10 Things you didn’t know about… Jemima Pett

The last of my featured posts in the blog tour for Zanzibar’s Rings appeared on Lynn’s Romance Enthusiasm, which is pretty weird as it’s really a Romance blog behind an Adult blogger screen!

I thought as they already had a biography for me, I might as well go to town with the adventures my imagination took me on when I was a kid. Some of it is true.

Actually, it’s all true, but some of it mainly happened in my head. And as Dumbledore said, just because it’s in your head, what makes it not true?

10 Things you Didn’t Know about Jemima Pett

  1. Jemima wrote her first book at around age 8, called the Whispering Stream. It was ten small pages long, and written in pencil.
  2. Between 8 and 12, Jemima was a champion show jumper. She had six horses in a stable outside her house, and she won a medal in the Olympic Games with either Zingaro or Riversprite. She also built show jumps out of stuff from her father’s shed, and jumped over them in the garden. No, there were no horses, except model ones, whose stable was a shelf in her bedroom. They are still in her living room cabinet.
  3. By about 10, Jemima had graduated to terraforming and designing fantasy islands. You know, if she had been born thirty years later, there would have been a huge career for her in gaming and animation.
  4. Jemima’s careers advice at school was “well, you’re going to do maths at university, aren’t you?” Nobody said, but what next? And she hated maths at university. It wasn’t problem solving any more, and she was a problem solver.
  5. Several decades (and careers) later, Jemima decided to get into ‘environmental’ subjects, since it no longer meant ‘heating and ventilation’. First she did some grad courses with the Open University, including geology, environmental impacts, oceanography and planetary science. Then she did a Masters degree and got into research related to energy efficiency and climate change.
  6. Jemima absolutely loved working on research in energy efficiency and climate change, loved the people she worked with and the events she went to. Her particular skill is linking issues and ideas across different academic disciplines.
  7. The low point of this part of her career was being at a reception to launch some research at the Houses of Parliament, and having to shake the hand of a particularly oily politician. How was it? Clammy.
  8. Once she went part-time, she started writing again. A world running on strawberry juice in fuel cells featured strongly in her first series. She still thinks we should be researching the properties of strawberry juice as a renewable energy resource.
  9. Her first seventeen guinea pigs (over twelve years) were immortalised in her first series by having characters named after them. Her latest two guinea pigs are named after characters in the series.
  10. One vet she knew said he approached guinea pig diagnosis as follows: if he can’t identify it for a small mammal, he thinks horses and scales it down. So her guinea pigs are really show jumping horses, scaled down. Of course!

But you probably knew, or guessed, most of that.

And next month – it’s Christmas, or Yuletide, or whatever you’d like to celebrate for the winter/summer solstice.

An Interview with Maggie Ingleton

Nearing the end of my features from the Feb-March blog tour for Zanzibar’s Rings, here we have a character interview.

I love doing character interviews. I ought to do more. I may inflict them on you in the next few months. I think you’ve had Lars, Pete and Zito in the past (here or on the Jemima blog), but this was the first time I got to let one of the girls loose. This featured on The Literary Nook.

Today’s guest is Maggie Ingleton from inside the pages of ZANZIBAR’S RINGS by Jemima Pett.  It is a pleasure to have her with us at The Literary Nook!

What is your name? 

Maggie Ingleton

What do you look like? 

I’m kind of mid-height, trim without being curvy, blonde-ish, well, mousy with highlights. I look kind of bubbly. It’s the impression I like to keep up, anyway.

Where are you today and what are you doing?

I’m in the boys’ villa, and generally keeping the place running, although I need to cook a batch of meals later.

Describe the outside of your home.

It’s about halfway up the hill above town, with a lot of mature trees around it, some light like eucalyptus, some dark like oak and pine. Through the trees you get a glimpse of the three wings, I suppose you’d call them, all joined by a balcony that runs the length of the centre area, overlooking the patio and pool. It’s what they call modern style, sort of blocky but with big windows taking in the view, and blank walls at the back up against the hill.Yes, the boys are rich, and they’ve had to give it a makeover since it was damaged a couple of years back. So it’s, well, really nice.

You come face to face with your worse enemy. How do you react?

Oh, gosh. Well, apart from freezing, I try to pretend I’m fine, sort of fixed smile, and try to avoid saying anything. And make up something I have to be doing so I can get away quickly.

You keep a photo album of memories from your lifetime. If you could only keep one photo, which one would that be? 

Well, we don’t really have photo albums any more, so that’s not too difficult. I suppose an image of the four of us together, having a nice time, maybe on the beach, or in a nice restaurant, would be what I’d most like. Me, Lars, Dolores and Pete.

Are you a morning person or a night owl? 

You know, I stopped being either… after my planet was over-run, and eventually I arrived here to work, and then Lars and Pete sort of settled me permanently. I keep regular hours, the rest of them are often on different time zones. I guess I’m more of a morning person at heart, but we get to have a siesta at lunchtime anyway, so I can keep going in the evenings, too.

Do you have any phobias? What are they and how intense are they? How have they impacted your life?

I hate loud noises, loud, unexpected and possibly repetitive noises—I always think we’re being invaded again. I run and hide in a corner, or a closet, and curl up into a ball. I don’t know how other people can just take them at face value. There’s always a chance it’ll happen again. You have to be prepared for your world to come crashing down again. And I suppose these days there’s more to lose.

Open your wallet, purse, or briefcase. What do you find?

My viewpad, some make-up although it’s pretty minimal, I’m lucky that way. Comb and tiny mirror. Keytag—that has something coded into it that counts as cash as well as keys. That’s about it unless I’m with the boys and I’m carrying something they’ve forgotten.

You move into a new home. What’s the first thing you buy for it?

A new bed. Big and comfy. Although I’d hold off on anything other than white bedding till I’ve sorted out the decor.

What’s the last thing you do before you go to bed at night?

Clean my teeth. Then if I get to do anything that means I have to go to bed again, I’ll have a quick wash and maybe check the house is secure.

Who is your best friend?

Dolores. We were in the same line of work, and then when Lars and Pete came down from a mining trip we both got assigned to them one time, and then the guys asked for us back every time, and we sort of just struck up a friendship.

Who is your worst enemy?

The Federation, the Imperium, anyone that doesn’t treat women nicely, and anyone who wants to hurt my men.

Are you married or in a relationship?

Lars and I have an agreement, with promises, that we reckon is as good as marriage. I just didn’t want him to commit to a vow he couldn’t keep. (laughs) It’s because of some woman we saved when we were in space one time, and she couldn’t keep her hands off him. I swung round with a cooking pot in my hand and broke his nose! I didn’t mean to, but… Oh, it was so funny, though.

Do you have children?

No. It would have been nice. I love kids.

You are at the zoo. What is your favorite animal?

Something cuddly, like a koala, or a chinchilla. Aspoids are like huge guinea pigs and they are such lovely people. We don’t have zoos these days; everything is treated as sentient, really. Come to think of it, Lars is quite cuddly. Not hairy, though.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a chef. I studied gastronomy at college before the planet was attacked. Although, before I knew what a chef was, I wanted to be a dancer, or a fairy.

If there was one thing you could change about yourself, what would that be?

I’d like to be braver. When there are emergencies or things going wrong, everyone seems to hold themselves together and do useful things. I just fall in a heap in the corner. I’d like to step up and get on with things like they do.

~~~

You know, I always thank characters for coming when I do my guest interviews…. Yes. We need more character interviews on here.

Maggie’s description of the villa started a hankering in me to do some illustrations for the Viridian series. I’ll show you when I’ve done some 🙂

Next time… Dear Reader, Love Author. Intrigued?

A Bookish Chat with… me

Zanzibar's Rings Available now

I did several interview type things for the Blog Tour which helped launch Zanzibar’s Rings in February. This is one with The Writer’s Life.

TWL: Welcome to The Writer’s Life!  How did you come up with the idea to write your book?

Jemima: It’s the third in a series, after The Perihelix and Curved Space to Corsair, and I wanted to make a good climax to the trilogy. But I’m better if I start with a title, even if it’s just a working title. With an unashamed target of people who need titles starting with the difficult letters like Q, X and Z for their reading challenges, I picked Z, and named one of the planets Zanzibar. Then I just had to think of some reason my heroes would be getting into trouble in the fifth planet of their system.

TWL: Can you give us a short excerpt?

Jemima: This is how it starts: 

Lars Nilsson, sometimes known as the Swede, ambled into the kitchen, scratching his groin and yawning.

“Mm, smells good.”

“You keep your hands out of that. This is space rations, no contamination allowed.”

“I’m clean!” Why did Maggie Ingleton always think the worst of him? 

Maggie shook her head and stared at his hand.

Lars looked down. “Ah.”

“What are you going to do today, anyway? Although it’s not long before first sunset.”

“Dunno. I’m bored.”

It was all right for Maggie. This business of hers, cooking delicious meals for spacers who could afford to stock up on them, had gone from a favour to him and his partner, Pete, to a system-wide favourite. 

Asteroid mining; how he hated it. Had Pete realised? Those meals were possibly the only thing Lars missed about the dirty, stinky, life-threatening business. And he got better food direct from the cook here.

Pete was away in the south, doing something with his family and the rest of the Corsairs. Dolores had taken her shuttle off to Scania, and should be back in about a week. Why had everyone left him on his own?

Maggie wielded a large stirrer to attack something bubbling in a huge pan. “How about checking your stocks or something?”

“Did them yesterday.”

“Practising for the big race?”

Lars shrugged. He could take a hint. He turned, heading for the balcony, adding: “No idea whether I’ll do it without Pete.”

Did Maggie reply? The sudden rush of steam screaming for attention masked anything she said.

Zanzibar’s Rings by Jemima Pett, ch 1.


TWL: What part of the book was the most fun to write?

Jemima: I wrote it as I developed the story, and then rearranged all the threads into a timeline later. So it was all fun to write, but pretty difficult to sort it into a good flow for the reader afterwards. I think I had most fun when they interrogate the baddie. Maybe I should do a legal mystery next time.

TWL: What’s one fact about your book that would surprise people?

Jemima: If you don’t follow space research, you may find it surprising that most planets have rings, or so it seems from data so far. Water worlds like Earth are the exception.

TWL: What other books are you working on and when will they be published?

Jemima: Zanzibar’s Rings brings the end of my second series. So although there are things in my head, not much has got as far as the computer page yet. There are three strands I’m developing, and none of them are likely to be out before 2023. The first is a middle grade mystery featuring a girl, JoJo Madeira, who can see ghosts, but there seems to be a lot of this about at present. Her first short adventure got good comments on my blog, though. The second is a spin-off in the science fiction world I’ve created, about a space rescue service for ordinary travellers. Then a third project is developing from my flash fiction last year, about a woman who spends her vacation time chasing down the places famous artists painted their masterpieces. She might find some mysteries on her way. I realise I’m more of a mystery writer than thriller or adventure, really.

TWL: Finally, what message are you trying to get across with your book?

Jemima: It’s only afterwards that I’ve realised there is a message, or even a theme. The theme is about missing people. The message is about having only one planet to provide all your resources. You have to become self-sufficient, and co-operate, fast.

TWL: Do you have any final words?

Jemima: I’ve really enjoyed writing this book and its predecessors, and like my other series, I’m really going to miss the characters. They’ve been great to have around, especially during lockdown. And so have my online friends. Thank you all.

~~~

Next month – 10 Things you didn’t know about… Asteroid Mining!

Zanzibar’s Rings is touring the blogiverse

Zanzibar's Rings Available now
Zanzibar's Rings virtual book tour

What’s in the virtual book tour?

Guest posts, interviews, reviews, and various other things. I thoroughly enjoyed doing the posts people asked for – a letter to the reader from one, a character interview for Maggie for another, several author interviews. Three versions of 10 things you didn’t know about….

Outside the organised tour, Patricia Josephine (aka Patricia Lynne) is featuring a post where she asked “why do I write science fiction?” That had me stumped for ages! I’d also like to thank Alex J Cavanaugh, Rebecca Douglass, Shannon at the Warrior Muse, WillowDot (WillowWillers), Steph Wolmarans and Natalie Aguirre for additional support, sometimes linked with the IWSG, sometimes just because they want to.

I’m slightly disappointed at the number of blogs for which I wrote unique content that don’t appear to have any commenters or social media presence. And only two review posts. The tour organiser is sharing them, though, so I hope it will have been worthwhile.

Book tour dates and venues

Tuesday, February 15

Virtual Book Tour Kick Off at PUYB Virtual Book Club

Alex J Cavanaugh feature

Wednesday, February 16

Guest Blogging at The Warrior Muse

Book Review at Book Corner News and Reviews

The Appeal of Science Fiction – guest post at PJ&L

Thursday, February 17

Guest Blogging at The Story Behind the Book

Book Feature Highlight at Jazzy Book Reviews

Monday, February 21

Interview at The Writer’s Life e-Magazine

Tuesday, February 22

Happy Book Birthday at PUYB Virtual Book Club

Book launch – Rebecca Douglass

Thursday, February 24

Guest interview with WillowDot21

Friday, February 25

Guest Blogging at b for bookreview

Tuesday, March 1

Book Feature Highlight at Sybrina’s Book Blog

Wednesday, March 2

Guest feature at Steph Wolmarans, Tea, Sigh, Create

Friday, March 4

Guest Blogging at All the Ups and Downs

Monday, March 7

Guest Blogging at Blogging Authors

Thursday, March 10

Guest Blogging at Lynn’s Romance Enthusiasm

Book Review at The Faery Review

Monday, March 14

Character Interview at The Literary Nook

Feature in the IWSG Follower News (Natalie Aguirre)

Tuesday, March 15

Guest Blogging at Dear Reader, Love Author

Thank you all for taking part. I really appreciate it.

Zanzibar's Rings Available now

Zanzibar’s Rings is the final book of the Viridian System series

Ebook links:  AmazoniTunesB&NKobobooks, and Smashwords.

Also in paperback

zanzibar's rings available now

See the book pages for full details.