“I love writing - the whole process from start to finish. It’s something I have enjoyed ever since I first picked up a pen.”
Jenni Francis is the author of six teen novels, a book of short stories, and a growing collection of stories, poems and articles published and non-published.
Born in England, she emigrated with her family when she was young. She and her family moved around a lot, and leading to a feeling of not belonging. She trained as a primary teacher and then as a teacher of deaf children. Time as a teacher and as a mother provided Jenni with a wealth of stories and incidences which have often been incorporated into her books.
Growing in confidence from the young person who didn’t seem to ‘fit’, she took on roles in the community in the form of treasurer and secretary, and then chairperson of a number of groups and committees.
By the time her first grandchild was born, she found she was ready to take the step into writing. She was able to leave teaching, and while it wasn’t full time writing, it was without too many distractions. Jenni and her husband live in a small village north of Auckland, on five acres, with a dog, a cat and the neighbour’s sheep. They have an orchard and a vegetable garden and enjoy a friendly and busy community life. She writes a weekly email newsletter about events in the area, and is in a local choir. She sings alto in the choir, which as everyone knows is the best but hardest part to sing.
Jenni Francis is available for author talks anywhere in New Zealand. Jenni trained as a primary teacher and then went on to do special education and taught deaf children in the classroom and as an itinerant for 10 years. She has taught at all levels, from kindergarten through to tertiary. She continues to tutor in reading and mathematics.
Jenni loves to read her stories to children, and encourages them to see the stories in their own lives. She can give writing workshops and can prepare lesson plans to assist teachers in their classroom programmes. Jenni's books can be available for purchase through the school on the day of the talk, with a percentage of sales going to the school library.