by Crystal Caudill | Jul 6, 2021 | Author Interviews
It’s been a while since I’ve managed an interview, but today is my great pleasure and honor to introduce to you Jennifer L. Wright, one of the 2021 Christian fiction debut authors.
Jennifer Wright has been writing since middle school, eventually earning a Master’s degree in Journalism at Indiana University. However, it took only a few short months of covering the local news for her to realize that writing fiction is much better for the soul and definitely way more fun. A born and bred Hoosier, she was plucked from the Heartland after being swept off her feet by an Air Force pilot and has spent the past decade traveling the world and, and every few years, attempting to make old curtains fit in the windows of a new home. She tries to squeeze in time to write in between rolling with the punches of her husband’s unpredictable schedule and corralling her two children (and one grumpy old dachshund).
She currently resides in New Mexico and has discovered a passion for all things green chile.
She is a member of ACFW and can be found on https://jennwrightwrites.com/, Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram, and sometimes (but very rarely) on Twitter.
Her debut novel, If It Rains, will be released on July 6, 2021. Pre-orders can be purchased on Amazon, through Tyndale House Publishers, and any other place where Christian fiction is sold.
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit Jennifer with rapid-fire.
CC: Milk or Dark Chocolate?
JLW: Dark
CC: Print or E-book?
JLW: Print
CC: Cat or Dog Person?
JLW: Dog
CC: Morning Person or Night Owl?
JLW: Morning
CC: Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter?
JLW: Fall
I’d love to learn a little more about you before we dive into your debut novel.
CC: What has been the biggest challenge for you on your writing journey?
JLW: My biggest challenge has been patience! I have been writing steadily for over ten years, and yet ‘If It Rains’ will be my first published novel. Publishing requires a lot of grit and persistence, more than little luck, and mounds upon mounds of patience. It takes long time to complete a book, from first draft to polished manuscript, and even longer to get it into the hands of readers. Learning to be still and wait has been a huge but valuable challenge for me.
CC: A valuable challenge to be sure, but so hard to endure as it is being developed in you.
CC: What is your favorite Bible verse? Why?
JLW: I keep several Bible verses taped to my desk, but the one I read daily is: “My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is a mighty rock, my refuge.”—Psalm 62:7 Especially as I move into the time of publication, I know I will be confronted with criticisms and not-so-nice reviews; it comes with the business. This verse is a reminder that, no matter what happens with my book, my salvation and my honor depend on God alone. He determines my identity and nothing else.
CC: As silly as it sounds, I am so proud of you for walking into it with that mindset and totally surrendering it all to God. You are absolutely 100% right, He does determine your identity and nothing else.
CC: What is your writing Kryptonite?
JLW: Reading a really, really, really good book! As crazy as that sounds, if I find one of those rare reads that leave me breathless and stay with me long after I’ve finished, I have a terrible tendency to hate everything I write because I feel as if I’ll never write anything as good as that book. It usually takes a little while before I regain my confidence enough to start writing again.
CC: I both love and hate that. Reading is such a wonderful escape, but it can also be a stumbling block when you read something from someone so amazing you just know you’ll never compare.
Thanks for sharing those fun things. Let’s dive right into talking about your debut novel, If It Rains!
A story of resilience and redemption set against one of America’s defining moments—the Dust Bowl.
It’s 1935 in Oklahoma, and lives are determined by the dust. Fourteen-year-old Kathryn Baile, a spitfire born with a severe clubfoot, is coming of age in desperate times. Once her beloved older sister marries, Kathryn’s only comfort comes in the well-worn pages of her favorite book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Then Kathryn’s father decides to relocate to Indianapolis, and only the promise of a surgery to finally make her “normal” convinces Kathryn to leave Oklahoma behind. But disaster strikes along the way, and Kathryn must rely on her grit and the ragged companions she meets on the road if she is to complete her journey.
Back in Boise City, Melissa Baile Mayfield is the newest member of the wealthiest family in all of Cimarron County. In spite of her poor, rural upbringing, Melissa has just married the town’s most eligible bachelor and is determined to be everything her husband—and her new social class—expects her to be. But as the drought tightens its grip, Henry’s true colors are revealed. Melissa covers her bruises with expensive new makeup and struggles to reconcile her affluent life with that of her starving neighbors. Haunted by the injustice and broken by Henry’s refusal to help, Melissa secretly defies her husband, risking her life to follow God’s leading.
Two sisters, struggling against unspeakable hardship, discover that even in their darkest times, they are still united in spirit, and God is still with them, drawing them home.
CC: Who was the most challenging character to create? What made them so difficult?
JLW: Helen was an extremely difficult character to write. There’s a fine line when you’re creating a villain; she had to be unlikeable but also believable. Though her actions may be unforgiveable, I hope I did justice to why she did the things she did. People are not black and white. We are all shades of gray, and I hope readers find something redeemable in Helen (even if they hate her!)
CC: Villians are some of my favorite to write because they are complex. I know I never do it justice, but I am looking forward to seeing Helen and why she is the way she is.
Which character was the most fun to create? What makes them fun?
JLW: Kathryn was the most fun to write. She’s obnoxious and immature and pigheaded, but she also has a lot of heart. She is based partly on how I was as a child (minus the clubfoot, of course), and it was so much fun to dig into that side of myself as I wrote her.
CC: Oh that is fun! I bet it was really fun to revisit that aspect of your life.
Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?
JLW: It’s no secret If It Rains is an homage to L Frank Baum and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. I’ve hidden several Oz easter eggs within the pages, from names to character parallels to quotes, and I can’t wait to see how many my eagle-eyed readers can spot.
CC: Secret admission…I’ve never read it and I can’t remember the last time I watched The Wizard of Oz. Now you have me wanting to before I read your book just so I can find all the easter eggs
Thank you so much for joining me today and providing all of us with a wonderful distraction. As my final question, I have my usual “Fun Question”.
If you had to live in any time period except modern-day, which time period would you choose? Why?
JLW: I have such an obsession with the Roaring Twenties. The fashion, the music, the overall mentality of our nation during that time—take me back to the days of The Great Gatsby please (minus the booze!) I’m sure I’m romanticizing it all in my head, but I still find everything about that era fascinating.
CC: It is definitely a fascinating time. My mind tends to wander to all the dark crime of that time, but I tend to write romance with suspense so that makes sense. LoL Thank you so much for joining us today. It is such a blessing to have had you.
You can purchase Jennifer’s book at any of the following retailers or your favorite bookseller.
Amazon Baker Bookhouse BarnesandNoble.com Christianbook.com
by Crystal Caudill | Mar 9, 2021 | Author Interviews
The winner of the February Reading Challenge giveaway is Alisa W. Check for an email from me, and if you didn’t get it, email me at crystal@crystalcaudill.com. CONGRATULATIONS!!!
It is my great pleasure and honor to introduce to you A.D. Lawrence, one of the 2021 Christian fiction debut authors. Be sure to read the full interview and then enter the giveaway at the end for a chance to win a copy of The Purple Nightgown.
A.D. Lawrence makes her home in Northeastern Nebraska. She has been passionate about writing and true crime for years, and her two obsessions melded into the goal of authorship. She is an active member of the ACFW, writes a true crime blog, won the 2019 Crown Award and was a 2019 First Impressions finalist and a 2020 Genesis finalist. Her first book will be released through Barbour in March of 2021 as part of the True Colors series.
You can connect with her at https://adlawrencefiction.com/, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest.
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit A.D. with rapid-fire.
CC: Milk or Dark Chocolate?
ADL: Dark
CC: You are my kind of girl!
CC: Print or e-book?
ADL: Print
CC: Cat or Dog Person?
ADL: Cat
CC: I guess I can forgive you for that. 😉
CC: Morning Person or Night Owl?
ADL: I’m not very good at either, but I’m becoming a bit of a Night Owl.
CC: I used to be a Night Owl, but now I’m like you. I’m not good at either.
CC: Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter?
ADL: Fall . . . always fall.☺
CC: It’s such a pretty time of the year!
Before we dive into your book, let’s learn a bit more about you. What are you reading right now?
ADL: Though it’s not my typical reading genre, I’ve been enjoying The Smoke River series by Adina Senft. The first two books are amazing, and I’m just starting book three.
CC: For those who are interested in what genre that is, it’s Amish. I’m so glad you are enjoying the series! I have to admit, Amish isn’t typically my thing, but my interest is piqued.
What do you like to do when you aren’t reading or writing?
ADL: Please don’t judge me, but I’m really into 90 Day Fiancé at the moment. It’s pretty crazy.
CC: When I first read that, I read 90 Day FINANCE. LOL Fiancé makes so much more sense.
What is your schedule like when you’re writing?
ADL: I have a full-time job, so writing keeps me busy. Since I only had seven weeks to write and edit The Purple Nightgown, I woke up at five to write before work and wrote until late into the night. Thank goodness, it came together!
CC: Holy cow! Seven weeks AND a full-time job? Girl you amaze me. I’m not sure my brain can function that early and go to bed that late afterward. Bless you!
Thanks for sharing those fun things. Let’s dive right into talking about your debut novel, The Purple Nightgown!
Marvel at true but forgotten history when patients check into Linda Hazzard’s Washington state spa in 1912 and soon become victim of her twisted greed.
Heiress Stella Burke is plagued by insincere suitors and nonstop headaches. Exhausting all other medical aides for her migraines, Stella reads Fasting for the Cure of Disease by Linda Hazzard and determines to go to the spa the author runs. Stella’s chauffer and long-time friend, Henry Clayton, is reluctant to leave her at the spa. Something doesn’t feel right to him, still Stella submits herself into Linda Hazzard’s care. Stella soon learns the spa has a dark side and Linda a mean streak. But when Stella has had enough, all ways to leave are suddenly blocked. Will Stella become a walking skeleton like many of the other patients or succumb to a worse fate?
CC: Which character was the most fun to create? What makes them fun?
ADL: I had the most fun with Henry, probably because I pictured him as James Norton. His conflicting emotions made him fun to write.
CC: That’s a new actor to me. I had to look him up to know who you are talking about, but I can see him as being a character of conflicting emotions. He just sort of has that face.
What was your hardest scene to write?
ADL: Since I’m a romantically stunted person, the mushy scenes were a challenge. Emotions like fear and anxiety are easy for me to write, but warmer feelings … not so much. I’m thankful for critique partners who experience the full range of human emotion and gave me a hand.
CC: I am the same way! That does make writing romances so much harder, but you did a great job!
Thank you so much for joining me today and providing all of us with a wonderful distraction. The last question is always my fun one:
What are the top three things on your bucket list?
ADL: 1) Tour Highclere Castle 2) Hot Air Balloon Ride 3) Serve on a Jury (something serious, not some car theft or drug case.)
CC: Your third one is so funny to me. Everyone tries to get out of jury duty, and you want on it. In fairness, you want a serious case, but i still find it humorous. My dad served on a grand jury once, and I can remember the cameraman filming the shoes of the jury as they walked by and my family recognizing my dad’s ratty tennis shoes. LOL
Readers, you can purchase A.D’s book at any of the following retailers or your favorite bookseller, but be sure to enter the giveaway as well! If you win, you can make someone’s day by giving it as a gift.
Amazon Barnes and Noble Christianbook.com
The Giveaway
To enter, please comment below with YOUR top three bucket list items and then click on the Rafflecopter entry below. Entries are open from 3/9/2021 12:01 AM (EST) to 3/15/2021 11:59PM (EST). This giveaway is restricted to US residents only. The winner will be announced on next Tuesday’s book review.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
by Crystal Caudill | Feb 23, 2021 | Author Interviews
It is my great pleasure and honor to introduce to you Jennifer Deibel, one of the 2021 Christian fiction debut authors.
Jennifer Deibel is a middle school teacher whose work has appeared on (in)courage, on The Better Mom, in Missions Mosaic magazine, and others. With firsthand immersive experience abroad, Jennifer writes stories that help redefine home through the lens of culture, history, and family. After nearly a decade of living in Ireland and Austria, she now lives in Arizona with her husband and their three children. You can find her online at www.jenniferdeibel.com. Her debut novel, A Dance in Donegal, releases Feb. 2, 2021 from Revell and is available for pre-order wherever books are sold!
You can connect with her at Instagram, Facebook, Goodreads, or BookBub.
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit Jennifer with rapid-fire.
CC: Sweet or Unsweet Tea?
JD: Can I say both? LOL Honestly, though, in a pinch I’d probably go for dark!
CC: Absolutely you can say both. Good choice. 😉
CC: Print or E-book?
JD: Print! I love the feel, smell, the heft of it.
CC: I’m 100% with you!
CC: Cat or Dog person?
JD: Dog, for sure!!
CC: Who can resist a tail that wags every time they see you?
CC: Morning Person or Night Owl?
JD: Permanently Exhausted Pigeon. LOL
CC: Oh that’s hilarious! I’ve not heard that one, but it’s perfect!
CC: Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter?
JD: Oh, fall, most definitely!
CC: It is so beautiful!
Thanks for sharing those fun things. Let’s dive right into talking about you.
How can we pray for you?
JD: I’m heading into edits for book 2—which I’m so very excited about! I absolutely love this story and can’t wait to get it into readers’ hands! But I’m also in the midst of grading middle school essays, and thinking of which story idea(s) I want to pursue next. So, I’d appreciate prayers for energy and strength, but also for wisdom and discernment. And divine inspiration. ☺
CC: Absolutely! Teaching is such a full-time and mentally draining job, I can’t imagine how you manage to balance both writing and teaching. You are definitely in our prayers!
What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?
JD: Being a teacher, I tend to write the bulk of my books during the summer. I try to balance good, big chunks of concentrated writing time with good, concentrated time with my kids—they are getting older, and won’t be home forever, so I want to be wise with my time. During the school year, I rotate evenings and weekends with writing, schoolwork/planning/grading, family time, etc.
CC: Bless you. You have so much to balance in your life. You completely amaze me. The mom guilt is hard and you definitely don’t want to miss those moments, but being called to write has its demands as well.
Now let’s dive into your debut novel, A Dance in Doengal!
After the loss of her Irish mother in the summer of 1920, Moira Doherty decides to fulfill her mother’s wish for her to leave Boston and teach in her mother’s home village of Ballymann in Donegal, Ireland. Though a few locals offer a warm welcome, others are distanced by superstition and suspicion. Rumors about a scandalous family reputation abound and threaten not only her new position but also her life.
Moira must rely on the kindness of a handful of unlikely friends including Sean, a handsome thatcher, to help her clear her family name before it’s too late. As she seeks to navigate her new life in Ireland, she may find that this is truly the life she was always meant to live.
CC: What was some of your favorite research you discovered while preparing for A Dance in Donegal?
JD: I really loved researching all the ancient traditions of Ireland. I’d experienced many of them firsthand when we lived there, but I wanted an even deeper understanding of why they do or say the things they do—things they’ve done and said for centuries, and still do to this day. I don’t want to give too much away, but there’s one major life event in particular that I just found absolutely fascinating the sheer number and depth of traditions involved in it. It’s like a well-choreographed dance, and everyone seems to automatically know their parts. Which, I loved, as it fits well with the dance theme that runs throughout the story. And it deepened my own appreciation and love for Ireland’s culture and traditions because I understood even more where they are coming from, and the rich meaning behind literally everything they do.
CC: Wow. I’m a little jealous you lived there. It’s definitely on my bucket list to go one day, but I’m glad I’ll get a glimpse of it by reading your book!
How did this story affect you as you wrote it? Did God teach you anything through the writing?
JD: So much of this story was written during or shortly after major seasons of change and transition for our family. And, much like Moira, I often found myself questioning God’s plans, and whether or not He truly knew what He was doing…or if I’d misheard/misinterpreted His leading in some way. Walking this story alongside my characters helped strengthen my own faith that God does in fact know what He’s doing, and He is good, and He is for my good…even if the circumstances He chooses to use to do that are painful.
CC: Hugs. Those are the best and most painful lessons to learn, but I’m so glad you were able to process those changes through your characters.
How do you select the names of your characters?
JD: For some of the characters, the names just came to me—I just knew the main character’s name was Moira, for example. Others, I had to look up. I wanted names that were common in that time-period, and in that area of Ireland. But I also wanted the names to match the characters and their personalities. The meanings of names are hugely important to me in my own life, so I brought that to my characters as well. I also chose harsh-sounding names for the antagonists because they are caustic people, and I wanted their names to be consistent with that.
CC: I love how much thought went into all of that! Name meanings are so fun to look up and now you’re going to have me looking up the meanings of your characters.
Thank you so much for joining me today and providing all of us with a wonderful distraction. I have one last, fun question to give you.
Would you rather face 100 duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck? Why?
JD: Oh, 100 duck-sized horses. No question. First of all, they sound completely adorable! Secondly, I feel like they might be more manageable…or at least less threatening than a horse-sized duck. I feel like one peck from that duck would be the end of me.
CC: I can just see the beak coming at you now. LoL
Thanks for spending time with me and my readers today. I am so excited to share your story with them. READERS: You can purchase Jennifer’s book at any of the following retailers or your favorite bookseller. The reviews are rolling in and they are great. I can’t wait to dig into my copy soon.
Amazon Baker Book House Barnes and Noble Books-A-Million ChristianBook IndieBound Target Walmart
