Recently, we interviewed Jeffrey W. Tenney, who has recently released his wilderness adventure novel, Real Enough: A Wilderness Survival Novel. He is a recipient of a Spur Award for fiction.

Jeffrey W. Tenney is retired and living in southwestern Missouri. He is a recipient of a Spur Award for fiction. In addition to writing novels, he occasionally writes stage plays and screenplays, and has produced two films, The Raven’s Prey and Heads. He holds Masters degrees in Anthropology and Public Health.

BookView review: How often do you base your characters on real people?

Jeffrey W. Tenney: I never do. I let the characters grow out of the story.

BookView review: What does literary success look like to you?

Jeffrey W. Tenney: For me, it’s readership. Writing is communicating experience, and writers need readers to make that connection.

BookView review: How many hours a day do you write?

Jeffrey W. Tenney: Usually 4-5 hours per day.

BookView review: What are common traps for aspiring writers?

Jeffrey W. Tenney: Believing your early work is good. It usually isn’t, and you need a professional editor to tell you what’s wrong. Do not rely on friends or family to edit or give opinions.

BookView review: Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

Jeffrey W. Tenney: Mostly original, with a little nod to what readers seem to like. Having a target audience in mind does help tune the book to the right frequency, but it should be your frequency as well.

BookView review: What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?

Jeffrey W. Tenney: Early on, it was my biggest expense—professional editing. The more experience I gained, the less I needed editors.

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