Mar 4, 2010

Interview With Pam Jenoff, Author of Almost Home

Welcome to my interview with author Pam Jenoff, author of the recently released (in paperback) Almost Home, The Diplomat's Wife, and The Kommandant's Girl (click here for Diary of an Eccentric's mini-review).

Author Pam Jenoff is a former resident of Maryland and graduate of George Washington University in Washington, D.C.  After attending Cambridge University in England, she took a variety of jobs in American government, including positions with the Pentagon and the State Department.  Since then, she's graduated the University of Pennsylvania and works as an attorney in Pennsylvania.

However, her latest pursuits have involved novel writing, and one of her earlier novels, The Kommandant's Girl, became an international best seller and was nominated for the Quill Award.  Her recent novel, Almost Home, was released in paperback and is set in both Washington, D.C., and London as the main protagonist, diplomat Jordan Weiss searches for the truth behind the death of an old college boyfriend and tries to uncover corporate connections to the Albanian mob.

Please welcome, Pam Jenoff and stay tuned for my review of her latest novel, Almost Home.

How would you introduce yourself to a crowded room eager to hang on your every word? Are you just an author, or what else should people know about you?

I jokingly say that I am boring and grumpy.  What I mean by that is I still have a day job (most people are surprised to learn this) as a law school professor.  So I have to go to bed very early in order to get up by five to get the novel writing done But I love every part of my crazy, hectic life and wouldn’t trade a minute of it.

Please share a few of your obsessions (i.e. a love of chocolate, animals, crosswords).


I’m a huge eater.  I would always rather eat than drink, and mostly healthy stuff, though I could eat my own body weight in Twizzlers and cheesepuffs.  I’m a shameless napper.  Big football fan (Philadelphia Eagles).  And I love a good sudoku puzzle.

How do you stay fit and healthy as a writer? 



I chase after my one year old son a lot.  I try to run and get to the gym and once upon a time I was a second degree black belt.

Which books have you been reading lately, and are there any you would recommend in particular?  Which books do you think should be read by more readers?


I’ve been reading a lot of children’s books to my son, like Is Your Mama a Llama and Dr. Seuss.  That might be all I have time for at the moment! I’ve also enjoyed authors such as Tracy Chevalier, Kate Atkinson, Laura Lippman, Barbara Kingsolver and Anita Shreve.  I think everyone should read what they want…just read!

What current projects are you working on and would you like to share some details with the readers?


The sequel to Almost Home is called Hidden Things and it will be out this July.  And I’m working on something next about which I am super-excited.  It brings together elements of all of my other books.  It’s tentatively called The Anniversary Clock, but it’s really too early to say more beyond that.

Thanks, Pam for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer my questions.  

Check out the second part of the interview on D.C. Literature Examiner.


FTC Disclosure:  Clicking on title links or images will bring you to my Amazon Affiliate page; No purchase necessary.

14 comments:

Anna said...

Thanks for linking to my review! I wrote that ages ago when I was a bit rusty. LOL

I'm looking forward to reading this book, since I've enjoyed her others. I enjoyed the obsession question...I could eat my body weight in crab rangoons or Chipotle burritos. :)

--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric

Serena said...

I would love to eat my weight in crab meat wontons (aka crab rangoons) and cheetos!

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

I still need to read Almost Home. Soon, I hope...

I'm psyched about seeing Pam make the blog rounds. I'll get to meet her at a conference in May. Really looking forward to it.

Oh, and I posted this at Win a Book for you, doll.

Unknown said...

Chasing after a 1-year old definitely counts as exercise! I'm amazed Pam has any time to write between her work and family.

Jason said...

Wow! A Law Professor! Thats quite a day job. :) Your book looks awesome.

Jase
vslavetopassionv(at)aol(dot)com

LuAnn said...

Ahh, football and suduko -- a great combination for a lazy Sunday afternoon!

misskallie2000 said...

Wow, Pam you are so smart and wise. I can't imagine you being boring and grumpy and chasing a 1 yr old ain't that easy. LOL
I have not read any of your books but want to read this one for sure.
Thanks for the great interview.

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

Great interview! Can't wait to read this book.

Linda said...

My favorite question in an author interview concerns what other books or authors one likes; esp. when the author mentions my own favorites - in this case Tracy Chevalier and Barbara Kingsolver.

Margie said...

We love sudokus at our house too!
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Kim Allen-Niesen said...

Law professor, one year old, novel writer, yikes! I'm impressed and feeling a bit inadequate :)

distractedmusician said...

Sounds like you've got your hands full there!

Great interview =]

Bookie said...

Wow, it sounds like you're a busy woman. :)

Anonymous said...

I think I could eat my weight in Twizzlers :)