Thursday, June 19, 2025

Interview with Jen Dodrill

Author bio:

Jen Dodrill 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. 

Her first book, Birds Alive! An Empty-nesters Cozy Mystery was released in 2024. Book #2 in the series, Where’s the Quetzal, was released February 25, 2025. Book #3, No Egrets, will be published in 2026. Jen has co-authored a novella collection, Trinity Sands Beach Club, with Deborah Sprinkle and Sharon H. Carpenter. It released June 17, 2025.

Author Jen Dodrill


Interview:

What is your latest release?

Trinity Sands Beach Club novella collection, the first in the Second Chances: Romance & Mysteries series, just came out June 17th! My writing friends Deborah Sprinkle, Sharon Carpenter, and I got together and “invented” an island just off the coast of Destin, Florida – Trinity Sands Island. Then, we each wrote a romantic suspense novella set on the island.

We had a lot of fun. We all live within 30 minutes of each other, so occasionally we met for lunch (more like 4-hour visits!), but usually we Zoomed. We critiqued each other's work and worked out details involving characters we all had in common – the grocery store owner, the police, and the lady who cleaned. Those little details matter to readers, and they mattered to us.

What’s really exciting to me is that our characters are all women and men of a certain age, 50+. We need more books written with older characters!

This was my first novella collection, but we’ve received the green light to write another one. It is scheduled for release in the fall of 2026, so be watching for Bedlam in Bridal Falls!

What do you enjoy most about writing books?

I love the creative aspect where I come up with an idea and then it morphs into a real book. That sounds like it’s easy, but it’s not. I love seeing God using my imagination in one part of the book, and then it ties into another part in a way I never saw coming.

Another favorite thing about writing books is meeting other writers and encouraging them. It’s such a reciprocal relationship!

Are you a pantser or a plotter?

Definitely a pantser. I tried plotting for my 3rd cozy mystery, and it just didn’t work out. I’ve listened to many plotters explain how to do it, and I understand that part. It just simply won’t work for me. I do use beat sheets to keep me on track of what should happen where. They’re very helpful, especially in the saggy middle part.

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

Seek out writers online or in your area. They don’t have to write the same thing as you do. Find some accountability with them, or even better, a critique group. Attend conferences – preferably in person. There is nothing like meeting other writers in person! You don’t have to start with the bigger, more expensive ones. Just look for some classes that will help you and dig in.

This spring, I was way behind on writing my 3rd cozy. I mean, way behind! For a bit over two weeks, I committed to writing 2k words a day, and I did it! I told my husband and my kids, and then I made it happen. Sometimes I had to go back to the computer after dinner, but it got done. What I’m saying is you truly have to write your book. ;)


Cover of Trinity Sands Beach Club, Houses Shown on Beach


Blurb: 

What do a widow, a newly divorced woman, and a retired professor of art history have in common?

They all came to Trinity Sands Island to find a simple life without any entanglements. But instead, they are each confronted with a mystery and another chance at romance. Will they be brave enough to face the possible dangers of solving a mystery and losing their hearts?

This collection includes three novellas:

“Trinity Sands Treasure Hunt” by Sharon Carpenter—Retired art professor Claire Anderson inherited all of her uncle’s worldly goods. Arriving at his Trinity Sands Beach Club bungalow, she faces the daunting task of sorting through the boxes and bags that he left behind.

When someone tries to break in and steal seemingly worthless items, Claire calls Chief of Security, Ben Hastings and sparks fly. Claire and Ben realize all is not as it seems when they set out to discover who is targeting the house.

In their search for answers, will the attraction between Claire and Ben deepen into real treasure?

“SeaBreeze Obsession” by Jen Dodrill—Newly single Karah Halyard returns to her beach cottage and starts “SeaBreeze Designs,” a business specializing in beach decor. But beneath the tentative peace of her life, unresolved feelings stir as she considers reconciling with her ex-husband, Gage, who is in town doing research. When a secret admirer confronts her on the beach, Karah defends herself and runs. That night, he’s found dead. As she and Gage face a murder investigation, they must confront their past and unravel the mystery of the real killer.

Can they solve the crime and reconcile their fractured relationship?

“Searching for Serenity” by Deborah Sprinkle—Grace Caldwell hasn’t been to their beach house since her husband passed away three years ago. Her grief has kept her from moving forward with her life. But, when a letter arrives from her friend, Serenity James, saying something strange is going on at the Beach Club, Grace decides it’s time to head south. However, when she arrives, Serenity has disappeared, and no one knows where she is. Detective Peter Young gets involved and, as Grace and he work together, a mutual attraction blossoms—one that takes Grace by surprise.

Will Grace find love again while solving the mystery behind Serenity’s disappearance?

Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Trinity-Sands-Beach-Club-Dodrill-ebook/dp/B0F89NL3CT/ref=sr_1_1

Social media links:

For more information about Jen, her books, writing tips, and author interviews, check out her blog: https://jendodrillwrites.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jendodrillwrites/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenDodrillWrites

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jen-Dodrill/author/B0CSDW3CHR

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/47887511.Jen_Dodrill

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jen-dodrill