR: We noticed that the "ending" was not quite an ending...what can readers expect next?
JB: The next book will not only answer a lot of questions, but it will answer them in an explosive manner. The next book takes place in the Virgin Islands, and narrates what is still going on back in St. Louis as well. Just remember, nothing is as it seems.
AR: What kinds of reactions have you gotten to the book?
JB: A lot have said the plot line sounds interesting and those who have read it have loved it. I had one reader compare it to the season cliffhanger of Dallas where JR was shot...which was pretty cool to hear! And exactly what I want to hear. I want people to be left hanging and get the next book to see just whathappens! I don't think they will be disappointed.
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share with our readers?
JB: After the Celebrity Secrets series is complete I hope to have much more in store for readers. I'm working on a novel, another series involving a filmmaker who always ends up getting into more than just the project he's working on, as well as several other stories. I hope others will enjoy reading them as much as I have writing them.
AR: Thanks again, Jennifer, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!
Q &A on AllTheseBooks.com
About Me
Location: Springfield Ohio
Writing since: Third grade
Influences: They have changed over the years, from Babysitters Club and Nancy Drew, to Barbara Freethy and Lisa Jackson
Background: I am a 32 year old writer of suspense fiction, and I enjoy writing, reading and working on computer graphics as well as listening to music.
Bibliography Celebrity Secrets 2007, Secrets Unearthed coming soon 2008
Reviews Check out http://www.jenniferbrownauthor.weebly.com
Q&A
1. What person or experience inspired you to become a writer? I don't think it was any one particular person or experience but several combined that built my desire to write. I have always loved to write, going into another world for a while sometimes being in control and sometimes the characters taking control. It is an amazing process and I feel blessed to have become involved in it.
2. How much of yourself and your beliefs/experiences do you put into your characters and stories? I become another person a lot when I write, so that is an interesting question. I think I invent people that if they were real I would admire and love. There are experiences that have occurred in my life that I do end up fictionalizing in my stories. I won't reveal what those are though. A writer, especially a suspense writer is entitled to keep some secrets!
3. If you could write one book that you knew everyone in the world would read, what would it be about? Global Warming. I think it is a very serious subject that needs to be looked at more.
4. Who are some of your favorite authors? Barbara Freethy, Lisa Jackson, Lisa Gardner, Wendi Corsi Staub, and Mary Higgins Clark to name a few.
5. What kind of books did you like as a child? Mysteries, and some YA like Babysitters Club.
6. Of your books, which is your favorite and why? All She Ever Wanted by Barb Freethy, because of an incredible plot line and it was very well written. I loved every single page.
7. Has being a recognized person had a positive or negative impact on your life? It has been positive, even though I really don't feel that recognized. I am still struggling to get more books out there and it is not easy. I want to do much more, and show readers what else I have worked on for years and am still working on.
Links http://www.jenniferbrownauthor.weebly.com
http://www.myspace.com/jenniferbrownauthor
http://www.myyearbook.com/jenniferbrownauthor
Updates Be on the look out for Secrets Unearthed the second in the Celebrity Secrets Series to be released at some point this summer.