Member Interview - Jenny Glazebrook

Each Thursday in 2018 we will be interviewing one of the members of Christian Writers Downunder – to find out a little bit more about them and their writing/editing goals.

Today we interview Jenny Glazebrook

Question 1: 
Tells us three things about who you are and where you come from.

 I am the wife of Rob, mother of Micah 16, Merridy 13, Clarity 10 and Amelia 8.

The hills are alive in Gundagai

I live in the rural town of Gundagai NSW (population 2,500) with my family and many pets including a dog, cat, sheep, 2 blue tongue lizards, budgie, goose and chooks (yes, we're animal lovers).

My family face many medical challenges between us, including diabetes type 1, diabetes type 1.5 (a rare genetic form), cleft lip and palate, chronic asthma, high functioning autism, ADHD, anxiety disorders, a rare neurological condition and other syndromes and immune issues.

Upon each diagnosis I grieved and begged God to take it all away, but He showed me that for our family His miraculous healing has been an eternal one of the heart and soul, not a temporary physical healing. He has used our weaknesses to show His strength and provided many opportunities to reach out to others despite and because of these struggles. We are so grateful to have Him and each other.

Question 2: 
Tell us about your writing.  What do you write and why?

I write because I love it and I believe in the power of words and stories to change people.

I love creating characters and putting them into words.

Writing gave me a voice when I didn’t have one, and is an opportunity to express all that’s in my heart. It's a way my words can outlive me!

I write poetry as private worship and young adult Christian fiction for the public. This includes my Aussie Sky series, 6 books about a quirky but lovable ex-circus family and the lives they touch.

Question 3: 
Who has read your work? Who would you like to read it?

I would love anyone between 12 and 99 years old to read my work.

It was never my purpose to write fiction only for young adults or just for Christians. My characters just happened to begin as young adults in the first few books I had published (because I was a teenager when I first wrote them) so I was slotted into this genre.

My books have also been labelled ‘Christian’ because all my characters are drawn closer to God in some way. This certainly doesn’t mean I want only Christians to read and enjoy them!

People of all ages and genders have enjoyed and been challenged by my stories. I have been very blessed and encouraged to hear from Christian schools letting me know of students who have been touched by my writing or come to know God in a closer way because of the stories.

Question 4: 
Tell us something about your process. What challenges do you face? What helps you the most?

Finding time without distractions is my biggest challenge.

Who wouldn't find these children a delightful distraction?

Believing my writing is valuable and that it’s okay to say no to all the other expectations which steal my writing time is another challenge.

It helps to remember writing is a gift God has given me, and even if I don’t immediately (or ever) see the impact it has, I can know He has given me this desire to write and will use it.

Feedback from a reader is always a great encouragement.

My process is usually that I sit for hours at a time and just let the words flow and the characters come alive and lead me where they (God) will.

I struggle with being too wordy. Shortening my manuscripts is always hard but necessary.

My latest issue is realising one book in my next series focuses on characters not considered Young Adult because they have grown up and are now 24 years old. My books are being marketed as YA (I understand the publisher’s need for this), so I need to work out how to adjust the story. Not easy when it’s already written and is so interwoven into the other books in the series.

It helps to lay my manuscript out before the Lord and ask Him for answers. Sometimes it comes through hard work, other times I have a dream or ideas that flow so smoothly I know they’re from Him.

Question 5:
What is your favourite Writing Craft Book and why?

Story Genius by Lisa Cron

I love this book because it confirms what I’ve always thought; that characters are the heart and soul of any story and that if you understand the characters and write them well, readers will be drawn in and captivated by your writing. Lisa describes the process, the brain science behind it, and how to do it.

Question 6: If you were to give a shout-out to a CWD author, writer, editor or illustrator – who would they be?

This is a hard because so many of you are so precious to me! God has used different people at different times to be an encouragement and inspiration. 

Carolyn Miller

The one coming to my mind right now is Carolyn Miller.

Her fourth book, ‘Winning Miss Winthrop’ is released in 5 days and I am inspired by the way she has put everything she has into her work. She has been so accepted and admired by even the American Christian market, and she is just so … well, gifted. Every sentence she writes is well crafted and delightful.

She has also become a dear friend and has been a great encouragement in my personal and spiritual life.

Question 7:
What are your writing goals for 2018? How will you achieve them?

I plan to get at least the second and third books in my ‘Young Aussie Hearts’ series to my publisher, Breath of Fresh Air Press.

I will do this by joining Camp Nanowrimo in April and pulling out of all unnecessary voluntary roles for the year. (Yes, I am learning to say no to all those other demands and expectations).

Question 8: How does your faith impact and shape your writing?

Me at 13 years.
I always found some way
to hide my mouth if possible.

I began writing poetry at the age of 13 at my conversion when God reached in and lit a fire of His hope and love in my heart. I found there was so much depth and joy I wanted to express and poetry was a great way to do this.

Being shy and self conscious as a result of my cleft lip and palate, writing was a good way to communicate with people without having to be face to face.

Since then, writing has been both worship and an expression of my own experiences in life. My novels are based on the way God works in peoples’ lives. It's an attempt to offer a glimpse into what it means to walk with God and be His child in this broken world. I love writing stories that show God's love, purposes and redemption. There's no story quite like the ones He writes with our lives if we let Him be the author.

See what I mean about too many words being one of my biggest challenges? And this is the final, edited version with bits cut out.

Thank you so much for this opportunity. I look forward to getting to know other writers in the same way!

Jenny Glazebrook is the published author of 7 novels, 1 traditionally published, and 6 self published. She has been a CALEB finalist 4 times. She is currently working on her next series with publisher, Breath of Fresh Air Press. She writes because words burn within her. She is an experienced inspirational speaker, a chaplain, and loves to encourage others to walk closer with God and hear His voice each day.  

Jenny’s website is: www.jennyglazebrook.com