I was first introduced to Ms. Jernigan's books when I started to review for TRRC last year, and I found myself impressed with her style and characterizations. Writing European historical romances such as THE WICKED LADY, THE DUKE'S LADY and LOVE ONLY ONCE, Ms. Jernigan changed her setting with her May release, DANCE ON THE WIND, which is an American western romance. I've found Ms. Jernigan's writing to get better with each new book I read, and I continually look forward to her new releases. Ms. Jernigan gives back to the community by donating a portion of her earnings to Hospice and can also be a role model for people with dyslexia, since she has a successful writing career while working hard to overcome her own battle with the disability.

Thanks Brenda for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer some questions for us!

Thea Candee: When did you first realize that you were going to become a published writer?

Brenda K. Jernigan: I realized that I would be published when I received the phone call from the editor. I had doubts up until that time. I had won a contest and received good letters from editors, but after 9 years I was beginning to think that I would never be published. And many writers never receive that phone call. But I was lucky. And on April Fool's Day the editor called and wanted to buy 2 books. I was so excited; I called everybody and their brothers!

TC: Did you always want to be a writer and when did you first start composing stories?

BKJ: No. I never thought about writing. I had a hard enough time reading. When I was small they didn't know about learning disabilities, but I can go back and pull out my report cards from 2 & 3rd grade and they say, "Brenda is still making her b's & d's backwards." Even today when I get tired I will start doing that. So I had to learn how to memorize words. I do not hear words like everybody else does. And I have always hated for somebody to tell me to go look it up in the dictionary. That might be easy for some, but if you don't know if the word starts with a "di" or a "de" it can be difficult. I can remember reading the funny paper and not being able to pronounce the names - so I just made their names up <BG>. This is probably when I first started writing stories in my head. Believe it or not, I did make good grades in school except for spelling. It wasn't until I was an adult that I started to read. I was taking my son to story hour, so I started picking up Victoria Holt books. I loved them even though the first 2 chapters were always boring. And then the librarian handed me a book called DEVIL'S DESIRE by Laurie McBain. It was wonderful and I was hooked. After that I couldn't get enough books to read. Years later, I decided that I'd like to try and write a story about pirates. I wanted to make readers laugh and cry and sigh when they had to put that book down. So I took that first step and I kept at it --rewriting, polishing, and sending it out. It took 9 years before I finally heard a "yes", but it was worth it. The most important thing about writing is that you have to be a storyteller . . . you can overcome everything else.

TC: What do you find to be the most difficult process or aspect of writing?

BKJ: Everything. It is not an easy job. I'm finding out all writers feel this way. When you are writing that first book, you don't know anything about the business and you just write. But once you sell, then you start to question yourself. Can I write the next book? Will it be as good as the others? Does it sound like the other books? We do it to ourselves, but I guess it is part of being creative. And we don't want to let the fans down. We want everybody to love what we have written. My goal is to always make the reader smile and remember those characters long after they put my book down.

TC: When you consider embarking on a new book, which is foremost in your mind: characters or plot?

BKJ: I'm getting ready to do that right now. The characters come first and somehow the plot works itself out. One of my big things is getting the title and that first sentence. One of my critique partners asked me the other day "How do you come up with these plots?" My answer was "I don't know." It just comes . . . of course, sometimes it doesn't come fast enough <BG>. In my opinion, characters make the book.

TC: Do you find critique partners to be a necessary part of the writing process and what kind of information do you get from them?

BKJ: This is a BIG YES for me. Having critique partners works for some and for some it doesn't. You have to remember, it is "your story" and "your voice." This is where a lot of writers go wrong, by making all the changes that a critique partner suggests. My critique partner gets rid of all the words that I've put in backwards and lets me know when I need more of this or that. The other is good for letting me know if I have not made a smooth transition. I can also judge by their comments if they are "into" the story. That way I know if it is dragging. Example - in DANCE ON THE WIND, one of the children, Mary, wasn’t a very nice person and in one of the scenes she was drowning. One of my critique partners wrote in the margin, "Let the bitch drown!" I really got a laugh out of that because I knew the character had gotten to her.

TC: What are "must-have" characteristics for your leads?

BKJ: The only "must-have" is the hero needs to be bigger than life. Other than that the characters develop all by themselves. If they don't then you have problems, because all your books start to sound alike.

TC: What made you decide to branch out to a western American setting? Do you find it easier to write without all the pageantry that's associated with European historicals?

BKJ: I wanted to do something different. I love England and Scotland. I think I must have been English in another life <BG>, but it helps to do different things. Again, you want your books to be different. How many times have you picked up an author's 5th or 6th book, and you think this sounds like the others?

TC: Do you plan on ever going into the mainstream contemporary romance arena?

BKJ: I do have some contemporary romances that I love. But they are a little different so I haven't been able to sell them yet. But I'm hoping.

TC: What gave you the idea for DANCE ON THE WIND: was it a character or a certain historical event?

BKJ: It was the characters. I thought-- what would you do if you had been left alone and suddenly you had the responsibility of 5 children, and no money. What would you do?

TC: I enjoyed all of the characters from DANCE ON THE WIND, especially Brandy's brothers and sisters. Can readers look forward to reading some of the sibling's stories? (Hint, hint!) <G>

BKJ: Yes. The first week of April, Kensington called and ask me to do the children's stories. Billy's story will be first and then Mary's. Of course now I have to think of their stories. I just want their books to be as good as DANCE ON THE WIND. This book seems to have touched everyone's heart, so now I have a lot to live up to.

TC: Can you tell us a little bit about your next release and does it have a scheduled release date yet?

BKJ: My next release is CHRISTMAS IN CAMELOT - October 2002. This is a fun book. If you love King Arthur and his knights, then you'll enjoy CHRISTMAS IN CAMELOT. When the hero and the heroine are together - you get major sparks. I think I actually fell in love with Nicholas - the hero in the book. I really hated for that book to end.

TC: Do you have a web page or newsletter where readers can get additional information about you and more information on your upcoming releases?

Thanks again Brenda for taking the time to answer some questions for us at TRRC, and I wish you the very best in your writing career. To read my review of Ms. Jernigan's newest release, DANCE ON THE WIND, available in stores now, please click the link below.

Thea Candee