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.
.jpg "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. ;)
.jpg "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
