Ask the Author: Jennifer L. Wright
Answered Questions (7)
Jennifer L. Wright
When I was ten years old, I went to bed on a regular summer night. When I woke up the next morning, my shirt was inside out and backward, I had dirt on my feet, and I was lying on my floor.
What happened?!?
Pretty sure I was just sleepwalking and somehow ended up outside, but it's fun to imagine the possibilities, that's for sure!
What happened?!?
Pretty sure I was just sleepwalking and somehow ended up outside, but it's fun to imagine the possibilities, that's for sure!
Jennifer L. Wright
Hi Linda! I actually became interested in the Dust Bowl when I moved to New Mexico and witnessed a dust storm in person. It was one of the most terrifying (but also fascinating) things I had ever seen! It sparked my interest in dust storms and, ultimately, the Dust Bowl, and I began devouring every book and movie I could find about the subject. I read so many interesting books, but I will say Ken Burn's documentary was what sealed the deal for me. Hearing stories from survivors' own lips was so powerful. It was what convinced me that I needed to write a book about the Dust Bowl. I wanted to honor these men and women and bring some awareness to the difficulties they endured (and I truly hope 'If It Rains' did just that!)
Jennifer L. Wright
Hi Beth! Thank you for reaching out! My next book, "Come Down Somewhere," doesn't have an official release date yet, but it is scheduled for sometime in Summer 2022. In the meantime, you can find a teaser chapter located at the back of "If It Rains" to tide you over. :)
Jennifer L. Wright
I started "If It Rains" in early 2015. My Air Force husband had transferred to New Mexico the year before, and my daughter was just recently born. One day, as I was sitting in the upper level of our home feeding her, I watched a massive dust storm roll across the open desert and slam into our town. It was like nothing I had ever seen before, having been born and raised in the midwest. Ever the curious (or nosey, depending on who you talk to) person, I started researching dust storms, which led me down a rabbit hole to the Dust Bowl. Reading and listening to survivors' experiences and stories was both fascinating and heartbreaking; from their tales, Melissa, Kathryn, and "If It Rains" was born.
Jennifer L. Wright
I am finishing up a draft of my second novel (coming soon from Tyndale!) as well as in the planning stages of a third. You'll have to check back here to find out more information soon!
Jennifer L. Wright
Never, ever, ever give up! If you feel a calling within you to write, then write and write and write some more. There is no such thing as an overnight success when it comes to writing (or, if there is, please don't tell me about him/her). Persistence is key. You will make mistakes. You will get rejected. You may have to start over (and over and over). The key is just to keep going--read as much as you can, accept constructive criticism and feedback, learn and adjust, and KEEP WRITING.
Jennifer L. Wright
I usually take a break and do something else creative that doesn't involve writing. I love to paint and craft and, though I'm not particularly good at either one, I find they give me just enough of a break while still keeping the creative juices flowing. Sometimes, however, if I'm dealing with an extended period of writer's block, I have to force myself just to WRITE. It doesn't have to be good, it doesn't have to make sense, it just has to be done! I know I can always come back and edit later. But one word leads to another leads to another leads to another, and soon I've written through the blockage.
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