Many college students dream of writing a book someday—but most believe they need more experience, more confidence, or permission before they can begin. In this engaging and practical talk, bestselling author Jane Fenton challenges that assumption and reveals why now is the best time to start writing and sharing your work. Drawing from her real-world experience publishing multiple books and building an audience from the ground up, Fenton breaks down the core principles behind writing a book people actually want to read. Students will learn why it’s important to know your audience, how social media can be used to connect with your readers, and why imperfect, authentic content consistently outperforms polished perfection. This presentation reframes writing a book not as a distant dream, but as a powerful tool for confidence and career momentum—whether students plan to become authors, entrepreneurs, or professionals in any field. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how to begin, practical steps they can take immediately, and the realization that waiting is often the biggest obstacle of all.
Inquiring Minds offers lively, informal presentations and activities on various interesting topics for the entire community. Stanley Library at Ferrum College presents the series on most Wednesdays during the academic year, in the LEaP Studio on the library’s main floor during the campus’s community hour from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Jane Fenton is author of the Repo Girl series of novels about a young woman who repossesses cars for a living and keeps running across dead bodies. They have been called “fast-paced mysteries with lots of laughs and a little romance.” Jane is an avid reader of books that combine romance, mystery, and laughter because they’re as satisfying as a triple fudge sundae—without the calories. Although she shares her heroine’s love of Roanoke City, good friends, junk food, stray dogs, and Jeep Wranglers, she’s quite happy to create these fun misadventures from the comfort of her quiet farmhouse in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia where she lives with her family.
