Hey there book fans! I’m taking over Lyssa’s blog today to talk to you a little bit.
Hi! My name is Jennifer Zamboni and I’m an urban fantasy author from Maine. I’m the mother of two tiny tornados (little girls who are certainly forces of nature!), a wife, a book dragon (I don’t consume books, I treasure them), a knitting enthusiast, and animal lover.
When I was a kid, both my grandmother and my aunt knit on a regular basis. Sweaters, mittens, hats, shawls. I loved all the knit gifts I received from them over the years. Eventually, my grandmother decided to teach me. She sat me down with a skein of pink yarn a pair of size 8 needles. She cast on the first row of stitches for me, then sent me on my merry way. I eventually ended up with a lumpy uneven scarf that is probably still on the needles, because I never got the cast off lesson. It sat in my room for a few years and I moved.
In my early 20’s, one of my friend’s moms taught me how to knit dish clothes… corner to corner, so I still didn’t know how to cast off! Well, it was time to learn, so I bought a few books, some more yarn and a variety of needles and set down to the task. After several scarves, I was addicted. I think my favorite projects lately have been sweaters for my kids. They knit up quickly, and they’re just so darn cute!
Right now, I’m working on a Beekeepers Quilt (you can find the pattern here: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-beekeepers-quilt) It’s a great project to stick in your bag for on the go!
Speaking of on the go projects, I’ve been known to write on the go as well. Thanks, Google Docs!
Let’s go a little deeper into who I am concerning books. It was a slow development, with a rough start. When I first started school, I was put into a reading program, to help me catch up with my classmates. It worked! All the while my parents read to me every night, mostly The Chronicles of Narnia and Black Beauty, over and over!
In middle school, I dabbled in writing novels. There are lots of beginnings to books about brave girls taming wild horses somewhere.
In high school, I started the book that really ignited my love of writing. It was an epic sword and sorcery style fantasy, and I was smitten. I finished the rough draft when I was 19, did a little editing, and started submitting it to agents. Eventually, I went back, and read through it again, and decided it wasn’t ready.
I got busy with life and work until I discovered National Novel Writing Month, which was the kick in the pants I needed. The second year, I began the manuscript that was to become my first published book. I went on to write more, but that second one wouldn’t leave me alone. I’ve been plugging away at it, for the last couple of years or so, in the midst of teething children & family time. I’m proud to say, Beauty is the Beast, the first book in my urban fantasy series Beasts Among Us, is finally published!
I’ve been supporting the Indi author community as much as possible and will continue to do so, no matter where this journey takes me.
I am a writer, I am a mother, I am a wife, I am a reader.
Thanks so much for hanging out with me for a few minutes! I’d love to keep in contact! Check out my blog’s Find Me page for all my social media links.
Thank you so much for letting do this!
It is awesome to have you!
You have really shared a great blog. Thanks for sharing.