Interview with Jeanne McCann

Author of A Love Not Lost

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

I was born in Shelton Washington on the Olympic Peninsula but moved to Bellevue Washington when I was eight. I lived there until college at 17 and lived for over forty years in West Seattle Washington. When I retired at fifty-eight, my wife and I moved back to the Olympic Peninsula.

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

We really enjoy the water, hiking and spending time outdoors. Growing up in Hood Canal was a memory of skiing, swimming, fishing and the outdoors. We are now enjoying all of that again.

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

I have been writing since my early teens and had started several novels. When I was in my mid-thirties my mother became very ill and we created her bucket list. She had been an avid reader and wanted to make sure I finished my first full novel before she was gone. She put that on her bucket list. I finished my novel that Christmas and published it with a dedication to her. She passed away the following March.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

My books are happy ending romances for primarily a lesbian audience. They are a quick, enjoyable rad that makes you smile and believe in romance and love.

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

Primarily people who are open to lesbian relationships and like romantic stories. Happy endings appeal to a wide group of people and that would be who I would hope to connect with.

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

It is very difficult to write a book and publishing has changed dramatically. I was one of the first lesbian authors to publish with IUniverse. What I have learned is that good editing is very hard to find and very much needed. Even after going through many rounds of editing I still find lots of issues after publishing. This is apparent in not only my books but many others that I read. Beyond the issues of writing and publishing I really find it inspiring that anyone can write and publish about anything. The quality and the quantity of stories available is growing exponentially and I find that encouraging. I love to find a good book to read.

If you could, what advice would you give to past self yourself before embarking on this journey?

Just write – you don’t have to expect to publish but just putting words to paper, computer or other media is cathartic and wonderfully satisfying. Keep a journal, take notes, dream stories – what ever it takes to create. Share your work with friends, a writing club, and family. Writing is like any activity, the more you do it the better you get. Don’t critique your work before you finish a story. Let it flow first and then correct and format.

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

If I connect with one reader and create hope about having their own happy ending, I am satisfied. I received one e-mail from a reader that she found the courage to come out to her family and embark on her own happy ending. That made the years of writing worthwhile.

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

I have over twenty works in a drawer that could be published. It takes work to get the ready for editing/published. I am hoping to complete my tenth published work next year.

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

I have absolutely no shortage of stories to write, the only thing holding me back is time to do it. Published can be time consuming and costly but with the many publishing opportunities available it is a fairly efficient process. Marketing is where I have fallen down. It is difficult for me to do book signings and other public events. Marketing can be purchased from many different sources and will enhance the sales of published works.

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

Marketing is my biggest weakness. I am normally a shy person so self-promotion is very difficult. This is necessary if you want to sell more books but I have put very little effort to this area.

When do you think you will you write your next book?

I am always writing and as I stated I have over twenty works in the hopper. I do have a two book series I am working on that has captured most of my efforts right now. I hope to have them finished and published by this time next year.

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

I am self-published at this point with the first nine. I will probably continue with this route.