Business Mums Who Love to Write #8: Jenny Ford

Welcome to another one of our interviews with Business Mums Who Love to Write… take it away, Jenny!

 

Hi Jenny, thanks so much for taking time to join us!
First things first, can you tell us a little bit about you, your books and where in the world you’re from?

I am based in St Albans, Hertfordshire in the UK, I am a mum of three beautiful children and I am an intuitive writer which means I feel what I write rather than think on a conscious level, I write from my heart energy.

I write in multiple genres – plays, children’s story colouring books including a dyslexia friendly version, contemporary women’s fiction and non- fiction books (guided prayers and inspirational messages). I have also created my own merchandise (positive affirmation posters for children, a notebook for children to write their thoughts and feelings in and co-created a beautiful deck of cards with an inspirational message on each one).

 

Wow, multi-talented. I love that you’ve extended your creative talents into other areas. What compelled you to pen your first book?

It’s a bit of a long story so I will break it down a bit for you.

My career was as a beauty therapist, I ran my own successful mobile business which was thriving at the time with a large client base. In 2010 I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis which completely changed my life and also meant I had to give it all up for health and safety reasons, as you can imagine I was devastated, you work so hard for years to build a business just to watch it all slip away just like that.

After a few years of not being in a very good place I was introduced to meditation and that was the day that turned my life around and when I started my writing journey. I have never had any interest in writing at all not even as a child, my education or lack of was not great so writing was really not on my to do list, no one was more surprised than me when I wrote my first book and what was even more surprising it was a prayer book, I was never a religious person so where was this all coming from? You could say I was Divinely Guided! It was from there that my passion for writing began.

 

How long did the process take from start to finish?

It took me several months from when I first wrote the book to actually getting it published. I am a self-publishing author so the process was not as long as if it was by a traditional publisher.

Do you have a regular writing routine that fits around your other commitments, or do you tend to write when your muse appears?

No, I don’t have a routine. As an intuitive writer I write when I am inspired, when I feel it in my heart, it has to flow naturally for me and not be forced otherwise it just doesn’t work. I am not someone that sits there seven days a week writing 5000 words a day it doesn’t work like that with me.

Do you have plans to write and publish more books in 2019?

There are a few projects that I am looking at, so yes there will be another one maybe towards the end of the year.

 

Would you be kind enough to share your top 3 #bookmarketing tips for other Indie Authors?

Marketing can be hard work if you have no marketing skills or background, I found that out and I am still learning. So if I had to say three they would be.

Know your audience, who are you writing for.
Be authentic, be you.
Research, there are so many different ways to market your book – find the best way for you.

 

Please share your social links so we can carry on the conversation!

www.jennyfordauthor.com

/www.facebook.com/jennyfordauthor/

Instagram@jennyfordauthor

 

Thanks so much for sharing your story with us, Jenny. I’m sure it will inspire many writers and I hope your intuitive writing continues to bring you joy.