Monday, February 7, 2011

Giveaway and Author Interview: Save the Date

     Welcome to Writing for Christ, Jenny B. Jones, it is great to have you here! Do you have an interesting fact about yourself the average reader probably doesn’t know?

      No, but I really need to make something good up to have on hand when I get this question. Let me see...I'm crazy addicted to movie previews. It's a little bit OCD. If I don't get to the movie in time to see them (from a very good seat), I don't want to stay.

      What surprised you the most about being a published author?

      How much I have to sit. I've always known two things: I want to be a writer. I do not want a desk job. I'm not sure how I thought those two things weren't one and the same. It's also been surprising

      Do you have a favorite genre to read/write?

      My favorite genre to read is actually historical romance, but I read almost everything. I love YA, love contemporary romance, love nonfiction.  My favorite genres to write are YA and women's romance. I like them because, for me, they do not include vampires, werewolves, or zombies. Yet.

      When you aren’t writing or interacting with fans, what do you enjoy doing? 

       I love going to plays, love to travel. This summer I went to Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia for vacation and research. I definitely loved my writing job then. I teach part-time in Arkansas and enjoy wiling away the hours writing detention slips and shooting the stink eye while leaving no child behind. I am constantly painting the interior of my house. Then repainting it. It's kind of a sickness. Love spending time with my family and just hanging out without deadlines and papers to grade.

      Do you have a nugget of writing advice that has completely changed how you view writing?

      A few things.  On the philosophical side, Agent Chip MacGregor has been quoted more than once as saying, "Getting published will not validate you."  It's so true. If you're looking for writing to complete you on any level, even if it's just to look cooler at your high school reunion, forget it. It's a hard business, and it's not going to make you bigger, faster, stronger. If you're not happy with your life now or who you are now, having a book with your name on it will not fix that for you.

      On the practical side,  super author Colleen Coble once mentioned that listening to Michael Hague's The Hero's Two Journey's was the most important thing she'd learned about writing. It really is good. If you're a writer, make the investment for the CD.

      What do you enjoy most about being a published author?

      I love a lot of things about it. I really enjoy reader feedback about the books--hearing how a book impacted a reader, that it made them laugh, think, cry, challenged their expectations of Christian fiction, or just let them get away from life for a while.  I also love that through social media, a must for any writer, I've made so many friends. Readers are some awesome folk, and I so appreciate them.

      What do you like readers to take away from your books?

      Receipts from the store where they purchased their copy and the 10 they bought all their friends? Just kidding. 
By the time a reader shuts the book, I want her to feel lighter, entertained, and encouraged. I want the read to have been a good time investment that lifted her up and made her smile and forget about the stresses of life for a while.  To maybe have caught a whisper from God and feel like he wrapped his arms around her and gave her a hug. And maybe a reason to smile and giggle.

      Places for readers to learn more about you:

      I blog at www.jennybjones.com as well as www.southernbelleview.blogspot.com, a new blog about the life of a Southern girl. I share that blog home with authors Lisa Wingate, Rachel Hauck, Beth Webb Hart, and Marybeth Whalen.

      I’m on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jenny.b.jones
      And I pretty much live on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jenbjones

      Thank you for being with us today!
      Thank you so much for letting me stop by.

Okay readers, here is your chance to enter to win Jenny's latest book, Save the Date.
Please leave an email address. If I draw your name and there is no email, you will not win!

For extra entries:
~Be a follower
~Be a subscriber

And an EXTRA one:
~Read and then rate this review (you will never leave my blog). Please return here to leave a comment telling me you have done so. Thanks!


Contest is only open in the U.S. and void where prohibited. Chances of winning are based on the number of entries and winner is draw from a non-biased third party- Random.org. I am not responsible for any lost or damaged items for said prize.

Thanks for coming by to enter! Contest ends on February 18th.

*** CONTEST NOW CLOSED***

58 comments:

  1. I am always inspired by Christian authors. Here wish for the reader to hear the whisper of God struck me as so true when I read Christian fiction. There is always some great take away when reading Christian fiction even if the reader doesn't recognize it right away. Thanks for sharing.

    I follow and would love a copy of the new book. Thanks for the opportunity.

    Terri
    terri.forehand@gmail.com

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  2. I have heard so many good things about Jenny's books and would love to read it. Please enter me.

    Blessings,
    Jo
    ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

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  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  4. Christian fiction is my favorite genre to read. Am looking forward to this book.
    lgm52@hotmail.com

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  5. I'm a follower
    lgm52@hotmail.com

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  6. Read and ranked your review...now I need to get the book to read it for myself!
    lgm52@hotmail.com

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  7. Would love to win the book!
    Great interview!!

    I'm a follower GFC and a subscriber!

    dancealert at aol dot com

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  8. I'm a follower :)

    I've never read Jenny's books (gasp) but I really want to particularly as I look for good books for my daughter as she gets older.

    I love the writing advice about not looking to publication to validate you, something I need to remember. And I did invest in Michael Hauge's DVD. I haven't seen all of it yet, but my husband and I will watch a movie or something and say goofy things like "you've crossed the point of no return" in our best "Phantom" voices. Fun interview!

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  9. I've been wanting to read this book!

    parisakins@gmail.com

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  10. I just saw this book in a catalog and thought it looked good! I would love to win! I read and rated that review as well! martha(at)lclink(dot)com

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  11. Oh.my.goodness. I LOVED reading this interview! I was laughing and had a smile on my face the whole time! I especially loved the bit she said about teaching and leaving no child behind ;-) since I am studying to be a teacher. Too funny!

    I would love to read her book!

    leanniegehrke at hotmail dot com

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  12. I am a follower of your blog.

    leanniegehrke at hotmail dot com

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  13. I subscribe to your blog.

    leanniegehrke at hotmail dot com

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  14. I read and rated the review on the other page!

    leanniegehrke at hotmail dot com

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  15. I really liked what Jenny said about how she wants her readers to feel when they finish a book. That pretty much sums up how I feel about reading. "Save the Date" sounds like it would definitely fit that description.
    I'm a subscriber and a follower.
    Thanks for the interview and giveaway.

    pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

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  16. I adore Jenny's writing. I bow down and kiss her feet, then I fall over laughing.

    I'm a follower. :)

    Ann_Lee_Miller@msn.com

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  17. I *almost* got this book a few weeks ago. It looks like a neat, fun read. I'd love to be entered. Thanks!

    ~ Katy
    legacy1992(at)gmaiL(dot)com

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  18. would love to read this novel...thanks for the chance :)

    i'm an email subscriber...and follower, too

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  19. Enjoyed the interview. I have not read any of Jenny's books but would love to win Save the Date. Thanks for the opportunity to enter.

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

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  20. I am an old GFC follower

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

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  21. I am an old email subscriber

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

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  22. I read and rated the review as great. Thanks for the review. I enjoy reading reviews as this gives me the opportunity to find out what new books are out and about new authors. It also keeps my wish list large. lol

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

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  23. I find sitting the hardest part of writing as well. I'm not a good sitter! I think I'm part jack-in-the-box, but that part needs to be tamed for any writing to get done.

    I'm a follower. Thanks for entering me.

    twinwillowsfarm at gmail dot com

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  24. I'm a follower, subscriber, AND I rated the review! I have read some of Jenny's YA novels and have enjoyed them and passed them on to my nieces.

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  25. Great interview! I haven't had the chance to read one of Jenny's books before, but this one sounds amazing!

    I am a follower, subscriber and I rated the review.

    Holly
    oceandreamerfla(at)aol(dot)com

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  26. I love her quote of Chip McGregor. I love historical fiction as well. Fun interview!!

    ~Mimi
    mnjesusfreak @ gmail . com

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  27. I'm following you.

    ~Mimi
    mnjesusfreak @ gmail . com

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  28. Thanks for the great interview! I love an author with a sense of humor. It's bound to shine through in her stories as well.
    I'm a follower. What-no twitter button? Oh well,I shall have to do it manually:)
    barbaraellenbrink(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  29. I would love to read this book.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

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  30. Would love to win so I could read this! Thanks for the giveaway!

    ~follower
    ~subscriber

    meredithfl at gmail dot com

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  31. This looks like an excellent book!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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  32. I am a follower.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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  33. What a cute cover! Please enter me!

    Jordan
    lizzielaura17@yahoo.com

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  34. This looks like a sweet read! Would love to win it :)

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  35. I would love to win this book.Carman send me,wlworkman[at]backroads[dot]net

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  36. I've been looking forward to reading this book. I love engagement/marriage of convenience books!

    nina4sm/at/gmail/dot/com

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  37. I am a follower.

    nina4sm/at/gmail/dot/com

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  38. I went to the Amish book review, read, rated, and left a comment.

    nina4sm/at/gmail/dot/com

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  39. Please enter me in this giveaway, it looks like a great read.
    sonflower277 at gmail dot com

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  40. Oh my gosh! How did I miss this post? I really enjoyed Just Between You and Me and I've been waiting for Save the Date to come out. I drooled over it in the bookstore today, but I have to save my money :)

    Those were some great questions, and I love Jenny's response to the question about what readers will take away from her books. Feeling loved and encouraged and entertained is such a great combination of feelings to get from a book!

    I'd love to read this one but if I don't win a copy, I'll still get out there and buy it soon ;)

    wilsoncindyr(at)gmail(dot)com

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  41. Jenny B. Jones is one of my favorite authors! :)

    zambiaparrot(at)gmail(dot)com

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  42. I'm a follower! :)

    zambiaparrot(at)gmail(dot)com

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  43. I'm an email subscriber! :)

    Zambiaparrot(at)gmail(dot)com

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  44. What a great interview. I liked her comment about wanting to be a writer but not wanting to have a desk job! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  45. I am an email subscriber.
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  46. I read and rated your review of Plain Wisdom. It looks good. How interesting you have thank PA dutch link to the Amish. My family has some Quaker folk way back!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  47. Thanks for the chance! naburcaw@gmail.com

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  48. I am a subscriber. naburcaw@gmail.com

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  49. I am a follower. naburcaw@gmail.com

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  50. I love chritian books, they warm my soul. Thanks for entering me in the drawing.
    kcmelone@yahoo.com

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  51. Hmm, this book sounds fun --I haven't read a contemporary Christian novel in awhile ... great interview!

    Thank you for the chance to win, Ms. Casey!

    jafuchi7[at]hawaii[dot]edu

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  52. Commented here: http://enjoyingthewritingcraft.blogspot.com/2011/01/book-review-plain-wisdom-by-cindy.html

    jafuchi7[at]hawaii[dot]edu

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  53. I'm an e-mail subscriber. =) jafuchi7[at]hawaii[dot]edu

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  54. I am a follower and would love to win
    Karen
    kkfoster35 at msn dot com

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  55. I am also an email subscriber
    kkfoster35 at msn dot com

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  56. Forgot to mention I am a follower as well!

    Katy
    legacy1992(at)gmail(dot)com

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  57. and a subscriber!

    ~ Katy
    legacy1992(at)gmail(dot)com

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  58. and lastly, I went and rated your review. Very well written, by the way! :-)

    ~ Katy
    legacy1992(at)gmail(dot)com

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Thank you so much for stopping by, I love to hear from those who traffic my blog! Have a wonderful day. :)