Author Jennifer Delaney - The Writer Story
Meet Jennifer, author of her Romantasy debut trilogy, Tales of a Monster Heart, as we talk about her writing journey and writing to a trend... or not...
Hello and Welcome to the Writer Story!
Today I have a wonderful author interview for you that I’m super excited about. Jennifer Delaney has her debut Gothic Romantasy, Tales of a Monster Heart, coming out on August 29, 2024, and it’s amazing. Truly. If you are a Romantasy fan this should definitely be on your TBR.
Here’s her official bio -
Jennifer Delaney lives in Liverpool, England. She has a BA and MA in Creative Writing from Liverpool John Moores University. Jennifer has always had a deep love of fantasy, troublesome characters, heart stopping romance and all things gothic. Tales of a Monstrous Heart is her debut novel. The first book in her gothic fantasy trilogy.
Welcome Jennifer to the Writer Story interview. I am absolutely excited about your debut, Tales of a Monster Heart, a Gothic Romantasy. Tell us about your book, what is the story about?
Tales of a Monstrous Heart is my adult gothic fantasy debut. It’s inspired by my love of Jane Eyre and all things gothic.
The story follows Katherine Woodrow, a Fey woman struggling to exist in the Institute of Magic beneath the prejudice of a male council that want to see her fail. When an altercation with a demon escaping a book leads her to almost being cleansed of her magic. To save herself she’s forced to accept a partnership with the illusive Lord Blackthorn.
Lord Emrys Blackthorn is an expert in the occult and the dark magic that still lingers in the land. Kat and Emrys must work together to solve dark mysteries that end in murder, while avoiding the forbidden tension between them.
I am rooting for Kat and Emrys already. How did you get the inspiration for your book? And what made you believe there was a book in it?
I had the idea for Tales after a lot of failed querying and after I’d given up on writing and querying. I just decided to pack it up. Then I remembered, the first novel I ever read, Jane Eyre, which I had a deep love for. So in the depths of my depression, I reached for Jane Eyre and wondered what would happen if I wrote Jane Eyre with a fantasy twist.
Anyway, it was a little project for myself, some fun to get me through lockdown and make me love writing again. Then the more it went on the less Jane Eyre it became and it grew into something else. Really Tales wrote itself, it just kept evolving with every edit and draft. I poured a lot of my emotions, my anger and fears into it. I didn’t plan it to be this epic tale but the story gave me no choice once I started.
Since Romantasy is having a moment right now, did you write the book to the trend or you just happen to have the book ready at the right time? Also what’s your idea about writing to the trend?
I started writing Tales June 2020 so years before the current Romantasy hype. However, I will say I’ve always enjoyed fantasy with a romantic heart, I like a perfect balance between heart and action. So I like to think that you can take the romance out of Tales and the story remains, yet, the emotional heart of the story is the characters emotions and the depths of how they come to care for one another. As I think Tales shows, not all our demons are made of nightmares and curses. Some of them reside in our minds and hearts and it’s the human connection that can save us.
So I think Tales’ timing was perfect to get picked up. However, I will say I don’t write for trends really. I learnt the hard way after writing stories with the intention of trying to get picked up, trying to be a writer I wasn’t and trying to guess what agents or publishers wanted to read. All it did was lead me further from the stories I wanted to tell.
Tales came straight from my heart and it was just for me, so I think there is a magic in that.
Magic my editor saw too and fell in love with Tales. I know she would have loved it even if it didn’t fit into the current trend, because we both deeply love gothic romantic stories – and she saw an importance in what Tales had to say and the audience that needed it.
That is some great advice Jennifer. I totally agree about writing from the heart. Writing is already such a solitary job, and writing to trend just makes it harder to go through that initial phase when everything seems like a dead end. Our readers always love to find out about the writer journey. I like to call it the Writer Origin story. Would you please share your journey? How you started? How you got your agent and your book deal?
I started writing when I was 14. I didn’t know I was dyslexic until I was 21, so I really struggled in school with my spelling and grammar to the point the teachers would laugh about it. I’ve always loved Greek myths and fantasy. But I really struggled with novels. The few I did read, I loved.
So when I found fanfiction, I started writing it. Over the years I got better and more confident in my writing. This clearly rubbed off in my school work because when I was 17 I was chased down by a teacher who accused me of copying someone’s work because I ‘couldn’t have written something like this’.
Writing saved my confidence and maybe me.
So when I was 18 I went to University to do a degree in film and creative writing – I was in third year of university when I found out I was dyslexic. So badly dyslexic the man doing my assessment stopped the test and asked ‘How did you get to third year of University?’. What can I say? I’m a hustler. So after I got my BA, I went back to do my masters in creative writing. I’d been querying on and off with various awful projects from when I was 21 until I was 27. Then I hit rock bottom and quit writing. I felt like I’d gotten nowhere and I’d wasted 9 years of my life writing. While everyone else was going places, I was sat in my room for 9 years foolishly chasing a dream. Also, the pandemic happened just at that time. So after the worst, most darkly depressing 4 months away from writing. I got the idea for Tales and the rest is history.
However, I will say, I didn’t have any full requests. The only full request I got turned into an offer from an agent. Which was a risk, but I took it. However, then the agent suggested shelving Tales and that it would be too much work. That we could maybe work on something else together – I said no. A very scary no for my anxiety riddled self. BUT I believed in what Tales could be and I owed it to myself to finish what I started. Also, I’d signed on the hope of Tales – so it felt strange to abandon her after all that work. So, I gave myself a month, and I re-worked Tales into the adult fantasy story I wanted to tell on my own – then my agent had no choice after all the work I’d put in. So, Tales went out on sub – and we know the chances of a first book getting a deal. So those few months were torturous – but by some lucky fate, my editor at Gollancz loved Tales and she understood Tales like I always dreamed someone would. It still seems surreal any of this has happened. That I could find an editor who loved this book I wrote when I was in pain, and who has championed it into the beautiful gothic novel (cover and all) I could only dream of. Honestly, the whole Gollancz team have been so amazing with me – my editor honestly is a dream and I think I owe her a lifetime of margaritas at this point.
That is so inspiring. What is your writing and editing process? How many drafts did you do for TOAMH? Do you have any special writing quirks ?
So I wrote Tales (the first draft) in 11 months. I am a very fast writer when I am focused. With other projects I have worked on too, once I have all the plot points I need – there is no stopping me really. It’s like a mania that comes over me. I love editing, I edit as I go through drafts – constantly – so to me re-working and redrafting is one of my favourite parts of the process. I love cutting massive chunks away and then trying to tie threads back together. The only chapter in Tales that hasn’t been completely changed through the process is Chapter One which is crazy. I create whole characters and then cut them just to let the manuscript breathe more. I’m constantly working on the story so it never feels finished. It’s a bit hectic but I think it comes from my University workshopping. I love the challenge of reworking a piece. I also must make 13 hour long playlists to write, so the vibes are right.
What advice would you give to writers who are in the beginning stages of the publishing journey? Or any words of caution?
I’d say don’t get lost in the hunt for the dream. Don’t make your stories your enemy or feel like they’ve let you down or you’ve let yourself down. Publishing is nothing but a game of chance, timing and luck. The stars have to align, and I know that’s not helpful advice. I wish I could say… ‘Do exactly this… and everything will happen’. Nobody can say that. It’s an awful process, and the loneliest place some of us will ever be. Yet, you’re there because you have passion, you have drive and your words matter. Don’t let anyone make you forget that and don’t let anyone make you feel like you’re difficult or foolish for making choices your comfortable with about you and your work. One of the most important things I’ve learnt on this debut journey is, you’re allowed to take credit for your own hard work, you don’t have to constantly give it to other people. You deserve to tell your stories and you should be so proud of yourself for being brave enough and committed enough to write.
What is next for you after TOAMH? Do you have a second book in the series or standalone? Also, has anything changed about your writing style/process compared to earlier?
TOAMH is the first book in a trilogy and the first draft of Book 2 is with my editor so I cannot wait to get her back and tear her apart. I need to start thinking about Book 3 too – BUT I’m very excited to work on some new projects. I think gothic, horror/dark-fairytales are calling my name. I think I want to enter my enemies to lovers era – and I have so many amazing ideas that are screaming to escape my brain.
Sounds amazing. Finally, where can we find you online?
So, I’m mostly active on Instagram at @jenniferdelaneyauthor but you can sometimes find me on twitter @jendelaney93
A big thanks to Jennifer for spending the time with us for The Writer Story interview. Make sure to get the Tales of a Monster Heart and support her writing adventures.
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Until next week,
~Toodle-oo~
A great interview?