As a mom of three, Jennifer Osborn is no stranger to dealing with stress and juggling multiple tasks and projects at the same time. She’s a successful mom blogger and just released her first horror collection, Intrusive Thoughts And Other Dark & Unusual Tales, in October last year. This collection combines the psychological, the graphic, and the bizarre that packs a gut punch to all those who dare to pick it up!
Today, I’ve sat down with Jennifer to talk about how she balances being a mom, a blogger, and a writer.
Q: Who has been your biggest supporter(s) throughout your writing career?
A: My husband, Ryan, has been very supportive of my writing over the past few years. He encourages me to make the time and is proud of me for chasing the dream. My best friend, Jen, has also been one of my biggest supporters…she usually gets the messy rough drafts before they’re even finished. There are also many in the writing community who have shown their support through sharing advice and sharing my work.
Q: Where do you draw inspiration from in your work?
A: Honestly, inspiration is everywhere. I have a vivid imagination and a photographic memory…I’ll get an idea for something and just start writing. Admittedly, I’m a pantser and often I don’t even know where the story is going until it unfolds in front of me. I love when all the pieces start to come together. I also love challenging myself by exploring a range of tropes and characters. Sometimes, I’m inspired by the things that scare me, other times I’m eager to delve into the things that frighten others.
Q: What does it mean to you to be an author?
A: Being a published author is something I’ve wanted since childhood. I put it off for entirely too long, but I also believe that everything happens in its own perfect timing and where I’m at in this stage of life feels right. I’m incredibly proud of myself for making the time and following through, and I think that’s the most special part of being an author…it feels like a huge personal accomplishment and has shown me that I’m capable of doing hard things when I set my mind to it.
Q: What is your writing process like? Do you listen to certain music, snack, make loads of phone notes when inspiration randomly strikes, etc.?
A: Like most things, it completely depends on my mood that day. Some nights, I listen to music and other nights, I enjoy the quiet and the soft ticking of the clock. I usually don’t have a snack, but sometimes I’ll have a drink. One night it might be hot tea, other nights it might be beer or bourbon; once it was coffee. I do have my phone on me almost all of the time, so typing up notes or small segments of the story in an email draft to myself has proven really helpful.
Q: Is there a genre or subgenre that you want to explore that you haven’t yet? Conversely, are there any that you’ll never write?
A: Outside of horror, I also write non-fiction parenting. In 2017, I started writing a mom blog and it has amassed a relatively large following. After I finish my current work in progress, I plan to finish a book in that genre because I keep bumping it for my horror projects. Ha, I find both genres very rewarding for different reasons. As far as a genre I never see myself writing? Romance.
Q: What has been the hardest part of your career as an author so far?
A: I wouldn’t say anything has been notably difficult…I’ve enjoyed each part of the journey and I’m always learning something new, whether through asking questions or trial and error. My goal was always a personal one, to follow through and publish a book. In October of last year, I accomplished that. Everything beyond that has been a bonus.
Q: What do you consider to be your greatest strength and weakness as an author?
A: Good question…my greatest strength might be my positive attitude. It’s in my nature to ebb and flow, to be flexible, to pivot when necessary, to take mental notes and make adjustments as needed, both in my writing and life in general. At times, I thrive under pressure, and my superpower is handling stress that would cripple most. I’m a supportive friend and love seeing others crushing their writing goals. I think that goes a long way in this industry. My weakness? Public speaking? I love doing written interviews like this, but I will politely decline any and every invitation to be on podcasts, phone calls, or face to face interviews.
Q: Who is on your radar as someone you’d love to work with?
A: Crystal Lake Entertainment and DarkLit Press both seem like great publishers who are incredibly supportive of their authors and excellent at promotion.
Q: At some point in our lives, we’ve all heard the negative comments: “You’re not good enough.” “You’ll never make it.” “This is the worst thing I’ve ever seen.” “You don’t belong.” How do you move forward when faced with negativity?
A: Like I mentioned earlier, I started writing my mom blog in 2017, and, though few and far between, I’ve had my share of nasty, judgmental comments. I have a pretty thick skin, which I think is essential in this business. I’d be lying if I said some of the less than impressed reviews didn’t sting a little, but I remind myself that everyone likes different things. A one-star read for someone is a five-star favorite for someone else. As long as I’m putting out stories that I’m happy with, I trust they will find the audience they’re meant for. And anyone spewing hateful comments on a personal level, outside of constructive criticism to the writing itself, well, they’re probably just miserable, and I hope they find their own happiness.
Q: What advice would you give to women who are wanting to write, especially if it’s something others might perceive as “outside of the norm”?
A: My writing horror probably came out of left field to a lot of people. My day-to-day life is very G-rated and kid-oriented. I am a mom of three, a childcare provider, and my writing up to this point has been very wholesome. In the earliest days of tossing around the idea of dabbling in horror, I considered using a pen name. Ultimately, I decided that I wanted to see my own name on the cover of my books, and that I’d just own it. To the women wanting to write, especially if other might perceive it as out of the norm…I say, just go for it. Trust your gut. If you have a goal or a dream, don’t put it off. There will never be a perfect time, in fact, this is the busiest, loudest season of my life thus far. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks, their opinions are none of your business. Make time for doing the things that bring you joy. Be proud of yourself. Enjoy the journey.
I haven’t yet had the pleasure of reading Jennifer’s horror debut, but Intrusive Thoughts has been on my TBR since it first came out. The cover drew me in from the first moment I saw it, and I knew that I had to have it! I definitely think that it’s high time I take Jennifer’s advice and make the time so I quit sleeping on such an amazing author. If you’re like me and you haven’t read this gem yet, you can pick up a copy here! And if you’ve not been sleeping under a rock (like me) and are already a fan of Jenn’s work, keep an eye out for MORIBUND in June!
While waiting for this absolutely beautiful new release, have a read through Jenn’s favourite recent reads: “fantastically creepy” Mean Spirited by Nick Roberts and Damned to Hell by Mike Salt, who Jenn looks forward to reading more of. If you’re on Facebook, make sure to drop a like and follow to Jenn’s author page as well!
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