Meet Jenn Bouchard | Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jenn Bouchard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenn, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
One of the biggest surprises since becoming an author is just how supportive authors are of each other. Initially, I felt like writing was such a solitary experience. But once I found ways to connect with author communities, I was shocked by how welcoming everyone was!

Perhaps my best example of this is the small collective of authors that I collaborate with on a daily basis. The Eleventh Chapter (eleventhchapter.com) is made up of eight women who are published in a variety of contexts and genres. We support each other and have recently launched our social media channels. It has been a great experience working with them so far, and I look forward to the future with this dynamic group!

I also made great connections with the other authors from my 2021 debut year, and I continue to work with them on a number of projects.

I hope this is encouraging for newer writers. I recommend finding other authors to learn from and to support. Authors also need your reviews and recommendations! Reading widely–especially in your genre–is one of the best things you can do to develop as a writer and to make further connections in the industry. Readers read more than one book, and we all are more successful and have a stronger sense of community when we support each other.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I write books and short stories that walk the line between women’s fiction and romantic comedy. And there is always a strong emphasis on food and cooking! I also set my stories in coastal New England locations. I believe these elements have helped me to develop a strong brand. Readers enjoy the vivid geographical descriptions and always tell me that my writing makes them hungry.

Being an author is full of ups and downs. There are days that are very encouraging, as well as days when you want to stop altogether. During a rough day recently, I decided that I needed to write a new short story. They are fun to write because you can draft them in a day! I think of writing a novel as preparing a multi-course dinner party for a crowd, whereas a short story is like a very satisfying little snack. And sometimes a snack is all you need.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My Shoutout is to the author collective that I am a part of: The Eleventh Chapter! I am so grateful to them and find them to be a constant source of support and community.

Website: https://jennbouchard.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennbouchardbos/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JennBouchardBOS

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennbouchardBOS