Giveaway! Beyond I Do by Jennifer Slattery!

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

To be honest, initially, writing wasn’t even on my radar. It started as a means-to-an-end; creating dramas, curriculum, newsletters, etc. for ministries I was involved in. One afternoon, however, as I was running and praying over a short story a children’s director asked me to write, I realized, “Hey, I really enjoy this!” So I began to piddle around with it, for personal enjoyment, really. Years, and many nudges from God later, I clued in to the fact that this is what He created me to do.

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

Not a title as much a series: The Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers. The extreme, devoted faith of the slave girl Hadasseh made me want to develop and display the same level of faith. However, the book does have some graphic scenes that, at times, were quite disturbing. But even so, the overall message was strong enough to keep me reading despite this.

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?

Hm… I’m not sure. I’ve seen how God has used everything—every hurdle, set-back, and step forward, to grow me and move toward where I’m at. So I don’t think I’d want a do-over as much as a reminder to surrender, trust, and keep moving. A reminder to enjoy the journey, knowing He is faithful to always perfect those things which concern me.

5 preference questions:

Homemade or take-out? Oh, this is tough. If I’m not feeling well, take-out for sure. But I kinda prefer the taste of my own cooking.

Email or snailmail? Email just because it’s quicker so I can respond to urgent needs. But oh, how I love getting cards from my special friend. I have a spiritual mentor that often sends a card with a verse written in it. Though she sends plenty of texts and emails, too.

Online shopping or Black Friday deals? Neither! For me, shopping is very relational, and I either like to go with my hubby, my teenage daughter, or a special friend. But I would never subject myself to the craziness of BF. Well, except I did once, for my daughter’s sake. (She wanted to try shopping on that day once. Yeah, that was all it took. Hahaha.)

Books or movies? Books! I have very little patience for movies, especially today’s movies which seem to have ten minutes of fighting followed by five minutes of plot then ten more minutes of fighting.

Note-taker or memorization? Both? I’m working really hard on trying to memorize Scripture. But I think and process through my hands, so…

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?

This is my debut, and well… my favorite novel is always the one I’m currently writing, but the one I got goose bumps on more than one occasion from God’s clear and very specific guidance; that one will come out in 2015. It’s about a fifty-one year old, menopausal realtor, a widowed railroader, and three precious children abandoned by their mother. Here’s the back cover text:

A hurricane forces Jacqueline to evacuate. Looking to begin again—and reconnect with her embittered daughter—Jacqueline heads north. Reconciliation is hard, but she has a handsome new friend to lean on. Most importantly, she knows God is standing beside her.

When her daughter rejects her, three children abandoned by their mother open their hearts. But can God use a woman who dashed the hopes of her own child to bring hope to someone else’s? 

Places for readers to learn more about you?

They can visit me at my personal blog, http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com or at Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte

Thank you for being with us today!

Thanks for having me!

Readers, enter to win Jennifer's book here!

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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 22nd

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