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Author Spotlight Saturday ~ Meet Marianne Jones + Giveaway!


This week I am excited to introduce everyone to Marianne Jones. Marianne is a Canadian children's author with a few titles written. This is the first time Marianne has been on Genuine Jenn, welcome Marianne! 


Tell us a little bit about your book(s) and yourself. 

I’m a wife, mother and grandmother of two darling wee girls. I’m also a retired teacher and children’s choir director, an actor, playwright and director. I’ve written a collection of poetry, called Here, on the Ground, which was a winner in The Word Guild’s 2011 Writing Awards, The Land of Mogan, a fantasy novel for young readers, The Serenity Stone Murder, a  mystery set in Thunder Bay, and Great-Grandma’s Gifts,  my first picture book, which I wrote for my grandchildren about my Mom, who passed away at Easter.  

When was your first book published? 

I self-published The Land of Mogan in 1998. I used to read it to my grade four students. It’s great fun when they come up to me as young adults now and remind me of that. It’s nice to know that is one of their pleasant memories of elementary school. 

Are you currently working on anything? 

I am working on several books, but the main one is tentatively called The Girl Who Wouldn’t Die. It’s an as-told-to account from a survivor of horrific abuse, who is now a speaker for the Canadian Mental Health Association. It’s amazing how much she went through, and inspiring to see how she has triumphed over it all. 

Why did you decide to become an Author? 

When I was ten or eleven (I think.) I loved reading, and devoured books voraciously. I also wrote poetry, and spent considerable thought over crafting them and trying to choose the exact right words. One day it occurred to me in one of those “moments of truth” that I wanted to spend my life creating the things that gave me so much joy. From that moment, I knew my path. 

Who and what inspired you to write? 

The magic of books themselves inspired me, and my own love of words, their beauty and what they could do. But that love was nurtured by my mother, who also loved to read and was very happy that I had chosen writing as my vocation. 

When you are writing to you like to listen to music? What is on your playlist? 

I actually don’t. I love music, but it distracts me. I’m likely to start singing along! I need quiet and solitude to concentrate. I love Paul Simon, and all the classics from the 60s. I don’t keep current. 

Who is your favorite character in your books? 

That’s hard to answer. Each book is like a good friend. Why play favourites among your friends? But I like Emily in Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery. 

Do you ever take characteristics or nuances from close friends or family when working on character development and if so has that friend or family member noticed and what was their response to it? 

In The Serenity Stone Murder, the protagonist has a personality similar to mine. The other characters don’t particularly remind me of anyone I know. In a novel I’m working on, the characters do bear some resemblance to certain family members, but I don’t think they’ll mind. I guess I’ll find out! 

What is your favorite book of all time? 

The Idiot, by Doestoevsky. I love everything of his. 

Tell us in one sentence why we should read your books. 

My writing is lively and humorous,  very accessible, with underlying meaning and love. 

List your books that are available. 

Here, on the Ground, The Land of Mogan, Great-Grandma’s Gifts, and The Serenity Stone Murder. 

Where can people connect with you? 


Giveaway Time! Marianne would like to offer one lucky Genuine Jenn reader a Great-Grandma's Gift prize pack! 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

10 comments:

  1. hello, it was nice to learn about you above.

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    1. Thank you tanya! Sorry to be so slow in responding. I haven't been checking these blogs for some time (obviously.) It's so good to know you enjoyed it.

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  2. Hi! I can't wait to read your books! You have an interesting variety of writing genres. I live in T.Bay, so it will be very interesting to recognize local landmarks in your book, Serenity Stone Murder.
    Of course, my favourite time will be reading Great-Grandma's Gifts to my grand-daughter.
    :o)

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    1. Hi pippirose! Another Thunder Bayite! Yay! Thank you for your interest.I hope your granddaughter enjoyed Great-Grandma's Gifts. I hope we meet sometime.

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  3. Hi, what's your favourite book to read to your grandchildren?

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    1. Hi Kayla,
      At this point, whatever my grandchildren pick! They are one and a half and three and a half. They have stacks and stacks of books, and are very strong-minded about what they want to hear. I look forward to the day I will be able to read fairy tales to them.

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  4. Looking forward to reading one of your stories to my three year old :)

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    1. Thank you, Cheryl! My older granddaughter is three and a half. She likes Great-Grandma's Gifts, and I have a sequel to that, Where is Peachy Keen? slated to be published this spring. I hope your three-year-old enjoys the stories.

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  5. Anonymous9:28 AM

    Didn't know about you before. I'd love to read your book aloud to my future children

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    1. Thank you so much! I loved reading to my children, and now my daughter loves reading to hers. What a gift to give your children--the memories of storytime and the lifelong love of reading!

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