Awesome Authors #4

Welcome to the fourth posting of Awesome Authors where you get to learn some new and interesting facts about the people who write the amazing books you fall in love with!!

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Check out her Lux series starting with Obsidian!!!!!!!!

Jenna Black is your typical writer. Which means she's an "experience junkie." She got her BA in physical anthropology and French from Duke University.

Once upon a time, she dreamed she would be the next Jane Goodall, camping in the bush making fabulous discoveries about primate behavior. Then, during her senior year at Duke, she did some actual research in the field and made this shocking discovery: primates spend something like 80% of their time doing such exciting things as sleeping and eating.

Concluding that this discovery was her life's work in the field of primatology, she then moved on to such varied pastimes as grooming dogs and writing technical documentation. Among her other experiences . . .

• Ballroom dancing.
• Traveling all seven continents. Yes, even Antarctica.
• Becoming a Life Master in Bridge.
• Singing in a barbershop chorus.

Read the true story of Jenna's first trip out of the country by herself at the age of 16: Jenna's Zaire Adventure. And remember, insanity is a good thing for a writer.

She's also a proud member of the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers, and would love for her readers to support her fellow authors! Check out the first book in her Faeriewalker series, Glimmerglass!!!!!

My favorite hobby is traveling the world - but my biggest fear is flying.

Me, trying to look “professional” at a faculty photo shoot.

My second-biggest fear is public speaking… but I’m a college professor (who sometimes teaches public speaking!)

I have two 5-year-old kids - who AREN’T twins.

My weirdest work experience was helping to “tan” deer hides using cow brains. (I was actually writing a magazine story about it.)

I’ve only been fired once, from a job as a bookstore clerk.

My best educational experience was doing research in India on the Dalit (“untouchable”) struggle for human rights. (See maarpu.org)

My worst experience, ever, was getting food poisoning while riding my bike from the Missouri River to the Mississippi. (My friend told me the chicken tasted strange…)

Whenever I visit a new country, I try as many ketchups as I can. (Best: Poland, Worst: China)

I am an uncommonly bad volleyball player… ask the team that ALMOST won a championship.

I also suffer from mild “ichthyphobia,” or “fear or fish.” I don’t bother trying to overcome that one!

Check out Beth's book Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark side, it's AMAZING!!!!