ABOUT THE BOOK
1952 – a small Kentish village seemingly little affected by the war years. Eleven-year-old Josie, mute from birth and who communicates through her writing, is on the verge of puberty and life in the wider world. It is a time of childhood innocence. She and her twin brother, Mitch, are thrilled when an American teacher arrives at their village school, suspecting him of being their long-lost father. Together with their two best friends they set about collecting evidence for their suspicions but soon find themselves embroiled in deeper, darker secrets which land Josie in a life-threatening situation. As childhood recedes and mature thought begins to surface, Josie, who tells the tale, realizes that she is not the only one who has been unable to speak.BOOK DETAILS:
Title: The Silence of Knowing
Author’s name: Jenny Jackson
Genre: Historical mystery
Publisher: PublishingPush.com (November 2017)
Page count: 80
INTERVIEW WITH JENNY JACKSON
Jenny, what’s the story behind the title of your book?
The lead character is unable to speak - other characters have secrets and choose not to speak.
Where’s home for you?
The south coast of England.
Where did you grow up?
In north Kent about 20 miles from London.
What makes you nervous?
Politics .
What makes you happy?
Birdsong.
What makes you scared?
I’m claustrophobic so worried about being trapped in a lift (elevator). I have been known to walk up eight flights of stairs rather than use one.
How did you meet your spouse?
We were brought up in the same small town and went to the same church. We were always good friends but didn’t get together until our early twenties.
What’s one of your favorite quotes?
"I have been told that Wagner’s music is better than it sounds." -Bill Nye
What’s your favorite line from a book?
"I like work; it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours." -Jerome K. Jerome Three Men in a Boat
Are any of your characters inspired by real people?
The tramp, Stinky Jim, is based on a gentleman from my childhood who was called Smokey Joe.
Is your book based on real events?
No, though of course the references to historic events are true.
What’s one pet peeve you have when you read?
Authors who overuse the f word as an adjective. It is lazy writing.
Do you have a routine for writing?
I should do, but I don’t.
What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received about your writing?
When my 11-year-old grandson read my book he told his mother that "It’s much better than I thought it would be." I’m still laughing.
What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to write?
The eulogy for my mother’s funeral.
Where is your favorite library, and what do you love about it?
I love accompanying my grandchildren to their local library in Loughton, Essex. They have been ticket holders since they were small babies, and it is one of their favourite places. The staff are great, and it always seems to be full of children.
What would your dream office look like?
Any office would be a dream! Our house is too small to accommodate one, so I write at the dining room table.
Why did you decide to self-publish? It is almost impossible to get a first book read by publishers. I was encouraged by my writing group, Shorelink, to get my book published, and this was the only way forward.
What steps to publication did you personally do, and what did you hire someone to do?
I do not have a lot of spare cash and so researched self-publishing thoroughly before deciding on PublishingPush.com. I have not regretted it and would definitely recommend their services.
What are you working on now?
A longer novel, same genre but with a male protagonist this time.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Buy the book:
Amazon UK | Amazon US
