Jennifer Rodewald's Blog, page 5

Help For the Wednesday Hurdle: Author Interview with Sarah Monzon

Time for some help over the Wednesday hurdle…and today I’m so honored to have debut author Sarah Monzon with me! Grab a cup of Joe and let’s have a visit with this sweet, talented lady.

Jen:     I’d love for you to give us a little glimpse into your life, so here we go… When you think of home, give us 1) an image 2) a smell 3) sounds and 4) a feeling.

Sarah: Image: The members of my family—my husband, son, and daughter.

Smell: This is hard because our house doesn’t have any particular distinctive smell. I love scented candles, but with a toddler they aren’t the safest to have around. I tried the plug-in room fresheners before, but they run out so fast that it got too expensive for my frugal tastes. So, unfortunately, our house may smell of dust and dirty diapers.

Sounds: Childhood laughter, crying, then laughter again. Oh! And the constant repetition of “Mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy….”

Feeling: Content

Jen:     Ah, the Mommy, Mommy, Mommy’s…aren’t they precious? Just wait, my sweet friend. When they get to Junior high, those sweet little calls turn into tap, tap, tap.

The Isaac Project has been an instant hit on Amazon within the Christian fiction thread. How does that make you feel?

Sarah: Completely and utterly blessed beyond my wildest imagination. God whispered in my heart before I had committed to indie publish The Isaac Project that His ways are not my ways and that he truly would give me the desires of my heart (Psalm 37:4). That gave me the courage to proceed in what was clearly his current path for my writing. Now I bask in the promise found in Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” I’m starting to think my dreams are too small and God is saying, “No, my child. I have so much more give you.”

Jen:     God is so generous with us, isn’t He?

I love The Isaac Project! I remember randomly pulling a chapter off of our large critique loop, not knowing you or the story, and being completely sucked in. Can you tell us how the story developed for you?

Sarah: It’s kind of a funny story. I was having a conversation with one of my single friends. She hadn’t been having any luck in the men department and jokingly said she should just let her friends find her a husband. Well, that got me thinking. What would an arranged marriage look like in our culture? I think I may have been reading a modern retelling of Ruth at the time, which caused a mental snowball effect that landed me at the story of Isaac and Rebekah. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Jen:     I love it! Real life births all sorts of stories, doesn’t it?

You’re a mommy-writer with a couple of little ones. Talk to us about how that works.

 

Sarah: It’s about priorities. My children—my family—are my top priority. For a while there I had set my writing as equal with them and it was a juggling match in which nobody came out the winner. It became so bad that even though I was with my children, I wasn’t really present. I itched to be at my computer, and if circumstances didn’t allow for that to happen then I started to become resentful.

Thankfully, my heart has changed. I love my kids and I love being their mom and I don’t want a bad attitude to sour that joy. So, the computer stays off until after bedtime. Sometimes it may stay off for days because I’m so exhausted I fall into bed the same time my kids do. Or I spend the alone time with my hubby to reconnect and keep our marriage strong.

So, really, with little ones around, writing comes in short snippets. I’ve been known to use speech-to-text on my phone while driving if an idea hits. I’ve written whole chapters on my phone while nursing and rocking my baby to sleep. My husband also tries to give me a couple of hours on Friday morning to go to the library and pound out the words on the keyboard. I love him. He’s the greatest.

Jen:     It is quite amazing what you can actually get done in short snippets. Sometimes it’s the scarcity of time that forces us to use it well.

Tell us about what you’re working on right now. How is it going? What are you goals?

Sarah: My current WIP (work-in-progress) is the first book of a new series. I’m really excited about it because each book in the series will have a dual timeline, which combines my two favorite genres—contemporary and historical romance. The current WIP merges a marine photographer and treasure hunter with a 17th century galleon from the Spanish treasure fleet.

The story is flowing well (when I have time to write!) and I’m slightly over halfway done. I’m hoping to have it finished and ready to publish in June of 2016.

Jen:  Can’t wait! Head’s up peeps, I’ve been previewing this work-in-progress, and it’s good!

Thank you Sarah, for taking the time to chat with me! And thank you for The Isaac Project—one of my new faves in the Contemporary Christian Genre.

If you haven’t picked up your copy, you’d better get on it! I promise, you don’t want to miss this fun story. And just to prove it, I’m giving away a Kindle Copy. Leave me a comment below, and I’ll draw a winner on Friday!

Happy Wednesday!

Author Sarah Monzon

Sarah Monzon is a pastor’s wife and a stay at home mom of two small children. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Southern Adventist University. Sarah is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). The Isaac Project is her debut novel.

The Isaac Project

Becky Sawyer’s life unravels in a single day. Not only does she catch her boyfriend, the man she hoped to marry, lip-locked with another woman, she also receives the gut-wrenching news that her grandfather, the man who raised her, is dying. His last wish? To see her happily married. Heartbroken, Becky seeks inspiration in the pages of the Holy Scriptures. And finds it in the story of Isaac and Rebekah.

If love couldn’t keep his parents together, Luke Masterson wonders what will make a marriage last. He decides to steer clear of all women—especially crazy ones like Becky Sawyer, who employs a friend to find her a husband. But when he feels the dogged promptings of the Holy Spirit to move across the country and marry a complete stranger, it seems love has little to do with it anyway.

With commitment their only foundation, and love constantly thwarted, can an arranged marriage find happiness in the twenty-first century?

Reclaimed Cover Reveal

The cover is done! The book is typeset! We’re getting so close… Look for Reclaimed near the end of September.

The Excitement is Building…

Final edits are coming this week for Reclaimed, my award winning novel and second release. I’m so excited! Thought I’d share a peek of part of the cover here, and post the blurb as well…

Suzanna Wilton has had a heavy share of heartache in her twenty-seven years. Left wounded by a marriage cut short, she leaves city life to take up residency in a tiny Nebraska town. Her introduction to her neighbor Paul Rustin is a disaster. Assuming he’s as underhanded as the other local cowboys she’s already met, Suzanna greets him with sharp hostility.

Though Paul is offended by Suzanna’s unfriendliness, he can’t stop thinking about her, which unsettles his peaceful life. Intrigued by the woman who lives down the road and propelled by a sense that she carries a painful burden, he frequently drops by to offer help as she adjusts to rural living.

Just as Paul’s kindness begins to melt Suzanna’s frozen heart, a conflict regarding her land escalates in town. Even in the warmth of Paul’s love, resentment keeps a cold grip on her fragile heart.

Will Suzanna ever find peace?

Reclaimed  was honored with 2014 Clash of The Titles Olympia Award .

Reclaimed was second place in the 2014 FCRW Beacon Contest.

Reclaimed was third place in the 2015 NTRWA Great Expectations Contest.

Author Interview: Jeannie Kay

One of the things I’ve loved over the past few years while walking through this writing/publishing journey has been meeting some amazing people. Today, I’d love to introduce you to one I’ve had the honor to work with for about two years.

This week’s give-a-way comes from author Jeannie Kaye, aka Jeannie K. Fulbright.

Welcome, Jeannie! How about we start off with an ice-breaker? Tell us two lies and a truth about yourself. This week’s winner will be someone who guessed your truth. Ready, go…

Let’s see… Fact or Fiction. 1. I do not like sweets. 2. I love cold weather. 3. I was engaged three times.

Huh. Good luck with that, y’all.

You went from writing non-fiction (science textbooks for Homeschoolers) to writing fiction. Tell us about the transition between the two.

Writing non-fiction well requires both a passion for the subject and an ability to write with a unique voice. This is also true of fiction. However, there is a lot more to writing fiction. There are a plethora of “rules” for fiction writers that are not true for non-fiction. For example, non-fiction is all “telling” – simply put, one explains facts to the reader. Fiction writers and readers prefer the use of “showing” over “telling.” This means that instead of saying a character was sad, one would show it through the words they say, body movement or facial expression. Learning to write fiction was almost like learning a new language. Although I had the story in my head that I could effortlessly put onto the pages, writing well required a lot of effort and editing the work to captivate the readers took a lot longer than editing non-fiction.

What has been the best thing and then the most challenging thing about switching genres for you?

I haven’t really switched genres as I’m still creating non-fiction books. However, I love fiction because it’s an outlet for my creativity. I’ve always wanted to write stories. For me, non-fiction flows from my passion to help others, relaying vital information to them. Fiction flows from my heart and my imagination. Both are wonderful and I don’t think I could ever just write in one genre.

Some within the church frown at fiction—specifically romance. Can you address the idea that reading romance is wasteful at best?

Just like one would watch a movie for entertainment purposes only, reading novels, even romance, can be a wonderful, relaxing leisure activity. Additionally, many novels have a message. My books are thematic in a subtle way. For example, Ever Locked carries the theme of forgiveness throughout. Tripped Up’s hopeful theme of self-acceptance and letting go of our past misdeeds and moving toward a better future is woven throughout. It’s always nice to read a book that allows you to grow in some way, but again, I don’t think it’s vital for every book to have a message. In fact, sometimes it’s fun just to fall into another world and enjoy a good story. Obviously there is some romance novels out there that is not edifying or beneficial and might actually be detrimental. For the most part, however, when someone expresses their God-given gift of storytelling in a way that captures our heart and makes us smile, it’s never a waste.

Your recent books (new release…yay!) target a unique audience, as they’re tilted more toward a crossover book than most would consider a “Christian Romance.” Tell us why you took that direction and what your vision is for these stories.

There are so many valuable lessons we learn as we journey through life. In the Christian community, many of us hear truths from the pulpit or in our reading. However, there are millions of people out there that have never heard the value of forgiveness to the spirit, soul and body. There are many who still carry the shame of their past around and need encouragement to release it, and believe that everything happens for a reason. Many Biblical truths are applicable to everyone, whether one is a Christian or not. As a Certified Life Coach, I have passion to help people become a better version of themselves. That’s what I hope my books do in a subtle, but profound manner. There are a lot of Christian books out there, written for Christians by Christians. I’d like my voice, my message and my stories to reach beyond that circle and shed truth and light into the world.

Tell us what you have coming down the pipe, and what we can expect to see from your writing as the second half of the year unfolds.

I’m creating a college manual for teens to help them navigate the tricky college application process and prepare for acceptance into the school of their choice, as well as give career and major guidance. It’s called College Yes U and I’m writing it with my daughter, a junior at the University of Georgia.

I also plan to write the third book in the Dunnavin Series, Blazed In.

However, the most exciting news is I plan to write a Young Adult series. These will be Christian books, published under my name Jeannie Fulbright. The series will be called Commies. I’m hoping to have at least two or three out this coming year.

Thank you Jeannie!

Again, I have loved getting to know a variety of authors whose voices are as unique as the stories they tell. Jeannie writes with an edge, but she weaves truth subtly within her story threads. Beautiful, foundational ideas like the power of sacrificial love, the redemption of those who seem hopelessly lost, and the beauty that can be found in lives that have been devastated. Visit her at http://www.jeanniekaye.com

Screen Shots I Didn’t Think I’d Ever See…

Whoa. I don’t know what else to say. Just wow. Here’s why…

and this…

Maybe it will never happen again, but that’s okay! I’ll take it for today. Thank you all!

Where did that come from?

Creativity doesn’t survive isolation. It’s a tricky balance…feeding creativity and then letting it live and do by itself. Too much food, not enough doing. Too much doing, the creative flow dries up. So, what feeds mine? Several things. How about a sampling?

Blue Columbine was set in a place that I knew. I spent seven years in the mountains as a young child, and I have good memories playing in the aspens behind our little house. Dory Lakes? Yep, it’s a real place–community–above Black Hawk.  I also spent many years in the Denver area. Worked at a Cyclery Shop, did some mountain biking. In short, I knew the setting because I lived it.

Does that mean I knew Andy and Jamie in real life too? Lived their lives? NOPE. They met me in my imagination, and their lives are totally unique from mine.

So, memories may provide fodder for story. A launching point, so to speak.

What else? For me, music is huge. I love music–I’m not very good at it (wish I were!), but I love it. And the constant thread I’ve found that feeds my stories has been music. Low creative day? I flip to Pandora. Scroll through YouTube. I’ll sit back, let the magic of music take me captive and the lyric put to song send my mind deep into the story I’m working on. It’s my coffee for writer’s fuzz, my sugar spike for creative lows.

Today, I thought maybe you’d like to hear what was going on in the background of my imagination as I wrote the bulk of Blue Columbine…

From the Book…

Just for fun, and to celebrate the fact that the paperback version of Blue is done! It should be live on Amazon by the end of the week. Yipee!

Happy Thursday! And the Winner is…

Good morning! Told my daughter to pick a number, and the winner is…

Karen!

Karen, if you can get me your email addy (via PM on FB is probably easiest), I’ll get you your copy of God’s Daughter!

Thank you for stopping in. Have a beautiful day!

Help for the Mid-Week Hurdle Give-Away

My son just wandered out of his room, sleep heavy on his drooping head, not really ready to get up. It’s Wednesday. I love my summer; no schedule, living up life. But watching him drag himself to the couch like it might be his final steps before he completely collapses reminded me that there are others out there (most?) who don’t have my sleepy summer life. So, how about a little help over the Wednesday bump?

Here’s my proposal….I’ll give away one kindle copy of a book to a random visitor. Just leave me a note in the comments of this post and we’ll pick a winner on Thursday. Be sure I have a way to connect with you, or just check back here or on my FB page http://www.facebook.com/authorjenrodewald.

This week’s book….

God’s Daughter by Heather Day Gilbert

One Viking woman. One God. One legendary journey to North America.

“God’s Daughter offers a brave, fresh look at a lost way of life and the Vikings who left an indelible mark in history. Author Heather Gilbert weaves a riveting novel with unforgettable characters and circumstances, the first installment in a series sure to resonate with historical fans. The stunning cover is only the beginning!” ~ Laura Frantz, Christy finalist and author of Love’s Reckoning

Happy Wednesday! :)

7-7-7 Challenge

I was tagged by my writing buddy Sarah Monzon. Seven lines from page seven, and then tag seven more authors. Okay…here goes.

You’re a better man than this.

Ugh. That voice. Again. Forever intruding upon his life. What more did Mother want from him? He’d graduated from Stanford Law. He was a successful lawyer. Why couldn’t she just be proud of him, rather than digging up his personal flaws and flinging pointy shards of metal at them? His chest seemed to cave, and a sharp ache pressed against his stomach. Great. Even halfway across the country and without actually saying a word, Mother’s disappointment could needle his gut.

~Blue Columbine

Now, for seven more writers…a trick since Sarah and I share a similar circle! Let’s see… Jeannie Kaye,  Dana Romanin, Crystal Sandow, Nike Chillemi, Sondra Kraak, Deb Read, Janette Foreman.

Great writers, all, and a pretty wide variety of genres and style. Can’t wait to see what they post!