T. L. JENKINS

 

 

Born in Vernon, B.C, Canada, I spent most of my childhood traveling with my parents and younger brother. I grew to love the Rocky Mountains and the vast forests in the many places that we lived. Having a love of nature, I spent most of my time exploring the woods.  I fell in love with writing at fourteen. Having a carefree - loving nature, I made friends easily which was an asset with my parents always on the move. I spent my younger years in Prince George and Quesnel. My teen years were spent on Vancouver Island. It was on Vancouver Island that I grew to love gardening. I brought two beautiful children into the world and learned how hard it was to be a single mother till I married my first husband in 1998. We moved to Alberta in 2000 and in 2006 we were divorced. Raising two teenagers alone was a hardship, but, I did it until I married my second husband in 2010. We started our own retreat on a small plot of land in rural Alberta. It has been an oasis of peace for us and for those who visit. I love showing my gardens to anyone who shows an interest along with plants and their care. In 2011, I became a grandmother. I drove with my mom to Vancouver Island to see the birth of my first grandson. There are no words to describe the feeling of holding a grandchild for the first time or the heartbreak of leaving to head back home. I put my grief into extending my garden. With both kids now out of the nest and making their own families, I found the time to turn to my first love: writing, though it took a 'push' from my husband to get me to write again. I wrote my first book in September of 2013 and I have not stopped there. In total, I have completed five books and have several others in different stages waiting to be completed. Only three have been published through a self-publishing site (Lulu).  In 2014, I lost four Uncles, two Aunts and two cousins. I was devastated! I lost two more cousins in 2015, but, gained another grandchild. It felt as if my family was dropping like flies! It was my husband, new grandson, and my writing that kept me sane through it all. I poured my grief into writing a book. When I finished, I sent it to Dream Big Publishing in October of 2015. I held my breath hoping they would like it. On February 8, 2016, I got a reply. They liked the book and wanted to publish it! I was on cloud 9 the entire day! Seeing as they liked that one, I sent them the three books I had self-published. 2017, I was dropped by Dream Big Publishing due to cutbacks. I spent the next few years searching for another Publisher. In the spring of 2018, I lost my son and put everything on hold due to grief. By that summer, I had word from Austin Macauley Publishing about my book - Tears of the Dragon: Love and Sorrow. They wanted to publish it. I had sent them the book a month before I lost my son. It was the light that brought me out of my grief, and got me focused again on writing. They released my book on December 12th 2019. I had to choose which book to publish first out of all my works, and decided the young adult series would hit a wider audience. It's not easy, and all I can advise new authors is to not give up. 

 

T. L. Jenkins