Jemi Fraser

Tell us a little bit about yourself, your hobbies and interests.

Hi! I live in beautiful Northern Ontario with my family. I've spent a few decades as a teacher, teaching grades 5-8 and several Special Education positions. Kids are our future and from my perspective, the future is bright! I'm (obviously!) a voracious reader and writer. I also love to have the entire family over for suppers. Fresh cookies are always on the menu!

When and why did you start writing books?

I started writing when my kids were little. I'd had Star Trek stories roaming in my head for years and I thought it might be fun to write one down while the kids napped. The napping didn't last long, but my love of writing blossomed from there! Now I focus on romance, especially romantic suspense. The world can always use more Happy Ever Afters!

What made you decide to tackle writing as a career?

I've always loved stories. We didn't have creative writing assignments in class and it took me years before I thought about writing one myself. Writing is a great way to explore ideas, cope with stress, and make new friends - both real and imaginary.

Which one of your books or characters is your favourite?

So hard!!! Generally my favourite is the one I'm currently writing. Let's see... Reaching For Roots might be my favourite because of Emmy's job as a cartoonist. I had so much fun "designing" her moose-inspired t-shirts and swag! Then again, in Reaching For Family, I had a blast exploring my love of all things Star Trek and Star Wars! And then there's... Too hard, I can't choose!

Which one of your books was the hardest to write and stretched you the most as a writer?

Although I mostly focus on the romance side of things, I've also written a self-help/memoir on how dementia has impacted our family (Dancing With Dementia). This was definitely the most challenging book to write. It's full of humour and tears. It's the book of my heart and took me a long time to put together because it is so emotional. I'm glad it's helping people who are facing the first steps in their dance with dementia.

Who is your favourite author and book?

Growing up, my favourite book was Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. It's a Canadian classic for a good reason. I always wanted to be brave like Anne. She's amazing. Currently I have so many favourites, it would take too long to list!

What book are you reading right now?

My current read is Decidedly By Chance by Stina Lindenblatt - another Canadian romance author. The book will give you ALL the feels. So good!

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

My books are always inspired by emotion, usually the emotion of the pivotal black moment scene near the end of the book. That feeling of despair and loss hits so hard. Then I work backward to find out who is feeling that emotion and why. Then the rest flows!

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

When my stepfather passed away, I inherited his piano. I'm having a lot of fun learning and relearning songs. I'm learning a lot of oldies to play for my mom (living with dementia in a local nursing home). I also love to bake comfort cookies!

Do you have any new books in the works?

Always! So many stories, so little time. I'm working on more Bloo Moose romances as well as a spinoff series of Bloo Moose. The first book will feature a cousin of the LaChance family. Tansy Cheveyo is a scientist set on making the world a better place. In her spare time, she invents gadgets. It's going to be a fun series!