Interview with Jenny Quinlan

1. What will you be talking about at the conference?

I will be part of two panels. On the first, GOING INDIE: A Brief Guide to Self-Publishing, I'll be one of four panelists, and I'll be talking about the importance of book covers, the elements of a good historical fiction cover, and tips for creating your own or working with a designer. And on the second, BOOK REVIEWERS TELL ALL: Advice for Authors & Readers, I will be joined by three fabulous fellow historical fiction reviewers (including our Queen Meg), and I'll be talking about the wonderful world of book blogging, the elements of a good review, where reviews are posted, the ethics of reviewing and soliciting reviews both as a reader and an author, how to approach negative reviews, and how to evaluate reputable review sites and reviewing-related services.

2. What inspired you to come up with this topic?

I was invited to participate in the Going Indie panel, but I did create the concept for Book Reviewers Tell All, and my three co-panelists helped me put it together. Reviews are so important for a book's success, yet it can be a daunting task to tackle for many authors, and it's easy to turn off potential reviewers, so I wanted to help authors learn the right way to approach them. I also wanted to give people a chance to meet the people behind the book blogs and learn more about becoming a reviewer and joining the reading community.

3. What other panels or events are you looking forward to seeing at the conference?

There are so many great presentations to choose from this year! As registration assistant and volunteer coordinator, I don't know how much time I'm going to have to actually sit in on some of them, and there's no way I'll be able to see all of the ones that interest me, but if I can, I'm going to do my best to get to ONCE UPON A TIME: Drawing on Myth, Magic, and Fairy Tales in Historical Fiction, MIXING IT UP: Historical Writing in Multiple Genres, STATE OF THE STATE OF HISTORICAL FICTION, TWO FOR ONE: Weaving the Twin-Stranded Storyline, and WHAT HISTORICAL NOVELISTS CAN LEARN FROM ROMANCE WRITERS. And I immediately signed up for HOOCH THROUGH HISTORY. That is going to be fun!

4. Who are you looking most forward to seeing at the conference?

Everybody! There are so many authors I admire that are attending and presenting, but mostly I am really looking forward to spending time with my editing and cover design clients in person! I was so thrilled to meet several in Denver, and even more are coming to Portland. We're going to have a great time!

5. What are you most looking forward to doing in Portland?

I really know nothing about Portland, but I am going to be arriving early and hope to get at least one full day of sight-seeing in before the conference.

6. If you could bring any three historical figures with you to a deserted island, who would you bring and why?

There are many historical figures that I have burning questions for, but I'm going to be practical and bring those I'd actually want to spend a prolonged period of time with and still survive. And while there are many women in history I admire, given my inability to live in close quarters with women for more than a few days at a time, I'm bringing men. (My husband's not going to be there, right? :) So I'm bringing Edward IV, before dissipation ruined him, say circa age 21 or so, "a man so vigorous and handsome that he might have been made for the pleasures of the flesh." Then I'm thinking maybe Shakespeare to feed me stories and poetry, and I think I'll round out with one of America's frontier heroes, maybe Davy Crockett, to keep me fed and sheltered. I'll be livin' the good life!