B.L.Wilde
- May 22, 2020
- 5 min read

Author Spotlight with Jeanne McDonald

Jeanne and I have been friends for years. She has a wicked sense of humour like me, which is probably one of the reasons we're such good friends. She is an amazing story teller, and the perfect author for my first spotlight.

Jeanne McDonald enjoys writing contemporary romance filled with spice, drama, and humor. As JM Dodd, Jeanne's creativity explores the supernatural, relishes in the world of fantasy, and dabbles in contemporary fiction.

She prides herself in being a mother, a friend, a student of knowledge and of life, a coffee addict, a philosophy novice, a pop culture connoisseur, inspired by music, encouraged by words, and a believer in humanity.

Jeanne is the founder of the author co-op, Enchanted Publications, and is an avid supporter of autism awareness, combating senior hunger, and higher education access.

When she's not spending time with her amazing son, her dog, and her cat, she can be found reading, writing, enjoying a great film, or cooking for friends. In her house, there’s always music or a podcast playing.

A proud Texan, Jeanne currently resides in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with her son, Bacon, and Espresso.

You can learn more about Jeanne and her books at www.jmdodd.us

Author Interview

When did you first want to become a writer?

If you asked my mother this question, she would have told you I’ve been a writer since I said my first word. I’ve always loved to tell stories. When I was a kid, I constantly got in trouble for lying because I would relay the truth with so much enthusiasm that everyone believed it to be a lie. My very first story ever put to paper, however, was when I was about twelve years old. I wrote a Christmas story about the birth of Christ from the donkey’s point of view. My mother had me read that story to her Sunday school class, and the way she bragged about it, you would have thought it was Shakespeare. I wish I still had a copy of it.

What is the muse behind your writing? If you have one.

My muse is people watching. It’s amazing what people do when they don’t believe anyone is watching. So, basically, just call me a stalker. I also use music to influence my moods. If I need to write a sad scene, it’s time for some melancholy ballads. Gotta write a fight scene - bring on some rap or rock.

What do you think makes a good story?

I love for a book to have a realistic vibe to it. It’s important to me for a reader to be able to place themselves in the same situation as the characters. In my opinion, this is why great books stick with us long after we’ve read them. We’ve had the chance to live the lives of the characters, making them real to us forever.

How many books have you written? Which was your favourite?

To date, I have ten books published. This doesn’t include anthologies I’ve been involved with. And asking me to pick my favorite is like asking me to choose which is my favorite child. Lucky for me, my son is an only child, so I will never have to truly answer that question. HAHA! Each of my books carry a small piece of my soul, making it impossible to pick a favorite.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

When I’m not writing, I work a day job (gotta pay da bills), spend time with those I love, binge watch television, and tons of reading. I’m also a runner. I run six miles a day, five days a week. I do a lot of plot building during my runs. Running helps clear my mind, almost like meditation.

Do you have any interesting quirks while you are writing?

Let’s see. My most prominent one is I must write a book in chronological order. I can’t write chapter twenty and then go back and write chapter seven. I start at one and work my way to the end. It can be quite annoying at times when I can see the end, but the beginning is fuzzy, or vice versa. That’s what’s happening to me right now with my current work in progress. I’ll get there, though. I always do.

Do you have any advice for a newbie author?

Don’t do it! HAHA! Just kidding.

Honestly, my greatest word of advice is write your story. Your words are your words. They have meaning. They have power. Don’t write it unless you believe in what you have to say. Only then will you feel like you’ve succeeded.

What comes first to you, the plot or the characters?

They typically come together at the same time. There’s something about the plot and the characters that always go hand-in-glove for me. You can’t have one without the other.

Do you have a picture of your writing space, or can you describe it for me?

My writing space changes from day to day depending on my mood and the weather. I love to write on my patio when the weather is nice. There’s something about a cup of coffee and the sun that makes me all warm and cozy inside. When I can’t be outdoors, I can be found in my bedroom lounging in my armchair and ottoman. I have a small Keurig-style coffee maker on my bookshelf that helps keep me motivated. I also have a quaint computer desk in my bedroom that is a great place to write. Actually, it’s where I am now. It sits beside my bedroom window overlooking the street below. I love having that piece of nature to glance at whenever I need a mental break.

You’re stuck on a remote island for 6 months with enough food and water to keep you going. You’re allowed to find three items on the beach to keep you sane. What are they?

My cell phone, which means I better have electricity to keep it charged. This girl needs her books, music, Netflix, connection to social media, and games.
My running shoes. If I’ve learned anything from living through COVID-19, it’s that I must keep my butt moving in order to burn off all that calories I’ll ingest out of pure boredom.
Sunscreen. Though, this probably should be number one on my list since I would burn to a crisp and be too miserable to enjoy the other two without it.