Q: Almost thirty years in the corporate world, and now a writer, why?
A: I have always been a writer; I just put the focus on this aspect of my life on hold for the past few decades - creative hibernation, if you will.
Q: And now, the creativity has been awakened?
A: Yes, it slumbers no more, which is wonderful...
Q: Was there a particular occurrence which caused the awakening, like the thawing of snow and arrival of springtime?
A: February 4, 2000 my mother passed away. I made a promise to her to become a writer. She always encouraged me to excel in whatever I decided to do. However she would gently remind me, "You know Jen; you are a very good writer." Her words echoed in my mind the day she joined the ancestors. So I made the promise, and here I am.
Q: Perennial Secrets is your first book of poems. Does this collection hold special meaning? What do you hope the poetry lover gains while reading them?
A: There is always something extraordinary about the first - first day of college, first kiss, first big promotion, first major disappointment, first true love. Every "first" stays with us throughout the years like a familiar blanket providing warmth and comfort. Perennial Secrets is now one of my life's blankets. The poems are very personal and universal. I hope readers see themselves in the transformation, happiness, joy, humor, and even sadness the poems speak to - that the words touch them in a meaningful way.
Q: How do poems come to you? Is there a particular method you use to write a poem?
A: There is not one certain way a poem takes form for me. Often reaction to an emotional event will trigger snapshots of words, the words become a chain in my mind until a rhythm develops and a poem begins. The first draft is usually very long and wordy. Through constant revision, I hone the poem to the cleanest lines possible, using words sparingly but deliberately. Each word must add to the meaning of the poem.
Q: You recently finished writing the first draft of a novel. How does developing a novel differ from writing poetry?
A: As different as New England seasons. As New Englanders, we know there will be four seasons each year. However we do not know for certain on which day of the week a particular season will visit us. The creative process is similar for both fiction and poetry; however the novel is a much more expansive project. Character development, staying in scene, expanding the storyline through descriptive narrative and dialogue, and keeping the reader engaged for fifty thousand words or more - is a challenge. I rewrite each scene of the novel as much as I rewrite a poem - it simply takes more time. Now I need to see the novel as a complete first draft, and begin revisions from start to finish.
Q: Are you working on other projects, between writing poetry and revising the novel?
A: Yes. I am writing a memoir about my mother, our relationship and the impact she has on my life. I also spend time writing essays about timely topics which catch my attention and prompt me to put words on paper. And I my second book of poetry - Lost and Found, Rhyming Verse Honoring African American Heroes - was published in 2006.
Q: You keep very busy. Is writing beginning to feel like work?
A: When I decided to transform my life in this direction, I sought advice from many in the literary world. One person who is an editor for a publishing house said to me, "You need to quickly get over the romantic notion of writing - sitting on a secluded beach in the tropics, breeze blowing through your hair, listless existence of daydreaming and magically words appearing before you that everyone wants to read - writing is work." And so it is. The writing life might not be romantic; however I am passionate about this undertaking. Even though I left the corporate world, I am still a workaholic.
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