My blog guest today is Jenna Maeson, who is here to talk about her latest book, Secrets Underground.
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Welcome, Jenna! What prompted you to first start writing? What was the first thing you wrote?
I've been telling stories to myself for as long as I can remember.
I like to say I've been writing stories since before I could write words. At about four, I would draw stacks of pictures and give them to my mom, then I would dictate a story to her about them and she would write them down. I've always loved stories and had an active imagination. I learned to print my name legibly when I was four because I wanted a library card so badly. And I know from kindergarten on I would tell people I wanted to be an author when I grew up.
Can you summarise your latest work in just a few words?
Small town secrets, pets, and quirky locals.
My main character, Olivia Morgan, takes on a new mystery with her canine sidekick Elmer, this time uncovering some hidden tunnels under a rich architect's estate, and uncovering town lore that some locals would like to keep hidden.
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What was the inspiration for this book?
Good question. Most of my books don't have inspiration so much as a random thought that pops up. Or I see something somewhere and my brain starts spinning with the what-ifs. I think I had seen something about a secret society somewhere, and this book spun out from that.
Did you do any research for the book?
Not really. I like to write things I don't have to do much research for, which is why I have avoided anything police procedural or medical, even though I love the topics.
How do you decide on the names for your characters?
A lot of the time I use online name generators if I’m stuck. Or just whatever pops into my head first. Elmer got his name because I was thinking of how my dogs are glued to me wherever I go, then I thought of Elmer’s glue, and that’s that.
Do you plot your novels in advance, or allow them to develop as you write?
A bit of both, actually. I try to have a basic outline so I can kind of keep track of where I’m going and what needs to happen between the beginning and then end. But ideas usually expand and wander as I write.
Now the book is published and ‘out there how do you feel?
I always feel relieved when a book gets published. That i actually finished it on time. Then i get nervous to see how people react to it. And go through the usual spiral of self-doubt wondering if its good enough.
Is there a message for the reader?
Not from the book exactly but from me in general - all of my books are written to give people an escape from the day-to-day of our crazy world. I give you the opportunity to stay within our reality but in a cleaner version - probably the one we’d all prefer to live in. My only goal is to make people laugh and make them wonder what if.
Do you have any advice for new writers?
Just do it. It seems silly but just write the book. Write the story that is in your heart. Publish it or don’t, but get it out. With the publishing world as it is right now, everyone has a chance for their story to be seen. Perfection is not a real thing. Don’t strive for it, or you won’t do anything.
What can we expect from you in the future?
I have a fourth book in my current series coming out in mid-October and I have a non-cozy mystery - let’s call it a speculative rom-com - that I will be sending out on query early in 2026.
Here is the link for my Amazon author page, which has buy links for all of my books:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jenna-Maeson/author/B0DXRQCWWP
Thanks to Bittersweet Book Tours for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour.
