Jeanette Hensby
This week it is my pleasure to interview Jeannette Hensby . Would you please introduce yourself to my readers, Jeanette and share something about your life.
My earliest books are written under my name Jeannette Hensby and are available on Barnes and Noble, and Lulu. My latest two (by JL Hensby) are available on Amazon.I spent my working life in the public sector, managing Social Car and Health services. I have always had a very keen interest in psychology, and why people behave in the way that they do. I did not start to write and publish books until after I had retired.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
My first book was published in 2016. When l was a child, I spent a lot of time with my widowed grandmother. She used to sit and tell me stories from the past with names that meant nothing to me and although I tried my best to look interested, I struggled. She certainly got my full attention though when I was about nine years old and she told me about the murder of a 16 -year -old girl that had been committed by someone that she knew. I never forgot it, but with a very busy career and a family to look after it was never at the forefront of my mind until many years later.I was sitting with my younger sister one day in 2014 and I told her what grandma had told me and how I wished that I could find out more. A few hours later she rang me: “I’ve found the murder” she said excitedly and told me the name of the book where she had found it. I downloaded the book and waited impatiently as it loaded and then turned with great anticipation to the chapter about the crime. It was certainly the right murder because I recognised the names of those involved and it was fascinating to read about it after all these years.......until I got to the end. A man had been hanged for the crime, but it wasn’t the man that grandma had named as the murderer. I sat there in shock and horror. Had they hanged an innocent man? I told my sister that I had this feeling that I needed to do something about it but realised that I couldn’t. “Yes you can,” she said. “You could write a book about it”. “No, I couldn’t” I said but she was determined and there it was, I needed to write a book. I spent two years researching the crime and wrote about it in my first book “The Rotherham Trunk Murder”.I have found that, when I write my books, I am often contacted by people who are involved in the story in some way, and they have new and interesting things to tell me. With the Trunk Murder I was contacted by a woman who was related to the murder victim. She had had quite an unhappy childhood and had always believed that there was a murderer in her family. My book showed her that she was in fact related to the young victim and not to the murderer. (The man who was hanged in this miscarriage of justice was not in fact the murderer, but the real murderer who is named in the book was not her relative either). She and I met up and she was pleased to be able to find the grave of Irene Hart, the young victim. She tidied it up and placed flowers there. I gave her all the many pages of my research into the crime and she said that this had allowed her to trace her family tree and open her childhood for her. We became friends.The book received a lot of publicity, and the BBC wanted to include it in their series “Murder Mystery and My Family” but the programme had to include a member of the family of either the murderer or murder victim and the family member that I had met had recently died suddenly and unexpectedly. I found another family member a while later but by then the series had finished. The BBC have it still on file in case they do another series.https://www.lulu.com/shop/jeannette-hensby/the-rotherham-trunk-murder/paperback/product-yv7qkpd.html?q=the+rotherham+trunk+murder&page=1&pageSize=4
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
I write only true crime, and I am particularly interested in apparent miscarriages of justice.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
It usually takes a long time to find a case that I want to write about. When I do find one, the research takes many months before I can begin to write the book.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
This excerpt is from my latest book: “The Dark Legacy. Sheffield Murders from Past to Present” which is available on Amazon. I would like to say that. although the book might be of particular interest to people living in Sheffield, I would hope that the fascinating cases will be of interest to anyone living anywhere who is interested in true crime.
How full of despair does a man have to be to murder his four children when everyone said he had loved them very much and was always kind and gentle towards them? However desperate a man does need to be, Joseph Laycock reached that point on a terrible night in 1884. He murdered his wife and children and tried to kill himself, but he survived and was taken to hospital. Here is the short excerpt: “He made the statement to one of the surgeons at the hospital. He said that he understood the fate that awaited him – that he would be hanged for the murders. He said that he and his wife had come home from the pub that night and that they were both drunk. His wife told him that she wished that she was dead and he lost his temper and cut her throat with a bread knife from the kitchen, and she died quickly. Then he went upstairs and cut the throats of his three oldest children. He took his youngest, two-year-old Joseph, on his knee and cuddled him. The child said to him “Don’t do it to me dada” but Joseph took the knife and slit the youngster’s throat before using the knife on himself and cutting his own throat. The thought of that poor young boy being cuddled by his daddy and asking his daddy not to kill him is heartbreaking beyond words.”
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F4WMZBSX/
Who is your favourite character and why?
As my books are not fiction, I don’t really think of those that I write about as “characters”. They are people who have been involved in some way with terrible tragedies. The person who stands out for me is Andrew Bagley, who I wrote about in my first book “The Rotherham Trunk Murder”. History says that he was an evil man who murdered a 16-year-old girl, but all the evidence that I uncovered shows that he was, in fact, a very good man who went to the gallows to protect the actual murderer from being executed.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
Again, it would have to be “The Rotherham Trunk Murder”. It received massive international publicity including a double page spread in The Nottingham Post:An extract from the article reads:“In her fascinating first book “The Rotherham Trunk Murder” ex NHS Director Jeannette Hensby argues that Andrew Bagley, born a policeman’s son in the South Notts village of Bunny was innocent of the murder or 16-year-old Irene Hart. She examines the evidence in forensic detail, asks questions that should have been asked at his trial, exposes a scandalous appeal court cover-up and in the final chapters points an accusing finger at the person she believes was the real killer”.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
To use every opportunity, in the book you’re writing and in advertising the book, to ask readers to write an honest review of the book.
How would you describe yourself?
I would describe myself as a person with a keen interest in people, I’m particularly interested in psychology and in what makes people tick.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
I am a practising Christian and spend time helping to run a drop -in centre for the local community and I am the Information Manager at the church that I attend. As a wife, mum, grandmother, and owner of two beautiful little dogs, I can’t say that I ever find myself wondering what to do next!
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Anyone who reads my book “Was Elvis Murdered? and other True Crimes from the Dark Side of Dixie” will know that I am a lifelong fan of Elvis Presley. I would love to visit Graceland in Memphis Tennessee.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DM2RVNZV
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
We have two beautiful 4-year-old Morkie dogs who are both a delight. Both are male and from the same litter. Despite being male and neutered one of them, Seb, takes his “babies”(fluffy dog toys) out into the garden one by one at about 4 o’clock each day. How he knows the time I don’t know. If the door is opened and it’s raining he keeps them inside. When on the lead he often walks on his hind legs, and we have had people ask if they can film him as he looks very cute.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
My first book was published in 2016. When l was a child, I spent a lot of time with my widowed grandmother. She used to sit and tell me stories from the past with names that meant nothing to me and although I tried my best to look interested, I struggled. She certainly got my full attention though when I was about nine years old and she told me about the murder of a 16 -year -old girl that had been committed by someone that she knew. I never forgot it, but with a very busy career and a family to look after it was never at the forefront of my mind until many years later.I was sitting with my younger sister one day in 2014 and I told her what grandma had told me and how I wished that I could find out more. A few hours later she rang me: “I’ve found the murder” she said excitedly and told me the name of the book where she had found it. I downloaded the book and waited impatiently as it loaded and then turned with great anticipation to the chapter about the crime. It was certainly the right murder because I recognised the names of those involved and it was fascinating to read about it after all these years.......until I got to the end. A man had been hanged for the crime, but it wasn’t the man that grandma had named as the murderer. I sat there in shock and horror. Had they hanged an innocent man? I told my sister that I had this feeling that I needed to do something about it but realised that I couldn’t. “Yes you can,” she said. “You could write a book about it”. “No, I couldn’t” I said but she was determined and there it was, I needed to write a book. I spent two years researching the crime and wrote about it in my first book “The Rotherham Trunk Murder”.I have found that, when I write my books, I am often contacted by people who are involved in the story in some way, and they have new and interesting things to tell me. With the Trunk Murder I was contacted by a woman who was related to the murder victim. She had had quite an unhappy childhood and had always believed that there was a murderer in her family. My book showed her that she was in fact related to the young victim and not to the murderer. (The man who was hanged in this miscarriage of justice was not in fact the murderer, but the real murderer who is named in the book was not her relative either). She and I met up and she was pleased to be able to find the grave of Irene Hart, the young victim. She tidied it up and placed flowers there. I gave her all the many pages of my research into the crime and she said that this had allowed her to trace her family tree and open her childhood for her. We became friends.The book received a lot of publicity, and the BBC wanted to include it in their series “Murder Mystery and My Family” but the programme had to include a member of the family of either the murderer or murder victim and the family member that I had met had recently died suddenly and unexpectedly. I found another family member a while later but by then the series had finished. The BBC have it still on file in case they do another series.https://www.lulu.com/shop/jeannette-hensby/the-rotherham-trunk-murder/paperback/product-yv7qkpd.html?q=the+rotherham+trunk+murder&page=1&pageSize=4
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
I write only true crime, and I am particularly interested in apparent miscarriages of justice.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
It usually takes a long time to find a case that I want to write about. When I do find one, the research takes many months before I can begin to write the book.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
This excerpt is from my latest book: “The Dark Legacy. Sheffield Murders from Past to Present” which is available on Amazon. I would like to say that. although the book might be of particular interest to people living in Sheffield, I would hope that the fascinating cases will be of interest to anyone living anywhere who is interested in true crime.
How full of despair does a man have to be to murder his four children when everyone said he had loved them very much and was always kind and gentle towards them? However desperate a man does need to be, Joseph Laycock reached that point on a terrible night in 1884. He murdered his wife and children and tried to kill himself, but he survived and was taken to hospital. Here is the short excerpt: “He made the statement to one of the surgeons at the hospital. He said that he understood the fate that awaited him – that he would be hanged for the murders. He said that he and his wife had come home from the pub that night and that they were both drunk. His wife told him that she wished that she was dead and he lost his temper and cut her throat with a bread knife from the kitchen, and she died quickly. Then he went upstairs and cut the throats of his three oldest children. He took his youngest, two-year-old Joseph, on his knee and cuddled him. The child said to him “Don’t do it to me dada” but Joseph took the knife and slit the youngster’s throat before using the knife on himself and cutting his own throat. The thought of that poor young boy being cuddled by his daddy and asking his daddy not to kill him is heartbreaking beyond words.”
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F4WMZBSX/
Who is your favourite character and why?
As my books are not fiction, I don’t really think of those that I write about as “characters”. They are people who have been involved in some way with terrible tragedies. The person who stands out for me is Andrew Bagley, who I wrote about in my first book “The Rotherham Trunk Murder”. History says that he was an evil man who murdered a 16-year-old girl, but all the evidence that I uncovered shows that he was, in fact, a very good man who went to the gallows to protect the actual murderer from being executed.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
Again, it would have to be “The Rotherham Trunk Murder”. It received massive international publicity including a double page spread in The Nottingham Post:An extract from the article reads:“In her fascinating first book “The Rotherham Trunk Murder” ex NHS Director Jeannette Hensby argues that Andrew Bagley, born a policeman’s son in the South Notts village of Bunny was innocent of the murder or 16-year-old Irene Hart. She examines the evidence in forensic detail, asks questions that should have been asked at his trial, exposes a scandalous appeal court cover-up and in the final chapters points an accusing finger at the person she believes was the real killer”.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
To use every opportunity, in the book you’re writing and in advertising the book, to ask readers to write an honest review of the book.
How would you describe yourself?
I would describe myself as a person with a keen interest in people, I’m particularly interested in psychology and in what makes people tick.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
I am a practising Christian and spend time helping to run a drop -in centre for the local community and I am the Information Manager at the church that I attend. As a wife, mum, grandmother, and owner of two beautiful little dogs, I can’t say that I ever find myself wondering what to do next!
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Anyone who reads my book “Was Elvis Murdered? and other True Crimes from the Dark Side of Dixie” will know that I am a lifelong fan of Elvis Presley. I would love to visit Graceland in Memphis Tennessee.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DM2RVNZV
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
We have two beautiful 4-year-old Morkie dogs who are both a delight. Both are male and from the same litter. Despite being male and neutered one of them, Seb, takes his “babies”(fluffy dog toys) out into the garden one by one at about 4 o’clock each day. How he knows the time I don’t know. If the door is opened and it’s raining he keeps them inside. When on the lead he often walks on his hind legs, and we have had people ask if they can film him as he looks very cute.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
I prefer to read non-fiction: True crime, biographies, conspiracies, supernatural etc.
Do you have your own website?
No, but I do have a Facebook page (Jeannette Hensby)https://www.facebook.com/jeannettehensby/
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
No. I’m taking a short break before looking for an interesting case to research and write about.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
Yes, I have a countdown deal coming up on amazon starting on the 15th June. The price of, The Dark Legacy: Sheffield Murders From Past To Present, is available for just £0.99 for the first few hours of the deal. So grab it early!
I prefer to read non-fiction: True crime, biographies, conspiracies, supernatural etc.
Do you have your own website?
No, but I do have a Facebook page (Jeannette Hensby)https://www.facebook.com/jeannettehensby/
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
No. I’m taking a short break before looking for an interesting case to research and write about.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
Yes, I have a countdown deal coming up on amazon starting on the 15th June. The price of, The Dark Legacy: Sheffield Murders From Past To Present, is available for just £0.99 for the first few hours of the deal. So grab it early!
