Interview with Jayne Self

Which of your books was your favorite to write? Why?

I think I’m best suited to writing mysteries, and my favourite is always the one in progress. There’s still so much to discover, twists to unravel, and secrets to expose. I love unearthing my characters’ secrets. The anticipation keeps me awake at night. I love it!

That being said, I had a blast writing my two Seaglass Mysteries. Written at the seashore, about the seashore. I even had a reading on the beach. Wonderful.

Which of your characters was/is your favorite? Why?

At this point in my career, I think my favourite character remains the hero of a yet-to-be-published series. He’s Dean Constable, a former police detective turned crime-solving pastor. Dean is a man haunted by his past, but through situations he confronts in each book his wounds are healing and his faith is growing. He has a ridiculous dog, an off-beat sense of humour, and he’s falling in love with a woman from his past. For me, a character doesn’t get more fun than that.  

What is your favorite theme to write about?

Whether intentional or not, I find myself returning to the theme of belonging. Perhaps because, as someone adopted, belonging is my own issue. I can explore it safely through my characters and learn about myself. That I keep returning to this theme tells me I have much to learn.

What made you decide to become a writer?

I have always dreamed of writing stories. Ever since childhood I’ve entertained myself imagining ‘what if’ scenarios. For a time, I set that aside. I locked my imagination away because I thought it was somehow sinful. But eventually I returned to it, older, wiser (I hope) and more able to see it as a God-given blessing. Around 1999, I decided to try putting my thoughts onto paper, and my passion for words was unleashed.

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

Learn the craft. Craft takes time. When I started writing I didn’t even know there was such a thing as writers’ craft. I though you only needed a good story. Over the years, and through lots of hard work, I’ve discovered that good story is not enough. Without good craftsmanship, a story will never reach the people God longs to influence. So, take the time needed to do it right.

God has given us His best and we should never be seduced into to giving Him anything less that ours.

Murder In Hum Harbour: A Seaglass Mystery: Jayne E. Self ...

www.amazon.com

Murder In Hum Harbour: A Seaglass Mystery [Jayne E. Self] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. There's a sleuth on the loose Part-time medical receptionist, part-time jewelry crafter, Gailynn MacDonald thinks she knows everything about everyone in Hum Harbour

Death Of A Highland Heavyweight: Jayne E. Self ... www.amazon.com Death Of A Highland Heavyweight [Jayne E. Self] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Murder, chaos, teen angst, missing frog figurines, wedding preparations.

Interview and Book Giveaway with Jayne Self

by Jeff Reynolds

Ladies and gentlemen, book giveaways are nothing new on this blog. But this is my first one. The author I'm privileged to give a book from is Jayne Self, author of Harbourlight's Seaglass Mysteries, where one lucky (or should I say blessed) reader will receive one of the two installments. Rules for the giveaway are at the bottom of the interview.

Jeff Reynolds: Welcome to Sleuths and Supsects, Jayne. What is seaglass? Is it what a pirate looks out of to see if there's a ship coming? Do you have personal experience with seaglass?

Jayne Self: Hi Jeff, Thank you for inviting me here today. I’m always delighted to talk about mysteries and seaglass.

Seaglass are the bits of wave-battered, colored glass that wash up on sea shore. It’s something I collect every summer as at our Nova Scotia cottage, and Gailynn, the heroine of my mysteries, crafts seaglass into one-of-a-kind jewelry.

f JR:  Which leads to the obvious point. You have written two mysteries, and one lucky reader will win their choice. So they'll know which one they want, can you give us a description of both books?

JS:  Set in the fictional Nova Scotian fishing community, Hum Harbour, part-time jewelry crafter part-time medical receptionist Gailynn MacDonald is a small town girl who hates change. But changes abound as murder and romance turn Gailynn’s world upside down. In Murder in Hum Harbour, Gai’s employer is murdered the eve of his retirement. In Death of a Highland Heavyweight, the local hero and international highlands heavyweight champ (think big men in kilts throwing telephone poles) dies suddenly and suspiciously. In both cases Gai is first to find the body but her involvement never ends there. Gai is quirky, impulsive and perhaps a bit too inquisitive for her own good—which makes for calamities, misunderstandings, and lots of fun.

JR: I've had the honor of reading the first book. Would you describe your writing more as a mystery with some romance, or a romance with a mystery?

JS: Mystery with a touch of romance. In both books the main plot and character development revolve around solving the murder. The romance is a subplot, or byproduct of that activity.

JR:  This story is written in the first person. I thought of rewriting my first mystery in that perspective, but I have various things like a different character being in a high speed car chase and a third character sitting in a friend's kitchen with said friend pointing a gun at her, neither of which would work in the first person. What were the benefits and liabilities for you using this technique?

JS:  Writing in first person definitely has its limitations since all information must be filtered through my main character, Gailynn. It means some plot possibilities simply don’t work. However, I love the misdirection an unreliable narrator like Gailynn lends a cozy mystery. And I enjoy the challenge of planting clues only she can understand—or misunderstand. For me, that’s a big part of the fun.

JR:  What mystery writers do you consider inspirations for your writing? Any authors of other genres do you enjoy reading as well?

JS:  Interestingly, my favorite authors write historical fiction. Elizabeth Peters in her Amelia Peabody Series has created what I consider the ultimate unreliable narrator. Daine Gabaldon’s Outlander Series, and Dorothy Dunnett’s Lymond Chronicles are also favorites. For mysteries, right now I’m gobbling up anything by Louise Penny (Inspector Gamache) and Donna Leon (Commissario Guido Brunetti)

The common denominator is these authors have created engaging characters and a very strong sense of place, which I’ve striven to achieve in my mysteries as well.

JR:  One important question in Christian writing is the faith element, and especially the balance from being too preachy and coming across so saccharin that it is only a toned down story that won't offend anybody. How do you accomplish that?

JS: My first goal is to create an entertaining mystery that does not compromise my personal values. (I won’t write anything that I’d be embarrassed to read out loud, in public.) I strive to keep any Christian content organic to the story—it must flow authentically from the characters. I want to show readers (both Christian and non-Christian) that a relationship with Jesus is no guarantee of a trouble-free life. Instead, He is the strength that sustains believers through times of trouble. I want to show growing faith. And although each book ends with the mystery solved, I don’t tie every issue up in a lovely bow because life just isn’t like that.

JR:  Thank you for your time, and may you have a blessed and Merry Christmas. (I usually try to have a Joseph Christmas instead of a Merry one.)

JS: Thank you, Jeff. It’s been a delight. May you enjoy a blessed holiday season as well.

You can learn more by going to Jayne Self's Webpage and check out her blog, Where Faith and Mystery Converge.

Now for the giveaway. There are four parts to be entered in this giveaway. Ready? Here they are:

1. Leave a comment. Otherwise, it would be hard to know you've been here!
2. Sign up to follow this blog and receive posts via e-mail. (And Heidi, Deb, and Jackie, you all are elgible.)
3. Pass along your e-mail address. That would come in handy to notify the winner.
4. Let us know if you would prefer Murder in Hum Harbour or Death of a Highland Heavyweight and why. I know, I'm being a scrooge, but you need to make a decision and choose one!

I'll pick a winner on Christmas Day and will notify you of who the winner is.

 *The authors of this blog are Amazon.com affiliates. Sometimes, we will include links in our blog posts. When visitors to this site purchase items from Amazon.com using links in our posts, the authors of this blog earn a percentage of the sales.