This page was inspired by similar “basic interview” sections on the websites of other authors I admire.
The Internet makes it easy to connect with readers, students, and fellow writers. I’m always grateful when someone takes an interest in my work. At the same time, many of the questions I receive tend to overlap, so I’ve gathered the most common ones here in one place.
Please feel free to use anything you find here for personal, educational, or non-commercial purposes. If you quote directly, I simply ask that you attribute the material appropriately.
If you don’t see your question answered below, you’re welcome to reach out. I can’t promise immediate replies, but I’ll do my best — and if your question seems like one others might have as well, I may ask permission to add it here.
About Me · Process & Practice · On Craft, Story & Influence
Art, Artist & Responsibility · Fan Fiction & Media Fandom · Availability & Requests
📖 About Me
- Is Jennie St. Thomas a pen name?
Yes. Jennie St. Thomas is a pen name I chose intentionally — rooted in history and used for clarity rather than secrecy. Read More »
- Do you have a short biography I can share or quote?
- Where are you from, and where do you live now?
- Do you write full time?
- Have you always wanted to be a writer?
- What are you working on right now?
- What kinds of stories are you most drawn to tell?
- Are there themes that consistently appear in your work?
- Who are some of the writers who have influenced you?
- What does success as a writer mean to you?
✍️ Process & Practice
- Where do your ideas come from?
- Do you outline extensively, or discover the story as you go?
- What does your drafting process look like?
- How do you approach revision?
- How many drafts does a project usually go through?
- How do you know when a story is finished?
- Have you ever experienced writer’s block?
- How do you deal with self-doubt while writing?
- How much time do you spend writing each week?
- What tools or software do you use in your writing process?
🎯 On Craft, Story & Influence
- What makes a story “serious”?
- What does fiction owe its readers?
- Do stories need to challenge norms in order to matter?
- How do you approach moral ambiguity in your work?
- How do you think about diversity in fiction?
- Can a story be apolitical?
- What is the difference between portraying something and endorsing it?
- Can you admire a writer’s craft even if you disagree with their views?
- What does it mean to be influenced by another writer?
- What assumptions about writing do you find yourself questioning?
🎨 Art, Artist & Responsibility
- Should a work of art be evaluated independently of its creator?
- To what extent should an author’s personal beliefs affect how readers approach their work?
- What responsibility does a writer have to readers?
- What responsibility does a writer have to the broader community?
- Where does an author’s responsibility begin and end?
- Do writers bear responsibility for how readers respond to their work?
- How should writers navigate disagreement with their audience?
- How do you think about literary influence in a time when authors’ personal views are highly visible?
- Can readers meaningfully separate appreciation of a story from opinions about its creator?
- What do you think is overvalued in contemporary writing culture?
🎬 Fan Fiction & Media Fandom
- What is fan fiction, and why do you write it?
- Is fan fiction “real” creative writing?
- Is fan fiction legal?
- Where can readers find your fan fiction?
- Why do you write under the name “Cat Lady Firebird”?
- How does writing fan fiction differ from writing original fiction?
- What has fan fiction taught you as a writer?
- How do you approach canon when writing fan fiction?
- Do you see fan fiction as practice, passion, or something else entirely?
- Will there be additional stories in the Restless Hearts series?
💼 Availability & Requests
- Can I send you my manuscript or story for feedback?
- Do you offer editing, critique, or beta-reading services?
- Are you available to speak at schools, libraries, or events?
- Are you available for interviews, podcasts, or panels?
- Are you open to collaborations?