Thursday, September 12, 2013

A TRIBUTE TO THE "JENNY BLAKES" -- WRITERS' HELPERS


A few years ago, I heard online about a lady called Jenny. I can’t even remember now just when and where I started to hear of her.  At first she was often just mentioned as “ausjenny” and it was some considerable time before I discovered more about her.

Many authors overseas as well as in Australia now know her through her blog,  Come Meet Aus Jenny where she has featured many on interviews, told about their books. This kind of exposure is invaluable to published authors. I noticed that Lisa Harris mentioned in her post on ICFW last Tuesday that it is essential for a writer to "get the word out" about her book, and "ausjenny" may not even realise how much help she has been to us.

In the last few years, things have changed a great deal with many more blogs now available to try and follow. However, at that time I personally had a very heavy schedule and found it difficult to keep up with the internet writing scene, especially blogs, but this “ausjenny” was one of the first I heard about as being an Australian in this Christian fiction blog arena. Okay, so I know now I was  rather slow to catch on as she has had her blog for the last five years.  

For some time I did not even know her real name, did not know until this wonderful woman who was supporting authors overseas began to help and focus more on the increasing number of Australian authors published in Christian fiction. Then I discovered this prolific “Writers’ Helper” was not a writer herself, has no ambition to be a published author. Eventually the news filtered through that “ausjenny” was a Jenny Blake who loves books, especially Christian fiction and was a volunteer at an Australian Christian bookshop. That was only the beginning of my discovering her many and varied talents.

I know that the last few years have been a very tough time for dear Jenny with health and family, including the passing of her mother. But has that stopped her doing what she can where and when she can to help authors? No way!

This is just one personal example. My husband’s publisher told him he really needed to do more promotion for his 31 Day Devotional series. While I’ve had a website  for a while now and finally ventured into having a blog, Ray and I are both technically challenged in this whole modern era of the internet. A writer friend told me how good Jenny was at setting up blogs,  so who did we turn to for help? Jenny Blake of course and she was wonderful.

Since then Jenny has been very involved in helping start online ventures for Australian writers. Currently, with Narelle Atkins, she is one of the administrators of our Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance , and the last few weeks the new Australasian Christian Writers Yahoo group and the new Australasian Christian Writers  blog.  What would we do now without you, Jenny?

I believe there are other Writers Helpers that so often we never really know about. These days, published authors simply have to be involved on the World Wide Web and promotion in all kinds of areas so readers know our books are available.  There are others like Ray and I who need heaps of technical help. I know I still have to spend far more time on social media and promotion than I want to. It takes up valuable time I’d much rather spend writing my books. How much harder it would be without our Jenny Blake.

So, here’s a very big “Thank you” to all those folk who love books, who have no ambitions to be writers themselves but seek to support us in practical ways  - as well as praying for us. May we never be tempted to take your help for granted or forget to thank God for you.

And, dear Jenny, this is my personal thank you for all your support and prayers for Ray and I as well as the heart you so obviously have for Christian writers.

Would love to hear comments from other writers around the world about their own invaluable  “Jenny Blakes”.  Perhaps there are other readers who would love to help writers "get the word out" about Christian novels. There may be some authors reading this who personally have been also helped by our Aus Jenny Blake over the years.

Mary Hawkins lives in Tasmania, Australia, with her retired minister husband. They have three adult children and six grandchildren. She is the author of 19 titles and is delighted her Heartsong Presents contemporary Search series and historical Great Southland series are now  available for readers again as e-books through Truly Yours Digital Editions 

20 comments:

  1. Indeed what a tribute, proud of you AusJenny and to say that I know you even tho it is as online buddy...congrats

    Paula O

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  2. I was introduced to Jenny several years ago. Love her!

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  3. Three cheers for Jenny! :) And anyone else who does work like her - invaluable.

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  4. Thanks all this is really quite humbling. I just do what I do to help support authors and because I have a passion for Christian fiction. I get much more out of it as I have made some awesome friends who have been there for me at the toughest times. Rel from Relz Reviewz was the first aussie blogger I got to know and she does a wonderful job also. Thanks and Yes Paula we are buddies and Ruth and Amanda thanks for stopping by.

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  5. I love this post! And agree with it completely! Jenny, you are thought of so fondly by so many! Thanks for being in my life, as well :)

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  6. Jenny, your comment just gives another glimpse of your generous and humble heart. Thank you again for all you have done for my husband and I personally.

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  7. Thanks Mary for posting this. Being a new author, I didn't know such lovely people existed as Jenny. I'm also a little unsteady on my social media feet and am surprised at how much I don't know. Technology is so swift these days. It's evolving even as I write this. Scary.

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  8. Thanks Mary for telling the world about Jenny and the work she does. Thank you Jenny for what I've learned from you personally. You are so clever with the way you produce code for the members of ACRBA that creates a perfect-looking blog post no matter where we use it. Thank you!

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  9. I remember my first interaction with Jenny. We were on Goodreads and I sent her one of my books as well as a book of one of my favorite writers. This past spring I had the pleasure of meeting her in person. She is a sweet, kind and humble as she represents online. I am glad to call her my friend and so very proud of her!

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  10. Thank you. One of my dreams would be to be able to start an online business where I could help design blogs, websites etc and even upkeep them if needed. Do author newsletters and even help with promoting books. Like we do with ACBRA but also to try to get even more personal promotional tours. (I think its like a PA) but would love to work in promotions etc some how.

    Thanks Shirley. I enjoy ACRBA Im still working on the coding there but will get better.
    I finally see the specialist next week about the wrist and hopefully will have surgery on it with in a month then things will go smoother I am sure.

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  11. Hi Kathy I loved meeting you in May you are special to me and will never forget out trip to walmart.

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  12. An amazing lady, indeed. To quote many an author, "Jenny, you are the wind beneath our wings!"

    God bless you in all you do for those especially of us who are still learning the mysteries of the 'net' world.

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  13. Awesome, so thrilled that you have written about my friend Jenny. Jenny actually got me started on a writing blog just after she started hers. I am a Canadian non-writer who loves to read. Unfortunately I have been ill and had to shut down my blog for the past year, but I'm up again and Jenny was the first person I let know. She is such a positive reader and enjoyable person who does more than most people realize.

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  14. Thanks Rita,
    Thanks also Wyn i am so glad you are doing better and I am glad we got to meet can you believe 7 years ago.

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  15. Jenny is indeed a blessing to all us Aussie authors in getting the word out. Thanks for this post of appreciation Mary.

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  16. Thank you all for your encouraging comments. As I mentioned, dear supporters like Jenny are often the ones we don't hear about. And now I know even more about some of the things you are doing for us, Jenny. Awesome.

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  17. What a great post, Mary! I love how books bring up in contact with so many wonderful people like you, Jenny!

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  18. I wish there were more ladies like Jenny. She's priceless for sure. I met Jenny a few years ago on Christmas Eve as I was passing through her town and thought I'd stop to browse at the Christian bookshop. We introduced ourselves to each other, and since then, it's been great knowing her.

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  19. Thanks Dale, Lisa and Paula. Paula I was in awe when I found out you were an author.
    Mary thanks for your comments I just love being able to help. (wish I was reading faster but even with not reading as much I can still plug books)

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  20. Jenny, you are loved and appreciated :) I'm also happy to provide a reference to anyone interested in talking to Jenny about her online author services. I set up ACRBA with Jenny and I'm contracting her to organise my author newsletter and mailing list.

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