NEW YEAR, NEW FACES Part 2!

'Novel Points of View is introducing a few changes for 2016. We want to say goodbye and many thanks to Jenny Harper and Mary Smith, and a big hello and welcome to new members Rae Cowie (writer), Jennie Bohnet (writer) and Neil Donald (photographer). We’re really looking forward to having new voices – and amazing photographs – in the weeks and months ahead.
To get things rolling we have asked each of our new members to give us 3 words or phrases that best describe their kind of creativity. And also to tell us a little bit about themselves. Over to you, Jennie:

Hello everyone and many thanks for the invitation to join the blogging team. NOVEL POINTS OF VIEW is a blog I’ve always looked forward to reading and one that has always amazed me with the diversity of each post and the knowledge of the contributors, so I was thrilled, but at the same time, terrified, to be invited to join the team.  

Following in the footsteps of Jennifer Harper and Mary Smith as well as the other original members of the team is a daunting thought and I admit I hesitated and dithered over accepting the invitation at first. Would I have anything interesting to say? Would my grammar be good enough? Would anybody be interested in my ramblings? But deep down I knew I wanted to accept the invitation and the challenge.

So, little bit about myself. I am originally from the West Country although I have lived in France for the past 16 years. Eleven years down on the Cote d’Azur and now nearly five up here in Brittany. I started off writing features more years ago than I care to remember and had some success with the nationals and also my own column for three years in the South Hams Group of Newspapers. Since living in France I’ve concentrated on fiction, writing short stories for the women’s magazines, serials and now novels. 

Now, how to describe my writing? Basically I write the kind of books I like to read - contemporary women’s fiction with a dusting of romance. Think Veronica Henry and Jill Mansell. Not being very good at standing back and evaluating my own writing I did the time honoured thing and phoned a writer friend to ask how she viewed my novels - truthfully. 

Feel-good, evocative and romantic were the three words she came up with. All of which made me smile - exactly the kind of reaction I aim to give my readers. If I can build a world on the page, create characters that live and carry the reader away for a few hours, then I’m happy.

 My latest novel, The Little KIosk By The Sea, is set in Dartmouth a place I know well, and involves family relationships, a little bit of history, and secrets that can shatter lives. With a little bit of romance along the way.

The first week of a new year when resolutions are being made, new beginnings contemplated and new challenges accepted, is of course the traditional time to wish everyone good health and happiness so, Bonne Année to you all. I’m looking forward to learning, sharing and being a part of the NPOV team in 2016.