Interview with Best-Selling Author, Jody Hedlund

I remember stumbling upon Jody Hedlund's blog prior to her first book release. This amazingly talented lady is now the author of three historical romance novels -- with more on the way! It's my pleasure to introduce you to Jody and to share her most recent release, Unending Devotion.

Maria: Hi Jody! So glad you could join us today. Tell us a bit about yourself:

Jody: I'm a chocolate-lover, coffee-guzzler, avid reader, passionate writer, busy mom of five, and wife to my college sweet-heart for over twenty years.

Maria: Wow! Sounds like there's plenty to keep you busy. Give us a glimpse into an ordinary day at your house:

Jody: I'm not sure that we have any ordinary days in our crazy house! Since I homeschool my children, our home is usually very busy and noisy. I spend most of my day teaching my children. Then once we're done with our school time, I try to squeeze in a little writing. As my children are getting older and are involved in more extracurricular activities, I've also become a taxi mom and an expert at juggling a busy schedule!

Maria: From the sound of it, you've mastered your busy schedule. As an established author, what is your favorite part of the writing process?

Jody: As a writer, I love telling stories. I especially like the feeling that comes as I near the end of the book when everything looks hopeless, the characters are in big trouble, and somehow I’m able to wrap up the book in a satisfying way. I call it the first-draft love affair! I fall absolutely and madly in love with the story and think it’s the best thing I've ever written.

Maria: Let's talk about your recent release, Unending Devotion. Being a Michigan girl myself, I could identify with the setting of this story. But I have to admit, I was unaware of the devastating effects of the lumber industry. Share a brief summary of what your research revealed:

Jody: During my research for the book, I began reading biographies about people who lived during the lumber era. And as I did, I ran across stories of young women who didn't fit into the glamorized legends and songs that we usually associate with the lumber era.

The stories of many of these women were much darker. They're tales of women who were abused, exploited, and even enslaved.

Unending Devotion is inspired by one of those women, Jennie King. She rode a train into central Michigan in answer to a newspaper ad for a job. She expected to work in a hotel. Instead she found herself enslaved in a brothel. She fled, but was recaptured and beaten. The brave and desperate woman escaped again, wearing only a nightgown, and this time gained help from a local family. The brothel owner tried to get her back again. But the family helped smuggle Jennie out of town and to a safe place.

Maria: I know one of your hopes in writing this book, was to heighten awareness of the issue of white slavery (forced prostitution) during the lumber era. Unfortunately, this is still a problem in our generation. Lily Young was willing to stem the tide of evil in her day. How can we get involved in combating this type of slavery today?

 

Jody: I actually have several organizations listed on my website that are helping to increase awareness of the problem and fight against it, and I'm donating part of the proceeds from UnendingDevotion to help stop trafficking. One of the organizations I have listed is World Vision. They work directly with victims rescued from a life of trafficking. They give hope to young girls by offering  assistance like medical care, nutritious food, non-formal education, vocational training, compassionate counseling, and, where possible, reintegration into a loving family environment. To learn more visit World Vision’s website.

Maria: What a positive way to make a difference! I applaud your personal efforts to be part of the solution.  I was drawn to both of your main characters, Lily Young and Connell McCormick. How would they describe themselves?

Jody: Because Lily was an orphan growing up, she would say she has a heart for the under-privileged. She's very caring and wants to save everyone and everything. On the other hand, she often doesn't stop to think before she acts. She's rather impetuous and rash which leads her to rush headlong into trouble.

Connell's father is a lumber baron who has made millions off lumbering. As manager of several of his father's lumber camps, Connell has a sense of loyalty and duty to his father's thriving business. He works hard and is determined to make his father proud of his efforts. Amidst all of the lawlessness and evil that surrounds him in the lumber towns, he figures as long as he leads an upstanding life, that's all that matters.

Maria: Do you purposely weave your own personality traits into your characters, or do you develop your characters with traits you'd like to possess?

Jody: While each of my characters are unique with no intention of replicating myself or any one person I know, each book does bring out my passion for helping the underprivileged. I usually have a heroine who is fighting against social ills of some kind. And I always seem to have a minor character struggling through timeless issues like poverty, exploitation, abuse, etc. Since I have a masters in Social Work, I guess it's inevitable that I would weave in characters struggling against social ills.

Maria: I can definitely see the parallel. I know you must have another book in the works. Can you give us a sneak peek?

Jody: My next book (releasing in April 2013) is A Noble Groom. It's another Michigan book set among a rural immigrant faming community which is facing discrimination, drought, and then the Great Fire of 1881.

The story starts with recently widowed Annalisa Werner having the feeling her husband was murdered but being unable to prove it. Alone with her young daughter, she has six months left to finish raising the money needed to pay back the land contract her husband purchased, and the land is difficult to toil by herself. She needs a husband. With unmarried men scarce, her father sends a letter to his brother in the Old Country, asking him to find Annalisa a groom.

For nobleman Carl von Reichart, the blade of the guillotine is his fate. He's been accused and convicted of a serious crime he didn't commit, and his only escape is to flee to a small German community in Michigan where he'll be safe. He secures a job on Annalisa's farm but bumbles through learning about farming and manuel labor.

Annalisa senses that Carl is harboring a secret about his past, yet she finds herself drawn to him anyway. He's gentle, kind, and romantic-- unlike any of the men she's ever known. He begins to restore her faith in the ability to love -- but her true groom is still on his way. And time is running out on them all.

Maria: Fascinating plot! I can already tell I'll be adding your next title to my "To Be Read" list! What words of wisdom would you like to share with our readers?

Jody: I recently ran across a pin over on Pinterest which said: "Your dream doesn't have an expiration date. Take a deep breath and try again." I think that's inspiring for all of us whether we're writers or pursuing some other dream. We don't need to be in a hurry. We just need to keep working and trying.

Maria: I love that thought, Jody! Very encouraging. Thanks so much for stopping by today. And I look forward to reading many more of your books! God bless you~

Great news! Jody has graciously agreed to give away a signed copy of her book, Unending Devotion.

*Leave a comment to this post, include your email address in the following format: morgan(dot)maria(dot)i(at)gmail(dot)com. Entries without an email address are not eligible.

*Receive an extra entry by becoming a follower, or by reminding me that you're already a follower.

*Receive a bonus entry by posting about this giveaway on your blog, Facebook, and/or Twitter. Please be sure and let me know you did so in your comment.

*This is open to US residents only. My sincere apology to those followers outside the US.

*Deadline to enter is midnight Eastern Standard Time, Tuesday, November 20th, 2012. Winner to be announced in Thursday's post. The winner will be notified via email.

Jody Hedlund is an award-winning historical romance novelist and author of the best-selling book, The Preacher's Bride. She received a bachelor’s degree from Taylor University and a master’s from the University of Wisconsin, both in Social Work. Currently she makes her home in Michigan with her husband and five busy children. Publishers Weekly called her newest book Unending Devotion, " a meaty tale of life amid the debauchery of the lumber camps of 1880s Michigan . . . exciting and unpredictable to the very end."

Jody would love to connect with you! Find her in one of these places:

Website: http://jodyhedlund.com/

Blog: http://jodyhedlund.blogspot.com/

Facebook: Author Jody Hedlund

Twitter: http://twitter.com/JodyHedlund

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/jodyhedlund/

Willing to Share

Hot tea and a frosted cranberry muffin. A tasty treat, but it wasn't the food that had my attention. Historical romance novelist, Jody Hedlund was sitting across the table from me. She had graciously agreed to take time out of her busy schedule to meet with me to discuss the ins and outs of writing for publication. What a wealth of information!

As a newbie to the world of writing, light bulbs continued flashing in my head as Jody shared nuggets of wisdom gleaned along her journey to publication. Although our genres are different, the basics remain the same. By the end of our meeting, not only was my stomach full, but my mind was chock full of ideas I knew I'd need to explore further.

Shop talk aside, I was captivated by Jody's warmth and obvious passion for giving fellow writers a jump start in this daunting industry. She candidly expressed how naive she was when she first started writing. I listened intently as she stressed the importance of knowing your audience and how your writing meets a specific need that's not already being met. Wow! And I had been convinced that if my writing was good enough, I'd have big name agents and publishing houses knocking on my door, contract in hand. Yes, I suppose I need to shed the naïveté, too! A special thanks to Jody for her transparency and candor!

Since our meeting, I've had plenty of time to mull over our conversation. I was reminded of some people in the New Testament who were also willing to share the wisdom they had gained. Aquila and Priscilla. They were willing to rearrange their schedules to reach out and teach others the whole truth of God's Word.

A Jewish man by the name of Apollos had come to Ephesus, and was teaching in their synagogue. He was a good speaker and was well-versed in the Old Testament writings of the prophets. The book of Acts provides a good description, "This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John," (Acts 18:25; KJV). Enter Aquila and Priscilla.

After hearing Apollos speak, these two realized that he didn't have the complete story about Jesus. John the Baptist focused on repenting from sin. But the whole message included repenting from sin and then believing in Christ. Aquila and Priscilla were willing to hang around after the meeting, and teach him "the way of God more perfectly," (Acts 18:26). Apollos was eager to learn. He was then able to incorporate Jesus' life, crucifixion, resurrection, and the coming of the Holy Spirit into his future messages. Because of Aquila and Priscilla's willingness to teach Apollos, the Lord was able to use him in an even greater way.

Mentors are much needed in our world today. Mentors who are willing to share their experiences and train up a generation passionate to fulfill God's purposes in their lives. Are you willing to be mentored? Or has your experience in life put you in the position of being a mentor? Determine how God wants to use you today!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your Word, and for the mentors You've placed in my life. I pray for a special blessing for them today. As I grow and gain life experiences, help me to be sensitive to Your direction to mentor others. Thank You for Your perfect plan. To God be the glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.

An Interview and a Giveaway!

We've all heard the moving stories of famous preachers and missionaries from days gone by. William Carey, Adoniram Judson, Charles Spurgeon, John Bunyan, and countless others. Have you ever thought about the women behind these great men of faith? In her debut novel, The Preacher's Bride, historical romance novelist, Jody Hedlund helps us imagine what it would be like to live in the 1600's, married to a man who is intent on sharing the gospel no matter the cost.

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing author, Jody Hedlund!

Maria: Thanks for joining us today! Tell us a bit about your debut novel, The Preacher's Bride.

Jody: The Preacher’s Bride is a tale about finding true love amidst the intense discrimination and persecution that existed after the Restoration of the monarchy in 1650’s England.

This book is inspired by Elizabeth Bunyan, the second wife of John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim’s Progress. I loved the brave way Elizabeth defended John during one of his trials when he was under arrest for his “unlicensed” preaching. Her strength to face a court of persecutors and her determination to faithfully support her husband touched me so deeply, that I decided her little-known story needed to be told to the world.

Maria: Which character in your book can you most easily identify with? And why?

Jody: My 92 year old grandmother recently finished reading my book. She wrote me a letter and said she kept seeing my name in place of Elizabeth’s, the heroine. Apparently my grandma was seeing my personality coming across in Elizabeth’s. I didn’t intentionally write Elizabeth to resemble me, but in hindsight, I can see that as a strong woman of faith she shares many of my characteristics.

Maria: Your book has done extremely well! Describe how you felt when you found out The Preacher's Bride was on the CBA best seller list.

Jody: Stunned to make the list. Excited to see a dream come true. Grateful to God for his goodness. Humbled that people are reading and enjoying my book.

Maria: Share some lessons you've learned on your journey from rough draft to publication.

Jody: Perseverance is KEY. There will always be discouraging times no matter where we’re at in the journey. For a while, I wondered if an agent would ever pick me up. And after hearing the dismal statistics about how few debut authors get picked up by publishers, I wondered if a publisher would ever take an interest in my books. But, I persevered and learned that if we continue to grow in our skills and work on our stories, industry professionals will eventually notice us.

Maria: How do you keep your writing fresh?

Jody: Currently I’m in the researching and plotting phase of my third contracted book. While in this phase, I’m reading a couple of fiction-writing “how-to” books. Reading them refreshes me, sparks new ideas, reminds me of techniques I need to practice, and pushes me to improve.

Maria: You're an extremely busy lady, and family is obviously very important to you, how do you prioritize your day? How many hours do you spend writing?

Jody: I struggle every day to balance the new demands of being a published author and the mother to five busy children. I try to set personal deadlines ahead of publisher ones so that I’m not running behind. I also keep myself on a fairly strict writing schedule. I block time into my day and stick to it. I give myself daily word count goals or number of chapters to edit, and I work hard to meet my goals. And then I try to be just as intentional with my family—especially setting aside regular family time together.

Maria: How has being a published author changed you?

Jody: Through the stresses and deadlines and increased workload, God has stretched me to grow. As I’ve juggled a writing career and other responsibilities, I’ve had to learn to let go of some of the things that aren’t important (like a dusted house or perfectly prepared meals) and instead cling to what matters most (like family time).

Maria: Any chance you might write a non-fiction book in the future? If so, what topic?

Jody: I’ve always tossed around the idea of writing non-fiction. Over the years, I’ve had plenty of ideas, particularly about parenting and marriage. I could even see myself delving into a writing how-to book. But for now, at this busy stage in my life, I’m sticking with fiction.

Maria: What goals have you set for your future? Writing and otherwise.

Jody: I’m actually taking the future one day at a time. I want to be obedient to God’s plans for my life. For now, he’s given me a three book contract. I intend to write the very best three books that I possibly can. Then after that, I’ll see where he leads me!

Maria: What final words of wisdom would you like to share with our readers?

Jody: God’s life lessons aren’t always clearly written out on a blackboard. Instead, it’s often when we’re in the middle of difficulties, stresses, and hardships that we slowly begin to see what God is trying to teach us. And ultimately the lesson is that he longs for our holiness more than our happiness.

Maria: Definitely words of wisdom we can all take to heart! Thank you so much for joining us today, Jody! Congratulations on your first successful novel! And God give you many more successes as you continue to write for His honor and glory!

Good news! If you're interested in winning an autographed copy of Jody's debut novel, The Preacher's Bride:

• Leave a comment to this post, include your email address in the following format: morgan(dot) maria(dot)i(at)gmail(dot)com. Entries without an email address are not eligible.

• Receive an extra entry by becoming a follower, or by reminding me that you're already a follower.

• Receive a bonus entry by posting about this giveaway on your blog, Facebook and/or Twitter. Please be sure and let me know you did so in your comment.

• This is open to US residents only. My sincere apology to those followers outside the US.

• Deadline to enter is midnight Eastern Standard Time, Sunday, December 12, 2010. Winner to be announced in Monday's post. The winner will be notified via email.

Take a moment to read Jody's biography!

Jody Hedlund is a debut historical romance novelist who was a double finalist in the 2009 ACFW Genesis Contest. She received a bachelor’s degree from Taylor University and a master’s from the University of Wisconsin, both in Social Work. Currently she makes her home in Midland, Michigan, with her husband and five busy children.

She’s represented by agent Rachelle Gardner and her debut book, The Preacher’s Bride, released in Oct. 2010 and is available online and in most bookstores. Stop by her blog, Author, Jody Hedlund, where she chronicles her journey to publication and dispenses her two-cent writing wisdom.

Visit Jody at the following locations:

Website: http://jodyhedlund.com

Blog: http://jodyhedlund.blogspot.com/
Facebook: Author Jody Hedlund
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JodyHedlund
Email: JodyHedlund@JodyHedlund.com