About
Jenny Cressman
PHOTO: Colin J. McMechan
Author Jenny Cressman was born in Kitchener, Ontario, the provincial heart of Mennonite country, where her family roots run deep. She grew up in Scottdale, Pennsylvania, but returned to her homeland to study at the University of Waterloo. After living in various parts of the United States and Canada, she eventually settled in Muskoka, slightly north of Toronto.
Her tandem careers in journalism and at a shelter for abused women provide some of the threads for her fictional writing, as does her own life. She artfully weaves these with her travel experiences in Cuba, her extensive reading about the country and her personal observations on Cubans and their relationships with tourists. Embroidered with memorable characters, the resulting tapestry she has created is the colorful, realistic world of the “Cuban Kisses” series.
Jenny also imbues her poetry, short stories and other writing with similar elements and energy. She has enjoyed creative writing since childhood and plans to continue creating as long as she can tickle a keyboard, clutch a pen or give voice to the words swirling in her head, the feelings pulsing through her veins and the spirits dancing with her soul.
Writing journey
Jenny Cressman has enjoyed playing with words ever since she learned the game. Her first published piece was a poem, written in her teens, and other forms of writing soon followed. Doors smoothly opened for her to enter the world of journalism but, after a few decades as a news jockey and magazine editor, she decided to jump off that galloping horse and focus on fiction.
After visiting Cuba for the first time in 2009, her writing began to shift and flow like rum at a fiesta. Poetry poured out, travel and opinion pieces bubbled forth, and a series of novels began to simmer – all because of a quirky little island known as Cuba.
A dare to write something racy led to Jenny’s first completed novel, Cuban Kisses. Upon finishing it, however, she realized that the characters who’d come to life in her head weren’t quite ready to sit on a shelf. They wanted to keep dancing. Her protagonist, in particular, wanted to explore a bit more, and to learn about life, love and Cuba. In her three novels in this series – Cuban Kisses, Cuban Wishes and Cuban Missus – Jenny artfully weaves a tapestry depicting a woman who comes of age at 50.
While writing and editing this trilogy, Jenny spent delicious chunks of time in Cuba, which undoubtedly enhanced her vivid portrayal of people there, their lives and culture. The author’s knowledge of Cuban history also imbues her writing and sets it apart from traditional romance-adventure novels.
Jenny’s journey to learn about Cuba, and to share that knowledge, has led to another project that is nearing completion. This work illuminates different aspects of the island’s history, beginning with the arrival of Columbus in 1492 and culminating in 2021. In this collection of short stories, the author has intentionally chosen to shine a little light on historic periods and events that are not well known beyond the country’s shores. However, her own past as a journalist caused her to write a non-fictional introduction to each of the fictional stories, effectively and elegantly setting the tone for the tale.
Be sure to sign up to receive Jenny’s “Randomosity” updates about the short story collection, Kat of Nine, and the forthcoming Cuban Missus novel, among other things! Jenny’s writing journey continues.
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