Interview with Jennifer Brown

Today I am super excited to welcome Jennifer Brown back a second time on the blog for an interview! This time she is here to talk about her new novel, Bitter End, which talks about a teenage girl going through an abusive relationship. The novel is amazing and a review will be up later today. So let's get started!

Q: I think it's great that you decided to shed light on the horrors of domestic violence. What was your inspiration for writing a novel about abusive relationships?

A: Actually, it was my former editor, T.S. Ferguson's, idea to write a book about teen dating violence. I had just finished Hate List and was looking for the topic for my next novel, and he asked if I'd be willing to try this one out. Of course, I was excited about the project, because I think teen dating violence is an important topic, and it fit well with the types of stories that I write.

Q: Did you want your readers to fall in love with Cole like Alex did? Or did you want your reader to be an outsider looking in?

A: I think when it comes to domestic violence, a lot of people are full of tough talk without really knowing what it's like to be in an abusive situation. There really is so much complexity to it and it's easy to say, "I would just get out," or, "I would never let someone hit me," but the truth is you never know exactly what you would or wouldn't do when your heart is involved. So, yeah it was important to me for readers to see the romantic, sweet and wonderful side of Cole as well, and maybe fall in love with him just a little bit. Because then, hopefully, Alex's actions and reactions made a little more sense. She was in love because he had a real loveable side. And it's hard to leave someone you love, even when you know you should.

Q: What do you hope your readers, especially young girls, take from reading Bitter End?

A: Well, anyways, first and foremost I hope they enjoy the story. Reading should be about entertainment and I always hope to succeed there. But if a reader were to see herself (or himself; abuse is not always male or female) in the story and it were to inspire her to leave her bad situation, that would be a very good thing as well. I hope that readers clearly hear the message that love shouldn't hurt, it shouldn't leave bruises, and it shouldn't make you feel bad about yourself. If it is doing those things, then it isn't love, it isn't healthy, and you need to get out.

Q: Are there any other novels in the works? Please say yes!

A: Yes! In fact, I'm just finishing up copyedits on my third novel, which is called Perfect Escape, and is about a girl who runs away with her older brother in an attempt to "cure him" of his OCD. It will come out next summer.

Q: Give a shoutout, comments, anything!

A: Thank you so much for hosting me this was fun!

Thanks again Jennifer for participating it was great to have you back on the blog! Please check out both of her books, Hate List and Bitter End, which are available in stores now.

Happy Reading!