Author Interview with Jenny Knipfer, Author of In a Grove of Maples

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

In 1897 newly married Beryl and Edward Massart travel more than one thousand miles from Quebec to farm a plot of land in Wisconsin that they bought sight-unseen. An almost magical grove of maples on their property inspires them to dream of a real home built within the grove, not the tiny log cabin they’ve come to live in. 

I'm pleased to welcome author Jenny Knipfer to The Writing Desk:

Tell us about your latest book.

My latest book, In a Grove of Maples was inspired by my grandparents and their lives as Wisconsin farmers in the late 1890’s. 

Told in a split timeline through both diary entries and third person narrative, In a Grove of Maples relays a story of newlyweds, Beryl and Edward Massart, and their trials to brave the land, survive their trials, and rise above their misunderstandings and differences. 

What is your preferred writing routine?

I prefer to write in the afternoon or evening and manage my author business in the morning. 

My system: after establishing POV, a rough outline, and a premise, I begin, keeping notes on characters as they appear. 

I write on my iPad, chapter by chapter and only sandwich chapters together when I’m done to do a final edit on the computer. 

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

Do your homework. Just because you excel at expressing yourself through words does not mean you know how to write a novel. I learned this the hard way. 

Learn all you can about point of view, active sentence structure, how to construct a good plot, establishing your characters, and on the list goes… 

Also, keep in mind that selling your book will require much effort, and if you’re an indie author, plan for a large marketing budget.

What have you found to be the best way to raise awareness of your books?

Social media, Facebook groups, blog tours, and newsletter book promotions have been the best outlets for me to raise awareness for my books.

Tell us something unexpected you discovered during your research.

I had to research how deaths were handled in the county in Wisconsin that In a Grove of Maples takes place in. Even in the 1800’s and in a rural setting, people were not permitted to bury those who died on their own property unless an official family cemetery had been established. 

What was the hardest scene you remember writing?

Deeply romantic scenes and the ending scene gave me the most challenges. I am, firstly, not a romance writer at heart. I take joy in writing the tension filled dramatic scenes of trials and traumas over romance, but as I write more, I find those scenes are growing on me. 

Wrapping up a book with a final scene can sometimes be difficult. I had a tinge of fear before I sat down to write the ending scene for In a Grove of Maples, but it came to me as I began and flowed out as I trusted it to.

What are you planning to write next?

I have three other full-length novels in the Sheltering Trees series complete and a Christmas novella. Read about the series here: https://jennyknipfer.com/sheltering-trees-series/

I am working on another title for a four-part novella series entitled, Botanical Seasons. Holly’s Homecoming, Violet’s Vow, Daisy’s Delight, and Marigold’s Muse are the titles for those. 

Jenny Knipfer

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About the Author

Jenny Knipfer lives in Wisconsin with her husband, Ken, and their pet Yorkie, Ruby. She is also a mom and loves being a grandma. She enjoys many creative pursuits but finds writing the most fulfilling. Spending many years as a librarian in a local public library, Jenny recently switched to using her skills as a floral designer in a retail flower shop. She is now retired from work due to disability. Her education background stems from psychology, music, and cultural missions. She holds membership in the: Midwest Independent Booksellers Association, Wisconsin Writers Association, Christian Indie Publishing Association, and Independent Book Publishers Association. Jenny’s favorite place to relax is by the western shore of Lake Superior, where her novel series, By The Light of the Moon, is set. A new historical fiction, four-part series entitled, Sheltering Trees, will be released in 2021 and 2022. Jenny is currently writing a novella series entitled, Botanical Seasons.  Find out more at Jenny's website  https://jennyknipfer.com/ and find her on Facebook and Twitter @JennyKnipfer