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Jolina Petersheim

Goodreads Author

Born

in Lancaster, PA, The United States

Website

http://www.jolinapetersheim.com/

Twitter

Jolina_Joy

Genre

Fiction

Influences

(or favorite authors) Donna Tartt, Elizabeth Strout, Marilynne Robinso ...more

Member Since

August 2012

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/Jolina_Joy

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Jolina Petersheim is the bestselling author of The Alliance, The Divide, The Midwife, and The Outcast, which Library Journal called “outstanding . . . fresh and inspirational” in a starred review and named one of the best books of 2013. That book also became an ECPA, CBA, and Amazon bestseller and was featured in Huffington Post’s Fall Picks, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and the Tennessean. CBA Retailers + Resources called her second book, The Midwife, “an excellent read [that] will be hard to put down,” and Booklist selected The Alliance as one of their Top 10 Inspirational Fiction Titles for 2016. Jolina’s nonfiction writing has been featured in Reader’s Digest, Writer’s Digest, Proverbs 31 Ministries, and Today’s Christian Woman. She an ...more

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Popular Answered Questions

Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

Jolina Petersheim I guess you could say I had a slightly different childhood. When I was six and my brother ten, our family stood in a field on the camp where my…moreI guess you could say I had a slightly different childhood. When I was six and my brother ten, our family stood in a field on the camp where my parents were caretakers, and my parents told us that this was where we would meet if we were separated when the world “blew up.” From this field, our family would travel by foot to our friends’ elaborate, fairytale home and live in the blue room hidden behind their bookshelves.

My parents in no way meant to instill fear in us. Now that I’m a parent, I see that they were trying to assuage their own fears by coming up with a plan. But I was born with an overactive imagination, and therefore this plan planted in me the seed of fear—and, subsequently, a driving need to control my environment.

I wish I could say I uprooted this fear once I became an adult, but after I had my firstborn daughter, my fear grew worse, for not only did I have to control my environment; I also had to control hers.

When my eldest was six months old, an unnerving exchange with a logger caused my fear to deepen its roots and for me to ask myself whether I would ever use lethal force to protect myself and my family. I believed I would, even though, growing up, I sensed that my own father would adhere to his pacifist heritage if placed in such a situation.

The final puzzle piece for my book, The Alliance, slid into place when my father told us that we needed heirloom seeds to last us until the next harvest season. I remember standing in my darkened kitchen and repeating that phrase to myself—The Harvest Season.

Initially, I believed this would be the title of the book, but over time, I knew a community having enough food to last until the next harvest season was only a small element of the story. The larger element came from the protagonist, Leora Ebersole’s driving need to control her environment, even after society crumbles around her, because if she controls her environment, she believes she will be able to keep her orphaned family safe.

With every one of my books, God’s been faithful to allow me to experience some portion of whatever topic I’m addressing. The Alliance is no exception. My family and I moved from Tennessee to Wisconsin shortly before I finished the rough draft. Eight weeks later, my husband went in for a CAT scan, which revealed a tumor near his brain stem. He had surgery the next morning, and all through that night next to his hospital bed, I feared for my family.

I feared for our two young daughters—two-and-a-half and four months at the time. I feared that I would be a widow, living on a grid-tie solar-powered farm six-hundred miles away from our immediate families. In a matter of hours, one of my worst fears had come true, and I didn’t know how to handle it.

However, all through my Garden of Gethsemane night, during the hours my husband was in surgery, and the critical weeks that followed the craniotomy, I felt God’s presence as if he was sitting beside me. I then understood that God had allowed me to face one of my greatest fears so that I would learn that inner peace can never be acquired through my futile attempts to control my environment—and therefore keep my family safe. Moreover, I can only achieve inner peace if I continually surrender my life and the lives of my family to the One who called us into being.

So I pray, dear reader, that you will discover the author of the peace that passes all understanding and daily surrender your life—and the lives of your family—to him.

“Finally, an apocalyptic novel ablaze with hope. Just the kind of story I champion. A must-read.” ~ Sarah McCoy, New York Times and international bestselling author of The Mapmaker’s Children and The Baker’s Daughter

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Hi Jolina, I'm not sure if you remember but you were so lovely to speak via Skype to my Senior Book Group in Mead, Colorado. I look forward to your new book next summer! What are you reading now and do you have any recommendations on books you have loved that I could pass onto my book group? Thanks so much, Beth Ann Goodwill p.s. They still speak about your visit with us as their favorite book club of the year!!

Jolina Petersheim Hi, Beth Ann!

So good to hear from you. I also loved getting to chat with your wonderful book club, and I hope we can repeat that conversation after…moreHi, Beth Ann!

So good to hear from you. I also loved getting to chat with your wonderful book club, and I hope we can repeat that conversation after The Alliance's June release! I have recently really enjoyed The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, and I feel it would make for a great book club discussion, as it revolves around two sisters who are struggling to survive during WWII in Nazi-occupied France. I also recommend Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy. It's a little bit of a slower read, but the imagery is beautiful! Hope this helps. Thanks for connecting.

Hugs,
Jolina(less)

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Jolina Petersheim’s books

Average rating: 3.91 · 3,195 ratings · 632 reviews · 8 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Outcast: a modern retelling of The Scarlet Letter 3.93 avg rating — 1,597 ratings — published 2013 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Midwife 3.88 avg rating — 919 ratings — published 2014 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Alliance (The Alliance #1) 3.73 avg rating — 493 ratings — published 2016 — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Divide (The Alliance #2) 4.35 avg rating — 170 ratings — published 2017 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Jolina Petersheim 2-in-1 Collection: The Outcast / The Midwife it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	How the Light Gets in 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	How the Light Gets in 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	When You Pass Through Waters: Words of Hope and Healing from Your Favorite Authors by Nicole A. Seitz (Goodreads Author) (Editor/Contributor), Lisa Wingate (Goodreads Author) (Contributor) , Fred Bassett (Contributor) 4.44 avg rating — 18 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Jolina Petersheim's Blog

“I’m Not Leaving You”

“I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you.” John 14:18 NIV

I should’ve known it wasn’t a good idea to give God an ultimatum, but I wanted clarity regarding my husband’s medical journey, so I asked for an answer by midnight. I didn’t know what form that answer would take: a phone call, an email, a dream, a talking donkey, but I believed it would happen.

No answer came.

By the next ni...

Series by Jolina Petersheim

The Alliance (2 books)
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Jolina Petersheim (Goodreads Author)

3.89 avg rating — 662 ratings

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Jolina Petersheim wrote a new blog post He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands The chipper Vanderbilt receptionist couldn’t find my husband’s information. After a few minutes, I apologized to the senior couple, standing besid... Read more of this blog post »
16 hours, 2 min ago · like
Jolina Petersheim liked Staci's review of How the Light Gets in:
Jul 11, 2018 10:47AM · see review
Jolina Petersheim liked Natalie's review of How the Light Gets in:
Jul 11, 2018 10:47AM · see review
Jolina Petersheim liked Beth's review of How the Light Gets in:
Jul 11, 2018 10:47AM · see review
Jolina Petersheim finished reading The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 11, 2018 10:44AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jolina Petersheim liked a quote “He went through life with his hands firmly shoved into his pockets. She danced.” Fredrik Backman
Apr 01, 2018 07:34PM · like · more quotes by Fredrik Backman · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jolina Petersheim liked a quote “To love someone is like moving into a house," Sonja used to say. "At first you fall in love in everything new, you wonder every morning that this is one's own, as if they are afraid that someone will suddenly come tumbling through the door and say that there has been a serious mistake and that it simply was not meant to would live so fine. But as the years go by, the facade worn, the wood cracks here and there, and you start to love this house not so much for all the ways it is perfect in that for all the ways it is not. You become familiar with all its nooks and crannies. How to avoid that the key gets stuck in the lock if it is cold outside. Which floorboards have some give when you step on them, and exactly how to open the doors for them not to creak. That's it, all the little secrets that make it your home.” Fredrik Backman
Apr 01, 2018 07:33PM · like · more quotes by Fredrik Backman · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jolina Petersheim rated a book it was amazing The Complete Anne of Green Gables Boxed Set (Anne of Green Gables, #1-8) by L.M. Montgomery	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 15, 2018 07:23AM · 5 likes · like
Jolina Petersheim wants to read Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 15, 2018 07:22AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jolina Petersheim wants to read The Hidden Side by Heidi Chiavaroli (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 15, 2018 07:22AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Hidden Side by Heidi Chiavaroli. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Hidden Side by Heidi Chiavaroli <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Quotes by Jolina Petersheim

“I encourage anyone who has gone through hardships to look back through their life’s chapters and see what can be turned into a book. For you never know what heartache God, one day, can turn into a redemptive story.”
― Jolina Petersheim

tags: biography, god, hardships, heartache, inspirational, memoir, redemption, shunning

16 likes

“Sometimes it is necessary to celebrate life, despite being faced with defeat and death.”
― Jolina Petersheim, The Alliance

tags: celebrate, death, defeat, life

1 likes

Polls

What book would you most like to read for the January additional group read?

The Outcast a modern retelling of The Scarlet Letter by Jolina Petersheim

- The outcast by Jolina Petersheim

8 votes 32.0%

The Captive Maiden by Melanie Dickerson

5 votes 20.0%

A Talent for Trouble (Ladies of Distinction #3) by Jen Turano

A talent for trouble by Jen Turano

4 votes 16.0%

Unspoken by Dee Henderson

3 votes 12.0%

Dear Mr. Knightley A Novel by Katherine Reay

Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay

3 votes 12.0%

Forever Friday by Timothy Lewis

2 votes 8.0%

Fifteen Minutes by Karen Kingsbury

0 votes 0.0%

Doon by Carey Corp

0 votes 0.0%

25 total votes

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Jolina’s Quotes

“A book, too, can be a star, a living fire to lighten the darkness, leading out into the expanding universe.”
― Madeleine L'Engle

tags: books, fire, star, universe

4264 likes

“If you are lazy, and accept your lot, you may live in it. If you are willing to work, you can write your name anywhere you choose.”
― Gene Stratton-Porter, A Girl of the Limberlost

tags: industriousness, inspirational

1216 likes

“Books are a uniquely portable magic.”
― Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

tags: books, magic, reading

15103 likes

“Sometiimes when you look at a person all you see is the tangle and you miss the weave”
― Jonathan Odell, The Healing

15 likes

“A Robin said: The Spring will never come,
And I shall never care to build again.
A Rosebush said: These frosts are wearisome,
My sap will never stir for sun or rain.
The half Moon said: These nights are fogged and slow,
I neither care to wax nor care to wane.
The Ocean said: I thirst from long ago,
Because earth's rivers cannot fill the main. —
When Springtime came, red Robin built a nest,
And trilled a lover's song in sheer delight.
Grey hoarfrost vanished, and the Rose with might
Clothed her in leaves and buds of crimson core.
The dim Moon brightened. Ocean sunned his crest,
Dimpled his blue, yet thirsted evermore.”
― Christina Rossetti

tags: spring

41 likes

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