Anyone who’s read my novels will know I’m
inspired by the seasons.
Moving to the country years ago first
opened my eyes and ears to the wonder, and sometimes the wrath, of Mother
Nature. Since opting for the gypsy life in 2014 to live fulltime in a caravan, Mother
Nature and I have been getting re-acquainted. With my days mostly spent outdoors,
and my nights with not much between me and the elements, I’ve realised how many
sounds, sights, smells and sensations I was missing whilst cosseted by four brick
walls and a tile roof. I also discovered what a sensory (and stress) overload the
perfect storm of lightning, thunder, wind and hail can be as it hits the camp
site!
My first book, House for all Seasons—a four-part story of four women who return to
their hometown to spend a season each in an old house—allowed me to dabble and
experiment with writing each season. It was at this time, as part of the RWA
Bootcamp experience (2009, I think!) Rachel Bailey put me in touch with Lisa Chaplin
who taught me four important letters that nag me through every draft of every
manuscript: PMIP (Put Me In the Picture). It makes me ask myself constantly: Where
are my characters? What are they doing? What are they seeing, hearing, feeling?
I worked on this in Simmering Season —
as the name implies the setting was a sticky, steamy, stormy season—while for the
setting in Season of Shadow and Light
I immersed myself in a summer flood event in a small country town.
This year, taking readers from the country
to the coast for a sea change, you might expect a summer setting, but as you’ll
discover when you read The Other Side of
the Season, I prefer to not do what’s expected. *nudge/wink*
I think I’ve finally got the hang of it
with reviews for The Other Side of the Season focusing on setting-like this one
on Goodreads.
“Small town fiction is Jenn J Mcleod’s
speciality and again this aspect of her novel receives her expert treatment.
The Other Side of the Season exudes a strong sense of place. From the majestic
Blue Mountains, to the tropical banana plantations and tranquil coastal beauty
of Watercolour Cove, McLeod’s setting descriptions have the power to transfix
any reader.
The Other Side of the Season contains an
intricately crafted plot that deftly combines high family drama, secrets, love
and abandonment. Woven into these main themes are issues explored with great
care and attention to detail, such as the Australian art industry,
imprisonment, albinism, mental illness and the impact of institutionalised
child abuse.
Jenn J McLeod descriptions of scenery and
artworks shows she sees the beauty around her and can put this passion into
words. Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28452625-the-other-side-of-the-season
With the exception of last year’s
three-month stint living in a paddock on a Brahman cattle station north of
Rockhampton, I’ve been living in my caravan by the beach. I’ve loved winter by
the sea, I’ve felt spindrift on stinging skin and had blustery winds that turn hair
and scarves into a tangle. And I’ve loved an opportunity to add some of my
dad’s lines to my novels, like this one:
“This
sea breeze is nothing. Wait til we get a good southerly buster. Them winds will
likely blow an apple through a tennis racquet.”
Have you read many Australian books set in
winter? I hadn’t, so I was keen to give winter a voice and let it shine,
because some seasons seem to get all the attention: like spring—always too pretty
and perfect. Summer can be typical of many Australian novels, while autumn’s
colours can be alluring, But it’s the gnarly, grey and wintery backdrop that makes
scenes pop off the page:
“When
she arrived at the car park there was a stretch limo, the driver safely
cocooned inside, while down on the beach a bride and groom, blissful and
barefoot, were posing for a photographer and laughing as the wind played havoc
with layers of lace and chiffon. On the sand, children in jumpers and swimsuit
bottoms built castles and others ran from the water shrieking with the cold,
before joyfully skipping back in again.”
I love to love . . . winter
here in Australia. Time to snuggle up in bed with a good book.
I love to learn about other authors and anything writing.
I love to laugh at anything really.
Connect
with Jenn on Facebook www.facebook.com/jennjmcleod.books and Twitter @jennjmcleod or join in the
discussion at Readers of Jenn J
McLeod Facebook group (no cat memes allowed!)
[image provided Andrew Wyeth quote]
