Interview With Author Janeen O’Kerry
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am the author of ten historical fantasy romances set in ancient Ireland. These books form the Celtic Journeys series and were written from 1996 through 2020. All were released by Leisure Books/Dorchester Publishing except for the last one, *Seven Castles in Ireland,* which was self-published.
I also have *April’s Christmas,* a sweet holiday romance that I co-wrote with a friend back in 1994; and *21 Ways to Improve Your Fiction Right Now,* a little book of writing tips that I released late last year.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
*Seven Castles in Ireland* began with the thought of one place in Ireland and seven generations of one family – at different times through history – who had lived there.
But there was a curse on the land that left it barren and dead, which was a very strange thing in normally green and beautiful Ireland. What had happened to this place?
In the course of the story, our heroine, Alexandra, and the hero, Morgan, encounter the ghosts of her ancestors. The ghosts remain because of the curse on the land and need the help of a descendant to lift the curse and make things right again.
Alexandra and Morgan will have to work together to solve a mystery that extends far back into the past; right a great wrong; and face the ancient and powerful Irish gods themselves.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really. I go out and hike or run errands in the mornings, and then curl up and write and/or edit for the rest of the day. You have to become comfortable with the process when attempting a long-term process like a novel (or a series of novels.)
What authors, or books have influenced you?
J.R.R. Tolkien and the *Lord of the Rings* series
Ray Bradbury and *The Martian Chronicles*
Frank Herbert and *Dune*
What are you working on now?
I would like to do more with Ireland and ghosts. Some do need help to get home or to find peace and justice, you know.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Awesome Gang promotions, of course!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Learn your craft as well as your art. If you want your readers to understand you, you’ve got to learn your grammar and punctuation and word choices.
I’m also an editor. Loads of people can come up with a great story idea, but they have no interest in learning the mechanics of writing. That means the writer will understand it, but no one else.
If you want to be successful, Learn Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation, and Word Choices. You will immediately be far ahead of the crowd just by doing that.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t write throwaway stuff. Make everything you work on as good as you can possibly make it. Quality, not just quantity.
What are you reading now?
Re-reading *The Silmarillion*
What’s next for you as a writer?
More Ireland and ghosts, as mentioned above
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The same three I mentioned above
Author Websites and Profiles