Ridyard publishes science fiction novel
Former Benoni City Times journalist Jennifer Ridyard recently published Conquest, a science fiction novel that she co-wrote with her partner, John Connolly, who is a bestselling crime writer.
Ridyard and Connolly have signed a three-book deal with Headline Publishing Group, a British publishing company.
Conquest is the first in a trilogy called The Chronicles of the Invaders, although it may turn into a quartet of books.
“Hugging Conquest when the first hardback copy arrived, all pristine and beautiful with my full name on the cover, oddly, which I normally only get called when I’m in trouble, was the best feeling in the world,” said Ridyard.
“There’s a well-worn aphorism amongst writers that it is hell to write, but heaven to have written.”
She added that writing can sometimes be like wringing yourself dry, especially when it’s just not flowing, but there’s no feeling as fulfilling as being done, and knowing it was the best you could do.
The 407-page novel is about the invasion of a planet by Illyri, a beautiful, civilised but ruthless alien species, and the fight back, told from the perspective of the first alien child to be born on Earth.
Ridyard added that the novel is written for the young adult market, but it has a lot of crossover for adults who like a good adventure story, including dollops of intrigue, a hefty dash of violence and a splash of love.
It took the couple approximately a year and a half to finish writing the book.
The manuscript went backwards and forth between her and John. She would have it for a few months, and then he’d have it, and so forth.
According to Ridyard, co-writing with the man she lives with, especially with him being a successful author who has always worked alone, was not easy.
Conquest is her first published book and Connolly’s first foray into science fiction.
She has, however, written three other manuscripts, one of which was under submission at Penguin, and two children’s books that she has never shown to anyone.
The novel has been released in the United Kingdom, and will be out in Canada and the United States in February, next year.
Ridyard currently does not know when it will be released into the South African market.
Apart from being an author, the 42-year-old mother of two has been a journalist and advertising copywriter for the past 19 years.
She started her writing career as a junior reporter at the Germiston City News in 1994, and moved to the Benoni City Times later that year.
“During my time there I was a finalist for Journalist of the Year at both the Caxton Awards and the Sanlam Awards, and won several other categories — special articles, human interest features amongst other awards,’ she added.
Together with a colleague she put together popular teen supplement, BEAT, which went into all the Amalgamated Press papers.
In 1991 she started working for The Citizen newspaper as their lifestyle editor, and still writes a longstanding column for them.
In 2004 she moved to Ireland, but occasionally visits South Africa.
According to Ridyard she has always wanted to be a writer, but not a journalist, because journalism is fact-based, while novelists get to make things up.
“I love journalism, taking someone else’s truths and weaving them into a compelling story is a privilege and an art, and also requires a great deal of discretion,” she added.
She advised writers who want to follow in her footsteps to never stop writing even if they don’t feel like it.
“We, as her parents, are very pleased and proud that she is now a published author, and we feel the world is now ready for the rest of her stories,” said Benoni resident Vivienne Ridyard, Jennie’s mother.
