Maggie Blackbird

Today, I have author Jen Gilroy in the interview chair.  We talk about her latest release The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls, book one in her new series Irish Falls.  If you love women’s fiction and a good dose of romance, read on.

1. Hi, Jen. First off, readers have an idea of the writer you, but what about the everyday you? Can you share about your personal life?

Thank you for inviting me to guest on your blog, Maggie. I’m happy to be here and chat with you and your readers.

‘Everyday me’ is a wife to a tech guy husband and mum to a teen daughter and floppy-eared hound dog. I live in a small Canadian town where my mother’s family roots date to the 1830s. After many years in England, being here connects me to home—much like the fictional characters I write about.

When I’m not writing, I enjoy reading, watching movies, singing with a choir and taking a weekly ballet class.

2. I’ve been perusing your web site, and noticed you are drawn to small-town, feel-good, contemporary romance. Why are you drawn to this genre—and why write about it?

I’m drawn to small-town stories because in a sense, I write what I know. I live in a small town in Eastern Ontario, Canada and it’s near another small town where I spent many happy childhood summers. Although I grew up in a city, it’s one often likened to a small town because of its network of inter-connected relationships. I also lived in England for many years, most of that time in a village.

For me, small communities offer a rich setting for telling stories not only because of the inter-connected relationships but also because they offer a microcosm of the world at large—both for good and bad.

I write feel-good fiction because as a reader, I enjoy stories that give me a sense of hope and encouragement. I also believe everyone deserves their happily ever after and enjoy writing about ‘broken’ characters who overcome challenges to earn a happy ending.

My published books fall into the area between contemporary romance and women’s fiction. Along with a central romance, my stories also focus on the woman’s journey and her personal growth in life, together with her relationships with family, friends and a larger community.

3. Your latest novel is The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls that released on October 9, 2019. Can you tell me what inspired you to write this book and develop the Irish Falls series?

I first heard about wishing trees several years ago on a trip to Hong Kong for my then day job. I was intrigued by the idea of tying wishes to a tree in the belief it would make cherished hopes and dreams come true.

After reading more about wishing trees, I discovered they’re popular in many cultures and parts of the world, including Ireland. From there, the idea of a wishing tree story and series set in an Irish-American small town were born.

Since music is one of my passions, I’ve also long wanted to write a book where both the hero and heroine were interested in music so I explored that element in The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls too.

4. The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls is the first book in the Irish Falls series. What can we expect from you in the future? Care to share about your current WIP?

I’ve just written a sequel to The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls which will hopefully be out in 2020.

I’m currently working on two mainstream women’s fiction novels as well, although both have strong romantic elements.

5. When first developing The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls, did the plot come first or the characters?

For this book, the wishing tree came first and then the characters evolved from there. I wondered what it would be like for two people who had given up on wishes to live in a town with a magical tree that grants such wishes.

I’m a character-driven writer so the external plot always comes later and reflects the characters’ inner goals and challenges.

6. Was any kind of research required?

Although contemporary stories don’t require the same kind of research as historical fiction, I still do research to make sure the story world is authentic to readers.

Many scenes in The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls take place in a small-town family bakery so I visited various local bakeries and, in one instance, spoke at length with the owners to ask questions about their work and verify story details.

Since the hero works in a radio station, I did research there too to ensure story accuracy.

Not least, the story is set in the Adirondack Mountain region of northern New York State, a place where I’ve had several happy vacations so I drew on that personal experience as well.

7. Let’s talk about the main character Annie Quinn. What do you love most about her and what makes you want to shake her?

Annie is a single mom and I love her strength and determination to make the best of her life, as well as her devotion to her family, her teen daughter in particular.

At various points, though, I wanted to shake her because she was so afraid to step out of her comfort zone, she risked losing one of the best things to ever happen to her. I cheered her on as she grew in confidence and self-belief throughout the story.

8. The same for Seth Taggart. What do you love most about him and what makes you want to shake him?

When the story opens, Seth has been battered by life—estranged from his college-age son and betrayed by a business partner. I love his optimism, though, and his refusal to be defeated by adversity.

A bit like Annie, however, I sometimes wanted to shake him because he had a fixed idea of what his life could be—and didn’t appreciate what he’d found with Annie until it was almost too late.

9. Without giving away any spoilers, what was your favourite scene to write and why?

Giving characters their happily ever after is usually my favourite scene to write and The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls is no exception. After challenging characters for an entire book, it’s rewarding to finally make things right for them.

I gave Annie and Seth a happy ending true to their characters and one I hope resonates with readers. It did for my literary agent as she said that scene almost made her cry. As an author, knowing you’ve touched a reader’s emotions in that way is both special and validating.

10. Again, without giving away any spoilers, what was your most difficult scene to write and why?

My most difficult scene to write was the one where Seth, the hero, discovers a secret related to his past and needs to open himself up emotionally to Annie, the heroine.

Trust is difficult for both Seth and Annie, and this scene was also difficult for me to write because I needed to ensure that the characters’ motivations and reactions were authentic, believable, and moved the central romance forward.

11. If a reader asked you why they should read The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls, what would you tell them?

I wrote The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls for readers looking for a warm and hopeful romance with a charming small-town setting and characters who face real-world challenges to earn their happily ever after. If that sounds like you, I hope you’ll give this book a try.

12. What do you enjoy most about writing?

I love editing and taking a ‘raw’ first draft and shaping it into a finished story.

13. What do you enjoy least about writing?

Since I don’t plot a great deal in advance, it’s challenging to write a synopsis (short summary) of a book before I’ve written the entire manuscript.

At this stage in my career, and although I may not enjoy it, it’s an essential skill so I’m learning how to do it—and indeed have come to see how it benefits my writing process by streamlining writing the first draft of a story.

14. I enjoy doing random questions, so humour me:

• What’s your favourite movie?
  The Sound of Music is my all-time favourite movie and I usually watch it once a year. It’s a film my late mom and I watched many times together so it brings back happy memories of her.
• What book is currently in your e-reader?
  Too many! My TBR list, both physical and virtual, is groaning. In the spirit of the season, though, I’m currently reading The Christmas Holiday, a heartwarming festive romance by a British author friend, Sophie Claire.
• Who’s your favourite musical group?
  I love music but don’t have a favourite musical group or solo artist. Rather, what I listen to—from classical through to country, soft rock and jazz–depends on my mood.
  One of the most meaningful songs to me in recent years is “Time” by Canadian country artist, Dean Brody. I mentioned “Time” in The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls because it captures one of the story’s themes—to make the most of the time we have because we never know how much of it we have left.
• What song puts a smile on your face?
  “Unforgettable” sung by Natalie Cole. It’s the song my husband and I first danced to when we met twenty-five years ago so has a special place in my heart.

15. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Thanks again for inviting me to guest on your blog, Maggie. Sanctified, your new book, is on my TBR list, along with other titles I’ve discovered through reading your blog so it’s lovely to guest here myself.

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Title:  The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls
Series:  Irish Falls, book 1
Author:  Jen Gilroy
Genre(s):  Contemporary Romance, Women’s Fiction

Sometimes happily ever after is only a wish away . . .  

Blurb:  There’s a wishing tree in Irish Falls. The bits of paper tied to its gnarled branches hold the hopes and dreams of everyone in town . . . except Annie Quinn.

Single mom Annie has spent years rebuilding her life and trying not to have regrets. After giving up her dream of music stardom, she returned to her Adirondack hometown—and convinced herself she’s content with a simpler life.

The last thing she needs is a man to remind her of the heartbreak she left behind.

A divorced dad, Seth Taggart used to be a successful LA songwriter. But now his reputation is in tatters, he’s burnt-out, and estranged from his adult son. Inheriting a small-town radio station just might be the do-over he needs.

Although he always planned to go back to LA, when working with Annie turns into sharing music and more, Seth realizes second chances—and home—are where he least expects.

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…Looking at Seth through the familiar studio window, Annie pressed a hand to her all-of-a-sudden fluttery stomach. He wore a black, long-sleeved Henley, and his jaw was dark with beard stubble. He sat behind one of the microphones, with headphones over his ears, and his expression focused.

“This next song is for Annie Quinn and her family.” His voice came through the overhead speakers. I want to thank them for what they did for my uncle, Jake Kerrigan. He was a good man, and I know he was a friend to many of you.” Seth’s voice cracked, and he hesitated for a fraction of a second. “It’s a classic Alabama tune I found on one of Jake’s playlists and fits what I’m feeling.”

The haunting notes of “Angels Among Us”….melded with the lyrics Annie knew by heart.

She couldn’t tear her gaze away from Seth. As if he sensed her gaze, he looked up and half rose from his seat to give her a smile as sweet as it was tender.

“Thanks,” she mouthed through the glass.

“No problem,” he mouthed back.

She took a step toward the closed studio door…She couldn’t go in there. Seth was live on air. She put a basket of cinnamon buns on top of a filing cabinet and gestured toward it before backing away.

Seth still looked at her through the window as the music rose and fell, like an invisible thread linking the two of them. She pressed her hands to her face. No matter how much she might want to, she couldn’t pretend to herself this morning was like any other. As long as Seth did the [radio] show, weekday mornings would never be the same.

Annie went out the door and down the wooden stairs to the bakery. It was no good to want something she couldn’t let herself have. Not even if it was big and sexy, and had a voice hot enough to melt even her ice-like resolve. She’d buried any regrets deep, and she had no intention of digging them up again now.

©Jen Gilroy, The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls, Soul Mate Publishing 2019.

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Jen Gilroy worked in higher education and international marketing and business development before trading the corporate 9-5 to write contemporary romance and women’s fiction with heart, home, and hope.

After many years living and working in England, she returned to where her roots run deep and lives in a small town in Eastern Ontario, Canada with her husband, teen daughter and a floppy-eared hound. When she’s not writing, Jen enjoys reading, travel, singing, and ballet. She’s also known for her love of ice cream, shoes, and vintage finds.

Jen’s first book, The Cottage at Firefly Lake (and first book in her Firefly Lake series), was a finalist for Romance Writers of America’s (RWA) Golden Heart® award in 2015. It was also shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association (RNA) Joan Hessayon Award 2017.

She’s a member of RNA, RWA, and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA).

Find Jen:  Web Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter | Goodreads | Instagram