Author Jennifer Jones
THE MOM GROUP
My love for reading began at a really early age. I fell in love with Beverly Cleary’s Ramona Quimby books and all of the Judy Blume children’s and middle-grade books. I even loved the classics we read in high school like the Count of Monte Cristo and Lord of the flies. However, as an adult, I stopped reading for some reason when life got busy. I had my children, and I was working. Many years went by before I picked up a book again.
ALL ABOUT ME
My bibliophile heart returned, when one day several years ago, I was invited to join a local book club. I jumped right back in, and I haven’t stopped reading since. My favorite genres are contemporary fiction, historical fiction, and thrillers. But I also love a great memoir!
Romcoms are such fun books, as well.
Writing a book has always been a goal of mine. I wrote some short stories as a kid, but never wrote seriously as an adult before now. I actually had this idea to write The Mom Group for a few years. And then in 2022, I decided I was going to stop thinking about it and talking about it and finally start writing it. And once I started, I couldn’t stop. I wrote my first draft in six weeks. Of course, several edits followed, but it felt good to have it all on paper.
I got my inspiration from real life. I wanted this book to feel real like it could actually happen to anybody. I wanted the emotions to be raw and true, even if they were uncomfortable at times. And while the main story and events are completely fiction, some inspiration for the fun memories the main character recalls are versions of things that happened in my own life.
MY LIFE
I was born in the Los Angeles area, but currently reside in Texas where I’ve been for the past 30 years. I got my Bachelor of Science degree in sociology, and a Master of Science in criminal justice. I always thought I would have a career in the criminal justice field. I was actually a police officer for a few years back in the 90s.
But through a weird chain of events, I ended up working in corporate America, where I’ve been for the past 25 years. I’ve always done some form of compliance work. I also taught as an adjunct professor at both community college and two online universities for approximately 10 years. I taught courses such as introduction to criminal justice, criminal law, and critical thinking.
I am married and have a son and daughter who are both in college. We are empty nesters, but I do have two small dogs named Max and Jake. They are so sweet and keep me company every day.
RANDOM...BUT INTERESTING
A few random things about me…My house is decorated for Halloween year-round. I am vegan and have been for the past seven years. The only other country I have traveled to outside of the U.S. is Mexico, but oddly, I don’t have a huge desire to travel. I am very introverted and a huge homebody, and I would rather be home than any other place. I do, however, like taking short road trips with my husband!
ABOUT THE BOOK
I got the idea to write The Mom Group based on a few actual mom groups that I am in. While there are some great people in those groups and helpful information, the moms sometime post a lot of really personal information, and a lot of drama ensues. My main character, Erika, realizes that after her kids move away to college, she does not have a lot going on in her life.
She feels as though she lost her purpose and really doesn’t have any friends. So when she’s invited to join a mom group, she jumps at the chance, hopeful to break out of her comfort zone and meet some nice ladies. However, it doesn’t go as planned for Erika, and some of the women are downright rude to her. She’s really sad about this at first, but she turns that sadness into some anger. What happens next is a fast-paced ride that includes revenge, friendship and family drama, happiness, heartache, and some definite surprises.
The Mom Group does not focus on motherhood. It focuses on loneliness and the struggle to figure out who you are, who you want to be, and what it will take to get there. It’s a book that everyone can enjoy. So whether you’re a mom or not, thank you for giving The Mom Group a chance! I hope you love reading it as much as I loved writing it!