Interview with Writer & Editor Jennifer Slattery

I had the privilege of meeting Jennifer Slattery a couple years ago. We didn't have the opportunity to sit down and chat. No, we met via the internet. Jennifer was collaborating with some other great gals (Jessica R. Patch, Joanne Sher, and Patty Wysong) to host a Facebook page/community that came to be known as Living by Grace: a fantastic place to engage with readers while sharing insights from God's Word. I was honored to join them in that endeavor.

Time flies. I figured it was high time to track down this multi-talented writer and editor and find out what she's up to these days. Join me in welcoming Jennifer!

Maria: Welcome to Life Lessons, Jennifer! Tell us a bit about yourself:

Jennifer: I’ve been married to my best friend and a man I adore for seventeen years, and we have a fifteen-year-old daughter. My favorite pastime of late has been going on leisurely walks with either or both of them. I especially love those times with our daughter as it allows me to catch glimpses into her heart. I’ve enjoyed every stage of parenting, but this one might be my favorite yet.

Maria: Ah, family is SO important! Between managing your business (Words That Keep), and taking care of your family, when do you find time to write?

Jennifer: I love to write. It’s how I process, and it invigorates me, therefore, most of the time, it sort of just flows. (We always find time for those things we love, don’t we?) But I don’t watch TV except maybe a few times a month, so I think that helps. And I tend to break my day into chunks so that I can make the most of each moment—writing when my daughter is at school and the house is quiet, editing when she and my husband are watching TV. Cleaning when I need a mental break.

   

Maria: I totally understand. Kudos to you for trading TV time for editing time! How has your relationship with Jesus Christ impacted your writing?

Jennifer: Jesus is the reason I began writing in the first place. I started writing for a church I belonged to 13 or so years ago—newsletters, curriculum, dramas. Then one day I realized, “Hey, I like this!” So I started dabbling in storytelling just for fun. Then, I felt God’s call. Or I should say, He confirmed it, although I fought Him initially. It’s one thing to write for fun—when you have time. It’s another to center your day around that—to embrace it full force. And frankly, I wanted to do something that would earn a steady paycheck. That wasn't so hard, so unpredictable. But He kept calling, and after a period of rebellion, I surrendered.

 

Maria: I'm glad you followed the Lord's call! What do you hope readers glean from your writing? 

Jennifer: God’s grace poured in and through our broken lives. I hope those who don’t know Jesus will sense His deep, incomprehensible love for them. I hope that those who do know Him will be drawn closer and into deeper surrender.

Maria: Excellent! Any books on the horizon?

Jennifer: Great question! And one I hope to have an answer to soon. J I have several projects in various stages of review with different publishers, and I’m in the critiquing/editing stage with another project and have a few ideas for nonfiction books I’d like to dive into, when I can.

   

Maria: Fantastic! Please keep us posted! Let's talk about your business. What services do you offer?

Jennifer: Mostly I do line-edits and big-picture reads called betas. I love helping writers strengthen their stories by showing them places they can eliminate unnecessary words/phrases, increase tension, improve characterization, show their reader rather than telling them about a situation/emotion/character, that sort of thing. I also provide marketing coaching and have helped many with press releases.

Maria: Sounds like your business allows you to wear many hats. Share a lesson you've learned through Words That Keep:

Jennifer: God manages the business for me. When my schedule allows and finances require more work, suddenly clients begin contacting me again. I've learned to trust in His timing. Well, I’m learning to trust in His timing. I have a tendency to barge ahead or veer right or left on occasion, but thankfully, our ever-patient Savior always nudges me back on track.

Maria: Thanks for your transparency! Share a little-known fact about yourself:

Jennifer: I once swam in a lake where authorities found a dead body. The month before I swam in it. And no, I didn't know at the time. Ugh!

Maria: I have to echo you, "Ugh!" On a more pleasant note, what words of wisdom would you like to leave with our readers?

Jennifer: Trust God in every stage—even the quiet or seemingly non-productive stages. Grab hold of and cherish each moment. He has a loving and faithful purpose in every one!

Maria: Awesome advice Jennifer! Thanks again for joining us today!

Connect with Jennifer:

www.wordsthatkeep.wordpress.com

www.jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com

www.twitter.com/Jenslattery

What Do We Have In Common?

It’s always neat to find out that you have things in common with others. Recently, I was tagged by fellow-blogger, Janette Dolores, to answer a few fun questions. I enjoyed reading her answers, and am excited to add mine to the mix.

If you haven’t checked out Janette’s site, take a few minutes to do so! She writes about family and spirituality. You’ll always leave her blog with something to think about.

Sit back with your favorite coffee or tea of choice, and see how much we have in common! Here are my answers:

1        Book or movie and why?

Definitely a book! My daughter constantly makes fun of me because I read at least two or three books at the same time. I’m currently reading Love at Last Sight by Kerry & Chris Shook, and The Storehouse Principle by Al Jandl. Although both of these books are non-fiction, I enjoy fiction as well. My first choice in this genre would probably be historical fiction. Why books over movies? I enjoy being the one to visualize the characters and locations, rather than having all the blanks filled in by a producer.

2        Real book or e-book?

This is a tough one. I read both. I’ve found that I enjoy real books for the fact that I’m reminded of the title and author of the book, every time I pick it up. But the convenience of my Kindle Fire can’t be beat. When I’m going out of town, I can take multiple ‘books’ without having to worry about filling my luggage with everything I’m currently reading. On the downside, I often forget the title of the book I’m reading and the name of the author…

3         Funniest thing you’ve done in the last 5 years.

Had to consult my husband on this one! He immediately brought up the goofy dances I invent on different occasions. The most memorable one? Probably my ping-pong dance. Yes, you read that correctly. My husband, daughter, and I were staying at a lodge in North Georgia. We decided to go down to the game room and play ping pong. I’m not exactly sure why I felt compelled to dance while returning the ball, but there you have it! And fortunately for the other guests, we were the only ones in the room!

4        How would your best friend describe you?

Good question! I actually texted her to find out! Here’s her response, “A very godly woman.” Wow – how humbling. And something I definitely want to live up to!

5        Do you put yourself into the books you read/write or the movies you watch?

Hmmmmmm. No, I don’t think I do. There are definitely character traits that I can identify with – but I don’t put myself in the character’s shoes.   

6        Favorite kind of car and why?

I really enjoy our Land Rover. It’s an LR2 – small enough for me to manage, yet big enough for hauling things. It’s great in all kinds of weather and has settings for off-road excursions as well!

7       Would your choice of party be a catered meal or barbecue out back?

If I were hosting the party? Definitely barbecue out back! My husband smokes a mean pork shoulder! Add some cole slaw, baked beans,  s’more fixin’s, and good friends, and I’m a happy camper – or should I say a happy hostess! 

           What’s your favorite season and why?

Can I have two favorites? Fall and spring. In the fall, I love the changing colors of the leaves. The crispness in the air. And the promise of a fire in the fireplace. Spring is such a wonderful reminder of new life. Everything begins to bloom and I enjoy seeing the light green foliage on the trees in our woods.   

9        What specific lesson have you learned – spiritual, educational, occupational?

The Lord has really been challenging me to live out the life lessons He gives me. Most recently, I’ve been encouraged to trust the Lord as I move outside of my comfort zone. Relying on the Lord to open doors for me instead of trying to force them open, has helped me to develop patience! “Wait on the Lord: be of  good courage, and he shall strengthen thing heart: wait, I say, on the Lord,” (Psalm 27:14 KJV).

          Besides writing, what’s your favorite thing to do when you get some extra time?

I love reading and spending time with family (including our pets – Precious & Joe (retrievers); and our cat, Courtney).

1       What’s one place you can be found at least one time every week?

Church, and the grocery store!

Now that you know more about me, I'd love to know more about you! Simply leave your answer to any one of the questions in the comment section! In addition, I’m tagging seven other bloggers to join in the fun and answer all 11 questions (if you’re unable to participate, I totally understand!):

Dorothy Adamek

Cheryl Klarich

Jessica R. Patch

Joanne Sher

Jennifer Slattery

Susan Tuttle

Patty Wysong

Launch of Living by Grace

Staying connected with family and friends is easier than ever. Social networking sites have made it ultra simple to keep up with all the latest news and important information. I have to admit I was a bit leery of Facebook when it first got started back in 2004. But a couple years ago, I couldn’t resist my Mom’s invitation to be her Facebook ‘friend’, and I have to say, I’ve enjoyed the chance to interact with friends on a regular basis and connect with people I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to meet otherwise.

So why am I plugging a social network service? Glad you asked! On Monday, September 12^th, a group of us devotional writers are launching a Facebook page – Living by Grace. Jennifer Slattery describes Living by Grace as, “…a modern-day, gather at the well experience designed to foster relationship-building while encouraging a closer walk with the Savior.”

Designed as an encouraging place to dig into the Word of God, Living by Grace, will offer devotionals, Monday through Saturday, each written by a different blogger. What makes it unique? Living by Grace is so much more than a devotional site. It’s a place for readers to join in daily discussions –posting comments and asking questions. A great forum to study God’s Word!

It’s a true honor to be part of a team of godly women who are seeking to make 2 Peter 3:18 a reality: “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen” (KJV).

Here’s a sneak peek at each Living by Grace hostess, and a look at our posting schedule:

Monday: Joanne Sher - Jewish by birth, Christian by re-birth, and a writer by gift. A native southern Californian, she now lives happily in west Michigan with her husband and two school-aged children. She is a blogger and writer, of both true-life stories and fiction, attempting to ride God’s grace over rough roads. http://www.joannesher.com

Tuesday: Maria I. Morgan – an inspirational/devotional writer, whose passion is to share the truths of God’s Word with today’s generation. She is a regular contributor to Around About Cumming, and Cumming Patch. You can visit her on the web Tuesdays and Thursdays for a life lesson you can relate to. Maria lives in Georgia with her husband, Steve, daughter, Riley, their two dogs and cat. http://www.mariaimorgan.blogspot.com

Wednesday: Jessica R. Patch – grew up in southern Illinois before attending Central Bible College, where she majored in Missions and Bible. She is devoted to her local church, having served as a Biblical Studies teacher, Women’s Ministry leader, Regional Women’s Representative, and volunteer co-pastor with her husband of the Young Adult Ministry. She’s taught workshops and frequently spoken to women’s ministry groups. Her heart is to help women step out into deeper waters of intimacy with Jesus Christ. http://jessicarpatch.blogspot.com

Thursday: Lynda Schultz – is a ‘never-married.’ She has served in church ministry as Director of Christian Education in several Canadian churches. For the past thirty years or so, she has been a missionary with a Canadian Baptist mission and has served in Colombia and Venezuela, as well as on the home staff. She is currently Director of Christian Education/Spiritual Formation in Timmins, Ontario and works part time with the mission in the area of communications. Lou Lou Belle and Abby are her Venezuelan cats who live with her in Canada. She likes reading, writing, but definitely not arithmetic, in addition to cooking and plants. http://web.mac.com/lyndalee1, http://lyndasgrainsofsand.blogspot.com, and http://web.me.com/lyndalee1/NorthernBreezes

Friday: Patty Wysong – an ordinary girl living the good life, the life God gave her. A home executive with over 20 years of experience, she homeschools three of her five children, but don’t let that fool you. Much of her time is spent working on what God has placed in her hand: her keyboard. From the corner of her living room she writes inspirational fiction, devotionals, blog posts, and teaches online blogging workshops. You’ll also find her drinking kood aid from her china cup, preparing for the ladies’ Bible study she leads, and helping at their church. Through her writing, Patty has found the extraordinary God in her ordinary life. http://www.pattywysong.com

Saturday: Jennifer Slattery – writes for Christ to the World Ministries, the Christian Pulse and Samie Sisters. She loves seeing people experience the life-changing love of Christ. She believes no sin is too sinful, no heart to dark, no wound too deep when placed in the pierced hands of Christ. And she prays daily that her writing will allow others to catch a glimmer of God’s all-consuming love. http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com

So hop over to our Facebook page today and say ‘hello’! And won’t you grab your Bibles and join us on Monday for the official launch of Living by Grace?!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for an opportunity to study Your Word at Living by Grace. I pray for wisdom and discernment for each devotional writer. Bless each one who stops by the site with a desire to grow in the things of You. For Your honor and glory, Amen.