1. How autobiographical is the main character, Jenny?
Jenny is a patchwork of many "real" people, including myself. Most of her circumstances, life choices, and resulting consequences, have come from life experiences told to me by friends, women I've spoken to, even a conversation I had while sitting next to someone on a plane!
2. Do you have a goal for your novel?
I'm probably one of the most goal-oriented people I know, so yes, I had a goal! I am convinced that people; no matter who they happen to be, are searching for something meaningful and significant in their lives. Even in the best of circumstances; if we actually attain the success, recognition, popularity or whatever else is at the pinnacle of our wish list... there is one sure thing we would find “at the top" if we are totally honest with ourselves. That would be the realization that it's still not quite enough; an empty spot, a hole, a need, still exists. The truth is that we are designed to have a relationship with God, there is a place within us that only He is meant to fill, and nothing we achieve on our own will ever replace the void.
We are all thirsty.
My goal in this novel is to help people recognize that there is a way to satisfy that thirst, no matter who you are or what you've done.
3. Which part of your novel is the most important?
The whole book is a life story of people: The choices and compromises we all make at times, and the various people that come in and out of our lives that who either lift us up or pull us down. Most importantly, it's shows how God quietly weaves His redemptive thread through our days in an attempt to get us to stop, and look, and turn to Him.
4. How has writing your novel helped you?
It's helped me to put words to my thoughts and passions, and has opened doors in allowing me to meeting some incredible people. Amazingly, it's enabled me to do something I truly thought would be impossible... to actually write and finish a book!
5. How will you deal with criticism?
I hope with enthusiasm. As long as it's constructive and has substance, I hope that I'd welcome being stretched to learn more, to see what could be done better and fine tune my skills.
6. What inspired you to begin writing?
Mostly my husband, Gary. We work with so many people, and he has encouraged me for years to write a book that would offer hope.
7. What is your writing process? How do you brainstorm ideas?
Oh boy, I'm not sure how to answer that. I think in the case of this book, I shuffled through the stories I had have collected and put them into a timeline that seemed to fit. At one point, the story took on a life of its own, and that was pretty great.
8. What authors do you like to read? What book or books have had a strong influence on you or your writing?
I love Francine River's books and her style of writing. I like to learn history within a story, so I tend to enjoy these kind of books.
9. What would you do differently next time?
I've learned a bucket load of editing skills that I was clueless about before this book. I'm still not close to being an editor, but I think that I could start off with fewer corrections if I tried to write again. I'd also like to have a person or two be a sounding board for ideas and thoughts as the process started to take shape.
10. Do you have plans for another novel?
Surprisingly I do. It's still in the forming stage at this point, but it is something I would very much like to do.
Jenny is a patchwork of many "real" people, including myself. Most of her circumstances, life choices, and resulting consequences, have come from life experiences told to me by friends, women I've spoken to, even a conversation I had while sitting next to someone on a plane!
2. Do you have a goal for your novel?
I'm probably one of the most goal-oriented people I know, so yes, I had a goal! I am convinced that people; no matter who they happen to be, are searching for something meaningful and significant in their lives. Even in the best of circumstances; if we actually attain the success, recognition, popularity or whatever else is at the pinnacle of our wish list... there is one sure thing we would find “at the top" if we are totally honest with ourselves. That would be the realization that it's still not quite enough; an empty spot, a hole, a need, still exists. The truth is that we are designed to have a relationship with God, there is a place within us that only He is meant to fill, and nothing we achieve on our own will ever replace the void.
We are all thirsty.
My goal in this novel is to help people recognize that there is a way to satisfy that thirst, no matter who you are or what you've done.
3. Which part of your novel is the most important?
The whole book is a life story of people: The choices and compromises we all make at times, and the various people that come in and out of our lives that who either lift us up or pull us down. Most importantly, it's shows how God quietly weaves His redemptive thread through our days in an attempt to get us to stop, and look, and turn to Him.
4. How has writing your novel helped you?
It's helped me to put words to my thoughts and passions, and has opened doors in allowing me to meeting some incredible people. Amazingly, it's enabled me to do something I truly thought would be impossible... to actually write and finish a book!
5. How will you deal with criticism?
I hope with enthusiasm. As long as it's constructive and has substance, I hope that I'd welcome being stretched to learn more, to see what could be done better and fine tune my skills.
6. What inspired you to begin writing?
Mostly my husband, Gary. We work with so many people, and he has encouraged me for years to write a book that would offer hope.
7. What is your writing process? How do you brainstorm ideas?
Oh boy, I'm not sure how to answer that. I think in the case of this book, I shuffled through the stories I had have collected and put them into a timeline that seemed to fit. At one point, the story took on a life of its own, and that was pretty great.
8. What authors do you like to read? What book or books have had a strong influence on you or your writing?
I love Francine River's books and her style of writing. I like to learn history within a story, so I tend to enjoy these kind of books.
9. What would you do differently next time?
I've learned a bucket load of editing skills that I was clueless about before this book. I'm still not close to being an editor, but I think that I could start off with fewer corrections if I tried to write again. I'd also like to have a person or two be a sounding board for ideas and thoughts as the process started to take shape.
10. Do you have plans for another novel?
Surprisingly I do. It's still in the forming stage at this point, but it is something I would very much like to do.