Ideas, Plot Twists, and Writing Secrets: Interview with Jennifer Nielsen

Ideas, Plot Twists, and Writing Secrets: Interview with Jennifer Nielsen

From Bookwards by Dana & Sam

April 28, 2026 · 18 min · Episode 19

About this episode

Sam and Dana interview bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen about her writing process and storytelling insights.

On this episode of Bookwards, Sam and Dana sit down with bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen to talk about her incredible books, including The False Prince and The Free State of Jax . They dive into how she comes up with ideas, her writing process, and why first drafts are meant to be messy. Jennifer shares fun behind-the-scenes stories about creating her characters (including some surprising real-life inspiration), what makes a great villain, and how she builds heroes readers love. It’s a fun and insightful conversation filled with writing tips, storytelling secrets, and inspiration for readers and aspiring writers alike.

People in this episode

Hosts: Sam, Dana

Guest: Jennifer A. Nielsen

Topics covered

  • writing process
  • storytelling
  • character development
  • villains
  • heroes
  • inspiration

Keywords

  • writing tips
  • plot twists
  • character creation
  • first drafts
  • bestselling author
  • storytelling secrets

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The False Prince, The Free State of Jax

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