Janet's #2 blog: All about "Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys"

Author Interview with Michy Devon

2012-01-04T12:45:00.000-08:00

Friday, June 20, 2008

Janet Kay Jensen Author Interview

I’m a full-time writer with one book of nonfiction and one novel under my belt. I live in northern Utah with my husband and our two dogs, and we have recently become grandparents.

Interview with Author Janet Kay Jensen

It's rare today to find an author who does nothing but write for a living. Do you have a 'real' job other than writing, and if so, what is it? What are some other jobs you've had in your life?

Janet Jensen: My first career was in Speech-Language Pathology and I worked in public school and university settings for more than 20 years. It was rewarding and challenging but at a certain point I found myself, surprisingly, ready to make a change in occupation. Fortunately, my husband is employed full-time so I am able to be a full-time writer.

What compelled you to write your first book?

Janet Jensen: A fellow writer approached me at a monthly meeting of our writers group and proposed a project, which eventually turned into The Book Lover’s Cookbook, Recipes Inspired by Celebrated Works of Literature and thee Passages that Feature Them (Wenger & Jensen, Ballantine Books, 2003). That project (researching literature and creating original recipes to match the literary references to food) dominated the next three years and put most of my other writing on hold. The resulting book was beautifully done and certainly taught us a great deal about the publishing world.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Janet Jensen: Academically, writing was always a strong suit for me. Actually writing a book and getting it published, however, was a goal that developed later in life.

Tell us a little bit about your book/s.

Janet Jensen: My most recent book is Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys, a novel published by Bonneville Books, an imprint of Cedar Fort Press, released November 1, 2007.

Gather 'round, girls, and listen to my noise, Don't you marry the Mormon boys; If you do your fortune it will be, Johnnycake and babies is all you'll see. -old western folksong

The prospect of one wife is more than enough for Mormon bachelor Andy McBride, a medical student at the University of Utah. Then he falls for Louisa Martin, a fellow student. There is only one obstacle to planning a life together: polygamy - a lifestyle that Louisa cannot escape and Andy cannot embrace.

Can a mainstream Mormon and a woman raised in polygamy overcome the cultural barriers between them? Both realize that their choices will not only affect their own lives, but will also have an impact on families, friends, and even their communities. Fearing that the sacrifices required of them would be too great, they go their separate ways.

Yet for Andy in Kentucky and Louisa in Utah, life does not go as they'd planned. While Andy is serving as a country doctor and trying to bury his pain, Louisa is coming to terms with the fact that all is not as perfect in her tight-knit community as she had believed.

As doctors, each will have to choose between keeping the peace in their communities or doing what they know is right. And someday, both will have to face their past and decide if they can make the sacrifice to be together.

Set in the red hills of southern Utah, the cosmopolitan center of Salt Lake City, the Smoky Mountains of Kentucky, and the lake-studded country of Finland, Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys is the heartfelt and engaging story about the power of love and acceptance in an ever-changing and often surprising world. The Book Lover’s Cookbook (see question #2 for more details) Narrative unit developed for children’s book Stellaluna in The Magic of Stories (Strong and Hoggan, Thinking Publications) Contributing author, LDS Writing Secrets (LDStorymakers)

Are you currently working on any writing projects our readers should watch for release soon?

Janet Jensen: Yes. I’m writing a spinoff of Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys, a children’s book, and another novel.

Have you ever won any writing awards? If so, what?

Janet Jensen: League of Utah Writers: First place in humorous poetry, personal essay, short story, short-short story.

Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys has won the following awards:
First runner-up, Best New Writing: The Eric Hoffer Award, commercial fiction
Finalist, USA Best Book 2007, religious fiction
Finalist, ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year, religious fiction
Semi-Finalist, Reader Views Critics Awards, religion/spirituality
Nominee, Whitney Award for LDS Fiction Writers
Honorable Mention, Marilyn Brown Unpublished Novel Award, Association for Mormon Letters

How did you feel the day you held the copy of your first book in your hands?

Janet Jensen: It’s an astonishing experience, next to seeing your newborn child for the first time.

What type of music, if any, do you listen to while you write?

Janet Jensen: I’m eclectic in my musical tastes and listen to whatever suits my mood at the time. I like classical, Broadway soundtracks, oldies, new-age, Celtic, folk and bluegrass.

What inspires you and motivates you to write the very most?

Janet Jensen: I’ll read a book and think: I could do that. And then sometimes a little germ of a story lives in my mind and gradually grows into a little kernel and I’m ready to begin writing the skeleton of a story. Reading other books, the newspaper, and attending writing critiques and workshops can also plant ideas in my mind.

What one thing are you the most proud of in your life?

Janet Jensen: I would say that my children are my greatest accomplishments. My husband and I have raised three sons, all of whom are attending universities, and we recently became grandparents.

What about your family? Do you have children, married, siblings, parents? Has your family been supportive of your writing?

Janet Jensen: My writing career has been a surprise to my family. It has taken a while for them to digest the fact that I am a published author as well as an educator, wife and mother. I love loved the fact that they’ve had to adjust to this new facet of me.

While they are proud and supportive, they have not been part of the creative process. They haven’t “jumped in” to give me feedback or ideas for stories. For that I have turned to other writers.

My two older sisters have been marvelous assistants and supporters. They have proofed and given me feedback and helped me format my manuscripts into professional documents. They’ve shared every step with me and been my sounding board when I’ve needed one.

My husband makes appearances at book signings, advises me on business questions, and listens to my angst. I would have to say he has the patience of a saint when it comes to my writing career.

The main characters of your stories - do you find that you put a little of yourself into each of them or do you create them to be completely different from you?

Janet Jensen: I think it’s easy to inject some of your own qualities into characters. It’s a challenge to create unique, believable characters who come from another place entirely. As I continue to write, I’m sure more of my characters will reflect less of me.

Is there an established writer you admire and emulate in your own writing? Do you have a writing mentor?

Janet Jensen: I would love to write with the grace of Ann Patchett or the clarity of Barbara Kingsolver or Anna Quindlen. Jodi Picoult is a master weaver of plot. Anne Tyler’s wonderfully flawed characters are a treat to know, and her humor is delightful. Joanne Harris is a pleasure to read as well. I love the books written by Australian author Neville Shute. And then there are the icons: Steinbeck, Dickens, Hugo, Faulkner, Wharton, Twain, Shakespeare . . . I’m sure I’ve left a few of them out.

I have colleagues who are honest and helpful and give continual feedback as we meet regularly and share our manuscripts. I have also recently become acquainted with Carolyn Howard-Johnson, and her books and websites are a treasure box of inspiration for writers.

I would love to have a mentor who is a master at seeing the whole plot of a book and helping me analyze it. That’s where I feel I need the most support.

When growing up, did you have a favorite author, book series, or book?

Janet Jensen: Like most other girls of my generation I read the Bobbsey Twins, The Five Little Peppers, Ginger Beverly Cleary books, Pippi Longstocking, Cherry Ames . . . My parents gave me the Golden Book Treasury of Poetry edited by Louis Untermeyer and illustrated by Joan Walsh Anglund when I was 8, and it was a marvelous introduction to appreciating poetry. It’s out of print, but I was able to find three copies on eBay and give them to each of my sons.

What about now: who is your favorite author and what is your favorite genre to read?

Janet Jensen: Fiction is my first choice. Biography is second. I plan to read all of Anne Tyler’s 17 novels. At the moment I’d say Edith Wharton is at the top of my list.

Hey, let's get morbid. When they write your obituary, what do you hope they will say about your book/s and writing? What do you hope they will say about you?

Janet Jensen: I have already written my obituary. First, it was a practical consideration and it’s filed with the will and power of attorney. I’m the only one who could accurately write the facts: where I was born, the spelling of my parents’ names, where I attended school, etc. And when the time comes, my family will only have to fill in a few details. I’ve even listed some of my favorite music and poetry for whatever type of memorial they choose to have.

I belong to several book clubs, and the discussion of the book always begins with a brief bio of the author, and I think it’s helpful to give some background information on myself when I present about my own book. Working on that introduction, it began to sound like an obituary, so I continued in that vein, adding some humor and little-known facts, such as my penchant for practical jokes and membership in the nonexistent “Organization for Directionally Impaired People.” In lieu of flowers I suggest donations earmarked for our sons’ ongoing university tuition and frequent flier miles. It’s actually been well-received; someone even asked for a copy of it. Now that was a strange request.

In a more serious vein, I’d like to be remembered as a loving wife and mother, a dedicated Speech-Language Pathologist, someone who gave service to the community, and a successful author of numerous books.

Location and life experience can sprinkle their influence in your writing. Tell us about where you grew up and a little about where you live now.

Janet Jensen: I was born in Berkeley, California and we lived in Walnut Creek until I was seven, so I don’t have many memories of the Bay Area. We moved to Phoenix and lived there for five years. Then we moved to Utah, where I attended junior high and high school. I graduated from Utah State University and then married my college sweetheart. We honeymooned in Chicago where we both obtained graduate degrees at Northwestern University. We love Chicago and try to visit every few years. After grad school we were able to return to northern Utah where we have lived for more than 35 years.

I have always been a city girl, though the community where I live is surrounded by farmland and there is a definite rural influence in the valley. Our local university is a land-grant university, so there is a strong emphasis on programs focused on irrigation, animal husbandry, poisonous plants, forestry, agriculture, etc. We also have a living historical farm museum in our valley, which is a marvelous place for children to get hands-on experiences in the farming life circa 1914.

Most of the time, I would say that I am living where I want to live right now. When a blizzard hits and makes driving treacherous and downright dangerous, or it’s so cold that the electric blanket remains on high all night, I think longingly of a place with a more temperate climate. But I live in a strong and healthy community and the university and local arts organizations offer many opportunities to meet my interests. I felt it was a safe place to raise our children. Since I moved around a lot as a child, it was particularly important to me that my children attended the same schools and even had some of the same teachers, and all three graduated from the high school their father attended. I feel rooted in my adopted hometown.

Do you have any pets? What are they? Tell us about them.

Janet Jensen: When our second son’s friend called, thrilled that his family had adopted a new baby, my son turned to me and said, “Couldn’t we do that, Mom?” and my reply was “You know that puppy we’ve been promising you? We’ll get it.” And we did. Chevy, a cocker mix, is now 14 and has shared many ups and downs with me. She is a loyal and understanding friend. We have also had several other dogs who have passed away, and that is pure heartache. Lita, a border collie mix, attended college with our middle son but now lives with us as he now lives in Finland. Lita is an intelligent and affectionate dog who likes us, but she’s ecstatic when our son comes to visit. We don’t mention his name in her presence, or she looks for him.

Bring us into your home and set the scene for us when you are writing. What does it look like?

Janet Jensen: When the nest emptied, so to speak, I turned a bedroom into my office. I have three large bookcases, a desktop computer, a scanner and two printers, and lots of unorganized papers in stacks. I also have notebooks of clippings and tote bags filled with items I need when I give a presentation on my book. I have a laptop that I use when traveling, and also when I speak to book groups. I show a 60-second movie trailer made of my book, and I also play a recording of the song that inspired the title of my book, as many have never heard it. It’s a tongue-in-cheek folksong and sets the tone for the presentation.

Do you watch television? If so, what are your favorite shows? Does television influence of inspire your writing?

Janet Jensen: I’m hooked on Lost. It’s great storytelling. I think they use flashbacks brilliantly. Of course, each episode presents more questions than it asks, and there are “Easter eggs” or other hints that I miss completely until I read about them on the web. And the number of references to other books, movies, great scientists, etc. is overwhelming, but it’s fun to read about those, too.

I was also a fan of Boston Legal in its earlier seasons and loved the mixture of serious issues with humor, and of course it has a very strong cast.

I also like Grey’s Anatomy and Without a Trace.

When I was recuperating from surgery a friend brought me the DVDs of Alias and I became hooked on it. It was better than becoming hooked on painkillers. And I’m also an unabashed fan of Dancing With the Stars. I can’t dance, but I love to watch it. What the pros accomplish with their celebrity partners is remarkable. It’s just fun viewing. And Masterpiece Theater on PBS.

What about movies?

Janet Jensen: To Kill a Mockingbird, Harvey, Arsenic and Old Lace, Dear Frankie, Chariots of Fire, The Englishman Who Went up a Hill and Came Down a Mountain, the A&E production of Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, The River Wild, The Sting, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the Shawshank Redemption, The Full Monty.

Focusing on your most recent (or first) book, tell our readers what genre your book is and what popular author you think your writing style in this book is most like.

Janet Jensen: One reviewer wrote that a particular section of Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys took on an O’Henry feel, and I took that as a compliment. I love to inject humor when I can, and I suppose you could say that I am more the “Gentle Reader” type of author who wants to tell a good story without resorting to vulgarity and gratuitous sex. I’m stumped when asked whose style I emulate. A writing friend said that my humorous columns reminded him of Robert Kirby, a very funny columnist for the Salt Lake Tribune. I wish I could be that amusing all the time. Other than the mention of author Jan Karon, no one I’ve queried has come up with an author for comparison. Basically, they say “you have your own unique style.”

How long did it take you to write your first book?

Janet Jensen: I started it in 2000, but then The Book Lover’s Cookbook took over for a few years. I had some major health issues that seriously impaired my creativity for about a year and a half after that, and then it took at least a year (and 75 rejections) to find a publisher. So technically, it took seven years. I did not write it quickly, either. I made many, many revisions and edits before I was satisfied, and during that time I was learning a lot, which I then applied to my work-in-progress.

Is there anyone you'd like to specifically acknowledge who has inspired, motivated, encouraged or supported your writing?

Janet Jensen: My parents always encouraged us to read great books, and they read to us. My mother was a librarian. My parents read to us when we were small. I would say that early influence was critical. Ken Rand, who is an author, editor and teacher, came into my career early when I took one of his workshops. He was so clear on the basics of writing and self-editing, that I came home with an entirely different mindset. I would say he was very influential in helping me develop as a writer. I have attended Writers@Work in Salt Lake City for four week-long workshops, and I attend other workshops when I can. They are always valuable and provide me with new ideas and inspiration. My local writing group nurtured me when I was new and inexperienced in creative writing, and that was key to developing confidence and learning the craft.

Is there any one particular book that when you read it, you thought to yourself, "Man, I wish I'd written that one!"?

Janet Jensen: To Kill a Mockingbird, Ethan Frome, A Separate Peace, Cannery Row, Bel Canto. . . those books are seamless and powerful.

Thinking about your writing career, is there anything you'd go back and do differently now that you have been published?

Janet Jensen: I would have started earlier when the “what am I doing with my creativity?” question began to nag me.

What is your main goal or purpose you would like to see accomplished by your writing?

Janet Jensen: I would like to tell good stories and tell them well. I would like my audience to appreciate my use of language, but I would never want the language to interfere with the story. I’d like my readers to feel satisfied, entertained, informed and uplifted when they close the book.

How has having a book published changed your life?

Janet Jensen: It’s brought a little fame and a lot of stress to my life. Certainly, I haven’t become rich and I rather doubt I will. I have worked tirelessly at promoting my novel, as I believe in it and its message. Small publishers aren’t known for extensive promotions or marketing strategies. Ironically, it took some national recognition that I was able to obtain before for my publisher began to promote my book more energetically in the regional market. Fortunately, the two major LDS bookstores (stores catering to the interests of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or Mormons) carry my book and it I understand it is doing well in their stores. Without that exposure, and my efforts at national publicity, I don’t know where my little book would be . . . there would probably be a few dusty boxes in the warehouse.

There is also the matter of timing. My book deals with modern polygamy, and of course it’s in the news every day and probably will remain a big media item for quite a while due to recent events in Texas, where law enforcement have taken FLDS women and children into custody and parental rights are at stake. But when I started the book the FLDS compound that was recently raided by law enforcement for suspected child abuse didn’t even exist in Eldorado, Texas, Mitt Romney wasn’t running for president, Big Love wasn’t being produced by HBO, and Warren Jeffs wasn’t on the FBI’s Most Wanted List. Oprah, Dr. Phil and Dateline and other television journalists weren’t interviewing and investigating polygamy.

My story, when I began to write it, had very little to do with current news. I had known about polygamy all of my life; there was polygamy in my father’s line, as he was descended from Mormon pioneers. I went to school with the son of a polygamist leader, a man who was later killed by a member of a rival clan, and when the son was interviewed on television, I was stunned to see him. I never knew about his background at all when we were in school. He was an excellent student, a quiet well-behaved young man and a member of the debate team. He and his family have been in the news locally on occasion, and I have followed their story as they eventually left the polygamous lifestyle.

Dorothy Allred Solomon wrote a compelling book, Daughter of the Saints, which gave fascinating insights into the polygamous lifestyle and the tremendous challenges faced by those who live it. Jessie Embrey’s scholarly work and other books provided more background, as well as in-depth newspaper stories in the Salt Lake Tribune, Los Angeles Times and the Deseret Morning News. Recently, several books have been published by women who have left the polygamous life, and I have read them as well. I had seen polygamous families on occasion and observed their unique (old-fashioned) appearance and apparent mistrust of the outside world.

We drove through Colorado City and that was an eye-opener. I had expected to see a well-organized old-fashioned farming community, but what we found were unpaved red dirt roads, unfinished haphazardly-built homes (until the homes are finished, property taxes can’t be assessed), houses with very few or very high windows, rusting trailers that surely would not meet any existing codes, a graveyard consisting of homemade red cement mounds with names and dates scratched on them that told in some cases a very sad history, and, saddest of all, a school with no playground – not a basketball hoop, hopscotch grid, swing or slide in sight. It looked like a warehouse, had high windows, and was surrounded by a tall fence topped with barbed wire. One small neighborhood at the edge of the community looked like any American suburb, with brick homes, sidewalks, and landscaping. These belonged to the leaders. The appearance of a strange car caused residents to go inside their homes; we saw a few children scatter as we entered town.

Promoting my book has taken a lot of energy I would normally be applying to other areas of my life, including my works in progress. It’s a choice I have made. At some point I must immerse myself back into the craft and let the publicity continue based on the momentum my publisher and I have been able to create so far.

Many authors have said that naming their characters is a difficult process, almost like choosing a name for their own child. How did you select the names of some of your lead characters in your book/s?

Janet Jensen: Naming my characters was much easier than naming our own children. In one of our baby books is a long list of names, each one eventually crossed out until only one remained. It was a long labor, and even the nurses offered suggestions.

It wasn’t difficult to name my characters at all, partly because this time it was not done by committee. I used some names from my own family history, as a tribute to them, and also chose some old-fashioned Biblical names as appropriate. It took a little longer to name my fictional communities. I named the dog after a famous Utah poet, Eliza R. Snow, and that provokes chuckles among readers who know who she was.

Have you ever had a character take over a story and move it in a different direction than you had originally intended? How did you handle it?

Janet Jensen: Oh, yes. Zina, Louisa’s younger sister disappears one night. Later, her father realizes she must have overheard him give an older man with several wives permission to court and therefore marry her. Zina loves her father but she cannot face him and tell him about her strong aversion to the idea of plural marriage. Instead, she leaves. I tried to tell Zina’s story at the same time I was developing Louisa’s, but the timeline was very problematic and the canvas became quite cluttered with new characters wandering around as Zina’s story began to take over. I finally had to remove her story from the book and promise her that she would have her own book. I love Zina and I owe it to her. So in the first book, Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys, all we know is that she is missing and has been for years. Zina’s story is the spinoff in progress.

Miss Carolina, the eccentric Healer Andy meets in Kentucky, was a minor character in the beginning. But I liked her so much I began to give her more to do. And then I researched natural remedies and Appalachian sayings and introduced each of the Kentucky chapters with them, crediting “Miss Carolina’s Remedies and Advice.” Some readers have asked me if the cures really work! So, in the preface to Zina’s book, I will ask Miss Carolina to address my readers on that issue.

Is there any lesson or moral you hope your story might reveal to those who read it?

Janet Jensen: I was very pleased to see my book listed as Christian Fiction, as some denominations do not consider Mormons to be Christian. That acceptance meant a great deal. Carolyn Howard-Johnson lists my title on her website as a book promoting tolerance and fair treatment of women.

It was very important to clarify to the reader that Mormons aren’t polygamists and polygamists aren’t Mormons. This concept is still unclear to many people, and if they read the book they will understand this distinction.

It’s also an ageless story about two people from antagonistic cultures who fall in love and want to marry, and all the trouble and heartbreak that can cause to both groups, who have such strong feelings about their religion and way of life. In my story, we see the development of tolerance and acceptance begin to develop among people within these two cultures, and that’s really where our interactions with others should begin, with individual respect and acceptance of differences.

Do you have any book signings, tours or special events planned to promote your book that readers might be interested in attending? If so, when and where?

Janet Jensen: I’ll be signing at the USA Best Books booth at the Los Angeles USA Book Expo at 9:00-9:30 on May 30.

Other upcoming events: I’ll be attending the Fife Folklore Workshop at Utah State University June 2-6, and I’m looking forward to that. I will present at a writers workshop in Springville, Utah on June 7, attend the LDS Booksellers Association Convention August 6-8, and may present on family literacy at Brigham Young University’s annual Education Week Aug 18-22 (that hasn’t been finalized). I am scheduled for presentations at book clubs in Logan, Utah on August 26 and in Hyrum, Utah on October 2. And I’ll be attending the League of Utah Writers Roundup September 12-14. I imagine other opportunities will be extended when local book clubs resume in the fall and plan their yearly agendas. It’s been my experiences that book clubs enjoy hearing from published authors, and people in my area have been very supportive.

It's said that the editing process of publishing a novel with a publisher is can be grueling and often more difficult than actually writing the story. Do you think this is true for you? How did you feel about editing your masterpiece?

Janet Jensen: The revisions and edits were minor and I’ve always been a team player. I would estimate that 95% of the edits proposed by my editor were excellent and appropriate and made the book better. To the remaining 5% I responded with something like, “No, the character would really say that,” and there was no further discussion. 95% agreement was awfully pleasant and my editor and the proofer were very thorough.

Now that you are a published author, does it feel differently than you had imagined?

Janet Jensen: Well, I would say that it garners a little more attention in public when people approach me and tell me they’ve heard about my book or better yet, they’ve read it. Most people have been very gracious and complimentary about my book. My neighbor bought 11 copies for her large family because there were historical references to both her husband’s ancestors and to hers in the first section. I had no idea, of course, that I was writing about their people, but was glad I had done my homework. I was thrilled to feel validated in that way.

Polygamy is a very touchy and complicated subject but most readers feel I handled it with sensitivity and that was certainly my goal.

Now, use this space to tell us more about who you. Anything you want your readers to know?

Oh, goodness, I feel as if I’ve written my autobiography already! I had no idea I was so fascinating. These questions were great and very thought-provoking. I welcome visitors to my website and blogs, where they’ll find pictures and essays and humor and regular columns.

My webpage is http://www.janetjensen.com and I blog at three locations:

www.janetkayjensen.blogspot.com
www.janetkayjensen2.blogspot.com

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From Gamila's Book Reviews

2010-08-20T09:37:00.001-07:00

Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys by Janet Kay Jensen

Andy McBride knows when he meets Louisa Martin that their relationship can never work out. He comes from good LDS family, and Louisa’s family practices Polygamy. As they go through medical school together at the University of Utah they fall in love. Andy ends up working as a doctor in small Kentucky town. Louisa returns to her home in Southern Utah in polygamous community.

The town elders challenge Louisa’s medical care to the other woman in the community, leaving her with little choices to help those around her. Andy faces down challenges in his own practice, making good friends and several enemies. When both have the chance to go to a medical convention in Finland they meet up once again. This time perhaps they will have the chance to be together again.

Don’t Marry the Mormon Boys was a pretty decent read. I had fun reading about the strange people that Andy met while he was working in Kentucky. There are a few really funny scenes that made me laugh out loud. I also liked reading about Louisa and her family. I liked that the author showed good and bad sides to her polygamous community. Louisa had the chance to grow up in a good home with a good father. Yet, the author also shows that women were not treated well in the community, through the work Louisa did in her clinic. It was nice to read a treatment of polygamy that didn’t completely vilify everyone who practiced it, but didn’t turn a blind eye to problems either. The book doesn’t have perfect writing, and a few scenes annoyed me, but the characters were unique and entertaining.

February 2010

"Sweet romance with a twist"

2009-10-13T11:17:00.000-07:00

Sweet romance with a twist, October 6, 2009

By just Joan "Certified Book Worm" (Arizona)

Dr. Andy McBride finds the love of his life when he meets Louisa Martin. Unfortunately, her lifestyle is in direct conflict with all he believes. He cannot accept it and she can't escape it. Andy leaves to practice medicine in Kentucky where he hopes to forget Louisa and get on with his life.

The distance from Louisa doesn't keep her from Andy's thoughts. Though he tries to get on with his life, he can't forget her. He immerses himself fully in his new life and new friends, but one of them becomes a bitter enemy who will later bring him heartache much worse than what he felt when he left Louisa behind.

DON'T YOU MARRY THE MORMON BOYS is told through both Andy and Louisa's points of view. We get to know them both; Andy's Mormon beliefs as well as Louisa's polygamist community.

Though they are so different, I couldn't help yearning for them to find some way to be together. And just when it seemed like they'd live happily ever after, Jensen throws in a curve ball that took me by surprise.

I loved DON'T YOU MARRY THE MORMON BOYS with its sweet romance and heartache it kept me turning the pages well into the night. I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love with the characters. I even learned a little about their differing beliefs along the way.

I'm not a particular fan of flashbacks and Jensen used this technique often, but it seemed to work for this novel, and once I got used to it, I hardly noticed it anymore. All in all, it was an enjoyable read. Though I didn't pass it on to my teen, I still gave it a high rating because I will definitely pass it on to my siblings and friends.

Regardless of your personal beliefs, if you like your romance with a bit of a twist, I think you'll enjoy DON'T YOU MARRY THE MORMON BOYS.

Read this and more reviews here:

http://www.amazon.com/Dont-You-Marry-Mormon-Boys/product-reviews/159955075X/ref=cm_cr_pr_link_1?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0

Mormon Boys Listed In Carolyn's Top Ten!

2009-01-02T11:40:00.000-08:00

see: http://www.myshelf.com/toptenreads.html

Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys is listed in author/teacher/mentor/editor/entrepeneur Carolyn Howard Johnson's 2008 Top Ten Reads at My Shelf. com.

She commented in an earlier review: "Janet Kay Jensen's Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys seems especially appropriate with the break-away Yearning for Zion group in Texas still in the news. It is a bit romance, a bit mystery and a USA Book News award winner."

She also lists this title in "Books about Utah, its religion and culture, ' "Fiction about repression of women," and "Books about tolerance."

In categorizing the book she also notes: "A light mystery-romance set with a polygamist cult background. Insight and sensitivity. Sound research."

Thank you, Carolyn!

Carolyn Howard Johnson

Visit her website to open a treasure box of tools for writers:

http://www.carolynhowardjohnson.redenginepress.com/

"A fun and entertaining story..." Review by Kara Hunt of Mesa, AZ

2008-08-02T09:47:00.000-07:00

Janet Kay Jensen was a presenter at the Cedar Fort Writer's Conference.

Her book, Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys is a fun and entertaining story about two people with conflicting lifestyles who meet at medical school and fall in love, but go their separate ways. She is a polygamist and returns to her community to practice medicine, which gives an interesting look at that belief system. He is a Mormon and moves to Kentucky to set up a small practice. They never forget each, though, and the story takes you through their ups and downs , wondering if they'll get back together.

For those who still believe that Mormons are polygamists, this book addresses those issues and differences in an informative yet entertaining way. And for anyone else, it's simply a fun read.

http://karahunt.blogspot.com/2008/08/book-review.html

Interview with Tristi Pinkston of families.com

2008-07-31T17:35:00.000-07:00

Janet, your new book Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys came out at a time that was very significant in our current affairs. Warren Jeffs was on the front of every newspaper. Did his story inspire you to write the book at that time, or was the book already in the works and came out coincidentally at the same time the Jeffs story broke?

I actually started the book in 2000, when Warren Jeffs was not on the FBI's Most Wanted List, HBO wasn't producing “Big Love,” and the YFZ (Yearning for Zion) Ranch in Texas didn't even exist. Then The Book Lover's Cookbook" took over my life for a couple of years. It involved a tremendous amount of work and research and recipe development, so Mormon Boys was put on the shelf. I was sidelined for another year with a serious medical condition that required surgery with a long recovery time, and I don't think I had a creative thought during that time period. That was very discouraging. Everybody tells me the release of my book was "good timing" but as you can see, it came about when it was ready.

The book features a character that was raised in a modern-day polygamous family. How closely did you pattern your character's life after that modeled by those in Jeff's commune, or is your depiction totally different?

I have done a lot of reading about the subject, including Jessie Embrey's excellent book in which she interviewed people who had been raised in the days when polygamy was still practiced by the church, or in the decades following the Manifesto, and also I've read books by women who've left various groups.

Dorothy Allred Solomon's Daughter of the Saints which is autobiographical was a very important book that I read to in an effort to gain insight into polygamy. I have also interviewed a former polygamist.

We drove through Colorado City about ten years ago and I've never forgotten the vivid images of that community. Dirt roads, no sidewalks, no landscaping, the few windows that existed were built high in the houses, and many homes remained unfinished to avoid property taxes. A good portion of it looked like a shantytown.

It was shocking, and so was the cemetery, which told some very sad stories about infant mortality and teenaged mothers. My fictional town, Gabriel's Landing, is more like an orderly old-fashioned farming community, though the standard of living is still modest for most of its residents.

When I learned I'd gone to high school with a young man raised in polygamy, the son of a Salt Lake City group's leader, I was really intrigued, because I don't believe any of us knew anything about this boy's background. He has since left polygamy and I began reading the occasional article about him and his family in the paper, which has further kindled my interest in the lifestyle and the challenges faced by those who leave it.

As you wrote the book, you drew some comparisons to modern-day polygamy as opposed to polygamy as practiced by the early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Was it your intent to show the difference, and what kind of feedback have you gotten on this aspect of your book?

I did want to show some of the differences between polygamy as practiced in the early days of the Mormon Church and the way a modern group might interpret "the Principle" now. I chose to point out that some take advantage of the welfare system (the wives claim to be single mothers), which puts a burden on the state's taxpayers.

Though there are definitely fanatics who are deeply entrenched in that way of life today, most of my Gabriel's Landing folks were just old-fashioned and following the traditions of their fathers. I didn't give them a "prophet." Instead, a Council of Brothers governs all religious and temporal issues, and though they try to keep a firm hand on all aspects of life, they are more moderate than some leaders you read about in the news.

However, abuses do occur in my fictional town, which Louisa discovers when she returns home to practice medicine. She finds birth defects caused to intermarriage, which is common among various sects. The occurrence of these disabilities is generally regarded as "God's will," but not to Louisa, who knows the medical reasons and counsels against close intermarriage. In some situations, the birth of a baby with disabilities can be used as "proof" of the mother's "unworthiness," which is a prime example of abuse of authority and the ways women are coerced into submission.

Louisa also sees evidence of depression and physical abuse among her female patients, and her efforts to treat these conditions create trouble with the Council. The practice of older men marrying young girls, while young men are sent outside of the community to fend for themselves is not uncommon, and it happens in my made-up group, too.

I love how you took historical fact and modern fact and blended them with fiction in order to create your story. Now let's talk about life as a writer. What is your writing schedule like?

Not as disciplined as it should be. I'll be stuck somewhere and rather than tackling the problem or working on another segment until I can figure out a solution, I'll just procrastinate. I'm amazed at writers who can publish several books in a year. I don't know if I could ever do that. I also do a lot of editing as I write, so instead of just "getting the story down" I'm looking at language and dialogue and issues I really don't need to address at that point. I will answer the phone and check email rather than focus.

Do you write longhand and then type it, or do you do the whole thing on a computer?

I depend on my computer. I have terrible handwriting.

How long did it take you to write Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys?

About 4-5 years, including events which interfered with my writing. And then it took quite a while to find a publisher.

It's your first work of fiction, is it not? Do you have plans to write other fiction novels?

This is my first work of fiction. A sequel is underway, (tentatively titled Gabriel's Daughters), and I have plans for several other works, aimed at the national audience. The first is about adult illiteracy and the profound effect it has on individuals.

What are your favorite books to read? You strike me as a Mitford kind of girl. Am I right, or way off base?

I do like the Mitford series very much, and I'm really pleased that authors such as Jan Karon and Alexander McCall Smith have had great success without reverting to offensive elements in their books. They have reminded the publishers that a good section of the reading public is hungry for books like these.

I'm also a fan of Anne Tyler, Alice Hoffman, Barbara Kingsolver, Jodi Picoult, and Anna Quindlen. I like to pick up classics as well; I've just gone through a Daphne du Maurier phase, followed by Edith Wharton, and I can feel another Dickens attack coming on.

If I want to be depressed I'll read Faulkner. Then I have to counterbalance it with something strong and uplifting. And I've been reading works by my colleagues in the regional market, too, to appreciate what my friends are writing and to learn writing and marketing strategies from them.

I just introduced my daughter-in-law to the Poldark series, and I may just have to read the whole thing again, for the pleasure of it. Winston Graham is a master storyteller. Another favorite is Neville Shute, the Australian writer who wrote A Town Like Alice.

I recently read Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (twice) and what a wonderful writer she is. To Kill a Mockingbird, Ethan Frome, the abridged Les Miserables (yes, abridged!) and A Separate Peace remain perennial favorites. I belong to two book clubs so I'm introduced to new books and authors every year.

Wow - you've just listed some of my favorite books of all time. I knew we had a lot in common! I'm going to have to drill you on some of your other favorite things. What are some of your other interests?

Glad you asked, Tristi. I love going to the theater - almost anything on the stage is intriguing. My husband and I love Broadway musicals, plays, ballet and other forms of dance, as well as musical groups from symphonies to bluegrass. I'm also catching up on classic old movies that I've never seen. Recently I rented "A Streetcar Named Desire," and though I think I saw it a long time ago, holy cow, it was brilliant. I'm really a Tennessee Williams fan.

And today Netflix sent me "Casablanca." I've seen the ending more times than I can tell you, but to see the whole movie through without interruptions will be a treat. I also love to watch a film while listening to the director's commentary, and it's interesting to listen to other interviews featured on the DVD. I keep hoping something they say will sink into my author's subconscious and come out on the page in some way when I'm writing.

We have season tickets to our local Summer Rep theater, and we usually take in an opera or two, produced in one of our historic downtown theaters, but though I've tried to acquire a taste for opera, I'm sorry to say it still remains largely undeveloped. We also have series of concerts that come through town each year and we'll see several of those, as well as some at Pioneer Theater in Salt Lake City.

I haven't been to the Utah Shakespearean Festival for a few years and I really miss it. They do a marvelous job. We are so lucky in Utah to have such a strong emphasis on the arts. And I'm a huge "Lost" fan. I'll remain loyal to the show as long as it's on the air, and I own the DVDs of Seasons One, Two and Three. It's simply great storytelling with a fabulous cast of actors. I love surprises, and Lost is full of them. I'm often confused by some of the references or events, but there are plenty of "experts" on the internet to explain them to me. I even got my Finnish daughter-in-law hooked on "Lost."

We like to travel. Lately, travel seems to center around our three grown sons, who are attending universities in Berkeley, California; Dayton, Ohio; and Jyvaskyla, Finland. Or we fly the kids home for a little time with them. I've been a grandmother for a year now, and that's really been a joy. I also have two dogs, one of whom shows up in Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys. She's not as bright as my fictional dog, but she's loving and loyal.

And that's the best kind of dog to have! Janet, it's been a delight to host you here on Families.com. Thanks for taking time out from your busy schedule to visit with me, and best of luck in all you do.

http://media.families.com/blog/author-interview-janet-kay-jensen-when-shes-not-writing

Review by Holly of 2 Kids and Tired Blog - "At times this book was laugh-out-loud funny. . ."

2008-07-31T07:35:00.001-07:00

Andy McBride meets Louisa Martin in medical school and is instantly smitten. However, Andy is a Mormon and Louisa comes from a polygamist lifestyle. After medical school, they go their separate ways, when it seems that neither can live the other's way of life.

Andy ends up practicing as a country doctor in rural Kentucky and Louisa goes back to her hometown to practice among her people. After she does this, she begins to learn that life among the polygamists is not all roses and sunshine. As she treats the women of the community, she learns of abuse and disabilities due to intermarrying. Ultimately she must decide if she can keep quiet and be obedient to the brethren or will she do what she can to help those she has promised to help even if it means rejecting the life she has always known.

Through their experiences, Andy and Louisa find each other again. After a difficult experience with their children, differences are resolved with their respective parents, all of whom had reservations about the marriage.

The book is well-written and the polygamy aspect is thoroughly researched. It echoes much of what we have seen in the media this year. The characters are brought to life with depth and insight. I appreciated that Janet portrayed Louisa's family as normal people. They loved and lost and believed in their faith, but had questions at times just like the rest of us. They weren't just blindly following some lunatic. They honestly believe that what they are practicing is true and right.

I found the part in Finland a bit disconcerting. It was as if it was just thrown in. Yes, he served his mission there, but I found the "coincidence" that they both ended up on the same exchange program a little too convenient.

At times this book was laugh-out-loud funny. I thoroughly enjoyed the Kentucky characters and the people Andy comes to love. Miss Carolina is awesome, and I loved the fact that natural healing and homeopathy were presented as normal and able to work alongside western medicine. The bit at the end with the FBI agents wearing their missionary name tags was hysterical.

A charming, yet captivating book. A delightful, easy read.

Read 6/08

"I didn't get the story I was promised . . . " from Lucy's I Love to Read and Write Blog

2008-07-30T22:09:00.001-07:00

The book jacket's summary of Janet Jensen's debut novel, Don't You Marry The Mormon Boys, describes a story about two people from different backgrounds and belief systems (Andy is mainstream LDS and Louisa was raised in a polygamous fundamentalist community) who fall in love at medical school but face overwhelming obstacles in an effort to be together.

That was the story I was expecting and found myself disappointed with the story I was actually given. Andy and Louisa do, in fact, face these obstacles, but it is never the focus of the story. In fact, were it not for a few flashbacks to medical school, there is no mention of these two main characters together in the same chapter, much less the same plot for the first 200 pages. Andy does his rural, family practice medical thing in Kentucky, which seems a completely unnecessary setting to me (unless the far fetched and wholly irrelevant ending was somehow important to the story of Andy and Louisa's journey....which it is not), and Louisa returns to her polygamous community to realize that her eyes have been changed to the situation around her after eight years of living away from it.

Sure there are a few wistful thoughts, memories and even dreams about the other, but the reason for their attraction, or friendship, is never explained. Andy thought she was beautiful, in spite of her plain, long ankle length dress, and crowning glory long hair, but apparently pursued a relationship with her because she was so smart and he wanted to study with her. (????) The reader is never given any information about Louisa's feelings towards Andy. There is simply an assumption that because she spent time with him, she fell in love with him. The hows and the whys are not worth mentioning, I suppose. Without that development of their relationship for the readers to hold onto, I didn't yearn for these two to be together. As their individual stories don't actually intersect until page 197, a little yearning would have been nice. But, that doesn't seem to be the point of the book.

The thing I liked most about this novel was Jensen's humanistic portrayal of polygamous families. It's always troubled me that the media, pop culture and even the mainstream LDS church portray them as crazy, mindless followers without any thought or choice about their lifestyle. Jensen shows a side of their families and individuals who honestly believe what they practice, and that they do it for the same reason a lot of us do whatever it is we do - because we think it's what God has commanded us to do. I also appreciated the look inside their culture...from the need to protect themselves from outsiders to the organizations of their households. Considering the current events going on in Texas, it adds a deeper understanding to the story. But, that doesn't seem to be the point of the book either.

It isn't all sunshine, however, and as Louisa's eyes are opened to the real problems of their community (abuse, incest, birth defects, depression) she becomes a target of opposition to the community - particularly to the Council of Brethren, who seem like old, scary, mean men without a compassionate bone in their bodies. Again, this black and white portrayal of the community's leadership seems too clean and villainous to be true. Surely, there are some members who are able to be something other than completely dogmatic. It doesn't matter, though, because, once again, this conflict with Louisa does not seem to be the point of the book.

In the end, I'm not sure what the point is, or was supposed to be. Andy and Louisa seem more like conduits for the author to expound on the quirks and habits of rural Kentucky and polygamy than actual characters. The part of the story where they are actually together and communicating and conflicting only warrants 40 or so pages. Then the story jumps tracks and heads off in an entirely new direction - one I won't mention because it will seem like I am reviewing another book. I felt like it was a different book.

I guess I feel mostly disappointed because I didn't get the story I was promised. I didn't get Andy and Louisa's story. Not really.

May 31, 2008

"So Much Room for Improvement" from Danyelle Ferguson's Queen of the Clan Blog

2008-07-30T21:33:00.000-07:00

It sounds good, doesn't it? I picked up this book because a friend highly recommended it to me. I was impressed it was a finalist for ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year. I was also in the mood for a good romance.

I found the story of a boy who is strongly against polygamy in love with a girl who was from a polygamous community kind of fascinating. It was definitely different. And since getting a book with polygamous content published in the LDS market is almost impossible to do, I was interested in how Jensen weaved the story and what all she would include about the practice of polygamy - especially in regards to the LDS Church.

While the story was intriguing, I kept getting lost. Each chapter jumps from either Andy's or Louisa's point-of-view. And within those chapters, you may have long flashbacks to their college days or a family memory. I kept getting confused,trying to remember if we were in Kentucky or Utah, past or present. I often had to go back and re-read and get re-oriented.

Also, if you are a big romance fan, this is not a book for you. Throughout the book, you just know these two are in love and need to be together. You find yourself rooting for them to find each other again. When they finally see each other, it's at a medical convention in Chicago. Instead of reuniting, Andy the idiot, really goes off on Louisa, makes her cry, and she runs off - thus inserting an even bigger obstacle in their path.

Then, fate steps in. Somehow, they both get chosen to be in a group of ten doctors who travel to Finland for a one month internship. Andy and Louisa meet up. Andy apologizes, Louisa forgives him. Then the next three weeks goes by in about three paragraphs. During which time, they fall in love all over again and elope. Yep. In three paragraphs. Hello? Where's the romance? Where's the part about rediscovering each other? They've been apart for over five years! There's so much for them to talk about. But nope. They go for a hike on a hill. They go to a restaurant. Andy proposes. Louisa accepts. Then voila! They are married. Absolutely no romantic pay-off at all. Not even one tingle-to-the-toes kiss.

Then suddenly, it's three months later and you find out Louisa is pregnant. Then they find out it's twins - a boy and a girl. How convenient, I mean lucky, right? Then suddenly it's four years later, and the twins are kidnapped. Yep. I bet you didn't know this was supposed to be a romantic-suspense novel did you? The whole last quarter of the book seemed to be contrived and just thrown in there. I was pretty disappointed.

I think the plot idea is great. But there's so much room for improvement. I would have liked to have seen a better flow between transitions of point-of-view and flashbacks. And I definitely would have liked a better ending. If this book is on your reading list, I suggest checking it out of the library.

June 26, 2008

" . . . I was hooked." Book review by Stephanie Humphreys

2008-07-23T10:47:00.000-07:00

A review by Stephanie Humphreys at her blog: www.shumphreys.blogspot.com

When I decided to read this book, I was intrigued by the concept of two people from two cultures with similar backgrounds coming together in a love story. Because polygamy has been in the news lately I wanted to see how the author handled the story. Halfway into the first chapter I was hooked. I expected a nice love story, I didn't expect to fall in love with the characters and the settings.

Jensen has created characters that are strong and likable. They overcome tremendous odds, from health problems, lack of family support, and the biggest one, an enormous difference in religious beliefs, and they do it in a believable manner. I also loved the smoky mountain setting and the quirky characters Andy meets there as he sets up his practice. Jensen also gave a good balance to the treatment of the two religions. Each had characters who were intolerant and close-minded, just as each side had characters who gave unconditional support of their decisions.

In the final analysis, I thought the subject of modern day polygamy was treated with grace. The writing was strong and the story was a compelling read. I can't wait for more from this author.

You can purchase "Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys" here.

Janet is providing a book to give away with this review, so post your comments on this post. On Saturday I will take all the comments and randomly select a winner to receive a free copy of this book. Good luck

Books and Shoes

2008-07-18T09:22:00.000-07:00

Last April I was shopping at an outlet mall outside of Dayton, Ohio. It's where I can find SAS shoes that

a) are hard to find and

b) fit my feet.

It was a slow day and the clerks were discussing books they had read, so I did something very atypical and bold: I jumped into the conversation and told them if they wanted to read a good book, they could read mine, and handed them my business cards. If you know me, you know that this is very out-of-character.

Today I heard from them (names changed to protect their privacy):

We hope that you are truly enjoying your SAS Shoes, hope you had a wonderful visit here in Ohio. Wanted to take the time to let you know that we were able to get your book from Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah via Jamestown Library.

Loved the book, laughed some, cried some, certainly appreciated the information regarding the reality of Mormon Religion versus the assumptions many people have, excellent read, are there more?

Mary and Louise the gals from SAS Shoe Store in Ohio

PS: Louise wanted to know if the basis of the story was perhaps your parents lives?

You Can help our Forces

2008-07-16T09:30:00.000-07:00

Julie Bellon, author of All's Fair, is gathering care package items for our military serving in Iraq. See details at her website: http://www.juliebellon.com/
It's easy to contribute to this effort. Everyone has something they can give, and our forces appreciate it so much. Kudos to Julie for her project!

Book Review by Framed and Booked

2008-07-14T11:11:00.000-07:00

Saturday, May 31, 2008
Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys by Janet Kay Jensen

Don't be alarmed. This is neither an anti-mormon tract or a book out to prove that Mormon boys make the best husbands. It is just a fun, well-written novel that the author asked me to review.

Andy and Louisa meet while in medical school at the University of Utah. He is a returned missionary for the LDS church and she comes from a small-town in southern Utah that is peopled by a sect of Fundamendalist polygamists. They fall in love, but realize at graduation that the relationship can go no farther. She is set on returning to Gabriel's Landing to provide medical services for the community, a place where Andy would be patently unwelcome.

Four years later, with their residencies on separate sides of the country out of the way, Louisa returns to her family and Andy moves to a small town in Kentucky to set up shop. The Kentuckian characters are fantastic and provide much of the humor in this story. The polygamists. . . not so much. Jensen does not do a hatchet job on this group which could be easy based on recent events. However, the leaders of the town have lost sight of one basic tenet of true religion and that is free agency. They are portrayed as basically good men who have let power lead them into a circumstance of unrighteous dominion.

But Jensen does show the love and respect in Louisa's own family whose father has had three wives, two of whom are still alive. So the situation is not black or white. One issue that was raised is that of inbreeding and the serious medical conditions that can result.

Also, don't forget the lingering longings for lost love (love the rolling l's) which afflict both Andy and Louisa. I found this book to be a a very enjoyable and quick read with great characters and a great story. It doesn't sugar coat hard topics and it doesn't preach. Very entertaining and thought-provoking. I do feel that the story would have been better told in two different books: the first dealing with Andy and Louisa's relationship and the conclusion of that conflict; and the second, telling about what happens next. What happens next occupies less than a fourth of this book. Jensen writes so well that I believe she could have told this part of the story with more detail and without skipping four years. It feels like things were left out somehow. Like more of those colorful neighbors and pets. But the chase scene at the end is hilarious, especially when I could see the children were not in peril.
Rating: 4.25

I just visited Janet's website and read about her cookbook, The Book Lover's Cookbook. Any of you readers who would like a literary reference to go along with your recipes should definitely checks this book out. And it looks like there is a sequel to Mormon Boys coming out soon.

Posted at framedandbooked.blogspot.com

Interview by editor/reviewer Michy Devon

2008-07-03T15:00:00.000-07:00

Book Reviews and Author Interviews
Author & Editor Michelle L Devon writes book reviews for other authors. Ms. Devon provides book reviews for free, as long as you're willing to send a free hard copy of the book for the review! If you would like an author interview, contact Michelle at michelle@accentuateservices.com for the interview questions. Don't forget to visit the writer's forum at: www.writersforum.info

Friday, June 20, 2008

Janet Kay Jensen Author Interview
A little about yourself: I’m a full-time writer with one book of nonfiction and one novel under my belt. I live in northern Utah with my husband and our two dogs, and we have recently become grandparents.

Interview with Author Janet Kay Jensen

It's rare today to find an author who does nothing but write for a living. Do you have a 'real' job other than writing, and if so, what is it? What are some other jobs you've had in your life?

Janet Jensen: My first career was in Speech-Language Pathology and I worked in public school and university settings for more than 20 years. It was rewarding and challenging but at a certain point I found myself, surprisingly, ready to make a change in occupation. Fortunately, my husband is employed full-time so I am able to be a full-time writer.

What compelled you to write your first book?
Janet Jensen: A fellow writer approached me at a monthly meeting of our writers group and proposed a project, which eventually turned into The Book Lover’s Cookbook, Recipes Inspired by Celebrated Works of Literature and thee Passages that Feature Them (Wenger & Jensen, Ballantine Books, 2003). That project (researching literature and creating original recipes to match the literary references to food) dominated the next three years and put most of my other writing on hold. The resulting book was beautifully done and certainly taught us a great deal about the publishing world.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?
Janet Jensen: Academically, writing was always a strong suit for me. Actually writing a book and getting it published, however, was a goal that developed later in life.

Tell us a little bit about your book/s.
Janet Jensen: My most recent book is Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys, a novel published by Bonneville Books, an imprint of Cedar Fort Press, released November 1, 2007 .

Gather 'round, girls, and listen to my noise, Don't you marry the Mormon boys; If you do your fortune it will be, Johnnycake and babies is all you'll see. -old western folksong

The prospect of one wife is more than enough for Mormon bachelor Andy McBride, a medical student at the University of Utah. Then he falls for Louisa Martin, a fellow student. There is only one obstacle to planning a life together: polygamy - a lifestyle that Louisa cannot escape and Andy cannot embrace. Can a mainstream Mormon and a woman raised in polygamy overcome the cultural barriers between them? Both realize that their choices will not only affect their own lives, but will also have an impact on families, friends, and even their communities.

Fearing that the sacrifices required of them would be too great, they go their separate ways.Yet for Andy in Kentucky and Louisa in Utah, life does not go as they'd planned. While Andy is serving as a country doctor and trying to bury his pain, Louisa is coming to terms with the fact that all is not as perfect in her tight-knit community as she had believed.

As doctors, each will have to choose between keeping the peace in their communities or doing what they know is right. And someday, both will have to face their past and decide if they can make the sacrifice to be together.

Set in the red hills of southern Utah, the cosmopolitan center of Salt Lake City, the Smoky Mountains of Kentucky, and the lake-studded country of Finland, Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys is the heartfelt and engaging story about the power of love and acceptance in an ever-changing and often surprising world.

Other Publications: The Book Lover’s Cookbook (see question #2 for more details) Narrative unit developed for children’s book Stellaluna in The Magic of Stories (Strong and Hoggan, Thinking Publications) Contributing author, LDS Writing Secrets (LDStorymakers)

Are you currently working on any writing projects our readers should watch for release soon?
Janet Jensen: Yes. I’m writing a sequel to Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys, a children’s book, and another novel.

Have you ever won any writing awards? If so, what?
Janet Jensen: League of Utah Writers: First place in humorous poetry, personal essay, short story, short-short story.

Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys has won the following awards:
First runner-up, Best New Writing: The Eric Hoffer Award, commercial fiction
Finalist, USA Best Books 2007, religious fiction
Bronze Award, ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year, religious fiction
Semi-Finalist, Reader Views Critics Awards, religion/spirituality
Nominee, Whitney Award for LDS Fiction Writers
Honorable Mention, Marilyn Brown Unpublished Novel Award, Association for Mormon Letters

How did you feel the day you held the copy of your first book in your hands?
Janet Jensen: It’s an astonishing experience, next to seeing your newborn child for the first time.

What type of music, if any, do you listen to while you write?
Janet Jensen: I’m eclectic in my musical tastes and listen to whatever suits my mood at the time. I like classical, Broadway soundtracks, oldies, new-age, Celtic, folk and bluegrass.

What inspires you and motivates you to write the very most?
Janet Jensen: I’ll read a book and think: I could do that. And then sometimes a little germ of a story lives in my mind and gradually grows into a little kernel and I’m ready to begin writing the skeleton of a story. Reading other books, the newspaper, and attending writing critiques and workshops can also plant ideas in my mind.

What one thing are you the most proud of in your life?
Janet Jensen: I would say that my children are my greatest accomplishments. My husband and I have raised three sons, all of whom are attending universities, and we recently became grandparents.

What about your family? Do you have children, married, siblings, parents? Has your family been supportive of your writing?
Janet Jensen: My writing career has been a surprise to my family. It has taken a while for them to digest the fact that I am a published author as well as an educator, wife and mother. I love the fact that they’ve had to adjust to this new facet of me. While they are proud and supportive, they have not been part of the creative process. They haven’t “jumped in” to give me feedback or ideas for stories. For that I have turned to other writers. My two older sisters have been marvelous assistants and supporters. They have proofed and given me feedback and helped me format my manuscripts into professional documents. They’ve shared every step with me and been my sounding board when I’ve needed one. My husband makes appearances at book signings, advises me on business questions, and listens to my angst. I would have to say he has the patience of a saint when it comes to my writing career.

The main characters of your stories - do you find that you put a little of yourself into each of them or do you create them to be completely different from you?

Janet Jensen: I think it’s easy to inject some of your own qualities into characters. It’s a challenge to create unique, believable characters who come from another place entirely. As I continue to write, I’m sure more of my characters will reflect less of me.

Is there an established writer you admire and emulate in your own writing? Do you have a writing mentor?

Janet Jensen: I would love to write with the grace of Ann Patchett or the clarity of Barbara Kingsolver or Anna Quindlen. Jodi Picoult is a master weaver of plot. Anne Tyler’s wonderfully flawed characters are a treat to know, and her humor is delightful. Joanne Harris is a pleasure to read as well. I love the books written by Australian author Neville Shute. And then there are the icons: Steinbeck, Dickens, Hugo, Faulkner, Wharton, Twain, Shakespeare . . . I’m sure I’ve left a few of them out.

I have colleagues who are honest and helpful and give continual feedback as we meet regularly and share our manuscripts. I have also recently become acquainted with Carolyn Howard-Johnson, and her books and websites are a treasure box of inspiration for writers.

I would love to have a mentor who is a master at seeing the whole plot of a book and helping me analyze it. That’s where I feel I need the most support.

When growing up, did you have a favorite author, book series, or book?
Janet Jensen: Like most other girls of my generation I read The Bobbsey Twins, The Five Little Peppers, Ginger Pye and other Beverly Cleary books, Pippi Longstocking, Cherry Ames . . . My parents gave me the Golden Book Treasury of Poetry edited by Louis Untermeyer and illustrated by Joan Walsh Anglund when I was 8, and it was a marvelous introduction to appreciating poetry. It’s out of print, but I was able to find three copies on eBay and give them to each of my sons.

What about now: who is your favorite author and what is your favorite genre to read?
Janet Jensen: Fiction is my first choice. Biography is second. I plan to read all of Anne Tyler’s 17 novels. At the moment I’d say Edith Wharton is at the top of my list.

Hey, let's get morbid. When they write your obituary, what do you hope they will say about your book/s and writing? What do you hope they will say about you?
Janet Jensen: I have already written my obituary. First, it was a practical consideration and it’s filed with the will and power of attorney. I’m the only one who could accurately write the facts: where I was born, the spelling of my parents’ names, where I attended school, etc. And when the time comes, my family will only have to fill in a few details. I’ve even listed some of my favorite music and poetry for whatever type of memorial they choose to have.

I belong to several book clubs, and the discussion of the book always begins with a brief bio of the author, and I think it’s helpful to give some background information on myself when I present about my own book. Working on that introduction, it began to sound like an obituary, so I continued in that vein, adding some humor and little-known facts, such as my penchant for practical jokes and membership in the nonexistent “Organization for Directionally Impaired People.” In lieu of flowers I suggest donations earmarked for our sons’ ongoing university tuition and frequent flier miles. It’s actually been well-received; someone even asked for a copy of it. Now that was a strange request.

In a more serious vein, I’d like to be remembered as a loving wife and mother, a dedicated Speech-Language Pathologist, someone who gave service to the community, and a successful author of numerous books.

Location and life experience can sprinkle their influence in your writing. Tell us about where you grew up and a little about where you live now.
Janet Jensen: I was born in Berkeley, California and we lived in Walnut Creek until I was seven, so I don’t have many memories of the Bay Area. We moved to Phoenix and lived there for five years. Then we moved to Utah, where I attended junior high and high school. I graduated from Utah State University and then married my college sweetheart. We honeymooned in Chicago where we both obtained graduate degrees at Northwestern University. We love Chicago and try to visit every few years.

After grad school we were able to return to northern Utah where we have lived for more than 35 years. I have always been a city girl, though the community where I live is surrounded by farmland and there is a definite rural influence in the valley. Our local university is a land-grant university, so there is a strong emphasis on programs focused on irrigation, animal husbandry, poisonous plants, forestry, agriculture, etc. We also have a living historical farm museum in our valley, which is a marvelous place for children to get hands-on experiences in the farming life circa 1914.

Most of the time, I would say that I am living where I want to live right now. When a blizzard hits and makes driving treacherous and downright dangerous, or it’s so cold that the electric blanket remains on high all night, I think longingly of a place with a more temperate climate. But I live in a strong and healthy community and the university and local arts organizations offer many opportunities to meet my interests. I felt it was a safe place to raise our children. Since I moved around a lot as a child, it was particularly important to me that my children attended the same schools and even had some of the same teachers, and all three graduated from the high school their father attended. I feel rooted in my adopted hometown.

Do you have any pets? What are they? Tell us about them.
Janet Jensen: When our second son’s friend called, thrilled that his family had adopted a new baby, my son turned to me and said, “Couldn’t we do that, Mom?” and my reply was “You know that puppy we’ve been promising you? We’ll get it.” And we did. Chevy, a cocker mix, is now 14 and has shared many ups and downs with me. She is a loyal and understanding friend. We have also had several other dogs who have passed away, and that is pure heartache. Lita, a border collie mix, attended college with our middle son but now lives with us as he now lives in Finland. Lita is an intelligent and affectionate dog who likes us, but she’s ecstatic when our son comes to visit. We don’t mention his name in her presence, or she looks for him.

Bring us into your home and set the scene for us when you are writing. What does it look like?
Janet Jensen: When the nest emptied, so to speak, I turned a bedroom into my office. I have three large bookcases, a desktop computer, a scanner and two printers, and lots of unorganized papers in stacks. I also have notebooks of clippings and tote bags filled with items I need when I give a presentation on my book. I have a laptop that I use when traveling, and also when I speak to book groups. I show a 60-second movie trailer made of my book, and I also play a recording of the song that inspired the title of my book, as many have never heard it. It’s a tongue-in-cheek folksong and sets the tone for the presentation.

Do you watch television? If so, what are your favorite shows? Does television influence of inspire your writing?
Janet Jensen: I’m hooked on Lost. It’s great storytelling. I think they use flashbacks brilliantly. Of course, each episode presents more questions than it asks, and there are “Easter eggs” or other hints that I miss completely until I read about them on the web. And the number of references to other books, movies, great scientists, etc. is overwhelming, but it’s fun to read about those, too. I was also a fan of Boston Legal in its earlier seasons and loved the mixture of serious issues with humor, and of course it has a very strong cast. I also like Grey’s Anatomy and Without a Trace. When I was recuperating from surgery a friend brought me the DVDs of Alias and I became hooked on it. It was better than becoming hooked on painkillers. And I’m also an unabashed fan of Dancing With the Stars. I can’t dance, but I love to watch it. What the pros accomplish with their celebrity partners is remarkable. It’s just fun viewing. And Masterpiece Theater on PBS.

What about movies?
Janet Jensen: To Kill a Mockingbird, Harvey, Arsenic and Old Lace, Dear Frankie, Chariots of Fire, The Englishman Who Went up a Hill and Came Down a Mountain, the A&E production of Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, The River Wild, The Sting, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the Shawshank Redemption, The Full Monty.

Focusing on your most recent (or first) book, tell our readers what genre your book is and what popular author you think your writing style in this book is most like.
Janet Jensen: One reviewer wrote that a particular section of Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys took on an O’Henry feel, and I took that as a compliment. I love to inject humor when I can, and I suppose you could say that I am more the “Gentle Reader” type of author who wants to tell a good story without resorting to vulgarity and gratuitous sex. I’m stumped when asked whose style I emulate. A writing friend said that my humorous columns reminded him of Robert Kirby, a very funny columnist for the Salt Lake Tribune. I wish I could be that amusing all the time. Other than the mention of author Jan Karon, no one I’ve queried has come up with an author for comparison. Basically, they say “you have your own unique style.”

How long did it take you to write your first book?
Janet Jensen: I started it in 2000, but then The Book Lover’s Cookbook took over for a few years. I had some major health issues that seriously impaired my creativity for about a year and a half after that, and then it took at least a year (and 75 rejections) to find a publisher. So technically, it took seven years. I did not write it quickly, either. I made many, many revisions and edits before I was satisfied, and during that time I was learning a lot, which I then applied to my work-in-progress.

Is there anyone you'd like to specifically acknowledge who has inspired, motivated, encouraged or supported your writing?
Janet Jensen: My parents always encouraged us to read great books, and they read to us. My mother was a librarian. My parents read to us when we were small. I would say that early influence was critical. Ken Rand, who is an author, editor and teacher, came into my career early when I took one of his workshops. He was so clear on the basics of writing and self-editing, that I came home with an entirely different mindset. I would say he was very influential in helping me develop as a writer. I have attended Writers@Work in Salt Lake City for four week-long workshops, and I attend other workshops when I can. They are always valuable and provide me with new ideas and inspiration. My local writing group nurtured me when I was new and inexperienced in creative writing, and that was key to developing confidence and learning the craft.

Is there any one particular book that when you read it, you thought to yourself, "Man, I wish I'd written that one!"?
Janet Jensen: To Kill a Mockingbird, Ethan Frome, A Separate Peace, Cannery Row, Bel Canto. . . those books are seamless and powerful.

Thinking about your writing career, is there anything you'd go back and do differently now that you have been published?
Janet Jensen: I would have started earlier when the “what am I doing with my creativity?” question began to nag me.

What is your main goal or purpose you would like to see accomplished by your writing?
Janet Jensen: I would like to tell good stories and tell them well. I would like my audience to appreciate my use of language, but I would never want the language to interfere with the story. I’d like my readers to feel satisfied, entertained, informed and uplifted when they close the book.

How has having a book published changed your life?
Janet Jensen: It’s brought a little fame and a lot of stress to my life. Certainly, I haven’t become rich and I rather doubt I will. I have worked tirelessly at promoting my novel, as I believe in it and its message. Small publishers aren’t known for extensive promotions or marketing strategies. Ironically, it took some national recognition that I was able to obtain before for my publisher began to promote my book more energetically in the regional market. Fortunately, the two major LDS bookstores (stores catering to the interests of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or Mormons) carry my book and it I understand it is doing well in their stores.

Without that exposure, and my efforts at national publicity, I don’t know where my little book would be . . . there would probably be a few dusty boxes in the warehouse. There is also the matter of timing. My book deals with modern polygamy, and of course it’s in the news every day and probably will remain a big media item for quite a while due to recent events in Texas, where law enforcement have taken FLDS women and children into custody and parental rights are at stake.

But when I started the book the FLDS compound that was recently raided by law enforcement for suspected child abuse didn’t even exist in Eldorado, Texas, Mitt Romney wasn’t running for president, Big Love wasn’t being produced by HBO, and Warren Jeffs wasn’t on the FBI’s Most Wanted List. Oprah, Dr. Phil and Dateline and other television journalists weren’t interviewing and investigating polygamy. My story, when I began to write it, had very little to do with current news.

I had known about polygamy all of my life; there was polygamy in my father’s line, as he was descended from Mormon pioneers. I went to school with the son of a polygamist leader, a man who was later killed by a member of a rival clan, and when the son was interviewed on television, I was stunned to see him. I never knew about his background at all when we were in school. He was an excellent student, a quiet well-behaved young man and a member of the debate team. He and his family have been in the news locally on occasion, and I have followed their story as they eventually left the polygamous lifestyle.

My high school classmate’s sister, Dorothy Allred Solomon, also wrote a compelling book, Daughter of the Saints, which gave fascinating insights into the polygamous lifestyle and the tremendous challenges faced by those who live it. Jessie Embrey’s scholarly work and other books provided more background, as well as in-depth newspaper stories in the Salt Lake Tribune, Los Angeles Times and the Deseret Morning News. Recently, several books have been published by women who have left the polygamous life, and I have read them as well. I had seen polygamous families on occasion and observed their unique (old-fashioned appearance) and apparent mistrust of the outside world.

We drove through Colorado City and that was an eye-opener. I had expected to see a well-organized old-fashioned farming community, but what we found were unpaved red dirt roads, unfinished haphazardly-built homes (until the homes are finished, property taxes can’t be assessed), houses with very few or very high windows, rusting trailers that surely would not meet any existing codes, a graveyard consisting of homemade red cement mounds with names and dates scratched on them that told in some cases a very sad history, and, saddest of all, a school with no playground – not a basketball hoop, hopscotch grid, swing or slide in sight. It looked like a warehouse, had high windows, and was surrounded by a tall fence topped with barbed wire. One small neighborhood at the edge of the community looked like any American suburb, with brick homes, sidewalks, and landscaping. These belonged to the leaders. The appearance of a strange car caused residents to go inside their homes; we saw a few children scatter as we entered town.

Promoting my book has taken a lot of energy I would normally be applying to other areas of my life, including my works in progress. It’s a choice I have made. At some point I must immerse myself back into the craft and let the publicity continue based on the momentum my publisher and I have been able to create so far.

Many authors have said that naming their characters is a difficult process, almost like choosing a name for their own child. How did you select the names of some of your lead characters in your book/s?
Janet Jensen: Naming my characters was much easier than naming our own children. In one of our baby books is a long list of names, each one eventually crossed out until only one remained. It was a long labor, and even the nurses offered suggestions. It wasn’t difficult to name my characters at all, partly because this time it was not done by committee. I used some names from my own family history, as a tribute to them, and also chose some old-fashioned Biblical names as appropriate. It took a little longer to name my fictional communities. I named the dog after a famous Utah poet, Eliza R. Snow, and that provokes chuckles among readers who know who she was.

Have you ever had a character take over a story and move it in a different direction than you had originally intended? How did you handle it?
Janet Jensen: Oh, yes. Zina, Louisa’s younger sister disappears one night. Later, her father realizes she must have overheard him give an older man with several wives permission to court and therefore marry her. Zina loves her father but she cannot face him and tell him about her strong aversion to the idea of plural marriage. Instead, she leaves. I tried to tell Zina’s story at the same time I was developing Louisa’s, but the timeline was very problematic and the canvas became quite cluttered with new characters wandering around as Zina’s story began to take over. I finally had to remove her story from the book and promise her that she would have her own book. I love Zina and I owe it to her.

So in the first book, Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys, all we know is that she is missing and has been for years. Zina’s story is the sequel in progress.

Miss Carolina, the eccentric Healer Andy meets in Kentucky, was a minor character in the beginning. But I liked her so much I began to give her more to do. And then I researched natural remedies and Appalachian sayings and introduced each of the Kentucky chapters with them, crediting “Miss Carolina’s Remedies and Advice.” Some readers have asked me if the cures really work! So, in the preface to Zina’s book, I will ask Miss Carolina to address my readers on that issue.

Is there any lesson or moral you hope your story might reveal to those who read it?
Janet Jensen: I was very pleased to see my book listed as Christian Fiction, as some denominations do not consider Mormons to be Christian. That acceptance meant a great deal. Carolyn Howard-Johnson lists my title on her website as a book promoting tolerance and fair treatment of women. It was very important to clarify to the reader that Mormons aren’t polygamists and polygamists aren’t Mormons. This concept is still unclear to many people, and if they read the book they will understand this distinction. It’s also an ageless story about two people from antagonistic cultures who fall in love and want to marry, and all the trouble and heartbreak that can cause to both groups, who have such strong feelings about their religion and way of life. In my story, we see the development of tolerance and acceptance begin to develop among people within these two cultures, and that’s really where our interactions with others should begin, with individual respect and acceptance of differences.

Do you have any book signings, tours or special events planned to promote your book that readers might be interested in attending? If so, when and where?
Janet Jensen: I’ll be signing at the USA Best Books booth at the Los Angeles USA Book Expo at 9:00-9:30 on May 30. I will present at a writers workshop in Springville, Utah on June 7, attend the LDS Booksellers Association Convention August 6-8, and may present on family literacy at Brigham Young University’s annual Education Week Aug 18-22 (that hasn’t been finalized). I am scheduled for presentations at book clubs in Logan, Utah on August 26 and in Hyrum, Utah on October 2. And I’ll be attending the League of Utah Writers Roundup September 12-14. I imagine other opportunities will be extended when local book clubs resume in the fall and plan their yearly agendas. It’s been my experiences that book clubs enjoy hearing from published authors, and people in my area have been very supportive.

It's said that the editing process of publishing a novel with a publisher is can be grueling and often more difficult than actually writing the story. Do you think this is true for you? How did you feel about editing your masterpiece?
Janet Jensen: The revisions and edits were minor and I’ve always been a team player. I would estimate that 95% of the edits proposed by my editor were excellent and appropriate and made the book better. To the remaining 5% I responded with something like, “No, the character would really say that,” and there was no further discussion. 95% agreement was awfully pleasant and my editor and the proofer were very thorough.

Now that you are a published author, does it feel differently than you had imagined?
Janet Jensen: Well, I would say that it garners a little more attention in public when people approach me and tell me they’ve heard about my book or better yet, they’ve read it. Most people have been very gracious and complimentary about my book. My neighbor bought 11 copies for her large family because there were historical references to both her husband’s ancestors and to hers in the first section. I had no idea, of course, that I was writing about their people, but was glad I had done my homework. I was thrilled to feel validated in that way. Polygamy is a very touchy and complicated subject but most readers feel I handled it with sensitivity and that was certainly my goal.

Now, use this space to tell us more about who you. Anything you want your readers to know?
Oh, goodness, I feel as if I’ve written my autobiography already! I had no idea I was so fascinating. These questions were great and very thought-provoking. I welcome visitors to my website and blogs, where they’ll find pictures and essays and humor and regular columns.My webpage is http://www.janetjensen.com and I blog at three locations:www.janetkayjensen.blogspot.com; www.janetkayjensen2.blogspot.com, and my newest blog is here, at Xanga,http://www.xanga.com/janetkayjensen

Visitors to the Xanga site can listen to the song, "Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys," an old folksong that inspired the title of my book. A video preview can be seen at all of the above locations.

Posted by Michelle L. Devon at 9:56 AM Labels: author interview, don't you marry the mormon boys, janet kay jensen, mormom, novel, polygamy, reading

Review by Janet Peterson

2008-05-20T10:56:00.000-07:00

Janet Kay Jensen's finely crafted novel, Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys, is one of those books I simply couldn't put down. The stunning descriptions of life in Southern Utah, Kentucky back-country, and Finland take the reader to new territory, not only for the settings but also for the roads the characters travel. The story line is intriguing and particularly timely with recent national focus on polygamous families.

Yet the conflict is not new and one not easily resolved: two young people from vastly different cultures love each other deeply and must struggle with loyalty to family, religion, expectation, and pursuing their own happiness. Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys provides remarkable insights into the power of love, forgiveness, and improving on the past.

---Janet Peterson, co-author with LaRene Gaunt, Faith, Hope, and Charity: Inspiration from the Lives of General Relief Society President; Keepers of the Flame: Presidents of the Young Women; The Children's Friends: Primary Presidents and Their Lives of Service; author of Remedies for the "I Don't Cook" Syndrome; Family Dinners: How to Feed Your Kids and Keep Them Talking at the Table; writer of more than 150 magazine articles for the Ensign, Liahona, Friend, Pioneer, and http:www. Meridianmagazine.com.

Book Review: Mormon Times

2008-05-15T21:19:00.000-07:00

Mormon Times

Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys
Reviewed by Jenny Larson
Published: Wednesday, May. 7, 2008

Don't You Marry The Mormon Boys by Janet Kay Jensen is a story of an unconditional love complicated by differences in culture and tradition. Although Andy McBride and Louisa Martin have similar values, it is a love that just can't seem to work.

Martin is polygamous and McBride is LDS, yet the two find a friendship neither expected – especially Martin, who grew up thinking she would one day become one of many wives to one man.Jensen goes back and forth between telling the story of Martin and McBride as they fall in love in medical school and today as they struggle going about their everyday lives trying to forget about a love that cannot be. McBride takes a position in a small Kentucky town as the town doctor, and Martin heads back to Gabriel's Landing, Utah, to open a clinic to bring better health care to her people.

From Eliza the service dog, Smokey the quirky horse who does what she wants, to an old-fashioned Kentucky hills healer Miss Carolina and Joshua, a father who truly loves, Jensen brings to life some wonderfully colorful and endearing characters whom you can't help but love.A simple love story told in a complicated time amid prejudices and ignorance between those who believe and those who don't, Don't You Marry The Mormon Boys is poignant in its subject and heart-wrenching in its reality.

Readers will laugh as McBride makes his way around a funny little town full of funny little people full of charity, curiosity and even vengeance. And readers will cry as Martin faces old hard-fought traditions that won't let her be an independent woman of intelligence and talent as she fights the Council of Brothers about marriage and protects some of the young mothers against abusive husbands. Martin's redeeming grace is her father Joshua, who defies the Council of Brothers and refuses to make her marry someone she does not love.

Choices are made and traditions followed, but what seems to be the right choice for Martin may just end up keeping her from true happiness. Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys is a first novel for Jensen, and a sequel called Zina will be released soon.

Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys was most recently announced as a runner-up for the Best New Writing: Eric Hoffer Award in commercial fiction. It was also a finalist by both Foreword Magazine's Book of the Year Award and USA Best Books 2007 in religious fiction. In addition, it was named a semi-finalist for the ReaderViews Critics Award. Regionally, Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys received an honorable mention in the Marilyn Brown unpublished manuscript contest.

Not new to writing, Jensen enjoys writing short stories and essays and a little poetry here and there. Her next project is called Connor's Honor.On her web site, Jensen writes that O'Connor's Honor is about Ian O'Connor, an impulsive, witty Irish professor of English literature with a past he can't remember, and Angela Hoover, a Boston physician and descendant of the Mayflower Company who falls into his arms from a second-story fire escape. The unlikely introduction is the beginning of an unusual friendship, which leads them into a dangerous trap.

Stay tuned next week as I speak with author Janet Kay Jensen about Don't You Marry The Mormon Boys and her upcoming projects. If there are any questions readers would like to ask Janet, please send an e-mail to jlarson@desnews.com.For more information about Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys or O'Connor's Honor, visit http://www.janetjensen.com/.

Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys by Janet Kay Jensen, Cedar Fort, 314 pages, $15.99
MormonTimes.com is produced by the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, Utah.It is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Copyright © 2008 Deseret News Publishing Company

I've been Blogged at Not Entirely British

2008-04-23T11:22:00.001-07:00

Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys Hits Australia

Author Janet Kay Jensen’s new book is causing quite a stir in Australia. Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys is front page feature story in Brisbane Australia's Australia.TO 24.7 News this week.

This is Janet’s first novel, although she has co-authored other non-fiction books. She says, “Oddly enough, Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys has received little notice in Utah. I sent emails to all the papers with no response. But I persisted, and found reviewers in Canada, and NJ among other states, and now Australia. The great thing is they ‘get’ the story. That is so important to me, to spread a little truth about our religion and culture in my book.”

The book’s title is proving a hook for both LDS and non-LDS readers alike. Janet comments, “It’s actually the title of a clever old folksong I’ve heard since childhood. Depending on the occasion, ‘Mormon’ can become ‘Kansas’ or ‘Idaho,’ or wherever. At a recent bookstore signing, one man commented, ‘Now, that’s one heck of an eye-catching title.’ He had glanced at the poster and stopped in his tracks to look at the book.”

The folksong goes like this,

Gather round, girls, and listen to my noise, Don’t you marry the Mormon boys; If you do your fortune it will be, Johnnycake and babies is all you’ll see.

Janet continues, “Usually, people react to the title with a smile or a chuckle, because the rhythm and wording of the phrase also hint at the humor within the story. In fact, chapter one begins with native Utahn Andy McBride singing the song to his dog, Eliza R. Snow (named after a famous Utah poet). I think it sets the mood and gives us a hint of who Andy is as he’s driving to his new medical practice in the beautiful Smoky mountain region of rural Appalachia.”

When Janet began writing the book in 2000, a Mormon wasn’t running for president, Big Love wasn’t airing on HBO, and a fundamentalist polygamous leader wasn’t on the FBI’s Most Wanted list. A friend told Janet she had good timing with all this heightened national interest, but the release date of Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys was not intentional on her part.

Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys is a light read with some interesting insights into two ways of life with which most of us are not familiar. Janet says she has learned a lot in the seven-year journey to getting this book published. She adds, “Besides my writing style and editing improving, I also found that nobody wanted to publish a book about polygamy—until Cedar Fort’s Bonneville Books took it on board.”

The story involves Mormon bachelor Andy McBride, who falls for fellow medical student Louisa Martin—a product of polygamy, a way of life Andy cannot embrace and Louisa cannot escape.

Set in the striking red mountains of southern Utah, cosmopolitan Salt Lake City, the rural Smoky Mountain region of Kentucky and the beautiful, forest and lake-studded country of Finland, Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys deals with engaging characters from two opposing lifestyles with honesty and humor. Can a man and a woman from two antagonistic cultures (mainstream Mormon vs. fundamentalist polygamist) overcome the daunting barriers that would deny them a life together? What sacrifices will each have to make in order to be together? What impact will their choices have on family, friends, and even whole communities?

Janet says, “The book has several messages. First, Mormons (members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or LDS) aren’t polygamists, and polygamists aren’t Mormons. That’s a distinction many people don’t understand, and media reports are often inaccurate, so I think that is an important clarification. Other themes I explore are tolerance, acceptance, and willingness to accept others as they are. Life is richer when we can expand our ability to embrace diversity.”

Two reviews, chosen from many, read as follows:

In this compelling story, the clash of religious cultures creates conflict between two characters the reader cares about. The writing is clear and often gorgeous. I was fascinated by American subcultures the author seems to know so well, and I think many readers will be. A great love story—and more. I search for this kind of book and would snap it up.
—Catherine deCuir, Berkeley, California, author of Peace Prompts: A Guided Journal

A thoroughly captivating story with unusual characters. Janet Kay Jensen shows us that truth and love can triumph over anything life might throw our way.
—Rachel Ann Nunes, bestselling LDS author

Awards
Runner-Up, Best New Writing: The Eric Hoffer Award
Finalist, USA Best Books 2007 (religious fiction)
Finalist, Foreword Magazine's Book of the Year (religious fiction)
Semi-Finalist, Reader Views Critics Awards(religion/spirituality)
Whitney Award Nominee for LDS authors
Honorable Mention, Marilyn Brown Unpublished Novel Award
Third Place – Fiction Excerpt, Association for Mormon Letters 2005
Second Place, Full-Length Book 2006, League of Utah Writers
Finalist, Religious Fiction, USA Book News Best Books 2007
Semifinalist, Religion/Spirituality, ReaderViews 2007 Literary Awards
Finalist, Religious Fiction, ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year Award (winners TBA Book Expo America May 29, 2008)
Finalist: Aunt Tuesday, a screenplay based on a scene from Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys, 2008 LDS Film Festival Seven-page Screenplay competition.
Whitney Award for LDS writers, nominee 2008
Honorable Mention, Marilyn Brown LDS Novel Award, 2007
Finalist, Commercial Fiction-Best New Writing: The Eric Hoffer Award for Independent Books, a platform for and the champion of the Independent Voice.

Janet Kay Jensen is currently looking for an agent and hoping her latest novel will help get her foot in the door.

Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys, 324 pages, paperback, was released November 1, 2007 by Bonneville Books, Cedar Fort, Inc. It is available at area bookstores; by telephone at 1-800-sky-book, amazon.com; or online at www.cedarfort.com.

Janet has a webpage, http://www.janetjensen.com, and a blog: http://www.janetkayjensen.blogspot.com. She loves to hear from readers.

Posted by Anne Bradshaw at 6:21 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: Books, Janet Jensen, LDS Church, Mormon Church, Polygamy

In the Top Ten

2008-04-21T08:40:00.000-07:00

Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys is #9 today on Deseret Book's Fiction Best Seller List! http://deseretbook.com/store/browse?sub_category_id=79

Marilyn Brown Unpublished Novel Contest - Honorable Mention / AML remarks

2008-04-17T13:37:00.000-07:00

As reported by the Association for Mormon Letters:

Janet Kay Jensen's Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys starts out as a nice little romance between an active LDS man and a woman who was raised in a fundamentalist splinter group. They overcome this issue as the story progresses with wit and keen insight to explore how polygamy still colors the way Mormons are perceived, as well as how practicing polygamists may be perceived by active LDS members. Once the romantic tension is resolved, a kidnapping is introduced into the story, but this potentially heart-stopping twist is twisted again as the author takes a humorous approach that brings to mind aspects of O. Henry's "Ransom of Red Chief." Jensen's writing is clever, and her romantic characters and their friends and loved ones are sympathetically and engagingly portrayed. She is to be congratulated for her original approach to a timely issue.

Books by Janet slide show

2008-03-26T13:45:00.000-07:00

"A love story that takes an honest look . . . "

2008-03-26T11:16:00.000-07:00

What happens when a Mormon boy and a girl raised in a polygamous colony meet at college and fall in love? What obstacles will they face, and can they have a future together? Don't you Marry the Mormon Boys is a love story that takes an honest look at families who struggle with prejudice, acceptance and forgiveness.

Nadene R. Carter, Myster Writer and Writing Workshop Director

"Perfect for Today's World"

2008-03-23T19:13:00.000-07:00

Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys: Perfect for Today's World

Reviewed by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of award-winning books This is the Place, Harkening and Tracings, a Chapbook of Poetry and the award winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers, The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't and The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success

The world is changing. In some ways it is becoming more tolerant and in other ways less. When less, we find 9/ll and Iraqi wars surely follow. When more, we find people of all ethnicities getting along just fine—as we always have in America—and we'd do even better if the rabble rousing talk show hosts would temper their bile with a little compassion.

In its underpinnings, Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys by Janet Kay Jensen is about tolerance. Luckily, it is a book of the sort that can make a difference for good in the world.

Of course, many read for pure entertainment. Those who do will also enjoy this book. They may hardly notice its serious side for it has enough romance, humor and surprise (think! all those fringe members of polygamist groups!) to keep us turning those pages.

A young doctor from Utah must find his own way after he falls in love with a fellow doctor in medical school and is rejected by her. To serve and forget, he chooses a mountainous area in Kentucky after he graduates. As many interesting characters reside there as he left behind at home. The story revolves around his coming to terms with his antagonists—that is the whole closed polygamist community that his ex-girlfriend was born in and the ex-girlfriend herself who is committed to her family and community. Along the way he encounters quirky prejudices in his own family and his new-found community.

The story structure required that the polygamist pod provide most of the conflict, yet Jensen portrays them sensitively. We not only learn about their way of life but see them as people who acted as they do because they live behind a cultural barrier and, in their isolation, are fearful and ignorant of other ways. That may be one of the reasons that most intolerance exists—for lack of opportunity to associate on a personal level with those who are different from us.

There is a low moment in this novel somewhere after the second plot point when I feared Mormon Boys might deteriorate into what I consider a typical Christian novel (I know, my prejudices are showing but there are so many such novels with insipid, tell-don't show, predictable endings or, perhaps it is just that I have seen more than my share of them). Anyway, hang in there. Christians will not be disappointed they did, but neither will the rest of the reading public.
----------------

Posted at MyShelf.com

Learn more about Carolyn at www.carolynhowardjohnson.com

"Delightful Read"

2008-03-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

Janet has written a marvelous book! It grabs your attention from the beginning and keeps you spellbound with the wit and humor as well as the emotion and everyday people in the book. You feel like you know the characters and can relate to their lives. I loved it and would recommend it to anyone!

D. Hall at amazon.com

"Two Cultures, One Love"

2008-03-19T07:28:00.001-07:00

Jensen's book is a riveting tale of love between two people with vastly different cultures. For many polygamy is Utah's "dirty little secret" and Jensen brillantly illustrates the secrecy of these offshoot societies and the clash that occurs when their members interact with the mainstream population of Utah. Jensen's characters are wonderfully real and multi-faceted. You cannot help but love the many characters in this book. The story grabs you attention and the book is impossible to put down. This is a wonderful love story for people who believe in the possibility of soul mates.

Danielle Bird, Logan, Utah, Literacy Director

"A Great Array of Characters and Very Funny Scenarios"

2008-02-27T09:07:00.001-08:00

"Eliza R. Snow"

I absolutely adored Janet Jensen’s debut novel about Andy McBride and Louisa Martin, a couple who come from two different, but somewhat close religious backgrounds. Louisa comes from a fundamentalist polygamous upbringing and Andy comes from a mainstream LDS family and when they come together during Med School, they fall in love. From going back and forth with each of their lives, we get to know the two well. Since I am descended from a long line of polygamous ancestors, I know and understand "The Principle." Janet has a compassionate understanding of polygamy, so this novel brings this misunderstood subject to a better understanding.

Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys also has an ingenious Border Collie that is trained to sense when Andy is going through a seizure, so this is very interesting information that I didn't know. Smoky, the cute and scrappy mare Andy is given, does some unusual things to him that takes Miss Carolina to shed light on. The little snippets of down home country remedies by Miss Carolina add to the charm of this wonderful novel.

When Louisa comes back to her home to practice medicine, she finds not everyone approves of her methods. Her father supports her in whatever she chooses, unlike the others in the community.

I was impressed with how Janet weaves the storyline around a trip to Finland with some interesting tidbits about the culture. The story takes place in Utah, Kentucky, Finland and Las Vegas and we see a lot of humorous scenes unfold with ingenious outcomes.

This novel brings together a great array of characters and very funny scenarios. We see love, tolerance, forgiveness abound. The scenery is breathtaking by the gift of Jensen’s way with words. I really enjoyed the small town country doctor storyline. This novel should be made into a movie, as it would be Oscar-worthy. I look forward to the sequel with much anticipation.

Teri K. Rodeman
Benton City, WA
Feb. 22, 2008

Meridian Magazine

2008-02-25T14:30:00.000-08:00

Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys by Janet Kay Jensen was actually released in 2007. It is the story of Andy McBride and Louisa Martin, who meet in medical school at the University of Utah and fall in love, but a major obstacle stands in the way of their getting married and living happily ever after. Andy is a returned missionary with a strong commitment to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Louisa feels just as strongly about the beliefs and traditions of her family in a polygamous community in southern Utah.

For four years they are best friends and acknowledge their feelings for each other while agreeing that after graduation, they will go their separate ways to do their residencies, then set up their practices. Accepting that neither is going to change his or her commitment to their religious convictions, they agree that following graduation, they won’t ever see each other again.

Andy winds up beginning his practice in the hill country of Kentucky, while Louisa returns to her small southern Utah town. Andy is lovingly accepted, though is often the target of practical jokers; faces a lot of misunderstanding about his religion, and he even manages to form a strong friendship with a Smoky Mountain healer. He also earns the enmity of a dangerous man by helping the man’s pregnant teenage daughter escape his life-threatening abuse and his son to find a job in another community.

Louisa too is welcomed at first with open arms, then she runs afoul of the Brothers as she struggles to help the women improve both their physical and emotional health. She also becomes alarmed over the high incidence of kidney abnormalities and other genetic conditions brought about by intermarriage with close family members within the small group. Eventually she is forced to leave the community.

A chance meeting at a medical convention doesn’t resolve their problems, but intensifies them until they find themselves part of the same small group of doctors participating in a foreign medical exchange.

Jensen proves she has a gift for writing with this novel which not only showcases her warm comfortable style, but presents a thought-provoking and interesting premise. She does a great job of portraying three different and distinct cultural communities. The background or settings used in this book are well-researched and key to the story. The setting becomes almost a character in the story. She paints none of the communities or people as perfect and goes to great lengths to portray the good elements in all three and point out that evil or bigotry exist in all three.

The story’s greatest weakness is in the doctrinal area, where the author implies that the only difference between the two Utah groups is in the way they carry out their shared beliefs. Her focus on their shared distant history ignores their very real doctrinal differences. One of the book’s strongest points is the way the gentle, loving upbringing of both major characters is carefully woven into the story.

Readers won’t forget this novel nor regret reading it. Unfortunately many potential readers will pass right by the low-key, blah cover. The story will appeal primarily to adult women. There are few technical errors, especially in the first half of the book, which is the stronger portion of the story. The last part becomes a little farcical in some places, but was probably fun to write.

"Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys" is an old folk song, unfamiliar to most people today, that in reference highlights a common misconception about Mormon values, an apt title for a story that deals heavily with misconceptions about Mormons, about polygamist groups, and about Kentucky hill people.

Jennie Hansen for Meridian Magazine
February 25, 2008

"I purchased seven copies of this novel . . . "

2008-02-24T12:35:00.000-08:00

The characters Ms. Jensen has so intricately and skillfully drawn simply leap off the page and into the mental eye of the reader. There were many of them whom I would dearly like to know in actuality and be judged a friend by those people. The story-telling is clear and fully rounded, with subtle hints but no revelation of what's to come in pages ahead until the resolution. We see the situations from the viewpoints of multiple people and can even, as readers, get our own selves in an emotional conundrum as to how things might or should be handled and resolved.

The issues and emotions are delicately interwoven tissue papers of humanity and the consequences of beliefs and actions are far-reaching and of vital import. The history of the Mormon church and the issue of polygamy has obviously been painstakingly researched (the history I have read regarding polygamy bears this out); and while a major thread of the novel, it only adds to and enriches the tension and the questions the reader has as to what will happen to the protagonists and all those around them also to be deeply affected by events.

I purchased seven copies of this novel; one for me and the others for friends and public libraries as gifts. One of these friends called to express her excitement and enjoyment saying, "I was hooked by page one and could not put the book down. I laughed tears and cried tears." She summed up my own feelings exactly and her day was made when I explained that hopefully, there is to be a sequel.

D.T. Enloe Wisconsin, USA 2/25/08

A Cache Valley Woman Wrote This?

2008-02-21T14:29:00.000-08:00

A fellow author is spreading my book around and this is her report:

"I've already lent my copy out to a few people and their responses are so funny. 'You really know her?' 'A lady from Cache valley wrote this?' They all really like it."

Listing at Substance Books

2008-02-18T07:34:00.000-08:00

Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys is now listed at Substance Books in the Inspirational Christian Fiction category.

http://www.substancebooks.com/inspirational-fiction.html#jj

First Sales announcement in RWA Magazine

2008-01-31T17:25:00.001-08:00

February 2008

First Sales Department

Janet Kay Jensen announces the sale of her first book to Cedar Fort, Inc. Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys was a November 2007 release. Jensen has been writing for eight years. Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys was the first full-length fiction manuscript she completed before selling.

Review by Alan Caruba of the National Book Critics Circle

2008-01-31T07:12:00.001-08:00

Editor Alan Caruba writes:"I am pleased to report that the February edition of Bookviews.com, my monthly report on new fiction and non-fiction, is posted and your book has been recommended."

The Mormon religion of Mitt Romney has evoked interest in that faith by people who have paid it little mind until now. Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys by Janet Kay Jensen ($15.99, Bonneville Books, softcover) is an old-fashioned love story between Andy McBride, a Mormon, and Louisa Martin who is not. As medical students at the University of Utah, they fall in love and must address problems as he was raised in the mainstream church and she was raised in a polygamous family. To marry is not just their choice, but also one that will affect the lives of their families, friends, and even their communities. Fearing the consequences, they go their separate ways. Their separate experiences as physicians will bring them back together in a provocative and touching story.

-Alan Caruba is a veteran book reviewer whose work has appeared in many publications over the years. He is a charter member of the National Book Critics Circle.

Video Trailer: Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys

2008-01-30T11:25:00.000-08:00

From Romance Writer Cami Checketts

2008-01-29T11:49:00.000-08:00

I loved Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys. It was interesting to get an insider's view of a polygamous society and dispel some of the preconceived notions I possessed. The characters in this book were so heartwarming, you couldn't help but cheer and cry with them.

Cami Checketts
Romantic Suspense Author
Available Now - "The Fourth of July" and "The Broken Path"

http://www.camichecketts.com/
http://fitmomma.blogstream.com/p://www.camichecketts.com/
http://fitmomma.blogstream.com/

Kind words from a friend . . .

2008-01-21T14:47:00.000-08:00

"I loved the book. It was entertaining, informative, and so delightful. The characters became 'real' people. I bought the storyline and cheered for Andy every step of the way! I marveled at how much information you conveyed in each sentence.

The sentence structure was a beautiful thing.

I’m so happy for you to have achieved this literary goal and so well at that! I heard a sequel is in the works which I’m eagerly anticipating!

Thanks for providing so many with a delightful reading experience."

Love, Susan S.

"Aunt Tuesday" finalist in LDS film festival script competition

2008-01-07T09:10:00.000-08:00

"Aunt Tuesday," a screenplay written by Janet Jensen, based on a scene from Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys, was named a finalist in the 2008 LDS Film Festival 7- page screenplay competition.

-January 7, 2008

AML Literature in Review Mention

2008-01-06T09:27:00.000-08:00

January 6, 2008

"Cedar Fort is the one remaining independent publisher of significant size in the Mormon fiction market . . . other recent Cedar Fort novels which have garnered praise are Janet Kay Jensen's Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys, which portrays a contemporary polygamous community . . . "

Allbooks Review: An exceptionally well-written, charming story

2008-01-04T08:11:00.000-08:00

Louisa Martin knew she was very privileged to be in medical school. Raised in a lifestyle of polygamy, few girls had ever had the chance to do anything like this, but her clan needed medical people who understood and would follow their belief system. Medical school had been incredible and Louisa did very well, but then there was Andy, a young Mormon man whose family was mainstream and didn’t follow the same lifestyle as Louisa’s. Two different cultures that neither could accept; a love that was doomed to fail.

Andy went to Kentucky to develop a practice and learned to love the country and its inhabitants. Louisa returned to her community to begin her practice but there she found abuse, illness and deformity. How could she have not seen these before? Try as she might, she could not change the way of things and had to decide to accept or reject her old way of life.

Throughout their trials, neither Andy nor Louisa can forget the other. Then circumstance pulls them together, while family and culture force them apart.

Throughout this beautifully written book winds the thread of acceptance: acceptance of differing cultures, beliefs and lifestyles. Author Janet Kay Jensen brings her characters to life and makes them feel like our neighbors. We can feel their uncertainties, fears and joys. We travel through their days like a friend. Mother, wife, member of the Author’s Guild and winner of several awards for her writing, Janet Kay Jensen has given the readership of America an exceptionally well written, charming story of adventure, love and acceptance. I look forward to her future endeavors.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
—Reviewer: Elaine Fuhr, Allbooks Reviews, Jan. 2008

Must-read for literary fiction fans! Review by Christopher Loke, Technical Writer/Editor

2008-01-02T11:08:00.000-08:00

Must-read for literary fiction fans!

Janet Jensen's debut novel proves to be a brilliant piece of work with all its characters well depicted and its story masterfully crafted. One word of caution: Do not expect to be bored! Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys is not your typical LDS/Christian romance; it is a piece of fiction that not only focuses on a wonderful plot and convincing characters, it is also a novel that finds victory in its use of words.

Jensen's beautifully-composed sentences read poetically and are measured with intricate details and care. Although the relationship between the two lead characters is the driving force of the story, the real core of the novel lies in the underlying theme that continues to play masterfully between the lines--the true meaning of family, love, redemption and fogiveness. It is not a story about a group of Mormons; on the contrary, it is about a group of ordinary people who happen to be of the Mormon faith.

Jensen plays with her theme wittily, teasing the reader with traditional tales and urban myths about Mormons and polygamy. I will not expose the plot here for everyone; it will only take away the pleasure of your reading.

Instead, I will tell you this: if this novel were to be a movie, it will definitely be Oscar-worthy. A literary fiction at its best, perhaps the best contemporary LDS fiction in years. I would read and reread a certain passage just to savor it before moving on to the next best passage. Janet Jensen is a promising writer who will undoubtedly break into the general market in no time. And this is a promise.

---Christopher Loke, Technical Writer/Editor, American Fork, Utah

Review by Association for Mormon Letters

2007-12-28T09:56:00.000-08:00

Whoever said that love was smooth sailing was either lying or has never actually been in love. When two University of Utah Med Students from different cultures meet, the seeds of a lasting love affair are planted. Louisa Martin is from a close-knit polygamous community and Andy McBride is from a mainstream Mormon family. Both Louisa and Andy realize that any choice they make will have far-reaching consequences.

Andy ends up in Hawthorne Valley, Kentucky as a country doctor, making house calls and running the local clinic. As the reader gets to know him, they will be treated to his favorite memories and the most painful ones about his relationship with Louisa. Life falls into a pattern for him and he is met with unique neighbors and hard decisions that he needs to make as a doctor and friend. Little does he know the long lasting effects of his choices as he helps his patients.

Louisa goes back home to Gabriel’s Landing, Utah to provide medical care to a town that is distrustful of anyone outside their community. She is the sole medical provider and her eyes are opened to realities that she hadn’t noticed before. As Louisa strives to follow the rules and traditions of Gabriel’s Landing and be the best doctor she can be, she finds the balance impossible to keep. She also shares with the reader her memories and convictions about Andy and their time together. As Louisa makes the hardest decision in her medical career she is forced to leave her home.

As life moves on, fate brings them together in Finland. While there Andy and Louisa are finally able to be honest with their feelings for each other. Both of them realize that neither of their families will be thrilled with their marriage, so after enduring years of loving and heartache, they elope.

This story shows how love, respect, tradition and truth can blend the best of two cultures into one happy family. With snippets of Americana and good old fashioned “Healer advice” thrown in for good measure, this turns into an intriguing story with unique characters from all walks of life that blend together for a satisfying read.

Reviewed by Karen Hamilton
Association for Mormon Letters

Review by Dayna Davis of LDSFiles.com

2007-12-11T07:35:00.000-08:00

December 9, 2007
Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys
Reviewed by Dayna Davis, LDSFiles.com Staff Writer

Andy McBride and Louisa Martin meet in Medical school and fall in love, but soon realize that they can never have a future because of their backgrounds. Louisa is from a polygamous family that expects her to return home after school and attend to her community's health needs. Brokenhearted, they both go their separate ways after school is over. But true love is not easily dismissed.

What a unique, interesting book! I think almost everyone is a bit fascinated by polygamy. The author has obviously done a lot of research into polygamy and what the goals of a polygamous family are or might be. There were a lot of characters in the book and I had trouble sometimes keeping track of them and who was who.

My only real problem was with the sister of Louisa. The author brought her up, explained her and then neglected to do anything else with that information. That bothered me because there was no purpose in her being in the story if she was not going to be used for anything. I'm sure it was an oversight.

What I liked about the book was the topic, it is truly unique, (this is certainly not a predictable love story) and the examples in this book of taking risks and helping someone else, regardless of personal ramifications. I think that sometimes we know we should do something to help someone else - but we're too scared that there may be problems - so we let the opportunity pass by. This book was a great illustration of the difference it can make in someone's life when we take the opportunities to serve others as those opportunities come. You won't be able to put this book down!

Interview with Norm Goldman of BookPleasures

2007-12-10T07:52:00.000-08:00

Norm and Lily Goldman

Janet Kay Jensen Shares Her Thoughts About Her New Novel,

Don't You Marry The Mormon Boys

Interview with Norm Goldman of BookPleasures.com

Norm: What do you think over the years has driven you as a writer?

Janet: I’ve always been a reader. Writing satisfies a creative need within me that I suppose I’ve had all my life.

Norm: Would you say that the publication of your first novel, Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys is the culmination of a life long dream?

Janet: Definitely. Even though I had a rewarding career as an educator for many years, the reports I wrote had to be clear, objective and clinical. Though there’s an art to it, and it’s a challenge to teach those skills to students, I missed the opportunity to be creative as a writer.

Norm: Has your environment and/or upbringing influenced your writing?

Janet: My parents were both educators, and their generation did a lot of memorization and “reciting” in school, so we often heard snatches of poetry at home that they’d exchange, almost like inside jokes. One of my earliest memories is sitting on my mother’s lap while she read to me, and she always read with great expression. This is one Mother Goose rhyme I remember in particular:

Said the first little chicken,

With a strange little squirm,

"I wish I could find

A fat little worm."

(Three more little chickens complain about being hungry and the mother replies):

"Now, see here!" said the mother,

From the green garden patch,

"If you want any breakfast,

Just come here and scratch!"

Norm: Is there a message in Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys that you want your readers to grasp?

Janet: The book has several messages. First, Mormons (members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or LDS) aren’t polygamists, and polygamists aren’t Mormons. That is a distinction many people do not understand, and media reports are often inaccurate, so I think that is an important clarification. Other themes I explore are tolerance, acceptance, and willingness to accept others as they are. Life is richer when we can expand our ability to embrace diversity.

Norm: Do you feel that writers, regardless of genre owe something to readers, if not, why not, if so, why and what would that be?

Janet: That’s a great question. I think writers in any genre owe readers a good story that is well-told. I also believe we should respect our readers and give them nothing less than our best.

When we quote facts, we’re also obligated to be accurate. Just last week my neighbor bought a copy of Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys, having no idea what it was about, simply to be gracious and supportive, I think. She called that evening, having read the first three chapters, and said she was thrilled, because I had mentioned the life of Martha Hughes Cannon, who happens to be her one of her husband’s ancestors.

Then when she read the University of Utah Medical School graduation scene that takes place at Kingsbury Hall, it gave her another happy surprise, because not only did she and her husband graduate from the University of Utah; she is also descended from the Kingsburys, one of whom was an early president of the University. I had no idea my neighbors of fifteen years had any personal or historical connections with the content of my book. I was pleased, of course, and very glad I had taken the time to research the actual people and places I wrote about in my novel.

Norm: I believe Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys is your first fiction-writing project. Did you enjoy the process? How was it different from your typical format?

Janet: I began by having some articles and poems published, and then, in about 2000, I began working on Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys. There were times, especially at the beginning, when I absolutely loved the storytelling process. I had great fun plotting certain scenes, and I relished inserting a touch of humor whenever I could. I had reached this point when another opportunity presented itself, one that consumed most of my time for the next few years: The Book Lover’s Cookbook (Ballantine, 2003), which is a compilation of food-related passages from great literature paired with original recipes. The concept, the brainchild of co-author Shaunda Wenger, is “cooking and eating with your favorite authors and characters.” Doing the research for The Book Lover’s Cookbook certainly expanded my literary taste buds as well as my cooking repertoire.

The book took nearly three years of intense work to complete, during which the two of us researched hundreds of great works of literature and developed and tested over three hundred recipes. Then we compiled and organized the content with the goal of balancing a variety of literary excerpts with a variety of dishes. During this time my other writing projects were largely neglected. The Book Lover’s Cookbook was well-received, and when our final edits and then our post-publication activities were finished, I was able to return to my fiction work.

Norm: How did you come up with the title Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys?

Janet: It’s actually the title of a clever old folksong I’ve heard since childhood. Depending on the occasion, “Mormon” can become “Kansas” or “Idaho,” etc. At a recent bookstore signing, one man commented, “Now, that’s one heck of an eye-catching title.” He had glanced at the poster and literally stopped in his tracks to look at the book. He’s a western historian, which of course could be one reason the title caught his interest, and we had a stimulating conversation about our shared interests. I’m hoping to hear from him after he’s read it.

Usually, people react to the title with a smile or a chuckle, because the rhythm and wording of the phrase also hint at the humor within the story. In fact, chapter one begins with native Utahn Andy McBride singing the song to his dog, Eliza R. Snow, who is named after a famous Utah poet. I think it sets the mood and gives us a hint of who Andy is as he’s driving to his new medical practice in the beautiful Smoky mountain region of rural Appalachia.

Norm: Where did you get your information and ideas for Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys?

Janet: Polygamy is part of my own Utah pioneer heritage on my father’s side, and there’s hardly a day contemporary polygamy isn’t also in our local headlines. I also discovered, long after the fact, that I had attended high school with the son of a well-known polygamous leader—an osteopathic physician, a peaceful man—who was shot to death in his office by members of another clan who considered him a threat. When his son was interviewed following the murder, I was astounded to see my old classmate on television, speaking lovingly about his father. I remember the son as an excellent student, on the quiet side, a handsome and well-mannered young man. In high school, though, I had no clue about his family background. He has since left the polygamous lifestyle and occasionally I’ll read something about him or his family in the paper. It’s fascinating to know something about their journey.

I’ve also read extensively about polygamy, works of both fiction and nonfiction, in order to construct my own fictional polygamous community, Gabriel’s Landing, and its way of life.

My husband and I drove through Colorado City, Utah, about ten years ago, and that was an eye-opener. Close to the Utah-Arizona border, Colorado City is a small isolated community of practicing polygamists. I had expected to find a well-organized prosperous little rural hamlet with tidy gardens and farms. Instead, most of the homes in the desert town were shabby, often unfinished (to avoid property taxes), with few windows. The roads were unpaved and the red dirt formed clouds behind us as we drove slowly over them. Other than a few children scuttling toward their homes in fear of us, the roads and yards were deserted. No doubt unhappy citizens were peering through their small, high windows at us, the intruders.

We turned a corner and saw a block of large brick homes, well-built, completely landscaped, and obviously belonging to prosperous owners. Later we would learn those homes belonged to the leaders. Then we stopped at the weedy, neglected graveyard and were shocked and saddened at the stories suggested by the names and dates on the humble graves. At the edge of town was an attractive modern medical clinic, obviously built by the government. This curious desert town, a curious study in contrasts, sits at the feet of stunning red-rock mountains.

About a year before we visited the area, we had occasion to see a group of women from Colorado City at a social event. There were about a dozen women of them sitting together, and to anyone who knew anything about Colorado City or the old-fashioned appearance of its citizens, it was obvious these women were plural wives. Each woman stood and introduced herself and told the group how many children and “adopted children” were in her family. I learned that “adopted children” is the customary term for the offspring of their “sister wives,” who share the same husband.

One of my favourite memories of that afternoon is also how friendly and welcoming others were when they met these women. The cultural differences simply didn’t matter.

Norm: How did you develop the plot and characters? Did you use any set formula?

Janet: This is my first completed novel and I wish I had employed a formula; the process might have been easier. The story developed gradually in my mind for quite a while, and then I actually began writing it. I was pleased with the beginning and the ending, but the middle had problems. Soon the entire project became unmanageable as the storyline began to wander. I wrote a summary of each scene on an index card and then put them all on a bulletin board, rearranging them until I was satisfied with the order, leaving spaces for transitions and other scenes necessary to weave all of it into a cohesive story. That’s a rather backward approach to writing a novel, I think.

Characters should have the freedom to speak and act for themselves, and it was exciting when they did. They took me in directions I hadn’t imagined, and for that I thank them.

Norm: Do you agree that to have good drama there must be an emotional charge that usually comes from the individual squaring off against antagonists either out in the world or within himself or herself? If so, please elaborate and how does it fit into you novel?

Janet: I agree that conflict is an important element in any kind of storytelling. In Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys, Louisa Martin’s upbringing in an isolated polygamous community is at odds with the law. Gabriel’s Landing, my fictitious town, is all about secrets and avoiding the attention of the outside world. In order for her to attend college and then medical school, Louisa’s father faces great opposition from the leadership and must campaign vigorously on her behalf, as education isn’t deemed essential beyond the basics for any of the young people, and girls are usually married in their teens.

When Louisa leaves home for the first time, she’s the object of curious stares and whispers as her appearance (modest, plain old-fashioned clothes, no makeup, and waist-length hair) clearly identifies her as someone from a different culture. In Utah, these outward signs nearly shout “Polygamy!” When her college roommates talk her into a conservative makeover, she finally feels and looks “just like another student.” Before she goes home to visit, however, out come the old clothes and braided hairdos, and no one is the wiser.

Fellow medical student Andy is smitten by Louisa, and she reluctantly allows herself to care for a “Gentile,” but it’s immediately obvious to both of them that they can never hope for marriage. The “Principle” of polygamy separates them: as a mainstream Mormon, Andy cannot accept it, and as a young woman raised in polygamy who will return home to serve her people, Louisa cannot escape it. To further complicate matters, Andy’s father is an assistant District Attorney, and many cases he prosecutes are related to the crimes that occur too often in the polygamous lifestyle: spousal abuse, child abuse, and welfare fraud. Louisa’s family is appalled when they learn she’s seeing a Gentile, and Andy’s family isn’t any happier to learn about the background of the woman he loves.

Each character also faces conflict in their separate medical practices. Back home in Gabriel’s Landing after her residency, Louisa finds herself at odds with the Council of Brothers for recognizing depression in some of her female patients, who also want to learn how to prevent too-frequent pregnancies. She uncovers birth defects in children due to close intermarriage, but is not allowed to educate her patients about the risks of these practices. As a young girl, she was oblivious to these realities. As a young physician, she cannot tolerate them.

Andy also treats patients who suffer from black lung disease, domestic abuse, poverty, and alcoholism. In an unusual arrangement he finds himself sharing his medical practice with a traditional Healer and her natural remedies, and on one occasion even ends up staring into the muzzle of a shotgun when he intervenes on behalf of an unwed pregnant girl. In spite of these challenges, he endears himself to Hawthorn Valley folks by joining a bluegrass band, learning to tame the quirky horse they loan him, taking their practical jokes with his enduring good humor, and pulling off a few pranks himself.

Conflict and resolution make for good stories, I think. Life is filled with conflict, and there is no shortage of it for these characters, who nonetheless appreciate the many strengths and beauties of their native and adopted cultures.

Norm: Can you tell us how you found representation for your book? Did you pitch it to an agent, or query publishers who would most likely publish this type of book? Any rejections? Did you self-publish?

Janet: The short version might be summed up by this quote from comedian Jonathan Winters: “I couldn’t wait for success, so I went ahead without it.” I actually pitched the book to many agents, after doing careful research. I had a number of criteria in mind: Were they reputable agents? Were they looking for new clients? Were they willing to represent an unpublished writer? And what genres did they represent? I chose specific agents to query, using the above criteria, and pitched my book as mainstream contemporary fiction, or women’s fiction, depending on the agent’s areas of interest. I also specifically sought out agents who represented western authors, or books about the west, religious issues, and the LDS culture, with no real success.

I also took advantage of opportunities to pitch my book to visiting agents and editors at writing conferences. Though these interviews didn’t result in representation, they did help me clarify my vision of my own work and strengthen my determination to get it published. How many rejections did I collect? As one local reviewer wrote, “Janet Kay Jensen is nothing if not persistent, and her tenacity has finally paid off in the publication of her first novel . . . after seven years of research, writing, rewriting and 75 rejection slips.” (Charlene Hirschi, Logan Utah Herald Journal, November 29, 2007.)

It is very difficult for an agent to sell a new author’s work to a publisher. Some agents and editors didn’t feel the subject of my book would be of national interest. I have persistently clung to the belief that the themes in my book do appeal to an audience beyond the intermountain west, and LDS readers. When I began writing the book in 2000, a Mormon wasn’t running for president, Big Love wasn’t airing on HBO, and a fundamentalist polygamous leader wasn’t on the FBI’s Most Wanted List. A friend tells me I have such “good timing,” with this heightened national interest, but the release date of my book was not at all intentional in that sense. I just had a story to tell and characters who demanded I tell it.

By the winter of 2007 I reached the point where I felt I had exhausted the possibilities of publication at the national level, and I began to investigate smaller regional publishers. We’re very fortunate in our area to have a very active and prolific community of writers and several reputable publishers who understand the local issues and readership. I have a number of writer friends who have published nationally and regionally, and I have benefited tremendously from their experience and advice. Smaller houses typically don’t have the resources to aggressively market their products, however, so I have worked very hard on promotion beyond the region as well. I was thrilled when Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys was named a finalist in the Best Books 2007 Religious Fiction Category.

It has also been nominated for the Whitney Award for LDS Fiction, in the First Novel Category.

Norm: Do you ever suffer from writer's block? If so, what do you do about it?

Janet: There are days when I don’t think any original thoughts have crossed my mind. However, those are usually days when I’m not working hard enough. When one section of a manuscript isn’t progressing, it’s always helpful to move on to a different chapter and then return to the problem later with fresh eyes and fresh perspective.

Norm: What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing?

Janet: A writer must cultivate a clear voice and a style that doesn’t draw attention to itself. Whenever the flow is disrupted by verbal acrobatics, so is the reader’s train of thought. At a national workshop an editor remarked that one strength of my writing is found in its simplicity. I like to think that’s true.

Norm: What tools do you feel are must-haves for writers?

Janet: Writers are observers, and we need to hone those skills. People are fascinating. As writers we feel a keen desire to weave these observations and complex personalities into memorable stories.

I also believe that writers should be voracious readers. Maud Casey said, “I was born with a reading list I will never finish,” and that’s how I feel when I walk into a library or a bookstore. The promise of a good read is seductive.

As I read, I like to analyze a writer’s particular style and voice and decide what makes them so effective. In an ideal world my style would be characterized by the grace of writers I admire, including Anne Tyler, Barbara Kingsolver, or Anna Quindlen.

Norm: Are you working on any books/projects that you would like to share with us? (We would love to hear all about them!)

Janet: In Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys Louisa has a sixteen-year-old sister, Zina, who simply disappears one night. Her father later realizes that she must have overheard him grant an older man permission to court her. In the polygamous lifestyle, courtship is simply a brief preamble to marriage, and in a patriarchal community such as Gabriel’s Landing, a girl like Zina knows it means she will be soon be married to a man twice her age who already has several other wives and many other children, and that her own childhood will be over.

Zina’s family can’t report her disappearance to the police, as it would expose their illegal lifestyle, and they can’t afford a private investigator, as they are people of modest means. Her father receives an occasional postcard from Zina, saying “I’m all right,” mailed from any number of locations in the country. And that’s all we know about her.

Zina’s story—her flight from Gabriel’s Lading, and her experiences after leaving the sheltered home of her childhood—was originally part of Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys, but the two sisters’ storylines became too difficult to manage chronologically. Finally, I had to pull Zina’s story out of the first book and promise her one of her own. I have written about three-fourths of her story, tentatively titled Zina. I’m very attached to her, as you can tell.

I’m also committed to a novel I’ve begun about a bright, capable man who is hiding the painful secret of illiteracy. The courage and persistence of adults who have experienced a lifetime of failure and humiliation due to illiteracy, and who still have the desire and determination to learn to read, is nothing short of inspiring. I hope I can do it justice.

I also have a trilogy on the shelf which needs a good rewrite. It’s a family saga of three generations that takes place in Boston, various points in New England, and Ireland. It has suspense, intrigue, romance, and a healthy dose of humor.

Norm: How can our readers find out more about you?

Janet: I have a webpage, http://www.janetjensen.com/, and a blog: http://www.janetkayjensen.blogspot.com/. I’d love to hear from readers.

Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future endeavors.

And thank you, Norm.

Credit: Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com, Norm Goldman, B.A. LL.L, Retired Title Attorney: Norm is also a travel writer and together with his artist wife, Lily, the couple meld Norm's words with Lily's art. To check out their travel site click on Sketchandtravel.com

Interview with Marsha Ward, Writer in the Pines

2007-12-10T07:42:00.000-08:00

What made you start writing?

I always enjoyed my writing assignments in school. And my mother was a meticulous proof-reader. My parents were readers and educators. Mom was a librarian, so reading was always an important factor in our family life, too. From an early age, though, (9th grade), I knew I wanted to be a speech therapist. I don’t know HOW I knew it; I just did. And I realize that knowledge was a gift. I have seen so many college students flounder when trying to decide on a major. I just jumped into my major with both feet. Whenever I could, though, I always took a literature class.

My career as a speech-language pathologist was fulfilling in many ways, and I could certainly be creative with my therapy (new approaches, adapting materials to the needs of the client, etc.) But the writing had to be clear, concise, accurate, and logical. And when I supervised graduate students, their reports had to be edited and proofed, and evaluations had to be detailed and documented. And every year it was the same routine – a new crop of students who had to be taught the same skills. It’s challenging but didn’t foster creativity for me. I really felt something was missing.

How long have you been writing? When did you sell your first book?

I began writing seriously about ten years ago when I read a terrible book and though I liked the story, I knew I could write it better. So I played with that and really enjoyed the process. Then, a couple of years later, I saw an ad in the paper. The Cache Valley Chapter of the League of Utah Writers was meeting at the Logan library. I went to the meeting with apprehension, not knowing what to expect, not knowing if I belonged. I must say, there were some strange people at the meeting. Someone asked me what my genre was and I nearly replied that my sexual orientation was none of his business. I left the meeting thoroughly confused. But I decided to attend two more meetings, to give it a chance. I’m happy to say that at the next few gatherings there were some “normal” people there, whose comments made sense. I began to share some of my work and was thoroughly schooled in point of view, among other principles of good writing and editing. My mentors were wonderful and very patient.

Four of us then formed a small critique group that met every two weeks. We would read a portion of something we’d written, and then the group would give feedback. It was so constructive and helpful. I always left feeling energized, with more ideas.

I started writing Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys in 2000, I think. But then another project took priority. Shaunda Wenger, a member of my League of Utah Writers chapter, came to me with a proposal: a literary cookbook. We would find passages in literature that mentioned food and devise original recipes to match them. It sounded like an interesting project, so I agreed. I spent the next two years reading and cooking and reading and cooking. And building up large fines at the library. Shaunda decided (boldly) to contact a few writers and see if they would contribute anecdotes or recipes. The first to sign on was Barbara Kingsolver. That added tremendous credibility to our project. When other authors heard she was on board, they were willing to participate. By the time it was published more than twenty authors had sent us recipes or anecdotes. They were wonderful. The result was a once in a million experience: my partner caught the interest of an agent, we sent the entire manuscript to him, and he agreed to represent us. Within two weeks he had sold it to Ballantine.

Then our work became very intense. Though we had thought the manuscript was complete at that point, we still found more passages and recipes to add to the manuscript. And because it was organized like a traditional cookbook – soups, salads, main dishes, etc., we worked very hard to balance each section with a variety of foods. And we had to rewrite recipes according to a set formula, which made sense.

We learned, to our surprise, that it was our responsibility to obtain permission to use published works, and that we were also responsible to pay the fees the publishers required. That process was very challenging. My partner negotiated the agreements (172 of them) and I did the background research to find who owned the copyright. That’s not always easy, as many older companies don’t exist anymore.

We continued to add to the manuscript until the deadline, as we continued to find great literature and recipes we wanted to include. The Book Lover’s Cookbook, Recipes Inspired by Great Works of Literature and the Passages that Feature Them was published in October 2003 in hardback and March 2005 in paperback.

A large publisher has great influence; our book was reviewed by several national newspapers and other publications. But the best publicity came when an independent bookstore owner from Florida mentioned our book on National Public Radio, when asked for Christmas gift recommendations. She said it was one of her favorite new books, even though she didn’t cook. Then she read several selections from the book. NPR has clout. Immediately, sales on Amazon were astonishing: at one point, for an hour or so, our book was ranked as high as #6. It stayed in the top 30 for a couple of weeks. Checking our ranking on Amazon became compulsive; I would visit Amazon every hour or so to see how we were doing.

What type of writer are you? Do you plan ahead/plot or do you simply fly by the seat of your pants?

I like to have a story in mind. I’ll think it through and leave it simmering on the back burner for a while. It’s always there as I go about my daily routines, and once in a while ideas come to the forefront and I add them to my mental outline. My first novel developed fairly logically in my mind and then I started to write it. I had a general idea about my main characters, settings, and plot. Then something interesting happened. I had a minor character, a Healer in Appalachia, who became a major character. I inserted her in various scenes I’d already written, as she added color and humor and wisdom. I researched natural remedies so she could prescribe them to other characters. Some remedies and superstitions were so delightful, I inserted them at the beginning of each chapter that took place in Kentucky. Miss Carolina became a solid fixture and I loved her. Actually, she is based on my husband’s late aunt, a woman who faced life unflinchingly and with great humor and wisdom.

One objective I had in writing the book was to emphasize that Mormons are not polygamists, and polygamists are not Mormons. I wanted to address the confusion and misunderstanding that many people have about Mormons and polygamy. And with polygamy hitting the news regularly and Mitt Romney running for president, it’s a relevant topic.

Then The Book Lover’s Cookbook took center stage for about three years. We made more than fifty presentations. Book clubs in Cache Valley (and there must be more than a hundred of them!) invited us to come to their meetings. Many people cooked recipes from the book and served them as refreshments when we presented. Response to the book was wonderful. We made a couple of brief TV appearances and did several radio interviews. We also worked hard on publicity by contacting local and state newspapers, radio stations, etc. So Don’t you Marry the Mormon Boys sat on the shelf for quite a while.

How do you choose your characters' names?

It varies. Sometimes I just pick names I like. Andy McBride was named after my ancestor, Thomas McBride, who was killed at Haun’s Mill, Missouri. It was a way of paying tribute to him. Louisa is a name from my genealogy, too, and it fit a woman from an old-fashioned community. Obadiah, as I pictured him, simply needed a biblical name. He’s tall and gangly and he has a booming voice, but he also plays classical guitar by ear. Miss Carolina, the Healer, needed to be addressed as “Miss” out of respect, I think. My fictional polygamous community was originally named Zion’s Creek; then the TV series Big Love came along and used Creek as part of its community’s name, so I changed Louisa’s town to Gabriel’s Landing. Hawthorn Valley, Kentucky, was named after the hawthorn tree. You have to live with names to be comfortable with them, I think. I remember naming our three sons – it was very difficult to agree on a name we both liked, and then to start calling this little person by a name, that’s strange, too.

What type of writing schedule do you have?

Mornings usually work best for me. I’ll often be writing in my pajamas, as I’m doing right now. Bad habit if someone rings the doorbell. Sometimes an idea will come to me just before I go to sleep and I’ll jot it down. I can’t write too late at night- then I’m too wound up to sleep. Writing The Book Lover’s Cookbook and some related articles had me up at all hours. It was largely my choice to write on such an erratic schedule and it wasn’t healthy.

How do you handle life interruptions?

We are empty nesters, so it’s generally pretty quiet around our house. I’m sure I have fewer interruptions than many writers.

When I am under time constraints or feeling particularly creative, I’ll turn off the phone and ignore the doorbell. A few people know my cell phone number, if I remember to turn it on, and anyone with a real emergency can find my husband at work. I do have a very bad habit of checking my email frequently while I’m writing.

The biggest life interruption for me was injuring my back and having major surgery a year ago. It takes a full year to recover. I discovered that I absolutely could not be creative for over a year- first, because of the injury, and then because of the surgery. Pain and fatigue and stress just took over. Mormon Boys was finished by then (other than some minor changes I made later), and I had made a major effort to send out queries before the surgery, (all rejections) but everything else in my writing life basically came to a halt.

Do you get blocked? Any hints on how to stave it off?

I do. Suggest a scene and I can probably write it. It’s coming up with the idea for the scene that can be difficult for me. I have difficulty visualizing my storyline as a diagram. I don’t go by formulas, which is probably to my detriment. One colleague read chapter one and said, “Now you need to introduce a threat: the other man!” It didn’t feel right for me, so I didn’t do it.

Meeting with my critique group helps immensely. When I’m stuck they’ll make good suggestions. My sisters are always a phone call away to brainstorm with me. My immediate family is supportive of my writing, but they have not read my novel, not a page of it! Maybe they will when it’s published in a few months. Who knows? There are some people who are very helpful in the process, and can think along the same lines, and others who just don’t operate that way. My husband is an attorney and usually reads nonfiction when he has a chance, though he is reading my novel now. My three sons are away at universities, studying medicine, exercise physiology, and computer engineering. When it comes to reading and writing, they’re just not kindred spirits. That’s okay; I just find help elsewhere.

I love the theater and I read quite a bit. I’m hoping some of those influences will find their way into my style. Maybe I should just sleep with a good book under my pillow.

What have you always dreamed of writing, but haven't yet?

Hmmm. Yesterday I set a goal to publish at least ten novels. What have I dreamed of writing? Something more literary, I think, several notches above my current level.

A writer in my group called me the Robert Kirby (Salt Lake Tribune columnist) of Northern Utah. What a compliment. I really would like to develop more humor in my writing. When I do write humorous pieces, it really is fun. I think my best piece so far is an essay, “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Speedo,” about my second son’s one and only bodybuilding competition. Some experiences are so dreadful, they’re actually funny. Oddly enough, it’s my second son who’s inspired many of my humorous pieces.

I plan to attend the Erma Bombeck Humor Writers Workshop in April 2008. It’s held in Dayton, Ohio, where Erma was born, and since my son, his wife and my new granddaughter live in Dayton, and it’s taking place on my birthday, karma is telling me I must go. So I need to gear up on more humorous writing when I complete my current novel.

I am starting this second career later in life than most, but hopefully I can integrate life experience and wisdom into my work. Still, I plan to have a long and satisfying run at it.

What one thing do you like most about writing? Least?

Most? When the creative juices are flowing and I’m moving forward. When I can read my work and get a laugh in response. When I feel productive.

Least? When I’m blocked, when the process is slow as tar, and when I get rejection letters. And it’s generally not healthy to compare myself to other writers who turn out several books a year. At this point, that just isn’t a feat I could accomplish. My work needs to mellow and I’m constantly revising and polishing to make the words flow more naturally, and to make the images more vivid. Leaving it for a while and then returning with fresh eyes is always helpful, too.

What is your next project?

I am about two thirds into the sequel to Mormon Boys. It’s tentatively titled Zina. Louisa (in the first book) has a sister, Zina, who leaves during the night; she overhears her father agreeing to let an older man court her, and she can’t bear the thought of plural marriage. So she simply leaves, and they don’t hear from her for ten years. Her story was originally part of Mormon Boys, but I had to take her out and promise her a book of her own. It was too difficult for me to write two storylines that were not chronologically compatible. I think it can be done but I don’t have the skill yet. So I’m writing Zina’s story now. I haven’t found as much humor to put in it, however, so at this point it has a darker, more sober tone than Mormon Boys. At the same time it has strong overtones of hope, tolerance, and family solidarity.

I’ve also started a novel addressing illiteracy and the lengths to which people will go in order to hide it. I’m an adult literacy tutor and I have learned so much from my student. He has inspired me to develop a story around the concept. And I plan to quote him directly, with his approval.

I also have a trilogy on the shelf. It’s one of my earlier efforts. I think the story concept is viable and since I have developed into a better writer since then, a rewrite is just the ticket. It takes place in Ireland and New England and it follows the lives of several different characters whose lives intertwine. It’s a love story with suspense and a lot of characters I’ve grown to love.

The above novels, Grace Will Lead Us Home, and O’Connor’s Honor, do not have LDS characters or themes at all. I hope they’ll be acceptable to a larger market, though LDS readers shouldn’t find anything offensive in them. It is truly a challenge to write for the LDS market. We need good LDS fiction, but it also has to be believable. And honest.

One element I always seem to add to my writing is animals. I have two dogs, and their unconditional acceptance and affection are wonderful additions to the quality of my life. They are social ice-breakers and sometimes they are heroes. They are also a good source of humor. Because of these attributes, I often include animals as characters.

Since I spent years reading books to find descriptions of food in famous literature, I understand the sensory and emotional impact food can have, so I like to include food descriptions in my books. I’d like the reader to taste what my character is eating. And who knows, I might include a recipe or two.

What is your advice for other writers?

Write, write, write, find other writers who will be honest and supportive, enter your work in contests, join writing groups, and read, read, read. Read good books and bad books. Read classics and decide why they are classics. Read bad books and analyze what makes them bad (how did they ever get published in the first place?). Read books out of your genre. Writing is a solitary profession, so you need to get out and interact with other writers. Keep abreast of what is happening in the writing world. Attend workshops several times a year; they’re vital to keep you inspired and improve your skills. Subscribe to writing magazines and read them.

Do not pin all your hopes on one agent or publisher you know is just perfect for your project. You’ll be crushed when it doesn’t work out. Keep sending multiple queries and refine your work as you get feedback. Write blurbs of fifty, one hundred, and two hundred words. Write a synopsis of one page. Two pages. Proof your work. Proof, proof, proof. Have others proof your work; they’ll find mistakes you haven’t noticed.

Tell us about your new book.

The prospect of one wife is more than enough for Mormon (LDS) bachelor Andy McBride, until he falls for fellow medical student Louisa Martin—a product of polygamy, a way of life Andy cannot embrace and Louisa cannot escape.

Can a man and a woman from two antagonistic cultures (mainstream Mormon vs. fundamentalist polygamist) overcome the daunting barriers that would deny them a life together? What sacrifices will each have to make in order to be together? What impact will their choices have on family, friends, and even whole communities?

Andy yearns to share every facet of his life with Louisa, including his medical practice, and he dreams of having a family with her. The consequences of this union would be major, however, as the two come from cultures that are mutually opposed. Each will have to sacrifice in order for Andy and Louisa to have a life together. Are these sacrifices too great? The reader will finish the last page with a greater knowledge of the two cultures and belief systems, compassion and tolerance for different beliefs, and hope that in the end, love and acceptance can change hearts.

Set in the striking red mountains of southern Utah, cosmopolitan Salt Lake City, the rural Smoky Mountain region of Kentucky and the beautiful, forest and lake-studded country of Finland, Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys deals with engaging characters from two contrasting lifestyles with honesty and humor.

Update: November 1, 2007: Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys was named as a Finalist, USA Book News Best Books 2007 Religious Fiction Category.

Marsha Ward, AuthorAction, Adventure and Love in the Old WestThe Man from Shenandoah and Ride to RatonRead excerpts at http://MarshaWard.com Read my blog at http://marshaward.blogspot.com

Readerviews.com

2007-12-09T18:18:00.001-08:00

Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys

Louisa Martin and Andy McBride meet and fall in love while they are in medical school. They come from very different backgrounds. Andy has a Mormon background. Louisa comes from a strict, polygamous community. Women are considered property of their husbands there and have no rights. Louisa is expected to follow the same path when she returns home as a doctor. The two separate because of this, but in time find each other again. Louisa had to leave her community after her eyes were truly opened up. She could not be silent as women are beaten by their husbands and impregnated by close relatives that they have been married off to.

After they get married, she takes on his faith. They are happy as they begin having a family. Initially Andy’s father has a hard time accepting Louisa because he has handled many cases in which he had to prosecute abusive polygamous men. Just as couples have to adjust in interracial relationships, there is also a great deal of adjustment in blending these two cultures, even though Louisa has taken on Andy’s religion, she has to deal with a great deal of prejudice and assumptions about who she is.

Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys is a great story. Janet Jensen has written a romance that incorporates drama, humor, and suspense into a great plot. She does a great job with creating some eccentric, likeable and not-so-likable characters. Using her knowledge of the Mormon religion, she also dispels some misperceptions that people have about Mormons and polygamy. I think that she also does a great job of writing from the polygamist’s perspectives. She wrote from both the good and the bad sides of what it must be like for the women that are living that lifestyle.

I think Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys will be enjoyed by women from all religions. She is very respectful of the Mormon beliefs and I think that this would be a great gift for someone of that faith. It would also be a great selection for a reader’s group because in addition to enjoying the well written story, the storyline will also stimulate some interesting discussions.

—Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (9/07)

Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys was a finalist,
Religious Fiction Category,
USA Best Books 2007

Families.com

2007-12-09T18:17:00.001-08:00

You Marry the Mormon Boys by Janet Kay Jensen

November 1, 2007

Released just today by Cedar Fort, Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys, was written by author Janet Kay Jensen, who also co-authored The Book Lover's Cookbook (Wenger & Jensen, Ballantine Books, 2003).

Andy McBride is a student at the University of Utah Medical School. While there, he meets Louisa Martin, a young woman who sweeps him off his feet. However, there's a problem, and it's a pretty big one. Andy was raised in a traditional LDS home, and Louisa was . . . not. To put it more precisely, she was raised in a little town called Gabriel's Landing, a fictional polygamous community. To add more fuel to the fire, Andy's father is Utah’s Assistant Attorney General and has been working diligently to prosecute cases of polygamy.

As much as Andy and Louisa love each other, they can’t plan a future together; after graduation, they know they must go their separate ways. Andy completes his residency and moves to rural Kentucky, along with his dog, comically named Eliza R. Snow.

Meanwhile, Louisa returns to her community and brings with her the medical knowledge she needs to treat her friends and family, many of whom don't trust those from the "outside." When her father announces that he will not be arranging a marriage for Louisa with one of the men in the community, he is disciplined by the Council of Brothers. Louisa comes under scrutiny as well for her “unacceptable” medical practices which include diagnosing depression among the women patients, expressing her concern over birth defects resulting from relatives intermarrying, and advising natural methods of birth control. She soon finds that she cannot practice medicine in Gabriel’s Landing. Heartbroken, she leaves and joins a medical group in Salt Lake City.

Unexpectedly, Andy and Louisa meet again after four years, but did the time spent apart soften their hearts? Did either of them reach a different conclusion about their religious beliefs? Will their families support their decisions? With evocative language, Janet Kay Jensen brings to a life a story that echoes but does not imitate today's headlines, and answers many questions asked by the public today concerning polygamous communities and their former ties to the LDS church.

This book was named a finalist by USA Book News in the Best Books 2007 Religious Fiction category.

—Reviewed by Tristi Pinkston, author of historical fiction, for families.com

The Romance Studio

2007-12-09T18:14:00.001-08:00

Andy McBride is a Mormon bachelor who is in love with Louisa Martin, a fellow medical student. They both come from two different cultures, one whose religion even speaks of polygamy. While they fall in love, they question if they can share a life together when their traditions are different.

Andy likes to keep in touch with his family. In fact he would rather have a computer than a television. That is his link to medical updates, news, and more importantly the best way to keep in touch with friends and family. After graduation nothing would please him more than to be with Louisa, but they go their separate ways.

Separation or not, Louisa lives in his mind. He wants her to be in his life regardless of their different customs or what family might say. Andy is willing to face any sacrifice to have Louisa in her life and when the opportunity again arises to see her again, he can no longer hold back his feelings. He pops the question to Louisa, hoping that her love will be enough for them to face any obstacle they may face in life.

Don't You Marry the Mormon Boys is a story, with a cast of characters that face many obstacles, emit much love, and learn about the different beliefs that can either destroy a family or make their love stronger. I believe Janet Kay Jensen has written a great eye-opener book good in many ways. I liked the part where marriage is spoken as being a partnership. She sketches heartwarming, realistic people who share different cultures, dissimilar lifestyles, but who all in the end work to have their own unforgettable love that shines.

Andy and Louisa are not only refreshing, but an engaging couple that makes this story wonderful as they work through their difficulties. There were times I could almost see the expressions on their face and feel their emotions. Ms. Jensen creates a background that puts the reader right in the center of everything, in this splendid read.

Overall rating:

Sensuality rating: Sweet

Reviewer: Linda Lattimer

November 26, 2007

review by Norm Goldman of bookpleasures.com

2007-12-09T16:44:00.000-08:00

LA Chronicle

Nominated in 2007 as a finalist in USA Book News in the Religious Fiction category, Janet Kay Jensen's Don’t You Marry The Mormon Boys narrates the story of two medical students who meet and fall in love while both are attending the University of Utah. However, there is one big problem, Andy McBride is of the Mormon faith while Louisa Martin was born and brought up in a strict polygamous community. After graduation and a painful break-up caused by their seemingly irreconcilable differences, the couple pursue different paths.

Andy, after several years of medical training, winds up with his dog, Eliza R. Snow, in the rural town of Hawthorn Valley, Kentucky where he is received with open arms, as the town is in dire need of a family doctor. Louisa, on the other hand, follows her idealistic dreams and returns to her hometown of Gabriel’s Landing, Utah.

Although the two continue to experience strong feelings towards each other, it would appear that there is little hope that they will ever again reunite and marry. In order to accomplish this feat, Louisa would have to abandon her dream of bringing modern medical practices to Gabriel’s Landing and leave her polygamous community. Further complicating matters is that Andy’s father Cole is an Assistant Attorney General in Utah who has been assigned to prosecute several polygamy cases, and he is not too thrilled with Andy’s choice of a girlfriend and possible future wife.

As Louisa settles into her new position of family doctor in Gabriel’s Landing, her idealism is soon shattered when she discovers the community’s dark side where women and children have been abused by their husbands and fathers and that there is an unusual number of stillbirths and birth defects. As she states, “Gabriel’s Landing was not the peaceful, harmonious community she had always imagined, though members of her family continued to be, as far as she could tell, kind and loving to each other.”

Thrown into the saga is the Council of Brothers decision obliging Louise to marry John Olsen who already has five wives and thirty children. Furthermore, Olsen is only a few years younger than Louisa’s father Joshua. Upon being notified of the Council’s decision, Joshua is unyielding in his refusal to permit the marriage and openly challenges their decision by informing the brothers that she cannot marry a man whom she does not love.

Louisa also finds herself in a great deal of hot water when she is summoned before the same Council and questioned if she counselled her patients about contraception, birth defects and depression. Her reply was that to answer the question would be to defy doctor-patient confidentiality, something she was not prepared to do. When she tries to explain the problem of marrying close relatives, she is rebuked and informed that the community does not need outsiders to meddle into their affairs for it is only the will of God that they must obey and no one else. Louisa, who causes quite a media stir, is forced to leave the community she loved and moves to Salt Lake City.

Andy discovers that practicing medicine in a small town is not exactly something he had envisaged particularly when he is called upon to treat an unwed pregnant teenager, who was badly beaten by her drunken father, Bo Rawlins. As Andy is soon to learn, his kindness towards the teenager and her brother will eventually result in some very harrowing experiences between himself and Bo, someone who doesn’t appreciate outsiders intruding in his family affairs.

Janet Kay Jensen is a writer of enormous talent, skill, and quite knowledgeable as she sheds light on Mormonism and polygamous communities which she skilfully interweaves into her story.

She also has a gift of descriptive prose, stirring up a sense of presence and emotion. Particularly striking is the small slice of life of a country doctor that rings so true, and when reading about Andy, it brought back my own childhood memories when my father would tell me how he began his medical practice in 1925 in a small village in Quebec.

Moreover, all of the supporting characters carry out important plot functions and it is here where Jensen is at her best, capturing wisps of their thoughts and emotions. Louisa’s father Joshua effectively playing the “fight role” when he stands up to the Council of Brothers with his fiery reactions to their dictatorial behavior. The mean Bo Rawlins seeking revenge, and Miss. Carolina with her herbal remedies and down-to-earth advice that startles Andy and even perhaps makes him a believer in alternative medicine.

This is one compelling novel you won’t want to miss.

Norm Goldman for BookPleasures.com
December 8, 2007

ldsreview.net

2007-12-06T08:25:00.000-08:00

Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys

by Janet Kay Jensen

When Andy McBride first sees Louisa Martin at University of Utah’s medical school, he’s immediately intrigued - as is the rest of his class. Louisa is obviously different than the rest of the class with her long hair pulled up in a bun and her old-fashioned, long-sleeved ankle-length dress. She has all the markings someone from a polygamous community. But it’s not what she’s wearing that intrigues Andy - it’s her beauty. But how can a fundamentalist Mormon and a mainstream Mormon ever have a relationship?

It’s an interesting topic for author Janet Kay Jensen to write about: a mainstream Mormon boy that falls in love with a fundamentalist Mormon that believes in polygamy. The only reason Louisa Martin is in medical school is so she can return to her community to be the resident family physician. It’s nearly impossible for her to have a long-term relationship with Andy, and when medical school ends, they both go their separate ways - Louisa back to her community, and Andy to the hills of Kentucky. But with a twist of fate, love is found again and if you want to know how that happens, you’ll have to read Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys.

I was really intrigued by this book. Granted, it’s a work of fiction, but polygamy is a pretty mysterious topic. I thought Janet Kay Jensen’s plot worked very well - the two separate but intertwined lives of a couple separated by religion. The book went very well until the climax, and then I lost interest during the last 45 pages. It’s hard to say in this review what went wrong with the book without giving away the ending, but I just thought it became disjointed at the end, almost like the author was starting another story after one had just ended with happily ever after.

Still, it was a decent book from a budding novelist. I’d love to see what Ms. Jensen comes up with next.

ldsreviews.com

Logan Utah Herald Journal

2007-12-04T11:49:00.000-08:00

Local author explores controversial topic

By Charlene Hirschi
Published:
Thursday, November 29, 2007 10:13 PM CST
Logan Utah Herald Journal

LOGAN AUTHOR Janet Kay Jensen is nothing if not persistent, and her tenacity has finally paid off in the publication of her first novel, “Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys,” after seven years of research, writing, rewriting and 75 rejection slips.Jensen and I became friends several years ago when we first met through the League of Utah Writers.

I was one of the first to read the original version of this book, and as we made ourselves comfortable in her lovely living room on a sunny October afternoon to talk about her experiences in getting this book written and published, I wanted to know what had changed in the book in the intervening years, since I hadn’t yet read the final version.

She smiled and said, “Almost everything. I’m a better writer now, and I’ve learned a lot from writers like Rachel Ann Nunes about tension and flow.”Jensen first got the idea for the book when she and her husband drove through Colorado City several years ago. There she was amazed to find neat, well-cared-for homes standing in stark contrast to other homes that were falling apart, with dirt yards overrun by weeds.

“We spent some time in the graveyard and took pictures of tombstones of 15-year-old mothers buried beside their babies who died the same date. The infant mortality rate was very high. The cemetery and the stark contrast between the have and have-nots made a lasting impression on my mind.”Around the same time, she and her husband were invited to a family reunion in Brigham City.

Jensen had heard stories of a distant aunt who returned from an LDS mission and married into polygamy, but had never met that side of the family. In spite of her foreknowledge, she was still taken back when 12 women, sans men, with long hair, no makeup and plain, old-fashioned dresses arrived with their children and stayed mostly to themselves.When the women stood and introduced themselves, including x-number of children and x-number of adopted children, the light finally came on:

“These were polygamous wives, and that’s when I began to think seriously about the sheltered lives these women lead.”Many of the ideas for this book came from the original trip to Colorado City.“We noticed a government health clinic built in the midst of a shanty town,” she said.

In her research, she became aware of Martha Hughes Cannon, fourth wife of Angus Cannon and Utah’s first female doctor and senator. From her research and personal experience, Jensen fashioned her fictional polygamous family.

She contrasts the upbringing of Louisa in a polygamous clan with the upbringing of Andy in a traditional 20th century LDS family. While both young people are attending medical school at the University of Utah, they meet and fall in love, but on graduation day they go their separate ways because they both agree their different views on marriage present an insurmountable barrier between them.Louisa returns to Gabriel’s Landing to open a clinic and fulfill her obligation to the community that paid her for her college education. When she returns, she starts to recognize disturbing trends within the community that she never noticed before and when she starts educating women on pre-natal care and how to avoid unwanted pregnancy, she runs afoul of the governing brethren.

At the same time, her father, Joshua, turns down an unacceptable, arranged, plural marriage for Louisa, which further agitates the community to the point of harassment and physical attacks on the clinic and the Martin home, ultimately forcing Louisa to flee.

In the meantime, Andy has taken up practice in a small, backwoods town in Kentucky. He too takes over a small clinic and soon becomes involved with the colorful residents of Appalachia, including Miss Carolina, a “healer.” Like Louisa, Andy soon finds himself in hot water with a particular local resident who believes in settling his grievances with a shotgun in the middle of the night.

Whether intentional or not, the parallel between these two isolated communities are striking. Both communities have their unwritten code of behavior, which everyone is expected to live by — what happens in the family stays in the family. Strong patriarchal beliefs, suspicion of outsiders and their newfangled ideas, and “take care of and punish your own” are themes that emerged in both locations.

Jensen does not sensationalize polygamy, nor does she condone it. However, she does recognize that some families, like Louisa’s, live in peace and harmony, that there is genuine love among family members and that most who practice plural marriage genuinely believe in the “Principle.”

She also points out that today’s polygamy is shrouded in secrecy, which often breeds the headlines we read in the paper. After Louisa’s return to Gabriel’s Landing, she laments that things have changed in the eight years she has been away and finally comes to realize that she too has changed.

Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys is a light read with some interesting insights into two ways of life most of us are not familiar with. Jensen says she has learned a lot in the seven-year journey to getting this book published. Besides “my writing style and editing improving, I also found that nobody wanted to publish a book about polygamy.”

The irony is that the book has placed as a finalist in the 2007 National Best Books Awards, Fiction & Literature: Religious Fiction category. For a book that was turned down by 75 publishers to receive this national distinction is nothing short of phenomenal.Jensen is a member of the Author’s Guild, LDS Storymakers and the League of Utah Writers, three organizations she credits with giving her support and encouragement along the way.

Her goals include writing for a mainstream market, where this book could easily fit. She is currently looking for an agent and hoping this book will get her the attention she needs to get her foot in the door.

So far she has done her own publicity, which she has gotten quite good at following her experience in promoting her nationally published The Book Lover’s Cookbook, which she co-authored with another local writer, Shaunda Wenger.“I learned a lot about contracts and publicity working with Shaunda on that book,” she said.

She laments that “publishers really need to get on the public relations bandwagon,” which only seems to happen after the book has shown promising sales, which makes it doubly hard for first-time writers to get their work out there.

Book critic Charlene Hirschi holds her master’s in English from Utah State University where she is the director of the writing center. She is among a number of freelance writers whose columns appear in The Herald Journal as part of an effort to expose readers to a variety of community voices. She is not an employee of the newspaper.

Feedback at charlenehirschi@yahoo.com.

Charlene Hirschi