Dissecting Jodi Jensen
Welcome back to the Black Hare Press Dissecting Author interviews where we dissect an author each month to find out who they are, what they write, and what keeps their creative juices flowing.
Today we slice open dark speculative fiction author, Jodi Jenson and spill her writing secrets and author aspirations.
Who is Jodi Jensen?
Jodi Jensen, author of time travel romances, a biopunk novella, a post-apocalyptic novel, and nearly one hundred speculative fiction short stories, grew up moving from California, to Massachusetts, and a few other places in between, before finally settling in Utah at the ripe old age of nine. The nomadic life fed her sense of adventure as a child and the wanderlust continues to this day. As a natural-born storyteller she has a passion for old cemeteries, historical buildings, and things that go bump in the night.
Find Jodi here:
Website: jodijensenwrites.wordpress.com
Facebook: @jodijensenwrites
Threads: @jodijensenauthor
Instagram: @jodijensenauthor
Jodi’s Books:
Thorns: books2read.com/BHP-THORNS
Children of RaShell: books2read.com/Jensen-RaShell
Return of the Drummer: books2read.com/DRUMMER-JENSEN
Obliteration: books2read.com/OBLITERATION-JENSEN
What drew you to your preferred writing genres?
I started out writing time-travel romance novels. What I liked most about that genre were the stories of how my characters survived being tossed into another time period. Later, when I got the opportunity to write dark speculative fiction, it wasn’t such a stretch, as most of mine were survival stories. I’ve always loved end-of-the-world, post-apocalyptic, and disaster stories, so it feels right that I ended up feeling at home writing them.
Have you ever based a character on someone you know?
In my forthcoming novel, one of the characters is based on someone I know, someone who means a great deal to me. Usually, though, it’s more like a character is based off a collective of people I know. For instance, Holly, my main character in that same forthcoming novel, is based off of several good friends, who all work as lunch ladies. Collectively, I liked the “lunch lady tough” attitude and wanted to write a character who represented that.
Do you write for entertainment, or is there a deeper message in your stories?
I almost always have a deeper meaning to my stories, though, at times, I may be the only one to know what that meaning is. For example, I once wrote a story about a zombie sheriff who, along with a town full of other zombies, was fighting for the right to survive in a world that didn’t want them there. It was written as a tribute to those who battle against discrimination.
Where do you find inspiration for your stories?
For me, inspiration is literally everywhere. I’ve gotten a couple of story ideas based off things I heard on the news, one was from a scary experience with my dryer catching on fire, one was from my car getting a flat tire when I drove the scenic route through the mountains. Another idea came from an abandoned sugar factory near my home, specifically a piece of graffiti on the outside wall. Then there was a street sign that read “Cannibal Road” that inspired a story. The list goes on and on. Story ideas are all around me. It’s more deciding which ones speak to me the loudest and must be told.
Do recurring themes appear in your stories?
Most of my stories these days are end-of-the-world stories, which I love. It’s so interesting to explore all the ways the world can end as well as how different people deal with it. My favorite books and movies are that genre too, so it’s no surprise those are the stories I write.
What’s brewing? What are your next big writing goals?
I’m hoping that in the next year I can get RaShell Reborn written, it’s the sequel to Children of RaShell, and has been waiting in the wings for a while now. And once I’m done with that one, then it’s on to book two (untitled as of now) of the 187 Days trilogy. I’m excited about both of these and can’t wait to be drafting again.
What’s your most favorite under-appreciated novel?
Stephen King’s 11/22/63. The research involved in getting this novel just right blows my mind. It’s layered, nuanced, and thrilling. I love how it ties into his bigger multiverse, and the main character, Jake, is one of my favorites in all of his works. Not only is he flawed, but he’s also relatable in a way that a lot of fictional characters aren’t. He’s a regular guy, pushed to do something extraordinary, and must make and relive all of his mistakes on his quest. It’s compelling and one of my favorite books.
Which other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you be a better writer?
A few of my closest author friends are T.O. Burnett, who has helped me greatly in understanding and portraying the sci-fi genre, and is a fantastic beta reader, M. Sydnor Jr., who inspires me to keep writing and is supportive of all of my work, Kiersten Marcil, who is fabulous to bounce ideas off of and keeps me motivated, Crystal Kirkham, who first introduced me to the world of dark speculative fiction writing, and Dean Shawker, editor extraordinaire.
Do you have a furry friend writing assistant i.e. dog, cat, bird, Hellhound, and how do they help you achieve your writing goals?
There are 3 dogs at my house, but one in particular likes to lie right by my feet while I’m writing or editing. Sita is a gigantic floofball, part Akita, part Malamute, and 100% adorable. I think she likes my creative energy, and I know her presence feeds that energy when I’m writing and editing. A win/win for us both.
In relation to your latest book:
The world is dead. Monsters are real. And time is running out.
Holly has survived 187 days of terror—hiding in her apartment, listening as her neighbors turn into monsters, and clinging to a single, desperate hope: Quentin. He promised he’d come for her.
Armed with little more than a makeshift weapon and sheer determination, Holly embarks on a perilous journey across the ruins of civilization. But she’s not alone. A girl named Tate, harboring a dangerous secret, becomes an unexpected ally in a world where trust can be fatal. Together, they navigate the nightmare of what humanity has become, forging a bond in blood and desperation.
But the road is long, and the creatures lurking in the shadows are not the only threats. As the days slip away, so does her chance of ever seeing Quentin again.
How far will Holly go for love? And what will be left of her when she gets there?
187 Days is a gripping post-apocalyptic thriller packed with relentless action, heartbreaking choices, and a love that refuses to die.
What sparked the idea for this book?
I was sitting at work one day and saw a flash of my main character, Holly, come to me. She was hiding in a boarded-up apartment, getting ready to venture out into a ruined world. She had her backpack, a baseball bat, and a memory of the man she loved and wanted to find to motivate her. I scribbled a note that had the last text message she’d gotten from him, and that was the beginning of the story. I’m a discovery writer, so at that point, I had no idea where the story was going to go, only that I needed to write it. Incidentally, I still have the note.
What challenges did you encounter to finish it?
Time, mostly. I work a full-time day job, am a part-time caretaker for my grandson, and an editor as well as an author. My writing time is at three in the morning before I go to work, and the bulk of the book was written in 30 to 45-minute increments each day.
Why did you choose post-apocalyptic Utah as the setting of this book?
I always knew it was going to be a post-apocalyptic story, and I chose Utah because not only is it familiar to me (I live in Utah) but I also liked that there is a wildly varying landscape. It gave me opportunities to show my character in a variety of survival situations.
How did you come up with the stars/MCs of this book?
Holly is based off a collective of women I know who are lunch ladies. I really wanted an unlikely heroine, and that’s not one I’d seen before in a story like this. The women I know are tough, but kind. Hardworking, caring, and funny. And most of all, they’re down-to-earth people. What a great base to build a character on. I work in a school and I got the idea for Tate from seeing the sassy, scrappy behavior of some of the kids there. She’s the perfect sidekick for Holly and together they forge an unbreakable bond as they navigate a broken world.
Which of your main characters do you relate to the most? Why?
I’d have to say Holly because, like her, I’ve discovered I can do hard things. And like her, sometimes I’m scared, but I do what needs to be done anyway. That being said, Holly is a lot braver than I am, mostly because she has to be.
Is there a particular message that you hope readers will take from the book?
When the world feels too big and too broken, remember you don’t have to save the whole world, just focus on the ones you love.
What’s your favorite scene?
When Holly finds her power. I love that scene because she’s never seen herself as brave or strong and for her to stand up and claim that power is a big moment for her.
