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.

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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