with Jenny Sauer, the author of “Snickering Out Loud”

I must confess, that originally I wasn’t sure if this particular book and author would be a good fit for me, as we do have our distinctive differences in our personalities. It was after learning about her style of being frank and earnest whilst infusing her life’s antidotes with humour that I started to see a few underpinnings of where I could relate to Ms. Sauer. Ms. Curnette approached me to host a book spotlight and author interview in conjunction with her friend’s first book release, which is “Snickering Out Loud”. I approached the offer with an open mind, as I always like to keep myself apprised of new releases, even those in non-fiction as I do tend to read more non-fiction books each year. I think what touched me the most is that she’s a girl who grew up surrounded by a close-knit family on a farm, traded in the slow pace of the country for the high-octane of the city of Los Angeles and found not everything on the other side to be as rosy and bright as she had felt it might be.

I decided to ask her a series of frank and earnest questions in return, including noting how she appears to be the real-life counterpart to a beloved fictional heroine “Bridget Jones”! Another prime example of an honest spoken woman seeking love and trying to make the best life choices she can whilst she lives her life. I decided to take a chance and get to know this début author. I did not receive compensation in exchange for hosting both the book spotlight nor the author interview. This was coordinated by Marissa Curnette of JKS Communications Literary Publicity Firm, but is not an official blog tour per se.

 

You’ve credited your experiences of growing up on a farm as a blessing in your life. I can truly understand how you feel as I too, lived on a ranch from fourteen til nineteen. These were some of the best years of my life. What I appreciated the most was the solitude and connection to wildlife. You can become completely wrapped in awe simply looking heaven-bound at the cosmos. What are some of your favourite memories from the farm?

Sauer responds: One would be working together with my dad and late grandfather. We had a lot of fun, just the three of us, working outside. My late grandpa Sauer was a very happy, positive man; he was wonderful to be around. I still remember building a fence, all by hand (shovel and manual post hole digger-no tractor attachment digger). It was terribly hard work, but it’s so cool today driving by that spot seeing that I helped make it. It always makes me think of those few days working in the hot sun with my dad and grandpa; it always brings a smile to my face. Another fun memory was when I had two steers to show in 4-H (one each year for my junior and senior year in high school). They were my pets. The first was named Butkiss, and the second one Butkiss II. I named them that because they always poked their wet noses in my and dad’s rear-end when they would see us. I was able to sit on Butkiss while he was laying down and just pet him. Both steers loved powdered donuts, Twizzlers, and Nutri-grain bars. I spoiled them, they were a lot of fun.

Whilst you are known for complete and brutal honesty, I gather the sense you’re a bit akin to Bridget Jones, whose colourful language lessons in abrasiveness due to her heart. Do you ever find yourself considered the real-life counterpart to the fictional character?

Sauer responds: Not completely, as I try to be a little more open-minded and listen to other viewpoints. However, having had read the book and watched the movie, she is a very entertaining character and I take it very much as a compliment being compared to Bridget Jones. She is hilarious!

You live by your own compass and garnish a variety of experiences out of adventure, love, and the excitement of living a life that your confident in pursuing. Where did you initially draw your strength to live boldly?

Sauer responds: I think I’ve always had that trait but would’ve never figured that out if it wasn’t for the immense amount of support from my parents. They trusted and had confidence in me to handle myself. I only made bold moves because I know that I ALWAYS have a place to go if a choice I made didn’t work out, which is back home on the farm. That security blanket is something that I am forever thankful for and truly appreciate.

Do you think you saved yourself from moving out of LA and exchanging it for Chicago?

Sauer responds: I saved my sanity. ;)

Being that my Mum is from Chicago and all the great stories she’s shared over the years, I can understand why you wanted to return. What are the three key observations you made about yourself once you were settled?

Sauer responds: That I wanted to settle down, not just with a guy, but be in one place for longer than 8 months-year. I got tired. All the moving was exhausting. I was happy with what I had accomplished. Do I want more? Of course and the career path I’m in is pretty scary and unknown, but I think it helps to make me stronger. Just have to keep chuggin’ along. That I’m ready to find a guy and be serious. I thought I wanted that at a young age, but realized once I started exploring that I really wasn’t ready. I was still living my life for me and now I know for certain I’m ready to share my life with a good guy. I suppose the last observation was that I’m sincerely okay with whatever outcome may happen in my life and relationships. I don’t dwell on the little things that really won’t matter in five years. I always find a way to make it work, no matter what, and I’m damn proud of that. I’m so happy I don’t just give up or not take responsibility for my own actions/consequences. Now I will say, I could live with my parents for the rest of my life, but that would kind of put a damper on finding a guy right? I’m very much a wiener when it comes to being around my parents; I can’t go long without seeing them.

Did modelling give you more confidence or did you find it made you self-conscience and a bit shallow? As the modelling industry is a tough one to survive. Of course, some models credit it giving them more depth of character. How do you feel it added to your life?

Sauer responds: It made me stronger actually. It also made rejection, in my later years, much easier to deal with in the acting world. I learned that it’s not just about you, it’s also based upon the eccentric people that work behind the lens. They can change their minds at the drop of a hat.

What did you read as a child which spark an interest in literature? Which writers stood out whose stories left an impression even now?

Sauer responds: I think mostly “The Chronicles of Narnia.” I loved the imagination it sparked in me. It was fun to read that type of fiction, it took me to my own place, and I loved that. My parents read to my sister and me every night when we were little. My mom would read “Little Women,” American Girl (we read all of the girls) story, and other larger sized books at a young age. She would read a couple chapters to us each night. I also read a lot of historical fiction, I love that genre. I would say C.S. Lewis and just the chronicles series because of the amazing descriptions of things and details that lead to broadening my imagination. I loved where I traveled in my mind when I read those books.

What was the impetus which gravitated you into writing? And, when did this occur? Did you plan to write ‘Snickering Out Loud’ as a journal or straight-up memoir?

Sauer responds: My mom is a grammar Nazi and passed that onto me. She was the one my brother, sister, and I went to for help on our “Vocabulary” book assignments in English class. I guess there was always a knack there for writing; I’ll say I’ve never had a really hard time writing a paper or even this book. The issues with this book was formatting and editing, that’s NOT the fun part for sure. Throughout school, I would write papers the night before it was due; that is when I write my best. If I have time and no deadline, then I will just procrastinate because I like finishing something, not leaving it and coming back to it multiple days. I never planned on writing this book the way I did, it all just happened. It started out as the tips section near the end. I then decided to throw in the relationship stories, but then realized to make the book have more depth, the reader would need to understand me and who I am in order to understand my actions/reactions in all the situations. I hate reading books where things seem kind of vague. I like the details, like I like my Bravo reality TV shows-details. Those people on those shows have the best gossiping skills. I don’t spread gossip but I sure as hell love to hear a juicy story. I wrote 75% of the book in about five days. It was a lot of long hours, but I didn’t notice because I was in my own little writing world; I loved it. I don’t want this book to be a memoir, but rather insight into another woman’s perspective on dating that isn’t all sappy and repeating “Mr. Obvious” comments. Kind of like those sex and dating articles in magazines like Cosmopolitan. Give me a break, if you’re performing 100 different sex positions, then you’re counting moving your right pinkie toe as the difference between two moves that are essentially the same. A lot of that “advice” is stuff people already know, it’s not new news. I wanted to put out the honest viewpoints that a lot of people might be afraid to say but are thinking it. Also, just to make people laugh, I love making people laugh.

Why do you think singletons are always being put down or in place whilst giving advice on dating simply because they have not walked down the aisle?

Sauer responds: It could be because some people are jealous that they are in an unhappy marriage because they settled and now can’t go out to do whatever they want to do like single people. It could also be some people think that because you’re single then you obviously don’t know what you’re doing in a relationship. I never paid too much attention to that idea because I think it’s pretty ridiculous. Just because a person is married doesn’t mean they would have wise advice to give to others. Being married doesn’t make you an expert, nor being single either. It’s based upon experiences and how you learn from them. Now my parents, they have been together almost 40 years and still love each other, so I think they have plenty of room to spread advice.

It’s wonderful to see someone in our age bracket best friends with their Mum! What kinds of things do the two of you like to go off and do together!? (I was not surprised she knew of your experiences in dating; as compared to those who felt she’d be aghast!)

Sauer responds: Ha! Oh yes, I have had so many people exclaim, “You told your mom that?! Seriously?!” Well, yes…I did indeed. I tell my dad quite a bit about my relationships too. They both have some years on them and varying points of view, I like to know what they think. They don’t tell me what I want to hear but rather the truth because they don’t want me sheltered. My mom and I do a lot together, kind of ‘fly by the seat of our pants’ types. We can go and workout together, take mini trips (somewhere close in driving distance), take naps (you do not come between me and my naps-same with mom), pedicures, order food so we don’t have to cook; whatever we fancy at the moment. She’s pretty cool, so is my dad, which is why I would be okay being around them every day for the rest of my life.

What is the biggest benefit in your mind you’ve gained from having lived in both large cities and small townes? What perspective of life endeared you to live the life you have?

Sauer responds: The biggest benefit is not being ignorant. I can pass truthful judgment on so many things associated with large cities and small towns because I’ve lived it; I’ve experienced it all. The perspective was mainly my parents never pushing me in any direction that they wanted or thought I wanted. I guess I would have more of a free spirit, but not hippie-style free. I’m more calculated and think about everything first. I’m a “calculated risk taker.” I enjoy new things, I’m good with change, just not a change in my morning routine. ;) I love my morning routine with my tea and computer.

In an interview you stated that your empathic towards others and like to put them at ease. I understand completely as I hope to do that in my own life. Do you find ways of giving back which not only uplifts the spirits of others but gives you joy in return?

Sauer responds: I love being the person that gives gifts. The smile on someone’s face, whether it be in reaction to the gift received or helping them out in any way, is the most wonderful feeling. It’s hard to describe but it’s one of the best feelings in this world.

What are your favourite tools to use whilst writing? And, where do you write to gain the most inspiration?

Sauer responds: I like my computer, and I also use my notepad on my iPhone whenever a thought pops into my head before I go to sleep. Jotting that stuff down helps me close the many tabs that are open in my brain and relaxes me for better sleep. I write in my apartment that is colorful and decorated to be happy and fun, but clean. I don’t have a bunch of clutter and unorganized messes, that creates a cluttery mind in my opinion. I’m pretty sure I just made up the word “cluttery.” It has to be quiet. People that write and read in Starbucks or Panera are a mystery to me. I don’t want to hear someone else’s conversation about the big lent ball they found in their pocket earlier in the day. I’d rather have full concentration and focus on what I’m doing.

Do you find writing to be a pursuit you want to attempt in fiction?

Sauer responds: I never thought I would do acting, but it happened. I never thought I would write this book, but it happened. This is a new path that I would like to continue on; I really loved the writing.

What is your greatest joy?

Sauer responds: Hmmm, that’s a tough question! I have a lot, but I’ll say my family and my chubs of a cat Sylvester. If I end up being “the crazy cat lady spinster aunt,” I’m totally okay with that. I’ll rock those kitty sweaters like no other until the day I die…that is if I become old with many cats.

Snickering Out Loud by Jenny Sauer
Published By:  Grinding Gears Publishing, 1 March 2014
Official Author Websites:  Site | Twitter | Facebook
Converse on Twitter: #SnickeringOutLoud
Available Formats: Paperback
Page Count: 167

Book Synopsis:

Model and SAG-AFTRA television and film actress Jenny Sauer adds author to her résumé as she sets to release her first book on March 1. “Snickering Out Loud” is an autobiographical look into Sauer’s own dating life, showcasing her experiences from growing up on a small Illinois farm to her serial dating escapades in the big city of Los Angeles.

The book opens with an introduction into Sauer’s not-so-normal life – she’s gone from herding cattle on the family farm to publishing scientific research to modeling and acting in national films, commercials and magazines. And the dating adventures she shares next show how her various suitors have been just as much a mixed bag. College, work and love brought Sauer across the country to make lasting memories in Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Little Rock, Oklahoma City and other small towns in-between.

The tall, funny and brutally honest female provides refreshingly unapologetic commentary on everything – yes everything – a gal or guy has wanted to say about those horrible dates, questioning a relationships status and waiting for “the one” to finally come around.

Tying everything up at the end of the book, Sauer includes a list of helpful advice on love and dating she’s gathered throughout her time in the field.

“The book is a nice heaping dose of Irish sarcasm, wit and humor for the dating impaired,” Sauer explained. “Let’s face it, dating isn’t always enjoyable, so I have taken my unexpected, yet surprising, experiences and made them into a big ball of side-splitting material for your reading pleasure. It’s okay not to be good at dating, just make sure you laugh about it.”

Author Biography:

Jenny Sauer is a SAG-AFTRA television and film actress whose credits include Water For Elephants, Project X, The Hangover: Part II, Millionaire Matchmaker, The Mentalist and more. She has also appeared in commercials for Old Navy, Sun Chips, 901 Tequila and Swiffer. Born in Jacksonville, Ill. and raised in Winchester, Ill., Sauer is also a third generation farm girl. Sauer has also modeled for a national Corning Ware advertisement, now featured in the new spring issue of The Knot Magazine, and Chicago designers Boris Powell Designs and Anna Hovet. For more information, visit www.jennysauer.com or www.facebook.com/jennysauer.

This Author Interview & Spotlight is courtesy of Marissa Curnutte from:

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{SOURCES: Book Cover art for “Snickering Out Loud”, Jenny Sauer photograph, book synopsis & author biography (taken from the Press Kit) were provided by JKS Communications Literary Publicity Firm and used with permission. I requested an Author Interview in which I submitted my Questions for Ms. Sauer via Marissa Curnutte and received the answers in return from her on the author’s behalf. Post dividers by Fun Stuff for Your Blog via Pure Imagination. Blog Tour badge provided by Parajunkee to give book bloggers definition on their blogs. Book Spotlight badge created by Jorie in Canva.}

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