Over the years NetGalley has introduced me to many new authors. One of those authors, Jenny Milchman, joins us today for Ten Questions.

Her first book, Cover of Snow won the Mary Higgins Clark Award and was chosen as an Indie Next and Target Pick. Her second novel, Ruin Falls was also chosen as an Indie Next Pick. I discovered Milchman when I requested her book As Night Falls from NetGalley. After reading the book and really enjoying it, I immediately added her other works to my TBR. If you’re a lover of a good mystery, Milchman is your lady.

Before you run off to read up on Milchman, enjoy her Ten Questions interview.

Ten Questions vol. 2 #20 Jenny Milchman

Bookish Devices: What is your favorite word?
Jenny Milchman: Definitely love and family rank high. Book too. Also friend. But it’s funny, the very first word that popped into my mind when I read this was pine.

BD: What is your least favorite word?
JM: Superior.

BD: What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
JM: Being surrounded by nature pretty much hits all three.

BD: What turns you off?
JM: People who think they know better than everyone else, or who ignore the many shades of gray.

BD: What sound or noise do you love?
JM: The sound of running water. We live beside a creek and the white noise rush provides a lullaby to my day and night. The sea would work as well.

BD: What sound or noise do you hate?
JM: Sirens.

BD: If you could have drinks with any author or literary figure, whom would you invite?
JM: Stephen King, hands down. I think he tends to be fairly reclusive, so there aren’t many opportunities for mingling (or even an intro), which I’ve been lucky enough to have with a few other literary heroes. Also, King is the single only living author I list as inspiring me when I get asked that question. Though readers might not guess this, King lives on my every page.

BD: What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
JM: None. I feel inordinately, passionately grateful to get to write for a living. It took me 13 years to reach that point, and the way was studded–no, spiked–with rejection. I hope I never have to stop. (That said, I practiced as a psychotherapist during all of those rejection-soaked years).

BD: What profession would you not like to do?
JM: I can tell you some I’d be really bad at: surgeon (I hate blood). Astronaut (I get claustrophobic). Submarine steerer (same thing). Airline pilot (I never believe those things can stay in the sky). I could go on. And on and on and on…

BD: What would you choose for your last meal?
JM: Dumplings and homemade cookies. Or no, buttercream frosted cake. Orange cake. No, strawberry. Wait, and tomato salad and peach ice cream–both with basil.

Bonus Questions:

BD: What is your favorite curse word?
JM: I’m afraid that ‘darn’ is my usual although my characters occasionally do a little more damage on the page.

BD: If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and could only bring one book, which would you bring?
JM: One book? ONE book? No!!!!!!!!!! Say it isn’t so. SPLASH. (That was me diving off the island and into the sea). Um…maybe Cujo by Stephen King. Glub, glub, glub.

Jenny, thanks for joining us today!

Want to get in touch with Jenny? You can find her on Twitter and the web.

Have you missed any of our Ten Questions series? You can catch up on all of our author interviews here.

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