Scarred Beauty
1) Let’s start with the basics. What is your author name and/or pen name?
Jennifer Silverwood
2) What is your genre and what drew you to it?
Thanks so much for having me on your blog today! Fantasy is my primary genre, though I have dabbled a bit in sci-fi and romance. But I always come back to my first love eventually. I believe we’re profoundly shaped by the books we read as children, and though I started reading historical fiction as well from a young age, fantasy novels have always been my happy place.
3) What is the best time of day for you to write?
Once upon a time, I wrote late into the night. Now that I’m a mother to young kids, I squeeze writing time in whenever I can. Often, that means I’m writing on apps on my phone, or on my tablet while waiting in line to pick up my oldest kid from school. It’s harder to write spontaneously rather than making a habit, but being a parent means I’ve become adaptable by necessity. 😊
4) Which character of yours is your favorite and why?
Vynasha is my favorite character I’ve written, and I’m not just saying that because we’re talking about Scarred Beauty today. She’s always been a bit more complex, broken, and morally gray than most of my other characters. (Though I could argue many characters in Wylder Tales share that shades-of-gray trait…) But I really love the journey Vynasha goes on and how she finds herself along the way.
5) Which character of yours was the most challenging to write and why?
Balos was my most challenging character to write in Scarred Beauty, hands down! For those of you who haven’t met him yet, he’s the alpha wolf shifter in the village Vynasha finds refuge in at the end of Craving Beauty. From the very start, he’s not happy about Vynasha’s presence in the hidden village, worried she’ll bring down the cursed beasts from the castle on them. He’s not wrong. I found him the most challenging because we are viewing him from the perspectives of Vynasha and Ceddrych. Each character has vastly different experiences with him, and preconceptions. But as the “architect” I know Balos has a lot of hidden motivations. The biggest challenge was showing those little hints to the reader but giving him the right balance.
6) Do you attend writing conferences? If so, which ones?
Confession! I have never attended an in-person writer’s conference. Why? Besides the funds needed to travel and attend, I’m a mom living in the middle-of-nowhere, Texas. Getting to a major city takes at least an hour, and, well, you get the picture. But, I have virtually attended a couple of different conferences, namely the Women in Publishing conference and a couple mini-conferences put on by the Creative Academy for Writers. I’d love to make it Inkers Con one day, however! But I have to say, I’ve fallen a bit away from conferences and enjoy listening to writing podcasts even more these days. My current favorite is: Writing About Dragons and Sh!t. The three co-hosts are some of the most knowledgeable folks I’ve ever heard deep-dive into writing craft.
7) Was there a pivotal point or experience that impacted your decision to take writing seriously?
We all have our “origin story.” Mine centered around my Grandpa. A true Renaissance man, Grandpa never found a hobby, craft, or skill he wasn’t willing to fully learn and immerse himself in. This includes writing short stories and a genealogy editorial that lasted for several years. As soon as he learned I was writing stories as well, he gifted me his childhood typewriter and taught me how to use it (we didn’t have a computer yet). And he started to give me writing prompts he would then critique. He was my biggest supporter and critique partner for years until his death in my early 20’s. When he died, I wanted to make mine and his unrealized dream come true. That’s what threw my into publishing and turning my craft into a writing career.
8) What is the most important bit of information you would want to tell a person interested in publishing a book?
If this is your first time, I’d highly encourage you to solely focus on finishing your book. If possible, write two books if you can, knowing that your first drafts will probably suck and need heavy editing. 😉 That’s normal and totally okay. While you create, read constantly, and listen to writing podcasts that tie into your prospective genre. Also, I’d also encourage you to start a blog of some kind, or a TikTok if that’s more your speed. Share your process and your journey with others and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. You’re not alone, and there are fantastic resources for free that can help you along the way. It can be overwhelming if you start diving into how to publish when you’re still creating. So take things one step at a time.
9) How many books do you try to read each year?
Before kids, I easily read between 80-100 per year. These days it’s a struggle to read paperbacks without my toddler crawling into my lap, and I’m lucky if I make it to 40. But I set my Goodreads challenge for 80 this year in the hopes I can finally catch up on all those kindle books that have been languishing in my library. Wish me luck!
10) In your opinion, can a book series be too long?