Jessica Nelson's Blog, page 7

Jackson, Hero of With Eyes of Love

Today is an interview with my critique partner, Linda Glaz, who is also a wonderful writer, amazing literary agent and one of the best people you'll ever meet. :-) I'm so excited that her debut novel just released from Heartsong presents! I decided to do an interview with her hero, who is a charming yet wounded kind of guy.

With Eyes of Love
She has the perfect life…or so she thought

Barbara Richardson is living a charmed life. Perfect family, beautiful voice, wealthy fiancé. But when she realizes her soon-to-be husband only values her for her pretty face, her life is suddenly in turmoil. Then a handsome young man comes to her rescue when she's stranded in a storm on Christmas Eve. And the world suddenly seems full of possibilities….

Unlike her former fiancé, Jackson Judge loves Barbara for everything she is, inside and out. But how could so lovely and talented a woman ever love a scarred monster like him? All he can see, shut away in his room, are his wounds from Pearl Harbor. Jackson finds himself questioning God's plan, but Barbara knows real love looks deeper than beauty or scars. Eyes of love see straight to the heart.

Jackson, welcome. I’m still amazed at how you and your friends were able to pull all of those people out of the water.
-Probably not as amazed as we were. Trust me, being in a small boat against a wave of water with nothing but a paddle and length of wood wasn’t like anything I’d ever done before, and hopefully never will again.
Were any folks lost in the flood?
-It might have felt like Noah’s adventure, but this time, no one was lost. We got to all of them before they disappeared. Only one area flooded badly, the rest were trapped because their cars stalled. But the Richardsons’ car was caught on a slight rise surrounded by the deeper water.
What did you think when you looked in the car window and saw the three girls in the back seat?
-Well, I just did what I always do. I winked at them like I do to my sister when she’s upset, but it didn’t exactly calm them. Instead, the older one stuck her nose in the air like I’d tried to pick her up or something.
I’m sure she was just afraid. You being a stranger and all.
-I have no doubt. But it was like one of those old sayings, no good deed goes unpunished. She was sassy as one of those yippy little pups, pint-sized and full of attitude. And had plenty to say to me before the day was over.
I’m intrigued, what did she say?
-She said not to flirt with her? Flirt with her? I was trying to be nice, and then she tells me about some guy named Elliot VanDusen or something that she was “almost” engaged to back home. What was that all about? Like I cared…
Did you?
-Don’t think I’ll talk about that right now.
Sounds like you all had quite the Christmas in New Hope with all those folks stranded.
-It was quite the Christmas, all right. The kindness of folks always comes out in disasters, don’t you think?
The world was on the cusp of war when the Richardson family met the Judges, how did that impact your families?
-My brother and I knew right from the start that we’d serve. What man wouldn’t? There were folks at home who needed to be protected.
Anyone in particular?
-I get the feeling your trying to get me to discuss old bright eyes. Like I’d spoil the story for the readers. Nice try, Jessica, but you’ll have to read the book to find out. Just make sure you have a box of tissues. I was totally on my game in the romance department.

Do you like charming heroes like Jackson who hide their wounds? What debut novel have you read this year?

Interview with Fellow Blogger Susan J Reinhardt

I am so very excited to have Susan J. Reinhardt at my blog today. She and I have been blogging buddies for several years and she is a true inspiration. Not only for her caring heart, but for her tenacity. She has quite the writing story and now her book, The Moses Conspiracy, has been contracted and is available! I can't wait to read it. The cover is amazing and I know the story is going to rock!!
Susan was kind enough to do a short interview with me. :-)



1. How long have you been writing fiction with the intent of publication?
Thanks for having me on your blog, Jess! I've been writing fiction since August of 2005. Originally, I wrote non-fiction and still submit to periodicals/devotionals/compilations on occasion. The switch occurred in 2005 after a trip to Gettysburg with my late husband. While standing in an old town square, I "heard" the voices of the forefathers. They were fading like a distant echo. After several attempts to write a non-fiction piece based on that experience, I put the idea aside. Beloved popped up one day and said, "That's it! That's your book." The rest, as they say, is history.

2. Was there a turning point in your writing, where you think you went from unpublishable to ready?
I attend a conference every year and present my work to various agents and editors. At some point, they began saying things like, "You can write," and expressing interest. Of course, there's always room for improvement.

3. What advice do you think every writer should know?
Pay attention to the details. If you have problems with the nuts and bolts of writing, work on that aspect. Editors and agents appreciate a clean manuscript.

4. Do you have any other projects in the works?
The Moses Conspiracy is the first book of a trilogy. Each book is a stand-alone novel, but features another character. Book 2 has a working title of, "The Scent of Fear," while Book 3 is presently called, "Lost and Found."


A trip to post-terrorized Washington, D.C. in 2025 and a buggy accident in Bird-in-Hand, PA set in motion events that expose a diabolical plan to destroy the Christian community. Ellie and John Zimmerman find themselves embroiled in a life-threatening investigation, fighting a shadowy enemy.
Convinced it's now safe to visit D.C., Ellie and her 8-year-old son, Peter, travel to the nation's capital. Both mother and child make an effort to enjoy the sights, but they're unprepared for the challenges they face. Her nightmares come true when she and Peter are separated.
Back home, John witnesses a neighbor's buggy accident. The suspicious circumstances and law enforcement's refusal to take them seriously prompt him to take on the role of detective. He and a tenacious reporter band together and vow to find out what's happening in Bird-in-Hand.
Extended family squabbles erupt when John's sister, Annaliese, faces off with Ellie for blowing her D.C. experiences out of proportion. She'd rather ignore the warnings than deal with the growing danger.

Susan is running a fabulous contest! Enter in the rafflecopter below. Do you have any questions for Susan? What is your favorite genre to read?
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Time for Writing

It has come to my attention that if I ever want to get any writing done, I need to do it in the morning. Before laundry, vaccuming, dusting...before everything, or I just won't do it.
My goal this year is to complete one rough draft and one submissible book.
Needless to say, my house is looking less than pristine.

What are your goals this year? Have you had to reavaluate how you're prioritizing?

The Big Question in the Book

I'm reading Stephen King.

Yes, the horror master is actually...pretty amazing! Ever since I read King's memoir On Writing I've been fascinated and have wanted to read one of his books, one that wouldn't freak me out though. A trusted acquaintance recommended King's fantasy series The Dark Tower and I've been sucked in. I'm on the third book and am loving the characters, the dialogue, the big words, the awesome premise.

But I also noticed something else.

The main character, Roland the Gunslinger, has quite a character arc that translates into A Very Big Question. This is posed in the first book and it's a thread that is seemingly going to run through the entire series.

Is the sacrifice of one (or a few) good/right/justified by the saving of the world?

This one, general and yet moral question has hooked me right along with everything else. Do you have A Big Question in your work? Is there a particular moral or theme that always hooks you, no matter the genre?

Interview with Suspense Author Loretta Boyett

Paralegal Beth Thompson grew up in Ocala, Florida, the
only child of doting parents. Although her childhood was
a sheltered one, the terrifying nightmare that has dogged
her for as long as she can remember continues to haunt her.
Joseph P. Hill, an unscrupulous Sarasota Attorney, doesn’t
care how he makes a buck as long as he makes lots of them.
When he unearths a missing link to Beth’s past, Joe concocts
the perfect scheme to make this discovery pay off and lures
an unsuspecting Beth to Ft. Lauderdale Beach. Angry that
her boss, Attorney Alan Knight, does not return her feelings,
she takes the bait.
The night Beth arrives, a man is murdered at the airport.
What is her connection to him, and why did he die holding
a locket identical to the one she wore—and lost— on her
flight?
As the truth unfolds, each step draws Beth closer to a dark
secret hidden from her since childhood, plunging her deeper
into danger, deceit, and deadly betrayal.



Welcome Loretta!

1. How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing non-fiction since high school (more years ago than I care to say), but I began writing fiction full-time in 2010 after retiring from a 32-year high school teaching career as an administrator and computer science/mathematics teacher.

2. What was the biggest obstacle you faced while pursuing publication?
Writing the proposal seemed almost harder than writing the book. (I totally agree with that!)

3. How did you get the idea for Deadly Betrayal?
The idea came to me several years ago when some new advances in forensic technology emerged.

4. Do you have advice for the writer still working to be published?
Attend writers’ conferences, join a critique group, and keep writing, learning, and submitting.
Great advice. Thank you!

5. When you sit down to write, what is always nearby?
I usually write on a laptop roll cart beside my kitchen table where I always have either a glass of water or a Lemon La Croix (lemon-flavored sparkling water). My notepads containing notes on my characters, plot, etc. stay on a pull-out shelf next to my computer.


Loretta Boyett is a Christian wife, mother, grandmother, retired educator, author, and member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives with her husband in northeast Florida. Although she has written non-fiction most of her life, she began writing fiction full-time in 2011 after retiring from a 32-year high school teaching career as an administrator and computer science/mathematics teacher. Her debut novel, Deadly Betrayal, an inspirational suspense-thriller, is the first in her Hidden Danger Trilogy and is currently available in both eBook and Paperback format on Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00AQYULUE. Also available is an ePoem Prequel to Deadly Betrayal: The Killer’s Heart. Loretta loves spending time with her family—three grown sons, their wives, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She and her husband also enjoy travelling and have visited almost all states in the U. S., from Toronto to Quebec in Canada, and most of Europe. Summers include a few weeks with her children and grandchildren at Florida beaches on Marco Island and Ft. Myers Beach, as well as getting together with her many other relatives at their annual family reunion in the Carolinas when possible.
Learn more about Loretta on Facebook, Twitter (@lorettaboyett), Linkedin, Pinterest, Goodreads, and www.lorettaboyett.blogspot.com/.



Do you have any questions for Loretta? What do you need nearby when you're writing?

Writer's Brain Strikes Again

It was a dark and mysterious night....

No, actually, it happened in the school library. The Chair of her school's organization was sitting with her notes, trying to listen and maybe even look somewhat professional, but her mind kept wandering. Suddenly she heard a voice (the voice of the principal, by the way).

"Mrs. Nelson, could you read this next part for us?"

"Um..." She looked down at her papers, scanning, searching...

Yes, my blogger friends, Writer Brain has struck me many, many times. I had to admit to daydreaming that afternoon, not once, but TWICE, because I had no clue where we were. There's a reason I'm not in corporate. Ha!

Have you ever been struck stupid by Writer's Brain? How about Baby Brain (you know, when you're pregnant?)


Do tell!

Beauty

It is a gorgeous Florida day. All sun and winter nip. I'm traveling today and admiring the beauty around me.

How is your weather? Can you find beauty in it? What settings do you love to read about in books?

Times Are Changing

I used to love blogging but lately...it feels like the blogosphere is changing. I'm definitely not ready to give up my blog but I might be doing a once a month thing instead. Like a newsletter almost, but in the form of a blog post? Not sure yet.

In the meantime, I have a few awesome interviews coming up.

Author Loretta Boyett has a book out and I'll be interviewing her soon about that.
Paralegal Beth Thompson grew up in Ocala, Florida, the only child of doting parents. Although her childhood was a sheltered one, the terrifying nightmare that has dogged her for as long as she can remember continues to haunt her.
Joseph P. Hill, an unscrupulous Sarasota Attorney, doesn’t care how he makes a buck as long as he makes lots of them. When he unearths a missing link to Beth’s past, Joe concocts the perfect scheme to make this discovery pay off and lures an unsuspecting Beth to Ft. Lauderdale Beach. Angry that her boss, attorney Alan Knight, does not return her feelings, she takes the bait.
The night Beth arrives, a man is murdered at the airport. What is her connection to him, and why did he die holding a locket identical to the one she wore—and lost—on her flight?
As the truth unfolds, each step draws Beth closer to a dark secret hidden from her since childhood, plunging her deeper into danger, deceit, and deadly betrayal.


Critique partner Cheryl Linn Martin has her SECOND book coming out. If you like middle grade mysteries, don't miss this exciting series!!!

And I'll also be interviewing long time blogging buddy Susan J Reinhardt. She has a wonderful blog well worth subscribing to. :-)

How long have you been reading or writing blogs? Does it seem like things are changing to you?

Conversations With an Eight Year Old

We were driving in the car the other day and my oldest turns to me and says, "Mom, do you think there's a portal for Heaven and a portal for hell?"

I was taken aback but definitely amused. I smiled and said, "Sure, why not?"

From there conversation turned to wormholes, portals, time travel and all other cool stuff. Basically along the lines of quantum physics. My son is not an all A student but he is a curious and bright little boy (seriously, I'm not at all biased *wink*). I can't wait to see what kind of job he decides to have as an adult and where his imagination takes him.

Do you think about portals? What kind of cool and surprising things have you heard kids say?

A Book Called By Any Other Name

I always said I'd only read REAL books. You know, the ones printed on paper. :-)

Over a year ago my sister gave me a Nook and I find reading on it pretty easy. In fact, my favorite thing is to eat and munch and the Nook allows me to accomplish that without needing a napkin to wipe my fingers so I can turn a page.

Not only that, but there's a free iBooks app on my iPhone. I never thought I'd read a book on a phone...but I do. And it's easier than I thought it would be.

Reality came crashing in the other day though.

I was at school, waiting for my son's lunch to eat with him. I picked up my Nook to read...and got an ERROR message.

Wah!!

And suddenly I remembered why I love paperbacks so much. They're dependable. Resilient. Not reliant on batter power or software.

While I appreciate the electronics and will use them, I'm sticking with my first love. Paper and ink.

How do you do most of your reading? Why?