We’re delighted to have Jennifer Honeybourn with us to chat about her latest novel, WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU DEMONS.

Jennifer, what was your inspiration for writing WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU DEMONS?

I wanted to take a crack at writing a paranormal and I liked the idea of a character training to be an exorcist, someone who felt a bit ambivalent about the whole thing and who felt like she had to hide what she was up to from her friends.

What scene was really hard for you to write and why, and is that the one of which you are most proud? Or is there another scene you particularly love?

Endings are always the most challenging for me to write. I’m not sure why, but they continue to be difficult for me. As for scenes that I love, I like the scene in Shane’s bedroom, when Uncle Roy sends Shelby over to talk to him. And the scene with the Freemont Troll. I like the scenes with Shelby’s teacher, as well, especially the scene in the bar.

What book or books would most resonate with readers who love your book–or visa versa?

I try to use humor in my books, and two authors who I love who also use humor — and whose books are ridiculously amazing — are Lilly Anderson (THE ONLY THING WORSE THAN ME IS YOU) and Emma Mills (FOOLISH HEARTS, THIS ADVENTURE ENDS).

How long did you work on WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU DEMONS?

I first started writing WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU DEMONS in 2012. I got a bit stuck with it, so I put it aside when the idea for WESLEY JAMES RUINED MY LIFE came to me. I still loved the premise, though, so when it came time to talk with my editor about my option book, I pitched it and fortunately she was into the idea.

What did this book teach you about writing or about yourself?

It taught me that I could write a book under a deadline. Deadlines can sometimes be daunting, but it forces me to get the book done.

What do you hope readers will take away from WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU DEMONS?

My main goal with my books is to entertain, so if someone has fun reading the book, then I feel like I’ve done my job.

How long or hard was your road to publication? How many books did you write before this one, and how many never got published?

I’ve been writing on and off for most of my life. I actually wrote the first draft of WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU DEMONS before I wrote WESLEY JAMES RUINED MY LIFE, my debut novel. Before both of those books, I’d written another book (which will never see the light of day) and a bunch of short stories. I was in my forties when WESLEY JAMES RUINED MY LIFE was published, so it was definitely a long road to publication, but I’m grateful that things turned out as they did. I think I’m a better writer for it.

Was there an AHA! moment along your road to publication where something suddenly sank in and you felt you had the key to writing a novel? What was it?

I don’t really feel like I have the key to writing a novel and I’m not sure that I ever will. I still stumble through it. For me, having an outline is important — I need a roadmap for where I’m going. Having an editorial agent as well as an editor helps immensely because they can shine a light on the places in the manuscript that I need to work on and just all around help me create a better book. Beta readers are a big help as well.

What’s your writing ritual like? Do you listen to music? Work at home or at a coffee shop or the library, etc?

I do most of my writing at a coffee shop (in fact, I’m at the coffee shop right as I type this!). I don’t connect to the wi-fi, so I’m not tempted to surf the internet. It forces me to just get to work. I’m more likely to be distracted at home.

What advice would you most like to pass along to other writers?

Just write. Like anything, you need to practice if you want to get better at it. I’ve written many things that will never get published, but they’re still of value because they taught me a lot about writing. And, of course, you need to read. A lot.


What are you working on now?

I’m currently working on my third book for Swoon Reads, which will be released in summer 2019. It’s about a girl who worked as a housekeeper at a luxury hotel in Maui. She stole some items from guests and now she has terrible karma, so she’s trying to turn her luck around by tracking down the owners of the items and sending them back.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Life Gives You Demons
by Jennifer Honeybourn
Hardcover
Swoon Reads
Released 7/17/2018

Some people have school spirit.

Shelby Black has real ones.

Shelby Black has spent the past six months training to be an exorcist. Her great-uncle Roy―a Catholic priest―has put her through exorcist boot camp hell, hoping to develop her talent, but ohmygod, he still doesn’t trust her to do an exorcism on her own.

High school is hard enough without having to explain that you fight demons for a living, so Shelby keeps her extracurricular activity to herself. The last thing she wants is for her crush, Spencer, to find out what she does in her off time.

But Shelby knows how to keep a secret―even a big one. Like the fact that her mom left under mysterious circumstances and it’s all her fault. Shelby is hellbent on finding her mom, no matter what it costs her―even if what it ends up costing her is her soul AND a relationship with Spencer.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Jennifer Honeybourn works in corporate communications in Vancouver, British Columbia. She’s a fan of British accents, Broadway musicals, and epic, happily-ever-after love stories. If she could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, she’d have high tea with Walt Disney, JK Rowling, and her nana. She lives with her husband, daughter and cat in a house filled with books.

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