MEET J B REYNOLDS

My guest this week proves another theory of mine – all great writers have had a myriad of different jobs – it’s all to do with the watching, observing, learning of people, places and things. He’s had a fascinating life. And, a little bird told me that his wife is helping him with his marketing – ah I wish …  isn’t that wonderful?

Hi, I’m J.B. Reynolds and I live in rural Northland, New Zealand, where I raise children and chickens. (In case you’re wondering, chickens are easier—they also make less mess). I write humorous short fiction in which tragedy meets comedy and character reigns supreme. My first short story was published while I was a university student in the mid-nineties. Since my graduation and a return to serious writing in 2016, I’ve worked as a teacher, graphic designer, landscaper, ski and snowboard technician, film critic, librarian, apple picker, and baker of muffins and teacakes.

Nowadays, when not writing, I’m a husband, father, and high school teacher (not necessarily in that order). I enjoy sailing, cycling, and playing music, really loud, when my wife and kids aren’t at home, although now that I’ve hit forty I’ve begun to worry about cumulative hearing loss, so I’ve been dialling the volume back a little. (I blame it on my love of power tools and the rock and roll of my youth, although to be honest, there are few places in the world that are noisier than a high school classroom).

I also have a big garden where I like to get my fingernails dirty, and I love to eat the things that grow in it (the fruit and vegetables anyway—I’m not so keen on the insects).

As far as my writing goes, I’m currently working on my Crossing the Divide short story series. Melding tragedy with comedy and switching between settings in Central Otago, New Zealand, and Brisbane, Australia, each story in the series focuses on a different character and explores that character’s struggle to connect with the people in their lives.

The most recent book in the series, Square Pegs, is the story of an angry young man trying to find his way in the world. It came out at the major ebook stores in March. Here’s the blurb.

Tired, thirsty, and frustrated, Darryl wants only two things: a) a beer, and b) to be left alone by his troublesome neighbors. Fate, however, has other ideas.

Book 4 in the series will launch later this year. It’s the story of a young, foul-mouthed, opinionated mother-of-one and her friendship with a beautiful, elegant, upper-middle-class woman ten years her senior—also a mother-of-one. Both women live in small-town Central Otago and the story follows the events of a joint shopping expedition to a neighbouring town with their young children.

You can find out more about me and my writing at jbreynolds.net, or follow me on Facebook.

 

Thank you for being my guest this week JB  Reynolds – now are you also wondering what the initials stand for? Maybe he’ll tell us in the comments.