Interview and Excerpt: Ripple the Twine by Jenn Flynn-Shon
Thank you to Jenn Flynn-Shon for stopping by with a Q&A and excerpt from Ripple the Twine. Please visit her tour page at CLP Blog Tours for more information!
**Interview**
When did you know writing was for you?
At a pretty young age actually, I was about eleven when I started writing in my diary. That was right after I got into a fist fight for the first time in my life.
I was pent-up emotionally as a pre-teen from dealing with my parent’s divorce and being a kid who was picked on often by others. Kids can be cruel to each other and I tried my hand at being a tough girl. But fighting just wasn’t for me. I’m a lover not a fighter. After that day I channeled my emotions into a diary. I wrote out every last detail of my feelings on life, family, friends, boys. Journaling became my outlet, therapy.
I remember my first creative fiction assignment came just a year later, when I started Junior High School. I was in seventh grade and had one of the best English teachers; still a favorite teacher to this day. When I realized that I could create alternate realities where life could play out any way I wanted it to, I was instantly hooked on writing fiction. It was an even broader outlet for my innermost feelings about life, family and boys.
I’ve been writing in journals or online in some form or another every single day since that fist fight. It’s the thing that keeps me going.
How would you describe your books?
I say it all the time and it is still true – I’m a sucker for a happy ending! I love the riding off into the sunset vibe that comes with a happy ending. Speaking of…I love sunsets, first kisses, second kisses, cute and upbeat, happy people, silver linings. Despite the fact that I understand life isn’t always sunshine and roses, and I do force my characters to struggle through their issues, my books will always contain elements of perky cuteness. That’s who I am for the most part so I write what I know.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
Not forcing it, but subsequently not feeling bad when I don’t force it. I pretty much write every day and probably end up writing over 25,000 words in any given week. Some days I spend my time and words on fiction, some on blogs, some marketing, tweets, interviews, email… In other words, I don’t only work on my manuscript and there are days when, just like anyone, I simply need to play hooky. What makes this hard is not doing the hooky thing every day but making sure my dedication is there to get those 25k+ words out and keep the muscle working.
What are your favorite genres to read?
Chick-Lit or anything with a strong female character who stumbles, learns from her mistakes, takes in the lesson, and changes herself for the better while she takes a chance or two along the way (and maybe even finds love). I also enjoy a great suspense, mystery and memoir on occasion.
What do you want readers to take away from your story?
I wrote Ripple the Twine to provide insight into the lives of a group of people in Boston who have formed a lasting and unbreakable friendship despite their differences. The main character, Sara Quinn, has thrown herself into work and neglected her friends. But it wasn’t just Sara who disappeared. All four of the friends have been off dealing with their lives on their own. Then a spontaneous brunch plan has them sharing time together for the first time in six months. Everyone begins to divulge what’s been happening in their lives while they were apart. There are secrets revealed and glaring omissions which force Sara to question friendship, loyalty and love. When one friend shares devastating news it forces the group back together again to rely on each other in ways they never could have imagined needing to do at such a young age. Through the heartache Sara meets a, very cute, man named Ben. She connects with him quickly but she questions if she can open up to him. Could Ben be someone to help her get through the difficult times? I want the reader to see that when you open yourself up, friendship and love can save your life.
How important do you think social media is for authors these days?
Social media is a double edged sword to me. In order to utilize it for the best possible benefit and outcome one must balance very delicately on its sharp blade.
On the one side it provides connections like this! Great bloggers, readers, writers, fellow Authors to connect with and promote. I love talking about my friend’s books and sharing links to all of their stuff. I love reading what they also post to discover new Authors and bloggers that love doing the same things I love doing (Writing! Reading!). I love promoting myself on these venues as well (I’m not too proud to admit that I enjoy the shameless self-promotion). When I sit and really think about how social media works, it is mind blowing that I can easily have a conversation with a writer in Australia anytime, any day. It opens worlds of opportunity.
Which leads me to the other, much pointier and dangerous side of the knife. The side where all of the day’s minutes and hours can be easily sucked away in the blink of an eye by doing all of the above activities on social networks. I have quite a few accounts – Facebook, twitter, LinkedIn, Goodreads, blogs, Etsy. I have to stay disciplined to limit the time I spend on these sites however or I’d never get any writing, proofing, editing or reading done. Let alone live life!
I do truly believe in the technologies available at our fingertips these days and enjoy their ability to help us connect, but only in limited doses.
What would be your advice to aspiring writers?
Do. Not. Stop. Writing.
Ever.
The best way to become an authority in what you do is to keep practicing. I know people who have their entire day to write as they do it for a living (and actually make a living doing it – side note: I aspire to be these people!) and I also know people who only have twenty minutes a day to work on their craft. It doesn’t matter which category you’re in, or if you fall somewhere in the middle.
Take your ten minutes, your ten hours, or whatever precious moments you have and just write. Write whatever you want because no one has to read it. Just get it out on the page. Then edit when the story’s done.
For those writers who aspire to be published Authors, the motto goes: write first, edit later. No one gets it perfect on their first try but no one ever published an unfinished manuscript either. Words first, red pen later. Write what’s in your gut and you’ll never go wrong.
**Excerpt**
Chapter SevenQuick Whistle: The official will whistle the play "dead" with the puck still visible. This often draws an unfavorable reaction from hometown crowds especially when the whistle negates a perceived scoring chance for the home team.
“I have no idea what the hell I’m doing going to this silly dinner tonight. Please talk me out of this.” Sara said. She stood in front of her full length mirror and fiddled with the neck of her shirt.
“Are you freaking kidding me? Look babe, you so need a date. Really, all you do is sit in your house and write or come to The Rose. You have got to get out and meet someone.”
Once it started to sink in that her mother was setting her up on a blind date, Sara’s one time nerves of steel faded into rusted flecks of iron on the breeze. Sara had decided Perth would be the one to give her an excuse for how to get out of the fix up. Sara had informed Perth that Paul was a lawyer, homeowner, allegedly gorgeous, apparently never married and that he had no children. Suddenly, her best friend was a highly uncooperative participant in Sara’s plan.
“Thanks… friend. Or should I just call you Mother?”
“I don’t care if it’s a set up by your mother, this guy sounds unreal. You can try that pity crap but the only one feeling bad is you. I know the way you critique yourself but you look amazing and regardless, you deserve a fling at least.”
“Perth, you know I’m wicked conservative. I can’t just jump into bed with someone I just met. I mean, my mother never even mentioned his last name. How can I possibly have a fling with someone when I don’t even know his last name?”
“Because sweetie, that’s just it. I am talking about a fling, last names are for guys you plan to marry, and then it’s only for the invitations.”
“Please don’t be flip, I’m not kidding.”
“Yeah well neither am I. Go and meet him, have a couple glasses of wine, flirt the way you do at The Rose and then bring the boy home. I’m not talking a lifelong commitment here. I beg you, just get some before you go loopy and take the rest of us down with you.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Sara wasn’t surprised that her friend could have so easily changed her mind in such short order; it had been far too long since she had some good naked fun with anyone. And she was stressed about work.
“Truth? Don’t listen to your mother. Listen to the person who really knows you. Me. Have fun and, you know, show him that move you do with your hips every Thursday on the dance floor.”
Sara fumbled with her mascara wand as she sharply inhaled then laughed into the receiver. She had never been as comfortable talking about sex as Perth; even after all those years Sara still got embarrassed by her friend’s many comments.
“Hey watch it, you almost made me ruin my outfit.”
“Details.”
“OK, um, my boot cut Levis.”
“The ones that show off your butt or the black ones?”
“The butt ones.”
“Yup, nice.”
“Brown boots.”
“Which ones?”
“Those ones with the back zipper, I think I got them with Robyn but they’re really cute and have a little leather flower on the outer ankle.” Sara paused and watched as her face in the mirror flashed back a look of contemplation. “But I highly doubt he’ll be looking at them all that closely so I suppose it doesn’t really matter. Oh, and my garnet top.”
“That low dipping, sleeveless, cowl neck one you got when we went out last month?”
“Yeah?”
Sara was instantly pensive with her response. The tone in Perth’s voice suddenly made Sara question if her friend thought the outfit made her look too desperate.
“Yeah, that’s hot. It’ll look even better on your floor tomorrow morning after you wake up to find he snuck out before the sun came up.”
“Perth! Come on, I don’t want to look slutty, just…good.” Sara heard Perth laugh. “Great. I need to change.”
“Okay, I’m sorry. Don’t change, it looks fantastic on you and think of how easy it will be for him to take it off.” Her friend giggled and Sara rolled her eyes, Perth was pathological. She should have been used to her best friend’s frankness but Sara still turned tomato red.
“Ugh. Alright, I’m running late and you know my mother will be all frantic. I don’t know if this guy can even carry on a conversation. Guess we’ll see.”
“Sweetie the only thing he has to know how to say is ‘how can I please you?’” ************************************************************************************************************* Author Bio: Jenn Flynn-Shon is an Author, born and raised in the Boston, Massachusetts area but currently living and working in Phoenix, Arizona. She quite happily lives, child-free, with her husband in the Valley of the Sun. She is an avid recycler, upcycler, and refuser of superfluous things. Love of sports is a cultural experience, an almost mandated way of life for most Bostonians, and Jenn is no exception to that rule. Jenn loves to travel, read, spend time with family and friends, and blog. "Ripple the Twine" is her first fiction novel. Connect with Jenn! Blog - http://randomnessandlunacy.blogspot.com/
Writesy - http://writesy.blogspot.com/
Ripple the Twine - http://http//www.lulu.com/shop/jenn-flynn-shon/ripple-the-twine/paperback/product-20117696.html
Amazon - http://amazon.com/author/jennshon
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/jennshon
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/JennFlynnShon
Twitter - http://twitter.com/jennshon
**Interview**
When did you know writing was for you?
At a pretty young age actually, I was about eleven when I started writing in my diary. That was right after I got into a fist fight for the first time in my life.
I was pent-up emotionally as a pre-teen from dealing with my parent’s divorce and being a kid who was picked on often by others. Kids can be cruel to each other and I tried my hand at being a tough girl. But fighting just wasn’t for me. I’m a lover not a fighter. After that day I channeled my emotions into a diary. I wrote out every last detail of my feelings on life, family, friends, boys. Journaling became my outlet, therapy.
I remember my first creative fiction assignment came just a year later, when I started Junior High School. I was in seventh grade and had one of the best English teachers; still a favorite teacher to this day. When I realized that I could create alternate realities where life could play out any way I wanted it to, I was instantly hooked on writing fiction. It was an even broader outlet for my innermost feelings about life, family and boys.
I’ve been writing in journals or online in some form or another every single day since that fist fight. It’s the thing that keeps me going.
How would you describe your books?
I say it all the time and it is still true – I’m a sucker for a happy ending! I love the riding off into the sunset vibe that comes with a happy ending. Speaking of…I love sunsets, first kisses, second kisses, cute and upbeat, happy people, silver linings. Despite the fact that I understand life isn’t always sunshine and roses, and I do force my characters to struggle through their issues, my books will always contain elements of perky cuteness. That’s who I am for the most part so I write what I know.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
Not forcing it, but subsequently not feeling bad when I don’t force it. I pretty much write every day and probably end up writing over 25,000 words in any given week. Some days I spend my time and words on fiction, some on blogs, some marketing, tweets, interviews, email… In other words, I don’t only work on my manuscript and there are days when, just like anyone, I simply need to play hooky. What makes this hard is not doing the hooky thing every day but making sure my dedication is there to get those 25k+ words out and keep the muscle working.
What are your favorite genres to read?
Chick-Lit or anything with a strong female character who stumbles, learns from her mistakes, takes in the lesson, and changes herself for the better while she takes a chance or two along the way (and maybe even finds love). I also enjoy a great suspense, mystery and memoir on occasion.
What do you want readers to take away from your story?
I wrote Ripple the Twine to provide insight into the lives of a group of people in Boston who have formed a lasting and unbreakable friendship despite their differences. The main character, Sara Quinn, has thrown herself into work and neglected her friends. But it wasn’t just Sara who disappeared. All four of the friends have been off dealing with their lives on their own. Then a spontaneous brunch plan has them sharing time together for the first time in six months. Everyone begins to divulge what’s been happening in their lives while they were apart. There are secrets revealed and glaring omissions which force Sara to question friendship, loyalty and love. When one friend shares devastating news it forces the group back together again to rely on each other in ways they never could have imagined needing to do at such a young age. Through the heartache Sara meets a, very cute, man named Ben. She connects with him quickly but she questions if she can open up to him. Could Ben be someone to help her get through the difficult times? I want the reader to see that when you open yourself up, friendship and love can save your life.
How important do you think social media is for authors these days?
Social media is a double edged sword to me. In order to utilize it for the best possible benefit and outcome one must balance very delicately on its sharp blade.
On the one side it provides connections like this! Great bloggers, readers, writers, fellow Authors to connect with and promote. I love talking about my friend’s books and sharing links to all of their stuff. I love reading what they also post to discover new Authors and bloggers that love doing the same things I love doing (Writing! Reading!). I love promoting myself on these venues as well (I’m not too proud to admit that I enjoy the shameless self-promotion). When I sit and really think about how social media works, it is mind blowing that I can easily have a conversation with a writer in Australia anytime, any day. It opens worlds of opportunity.
Which leads me to the other, much pointier and dangerous side of the knife. The side where all of the day’s minutes and hours can be easily sucked away in the blink of an eye by doing all of the above activities on social networks. I have quite a few accounts – Facebook, twitter, LinkedIn, Goodreads, blogs, Etsy. I have to stay disciplined to limit the time I spend on these sites however or I’d never get any writing, proofing, editing or reading done. Let alone live life!
I do truly believe in the technologies available at our fingertips these days and enjoy their ability to help us connect, but only in limited doses.
What would be your advice to aspiring writers?
Do. Not. Stop. Writing.
Ever.
The best way to become an authority in what you do is to keep practicing. I know people who have their entire day to write as they do it for a living (and actually make a living doing it – side note: I aspire to be these people!) and I also know people who only have twenty minutes a day to work on their craft. It doesn’t matter which category you’re in, or if you fall somewhere in the middle.
Take your ten minutes, your ten hours, or whatever precious moments you have and just write. Write whatever you want because no one has to read it. Just get it out on the page. Then edit when the story’s done.
For those writers who aspire to be published Authors, the motto goes: write first, edit later. No one gets it perfect on their first try but no one ever published an unfinished manuscript either. Words first, red pen later. Write what’s in your gut and you’ll never go wrong.
**Excerpt**
Chapter SevenQuick Whistle: The official will whistle the play "dead" with the puck still visible. This often draws an unfavorable reaction from hometown crowds especially when the whistle negates a perceived scoring chance for the home team.
“I have no idea what the hell I’m doing going to this silly dinner tonight. Please talk me out of this.” Sara said. She stood in front of her full length mirror and fiddled with the neck of her shirt.
“Are you freaking kidding me? Look babe, you so need a date. Really, all you do is sit in your house and write or come to The Rose. You have got to get out and meet someone.”
Once it started to sink in that her mother was setting her up on a blind date, Sara’s one time nerves of steel faded into rusted flecks of iron on the breeze. Sara had decided Perth would be the one to give her an excuse for how to get out of the fix up. Sara had informed Perth that Paul was a lawyer, homeowner, allegedly gorgeous, apparently never married and that he had no children. Suddenly, her best friend was a highly uncooperative participant in Sara’s plan.
“Thanks… friend. Or should I just call you Mother?”
“I don’t care if it’s a set up by your mother, this guy sounds unreal. You can try that pity crap but the only one feeling bad is you. I know the way you critique yourself but you look amazing and regardless, you deserve a fling at least.”
“Perth, you know I’m wicked conservative. I can’t just jump into bed with someone I just met. I mean, my mother never even mentioned his last name. How can I possibly have a fling with someone when I don’t even know his last name?”
“Because sweetie, that’s just it. I am talking about a fling, last names are for guys you plan to marry, and then it’s only for the invitations.”
“Please don’t be flip, I’m not kidding.”
“Yeah well neither am I. Go and meet him, have a couple glasses of wine, flirt the way you do at The Rose and then bring the boy home. I’m not talking a lifelong commitment here. I beg you, just get some before you go loopy and take the rest of us down with you.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Sara wasn’t surprised that her friend could have so easily changed her mind in such short order; it had been far too long since she had some good naked fun with anyone. And she was stressed about work.
“Truth? Don’t listen to your mother. Listen to the person who really knows you. Me. Have fun and, you know, show him that move you do with your hips every Thursday on the dance floor.”
Sara fumbled with her mascara wand as she sharply inhaled then laughed into the receiver. She had never been as comfortable talking about sex as Perth; even after all those years Sara still got embarrassed by her friend’s many comments.
“Hey watch it, you almost made me ruin my outfit.”
“Details.”
“OK, um, my boot cut Levis.”
“The ones that show off your butt or the black ones?”
“The butt ones.”
“Yup, nice.”
“Brown boots.”
“Which ones?”
“Those ones with the back zipper, I think I got them with Robyn but they’re really cute and have a little leather flower on the outer ankle.” Sara paused and watched as her face in the mirror flashed back a look of contemplation. “But I highly doubt he’ll be looking at them all that closely so I suppose it doesn’t really matter. Oh, and my garnet top.”
“That low dipping, sleeveless, cowl neck one you got when we went out last month?”
“Yeah?”
Sara was instantly pensive with her response. The tone in Perth’s voice suddenly made Sara question if her friend thought the outfit made her look too desperate.
“Yeah, that’s hot. It’ll look even better on your floor tomorrow morning after you wake up to find he snuck out before the sun came up.”
“Perth! Come on, I don’t want to look slutty, just…good.” Sara heard Perth laugh. “Great. I need to change.”
“Okay, I’m sorry. Don’t change, it looks fantastic on you and think of how easy it will be for him to take it off.” Her friend giggled and Sara rolled her eyes, Perth was pathological. She should have been used to her best friend’s frankness but Sara still turned tomato red.
“Ugh. Alright, I’m running late and you know my mother will be all frantic. I don’t know if this guy can even carry on a conversation. Guess we’ll see.”
“Sweetie the only thing he has to know how to say is ‘how can I please you?’” ************************************************************************************************************* Author Bio: Jenn Flynn-Shon is an Author, born and raised in the Boston, Massachusetts area but currently living and working in Phoenix, Arizona. She quite happily lives, child-free, with her husband in the Valley of the Sun. She is an avid recycler, upcycler, and refuser of superfluous things. Love of sports is a cultural experience, an almost mandated way of life for most Bostonians, and Jenn is no exception to that rule. Jenn loves to travel, read, spend time with family and friends, and blog. "Ripple the Twine" is her first fiction novel. Connect with Jenn! Blog - http://randomnessandlunacy.blogspot.com/
Writesy - http://writesy.blogspot.com/
Ripple the Twine - http://http//www.lulu.com/shop/jenn-flynn-shon/ripple-the-twine/paperback/product-20117696.html
Amazon - http://amazon.com/author/jennshon
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/jennshon
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/JennFlynnShon
Twitter - http://twitter.com/jennshon
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