Linda Shenton Matchett's Blog, page 71

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome back, Alice Arenz!

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome back, Alice Arenz!
Linda:  Welcome back! You’ve got two new books out which is exciting. Dark of Night seems like a story that could have been torn from the headlines. Where did you get your inspiration? Any chance it’s based on a true story?
Alice: Hi, Linda. Thanks for inviting me to join you. The story is total fiction—based on inspiration from God and my imagination. And, a correction here. Dark of Night is my only new book—for the Kindle ebook, my publisher attached the one-liner “Where nightmares become reality.” But the ebook and print are the same.
I pray a lot before beginning a project and then wait to hear an answer. First, I heard the title. Next came the lead character’s name and just a bit of the scenario. It’s a process that sometimes takes a little longer than I’d like and, at others, hits me all at once. Maybe it depends on how much I’m really listening. I’m not sure.
LM: How do you come up with your characters?
Alice:  Once again I have to say it’s prayer—and a mixture of what comes about organically as I write. As a seat-of-the-pants writer, I never know what’s going to happen until I’m in the middle of something. Even then I don’t know the specifics and end up spending a lot of time asking questions on the computer and to members of ACFW loops.
LM:  If Dark of Night were made into a movie, who would you like to play the main characters?
Alice: Wow. This is a question I can’t really answer. It would be awesome to have that happen, but I wouldn’t have the first idea who would be good in the roles. I’m just not up on the latest actors and actresses. Other than watching movies now and again on the Hallmark channels, I’m at a loss.
LM: Did any of your characters do anything surprising while you were writing the book?
Alice: All of them. Constantly! As a pantster, I never really know what’s going to happen next. God reveals enough to get me from one point to the next—especially when I need to research something. But, that only gives me a generalized idea. I mean, there have been times I’ve been “urged” to research something that doesn’t even end up in the current story. All this to say that it’s exciting when the characters suddenly divert from the direction I thought they were going.
LM: Here are some quickies:
Alice:Dinner or dessert? DinnerWalking or driving? For now, drivingDog or cat? Cats
LM: What is your next project?
Alice:  I’ve started working on a Christmas book/novella. I’m hoping it will be a romantic comedy. But, since I never really know. . .
LM: Where can folks find you on the web?
Alice:  My web site is www.akawriter.com. Unfortunately, the computer and program I used to update it, quit working—broke my heart! As a result, the site hasn’t been updated with DARK. 

Wartime Wednesday: DIY Anderson Shelters

Wartime Wednesday: DIY Anderson Shelters

As someone who suffers from claustrophobia, I can’t imagine enduring a night in a bomb shelter let alone weeks or months. However, that’s what folks in Britain experienced during World War II.
In cities such as London, the population would often hide out in Tube stations, tunnels, railway arches, or basements available under some of the larger buildings, but for most people personal shelters were the only option.
Dark and damp, the shelters measured six-and-a-half feet by four-and-a-half feet. They tended to flood if built in low-lying areas, and the design didn’t keep out the sound of the bombings, probably making it tough to sleep.
Anyone earning £5 a week (the equivalent of £300) or more could purchase an Anderson Shelter for £7, which may not seem like a lot of money, but consider that the amount is twenty-five percent of their monthly salary. A large, but necessary expense. Shelters were given to families who earned less than £5 weekly.
An interesting fact to note is that the shelter was designed in 1938 by William Paterson and Oscar Kerrison in response to a request from the Home Office. Obviously, they didn’t believe Chamberlin was going to be successful negotiating “peace in our time.” Named for Sir John Anderson, Lord Privy Seal who had the responsibility of preparing air-raid precautions, the shelters could hold up to six occupants.
The shelters were purchased or distributed unassembled so it was up to the families to build them. By all accounts, the shelters were easy to build and featured six corrugated steel panels that curved and were bolted together at the top. Three straight sheets were used on the sides with two more straight panels on each end, one of which contained the door. They were buried up to four feet into the ground hen covered with a minimum of fifteen inches of soil which could then be planted with flowers or vegetables. Some people built them inside their homes and covered them with sandbags.  
More than 1.5 million shelters were distributed to people in areas considered at risk for German bombing. The first shelter was built in an Islington, London garden in February 25, 1939. An additional 2.1 million were constructed over the course of the war. However, indications are that only about twenty-five percent of the population regularly used one.
At the end of the war, households who received an Anderson shelter were expected to dismantle it and turn it in to local authorities. Folks who wanted to keep it (providing them with valuable metal) could pay a small fee.
Want to see a replica? Visit the Tillamook Air Museum in Oregon.
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Set in 1942, Under Fire tells the story of Ruth Brown whose missing sister, Jane, is declared dead. Convinced her sister is still alive, Ruth follows clues from their small New Hampshire town to war-torn London trying to find her. Discovering that Jane has been murdered results in a faith crisis for Ruth, and she decides she must find Jane’s killer.
Purchase link: https://amzn.to/31E8Qs6

Talkshow Thursday: Sarah Hamaker

Talkshow Thursday: Sarah Hamaker

Linda:  Thanks for joining me today. You write both fiction and non-fiction. How is the process for writing both genres the same for you? Different?
SARAH: Totally different! For fiction, I have a general idea where the story’s going, but let the characters “tell” me what’s going to happen next. For nonfiction, I follow a more specific outline.
LM: How do you decide what project to work on next?
SARAH: It depends on if I have any contracts. Naturally, I’m working on projects that have a firm deadline over projects that might not have found a publishing home yet. It’s always good practice to fulfill your obligations first, then write what you want.
LM: Research is an important part of the writing process. What are some of the ways you have researched your books?
SARAH: I’ve based my fiction books so far where I live, and so I use my own knowledge of the geography, plus Google maps to fill in the gaps. The Internet can be so wonderful to look up quick facts and find statistics, but it can be difficult to make sure you’re looking at reputable sites and not getting sidetracked down too many rabbit holes. I also belong to a crime-writing listserv, where I can ask technical questions to make sure my romantic suspense novels are as accurate as possible.
LM:  How do you balance working from home with the chaos and activity that can be associated with family?
SARAH: Now that all of my four kids are in school, it’s a little easier to put in the hours with just my cats for company (although they can be rather needy at times too!). But I’ve also been purposeful with my time and have learned to say no in order to meet my deadlines. Also, by thinking about my writing as a business and not a hobby, I guard my writing time and structure my day in order to have time for both my freelance writing clients and my book projects. If you don’t think of yourself as having a writing career—whether or not you’re published—you will find it easier to put off writing or let your writing time be consumed with other projects.
LM: What advice do you have for fledgling writers?
SARAH: Write every day! And stick with it for the long haul. I’m still learning what I don’t know about writing. Have a teachable spirit, and for writers, that means, have an editable spirit, one that takes feedback on your work and seriously considers the merits of the suggested changes. No one writes perfectly the first draft (or second, third, …), and learning how to receive critiques will help you grow in your writing a lot faster than if you don’t.
LM: Here are some quickies:
SARAH: Favorite vacation spot: It’s a tie between East Machias, Maine, and Sanibel Island, Fla.
Favorite childhood book: Nancy Drew, the original 1930s editions
LM: What are you currently working on?
SARAH: The first of a planned romantic suspense trilogy.
LM: Where can folks find you on the web?
SARAH: http://www.sarahhamaker.com

Wartime Wednesday: World War II DIY

Wartime Wednesday: World War II DIY

During the 1920s a large number of women set aside their sewing machines in favor of affordable ready-made clothing. The industry boomed, and little girls stopped learning how to sew.
Then came World War II when the War Production Board issued Regulation L-85 rationing natural fibers because domestic supplies of wool, cotton, linen, rayon, silk, and nylon were diverted to the military for uniforms and supplies (tents, parachutes, etc.) To save on fabric, the War Production Board even regulated style, limited color choices, and restricting skirt length and the fullness of pants. Cuffs were prohibited, and dresses were limited to one and ¾ yards of fabric. The number of ration stamps needed for clothing was high, and people were limited on how many items they could purchase per year.
The result? It was now considered patriotic to sew. Women dragged out their sewing machines and taught their little girls how to “make do and mend.”
Patched clothing became a fad, and women would piece together garments from remnants, mixing and matching colors and patterns. Feedsacks were popular sources for aprons, dresses, and children’s play clothes. House wives would swap with friends so each woman would have enough matching sacks to create an outfit. The pattern industry boomed. Hollywood Pattern Company put a star on the upper left corner of their envelope to indicate the pattern complied with Regulation L-85. Reminiscent of pioneer times, women cut down their cast off adult clothing to make garments for their children. There were even patterns for making slippers.
Women also used their sewing skills to support the war effort directly. Projects were created and raffled to raise funds for organizations such as the Red Cross. Items were also knitted and sewn for military members as well as victims of war-torn countries. One newspaper article touts the work done by a volunteer group in Texas that created 446 woolen garments, twenty-eight knitted garments, and two quilts.
My mother is an excellent seamstress, and now an avid quilter. She made nearly everything my sister and I wore as well as our bedspreads, curtains, and chair covers. Me? I gave away a pair of pants rather than re-attach the button that had fallen off.
How about you? Do you sew or shop for your clothes?
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Midwife Pia Hertz and her mother Sabine have been delivering babies long before the Nazis came to power. Now, the Third Reich has implemented mandates that require Jewish babies and other “undesirables” to be killed as part of The Final Solution. Is Pia’s new faith in Christ strong enough to defy the laws of man?
Despite the agony of the injury at the Battle of Drøbak Sound that took his arm, Dieter Fertig is relieved he’s no longer part of Hitler’s army. He returns to Berlin and discovers Jews are being deported by the thousands. When he realizes the Nuremburg Laws require his best friend’s baby girl to be killed, he must find a way to spirit the child out of Germany before the Nazis discover her existence. 
Inspired by the biblical story of Shiprah and Puah, the midwives who saved Jewish babies during Pharaoh’s reign, Love’s Belief shows how one person’s actions can change the world.
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/2MB3Elo

Mystery Monday: Dashiell Hammett's Thin Man

Mystery Monday: Dashiell Hammett Thin Man
Thanks to novelist Dashiell Hammett (whose 125thbirthday past last month), hard-boiled detective fiction came into its own during the 1930s. Devised a decade earlier by Carroll John Daly, the genre typically features an anti-hero protagonist, such as Sam Spade, Philip Marlow, and Mike Hammer, organized crime, prohibition, a corrupt legal system, and inept police departments.
Hammett’s last fiction book was The Thin Man and featured Nick Charles, reluctant detective. First published in Redbook Magazine in 1933, the story came out in book-form the following year. The difference about Nick Charles is his “soft, gooey inside.” He may be a serious, yet cynical PI, but when it comes to his wife Nora, he’s solicitous, loving, and overly affectionate. At the time, their witty banter was a new twist in the genre not seen in Chandler, Greene, or prior Hammett novels.
Hollywood knew a hit when they saw one, and they eagerly offered the author $40,000 for the rights to the characters that scholars posit were based on Hammett himself and his mistress Lillian Hellman. Two sequels followed the first, but the remaining three movies were not made until after WWII (when Myrna Loy returned to Hollywood after leaving to serve with the Red Cross).
Initially serving on the “Keep America Out of War Committee,” Hammett attempted to re-enlist after the attack on Pearl Harbor. According to one source, he was “a WWI veteran, a victim of tuberculosis, and a Communist, but he pulled strings and managed to be admitted.” However he managed to get in, he was stationed in the Aleutian Islands where he edited an Army newspaper The Adakian. Later, he co-authored a book The Battle of the Aleutians with Cpl. Robert Colodny.
Hammett lived another twenty-five years after writing The Thin Man, but he never published another story.
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May 1942: Geneva Alexander flees Philadelphia and joins the USO to escape the engagement her parents have arranged for her, only to wind up as the number one suspect in her betrothed’s murder investigation. Diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease, she must find the real killer before she loses her sight…or is convicted for a crime she didn’t commit.
Set in the early days of America’s entry into WWII and featuring cameo appearances from Hollywood stars, Murder of Convenience is a tribute to individuals who served on the home front, especially those who did so in spite of personal difficulties, reminding us that service always comes as a result of sacrifice. Betrayal, blackmail, and a barrage of unanswered questions… Murder of Convenience is the first in Linda Shenton Matchett’s exciting “Women of Courage” series.
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/2MBfA6S

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Julie Arduini!

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Julie Arduini!
Linda:  Thanks for stopping by. Congratulations on your newest release, Match Made in Heaven. I love the premise for the story. Where did you get your idea?
Julie: Thanks for having me! Match Made in Heaven started as my desire as a new Christian to write something I could share with friends that would be quality content to pass on. I’d written lots of little stories over the years that weren’t Christian that my friends loved. I wanted to write for God. The matchmaking element was based on my job at the time that I thought would be a fun premise.
LM: Did you always want to be a writer or did that desire come later, and if so, how?
Julie: I think that desire was always there, but I struggled with confidence. I didn’t have the best teachers, and grammar remains a weakness for me. I feared rejection. It took until my mid-thirties before I finally surrendered the fears and promised God I would write what He wanted, when He wanted.
LM: You are one busy lady. What does a “normal” week look like for you?
Julie: It truly depends on the week. This time of year is extra busy with school wrapping up and my husband is traveling quite a bit for work. When that happens, I tend to be busier with household and school activities. I make a point to read devotionals and spend time in my prayer journal. I try to get some bike riding and yoga in a few days a week. I help out with our youth group. Every morning I spend time on the laptop marketing my books and answering emails. Writing sadly doesn’t happen as often as I want with a season like this. Either late at night or when our daughter is home from school and watching her shows, I’ll sit in the same room and work, while interacting with her.
LM: If your story was going to be made into a movie, who would you like to see play the main characters?
Julie: I think Sandra Bullock could pull off the comedy that often is my life. A lot of people think my husband looks like Richard Dreyfuss, so that’s a possibility.
LM: How have you dealt with writer’s block or is that something you haven’t suffered? Julie: I don’t know if it was writer’s block or if I worked myself into worry with the second book syndrome. Entrusted was my first book and was so easy to write. Readers loved it and were clamoring for the next, Entangled. I struggled hard writing that second book. I had to put the fears down and give them to God once and for all. I have a prayer team that prays for me, and I asked them to be intentional in helping me finish the book. It was all God in how Entangled came to be, and how readers still say it was their favorite in the series.
LM: Here are some quickies:
Julie:Mountains or ocean? MountainsSweet or salty treats? SweetCoffee or Tea? Coffee
LM: Can you tell us what writing projects are on your plate right now?
Julie: I’m still working on my new contemporary romance series, Surrendering Opinions. The first book, Anchored, I’ve started three times now. It’s a six book series about sextuplets who stay in the national spotlight after tragedy, and now that they are grown, each sibling is trying to find their identity and love like their parents had. In a couple weeks, our daughter is out of school and she will help me write the final book in the Surrendering Stinkin’ Thinkin’ series, You’re Brilliant.
Linda: Where can folks connect with you?
Julie:
Match Made in Heaven: 

Beth Prescott wants to make a difference with the senior citizens she serves as a volunteer coordinator but their matchmaking efforts leave her guarded. She's experienced too much pain to make that leap again. Dean Kellerman returns to the Finger Lakes area to help his grandfather and heal his own broken heart. He's recommitted his life to Christ, and doesn't want any distractions. When his grandfather needs assistance with a senior program, it places Dean right in Beth's path. Can these two surrender their pasts to Christ and have faith in each other and their future?

Purchase Link: http://amazon.com/dp/B07QR29X51

Wartime Wednesday: Wartime Cake

Wartime Wednesday: Wartime Cake
Here's this week's recipe from Betty Crocker's "Your Share," published by General Mills in 1943. An eggless, milkless, butterless cake. I've made this several times. Believe it or not, it's delicious!

Mix in saucepan:
1 C brown sugar
1/2 C lard or other shortening
2 C raisins
1/2 t nutmeg
2 t cinnamon
1/2 t cloves

Boil for three (3) minutes, then cool.

Blend 2 Cups flour with 1 teaspoon baking powder. Dissolve 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon baking soda in 2 teaspoons water. Combine the two mixtures, then combine with cooled mixture from above.

Pour into greased and floured 8X8 pan. Bake about 50 minutes at 325 degrees.

It's very tasty uniced, or you can sprinkle powdered sugar over it.

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Midwife Pia Hertz and her mother Sabine have been delivering babies long before the Nazis came to power. Now, the Third Reich has implemented mandates that require Jewish babies and other “undesirables” to be killed as part of The Final Solution. Is Pia’s new faith in Christ strong enough to defy the laws of man?
Despite the agony of the injury at the Battle of Drøbak Sound that took his arm, Dieter Fertig is relieved he’s no longer part of Hitler’s army. He returns to Berlin and discovers Jews are being deported by the thousands. When he realizes the Nuremburg Laws require his best friend’s baby girl to be killed, he must find a way to spirit the child out of Germany before the Nazis discover her existence. 

Inspired by the biblical story of Shiprah and Puah, the midwives who saved Jewish babies during Pharaoh’s reign, Love’s Belief shows how one person’s actions can change the world.
Purchase link: https://amzn.to/2EPR37x

Meet Award-winning Author Judythe Morgan

Meet Judythe Morgan
Linda:  Thanks for joining me today. Congratulations on your latest release Promises to Keep, the fourth in the series. Where did you get your inspiration for the plot, and did you set out to write a series or did that just happen?
Judythe: Thank you for having me. I enjoy meeting new authors and sharing our love of storytelling with their blog readers.
The inspiration for the stories in the PROMISES series began during my days as a Department of Army Civilian in South Korea during the Vietnam War. I wrote The Pendant’s Promise and never anticipated writing any more stories about those characters until readers sent emails and letters wanting to know more about the characters. I wrote a prequel about how Lily and Alex met.
That still wasn’t enough. Readers wanted secondary characters’ stories, which led to a third book. I was quite sure that was the last book. All the main characters had their happy endings.
David Sands, the hero of book three, didn’t agree. He told me he’d lost Shirley, his wife in book three, to cancer.
Then Debra Hughes, another secondary character in the third book, confided she’d half-fallen in love with her dead best friend’s husband. That was all it took to stir the creative juices. The romantic in me knew I had to find a way for the two to be together and I wrote Promises to Keep.
Since The Pendant’s Promisestarted the PROMISES series, it was only fitting that keeping promises should end the series.
Characters link the four books, but each book is a standalone story.
LM: You have published several books. What is your favorite part of the writing process?
Judythe: My favorite part of the writing process, believe it or not, is the editing process. I love rewriting, wordsmithing for the best way to share the story once I have the story down. It’s a satisfying process to go back and make the story better.
LM: For a long time, you wrote nonfiction (curriculum, lesson plans, etc.) which some might say is vastly different from fiction writing. Do you agree? Disagree? Did your nonfiction work prepare you in any way for your fiction?
Judythe: I agree that writing non-fiction requires a different skill set than fiction writing. Non-fiction is all about telling and facts. Fiction is getting into the head (POV) of your characters and letting your reader live the story.
I recognize that difference when I write my weekly blog posts. It’s a challenge sometimes to write straight non-fiction blogs.
But, I believe my non-fiction experience enhances my fiction writing, especially when it comes to discerning who, what, where, and why of a storyline. That’s very helpful to a pantster like me.
LM: What do you do to prepare yourself for writing? For example, do you listen to music or set up in a specific place?
Judythe: I am blessed to be able to claim our extra bedroom as my writing office. Having a dedicated place means when I enter the door my mind is set on getting words on the page and the business of writing. I’m away from distractions and I can keep all my stuff as untidy as necessary when I’m on deadline.
LM: What is the quirkiest thing you’ve ever done?
Judythe: I never think of things I do as quirky (though others may), but I’ve done a few things that might be considered daring. During the Vietnam War, my husband went to South Korea to serve in support of the troops. Without a second thought, I sold our car, bought round trip tickets for Seoul, Korea, packed up our toddler daughter, and followed him. We were unauthorized dependents so lived off the military post in a little village called Han Nam Dong.
I wasn’t brave. I wasn’t being quirky. I simply wanted us to be together as a family. And, God honored that commitment. We shipped home a piano purchased through the PX and over the years I’ve spent many hours practicing on it preparing to accompany church services.
Then many, many years later, my experiences in South Korea enhanced the PROMISES series books.   
LM: Here are some quickies:
Judythe: Favorite Place to Visit: That’s easy - Ireland. Both my grandmothers’ families emigrated from Ireland. When I visit, the sights and sounds call to deep kinship and connections. I even pick up the brogue.
Favorite Type of Music: Being from Texas, I grew up on country western. When Christian radio stations appeared, I became a big fan. I still prefer the old hymns best, though, and am thankful we have a local Christian station that plays them.  
Favorite Season: This is a tie between Spring and Fall. I love spring when green starts popping up and trees begin to sprout. There’s a freshness, a feeling of starting over. A second chance. And then, I love how God’s paintbrush sweeps color through the trees in the fall.
LM: What is your next project?
Judythe: I’m excited to be working on a romantic suspense, a new genre for me. Working title is Seeing Clearly. Evie is a forty-something widow raising her grandson after his parents die in a car crash that wasn’t an accident. There’s a kidnapping, and an ex-cop hero, who’s a decade younger than she is. It’s fun story to write, and at the same time, a challenge.
LM: Where can folks find you on the web?
Judythe:Friend Judythe on Facebook and GoodreadsFollow Judythe on Twitter
Visit Judythe’s website and sign up for her newsletter to keep up with her latest releasesRead Judythe’s award-winning blog



About Promises to Keep: Two men and one woman met at Eighth Army Headquarters, Yongsan, South Korea in the sixties. That fateful encounter bound their lives forever.

Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K5Y4F79

Wartime Wednesday: Honey Apple Pie

Wartime Wednesday: Honey Apple Pie
When most folks think of rationing and its impact on cooking during WWII, they assume that meals were boring and tasteless. During the research for my books, I've found many wartime cookbooks and recipes from government pamphlets as well as magazines from the period that showcase the creativity of women. Here is a yummy apple pie recipe that uses minimal sugar and butter (rationed items):

Two (2) Pie Crusts (recipe follows)
Six (6) large tart apples (or use your favorite)
Six (6) T sugar
1/3 C honey
1/8 t salt
1/4 t cinnamon
1/4 t nutmeg
1 t lemon juice
1 T butter

Roll half the dough and line a 9-inch pie plate. Combine apples, sugar, honey, salt, spices, and lemon juice. Fill pie shell with apples, Dot with butter. Moisten edge of pie with water. Roll remaining dough for top crust and fit over fruit. Seal edge of pie and cut a few slits. Bake in hot oven (425 degrees) 50-60 minutes.

Variation: Omit honey and use 1/2 C sugar and 1/4 C dark corn syrup or 1/2 C sugar and 3 T light molasses.

Crust:
Mix 2 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour and 1 teaspoon salt. Measure out 3/4 C shortening and divide into two equal parts.

For tenderness: Cut in first half of shortening until as fine as meal.
For flakiness: Cut in remaining shortening until particles are size of large peas.

Add five (5) tablespoons cold water and mix thoroughly into a dough.

Enjoy!

__________________________________

Midwife Pia Hertz and her mother Sabine have been delivering babies long before the Nazis came to power. Now, the Third Reich has implemented mandates that require Jewish babies and other “undesirables” to be killed as part of The Final Solution. Is Pia’s new faith in Christ strong enough to defy the laws of man?
Despite the agony of the injury at the Battle of Drøbak Sound that took his arm, Dieter Fertig is relieved he’s no longer part of Hitler’s army. He returns to Berlin and discovers Jews are being deported by the thousands. When he realizes the Nuremburg Laws require his best friend’s baby girl to be killed, he must find a way to spirit the child out of Germany before the Nazis discover her existence. 

Inspired by the biblical story of Shiprah and Puah, the midwives who saved Jewish babies during Pharaoh’s reign, Love’s Belief shows how one person’s actions can change the world.
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/2K3m4sg

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Jennifer Slattery

Welcome Back, Jennifer Slattery
Linda:  Welcome back! Congratulations on your latest release, Restoring Her Faith, with Love Inspired. How did your relationship with Love Inspired come about, and where did you get your story idea?
Jennifer: Normally, my story ideas start with a character—her struggle, fears, dreams, etc. But this time, it began with a church. A series of churches, actually, sprinkled throughout Texas. They’re known as the Painted Churches of Texas, and they are gorgeous. I was immediately drawn to their artistry, the symbolism in many of their images, and the history behind them. As I spent time learning about these churches, Faith, my heroine, emerged, and the plot took form.
LM: Your male protagonist is a building contractor. What kind of research did you do to ensure accuracy or are you already proficient in the field?
Jennifer: Oh, my, a lot! I had to learn about restoration, damage that comes from bat infestations, fire damage, fire damage cleanup (like cleaning up fire extinguisher residue), stained glass window restoration, and more! Luckily, I found all I needed and more online and was even able to watch various restoration projects, in part, on YouTube. I don’t know how writers survived before the Internet!
 LM: You write fiction and non-fiction. How are they different for you as a writer? What sort of similarities are there?
Jennifer: You ask such great questions! My fiction experience has actually proven helpful in my nonfiction writing as I often write from a testimonial approach. I tell stories, whether they’re real or those made up in my head. With nonfiction, I intentionally present a take-away message whereas with fiction, I simply let my imagination go. I find enjoyment with both, but some days my muse will prefer one over the other. Often, I write both in a given day.

LM: What is one thing you wish you knew how to do?
Jennifer: Say no to ice cream! Ha! And play an instrument. However, I’m a bit stingy with my time and recognize to learn, I’d need to devote time to classes and practicing. Time my muse is reticent to allow!
LM: If money were no object, what is your idea of the ultimate vacation?
Jennifer: Hm … I’m pretty simple and enjoy anywhere I can experience outdoor beauty. But my brother and sister-in-law live in Korea, and I’ve only been to see them once. (Luckily they come to the states pretty frequently, but I still feel like I don’t see them much.) So, if I had the funds, I’d probably go see them, with my husband and daughter, once every couple years.
LM: What writers have most influenced your career?
Jennifer: I’ve been able to connect with a lot of amazing writers, but the three that have impacted me most are Shannon Taylor Vannatter, Kathleen Freeman, and Diana Prusik. Those ladies are treasures and such encouragers! They’re all crazy talented, have taught me a lot through critiques, but even more, they’ve continually bolstered my heart.
LM: You’ve got another book with Love Inspired coming out in September. What other projects are on the docket for you this year?
Jennifer: Oh, that’s a loaded question! Haha! My ministry, Wholly Loved Ministries, is finishing up edits on our first daily devotional, which is being published on Crosswalk and iBelieve now and will go to print, God willing, near the end of this year. We’re also in the writing phase of our second devotional, which will also publish on Crosswalk and iBelieve and be released by us in print and ebook form. I recently sent a book proposal to my agent I’m waiting to hear back from. After that, I’ll begin working on a Bible study my ministry plans to release in 2020. (Our first study released in 2019 with video and audio components. You can check it out HEREand download a free Kindle copy HERE.)
LM: Where can folks find you on the web?
Jennifer: All over? Just kidding. Sort of. They can visit my website at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com. I also have a devotional blog on Crosswalk; you can find that HERE. You can connect with my ministry HERE, friend me on Facebook HERE(but if your privacy settings don’t allow me to see you bio, please send me a message so I know you’re a real person. J There are a lot of face accounts out there!) They can also connect with me on Instagram HEREand Twitter HERE, or subscribe to Wholly Loved’s YouTube channel HERE.
About the book:

She left belief behind…Yet this family could change her mind.
With two boys to raise, a fledgling contracting business to run and a family ranch to keep afloat, widower Drake Owens finds his hands aren't just full they're overflowing. When Faith Nichols is hired to help him renovate the church, he's drawn to the beautiful artist, but he can't fall for a woman who isn't a believer. Can love restore her faith and his heart?
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Restoring-Her-Faith-Jennifer-Slattery/dp/133547918X