Exclusive Interview with
Peter Jennings
When did you start writing?
1970
What makes writing your passion?
My overall mission of writing books that inspire people to expand their opportunities to heighten their existence. For 50 years
How long have you been writing?
For 50 years. As a published author, for 8 years.
What was the feeling when you published your first book?
Pride of success.
What’s the story behind your choice of characters?
I select real people whom I think readers will enjoy knowing more about.
What annoys you the most in pursuing a writing career?
All the work that goes into trying to find email addresses of people I wish to contact to interview.
How do you get over the “writer’s block”?
I'm lucky : it's never a problem with me.
We all know the writer’s path is never easy, what makes you keep going? What advice would you give to new authors?
I mentor writers and my primary piece of advice is: Write! Write about anything. Because once you start writing, you'll get better at it.
If you could go back in time and talk to your younger self, what would you say?
Be confident: you've got this. You can do this.
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with the bad ones?
Haven't had any bad ones. But if I did, and if they were legitimate criticisms, I'd learn from them. You can't take 'em personally.
What is the feeling when you get a good review?
Pride. And I've accomplished what I set out to do.
Have you ever incorporated something that happened to you in real life into your novels?
I write non-fiction, and regularly include my own impressions about what I'm writing.
Which of your characters you can compare yourself with? Did you base that character on you?
I write non-fiction.
What do you think, the book cover is as important as the story?
Absolutely. It's what captures the reader's attention first.
Do you connect with your readers? Do you mind having a chat with them or you prefer to express yourself through your writing?
I love chatting with readers.
How do you feel when people appreciate your work or recognize you in public?
Pride.
Who is your favorite author? Why?
Charles Dickens. Love the way he weaves his plots (such as in "A Tale Of Two Cities").
What’s the dream? Whom would you like to be as big as?
Don't need to be big, but I'd love to hit Best Seller status
Would you rewrite any of your books? Why?
Yes, if it would help with adding more recent, relevant information.
If you could switch places with any author – who would that be?
Happy with where I am: no desire to switch with anyone.
What would you say to the “trolls” on the internet? We all know them – people who like to write awful reviews to books they’ve never read or didn’t like that much, just to annoy the author.
Don't you have something better to do?
What would you say to your readers?
I hope my books inspire you to accelerate your life.
Share a bit about yourself – where do you live, are you married, do you have kids?
I live at "Fairview", my home on Georgian Bay, situated in a small town. I have one son, two daughters-in-law and four granddaughters. I am divorced.
What is your day job if you have one?
Retired to enable full-time writing. Previously, I ran a marketing agency handling advertising, branding, public relations and production of multimedia content, including websites and social media elements. Clients included top-ranked businesses of all types and sizes, from McDonald’s, Procter & Gamble, Royal Bank, IBM, Coca-Cola, Harlequin Books, etc., to niche start-ups.
What are your hobbies? What do you do in your free time?
I enjoy listening to cool jazz and symphony, films, spirited conversations with good friends, travel, cooking, singing and blogging about life's adventures (anauthorslife.blog).
Did you have a happy childhood?
Yes.
Is there a particular experience that made you start writing?
I've written for as long as I can remember and have always received positive compliments on my writing. That's what keeps me going.
Do you have unpublished books? What are they about?
I do not. I've written 7 books so far, all of which are published, and am working on more.
What do you think should be improved in the education of our children? What do we lack?
Goodness, I have no idea.
If you were allowed 3 wishes – what would they be?
World peace.
Arrest climate decline.
Promote happiness.
What is your favorite music?
Jazz.
Share a secret with us 🙂
My mom died at age 100 and always said I have her genes. So I'm aiming to make it to 110!