Natalie Jenner, author of Every Time We Say Goodbye:
“I wanted to write a book that would make us realize we are here based on the sacrifices of those that came before us. And I think that as long as we remember that, we can build a better world. I wanted to show characters who are learning to do that.”
On this episode of The Women’s Eye podcast, bestselling author Laura Munson, founder of Haven Writing Retreat in Montana, chats with another bestselling author Natalie Jenner about her third novel, Every Time We Say Goodbye and how she aims to capture the human spirit in her writing.
As Laura says, “Being in conversation with Natalie was like being in conversation with a long lost friend…A writing kindred who hammers away at it with all her heart…and as she says in this interview, it’s all over my pages. Natalie speaks my language: heart language.”
Available also on Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube
This is Natalie’s third visit to The Women’s Eye as we’ve been fans of hers since her first attempt at historical fiction, The Jane Austen Society. This former lawyer tells Laura how she took a ten-year break after giving up writing before she decided she was ready to take pen to paper again.
“My family said you really were heartbroken last time when it didn’t work out. Are you sure you want to do this?” she remembers.
But Natalie felt she’d stumbled on something readers would like by noticing the growing popularity of Jane Austen. Her “intentional stumbling,” as she calls it, paid off because that novel became a popular, international bestselling book. As did her next, Bloomsbury Girls, which Pat Caso chatted with her about on TWE. Her newest Every Time We Say Goodbye is headed in that direction.
Above you’ll see a visit into the little shed where Natalie writes, sometimes at 5 AM in the dead of winter. This is where she gets her inspiration, just steps from the back door of her house in Ontario, Canada.
Be sure to watch/listen to the podcast to hear more of this heartfelt chat with Laura about:
- How Natalie loves cinema and watched a French movie that spurred her to write about the intrigue around making a film about 50s Rome.
- Three things she has to know before she starts typing and what she knew when began her first two novels.
- What her characters mean to her and how they stay with her.
- How she researches her books and picks characters for her plots.
- What gave her the courage to reinvent herself and her advice to others thinking about change.
We are grateful to have stumbled upon Natalie’s impressive and memorable debut novel The Jane Austen Society four years ago and continue to follow her growth as a writer. Leaving you with her words to Laura about gratitude:
“I try very much to practice gratitude and kindness. Somebody said recently that you cannot be stressed and grateful at the same time. They said, ‘Try it.’ I did. You can’t do it. And so I think gratitude is huge for me right now.”
Indigo Bay Bloor/Photo Courtesy the Jenners
A big thanks to Laura Munson and Natalie Jenner on this inspiring conversation. We hope you enjoy this chat as much as we did.
To connect with Natalie:
Website: nataliejenner.com
Instagram: authornataliejenner
Twitter: nataliemjenner
With Laura:
Website: lauramunson.com
Facebook: lauramunson
Instagram: lauramunsonauthor
Twitter: lauramunson
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