Please give a warm welcome to PA Jenny Bodle

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Jenny and I live in Central Minnesota with my Husband, one of my kids, a cat and a dog.

How long have you been a PA? 

I have been a PA for about a year and a half now.  

Have you always wanted to be a PA? 

Actually, I didn’t even know what it was till Carissa Andrews found me.  I was working at a deli and she was one of my customers.  We became friends but I had no idea she was a writer till I was shopping at the local consignment shop when I picked up a book and found her picture in the back of it.  A while later she asked me to be her PA because she could not find one that was a good fit for her.  

What do you do as a PA? 

I do anything that the author does not want to do except write or edit the book. I help them as they write with ideas and things like that though. I do images, scheduling, market research, ads, uploading books to different platforms, newsletters.  I really can keep going but I think you get the drift. 

Do you have any quirks while working? 

When I do graphics I like to listen to the book I am working with on audio.  It gets me in the frame of mind so that the images match the book better. 

What are your hopes for the future? 

When I started I wanted to be an all inclusive service.  I would have graphic designers on hand and all that jazz.  I have since found that I like chatting with the authors so my goal is to get very effective for the authors so that I can charge more and take less clients.  I love the relationship I have with them and do not want to have to give that up to take on more clients. 

Do you have any advice for new PA’s? 

Charge what you are worth, ask questions, and take criticism. Not everyone’s the same and will want different things. Be flexible.  Join a PA group chat and do not hesitate to ask them questions. We are all here to work together.   

Are you available for new work or booked solid. 

For the right client I would take them on but I have become a little more picky.  I do not mind helping out anyone if they need it and I can answer questions for anyone.