Interview with Jennifer Milne, Author of Plain Princess Jane

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Plain Princess Jane?

It’s a fairly long story, that I’ll go into further in a series of blog posts. But the TL;DR version is it grew out of some snark I threw at Sleeping Beauty twenty years ago, which was “Poor Aurora, it would be so tough being given radiant beauty, a perfect singing voice and unfathomable grace when she was born.” My friend and I had a chuckle, but I never stopped thinking about it. We all tend to feel like people are prettier, smarter and more talented than us…but what if they really were? Then, because I love a funny story I was like, “What if those magical gifts were given to the family cat accidentally? Haha.” And Plain Princess Jane was born.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Plain Princess Jane, what would they be?

Princess Jane: “ROCK WHAT YOU GOT” by Superchick

Lady Caterina: “SUPER TROUPER” by Superchick

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I read a lot of Christian apologetics books, but as far as entertainment reads, I love comedy books and mystery thrillers. I devour Agatha Christie, Meg Cabot, Janet Evanovich and Dean Koontz. Yes, I also like to write those genres, but I’ll write any genre. I write sci-fi, drama, and horror. Stories and characters tend to come to me fully formed, so whatever the muse decides to clock me with, is what I write.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I’m currently reading both “The Blessed and Boundless God” by George Swinnock and “City of God” by Augustine. My next entertainment read will be the “ABC Murders” by Agatha Christie. I’ve read it before, but I’m in the mood for a re-read.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

I enjoyed all the team activity scenes at the Royal Retreat. My favorite is the minefield scene, I think it’s hilarious. Any scene where Jane and Caterina are chatting, because their dynamic is fun and hilarious.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Not really. I’m a homeschooling, stay-at-home mom with three kids, so I basically write whenever I can squeeze in a few minutes, and after they’ve gone to bed—if I can stay awake.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

The big one Jesus gave us: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.” Those really do cover everything in life. The most important realization I had—though it still comes from the Lord—that affected how I live, is recognizing love is not a feeling. Love is a set of actions. It’s not out of your control in anyway, you don’t “fall” into it, you choose it. The feelings we associate with love follow the actions, not the other way around. Really understanding this changes you and your life completely.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

As Princess Jane’s parents taught her: you can’t control what happens to you in life. You can only control how you respond to it.

Jennifer Milne is the author of the new book Plain Princess Jane

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