Jayne Pearson Faulkner's "The Place of Belonging"

Title: The Place of Belonging
Publisher: Deep River Books

Cover blurb: This elegantly written story is told from the eyes of a child of a single mother, set in the 1940's in Big Sky Montana. Humorous yet bracingly honest, The Place of Belonging stirs our basis feelings of wanting to belong somewhere and to someone. Beautifully and simply told, The Place of Belonging takes the reader on an uforgettable step back in time, a place many will recognize. ["This emotionally satisfying book reads like prose. It is one of the best books we have ever published, and certainly, that I have ever read." Nancie Carmichael, DRB Publisher, and bestselling author. ]

1) How did this story come to you?
I found an old ragged 5-year diary given to me by my grandma when I was eight years old. It brought me back to the 1940's in Montana, and my life with my single mom and grandma, struggling to "fit in"—not very possible in that time period. Then Mom met a farmer from Conrad (Montana) and our lives changed forever, but not without the ever-old question, "Where do I belong in this scheme of things?"

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
My writing has been in the short story venue, so I was only planning to write a short fiction story based our life experiences during this five-ear span. When I realized that what I was writing was actually more than fiction, and told through the eyes of a child, I decided to tell the whole story. I meant to only make copies for my family to read. When my sister saw it, she wanted it to be published, and helped me to that end.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
(1) I'm pretty old. (Maybe that wouldn't be surprising.)
(2) My husband and I were missionaries in the Philippines and Tonga during our kids' growing-up years, and we all loved it.
(3) I can yodel. But I only do it in private.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am working on a sequel to The Place of Belonging, which will go into high school years in the 50's—the trying to fit in (in high school) honed to a new level—with the mix of younger siblings, farm life, and adolescence. It will probably be more funny than sad this time around.

5) Parting comments?
I appreciate very much the fact that so many people have enjoyed my book. It makes me enormously happy. Thank you.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.jaynefaulkner.com/