 |
| Jenna Ryan |
I think I've been shy since I was born. So naturally, I had no idea there was such a thing as a writers' group. That being other people with similar goals who will listen, understand, commiserate and support as needed. When I decided to pen my first Harlequin Intrigue, all I had were the standard guidelines and a deep well of hope. Oh, and I was also madly in love with Dark Shadows, Frank Langella's Dracula and just about every Alfred Hitchcock movie out there.
But first things first. Before I jumped into the writing pool, I read as many Intrigues as I possibly could. I knew I'd struck gold when I picked up Anne Stuart's Hand In Glove. There it was, my idea of the perfect Intrigue. It was this story that prompted me to go dark and spooky. I set my first Intrigue in a Massachusetts wax museum, followed the guidelines, boxed up my 70,000 plus word manuscript and sent it off to New York. Four nail biting months and one horrific postal strike later, I figured that poor manuscript was probably lying in pieces at the bottom of a Dumpster. Imagine my shock when, out of the blue, I got 'the phone call'. Harlequin wanted my book! Was I good or what?
Well, let's say I was good enough for the moment. But tastes change, and a few years later, I wasn't the flavor of the month any more. Ouch, that hurt. It also completely undermined my confidence. Maybe I couldn't write after all. Maybe the whole thing had been a huge cosmic joke. I have to say, it was a great relief when the publishing wheel began to turn for me again.
It took a while, but in time I found one of those writers' groups I mentioned earlier. Unfortunately, I was still so very shy -- which is frustrating but difficult to overcome. Thank God for on-line connections and Patricia Rosemoor in particular. She invited me to join a really great group -- which led to another and another and -- you get the idea.
In the traditional publishing world, my 32 Intrigues have run the gamut from Jack the Ripper to a Paris Puppet Theater. Two of my Intrigues earned the Romantic Times Certificate of Excellence. Two others were named Best Intrigue of the Year. I've also been honored with a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Romantic Mystery.
Although I haven't self-published a book yet, I'm excited to let everyone know that my very dark, supernatural, romantic thriller, THE ARISING will be ready to go in early 2013.
 |
| Available at Amazon.com |
 |
| Coming March 5, 2013 |
For anyone who has recently connected with the Ink Jockeys site, have fun checking out the Book Derby, December 5 & 6 with its Prizes, Discounts and Free Books. You won't be disappointed!
Hi Jenna,
ReplyDeleteAs a person who was excruciatingly shy as a child, I can relate. I'm not sure what causes some children to be so shy and others so precocious. I do know my mother was just as shy as a child, so maybe it's genetic. :)
Congratulations on all your Intrigues and accolades. What a fabulous career so far. You're not that far from the 50 book milestone.
And congrats on your upcoming indie book.
Thanks, Mallory. I went by the Book Derby, and I see your last minute scramble worked out really well. All the covers look great. Sell lots!!
DeleteI'm very glad you didn't let shyness get in the way of anything. I'm so looking forward to reading your new book!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dana and ditto Good luck with the Book Derby. I'll be watching-and downloading.
DeleteI think all writers would rather sit at home making up stories and filling them w/ our own perfect characters instead of going out in the real world. I can certainly identify.
ReplyDeleteAt my daughter's wedding her sister-in-law to be asked my daughter if I was "weird." She politely said, "no," but it was a lie.
Thanks for the boost, Ruth. Your Book Derby covers(and stories) look great. You are going to do sooo well!
DeleteI was always painfully shy as a kid. I still hate talking on the phone. I think I read into the inflections in people's voices too much.
ReplyDeleteI remember the Paris puppet theater book, Jenna! That was creepy. Very atmospheric. I also remember one you wrote that was set in the black forest in Germany. (((shiver))) I'm looking forward to the new book, too!
The Black Forest book was called THE VISITOR, Ann.I'm putting a follow up to it out right after THE ARISING.
DeleteYes, if we want to maintain our careers, we've all got to grow and adapt. A challenge--but also fun.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea so many other writers (and I guess people in general)would relate to this problem. Goes to show how inhibiting it can be. But as Ruth says, you do have to push through it and grow- which is very much what I'm determined to do. Thanks for all the support. It really does help to know I'm not the only one who doesn't like to talk on the phone, Ann. I hope the Book Derby is a huge success. I"m really looking forward to being part of the next one.
ReplyDeletePut me on the shy side of the classroom, too. I've pretty much overcome it in my normal day-to-day living, but every once in a while a situation comes up where the shyness returns...and I can't think of a word to say. But what's become the biggest source of amusement for everyone who knows me is when I'm calling one of them and their answering machine tells me to leave a message. Egad! What do I say?? I usually stammer and garble everything. But at least they know who's calling, because I'm the only one they know who's intimidated by an answering machine!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if shyness has anything to do with many of us becoming writers? Great blog, Jenna.
It does sound like a lot of writers are shy, doesn't it? I wonder if that makes it a blessing or a curse? Maybe it's a bit of both. I love your answering machine admission,and I have to tell you, I have exactly the same problem. I leave my stuttery message, then immediately wonder what I just said. The only thing I'm good at is texting, but then that's just writing in the end. Ah well...
DeleteWhy is it I love everything this woman writes, whether it's her novels or her blog posts? I think it's her style. She writes with confidence, but not OVERconfidence if that makes sense. Her plot twists almost always get me thinking "Didn't see that one coming...", her leads are well-conceived, and her secondary characters are a hoot. Throw in her penchant for not shying away from the scares, her obvious love for the gothic and her ear for dialog and...well, this guy's been hooked since "Darkwood Manor". I'm so excited to see her breaking into the world of indie publishing, and I cannot WAIT to read "The Arising" this coming year.
ReplyDelete-- Michael ^_^
Thanks, Michael. I promise it won't be long until The Arising is tweaked and ready. And I'm going to get The Fallen Angel- follow up to The Visitor- out there right behind it.
Delete