Q & A with T. N. Jenkins
Q: What is your book, Everhome: Birth of the Gilded Hand, about?
It's about how one person, talentless as they may be, can make a difference in the world. It's also about the journey of making friends while becoming an individual. There's something magical about the process of growing up. In this world, there are many voices, but we all have to make our own decisions, sometimes despite what our friends say.
Q: Why should we care about this book?
1. So many people feel helpless because of financial setbacks and the troubled economic climate. But, like the main character, I discovered during my own lull in life, that I do have an impact on the world. I found the inspiration to go from searching for purpose to affecting change.
2. You can find courage to do what you know is right and to do it the right way. Sometimes we think life is about power and harnessing genius, but life is about relationships. Even so, not all of your friends will give you good advice. Ultimately, you make the decisions in your life, and the consequences of what you do can affect so many people, even those you love most. Especially in desperate times, it is important to take charge of your life and to live it right.
3. The style of Everhome is quick, action-packed, and engaging. Readers have already said that they can't put it down. That alone makes it a book worth reading.
Q: What author do you pattern your work after, if any?
I don't think that I pattern my work after any author in particular. I just write what I like to read. I do like C.S. Lewis's style of writing in his non-fiction. It's very pointed and earnest, so I suppose that has influenced me. People who have enjoyed my book are also readers of Tom Clancy, James Patterson, and Agatha Christie, but I don't think I write like either of those people.
Q: When did you first know that you had a gift for writing and creativity and how did that manifest through the years?
I've known that I was good at English for a long time, but I never really considered writing to be a gift. Writing is hard work, and my schooling gave me lots of skills and practice to perfect my work. I did well in English in school, so my grades were the markers of my success.
What I do consider to be gifts are my love of words and my creativity. My mother was introduced to my creativity when, as a young child, I broke into her makeup and repainted my white dresser with it. I was introduced to my creativity and love of words when I was sent to time-out in my room. Once I wrote a poem about time passing slowly. On other occasions, I would make up songs and play on my sister's toy xylophone.
Q: What was it like to live in South Korea?
As a foreigner of any kind, you tend to stick out. As a Black female, I found that people were more curious than anything else. Did people believe me when I told them I was from America? Some adults did. But their first guesses were Africa or Indonesia. One Korean even asked if I was from Germany. The kids were harder to convince. They refused to believe I was not from Africa. *Sigh*
Did people stop me on the street to touch my skin or hair? Yes. And that happened throughout the whole two years I was there!
The food was good: spicy and so fresh it was still moving, literally. The culture was interesting, and I felt safe walking anywhere at anytime of night or day. There's so much I learned about myself and that part of the world, since I was able to travel to Guam, Taiwan, Japan, and Thailand too! It was a great experience.
It's about how one person, talentless as they may be, can make a difference in the world. It's also about the journey of making friends while becoming an individual. There's something magical about the process of growing up. In this world, there are many voices, but we all have to make our own decisions, sometimes despite what our friends say.
Q: Why should we care about this book?
1. So many people feel helpless because of financial setbacks and the troubled economic climate. But, like the main character, I discovered during my own lull in life, that I do have an impact on the world. I found the inspiration to go from searching for purpose to affecting change.
2. You can find courage to do what you know is right and to do it the right way. Sometimes we think life is about power and harnessing genius, but life is about relationships. Even so, not all of your friends will give you good advice. Ultimately, you make the decisions in your life, and the consequences of what you do can affect so many people, even those you love most. Especially in desperate times, it is important to take charge of your life and to live it right.
3. The style of Everhome is quick, action-packed, and engaging. Readers have already said that they can't put it down. That alone makes it a book worth reading.
Q: What author do you pattern your work after, if any?
I don't think that I pattern my work after any author in particular. I just write what I like to read. I do like C.S. Lewis's style of writing in his non-fiction. It's very pointed and earnest, so I suppose that has influenced me. People who have enjoyed my book are also readers of Tom Clancy, James Patterson, and Agatha Christie, but I don't think I write like either of those people.
Q: When did you first know that you had a gift for writing and creativity and how did that manifest through the years?
I've known that I was good at English for a long time, but I never really considered writing to be a gift. Writing is hard work, and my schooling gave me lots of skills and practice to perfect my work. I did well in English in school, so my grades were the markers of my success.
What I do consider to be gifts are my love of words and my creativity. My mother was introduced to my creativity when, as a young child, I broke into her makeup and repainted my white dresser with it. I was introduced to my creativity and love of words when I was sent to time-out in my room. Once I wrote a poem about time passing slowly. On other occasions, I would make up songs and play on my sister's toy xylophone.
Q: What was it like to live in South Korea?
As a foreigner of any kind, you tend to stick out. As a Black female, I found that people were more curious than anything else. Did people believe me when I told them I was from America? Some adults did. But their first guesses were Africa or Indonesia. One Korean even asked if I was from Germany. The kids were harder to convince. They refused to believe I was not from Africa. *Sigh*
Did people stop me on the street to touch my skin or hair? Yes. And that happened throughout the whole two years I was there!
The food was good: spicy and so fresh it was still moving, literally. The culture was interesting, and I felt safe walking anywhere at anytime of night or day. There's so much I learned about myself and that part of the world, since I was able to travel to Guam, Taiwan, Japan, and Thailand too! It was a great experience.
Publicity Inquiries for Everhome: Birth of the Gilded Hand:
For U.S. queries please contact T.N. Jenkins at tn.jenkins@truestorypress.com
For U.S. queries please contact T.N. Jenkins at tn.jenkins@truestorypress.com
T. N. Jenkins Author Press Kit
Published Books:
Everhome: Birth of the Gilded Hand
Poverty, loneliness, greed... If you could solve all the problems in the world, would you survive the solution?
When a talentless amnesiac wakes up in a pile of leaves, she follows a trail of clues home. But she must survive the vengeful wilderness of Everhome and an army of zealots who will stop at nothing to prevent her from opening a mysterious blue door.
Author: T. N. Jenkins
Publisher: True Story Press
Praise and Reviews:
"A real joy to read. The characters are endearing and well written. There are some great twists in the story that really keep the readers attention." ~Hampton Reviews
"I loved the concepts and characters this author has created. I can't wait for the next installment. I was even wishing for a prequel." ~Victorineisme, Amazon.com (starred review)
"Your book is AMAZING" ~Femi A., Facebook (reader comment)
"Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!" ~Stephanie M. (teen reader)
Poverty, loneliness, greed... If you could solve all the problems in the world, would you survive the solution?
When a talentless amnesiac wakes up in a pile of leaves, she follows a trail of clues home. But she must survive the vengeful wilderness of Everhome and an army of zealots who will stop at nothing to prevent her from opening a mysterious blue door.
Author: T. N. Jenkins
Publisher: True Story Press
- Ebook Retail:
$8.00
Page Count: 375
Publication Date: 11/15/2010
ISBN: 978-0-9831132-0-1 (ebook)
Paperback Retail: $11.55
Page Count: 376
Publication date: 1/17/2011
ISBN: 978-0-9831132-2-5 (paperback)
Praise and Reviews:
"A real joy to read. The characters are endearing and well written. There are some great twists in the story that really keep the readers attention." ~Hampton Reviews
"I loved the concepts and characters this author has created. I can't wait for the next installment. I was even wishing for a prequel." ~Victorineisme, Amazon.com (starred review)
"Your book is AMAZING" ~Femi A., Facebook (reader comment)
"Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!" ~Stephanie M. (teen reader)
Author Bio:
T.
N. Jenkins is a former expat (ex-expat, if you will) and author of the budding Everhome
Book Series.
Jenkins was born in Oklahoma and is, therefore, a lover of musicals. Early on, her "creativity" awarded her frequent visits to the time-out corner where she first began to write poems and imagine.
After college, Jenkins wrote through her unemployment and then moved to South Korea to work. She traveled Asia, visiting Guam, Taiwan, Japan, and Thailand.
A graduate of the University of North Texas, Jenkins has been writing ever since she could hold a pencil straight. From a young age, she has been a creative writer, public speaker, and visual artist. During her youth, she traveled through Southern USA as the daughter of an army veteran. Among other things, Jenkins is an avid salsa dancer, movie-watcher, and indie filmmaker. She currently lives in Houston, Texas with her family, still feeding her desire to influence the world through storytelling.
Jenkins was born in Oklahoma and is, therefore, a lover of musicals. Early on, her "creativity" awarded her frequent visits to the time-out corner where she first began to write poems and imagine.
After college, Jenkins wrote through her unemployment and then moved to South Korea to work. She traveled Asia, visiting Guam, Taiwan, Japan, and Thailand.
A graduate of the University of North Texas, Jenkins has been writing ever since she could hold a pencil straight. From a young age, she has been a creative writer, public speaker, and visual artist. During her youth, she traveled through Southern USA as the daughter of an army veteran. Among other things, Jenkins is an avid salsa dancer, movie-watcher, and indie filmmaker. She currently lives in Houston, Texas with her family, still feeding her desire to influence the world through storytelling.
Media contact info:
For questions or interview requests, contact
T. N. Jenkins, Author
[email protected]
For questions or interview requests, contact
T. N. Jenkins, Author
[email protected]
