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An Interview with Jo Fenton

I am always pleased to welcome authors of interesting books to my blog, so it is a special pleasure to welcome back my friend and fellow author Jo Fenton whose crime fiction I have always enjoyed. Thank you for taking time to visit with me today, Jo to discuss your new book, Consequences.


Thank you so much for having me on your blog, Val. I’m so excited to be here to tell your readers about Consequences.


What inspired you to write your most recent book?

Consequences has been simmering since I started to write Paparazzi! As soon as I knew that Becky had left the police force in mysterious circumstances, it became imperative that I explored that situation! Why did Becky leave the police? That was the driving force behind this book.


Who is your favourite character in this book and why?

I adored writing Finn! While I was planning the novel, I wrote his backstory, and he totally came alive at that point. Previously he had been a living person, but a fairly peripheral character, albeit an important one. In Consequences, he narrates alternate chapters and we really get to know him properly. He’s fascinating, and we get to explore how he’s got himself into so much trouble!

What was the first piece you had published?

My first professional publication was The Brotherhood, a dark psychological thriller, published in 2018.

However, the first piece of writing that appeared anywhere, was an article for the school magazine on antisemitism. strangely enough, it’s a theme that runs through many of my books. I am still passionate about fighting blind prejudice and I suspect I always will be.


Do you have another story planned or in progress? When can we expect to see that?

I’m currently about ¾ of the way through a Regency crime novel set in Manchester. I’m hoping to be ready to submit in the summer, so watch this space!


What do you like to do when you’re not planning or writing your next book?

I work full time as a Clinical Operations Manager, looking after a team of amazing people who monitor Clinical Trials. I love talking to people and get to do that almost all day through work. It’s a good offset to writing, which is mostly solitary.


Outside of work and writing, I love to run and hike and spend time with family and friends. I love to travel too, but if I could have a Tardis or teleport, I’d love it even more – it’s great being in exotic and interesting places, but I’m not keen on the getting from place to place bit!


When did you know you wanted to write novels?

I’ve probably known it deep down for a very long time, as I was making up stories in my head from childhood, but it never occurred to me I could actually do it until BBC Breakfast were discussing NanaWriMo in October 2011, and my husband turned to me and said “Why don’t you give it a go?”


Even then, it wasn’t until I’d written my first chapter in a hotel room in Nottingham on the 1st November that year and sent it to him, and he said I had potential, that it became a distinct possibility.


Once I decided to do it though, giving up was never an option.


Do you write in other genres?

Crime is always central to my writing, but I’ve done Psychological Thrillers, and my current novel I’m working on is Historical Crime with a good dose of romance!


Do you have a specific routine for writing?  Is there a special place or particular tool you use?

I set myself daily and sometimes monthly targets for wordcount. For a long time I was writing in the spare room before work, but I’m not really a morning person, and ended up rushing to squeeze in any time at all. Then recently, I switched to writing in the evenings, after dinner and a break from staring at the computer (which I do all day for work). I instantly became much more productive.


I tend to write either on my personal laptop in the spare room or in my work office downstairs. Once I’ve started, I could be anywhere. As long as I have good lighting, a comfortable chair and desk, a drink (water or mint tea) and music in the background (which I don’t hear once I’m in the zone anyway), that’s all I need.


What advice do you have for other writers?

Never stop learning the craft. Set targets. Keep going. Ignore the naysayers. Surround yourself with likeminded people. Join writing groups. Attend conferences or retreats. Learn to give and receive feedback.


If your book were to be made into an Audiobook, who would you choose to read it?

My first two books were narrated by Danielle Cohen, who is a fabulous narrator, and did an amazing job. After selecting her, I discovered she’s close friends with my best friend and is also part of my community, although she emigrated many years ago. I would be happy for her to narrate all of my audiobooks!


If your book were to be made into a movie, who would you like to play the main character?

I think I’d go with Rachel Weisz for Becky and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (who played Jamie Lannister in GOT) for Finn.

The Blurb


A cold case reignites. A deadly threat resurfaces. And Becky White is caught in the crossfire.When a decades-old betrayal comes back to haunt her, private investigator Becky White is drawn into a dangerous web of lies, revenge, and murder. As tensions boil over in Manchester’s criminal underworld, Becky and her team at the White Knight Detective Agency must race to uncover the truth—before it’s too late.Meanwhile, former partner Finn is battling enemies from without and secrets from within. With loyalties tested and danger closing in, Becky and Finn must decide who they can trust, and how far they’re willing to go, when consequences come calling.Gritty, emotional, and full of heart-pounding twists, Consequences delivers a powerful finale that ties together years of betrayal, redemption, and reckoning in the Becky White series. Perfect for fans and new readers alike!

 


The Author


Jo Fenton grew up in Hertfordshire, UK. She devoured books from an early age, particularly enjoying adventure books, school stories and fantasy. She wanted to be a scientist from aged six after being given a wonderful book titled “Science Can Be Fun”. At eleven, she discovered Agatha Christie and Georgette Heyer, and now has an eclectic and much loved book collection cluttering her home office.


Jo combines an exciting career in Clinical Research with an equally exciting but very different career as a writer of psychological thrillers.


When not working, she runs (very slowly), and chats to lots of people. She lives in Manchester with her husband and golden retriever. Her sons live nearby. She is an active and enthusiastic member of two writing groups and a reading group.

 

 

 


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