Monday, July 19, 2010

BATTLEFIELDS & BLESSINGS - Jocelyn Green - Free Book

When Jocelyn contacted me about being on my blog, I was glad to feature her, since my grandson is serving in Afghanistan right now. Welcome, Jocelyn. You are writing nonfiction. Do you also write fiction?

No, I don’t. I would love to be able to do that someday, but I have serious doubts about my ability in that genre. I have the utmost respect and admiration for fiction writers!

What would you like for our readers to know about you personally?
All the books I have worked on are related to the military in some way—the reason for which can be traced back to July 5, 2003. That was the day I married a Coast Guard officer and was swept from Washington, D.C. to Alaska. I wasn’t a military wife for long, but it was long enough to give me an understanding and compassion for military families and to want to encourage them and share their stories.

Also, I’m an ordinary mom. I used to do all my writing during my child’s nap times and after she went to bed at night. Now that we have two small children, my husband uses flex time with his job to allow me to write two mornings a week. The rest of the time, I’m wiping runny noses, changing diapers, doing laundry, washing dishes, and occasionally, cooking. (Cooking is always the first thing I let go when I’m under a deadline.)
I’m a firm believer that most days can be made a little brighter with good music (I love Keith and Kristin Getty), good chocolate (aka Toblerone), coffee (I’ll settle for Folgers when the budget is tight) and finding new ways to make my children laugh.

Tell us about your family.

My husband Rob is no longer active duty but is still connected to the service through the business he started, which provides graphic design to Coast Guard ships, units, air stations, etc. Our children are Elsa, age 4, and Ethan, who will be 2 in October. Elsa is beginning to make up her own stories now, much to her mother’s delight, and Ethan is content to make truck and train noises all day long. Ethan was born with hypothyroidism, so he is on lifelong medication for that. So far, it appears that the condition was caught in time so that he has no signs of mental or physical retardation.

I'm really glad to hear that. Have you written other nonfiction books?

Yes, my first book was Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives (Moody 2008). But I couldn’t have completed that without the contributions from 14 other Christian military wives from every branch of service.
I was also the contributing editor for the award-winning Battlefields & Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from World War 2 by Larkin Spivey.

Do you have any other books in the works right now?

Yes. I’ve teamed up with Larkin once again for the Battlefields & Blessings book for Viet Nam, plus I’ve got proposals in the works for more devotions for military wives, as well as a book of devotions for parents of special needs children.

What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy?

Reading tops the list, then scrapbooking, gardening, and baking. I recently discovered The Cake Mix Doctor book, has been so much fun that baking now ranks pretty high on my favorite hobby list, but practically-speaking, it’s just not healthy to spend too much time on cake.

Why did you write the featured book?

My two co-authors (Jane Hampton Cook and John Croushorn) and I wrote the book to tell the stories that otherwise are not being told. We interviewed about 70 people connected to the current war, including soldiers, chaplains, military family members, widows, medics, humanitarian workers, government contractors and more. Our goal was to honor today’s generation of heroes (including the heroes at home) but also to show through their stories that God is big enough even for the pain and heartache war brings. God is faithful even in the most uncertain times. He offers peace when the battles literally rage. That’s what this book is all about.

What do you want the reader to take away from the book?

This is a 365-day devotional book, so each story also has a Scripture and a brief prayer. Naturally, we want readers to come away from the book with a closer relationship with God, and with a broader understanding of who He is. We also hope readers will have a better, more multi-dimensional picture of America’s soldiers, their families, and the sacrifices they make (largely unnoticed) every day. We also want readers to be inspired by their courage and faith in the midst of trials and grief. There are heartbreaking stories in this book, but there are also wonderful pictures of redemption and hope.

Where on the Internet can the readers find you?

My Web site is http://www.faithdeployed.com/ . You can also find me at www.facebook.com/FaithDeployed .

Thank you, Jocelyn, for sharing this wonderful book with us.

Readers, by using this link, you help support this blog.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)


Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

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35 comments:

Patsy said...

It was great to read the interview with Jocelyn. Like Jocelyn, I enjoy baking and trying new things and also have the Cake Mix Doctor's books. Looking forward to reading Jocelyn's writings.
plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net

apple blossom said...

Thanks for the interview.
Please include me in this giveaway thanks.

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Coolestmommy said...

What an interesting interview. Enjoyed learning more about Jocelyn and her books.

coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com

rubynreba said...

Great sounding book. Love to read it. Thanks!

karenk said...

a wonderful posting/interview...thanks for the chance to read jocelyn's book :)

Nicholle said...

What a wonderful interview!!!

nichollelight at yahoo dot com

Thank you :)

Sara said...

It was great getting to know the author behind this wonderful book! I would love to win a copy!

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for being a wonderful inspiration : )

ldcrpm@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

I would love to have a copy of this book. I recently bought Faith Deployed and I love it. My family and I will soon be going through our first deployment, and I would really like to be able to share this with my husband.
dixiedelight(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed the last book that you wrote and I'm sure "Battlefields and Blessings" will be a blessing to this military wife getting ready for yet another deployment. Thank you for the constant encouragement.

Denise Mitchem said...

This sounds like a great book. I've enjoyed Faith Deployed over this past year. Deployments are tough. Inspirational words are always welcome in my home.

Megan Hafele said...

Great interview... I love learning about the authors that write such wonderful and up-lifting books... I can't wait to read her latest book...

Jocelyn Green said...

Hi everyone,
Thanks so much for taking the time to read my interview! The best part about having books published is getting to know the people who read them- or who want to read them. :) I was so inspired by the people I interviewed for this Battlefields & Blessings book, I know you will be too. In fact, I was pregnant with my son while I worked on this book, which made every story about every soldier (and every Blue Star/Gold Star Mom) especially moving for me. (Here's another piece of random trivia- I gave birth to my son and the book the same week! I finished the manuscript three days before Ethan was born. I don't recommend doing both at once, but it worked out OK!)
Good luck in the drawing!

Jocelyn Green

Karen Kelley said...

Sounds fantastic. I would love to read it!

Kelly Zee said...

This series sounds great. Thank you for the interview and the book give away!

Stacielynn said...

Loved the interview! Please enter me in the book giveaway! I've been meaning to pick it up and if I can manage to win it instead that would be great. =) I know it is a book both my husband and I will enjoy.
Thanks & Blessings,
Stacie

Bakersdozen said...

This book is one that I would like to share with my older sons. vidomich(at)yahoo(dot)com

Sylvia M. said...

WWII is such an interesting time period. I love looking at photographs, watching films, and reading about this time in history.

nina4sm[at]gmail[dot]com

Linda Kish said...

Thanks for the great interview.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Cara Putman said...

My husband and I have been eyeing this series since we have a deep love of military history. It looks great, Jocelyn!

Megan said...

This would be a great book to have my husband is leaving for afghan soon and Im taking this deployment much harder than I did the last one!
Thanks for the chance!

Nancy said...

Love getting to know about Jocelyn,
I've been grateful for all that she does to encourage us.

Pamela Zeringue said...

I plan on reading it either way. I've been in the military for almost 19 years now and am just now being exposed to this wonderful support material. My husband is on his 3rd deployment. This book sound like a great devotional during his time away, for both of us!
Thank you for using your gifts to glorify God, anchored others in the process!!

sharon54220 said...

Another great interview. I would love a chance to win this book. I had not heard of this author before the interview, and now I will have to add her to my growing list of new authors.

sharon54220@gmail.com

Pain SUX said...

This sounds like a wonderful, yet heart-wrenching read!! Would love to win a copy.

~Steph
soklad@hotmail.com

Kristen said...

What a fantastic ministry!
Please include me in the drawing

Kameko said...

What a wonderful ministry, bless you & the others who have participated, Jocelyn! Your interview was very interesting. The timing for this book is perfect from a personal stand point. I have a nephew who is being deployed to Afghanistan Oct 1st. His wife (they have been married 4 years) is having a very hard time with the idea of him going overseas & leaving her. She does not come from a military family (not even grandparents, uncles, cousins, etc), while my nephew does. My father was Air Force (he is my sister's son), and my brother-in-law was in the Army. I think my niece-in-law would benefit greatly from reading your books for military wives.

Blessings to you both, Jocelyn & Lena
Beverly
bgrider2@cox.net

Cindy W. said...

I'm always looking for a new devotional. Please enter me into your drawing. Thank you.

Smiles & Blessings,
Cindy W.

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

misskallie2000 said...

I love to bake and during holidays I go a little crazy with all the baking, and candy making, and other goodies. This book sounds like a wonderful devotional. So glad you stopped by to chat with us Jocelyn.

Thanks for the opportunity to enter.

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

grannyvon said...

What a great interview. I would love the win this book. I also have a loved one in Afganistan. Thank God for positive writings! ybutler@oppcatv.com

Nancye said...

I would love to win this book! I enjoyed reading the interview and learning more about Jocelyn, especially how she balances her writing time with her family responsibilities.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Anonymous said...

wow thank you for this chance for this book. It looks fantastic. As a military wife surviving my thrid deployent this would be wonderful. I also look forward to reading your other book.Thanks
trishbazin(at)yahoo.com

Naasom André said...

Great interview. Please count me in in this giveaway. Your job is fantastic.

letrassantas at hotmail dot com

Molly said...

Wonderful giveaway! Please enter me! Thank you!

dancealertreads.blogspot.com said...

Great interview! Please include me in the interview!

dancealert at aol dot com