[♪♪♪] -♪ Every day every day Every day ♪ ♪ Every day I write the book ♪ [♪♪♪] -Welcome, I'm Rose Martin, and we are Write Around The Corner in Ferrum, Virginia at a beautiful location with Jane Fenton.

Have you heard about Jane's books, the Repo Girl series?

Well, think about a fun, sassy, 20-something who's dealing with dead bodies, debt, finding a bag of money, and who knows what other capers she's gonna get herself into.

Andi's the main character, and these are really, really fun books.

In addition to that, we're gonna talk about Crazy For You .

And I should mention Repo Girl , Indie award-winning finalist.

So, Jane, welcome to Write Around The Corner .

-Thank you.

-It's so exciting to have you.

And thank you for inviting us here to your beautiful home.

-Oh, I'm so excited you could be here.

-It's a wonderful setting.

So, always a writer, growing up as a writer?

-Yes.

Actually, when I was a kid, I used to write stories.

I loved reading Nancy Drew mysteries.

So, I would write stories, and my sister, my cousins and I would act them out.

We had a bad guy always chasing us, and we tried to solve the mystery.

It was fun.

-Oh, that sounds fun.

And how about siblings?

Mom and Dad, writers?

-No.

Hm-mm.

No, no, but-but I've always loved writing, and of course, reading.

And when I was in college, I loved creative writing classes, and I always dreamed of becoming a writer.

And even-- and I think that's a common dream.

I've talked to lots of people, and probably 80 percent of the people say, "I've got a book in me.

I wanna do that."

So.

-So, what was that thing that finally made you say, "You know what, I'm going to make that dream come true, and I'm gonna write this story down."

-Well, okay, it's funny.

We were-- my daughter was in high school at the time.

And it was 2013, and Roanoke Community School had a "write a book in 48 hours" contest.

So, we were like, "Let's do it."

We told the boys, my husband and my son.

We said, "Just go ahead.

You guys handle everything.

We're gonna do nothing but write for 48 hours."

So it was Saturday morning.

They sent us a list of things that had to be included in the book, and it had to take place in Roanoke.

And it had to be either sci-fi or pulp fiction.

So, that's when I came up-- I thought, well, it'd be kinda fun if I had this 20-something-year-old, who maybe repoed cars and found a dead body.

So, we wrote.

We--she-- my daughter wrote a different book.

And I wrote Repo Girl .

And it was a horrible book, but I finished it.

I had over 35,000 words in two days.

-Wow.

Wow.

-So that was exciting.

So, to me, that was like the first step.

It's like, "I think I could write a book."

And then it took me five years.

-Well, you do.

You have a book, and congratulations on the Indie award for a finalist.

-Thank you.

-That's fabulous.

-Thank you.

-That had to be like a pinch myself moment.

Not only did I write a book, but people have read it, and they like it.

-Yes.

Yes.

It was so exciting.

And that just happened in June.

They were gonna hold the awards in Chicago.

And so, we were all excited and, of course, COVID happened.

And so, they said-- they did a virtual awards program.

And my family is so supportive.

We all got dressed up.

I made a deep dish Chicago pizza.

And we popped champagne and watched the awards.

So, it was fun.

-Oh, wonderful.

That's fabulous.

And we are social distancing.

-Yes.

-So, we're far apart here.

Outside on your beautiful porch.

So, what are the other things that really.

that really interest you?

So, I know, maybe Jeep Wranglers, chocolates?

What are some of those other favorites?

-Cheese Curls.

Yes.

-Yes.

-Yeah.

So, I love-- Okay.

I love this area.

There's-- I like to bike and hike and kayak.

It's such a beautiful area.

So, and I just love people.

It's fun to observe people, talk with people.

And when we moved, we moved to the Roanoke area about 17 years ago.

And so, that just made the perfect setting for the story because it's a great town.

-Yeah.

It's set in here, and it's wonderful to read and find those familiar locations.

As you're coming through, you're like, "Oh, I know where that is."

-Right.

-"I've been there.

I get that."

-Right.

-That's fun.

So, the process, you had mentioned earlier about the time it took to.

-Yes.

-.to do Repo Girl from the very beginning of that 48-hour crash time, right?

-Right.

-Crash writing.

Then to getting Repo Girl published.

What was that process like?

-Well, my family teased me.

They're like, "You're ordering more books than you're actually writing."

So, but I had to learn everything, you know.

Because I kind of-- I had the story idea, but I had to work on plot development and character arcs, and just kind of learn how to show and not tell.

So, it took me a long time just to work through that process.

And during that time, I found the Roanoke Regional Writers Conference and met a tremendous amount of great writers.

And they had inspiring stories.

So, that really kinda helped me realize that, "Hey, I could do this.

I could actually finally write this book that I've dreamed of for years."

-And when you said, "show and not tell", what does that mean?

-Okay.

That means that basically by describing the character sitting in a chair and having a conversation versus just saying, "John sat in the chair," you know, "and talked."

So, there's a whole technique to actually conveying what they're doing and the action without actually telling the reader.

He stepped over to the door, you know.

-What's your favorite part of the process?

-Plotting.

Mwah-ha-ha.

-So, are you an outliner?

You kinda get it already ahead of time?

-I outline, for sure.

Yeah.

And, so, what I do is, usually I used to use big poster boards, and then I'd use stickies and Post-its, and I'd plot out each scene.

And now, just for this last book I'm working on, I'm doing it in PowerPoint.

So, it's a lot of fun.

So, I get an idea for the character and maybe one or two scenes, and then I build it from there.

And I love the internet because it's a great source for research.

And I'll even-- to help me develop characters, I'll pull images of people from online, and I've got-- I create like these little character profiles.

So, it's fun.

It's fun and games.

-So, you actually create a person that's gonna be that character.

So, you're kinda looking at 'em and getting into their head and things?

-Yes.

Yes.

-Oh, how fun.

-And then if I can find multiple images of the same person, doing different things-- and I think that's like, for one of my characters in Repo Girl, for Detective Kendricks, I sort of say he looks like Chris Hemsworth.

And so, I've got tons of pictures and it's like doing different things, and it kinda helps me visualize and create the character.

-And you know, that's great for the reader, too.

Because you say Thor or the Marvel comics.

And so, we're right in there with a visual representation of, "Oh, okay."

And even though we look at the characters, we create that, you know, we create that picture in our mind of who they are.

And that goes along to your showing not telling, right?

-Yes.

-Because you give us a chance to get that visual image of who they are or what they might be like.

-Yes.

-And you know, with the characters in the book, are they-- any of them from family members?

You?

Your husband?

-No.

No.

-Nobody?

-No.

No, but it's so fun to have people read the book and say, "I'm Mrs. Barzetti", or "I'm so and so."

And I'm just like, "Well, you know, if you wanna be."

-Yeah.

Sure, that sounds fine.

Oh gosh, so when you think about the process with the favorite part's plotting, what's the part you have to kind of drudge yourself through?

-Sometimes I'll stall, and just like I'll have an idea.

And I'll start writing.

Okay.

I think, and most writers I've spoken to have this same experience, sometimes things just kinda drag, and you can't get it.

But when you get into what they call "flow," aww, it's the most glorious part.

And it's for me, it kinda appears like the characters.

It almost appears like a movie in my head, and all I have to do is write it down as quickly as possible.

And dialogue will just come flying out.

And sometimes I'll have it mapped out.

I'll know my story, and I'll say, "Okay.

This has gotta happen and this."

And then I'll start writing, and my character will-- and I sound insane, but my character will say something different.

And I'm like, "No, we're not going in that direction."

But I just kinda go with it, and sometimes it takes us in an even better direction for the book.

-Oh, how fun.

-So, it's fun.

It's just really fun.

-That sounds fun.

And I guess with now PowerPoint versus Post-it notes, your family's kinda happy you don't have stuff hanging all over the house anymore.

-Right.

Well, we won't say that.

I still have notes everywhere, I have notebooks.

And, you know, 'cause I'm not always at a computer when I come up with an idea, and I'll just jot something down.

-You mentioned the writers group.

Who does a first read for you?

And then, what's that like when, you know, this is your baby?

And you're kind of feeling a little vulnerable to get it out there and get people reading it.

What's that like?

Either family members first read, the writers' group first read?

-Okay.

Well, I was terrified with my first book, you know.

And I had this in my immediate family of my husband and two kids.

I would like come up with ideas and like, "Help me, I'm stuck on this.

I need some bad things to happen.

Give me some clues."

And they were really a little too good with that.

-Yeah.

-Like stay safe.

But, yeah, so, my first reader is Emma, my daughter.

And she's actually-- she was in college when I opened my company.

And she's got a degree in English Lit and creative writing.

And I said, "How'd you like to come work for me?"

So, she's the creative director at my company.

And so, she's-- we'll brainstorm sometimes.

I'll be working sketching out a plot, and I'll be stuck.

And I'll say, "Help me brainstorm through this 'cause I need some ideas."

So, she's definitely my first read.

-So, before we talk about your company, which is a publishing company, which is interesting.

What do you do with writer's block?

-Yes.

I go for a walk.

Yeah.

-Well, it's a beautiful location, yeah.

-Usually with my dogs.

Right.

I go for a walk.

Or I take a Jacuzzi soak.

Or I just try to do something else, because sometimes when you sit down at the computer and can't write, you just can't write.

And you need to just get out and do something else.

Or I bake, which is why Mrs. Barzetti has lots of recipes.

-Right.

And I love though that trio of characters in your book.

The Golden Girls almost, right?

The grandmother Golden Girls, they're fun.

-Right.

-When you look at character development, so Andi in the Repo Girl series, she's kind of this, you know, independent, fiercely, don't help me, don't tell me, and I'm gonna do this.

So, okay, she actually repossesses cars.

I have to know; do they really give you a key when you repossess a car?

-Yes.

It depends.

Now, there's all different kinds, and I've done research on this.

But, yeah.

So, sometimes you can get the key to the car, or a lot of times, they're towed.

So, I looked at both of those options, and I'm like, "If I've got this sassy, feisty, young woman repo-ing cars, it would make so much more sense for her to have the key versus the tow truck."

-So, when you did this research, did you actually go on a repo job with anybody to do it?

Okay, no.

-No, no, no.

No, no.

-So, we're not uncovering anything about Jane here as a secret life of repo-ing.

Okay.

-No.

Not at all.

No, but it's fun because I had a-- I've run into lots of repo agents when I've done book events and even, I've had readers write to me.

And one woman was in Hawaii and she said, "This all happened to me.

Except no dead bodies."

But she's like, "This, I could relate to this."

And so, that made me feel really excited and worried for her.

But it's good.

So, people are like- and apparently, I've met some-- a couple of gentlemen who repoed.

And they said, "Oh gosh, in the '80s, I used to repossess TVs, and you know, not just cars, but different kinds of things.

So.

-Right.

So, Andi is feisty.

She is in her 20s.

-Yes.

-She has a lot of debt.

-Yes.

-And she is out repossessing cars.

And then this amazing love interest pops in.

And let's go through the cast of characters for everybody.

-Okay, sure.

So, we've got Andi, and she basically-- her grandparents raised her.

So, she's still living in her grandparents' house.

She's in her 20s, but they had passed away recently in the story.

And then so she's got a roommate.

She used to waitress at Star City Bar & Grill.

-Is that a real place, by the way?

-No, it's not.

-Okay.

-No, no.

-Because I'm like, "Where is that."

Carol and I, we were talking, "We wanna go there."

-Well, it's so funny.

So, in the book I use some real locations, and then of course, I make up some.

Because this is all fiction.

But, yeah.

So, she used to waitress, and that's where she met Ben, who is her best friend and roommate.

He rooms with her and that helps with the costs.

And he also, he dreams of being a fashion designer.

And then she's got a best friend Mags, who she went to school with, went Catholic education, and they're best friends.

And she's an entrepreneur, and she's got her own juice shop at the city market.

So that's kind of fun.

-Which is kind of fun, the interaction between them, because Andi's not really that health food, juice kale, like hide the kale with the blueberries make it-- -Right.

-Make it yummy for me, right?

-Right.

-But yet that relationship that you develop between them, I get it, right?

-Yes.

-And I'm like, I believe that.

-Yes.

-That they could actually be best buds.

-Sure, sure.

Because I know I-- I tend to like junk food.

-Are Cheese curls a favorite, by the way?

-Yes, of course.

-Okay.

Because she's always got cheese curls.

-Yes, yes, yeah.

-Well, and there's a tender moment because you've also got a character in the book of the four-legged variety.

-Yes.

-So, you show this tender side of a Repo Girl and by rescuing a dog.

-Yes, yes.

-That's sweet.

-So, yeah, so that was fun, and everybody loves dogs and rescues.

And it was so funny, I heard from readers, and they're like don't let anything happen to Dodger.

-I'm right there with them.

But I have to say some of the other favorites for me are the Golden Girls.

These three grannies that are watching out for her, but they're not taking any prisoners either.

They're kind of-- they're kind of tough, all three of 'em.

-They really are.

They're a lot of fun.

And they're protective, and they're tough.

And they're feisty as well.

So, you can see where Andi kind of gets that.

-Again, not based on anybody, just your creative juice.

-No, no.

-Oh, they're great.

-Yeah.

They're fun.

-So, Andi is on a repo.

-Hmm-mm.

-And the story unfolds because this handsome guy just wants to tag along.

-Right.

-And she-- I think the other thing I love about it is that, you know, someone who thinks they're so cavalier and handsome and everyone's gonna drop.

Andi's like, don't bother me.

-Right, right, right.

She's like, I don't want anything to do with you.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-So, what happened?

-Well, so he's persistent.

And so, he ends up wiggling his way onto a repo drive.

So, they go, and he's just fascinated by her.

And so, and part of, I think the appeal for him is she just doesn't fall right over for him.

She's like, "Oh."

But, so, they go on this repo drive, and they go to collect the car.

And there's a dead body.

So, they get embroiled in this huge, big calamity.

They get-- they end up getting arrested for the murder of this body and of this guy.

And then they have to work out of that.

So, it's kinda crazy.

-And enter Kendricks.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

I don't know.

There might be more to that, Jane.

I'm just wonderin' how that's all gonna develop a little bit, right?

So, just a little bit of curiosity there.

But the read is so fun.

And it's murder-mystery, romantic-mystery, and it's just-- it's light.

You know, you think, I was thinking to myself, "Okay, it's murder.

It's debt.

It's, you know, this girl who's living alone, her parents have died, where it could be a downer."

-Right.

Right.

Right.

-It's not, you know.

You laugh out loud sometimes when you're reading it.

And she's endearing along with her cast of characters.

-It's fun.

-So, the next adventure, Andi has decided that repo-ing, she needs a little bit more money.

So, what happens at Christmas in the book two?

-So, in book two.

So, yeah, so she's still kinda struggling with money issues.

And so, she needs a second job.

Plus, it's Christmas, and she wants to be able to give gifts.

And she's like, "I need another job."

So, she gets a job as an elf at the mall.

And she's six feet tall.

So, it's a little weird.

And that kinda becomes a joke throughout the story 'cause everybody's like, "Aren't you kind of tall for an elf?"

But when during that process she's out with this Santa who's kind of been drinking.

And she's out in the parking lot and, and he gets shot.

So, she gets embroiled in another big mystery.

And, of course, Det.

Kendricks comes along again.

So, it's a lot of fun.

-I think what I love in both of the stories is that she's like, "Yeah, I'm not gonna get too involved."

But she finds herself like a magnet for trouble.

-Right.

-She finds herself as a magnet to be in the exact place that she probably doesn't need to be, doing or seeing.

But then, that independent spirit of hers is like, "Well, if no one else is going to figure this out, I guess I will."

-Right.

Right.

Or even in the second book, with Christmas, she doesn't necessarily wanna be involved.

And, but circumstances happen where she's sort of forced into.

-And this other character that you brought into the book, The Broker .

-Yes.

-So, you kinda wonder, is he someone that is diabolical?

Is he someone that pretends to be diabolical?

Like, writing him in gives you that tension, right?

In the book to where you're wondering, "What is she really gonna have to do?

And why won't that guy leave her alone?"

-Right, right.

Okay.

And isn't that kind of more like, it's more interesting because it's not just black and white.

He's like, exhibits some traits that you think, "Okay, he's not horrible, but he does some pretty horrible things."

So, I like him.

He's a lot of fun to write.

-Yeah.

That had to be fun.

That had to be fun.

Do you have a favorite character?

-Oh, gosh.

No.

Well, it's funny, when I wrote Repo Girl, I thought it was gonna be a standalone book.

And then I had this idea about the book I'm working on now.

But I just thought, well, this'll be standalone, but I'm so glad it's turned into a series because I'm not quite ready to let go the characters.

-Yeah.

Well, and I'm not ready to let go of them either.

We're gonna talk about that because I think we'll be having a vote, at least with us, is a number three coming along.

-Yeah.

-But, let's pivot a little bit to Crazy For You .

-Okay.

-And, what a wonderful, again, a romantic-mystery story that is really two stories in one, which was fascinating to read the parallel of that.

So, walk us through what it was like to craft a story like that, which was kind of different with the pirates and stuff.

-Yeah.

So, I had this crazy idea that-- that I thought, wouldn't it be fun if somebody was like went into a book shop and bought a book and started reading it, and then, the things in the book started happening in their lives.

So, that was the idea behind Crazy For You .

And actually, I have another story that came out first that I'm gonna be writing.

So, I imagine this mystique books novel to be a collection.

So, that you don't have to read them in any order, but they're an adventure based on the book.

And maybe even based on the genre.

Like this is like a historical romance that my character picks up in this book, and it's a pirate romance.

And, she's like, "I don't want to read this."

She just broke up with her boyfriend.

And so, she starts reading and then people and places in the book start popping up in her reality.

-Okay.

So, she goes into this bookstore, and you have this eccentric woman who.

-Hmm-mm.

-She wants a mystery.

She wants something light.

She's just broken up.

She's in the Bahamas, and this woman picks up a book that she would never normally ever, ever read.

And so, she's reading, she picks it up, and she's like, "I'm not gonna read a pirate book."

-Right.

Right.

-You know, and so, then it becomes to be her life matching up the book.

And then we have, again, an amazing love interest.

And with a little military background, but he's hiding out.

-Right.

Right.

-So, how did that all play out?

-Yeah.

So, basically, she bumps into this guy.

She's reading this book about this pirate and this woman being swept away.

And something bad happens to her, and she gets drunk.

And she walks along the beach, and she finds this rustic bar, which I actually saw something like that in the Bahamas.

It was this like they pieced together the bar on the beach from pieces of driftwood or something.

So, but she goes, and she meets this incredibly cute guy, who's dressed like a pirate 'cause it's called the Pirate's Cove.

And, he ends up being ex-military and this-- -He's got his own whole story hiding out, right?

-Yes, yes.

-Which I didn't see coming.

-Oh, good.

-There was some-- there was some definite plot twist in there that I didn't see coming.

But I could see that place on the beach, again, your show versus tell.

-Yes.

Good.

Good.

-So, we get really interested in her whole story, too.

And the fact that she's this psychologist, and she's working.

That was a really interesting twist.

That's she's working with all of her patients, and you even got them a role in the book.

-Yes.

-So, we're not giving anything away but-- -Oh, not at all.

But it's fun because they-- it's just fun to bring together a cast of really interesting different characters.

And my idea was, behind it when I was writing it, I thought it'd be great if she has these people who are dealing with their own individual things.

And wouldn't it be cool if those things that are challenging for them in regular life become a strength for them towards the end of the book.

So, it was fun.

-And I see that.

You know.

And so, that was actually your plan from the beginning.

-Yes.

-To kind of make those faults and those missteps, and those things, you know.

'Cause I found myself cheering for them.

You know, and then found myself thinking, "I don't think you should do that."

As you're reading it, I'm like, "I don't-- I really don't think you should do that."

-This is a bad idea.

-Yeah.

I would not go there and do that.

I don't think that-- that's a little bit risky for me.

But it was so cool to kind of be reading two books at the same time.

Which is something that I haven't really seen done before because she's there reading this pirate novel, and you know, there's this parallel to what's happening in real life.

So, it's like we're reading that to find out what's gonna happen.

And then we're seeing what happens with them.

And then I love the fact that he even picked up the book to kind of thinking first it was silly that she didn't know, and then he's reading a section of it.

Like well, maybe this really is gonna happen to see what he should do.

-Right.

Right.

-How fun.

-It was fun.

Well, it was funny when I was doing the research for that, I was on Google and researching, one of her patients suffered from kleptomania.

And so, I was looking that up and getting details on the disease.

And all of a sudden, a pop-up screen came, and it says, hi, would you like to speak with Counselor Dan?

-[both laugh] -No, I'm a writer.

I write that all the time in my Google searches.

-Oh so, that's kinda where Dan-- that kinda came in.

Okay.

I get that.

And I really do feel that angst for him too.

-Oh, yes.

-So, that building of that character.

The time that you took to bring us into the world really was fascinating.

-Good.

-Thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed them.

-Oh, yay.

-Would you be willing to read something for us?

-Sure.

-Let's start with Repo Girl .

-Okay.

Yes.

Okay.

"Why did it have to be a church?

"Andrea Sloan already felt guilty "about taking the 1965 Canary yellow Mustang convertible "on their wedding day, "but stealing the car from a church?

"Sister Kathleen's stern face popped into her head.

"She cringed.

"Now was not the time for post-traumatic stress disorder "from her catholic education.

"Focus on the job.

"Even though she wasn't invited to the ceremony, "she'd learned over the last two weeks "that if she acted like she belonged, "she blended in much better.

"With the Mustang car key in her hand "and her purse slung over her shoulder, "she squared her shoulders and walked with purpose "across the parking lot.

"Right up to convertible parked at the curb "in front of the church.

"It was covered in white streamers and balloons "with 'Just Married" written in white glass chalk marker "across the trunk.

"And there were about a dozen empty beer cans "tied to the bumper.

"Great!

"This wasn't gonna be a quiet getaway.

"She took a deep breath and held it "as she opened the car door and sat down like it was her car, "waiting for something bad to happen.

"Nothing.

"No car alarm went off.

"No one came running and screaming at her "to get out of the car.

"No lightning strike from the heavens.

"Okay.

"It was gonna be all right.

"She breathed a sigh of relief, smiled, "and inserted the key into the ignition.

"The doors to the church flew open, "and all at once, 50 people poured out of the church, "tossing confetti at the bride and groom "as they were laughing and walking down the church steps.

"The groom looked at his precious car "and saw a woman he didn't know in the driver's seat.

"'Who the hell are--?'

"Was all Andi heard him yell before she turned the key "and the roar of the engine "drowned out the rest of his question.

"'Congratulations!'

"Andi yelled at them as she bit her lower lip "and pressed down on the accelerator, "speeding away from the church, cans rattling behind her.

"Thank goodness this car had good pickup.

"She took a quick glance in the rear-view mirror "and saw the groom who was running after her, "now, two blocks away.

"He couldn't outrun the car's V8 engine.

"She made a right onto Elm Street "and saw a large woman wearing white capri pants "and a bright orange top who grinned and yelled, "'You go, runaway bride!

"You don't need no man to make you happy.'

"Andi smiled and waved at her.

"She agreed completely.

"She merged onto I-581 where cars honked at her "and people waved at her.

"She just smiled and cranked up the stereo, singing along to a song on the radio."

-Oh!

And you know, again, that show/tell, we can picture her getting in that car with everything trailing behind it and taking off, right?

And being the spoiler for that particular wedding.

-Yes.

For sure.

-You know, and the adventures that you have her taking these cars.

I love the fact that whether it's this one at a wedding or it's the corporate one that people think she's stealing, or it's the runaway ice scream truck.

-Right.

-[both laugh] -How fun for people to get that.

And I think that's another beautiful thing about the books is not only are they fun and they move fast, but there's different adventures that are happening.

So wonderful.

Thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thank you so much.

It's been so fun to have you here on the show.

I really appreciate it.

Special thanks to Jane Fenton for inviting us to her beautiful home here in Ferrum, and for sharing her wonderful books, Repo Girl, Repo Girl Christmas , and Crazy For You .

Great characters and if you can't decide which one you wanna pick, choose all three.

You won't be disappointed.

Please check out more of our conversation online 'cause we're gonna dig a little deeper into Andi and her friends, and also into Kate and Garrett for Crazy For You .

And we're gonna find out what Jane has planned next.

Please tell your friends about us.

Check out that conversation online.

I'm Rose Martin, and I'll see you next time Write Around The Corner .

[♪♪♪] -♪ Every day every day Every day every day every day ♪ ♪ Every day I write the book ♪ ♪ Every day every day Every day ♪ ♪ Every day I write the book ♪ ♪ Every day every day Every day ♪ ♪ Every day I write the book ♪