Jenkins has always dreamed of being an author. She once said, "Growing up, I spent large parts of my life in imaginary worlds: Neverland, Oz, and Narnia, in particular.” She loved reading and when she was eight, she began to develop her own work. After she wrote her own books, Jenkins became interested in writing full-length novel imitations of "Pippi Long Stocking" and "The Wolves of Willoughby Chase". She got inspiration for her later books like "Five Creatures" from her own life. She said, "I wanted to convey the sense of family I had with my pets." Jenkins has a husband, a daughter, and two cats. They all have different skills and preferences, but she used a Venn diagram to overlap their interests.