Jenny Elder Moke
Author Interview - Jenny Elder Moke
Author of SHE DOESN'T HAVE A CLUE
With a colorful cast of characters and a cellar full of wine, anything can happen—from murder to a second chance at love—in Jenny Elder Moke's half mystery, half romance adult debut set at a lavish destination wedding.
A high-end wedding on a private island off the coast of Seattle sounds like something out of a magazine. But for bestselling mystery author Kate Valentine, it’s more like a nightmare.
Why Kate agreed to attend her ex-fiancé’s wedding is its own enigma, but she’ll plaster on a fake smile for two nights, with the aid of free champagne, naturally. And because the groom happens to be her editor, she’ll try to finish a draft of her latest Loretta Starling mystery as a wedding gift. But when the bride is poisoned and Kate stumbles across a dead body, she finds herself in a real-life mystery that eerily echoes the plot of her latest novel. And the only person who seems willing to help Kate catch the killer is Jake Hawkins, aka: the Hostralian; aka: Kate’s biggest romantic regret.
As the wine flows and the weather threatens to hold every guest hostage, bitter resentments and long-held grudges surface amongst the colorful crowd. Anyone could be capable of murder, it seems. What would Loretta do? Unfortunately, Kate doesn’t have a clue.
Author Interview - Jenny Elder Moke
Author I draw inspiration from:
I love all things romance and mystery, so some of my favorite authors are Sarah MacLean, Sophie Jordan, Talia Hibbert, Elle Cosimano, Mia P. Manansala, Louise Penny, and Laurie R. King.
Author Interview - Jenny Elder Moke | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book:
In bed as a nighttime ritual in which I fool myself into thinking I'll just read a few pages before I go to sleep.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with:
Literally any of the love interests from Sarah MacLean's historical romance novels. Would they understand what an elevator was? No. Would that matter to me? Absolutely not.
Author Interview - Jenny Elder Moke | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author:
I'd always written little short stories when I was younger, but I didn't attempt a longer form story until after I graduated college. But that first manuscript experience was absolute euphoria - staying up until four in the morning lost in the world, daydreaming about the characters while I was at work, exciting to dive back in at every writing session. I knew then I had to keep chasing that experience even if no one ever paid me for it.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook:
I'm a paperback kid, all the way. Trade paperback, mass market, I'll take them all.
The last book I read:
MISTER MAGIC by Kiersten White. I absolutely loved it - it's rare that a book surprises me these days, but this one really kept me wondering what it was about the whole read. It stayed with me for a long time, and it's one I'll be thinking about long into the future.
Author Interview - Jenny Elder Moke | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer:
I do both! Computer all the way for drafting, but pen and paper for research, backstory work, and planning. There's something about the mental/physical connection between the brain and the act of writing that helps me get deeper in my thoughts, but when I'm drafting I feel the need for speed(y typing).
Book character I think I’d be best friends with:
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. She was so fun, so feisty, and so passionate about the world. I devoured those books as a kid, and I loved watching Anne grow from a precocious child to a mother and beyond. I felt like I was Diana, her bosom buddy.
Author Interview - Jenny Elder Moke | Book Character I’d be Best Friends With
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a:
Probably a project manager of some kind. I worked as a project manager in software before I became an author, and those skills really made writing and drafting and planning my timelines SO much easier. It's basically second nature to me at this point.
Favorite decade in fashion history:
I'm a big fan of the classic silhouettes from the 1940s. They could go big and bold and dramatic with their color choices, but the cuts of their outfits were so flattering and time-tested.
Place I’d most like to travel:
Japan! I'd love to do like a month-long fully guided tour around the whole country. I'd love to experience the food, the temples, the countryside, and the incredibly dense metro areas.
My signature drink:
Not to be THAT cliche author, but COFFEE. Always coffee, all the time. Every time.
Favorite artist:
Florence and the Machine. I feel every one of her songs right smack dab in the middle of my chest.
Number one on my bucket list:
Super random, but I've always wanted to go up in a hot air balloon. Which is a ridiculous bucket list goal, because I'm deeply (and correctly) terrified of heights. But the heart wants what it wants.
Anything else you'd like to add:
Thank you for all your hard work promoting books!
Find more from the author:
https://www.instagram.com/jennyeldermoke/
https://www.tiktok.com/@jennyeldermoke
About Jenny Elder Moke:
Author interview with Jenny Elder Moke
Jenny Elder Moke is the award-winning author of children’s and adult literature. She enjoys fast-paced adventures with plenty of mysteries, surprising turns, and laughs along the way.
Jenny lives in Denver, CO.
