Hello Pam! And welcome to Fallen Angel Reviews! It is great to have you with us today. Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to answer questions for us. The readers would love to hear something about Pam Jenoff.

Pam, I noticed that Almost Home has garnished some great reviews. Would you like to tell us something about this wonderful story?

Thank you so much! I’m tremendously grateful for the warm reception the book has received. Almost Home is the story of Jordan, an intelligence officer with the U.S. government. For the past decade, she’s traveled the world on dangerous assignments, but has always managed to avoid England due to the painful memories of her boyfriend Jared who died tragically when they were students. Now, she finds herself compelled to take an assignment in London to be near a terminally ill friend. Once there, she is contacted by a classmate who tells her that he doesn’t believe Jared’s death was an accident and asks her to help find out what really happened. So she finds herself drawn into that mystery as well as an important government mission.

Would you say you pen some of your books from the situations that you have worked with, along with the knowledge that you have learned within your travels and employment?

I think all of my books are strongly influenced by the incredible places I’ve been, my experiences there, and the unforgettable people I’ve been privileged to meet. People always ask if the stories are true and I emphatically respond “they’re all fiction!” I believe that real life makes for terrible plot but it makes for great setting and I try to use my own experiences in that way.

What made you decide to start writing? Was it something that you always wanted to do?

I always wanted to be a writer; I was one of those kids who was forever scribbling down stories and showing them to anyone I could. But my real impetus to get serious came about eight years ago. I became an attorney one week before 9/11 happened and after that tragic event, I had a life epiphany that I didn’t have forever and if I wanted to realize my dream of becoming a novelist I had to get started right away. So I took an evening course at a local college called “Write Your Novel This Year” and started to write.

How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?

As I mentioned above, I try to let real life influence the setting rather than the plot. But you can see little bits of me in all of the books. The places I’ve lived and people I’ve known dance in my head as I write. So Krysia’s house to which Emma fled in The Kommandant’s Girl looks a lot like my house in Poland, and many of the characters in that book, while wholly fictitious in their personalities and actions, are reminiscent of some of the people I knew when I lived there. Likewise, little snippets and anecdotes from my life seem to creep into my work. Marta from The Diplomat’s Wife plays a game of cards and quotes her grandmother as saying “lucky in cards, unlucky in love,” which was something my grandmother used to say. Jordan in Almost Home shares my love of jarred pesto sauce and images England as portrayed in Disney films. You get the idea.

Do you mind readers contacting you?

I love to hear from readers and I respond to every email personally.

Do you know how many readers/fans contact you?

I’ve never really counted. But there’s nothing better than an email from a reader to pick me up and inspire my writing when the going gets tough.

Generally, how long does it take you to write a book?

About a year, give or take.

Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?

I’ve always had a day job and I’m not a night person, so the writing generally happens from 5-7 in the morning, a little bit later on the weekends. I really try to stick to it.

What is your writing routine once you start a book?

It varies depending upon whether I need to give the publisher an outline for synopsis at the beginning or whether I’m just writing for me. But generally I just type non-stop, and then when I have about 150-200 pages I decide that it is time for structure. So then I go back and organize things, and create a chart to help me keep track of it all.

What about your family, do they know not to bother you when you are writing - or are there constant interruptions?

My family is very supportive and respectful of my need to write, but there are always life interruptions. My one year old son, for example, had put the need for some additional flexibility into the schedule. The most important thing is to allow the blips in the schedule and then get started again as soon as possible. You can’t let them derail you.

What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?

Naps. I’m something of a nap hound. Chilling out with my family. Catching a Philadelphia Eagles football game. Going to the beach.

This is the Olympic year, and surprise. Pam wakes up one morning and is chosen to be in one of the events. Which one does Pam sign up for?

Definitely nothing with water or snow! Maybe in the Summer Games, some running (very slow running) or martial arts (a million years ago I was a second degree black belt in karate.) I always loved gymnastics but I couldn’t do it myself.

Where would you classify your best vacation spot to just really relax and enjoy?

Any beach is great, be it something exotic like Jamaica or local like the New Jersey shore or Delaware beaches. Bit I’ve also spent lots of vacations in chilly, European spots. I enjoy walking endlessly around London, particularly when one of my books is released in the UK.

Can you share with the readers your website, myspace, Facebook or any blogs you might have?

They can reach me through my website www.pamjenoff.com or on Facebook through the group, “Friends of the Author Pam Jenoff.”

If we were invited to your house for the day, what preparations would you make for our visit, and what delights can we expect from the wonderful Pam?

If you were lucky, my husband would cook – he really goes all out. Otherwise, it would probably be takeout!

Thank you so much for sharing time with us today, Pam. Anyone interested in reading more about Pam and her delightful books, please pay a visit to her website to see her great works. It has been a pleasure Pam, and I wish you the best with your writing.


Interviewed by: Linda L.