Monday, July 28, 2014

Giveaway! Captured by Love by Jody Hedlund!

Welcome to Writing for Christ Jody Hedlund, it is great to have you here! So you’re a writer? What made you decide to start creating characters and story world?

Like many writers, I’ve been writing since my childhood days. I always loved telling stories. When I was in junior high, I entered my first writing contest for a Biblical fiction story. And when I won, I realized God had indeed gifted me. I think that was when I became more serious about wanting to be a writer when I grew up.

However, as I began my college years, I quickly realized that creative writing wasn’t a career track that would help pay the bills. For a time, God moved me into social work. I went on to get my masters and was thankful for the experiences and opportunities I had during those years of helping underprivileged people.

While I was working all those years, I was still writing and submitting manuscripts. I took a seven year break after my twins were born. Then when my youngest was a baby, I finally started writing again. The first book I wrote after my hiatus was The Preacher's Bride.


What is the one title that has significantly impacted your life?


Anne of Green Gables was one of my favorites as a child because it played a role in developing my creativity as a writer. (Followed closely by A Little Princess and Little Women because they also featured strong, creative girls.)

If you could get a do-over when it came to learning this whole thing called writing, what would you go back and tell yourself?

I wish I hadn't worried so much about my future. This is a really tough one. Because I think it's natural for us to be excited and nervous when we send a manuscript out there whether to an agent or publisher.
But in hindsight, I realize all my fretting didn't make the process move faster or make things turn out better. It didn't change WHAT happened. But it did make me more tense. I'm still learning to work hard at the things I can control (like continually striving to improve my writing), and to let go of the things I can't (like how quickly I achieve success).

5 preference questions:

Homemade or take-out? Homemade (especially when someone else is making it!)

Email or snailmail? Email (I can type much faster than I can write by hand and time is always of the essence!)

Online shopping or Black Friday deals? Online shopping (I leave Black Friday shopping to my hubby who can't pass up a good deal)

Books or movies? Definitely books (I also prefer to read the book before watching the movie)

Note-taker or memorization? Note-taker (I'm always taking notes in books that I read for research; my margins are full)
               
Yes, I’m asking you to play favorites…which of your books is your favorite, published or unpublished? And if this is your debut novel, has your favorite been published yet?

When I'm writing the first draft of a book, I fall madly in love with each book and the characters so that each book ends up holding a special place in my heart. I think they're all SO wonderful–until I beginning editing and then I loathe them. Once I finish editing them for the last time, I never read them again.

Nevertheless, if I had to pick one, right now I'd probably pick Captured by Love. I really like Pierre my fun-loving, laid-back hero. I had a lot of fun writing his character. I also enjoyed writing in the era of the War of 1812 which is a time period not often used for historical fiction.


Places for readers to learn more about you?

I love hearing from readers! Make sure you stop by one of these places and say hello!
I hang out on Facebook here: Author Jody Hedlund
I also love to chat on Twitter: @JodyHedlund
My home base is at my website: jodyhedlund.com
Or you're welcome to email me at: jodyhedlund@jodyhedlund.com


Thank you for being with us today! 

Readers, enter to win Jody's book here!

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

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 August 8th
Attn Readers! If you're struggling to leave a comment on my blog, please email your comment entries (in ONE email) and I will submit it for you. But PLEASE only do this after you've failed to leave a comment. My email is: caseym.writer(@)gmail.com 

31 comments:

  1. Jody, I admire you for writing when your children were young. I wasn't bitten by the writing bug until my youngest was 10, and he was an easy child to care for. I really like your advice about not fretting about the future. I've met so many writers who want to be published soooo bad and they stress over it to the point it affects other areas of their lives. I hurt for them. I've always tried to sit in the back seat and let God do the driving where my career is concerned. It's so much less stressful. Blessings!

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    1. Hi Vickie,

      It's all too easy to worry about the future, isn't it? On the one hand we want to work hard and do our part to push the gas pedal (so to speak). But we can't forget to let God do the actual steering, right? :-)

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  2. And after saying all that I forgot to leave my email: fictionfan1 [at] tulsacoxmail [dot] com

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  3. Great interview! I LOVE Jody's books and can't wait to read this one! Thanks for the great giveaway! I'm a follower and a subscriber. =)

    lubell1106(at)gmail(dot)com

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  4. Anne of Green Gables and A Little Princess were two of my favorites as well!! Thanks for a great interview and giveaway!

    I'm a subscriber. :-) kosterbind (at) gmail (dot) com

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  5. I love Jody's books, thank you for the chance to win "Captured By Love".

    wfnren(at)aol(dot)com

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  6. I am a follower!

    wfnren(at)aol(dot)com

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  7. I am a subscriber.

    wfnren(at)aol(dot)com

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  8. Would love to read Jody's book. I am a follower and subscriber.

    plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net

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  9. I have recently watched Turn and it literally turned my head from the WWII era to the era surrounding the War of 1812. I have studied our Revolutionary War in depth with my kids but the tenacity of this era, the perseverance of liberty, is just amazing. I could never be a spy . . . sometimes I have to close the book and take a few deep breaths when I read and something exciting is happening!!! : / Your book so intrigues me. Thanks for the opportunity to win. I am a follower & subscriber. chris_davebures@bellsouth.net

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  10. It's one to know we shouldn't worry and tense up when submitting something to be judged, be it writing, artwork, or whatever, but PRACTICING not worrying . . . sadly, I need more practice. Thanks for the interview and giveaway!

    I'm a follower!

    rachaeldalquist(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  11. I love that "Anne of Green Gables" was one of your favorite books. All eight books in the series are wonderful. Have you considered writing a novel where the heroine strongly dislikes the hero and (like Anne) slowly realizes that she is in love with him near the end?

    nina4sm@gmail.com

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    1. That's a tough one to pull off in a romance book! Most romance readers want to see a relationship developing throughout the book. Of course, there have to be obstacles that keep the two apart, but strong dislike would be difficult to portray realistically throughout the book. I've seen books that have dislike at the beginning, but even that can turn readers off it the characters are too abrasive to one another. Then they become unlikeable for being so disagreeable! :-)

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  12. I am a follower and a subscriber.

    nina4sm@gmail.com

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  13. Thanks for the giveaway! I've loved each of Jody's books so far, and can't wait to see what she's got in store in her new release. It's also very exciting to hear that Anne of Green Gables was a big part of her childhood. I have a special place in my heart for those books as well!

    I'm a follower and a subscriber.

    Emreilly303(at)gmail(dot)com

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  14. I'm so excited to read your latest book! I don't know much about the War of 1812 so I'm looking forward to learning more about that almost as much as the romance ;)

    Thanks for the giveaway! I'm a follower and a subscriber.
    colorvibrant at gmail dot com

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  15. Great interview! A fun-loving hero? Now I want to read "Captured by Love" even more! I've encountered too many brooding fictional heroes lately.

    I'm both a follower and email subscriber.

    gwen(dot)gage(at)gmail(dot)com

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  16. Thanks Casey and Jody for the interview. I'd love to read "Captured by Love". I'm a follower and a subscriber. Thanks for the giveaway! :)

    ozarkwriter(at)gmail(dot)com

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  17. Nice interview. I giggled when I read that Jody likes homemade versus takeout "especially when someone else is making it." I feel the exact same way. Ü

    Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of Captured by Love.

    I'm a follower and subscriber.

    cindialtman(at)gmail(dot)com

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  18. Would love to be entered! Thanks for hosting, Casey :)
    I am a follower and a subscriber.
    pocoauthor(at)gmail(dot)com

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  19. Thank you all for stopping by today! And a BIG thank you to Casey for interviewing me!

    Happy reading to you all! :-)

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  20. Follower and subscriber. Totally love the Anne books as well as many of Louisa May Alcott's novels! Great interview. Ewe_r_merritt(at) yahoo(dot)com

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  21. Casey, I am a follower and subscriber. I have read about Jodi's book and I look forward to reading it. Thanks for this interview and giveaway.
    Connie
    cps1950@gmail.com

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  22. I would like to win a copy of Jody's new historical ~ Captured by Love. My husband is French/Belgium and the dearest man. We have been married 30 years. He continues to open my car door and is gentle and caring. Pierre has a lot to measure up to! Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
    lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net

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  23. I am a subscriber. Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
    lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net

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  24. I am a follower of Writing for Christ ~ the Audience of One. Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
    lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net

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  25. I always learn something from these interviews . I am a follower and subscriber of this blog and of Jodi Hedlund. fishingjan(at)aol(dot)com

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  26. I agree with Jody about Black Friday. I'll sleep in and order online. :)

    Doreen
    PriviesAndPrimsAtYahooDotCom

    I'm also a follower and a subscriber.

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  27. Beautiful cover and a nice interview. I am a follower and subscriber. I would love this book! Sonja dot Nishimoto at gmail dot com

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  28. Loved Anne of Green Gables too! stephiek1984@yahoo.com

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  29. I would love to win this book to give to my church library. Thanks for the opportunity to do so.
    Janet E.
    von1janet(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. :)