Bestselling author Jeneva Rose chatted about her new book “The Perfect Divorce,” which was released today.
It is already in the Top 5 in the Amazon Best Sellers list for “Crime Thrillers” and “Murders Thrillers.”
Background on Jeneva Rose
Jeneva Rose is the New York Times bestselling author of The Perfect Marriage, The Girl I Was, One of Us is Dead, You Shouldn’t Have Come Here, and the Kimberley King series.
Her work has been optioned for film and TV, and it has been translated into more than two dozen languages.
Originally from Wisconsin, she currently lives in Chicago with her husband and her stubborn English bulldog.
How did “The Perfect Divorce” come about?
The idea for The Perfect Divorce came about right around the time I finished writing The Perfect Marriage back in 2017, at least a nugget of an idea as to how the story could continue, should I have the opportunity to write a sequel.
Typically, a book has to sell well enough for a publisher to get behind a second novel in the same universe.
The sales warranted a sequel a few years ago, but I didn’t want to write it until I had a fully fleshed out idea with surprising twists and reveals, as well as solid reasons as to why these characters’ stories weren’t over yet.
Once I had that, and I knew this was a book I’d be proud to have my name on, I pitched it to a publisher and started writing it.
Was it a cathartic process for you to write?
Writing has always been cathartic for me regardless of the book I’m working on. Sometimes the themes and topics are ones I’ve had personal experience with, so they’re something I can work through. But even when they’re not from personal experience, writing is still cathartic.
I have these ideas and characters and settings in my head, so getting them down on paper feels like a release in a way.
What did this book teach you about yourself?
This book taught me to get out of my own way, a repeat lesson for myself. It was an issue I dealt with when I wrote my first book.
That little voice that told me ‘I couldn’t write, it wasn’t good enough, I’d never finish it’ returned—this time telling me ‘the book wouldn’t live up to the original, it wasn’t worth writing, I should have left it as is’.
I had to learn to quiet it again and get out of my own way.
What do your plans for the future include?
I have big plans for my future, both in my personal life and in my career. Personally, I’m pregnant with my first child, which my husband and I are so excited to welcome this July.
Career-wise, I’ve made some extensive changes in the last six months, including surrounding myself with a brand new team.
They’ve already started shaping my future career in ways I never imagined, and I’m thrilled to see how everything shakes out.
Were there any moments in your career that have helped define you?
Rejection has defined me, and I’ve endured a lot of it—468 rejections to be exact. It made me fight harder, think outside the box, take control of my own career, and it kept me humble and grateful through it all.
It also made the success that has come my way all that much sweeter.
What is your advice for young and emerging authors?
My advice for young and emerging authors is to write for yourself. Don’t write for the market. Don’t try to follow a trend. Write for you.
What does the word success mean to you? (My favorite question)
If you would have asked me this question a year ago, I would have said something along the lines of making a lot of money, being recognized for my talent, racking up bestseller accolades, or winning lots of awards.
When many of my friends and those in the industry saw me as a rocket taking off and at the top of my career, I was actually doing my worst.
I was spiraling and beyond burned out. I had failed myself in my attempt to gain success or at least what I thought success was. I know better now. Success is being able to take a day off without feeling guilty that you’re not doing enough.
Success is living in the moment, not worrying about what’s next. Success is saying no to the things that don’t serve you. Success is a deep breath, a long walk, and a clear mind.
What would you like to say to your readers about your new book? (What’s the one thing you want them to get out of it)
I write to entertain, so I want my readers to be entertained. There’s value in entertainment, in art that makes the world around us melt away. So, I hope The Perfect Divorce provides my readers with the perfect escape.
“The Perfect Divorce” is available on Amazon by clicking here.
To learn more about bestselling author Jeneva Rose, follow her on Instagram.
