The Latest from Jen

Chatting with author Maggie Blackbird about my writing life & ‘The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls’

I was pleased to chat with my author friend Maggie Blackbird about The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls including my favourite scene, the characters, book research, why I write small-town, feel-good fiction and more. The interview also includes an exclusive book excerpt. 

Read the interview here. 

Interview with author Susan B. James about ‘The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls’

I was pleased to be interviewed by author Susan B. James about The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls. We also chatted about my favourite writers, hobbies, exciting moments in my writing career and more. I shared tips for new writers too. 

Read the interview here. 

Asking ‘what if’ and building a book: The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls

To celebrate my new release, The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls, I wrote a blog post about how I ‘build a book’ including inspiration for this story, transforming fact into fiction and more.

Read the post here. 

Harlequin Junkie Spotlight: The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls

I was delighted to share my new book, The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls, with Harlequin Junkie readers including story inspiration, favourite lines, scene snippets and more. Read my guest post here.

The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls is on tour with Suzy Approved Book Tours (October 14 to November 29, 2019)

Sometimes happily ever after is only a wish away…

The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls, the first book in a new series, is on tour with Suzy Approved Book Tours from October 14 to November 29, 2019. 

Many thanks to the book bloggers and reviewers taking part and sharing The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls with readers. 

Follow the tour itinerary here. 

‘What libraries mean to me,’ North Grenville Public Library, ‘An Evening at the Library,’ June 22, 2019

I’m delighted to be a guest speaker at a special benefit event, ‘An Evening at the Library,’ at North Grenville Public Library (NGPL) in Kemptville, Ontario, Canada on June 22, 2019, from 6.30 p.m. 

Along with other local authors and community members,  I’m speaking about what libraries mean to me. There will also be entertainment from local musicians, a silent auction, and local wine and craft beer. 

I’m pleased to support the Friends of the Library and help raise funds for NGPL’s  new Digital Literacy Program. 

Find out more information about the event and how to buy tickets (CDN $15.00) here. 

Ein herzliches Willkommen an die deutschen Leser!

Mit der deutschen Veröffentlichung des ersten Romans in meiner Firefly-Lake-Serie, »Dort wo ich dich finde« (April 2019), freue ich mich sehr, eine neue Leserschaft zu begrüßen —in meinem Leben und in der Welt von Firefly Lake.

Bevor ich mein erstes Buch veröffentlichte, wohnte ich in England und hatte beruflich sehr viel mit internationalen Kollegen zu tun, unter anderem aus Deutschland und Österreich. Darum ist es eine besondere Ehre für mich, dass der Penguin Verlag und Veronika Dünninger meine Bücher übersetzen und meine Geschichten zu den deutschen Leserinnen bringen.

Ich habe mich durch meine Kindheit, die ich in den Ferien am liebsten am See und in kleinen Dörfern verbrachte, zu der Welt von Firefly Lake inspirieren lassen. Diese realen Orte sind dem fiktiven Firefly Lake sehr ähnlich. Meine Geschichten spielen in dem wunderschönen Northeast Kingdom in Vermont, das ich mit meinem Mann einmal besucht habe und wo wir eine tolle Zeit verbracht haben. 

In meinen Geschichten geht es um Beziehungen, die mir in meinem Leben und auch beim Schreiben so wichtig sind — Familie, Freundschaft, Heimat. Wo auch immer wir wohnen, Freunde und Familie bringen uns näher zusammen.

Ich habe viele Jahre in England verbracht, und mein Zuhause ist jetzt ein Dorf im Osten von Ontario, Canada, wo ich mit meinem Mann, meiner Tochter im Teenageralter und unserem Hund mit Schlappohren lebe. Hier habe ich viele Sommer meiner Kindheit verbracht, und meine Familiengeschichte geht bis in die 1830er Jahren zurück.

Wenn ich nicht schreibe, lese ich gern. Ich singe auch gern in einem Chor, und ich tanze jede Woche in einer Ballettklasse für Erwachsene. Wer mich kennt, kennt auch meine Schwäche für Eis, Schuhe und Vintage-Läden. 

Also, von meiner kleinen Leseecke auf der anderen Seite des Atlantiks aus heiße ich Sie willkommen am Firefly Lake und wünsche Ihnen viel Spaß beim Lesen!

Und wenn Sie »Dort, wo ich dich finde« gern lesen, hoffe ich, dass Ihnen auch die anderen Bände der Firefly-Lake-Serie gefallen: »Wenn ich dir nahe bin« (erscheint im Juni 2019) und »Du bist mein Zuhause« (erscheint im August 2019).

Mit herzlichen Grüßen,
Jen

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Welcome to German readers!

With the publication of the first book in my Firefly Lake series in German, Dort wo ich dich finde (April 2019), I’m delighted to welcome a new community of readers to my life and world of my books. 

Before I became a published author, I lived in the UK and worked internationally, including with colleagues in Germany and Austria. As such, it’s a special privilege to have my books translated by Penguin Verlag and Veronika Dünninger and share my stories with German-speaking readers.

The world of my Firefly Lake books is inspired by childhood holidays at lakes and in small towns much like the fictional Firefly Lake, as well as a vacation my husband and I spent in Vermont’s beautiful Northeast Kingdom in the United States.

My stories are also infused with the community connections important to me in life and writing–those bonds of family, friends and ‘home’ that, no matter where we live, bring us closer together.

After many years in England, my home is now a small town in Eastern Ontario, Canada with my husband, teen daughter, and our floppy-eared hound dog. It’s an area where I spent many happy childhood summers and my family ancestry dates to the 1830’s. 

When I’m not writing, I enjoy reading, singing with a choir, and my weekly adult ballet class. I’m also known for my love of ice cream, shoes, and vintage shops. 

So, from my little corner of the world…welcome and happy reading.

And if you enjoy Dort wo ich dich finde, I hope you’ll also read Wenn ich dir nahe bin (Die Firefly-Lake-Serie 2, June 2019), and Du bist mein Zuhause (Die Firefly-Lake-Serie 3, August 2019).

With all good wishes,

Jen

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Penguin Verlag acquires German rights to Firefly Lake series

I’m happy and honoured that Penguin Verlag has acquired German rights to the three books in my Firefly Lake series, The Cottage at Firefly Lake, Summer on Firefly Lake, and Back Home at Firefly Lake, and will publish them in German translation in 2019.

I’m pleased to share the Firefly Lake stories with German readers and am delighted with the beautiful covers Penguin Verlag has designed for these new editions of my books.

Take Two Characters: Jen Gilroy chooses two of her favourite fictional people — Guest post, author Susanna Bavin’s blog

I was delighted to pop across the Atlantic (virtually) to Wales to guest on my author friend Susanna Bavin’s blog.

Susanna asked me to share two favourite characters, one from one of my books (I chose Cat McGuire, the heroine of Back Home at Firefly Lake), and the other from one of my all-time favourite stories, The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery (better known as the author of Anne of Green Gables).

Read my guest post here.