Interview with Jenny Knipfer, author of Harvest Moon

In the wilds of 19th century Ontario, Maang-ikwe, a young Ojibwe woman, falls into a forbidden love, breaks her father’s honor, and surrenders her trust to someone who betrays it. The abuse she suffers divides her from her tribe and causes her to give up what she holds most dear. 

Niin-mawin must come to grips with his culture being ripped away from him. Brought up in a “white man’s” school, he suffers through an enforced “civilized” education and separation from his family. When a man he respects reveals a secret about Niin-mawin’s past, he embarks on a search for the person he hopes can mend the part of his heart that’s always been missing. 

Both Maang-ikwe and Niin-mawin wonder how a harvest of pain and sorrow will impact their lives. Will they find the blessings amongst the hardships, or will they allow the results of division and abuse to taint their hearts forever?

Fans of historical fiction, Native American fiction, Christian historical fiction, clean romance, and literary fiction will be moved by this deep, heartfelt novel.

Praise for Harvest Moon

“A moving and authentic work of historical fiction, while this series is a testament to Knipfer's skilled and versatile storytelling.” Self-Publishing Review

 “Knipfer does an outstanding job of cementing place, time, and culture against the backdrop of evolving relationships.” D. Donavon for Midwest Book Review

 

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An interview with

Jenny Knipfer

Please tell us a little about yourself.

 I’m a: wife, mom, grandma, reader, writer, quilter, crafter, plant-lover, and dog-mom.

When did you start writing?

As a child, I wrote my thoughts in my journal and also short stories. Journaling became a huge part of my life. Later on, I wrote poems, songs, and kept up two blogs. In 2018 after retiring from my work as a floral designer due to disability, I finished a novel I had started years earlier and decided to pursue publication.

What projects have been published?

I self-published my first four-part historical fiction series, By the Light of the Moon in 2019 and 2020.

How did you select the title of your novel?

Being the fourth book in the By the Light of the Moon series, it had to have the word “moon” in it. I wanted to start it during the autumn and something about transforming a harvest of pain into something good sat well with me. So Harvest Moon was born.

What was your inspiration?

My past reading of children’s classics, like Anne of Green Gables and adult classic lit, like Jane Eyre, my all-time favorite book, inspired me to try my hand at writing, and it’s been my true love and therapy ever since.

 What are you currently working on?

I’m writing two books. One is the fourth and last title, By Broken Birch Bay, in a new series called Sheltering Trees. It’s set in the early 1900’s on Minnesota’s north shore of Lake Superior and is a historical mystery.

I’ll start publishing this series in June/July 2021. The first title is In a Grove of Maples, inspired by the lives of my grandparents as Wisconsin farmers in the late 1890’s. 

A desire sparked within me recently to write a Christmas novella, and so I am—Holly’s Homecoming. It’s a story of family reunification with a smidge of romance thrown in, releasing in November of 2021.

What are you reading at the moment?

On my blog, I often feature other authors and their books. As a part of The Coffee Pot Book Club, I am reading All Manner of Things, by Wendy Dunn.

What do you like to do in your free time when you're not reading or writing?

I enjoy quilting, making jewelry, tending my many houseplants and orchids, and playing with my mini Yorkie, Ruby.

Do you have any advice for other authors?

Treat writing not only as something you love but also as a serious job. Whether you pursue traditional or independent publishing, it’s a ton of work and not for the faint of heart. That being said, believe in yourself, but be open to receiving constructive criticism from other authors and readers. Take a step back and look at your work as a reader would, and then do what you do best… write.

Buy Links:

 

Amazon UK • Amazon US • Amazon CA • Amazon AU

 

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Jenny Knipfer

Jenny lives in Wisconsin with her husband, Ken, and their pet Yorkie, Ruby. She is also a mom and loves being a grandma. She enjoys many creative pursuits but finds writing the most fulfilling.

Spending many years as a librarian in a local public library, Jenny recently switched to using her skills as a floral designer in a retail flower shop. She is now retired from work due to disability. Her educational background stems from psychology, music, and cultural missions.

Her By the Light of the Moon series earned five-star reviews from Readers’ Favorite, a book review and award contest company. Their praise: “Ruby Moon is entertaining, fast-paced, and features characters that are real. Blue Moon continues a well-written and highly engaging saga of family ties, betrayals, and heartaches. Silver Moon is a highly recommended read for fans of historical wartime fiction, powerful emotive drama, and excellent atmospheric writing. Harvest Moon is probably one of the best historical fiction novels I have ever read. I have come away deep in thought, feeling somewhat like I’ve had a mystical experience and one I will never forget.”

She holds membership in the: Midwest Independent Booksellers Association, Wisconsin Writers Association, Christian Indie Publishing Association, and Independent Book Publishers Association.

Jenny’s favorite place to relax is by the western shore of Lake Superior, where her novel series, By The Light of the Moon, is set. She is currently writing a new historical fiction series entitled, Sheltering Trees. The first title in that series, In a Grove of Maples,—inspired by the lives of her grandparents in the late 1890’s—is slated for the fall of 2021.

 Connect with Jenny

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram