Jennifer Wilke

Writer JENNIFER WILKE is devoted to writing family history as fiction that tells a true story. Lybarger family papers are her inspiration, and extensive American Civil War research has added historical accuracy and the authenticity readers demand. The discoveries and challenges of completing THE ARITHMETIC are on her blog: jenniferwilke.wordpress.com

Jennifer is a scriptwriter (she studied screenwriting at USC), a produced playwright, and wrote and produced instructional media for her own production company. She has been a technical writer for government agencies and non-profit organizations, and most recently annotated Hollywood feature films for worldwide translation. She regularly attends writing workshops, conferences, and a critique group. Her writing goal is to be a published novelist. She is eager to resume work on her next novel, the 1890s story of how David Long came to shoot his wife Susan to death in 1891, confess—and get acquitted.

Jennifer lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family. She enjoys bike rides, good jokes, really good movies, and great books. She has no cats.

Jennifer transcribed her great-grandfather Edwin Lybarger's daily diaries and mapped his itinerary throughout the war. His diary entry for April 17, 1865 reads: "In camp near Raleigh [North Carolina]. Received the intelligence of the assassination of Pres. Lincoln. The army ablaze with rage and fury."

Jennifer's writing rules:
Work hard
Get critiques you trust
Be gracious and rewrite
Have courage
Don't be boring
Read better writers

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