Hey everyone! So glad you are here and reading my interview with another fabulous author, Jo Fenton! Jo is a fellow Darkstroke author and has written several psychological thrillers.
I am so excited to interview you, Jo! I enjoy your social media posts and the photos of your hikes and runs. Let's talk about writing for a bit, shall we?
What is the first story you remember telling (not necessarily writing)?
I have always made up stories in my head, but they tended to stay there until my kids were little. Then one day, my youngest lad who was about 2 or 3 at the time (he’s now 20!) decided he was bored with the usual stories, so I had to make something up. I told him a story about a nasty tomato who turned nice and friendly when he saw a carrot struggling in the shopping trolley. He loved it, and I repeated it a number of times, eventually writing it down. Unfortunately it got lost at some point, otherwise I might have been tempted to take it further – it had potential and originality, although that’s probably all that could be said for it!
The Nasty Tomato! I see the potential, Jo. ;)
You have a book published. Yay! Do you have a favorite character (and, if so, which one)?
I’m lucky enough to have 4 books published and I have lots of favourite characters in each book.
In my latest book, Paparazzi, I love my main character, Becky, but Will and Joanna, her partners in crime are also pretty amazing – so much so, that in the sequel – my current WIP – I’ve made all 3 of them into main characters and they get to tell their stories too.
I know you are an active person. What is your favorite activity to do in the summer? Winter?
I adore hiking and I’m happy to do it all year round, although it’s definitely easier and more fun in the summer. I’ve been on some incredible hikes this year: a 30km Ultra challenge hike in the Lake District; climbing Snowdon with my husband; and climbing Ben Nevis with running and hiking friends – an inspirational group of women ranging from 40-70 in age.
Hiking and being outside provides a lot of inspiration for my novels – and I find myself plotting en route!
What led you to start writing novels?
October 2011, NaNoWriMo was announced on breakfast TV. My husband had been saying for a while that he thought I had a book in me, and he encouraged me to do NaNo and start writing. I was working away on the 1st November, but I wrote my first chapter and read it to him. He thought I had potential and encouraged me to keep going.
6 years later, that book was submitted (after much rewriting) to Crooked Cat as The Brotherhood and was published the following July.
NaNoWriMo is where I started, too. I cannot recall if I won or lost (finished 50,000 words in November) my first go-round, and it also took me six years until publication. Just goes to show one should "never give up!"
This next question is very important. Cats or dogs?
I’ve grown up with dogs and always love them, but as an adult, I’ve had cats too. I love both, but they’re very different. At heart, I’m really a doggy person.
In my opinion, all animals rock. And polar bears would not make good house pets.
If you were to be gifted a superpower that you had to use continuously for 8 hours every day, what would it be?
Super-concentration – it would be great to be able to concentrate for 8 hours solid, never forgetting anything important and not getting distracted or tired!
Oooh, that would be amazing, wouldn't it? Like you could sit for hours on end and focus on writing and, wait, I need to fill my water. Better water the plants while I'm up. And would you look at that! My dog is literally hugging one of the cats. And now the cat is licking the dog's ear. Ahh.
Ahem.
Star Trek or Star Wars?
Bits of both or neither. I prefer Dr. Who!
What is your favorite author/book?
Gaudy Night by Dorothy L Sayers. I’ve re-read it so many times I’m on to my second copy! Harriet Vane is such an amazing character. She’s been through a hell of a lot and is really resilient. I adore the love story between her and Lord Peter.
I’m also a huge fan of Jane Austen and JK Rowling.
The zombie apocalypse will happen in two days. You are fully stocked with food, water, and toilet paper. What is the one thing you will have stocked up on as your guilty pleasure?
Assuming the food includes chocolate and tomatoes, so I don’t need to worry about that, I would need my kindle – loaded with hundreds or thousands of books. Those zombies better leave us with a power supply and a charger!
A kindle would be easier to lug around than several copies of books.
When is your favorite time to write?
In the mornings before other stuff gets in the way and my brain gets frazzled by work. Or at weekends when the rest of the family have gone to the football and I get a nice long stretch of time with no interruptions!
Where do you draw inspiration? Real-life? Daydreams?
I get inspired by all sorts of things. Paparazzi was inspired by the brilliant song of the same name by Lady Gaga. Otherwise, it can be a chance overheard remark. I was in a taxi once with the driver who was speaking to someone on the phone in another language. It sparked off all sorts of thoughts about murder, which are going to make an appearance in my new novel…
Love it! So glad you took the time to visit with me. Best of luck with your writing.
Shine on! 🌞
A stalker. A popstar’s family murdered. A terrified photographer.
It’s thirty years since Becky White joined the police. Now, six months after leaving the force, she is suffering from PTSD, when an old friend turns up with a tempting offer.
Following the creation of The White Knight Detective Agency, their first client is a press photographer – a member of the Paparazzi – a young woman with a mysterious and troublesome stalker.
But as the case develops, Becky and Joanna find themselves embroiled in murder. When they are unable to prevent further deaths, their investigation takes them down an unexpected path.
But can they trust their instinct? And will they identify the killer in time to save a child’s life?
Paparazzi, the second instalment in the bestselling Becky White Thriller series. takes you on a journey into the deceptive world of superstars – and those who follow them!
About Jo…
Jo Fenton grew up in Hertfordshire, UK. She devoured books from an early age, particularly enjoying adventure books, school stories and fantasy. She wanted to be a scientist from aged six after being given a wonderful book titled "Science Can Be Fun". At eleven, she discovered Agatha Christie and Georgette Heyer, and now has an eclectic and much loved book collection cluttering her home office.
Jo combines an exciting career in Clinical Research with an equally exciting but very different career as a writer of psychological thrillers.
When not working, she runs (very slowly), hikes, and chats to lots of people. She lives in Manchester with her husband, youngest son, a Corgi, 2 hamsters, and a tankful of tropical fish. She is an active and enthusiastic member of two writing groups and a reading group.
Social Media links:
Please check out my blog at www.jofenton137.com
Please also join me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest, where I talk about running, hiking and writing in fairly equal measures:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jofentonauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jl_fenton
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jo.fenton137/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/jofenton137/
Available from Amazon:
The Abbey Series:
The Brotherhood: https://t.co/TheBrotherhood
The Refuge: https://t.co/fASWKtKeUt
The Becky White Thriller Series:
Revelation: Mybook.to/beckywhite1
Paparazzi: Mybook.to/paparazzi