Pump Up Your Book Chats with ‘The Greeks of Beaubien Street’ Suzanne Jenkins

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Suzanne Jenkins is the author of the Pam of Babylon Series. The Greeks of Beaubien Street is a new series about a Greek homicide detective who grew up above the family grocery store in Greektown, Detroit. Jenkins has fond memories of growing up in a Greek American household in the suburbs of Detroit. She currently lives in the west Michigan lakeshore area with her husband, two dogs and two sheep.

Visit her website at www.suzannejenkins.net.

Visit her blog at www.2sheepinthecity.com.

Q: Can you tell us why you wrote your book?

The idea to write The Greeks of Beaubien Street evolved as I daydreamed about my childhood growing up in Dearborn. My father took us to Greektown to shop; we didn’t go there to eat in the restaurants. We bought the foods we couldn’t get anywhere else; wonderful Greek bread, tangy Kalamata olives, cheese, taramasalta, halva, and of course, filo dough based pastries. I loved the Eastern Market, too. Writing a book about my childhood sounded too boring. I am intrigued with women who become police officers, so the next logical step was to have a fantasy about one and write it down. Writing the crime scenes came from some perverse place I don’t want to investigate too deeply. I’m sixty-two years old so it’s too late to find out what’s going on now.

Q: Which part of the book was the hardest to write?

There is a violent rape scene in the book, described by the perpetrator. When I originally wrote it, it was very graphic and actually made me a little sick. I thought it was something that needed to be changed; I wanted the horror of it to remain intact, but the element of sexuality was all wrong. It was definitely a learning experience for me.

Q: Besides books, what else do you write? Do you write for publications?

I am writing a non-fiction book about grief. I’m intrigued with the ability of human beings who suffer the greatest losses and still move forward with their life. A also love short stories and one will be published this spring in the Willow Review, the literary journal of the College of Lake County, Illinois.

Q: Where’s your favorite place to write at home?

I write at an old farm table that was in my late mother’s office. She spread her taxes out upon it and worked from Valentines day to April 15^th. I feel blessed to sit at it and write.

Q: What was the first thing you did as far as promoting your book?

The first thing I did was send a copy of it to Kirkus for a professional review. The next thing I did was sign on with Pump up Your Books for a virtual tour. My first book and the series that came after it had a very successful virtual tour, and I wanted the same opportunities for The Greeks of Beaubien Street.

Q: Are you familiar with the social networks and do you actively participate?

I use Twitter constantly, and use BookTweetingService.com when I am promoting a free Kindle giveaway. Facebook has changed in the past year and I’m not sure the people who “like” my author page even see my posts.

Q: How do you think book promotion has changed over the years?

I know for myself, I am responsible for promoting my book. There’s no getting around it; spikes in sales go hand in hand with promoting.

Q: How do you think book publishing has changed over the years?

When I found out traditional publishing companies were beginning a self-publishing division, I knew we were in for some changes. I’m glad I got started before that time.

ABOUT THE GREEKS OF BEAUBIEN STREET

Nestled below the skyline of Detroit you’ll find Greektown, a few short blocks of colorful bliss, warm people and Greek food. In spite of growing up immersed in the safety of her family and their rich culture, Jill Zannos doesn’t fit in. A Detroit homicide detective, she manages to keep one foot planted firmly in the traditions started by her grandparents, while the other navigates the most devastated neighborhoods in the city she can’t help but love. She is a no nonsense workaholic with no girlfriends, an odd boyfriend who refuses to grow up, and an uncanny intuition, inherited from her mystic grandmother, that acts as her secret weapon to crime solving success. Her story winds around tales of her family and their secret laden history, while she investigates the most despicable murder of her career.

The Greeks of Beaubien Street is a modern tale of a family grounded in old world, sometimes archaic, tradition, as they seek acceptance in American society. They could be any nationality, but they are Greek.

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Karen-Anne Stewart, ASH TO STEELE

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Question of the Day

How do you make sales happen for you?

A lot of hard work! I sponsor a lot of on line parties, festivals and contests. Book sales don’t magically happen, believe me. An author has to work hard to earn her readers. And then she has to work hard to keep them by giving them something they’ll enjoy reading. I try hard to make my books worth a reader’s time.

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