Now it’s time to learn more about the authors we read. . .
What drew you to the genre you write?
I’ve always been a fan of mysteries: books, television shows, and movies. It doesn’t matter. I’ve had the idea of my main character (a psychic private investigator who doesn’t believe in psychics) since high school. So, I’ve always wanted to write mysteries and thrillers. (Side note: she believes in herself but has yet to meet another real psychic.)
How did you come up with your pseudonym?
I literally shortened my real name. I thought it would make it easier to sign on books. Plus, if someone says Jenni or Jenny, I’ll know they are talking to me. It won’t matter how they’re spelling it.
Tell us how you got into writing?
I’ve always wanted to be a writer. Literally. I tried the “pantser” method for years and never managed to finish a book. I would get caught up in the five-chapter cycle. I kept going back to rework those first five chapters over and over again. Then, Ellie Alexander announced her writing course. I was one of the first 40-ish students to sign up for it. I set aside my other writing projects and started with a “fresh” idea: my high school idea of a psychic private investigator who doesn’t believe in psychics. Then I wrote my first book, “Mad Money & Murder”.
What jobs have you held before, during and/or after you became a writer?
You asked for it. I’ve had a variety of jobs. I’ve worked with senior citizens, mostly patients with Alzheimer’s. I’ve been a childcare worker for children who had been found (while their families were located) and for children who had been removed from home for their own safety. Lots of retail jobs, waitressing work in both restaurants and inns. I was even a licensed security guard for a while. That was fun. You can imagine the reaction when a 5ft 2in woman ran into the middle of a fight to break it up. The shock factor usually worked in my favor. I worked at a university library for a few years. Now, I work for a company that licenses data to the tire industry full-time and write part-time.
How many books do you have published?
Two so far. “Mad Money & Murder” and “Death is in the Cards” are the first two books in my Pond Investigations Mystery series.
Where do you write?
At home. In the wee early morning hours usually. I’m the only morning person in my family, so I’m well-caffeinated by the time my family wakes up.
What’s your favorite genre to read?
Mysteries and thrillers mostly. Sometimes a romance, sci-fi, or horror to mix it up. But then back to mysteries and thrillers.
What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
Let’s keep this light. I can say the alphabet backwards. When I was six, my best friend and I decided that we wanted to learn it, so we did. I can still recite it today. I can solve the Rubik’s Cube in just over a minute.
Who is an author you admire?
Honestly, I think that person would be Lucy Maud Montgomery. She is best known as the author of the Anne of Green Gables book series. I was born and raised on Prince Edward Island, where she set her books. She was born and raised there too, so I’ve always had a real attachment to her and Anne. The story on the Island is that Lucy Maud submitted Anne of Green Gables to over 30 publishers, and it got turned down over and over again before it was finally picked up. Research shows she sold 19,000 copies in the first 5 months in 1908. That’s HUGE.
Have you any advice for aspiring or beginning writers?
Do your research. You don’t want your readers to stop reading because you didn’t get your facts right. Keep pushing forward through that first draft. The most important thing is to get your entire story out of your head. The only way to get a finished manuscript is to get that first draft out of your head. Personally, after I’ve done all my planning and character creation, I write my first draft by hand with my favorite purple pen in journals. I type it into my computer as I go. Figure out what works for you and use it.
What is next for you?
I’m working on my next Pond Investigations Mystery called “Sage’s Bluff”. And I have the title for the fourth book in my series, “Thick as Thieves”. I have a list of the Pond books through to number 15, that I know what each book will be about in the order I want them to be. There’s really no end in sight for that series. I also have some standalone thrillers and even a handful of sweet romance books I want to write. That’s a perk of being an independent writer. I can write in whichever genre I want to.
Where can we find you?
On my website at jennistand.com | Facebook | X | Instagram | Threads | Amazon Author Page
Be sure to check out my newsletter, Pond’s Postcard (to sign up email: pondspostcard@jennistand.com)
Now to have some fun . . .
Breakfast, lunch, or dinner
Breakfast.
Fruits or vegetables
Fruit
Sweet or salty snacks
Salty
Ice cream or cake
Cake
Cooking or baking
Cooking, because I get to eat the fruits of my labor. (My baking is more often enjoyed by other people, though it’s really fun to do.)
Dining in or dining out
Dining in
City life or country living
Country living
Beach or mountain
Beach
Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall
Fall
Extrovert or introvert
Extrovert
And even more fun . . .
What is your favorite movie?
That’s hard to narrow down. I’ll go with “How to Steal a Million” with Audrey Hepburn and Peter O’Toole. It was the first movie I bought for myself on VHS.
You are stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?
Books, yarn, and crochet hooks or knitting needles. (I’ll figure out how to write on bark or cave walls. – The whole Island will be covered in the written word.)
My bio:
Jenni Stand lives in Texas and is achieving her lifelong dream of becoming a published author. She was born and raised on Prince Edward Island in Canada, and she now lives in Texas with her husband, daughter, and slightly spastic dog. She has always wanted to be a writer, partially due to being surrounded by everything connected with Anne of Green Gables and Lucy Maud Montgomery and partially due to her love of reading. Growing up, she always had her nose in a mystery book, whether it was Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys or Trixie Belden. Plus, the eighties were the best decade for some of the best mystery series on television. Lately she’s been enjoying Agatha Christie. It’s fun getting to read her books for the very first time. If she doesn’t have a pen in her hand, it’s usually holding either a crochet hook or a knitting needle instead. Jenni is an Affiliate Member of the Mystery Writers of America and a Professional Member of Sisters in Crime.