SIT DOWN WITH JENNIFER DODRILL

 by Patricia Bradley

Good morning! I don't know where you are, but here in Northeast Mississippi, we are having a lovely spring! 

Today I want to introduce you to Jennifer Dodrill. I've known Jen for...a while now. She writes clean fiction, including cozy mysteries, women's fiction, and romantic suspense. Oh, and she's giving away a copy of No Egrets! Just leave a comment to be entered in the drawing. Without further ado, hereeeees Jen.

Jen Dodrill, retired Navy wife and homeschool mom, is living out her dreams on the pages of her books, bringing readers compelling stories of inspiration and hope for good times and bad.

Her family-focused novels depict her values of cooperation, connection, compassion, and community, demonstrating the importance of helping one another brave the waves of the world together. 

As a mother of five, family life and travels have left her with decades of stories to tell, and she cherishes the time she has now to tell them, in between her honored role as Grandma, her passion for reading, and her adoration of all things coffee.

Patricia: How did you get your start writing fiction and what genre do you predominantly write in?

Jen: I started writing years ago, but I never finished anything. This was way before the internet and computers. In 2021, I decided to be intentional and began attending conferences and writing and learning. My first books were cozy mysteries, but I also write romantic suspense, and women’s fiction.

Patricia: What has being published taught you?

Jen: Being published is this wild ride. It’s everything, and then there’s more to do. I love it! But it’s hard work.

Patricia: Absolutely!

What is your favorite part about writing. Least favorite.

I’d rather edit my work than actual write it. Least favorite – waiting on a yes (or no).

Patricia: Me, too!

Patricia: Panster or Plotter?

I’m definitely a panster. I’ve tried plotting, and even thought maybe I could be a plantser! But so far, it’s not working.

Patricia: Goodness! We are so much alike.

Does writing energize or exhaust you? 

Jen: Sometimes a bit of both, but I’m always energized when I have cool ideas.

Patricia: What have you researched that makes you think the FBI might be interested in you?

Too funny! I love this question. Since I write mysteries, I’ve researched how to kill people. I’ve looked at how to use mountain laurel to poison/kill someone for my last romantic suspense.

Patricia: Remind me not to drink any of your teas...

Would you tell us about your last Cozy Mystery book release No Egrets?

Jen: No Egrets is book #3 in my Empty Nesters Cozy Mystery series. The whole series is set in Pensacola, and unlike many cozies, each book leads to the next. The basic murder in each is solved, but there’s an overarching issue too that concludes in No Egrets. 

Patricia: What would you like readers to know about your story/characters? 

I’m committed to writing clean fiction – clean enough that my grandkids could read it any time. My characters are 45+ years old. I love to show hope and encouragement in the 2nd half of life.

Patricia: I love that your heros and heroines are a little older!

Would you share with us what you are working on now?

Jen: My first women’s fiction, Finding Ginny, released April 7th. I’m so excited about that! Then, I will be working on a new cozy series called Sunnyside Sleuths. 

Patricia: I loved Finding Ginny! And I'm excited about your new cozy series, although I'll miss the Empty Nesters!

What is the most valuable piece of advice you’d like to give to unpublished authors? 

Jen: Find other authors to talk to and learn from. Never stop learning. Find a good critique group. Okay, that’s 3 valuable pieces! 😉

Patricia: What’s next from you? 

Jen: After Finding Ginny releases, I’ll work on Sunnyside Scandals, book #1 in the Sunnyside Sleuths series. I also have another romantic suspense that releases in October, Bedlam in Bridal Falls. It’s the 2nd book in the Second Chances: Romance and Mysteries series.

Here's the cover and back cover copy for No Egrets:

Life in Stone Creek Cove is supposed to be peaceful—sunny Florida days, friendly neighbors, and a rookery of beloved egrets nesting near the creek. So when the birds vanish overnight, Peg Howard expects nothing more than a little small-town drama.

She doesn’t expect to find a body.

Volunteered to help search for the missing egrets, Peg teams up with her mother-in-law, Hazel, and quickly discovers that Stone Creek Cove has more secrets than birdwatchers. Rumors spread, tempers flare, and what started as a harmless mystery turns into a full-blown murder investigation.

Already juggling a doting grandmother role, a mischievous new puppy, and two very different men competing for her attention, Peg has no desire to become an amateur sleuth. But when cryptic clues and thinly veiled threats suggest someone wants the truth buried, Peg knows walking away isn’t an option.

As Peg and Hazel dig deeper, they uncover shady deals, long-held grudges, and motives hiding behind polite smiles. And in a town where everyone knows everyone, the killer could be closer than Peg ever imagined.

You can learn more about Jen Dodrill at her website, Jen Dodrill Writes, and check out her other books!

Don't forget to leave a comment and your contact information to be entered in a drawing for NO EGRETS! The winner will be announced next month!

The winner of one of Elizabeth Goddard's books from last month is...Heather!