An Interview with Author Jeanette Andersen

Jeanette Andersen lives in Idaho where she loves to hike, sew, crafts, photography, and of course writing.

She writes suspense, romance novellas, mysteries, and more.

What inspired you to start writing this book?

I set a goal as an assignment in 9th grade to write a book. After 30 years, and many story redoes, I got my goal accomplished. I’m also trying to prove to myself that though I have a disability, TBI, it can’t stop me from doing something that I’ve always wanted to do and I love. It takes a lot longer to get things accomplished but nothing’s going to stop me; nothing’s going to break my stride.

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

Hidden Secrets. It isn’t the first title to my book, which was Dreams, Ghosts, and Tractors. That sounded more like a toddler’s picture book. It took a lot of thinking to come up with the current title that goes with book two (which will be published next year), Buried Secrets, and book three will be Secrets Revealed.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I’ve jumped around the working loop from working as a Data Processor, to lunch rooms at schools (Elementary, Middle, and High school) to a job coach for adults with disabilities, Caregiver / Direct Support Professional, and now a prep and deli clerk.

What books did you read (for research or comfort) throughout your writing process?

I read other YA books with/close to the same genre. I watched a lot of Nancy Drew and Little House on the Prairie for ideas.

A lot of the story is based on my journal entries when I was in junior high. It deals with the people I was friends with that I might have exaggerated just a little bit in the story, but the feelings I got of being the third wheel and only wanted to be hung around with if the other one’s BFF wasn’t available. It was a tough life always being the shadow, third wheel. So I thought I would bring that character to life of standing up for herself more as she grew older and stronger and started caring about herself and not what the other people thought.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

I want readers to feel and live the life of the MC. I want the MG/YA to know they can handle the struggles in their life.

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.