Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rose Patrice and Jenn Kacmar. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Rose and Jenn, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Let’s face it: making friends as an adult can feel like trying to find a unicorn in a haystack. It’s like you’ve just joined a new reality show where the challenge is “Can you make a friend without losing your sanity?” From initiating awkward small talk to juggling busy schedules, the struggle is real. And even if you do manage to find someone who’s as weirdly wonderful as you are, turning that “hey, we both like kombucha” into a genuine friendship often requires a mix of persistence and just a sprinkle of fairy dust.
But we get it! And here’s the deal: our mission is to be your cheerleaders in this quest for connection. Think of us as your friendly neighborhood hype squad, encouraging you to reach out even when it feels like you’re navigating a social labyrinth. Embracing the quirky differences between you and your potential pals isn’t just about expanding your circle—it’s like adding a splash of unexpected flavor to your life. Trust us, mixing it up can lead to some seriously rewarding experiences, from eye-opening conversations to collaborations that could make your life feel like an epic adventure. So go on, take the plunge and discover the magic of connecting with people, even those who might be delightfully different from you. After all, who knows what kind of extraordinary friendships are just waiting to be made?

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Fifteen years ago, Jenn was balancing working as an ob/gyn at the county health department, parenting two elementary-aged boys, and surviving the culture shock of life in a small Southern town after a decade living in New England. More than ten years younger, Rose was newly engaged and preparing to move to her soon-to-be husband’s home town where she would hold a few different jobs, including palliative care coordinator and trauma therapist, before also becoming a mom.

In many ways, we owe our friendship to women a generation ahead of us who brought us together at, of all things, an engagement party. While we couldn’t predict the depths our friendship would reach, we both felt the “zing” of recognizing a kindred spirit at that initial meeting. Over the years, we have supported each other, learned from each other, bickered with each other. We “bubbled” together during Covid. And, yes, we have even survived traveling together! But one of the best things to come out of our friendship was creative collaboration.

Writing a novel together propelled our friendship to a new level. This life-changing experience offered a tremendous opportunity to learn more about ourselves and each other. Working together to frame a story, to bring it and its characters to life, was both challenging and exhilarating. Having a teammate to share in the process proved invaluable—when one of us had an off day, the other picked up the slack and vice versa. We bring complementary strengths to our partnership and believe we have both become better writers from working together. More importantly, however, we feel compelled to share the secret power this friendship revealed.

Our book, SNOWFLAKES IN THE SOUTH, is a physical example of what can happen when friends join forces and the story within it, we hope, reinforces the idea that friendship isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a game-changer that makes the world a better place.

We invite everyone to embrace the limitless possibilities that arise when diverse minds come together. We encourage creating connections that can transform not only your personal and professional life but also the world around us.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For Jenn:

The most fulfilling part about writing, for me, is the chance to challenge myself, tap into new skills, and explore the world from unique perspectives. After nearly two decades working with women facing significant challenges, I’ve seen first hand how little people know about the struggles others endure. This realization drove me to write fiction in order to share these stories in an accessible way. Partnering with Rose to foster connection through our work has been an incredibly transformative experience.

For Rose:

As a therapist, I use creative modalities to guide my clients through various scenarios to help them achieve their life goals. Co-writing a novel was especially rewarding as it allowed me to tap into my artsy side and draw on the shared experiences of my clients to portray the complexities of adult friendships—the struggles, fears, and regrets. Collaborating with Jenn not only strengthened our own relationship but also enabled us to navigate challenges together and create a story that reflects both the depth of our friendship and our hope that it will benefit others.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

We often get asked about our writing process and how we collaborate as a team. The process is so organic and invigorating that we find it amusing when people inquire about it. The process can sometimes feel like running a marathon while simultaneously fending off dementia—exhausting yet mentally stimulating. Two people working together offers significant opportunity for generating ideas and sharing the burden. Rose acts out scenes while Jenn writes (or vice versa), leading to a lot of laughter, dynamic interaction, and the consumption of several cups of coffee…or wine, depending on the circumstances.

If people are looking for writing advice, we would say leave the kitchen table or coffee shop, and go take a hike or stroll through a park for inspiration. Some of our best chapters are conceived from conversations that happen when we are unplugged and outside.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.roseandjenn.com
• Instagram: Rose & Jenn Writers and Friends
• Facebook: Rose & Jenn Writers and Friends

Image Credits

Katie Anne Photography
katieannephotography12.mypixieset.com