Conversations with Jennifer Vivekanand

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Vivekanand

Hi Jennifer, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always enjoyed creative pursuits such as drawing, writing, graphic design and photography.

I graduated with a BFA from Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids Michigan, and while there, had an opportunity to do summer art studies in both London and Italy. Those trips really opened up the world to me, and sparked a lifelong love of travel. Trying new foods, learning about different cultures, and meeting local people sparks creativity, and opportunities for conversations and the exchange of ideas.

In November of 2022, my debut YA Thriller novel, Welcome To Nightjar, was published. You can read all about it and watch a book trailer on my author website, www.stuffbyjenn.com. I’m currently working on my second and third YA novels, a romantic thriller and a suspense thriller.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Older women often feel unseen, unheard. We still have a lot to say. Some of my biggest cheerleaders are women, and I’m grateful for their support.

I began my writing journey during the Pandemic shutdown while recovering from a devastating fall on the stairs at home, which resulted in a titanium plate and screws in my dominant arm, and the impossible task of trying to do physical therapy over Zoom with items ordered off the internet. My mobility was very limited, but I could sit at my desk. With the love and encouragement of my family and friends, I wrote my debut YA Thriller Novel, Welcome To Nightjar. I also recorded the audiobook version, which was a fun, but challenging learning experience.

I’m also very grateful for the encouragement and support of my family, friends, and my community. Emerging authors don’t have big advertising budgets, so local support in the form of book signing venues, school visits, and word of mouth is very much appreciated.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I like to write about characters with real problems that my readers can identify with. My current stories involve characters who face critical issues faced by at-risk youth, such as homelessness, anxiety, loneliness, and self-harm. Highlighting tough choices they make everyday to survive. I like Protagonists who feel real, that are going through relatable experiences. Most people aren’t the football star, the rich kid, or the cheerleader, and almost everyone has experienced some form of bullying. I define my characters through dialogue, and am not afraid to shine a light on very real issues, while injecting humor to diffuse tense situations in fast-paced, dramatic plots.

We all sometimes find ourselves in the gray—and like my Protagonists, we might also make bad decisions in order to survive. I hope my writing can serve as a vehicle to raise awareness and foster empathy for the unseen among us, through character-driven dialogue incorporating humor, messages of resilience, redemption, and the transformative power of human connections.

Creative people often wear many hats, and I’m no exception. I’ve been a graphic designer and illustrator for 20+ years, and volunteered in many creative places such as an associate fiction reader, served on an art jury for local contests, and volunteered my graphic design services for a local arts committee. I like to seek out opportunities for personal and creative growth. One of the ways I’ve done this is by submitting short stories to literary magazines, and attending creative residencies.

In October of 2023, I was accepted into the Arteles Creative Center in Hameenkyro, Finland as an author and artist in residence. It was a wonderful month spent in the Finnish countryside with twelve other residents from around the world working on the first draft of my second YA novel. While in Finand, I had opportunities to forage for mushrooms and berries in the forests, visit local communities, and experience a traditional wood-burning sauna. I also spent a week on the edge of the arctic circle in Lapland. It was a really creative time for me.

You can find my debut YA Thriller, Welcome To Nightjar at Barnes and Noble online, Amazon, Apple Audiobooks, Spotify, Libro.FM, and at Shuler Books in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Fine Print Books in Saline, Michigan. Stay tuned for books two and three!

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I think AI is a tool that has disrupted the industry, but writers can embrace it, as long as we use it ethically. It’s like having a time saving, personal assistant to help you with editing spelling and grammar mistakes, a thesaurus and dictionary, and for initial geographic or topical research.

Also, it is very helpful to have a book trailer to help advertise your book, and if possible, narrate your own audiobook. Readers enjoy hearing the story read by the author.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.stuffbyjenn.com
• Instagram: @JenniferVivekanand
• Twitter: @JennVivekanand