Featured Interview With Jane Harvey
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Jane Harvey is a pen name (my birth name is Dreena Collins, and I write literary short stories under that, as well). I was born and raised on the island of Jersey, in the Chanel Islands, which is just 9 by 5 miles! I stayed in Jersey until I left to go to Wales for University – and then remained in Wales for my postgrad and to work, until I retrained as a teacher and returned to the island at the age of 28.
I live with my partner and teenage son. My husband and I married in 2021 after ten years together. We also have a white Lhasa Apso called Sherman who is definitely a character! A mix of headstrong, moody, unpredictable, affectionate and hilarious.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I always loved reading as a child and when I started to read novels (around age 9 or so) I remember the fascination with the concept of stories that could last for days on end; that led to a spate of my writing dire, rambling stories in my childhood.
During my degree, I selected creative writing as an option and that really motivated me – I was published in a couple of periodicals around that time. But as time went on, my writing became more sporadic until three years ago, when I decided to truly commit to writing and set myself targets for how much I would complete – an ambitious target of one short story a week. I didn’t quite reach my goal, but I didn’t do badly…
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I have very diverse tastes, depending on my mood. I enjoy much contemporary fiction from chick lit to literary, as well as psychological thrillers and mysteries. As long as characterisation is strong, I don’t mind! My favourite author is Margaret Atwood, but I also enjoy people such as Marian Keyes.
I adore nineteenth century literature such as Jane Austen and then the Brontë’s, and don’t mind admitting that I will re-read these for comfort. The changes in women’s circumstances over those decades are amazing. I have referenced a few of the classics in The Landlord of Hummingbird House – and I hope I have turned a few of the tropes associated on their head.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
The Landlord of Hummingbird House is about April, whose latest relationship has failed so she is forced to rent a flat and start again, aged 32. There are a number of diverse and quirky tenants in the building who have become friends and are very loyal. April makes assumptions about them, that are slowly unravelled, as a mystery comes to light and then is solved.
This novel grew out of a short story I wrote about two people who lived close by but kept missing each other. The reader knew of them both and had hints that they would be what each other needed, if only they could meet. The Landlord of Hummingbird House is different because the tenants are constantly meeting and interacting, but it is also based on people coming and going, and because the book tells different chapters from different points of view, the reader has the benefit of knowing that they could help each other, or perhaps that they might befriend each other, if only they know. It is about first impressions, and how they can be wrong if we make snap judgements.
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