Book Talk: Janyre Tromp
Click here to listen to the episode with Janyre Tromp
Welcome to Book Talk! Today we’re diving into the haunting, sweeping vistas of 1960s Northern Michigan with my good friend, author Janyre Tromp. Janyre is renowned for her rich, atmospheric historical fiction, and in this episode, we’re discussing her captivating Gothic suspense novel, Burning in the Raven Tree. I loved this fun, relaxed chat about Janyre’s writing journey, her unique approach to storytelling, and the intricate details of her latest work.
Here’s a sneak peek at what you’ll discover in this absolutely page-turning episode:
• The “Rapid Release” Strategy: Janyre explains the publishing industry’s “rapid release” strategy, where she’s publishing a book roughly every six months. This involves a pivot in her writing, incorporating myth and magical realism into her historical suspense, imagining how mythological and folklore characters influence real history.
• “Burning in the Raven Tree”: A Deep Dive: she’s publishing a book roughly every six months. This involves a pivot in her writing, incorporating myth and magical realism into her historical suspense, imagining how mythological and folklore characters influence real history.
• “Burning in the Raven Tree”: A Deep Dive: ◦ Intriguing Premise: The story features a disgraced Chicago lawyer, a woman accused of a decade-old murder, and a town steeped in rumor and superstition. Most uniquely, the book features a tree that is part of the story and even has a point of view. ◦ Northern Michigan Setting: Janyre, a Michigander herself, discusses her “natural obsession” with her home state, particularly the Leelanau Peninsula. She explains how the remote, densely forested landscape, combined with the immense Great Lakes—which she calls “freshwater oceans” with the highest concentration of shipwrecks in the world—creates an inherently eerie and mythical backdrop for her Gothic novel. ◦ Weaving Myth and Folklore: Learn how Janyre skillfully blends local folklore, such as the real-life phenomenon of “shoe trees” in Michigan, with deeper mythologies. For “Burning in the Raven Tree,” she chose Ukrainian and Polish Slavic myth, specifically the World Tree. ◦ The World Tree’s Role: The World Tree is central to the narrative, separating the mortal world from the gods and acting as a prison for the underworld. In the story, the raven tree is dying, trying to hold down evil, and has witnessed the events that led to Coin’s accusation. ◦ The Terrifying Baba Yaga: One of the characters recruiting help to destroy the tree is the Baba Yaga, a creepy forest witch from Slavic myth with her own sense of justice. The town even calls Coin the Baba Yaga.
◦ Historical Context & Themes: The novel explores themes of true justice, dealing with trauma from the past, and the significant societal changes of the 1960s regarding child protection and family laws. ◦ Characters: Coin & Marcus: Coin is seen by the community as a “monster or a coarse woman who sees specters in the woods,” a “witch”. Marcus, a brilliant and gentle lawyer, aims to prove her innocent, even as he struggles with the town’s secrets and his complicated past relationship with Coin.
• Behind the Scenes: Janyre is not only an author but also a published photographer and even designs her own book covers, having drawn the raven tree and the Egyptian outline for “The Scorpion Thief”. This episode is a must-listen for fans of historical fiction, Gothic suspense, and anyone fascinated by how history and mythology intertwine. Don’t miss this engaging conversation that promises to entertain and enlighten!
Connect with Janyre Tromp: • Website: jaynretromp.com (sign up for her newsletter for extra treats and a free ebook!).
Want to watch this interview? You can see this episode as well as multiple others on YouTube! Enjoy!
If you enjoyed this conversation, I would be thrilled if you left a rating and review on your favorite podcast app and leave me a note below letting me know who you would love to see on the show!