Library Talks

Q & A with Jeannie

Want to give your patrons an opportunity to chat with an author? Jeannie is available for writing Q & A sessions or to talk about books or genre fiction. With decades of experience in education, Jeannie can design programs for adults, teens, or both! Please reach out if you want to discuss scheduling an in-person or virtual visit.

Programs

Misconceptions, Stereotypes and Empowering Journeys

Join Jeannie for a discussion about the power of the happily ever after. Drawing inspiration from her Long Island roots, Jeannie is a firm believer in the positive influence of romance novels. She will talk about how the genre can empower both readers and writers, and the part it has played in her journey to success as an author. Join us for a fascinating look at a genre that has been too often dismissed or overlooked, and find out how the stories, and the authors who write them, have changed.

Q & A with Jeannie

Want to give your patrons an opportunity to chat with an author? Jeannie is available for writing Q & A sessions or to talk about books or genre fiction. With decades of experience in education, Jeannie can design programs for adults, teens, or both! Please reach out if you want to discuss scheduling an in-person or virtual visit.

Hometown Stories: Long Island as Inspiration

This library program is suitable for patrons over the age of 13.

Take a trip around Long Island, and find out why USA Today bestselling author, Jeannie Moon, brought the charm of the small towns and communities where she grew up into her award-winning stories. Visit coastal hamlets on the North Shore, quirky downtowns, farms, vineyards, and ocean beaches to discover how the unique makeup of her island home allowed Jeannie to create settings that are the perfect places to set down her characters. Additionally, Jeannie will talk about the large extended family on her dad’s side, the story of how they came to Long Island in the late 1920s, and how her history informs and enriches the books she writes.

Romance 101: Not Your Mama’s Bodice Ripper

This library program is suitable for patrons aged 16 and over. 

People are often put off by dated and stereotypic perceptions of romance novels. Join award-winning, USA Today bestselling author Jeannie Moon for a frank discussion about the current realities of the world’s most popular genre and why readers can never seem to get enough.

Delve into the history of romance, all the way back to the scribbling women of the early 19th century, the connection to feminism and feminist lit, female agency, consent, and how the genre is becoming one of the most inclusive and diverse landscapes in publishing – all while continuing to be the most lucrative.

In addition to being a multi-published author, Jeannie is a librarian with over 30 years of experience. She’ll spend some time talking about classic romances, as well as some newer titles, to show attendees that romance has something for everyone.

Individual Coaching

World Building

The setting of a novel is time and place. Seems simple enough, right? It’s not. In a novel, your setting is more than a location or an era. Setting requires you to layer in details that make the world pop for your readers. Vivid, living settings that evoke strong emotions are what make readers return to a place again and again. If you’re having trouble with your setting, Jeannie can help you draw out the meaningful details, the emotional triggers, and the pain points to give you a compelling place to set down your characters and tell your stories.

Character Consultations

Are you struggling to build believable characters who grab your readers? As writers, we know characters are more than just a collection of physical traits, but are your imaginary friends proving to be more of a mystery than your plot? Jeannie can help you flesh out all those internal and external motivations, construct a backstory, and develop the nuances that will make the people on the page the drivers of your story.

Author Coaching

Do you have an idea for a book, and you’re not sure how to start? Have you started a book and stopped? Scribbled notes? Is your book done, and you don’t know what to do next?

With almost forty years as an educator and two decades writing, Jeannie can help. 

It doesn’t matter if you have a completed manuscript or have yet to write a word; the plan for your book starts with a conversation. 

Jeannie’s goal as an author coach is to meet you where you are.

Sessions can include brainstorming, plotting, discussions on character, setting, and theme, measured feedback, advice on agents, queries, and synopses, as well as traditional and indie publishing. Jeannie will be your teacher, mentor, and cheerleader rolled into one. 

​Email for a free consultation. jeannie@fiveharborsliterary.com

Workshops

Creating a Living Setting

Settings are more than time and place, or a location to plop down your book’s characters.  A setting can be a living, breathing entity whether it’s a small town or a brand new world. Settings limit or expand possibilities for your characters, are a catalyst for change, act as a pain trigger, or provide comfort. The possibilities are endless.

Bestselling, award-winning author Jeannie Moon will take you through the intricacies of creating a setting that will transport your readers to a world of your creation and make them want to return again and again. This is a deep dive into the craft of using time and place to enhance the story’s depth and give readers a true sense of what your characters are experiencing.

(Can be presented as a one or two-hour class. Available in-person or as a live stream on Zoom.)

Beyond Stretch Marks and Hot Flashes: Writing the Seasoned Romance

Romance readers are growing older and so are the heroes and heroines in the genre they love. This workshop will take you through the ins and outs of writing a seasoned romance from the physical realities of age to the subtleties of the older mindset. See how publishers are starting to embrace romances with more mature characters.

Topics covered will include both craft and marketing, so authors can explore issues surrounding age, including:

• The concept of love being ageless
• How intimacy between older characters can be sexy and fun
• The myth of eternal youth (and why we don’t need it)
• Tropes that work well with seasoned romance
• How to envision and pitch your book in a changing market
• Fighting ageism in the industry

The Layered Heroine

Just as women have evolved over the decades, so have the romance heroines with whom they identify. No longer content to be rescued or domesticated, the modern romance heroine is made up of many different layers. In this class, attendees will be presented with examples of flat heroines and using techniques that incorporate backstory, internal and external conflict, speech, physical attributes, age, and outside influences, build a multifaceted woman ready to embark on her own journey and find happily ever after on her terms. This workshop can be customized for a one or two-hour presentation.

Running on Empty

One of Jeannie’s most popular workshops, Running on Empty will cultivate a positive mindset and get attendees ready to write. 

Part inspirational talk and part down-and-dirty methods, this class will inspire participants to find the best method to get off the hamster wheel and reduce time-related stress. Using examples from popular methodologies, Jeannie helps participants learn how to establish a routine, understand the difference between a true plan and a to-do list, and help design manageable, meaningful goals in small steps. An experienced author coach, Jeannie knows how doing too much can sap away energy and affect a person’s health and creativity. Attendees will leave the workshop with the tools to establish a workable plan no matter how demanding their schedules, and still find time to write. This program can be customized to fill a one or two-hour time slot.

Couple it with another workshop for a full day of learning.

NaNoWriMo: Setting Your Pace and Reaching Your Goals

This customizable workshop will focus on preparing writers for National Novel Writing Month. Using the NaNo website, planning and organizational tools, and a buddy approach, novices and experienced writers will be ready to attack the annual November challenge and have a 50,000 word draft done in 30 days.

Jeannie has completed NaNoWriMo seven times as of 2022. She is all set for 2023. Her bestselling, award-winning novel Then Came You came out of her very first NaNoWriMo.

Perfect for libraries. Can work as an adult or YA workshop.

Realistic Characters and Reader Empathy

Have you ever wondered how to create characters your readers love and can’t get enough of? Discover why characters that reflect real people—be they seasoned, plus-sized, or the guy or girl next door—are key to building strong reader connection. Explore traits that make a character genuine, relatable, and unforgettable; using tried and true archetypes, coupled with tools meant  to develop your strengths as an author, you can expand your audience, and ensure that your books end up as reader favorites.

Book Clubs

Visits to Book Clubs

If one of Jeannie’s novels is on your book club’s list, she would love to meet your group! Discussions can center around the writing process, romance and women’s fiction, inspiration, or specific themes in the story. Currently, Jeannie is happy to visit in person with groups on Long Island, or conduct a virtual meeting via Zoom or Google Meet! Send Jeannie a message to arrange a visit.