Author Name:
Dr. Jacqueline Jeynes
Book Title:
Before Hiroshima: Forgotten Prisoners of War in Japan, Burma and the Far East
Website URL:
https://www.jacquelinejeynes.com
Link to book page on Amazon:
Social Media Links:
www.facebook.com/jackiepencoed
www.linkedin.com/in/jacqueline-jeynes-5a8951b6
What is your book about?
Stories about POWs and women Internees taken prisoner by the Japanese in WWII. All nationalities, their courage and determination to survive such atrocious conditions should be recognized and saluted, especially in 2020 as 75th anniversary of VJ Day.
What inspired you to write your book?
My father was a prisoner of war in Japan, working on the ‘Death Railway’, the docks, and the copper mines. like others, he suffered many illnesses when he came home, but he was a volunteer Welfare officeerr with the Midlands group of FEPOW, and I was secretary of the group for 25 years. The book is based on letters and stories I researched over the years.
If you have a business related to your book, tell us about it:
I published it through my own small-run publishing firm Pen Coed Publishing rather than send it to one of the publishers of my other books.
What is a typical day like for you?
I work from home (for many years now) so go for a walk every day to get my head clear and think about what I need to do that day – between 3-6 miles. Then it is emails – every day even when on holiday! – from students on my distance learning modules, publishers, writers who would like me to edit their work, things to do with my travel writing. I then focus on the project I am currently working on. I also put together book proposals to send out to relevant publishers (Risk Management/ Travel marketing/ travel around Wales).
What do you most enjoy about what you do?
I love writing, of course, but I definitely enjoy putting together new book outlines and deciding what the structure should include.
What are some favorite books you’d recommend to our readers?
The Artist & Writer’s Yearbook is the favourite, of course, to be used with different colored highlighter pens. Other than that, there are a lot of short online courses that are always worth signing up for as even if you are an experienced writer, there will be just a couple of crucial points you can learn – for example, Udemy course on Travel Writing.
What advice do you have to offer our readers?
Write what you know about – everyone has something different to say. But you do have to be patient as it takes a long time to be recognized as an authority on a topic. Don’t turn your nose up at doing something for nothing if it is going to get you where you want to be – I did lots of travel reviews and built up a base of readers and travel companies that liked the way I wrote.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I was first married to an abusive husband, took 10 years to escape with 5 small sons (I was allowed to stay at home and have babies!) and what we stood up in. I met my current husband 40 years ago, and worked to gain my B.Ed(Hons, MBA, PhD always in areas I was working in. We have 8 children between us, 21 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. My husband loves cooking & housework and I love him!
What’s next for you?
My book on Targeting the Mature Traveler is currently in production with New York publisher BEP, and I am working on a further book for Palgrave Macmillan on Risk Management (my PhD). Also putting together a 2-part book on A Meander round Wales.
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