Here on Diane Capri Reveals, we’ve featured some of the biggest names in our genre, including my friends and colleagues Lee Child, the father of Rambo, David Morrell, my colleague at the Bar, Steve Berry, the dynamite writing duos Maxine Paetro (and James Patterson), Grant Blackwood (and James Rollins), and more. You can check out those posts by clicking HERE.
For the next few weeks, by popular demand and as a service to our readers, we’re introducing Licensed to Thrill readers to new authors and new voices in this continuing series because the marketplace is crowded and finding good new authors is more confusing than it needs to be. So check out our entire series and see whether you’ve missed a few authors and books you’d like to sample for yourself or gifts for your favorite readers.
Today, Diane Capri Reveals one of my favorite story themes: time travel. Although I’m not a science fiction fan, I’ve always been fascinated by time travel tales. It’s such a pleasure to introduce you today to my friend Jennette Marie Powell, author of time travel and paranormal romance novels, including the Saturn Society novels.
Jennette Marie Powell
Jennette is a lifelong resident of the Dayton, Ohio area. She may be an archeologist of sorts because Jennette likes to dig beneath the surface to find the extraordinary below the mundane.
Diane Capri: We wonder, of course, whether you write time travel tales because you want to change the past?
Jennette Marie Powell: Not so much. *laughs* But I enjoy learning about local history, particularly the early 20th century. Right now, my preferred places to time travel are from my computer or Dayton’s Carillon Historical Park.
Diane Capri:I’m told that by day, you wrangle data and websites between excursions to search for the aliens and spacecraft that legends say are stashed away on the military base where you work. What takes up the rest of your real life time?
Jennette Marie Powell: My husband, daughter, two Rottweilers, and assorted small critters, mostly. But also learning about local history and riding my Harley. And I love classic cars. My brother owns dad’s original 1969 Camaro, and my 2010 Camaro is one of the first 15,000 produced!
Jennette and Someday Classic Camaro
Diane Capri: Your Saturn Society series has been called “Not your typical time travel romance.” Maybe it’s because of the secret society of time travelers, which sounds a bit exotic. Tell us a bit about the series.
Jennette Marie Powell: My books feature ordinary people in ordinary places, who do extraordinary things and learn that those ordinary places are anything but. The Saturn Societyincludes unwilling time travelers who do what they must to make things right… and change more than they expected in the process.
 |
 |
 |
Diane Capri: About your characters, are their names significant?
Jennette Marie Powell: My characters usually name themselves, and they pick great names that play on their personality or background. A lot of writers say their characters come easily to them, and don’t stop talking once they start. Unfortunately, mine are just the opposite—they give up their names easily, but I have to pry everything else out of them.
Diane Capri: Does listening to music help you with the prying?
Jennette Marie Powell: Yes! If my husband’s home, the TV is on… and if the TV is on, headphones are a necessity. If no one’s home and it’s deathly quiet, music is still a necessity – I have tinnitus, so I’d rather listen to something besides the ringing in my ears! Usually I listen to headbanger music – classic metal like Megadeth, or something electronic and more modern – my favorite is Front Line Assembly. But sometimes, old progressive rock—Rush, Genesis, Pink Floyd—is just what the doctor ordered. I get a lot of ideas and inspiration from music, which is probably why there’s so much conflict and angst in my books (but always a happy ending!).
Diane Capri: What’s that over there in the corner? When’s the last time you played that thing?
Jennette Marie Powell: Oh boy… too long! When I was a kid, I didn’t want to be a movie star or professional athlete like most kids—I wanted to be a rock star, specifically, a guitar goddess. When I was in high school I bought an awesome guitar for $250—a 1967 Rickenbacker 345 that I only recently found out is somewhat rare and worth a fair bit of money. I played it through college, put it aside for a while afterward while I was busy getting a life—then picked it up again after I got married, when a good friend’s husband taught lessons. But a strange thing happened. Almost overnight, it seemed I got extra fumble-fingered, and could hardly play. A week or so later, I learned I was pregnant. My daughter is 17 now, so… yeah. That’s the last time.
Diane Capri: We don’t call this segment Diane Capri Reveals for nothing. What is this photo here, anyway? Is that you?
Guitar Goddess and Band
Jennette Marie Powell: *laughs* Yep. Me playing at a dorm party for Halloween in 1985. I can’t for the life of me remember the names of the air-drummer girl, or the vampire singer and pianist. I still have the top hat, though, and the guitar—it’s just too cool to sell. Who knows? I might take it up again.
Diane Capri: Maybe you should time travel back to 1985 and find out who those other rockers are, hmmmmmm? *laughs* Or we can all come with you. After all, The Saturn Society is a secret society of time travelers. We might all be members!
You can connect with Jennette at her website: JenPowell.com or visit Jennette on Facebook: at Jennette Marie Powell.
Diane, thanks so much for “revealing” me! This was a lot of fun!
Enjoyed it myself, Jenn! Who knew you were a biker chick/guitar goddess/and car geek in addition to being a great writer! 😀
A rock chic, a bike chic and a writer! You’re a babe!
Great interview girls – it’s amazing how many writers are musicians. I was in the choir and orchestra in High school it must have something to do with rhythm.
Rhythm….could be you’re on to something there, CC! Thanks for reading. 😉
Love the guitar pic!! 🙂 Great reveal Diane & Jennette.
Thanks for stopping by, Coleen!
Loved it! I used to play the piano. Every now and again, I’ll sit down and play my old primary book of Christmas carols. I’m surprised that I can remember. I enjoyed learning more about you.
I always wanted to play piano, Ginger. I tried a few times, and I could play the right hand treble clef because I’d had about 10 years in the school band. But that left hand bass clef defeated me every time. Now, I’d love to have the space and the money for one of those baby grand pianos that have a CD playing system. Can you imagine? Lovely, perfect, symphony-quality piano music in your house??? How cool would that be!! 😉
CC, I think that creative people are often creative in many ways! I know a lot of writers who are also artists, and/or musicians. Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks, Coleen!
Thanks, Ginger! It was a fun interview!
I love how we learn something new in your Reveals, Diane. The rare guitar is a cool story, Jennette. You look like a little girl in that pic, not college age! I played guitar for about two months, then gave it up!
You already know I love Time’s Enemy and Time’s Fugitive, but I haven’t told you that I was delighted to read your short story, Time’s Holiday. Can’t wait to hear more of your Saturn Society series!
Very enjoyable interview, Diane and Jennette!
You, Lynn Kelly, are a time travel junkie!!! 😀 Thanks for reading and for the great comments!
Well, I knew you were a biker chick, Jennette, but not a Guitar Goddess, too. Wow! I love what we learn about folks here on Dian Capri Reveals!
That’s Diane with an ‘e’. Sorry, it’s 11:22 and it’s been a long day.
You know, Kassandra, I think you’re just typing so fast your keyboard can’t keep up! You go, girl!! 😉
I LOVE the picture of you in the band, Jennette – CLASSIC!
She looks right at home in that rock band, doesn’t she Becke? Thanks for reading!
Great interview. Diane, you always find such unique things to reveal. I always wanted to play guitar but after lots of lessons discovered I had absolutely no talent. Sounds like you had the talent, Jennette. And definitely for writing.
Talent? Yikes! That must have been my problem, too, Karla! 😉 Thanks for stopping by!
Great post and insight into this author’s creative process! Enjoyed reading : )
Glad you enjoyed it, Diane. Thanks for reading – and do come back!
Jennette, you’re a woman of many talents. Thanks, Diane, for revealing our favorite time traveler’s musical ability.
Now I’m thinking maybe she should play us a tune or two in a You Tube video, hmmmmmm? Thanks for reading, Pat!
You are just too awesome for words, Jennette. You are a little bit of everything. A total rock star! I’m digging that photo you guys dug up of the old band. Super fun! I’ve got a huge grin on my face.
Glad the post made you happy today, Debra! We aim for grins here! Thanks for reading. 😉
Very cool photos Jennette – color coordinated with the Camaro, and a Rickenbacker – I’m jealous of either! LOL, it’s always the quiet ones…
Cheers!
No kidding, Nigel. Gotta watch out for those quiet ones…..And LOVE the mustache! Makes you look a little like Snidely Whiplash, no???? 😀