“Jenay’s life is a kaleidoscope of the fractured pieces of her heart and soul representing the entire spectrum of emotions. I felt so much everything while reading this book because Jenay is a genuine relatable and sympathetic character. She is strong and steadfast as much as a young girl can be. So many obstacles fall in Jenay’s path, and it is difficult to see a way out. How will Jenay not only survive, but thrive? The prose is just beautiful with a lyricism that ebbs and flows perfectly. I love a story that sounds to me like a song, and this one certainly did. The incorrect misspelled dialogue is an excellent representation of the time and place and lends much authenticity. I like this style of writing, and I hope the author continues such in the future.” – JypsyLynn
Reviewed By Christian Sia for Readers’ Favorite
"Ruby Moon is the first entry in the series By the Light of the Moon by Jenny Knipfer, a narrative with very strong Christian themes. It is a story that explores guilt, family hurt, and an unusual romance, set in Ontario in the 1890s. It follows Jenay, a young female protagonist of mixed descent, who experiences trauma after causing an accident. The reader encounters a young woman who is psychologically challenged by the experiences of life, but then an unexpected person enters her life, the very person who once stood as a serious threat to her father’s shipping business — the insanely handsome Renault. Now she feels an irresistible attraction to the man she should hate while her heart struggles to do what is right.
"This novel is filled with drama and a writing style that is insightful. From the beginning, the author creates a sense of mystery, capturing sensations in a style that defies perception: “I see the moon, and I imagine the moon sees me—every hidden part. The blood red of a ruby is reflected upon its surface. It appears like a floating jewel, fit for a queen. The queen of death.” The lyricism in the writing combines with the use of symbolism and the spiritual depth of the writing to transport the reader and makes for an inspiring read. The chapters are well-organized, each exploring an episode or an aspect of the plot, each written with timely paragraph breaks and phraseology that is designed to increase the level of drama in the story. Biblical references make for an additional level of richness in the story. Ruby Moon is entertaining, fast-paced, and features characters that are real.”
“The story of Ruby Moon is sensational, and I applaud the exceptional author Jenny Knipfer for putting a twist on the romance genre. The fact that the story is so original and unique and incredibly entertaining at the same time shows us that Jenny is a talented wordsmith who knows how to be creative and brazen with her thoughts and think outside of the box. I adore how Jenny took risks with Ruby Moon and decided to put a twist on a much-loved genre; this is incredibly hard to do and even harder to pull off, so it is safe for me to write that I adore Jenny’s literature!
“I adore historical fiction, but some historical fiction/romance stories can be lackluster thanks to the predictable nature of them. Knipfer’s novel, however, will keep its readers guessing and I challenge you, readers, to guess where the plot goes when you read this excellent book, I would be interested whether you were able to guess the outcome correctly! I tried my hardest, but Knipfer continuously keeps her readers on edge with her sheer brilliance!”
“Ruby Moon is the type of book that hooks you from page one. It is intriguing and gorgeously written. The prose is set up perfectly to keep you guessing as to what happened, will happen, and occurred. This book will pull you in and have you quickly turning the pages to discover more.
“So, when I say this book blends times let me explain a bit. This book starts in the future, goes back to the present, and pulls from the past. However, Knipfer is a genius in how she handled this! Each time change was a tease as to why the characters were led to where they are or what they did. In this instance the switches were not jarring, but had a lyrical need in the story. …It’s a mystery with gorgeous style writing all wrapped up into one neat little book.”
An Elk Mound woman’s experience with a nervous system disease hasn’t stopped her from writing and publishing her first historical fiction novel, set on the shores of Lake Superior.
A former 10-year employee of the Colfax Public Library, Jenny Knipfer also worked as a floral designer at Lakeview Floral in Menomonie for seven years until she discovered the cause of several health problems.
After many doctor’s visits, an MRI in 2014 finally spurred a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, Knipfer said.
She believes she had the disease for about 10 years before her diagnosis: “It actually often happens with people. It’s so often missed.”
Almost one million people over 18 in the United States are believed to suffer from the mysterious nervous system disease, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
In April 2018, Knipfer quit her job due to her disability.
“The next day I was sitting at home and thought, ‘What the hell am I going to do now?’” Knipfer said.
When Knipfer’s children were in kindergarten, she began writing a story about a young French-Ojibwe woman in the mid-1890s who survives the trauma of causing a life-altering accident.
In April 2018, after Knipfer stopped working due to her diagnosis, she picked up the partially-finished story.
“It gave me some purpose, something to do, and before I knew it I’d started the next book,” Knipfer said. “It really is kind of a miracle, because I remember days where I couldn’t even look an iPad or TV screen.”
Set in Ontario on the shores of Lake Superior, the story is inspired by Knipfer’s French Canadian and Native American ancestry.
“I found out it was so much harder to rewrite something than start from scratch, but I wanted to use the character and places I had. They were important to me,” Knipfer said.
In May 2019, she published “Ruby Moon,” the first in a planned four-book series.
Knipfer self-published the book through an internet collaboration with an Ohio editor. “Ruby Moon” falls between genres, she said: “It’s Christian, historical fiction … but it has this Native American element that’s not often found in Christian fiction.”
Due to MS, Knipfer has mobility problems, decreased functionality in her fingers and hands and limited energy, but she isn’t slowing down. Two more novels are already finished, and she’s writing the series’ fourth book currently, also a Christian historical novel, she said.
Her faith also spurred her to keep writing, Knipfer said: “I really feel like it’s given me purpose, and God (has) strengthened me to do it. It’s my way to help inspire other people through some rough spots in their life.”
