Jenny Kellett

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

I was born in the UK but spent most of my life in Australia. Currently, I reside in Tenerife with my husband and our three cats. My journey as a professional writer began in 2005, when I started earning from writing online articles during my university days. This passion evolved into a career as a journalist, then a copywriter, and eventually an author. With a deep fascination for practically everything, transitioning to nonfiction writing felt natural to me. In my free time, I immerse myself in learning new languages (Spanish, German, and Bulgarian so far) and indulge in cooking, which allows me to explore different cultures through food.

When and why did you start writing books?

As I mentioned earlier, writing has always been a significant part of my life. During one of my early jobs as a journalist, I discovered Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and the opportunity to publish books online. I dedicated my evenings after work to writing my first book, a guide on making money through online writing. That was over ten years ago... and here we are!

What made you decide to tackle writing as a career?

Throughout school, I was interested in nearly every subject—geography, history, music—everything except sports! However, the one subject I always excelled at was English. I wrote and published my first poem at around the age of eight. After studying geology and journalism at university, I naturally transitioned into a career in science journalism.

Which one of your books or characters is your favourite?

For the past decade, I have been publishing my annual "The Huge Book of Amazing Facts and Interesting Stuff." This book holds a special place in my heart, as it has become an annual January/February tradition to work on the next edition. I thoroughly enjoy the research process, uncovering weird and wonderful facts that continue to fascinate me.

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

I have recently begun a series of nonfiction children's books for ages 3-5. This project has pushed me to step back as a writer and return to the basics. Additionally, I handle all the graphic design for my books, which has further stretched my skills in that area. Writing these children's books reminded me of my work as an advertising copywriter, where brevity is key—a short, catchy tagline can be priceless. Similarly, in young children's books, it's essential to convey the message in a clear, succinct manner that they can easily understand.

Who is your favourite author and book?

I rarely read fiction, but one of my favourite nonfiction authors is Bill Bryson. I have been reading his books since I was a teenager.

What book are you reading right now?

Currently, I am focused on learning Spanish, so the only books on my bedside table are easy-to-read Spanish stories.

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

I travel frequently, and my inspiration often comes from things I've seen and want to learn more about. Living near a large animal sanctuary, which I love to visit, also inspires me to think about the next book in my series of children's animal books.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I am an avid language learner. That's what happens when you move to Europe with a German husband! I find it mentally very stimulating and very rewarding. Additionally, I love to cook.

Do you have any new books in the works?

As mentioned earlier, I am currently focused on my new series of children's animal books for ages 3-5. My readers have frequently requested material for younger children, as I typically write for ages 9-12. So far, there are three books in the series, and I am working on more.