Regina Jennings is a
graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history
minor. She has worked at The Mustang News and First Baptist Church of Mustang,
along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows.
She now lives outside Oklahoma City with her husband and four children. Meet
Regina here.
Learn more about
Regina by visiting her website, www.reginajennings.com.
About the book:
She's Finally
Found a Place to Call Home... How Far Will She Go to Save
It?
With nothing to their
names, young widow Rosa Garner and her mother-in-law return to their Texas
family ranch. Only now the county is demanding back taxes and the women have
just three months to pay.
Though facing
eviction, Rosa falls in love with the countryside and the wonderful extended
family who want only her best. They welcome her vivacious spirit and try to help
her navigate puzzling American customs. She can't help but stand out, though,
and her beauty captures attention.
Where some offer help
with dangerous strings attached, only one man seems honorable. But when Weston
Garner, still grieving his own lost love, is unprepared to give his heart, Rosa
must decide to what lengths she will go to save her future. Read an excerpt: http://ow.ly/9sK2C.
Caldwell County , Texas – August 14, 1878
Rosa ’s hands shook as she
pushed against the barn door. How had it come to this? How had a respectable
widow found herself in such a humiliating situation?
Tell us how much of
yourself you write into your characters.
Hopefully none! I wouldn’t purposely share much of myself in
a character. That’d be like letting someone read my diary. Unfortunately, more
is probably revealed than I can prevent. Is it possible that a psychiatrist
could analyze my characters and have me committed? If so, I’d better quit while
I’m ahead.
What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?
When I was a senior in high school my sister Trina was a
freshman. Our parents had no interest in going to the high school open house,
so I disguised myself as an older woman—glasses, thick make-up, conservative
skirt—and went with Trina to meet her teachers and get an update on her
progress. Half of the teachers knew me and we had a good laugh. The others
played along and later asked her if I was her step-mom.
As we were leaving Trina waved down this older guy that
she’d met at the beginning of the year. I tried to hang back, because he was
cute and I was elderly incognito, but he saw me and wanted in on the story. So I
married him.
Good one! When did
you first discover that you were a writer?
Perhaps for some there’s this moment when the clouds part and
a single ray of light beams down, illuminating the golden words on their
tablet. That hasn’t happened to me. I guess as long as I have a contract I’ll
go by that description, but I’m the same person whether I’m writing or not.
Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
The books that I tell my friends about have memorable
characters, unique voice, and original plot twists. My favorite genre is
historical, any era and often romances, but a well-written biography or
non-fiction that reads like a novel is the best.
How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?
I don’t do it alone. Both sides of our family live here in
town and we have a large, supportive network of friends. They are sympathetic
to my hermit ways and intervene when I’ve been anti-social for too long.
How do you choose
your characters’ names?
I have a nephew named Boaz, so for the Boaz character’s name
I used Weston, another nephew. Other
nephew names that made it into the book were Deacon, Jake, and Colton .
For minor characters I used the people around me while I was
writing—the receptionist at the speech therapist’s office, the journalism
teacher at the kids’ co-op class, etc. Sometimes I lifted names from the Caldwell County newspapers and history accounts in
honor of the families who actually settled Prairie Lea and Lockhart.
What is the
accomplishment that you are most proud of?
Nothing I’ve accomplished will compare to my goal of having
our four children serving the Lord when they reach adulthood. That’s the laurel
for which I’m striving.
If you were an
animal, which one would you be, and why?
A bookworm. Oh, I have to come up with something else? OK,
how about a Canadian goose? I travel a lot with my goslings tagging along behind
and we always return to our home base. Kindly disregard the mess on the
sidewalk.
What is your favorite
food?
Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla ice cream on top of warm, gooey,
half-cooked brownies.
What is the problem
with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
I get impatient to jump into scenes and start the action or
the dialogue. I have to be reminded to slow down, describe the setting and
introduce the characters. I’m still learning how to start a new scene without
losing the reader.
Tell us about the featured
book.
Sixty Acres and a Bride is a historical
romance set in Texas
in 1878. It’s about a good man recovering from a personal tragedy and a
beautiful Mexican widow who finds herself in a desperate situation. While
Weston’s family welcomes Rosa , he isn’t
prepared for his reaction to her. Rosa needs a
hero. To what lengths will she go to catch one?
Please give us the
first page of the book.
At an hour when every other God-fearing woman of Caldwell
County was either elbowing her snoring spouse or sleeping undisturbed in her
spinster bed, Rosa was sneaking toward a barn that was not her own. She was a
trespasser whose goal was to get caught - a terrified stalker whose prey held
her future in his hands.
Holding her skirt up and away from the piles of manure, she
crept closer with a pounding heart. Surely anyone inside could hear it.
What was she doing here? Returning to Mexico didn’t
seem so bad compared to the shame of what she planned. True, if there was anyone
who could help her, it was this man. And if there was anyone she’d like to
visit with or work beside, it was he. But alas, he didn’t return her regard.
He’d purposely avoided her for over a month now. Yet here she was in the middle
of the night with instructions to go to his bed and ask for money.
How can readers find you on the Internet?
Please visit my
website at www.reginajennings.com or look me up at www.facebook.com/ReginaLJennings and twitter.com/#!/ReginaJennings.
I’d love to hear from you.
Win a Kindle Fire from @ReginaJennings in the Sixty Acres and a Bride Giveaway! RSVP for #Facebook Party on 3/27.
One fortunate winner will receive:
So grab your copy of Sixty Acres and a Bride and join Regina and friends on the evening of March 27th for an evening of fun.
Celebrate with Regina by entering to win a Kindle Fire and coming to her Author Chat Party on 3/27!
One fortunate winner will receive:
- A Kindle Fire
- Sixty Acres and a Bride by Regina Jennings
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/26/12. Winner will be announced at Regina's Author Chat Facebook Party on 3/27. Regina will be hosting an evening of chat, fun trivia and more! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, and some beautiful silver jewerly! |
Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP TODAY and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 27th!
Thank you, Regina, for spending this time with us.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Sixty Acres and a Bride - paperbackReaders, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Sixty Acres and a Bride - Kindle
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (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 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
23 comments:
thanks for the chance to read this beautiful story :)
karenk (from PA)
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
This book looks really good! I'm from PA :)
collettaskitchensink[at]yahoo[dot]com
Sounds like an amazing book! I've always loved the story of Ruth and biblical retellings and some of my personal favorite to read. Thanks for a really great giveaway!
Liz R in Alabama
ecriggs1990(at)aol(dot)com
This is actually the first book I read on my new Kindle! I really enjoyed it, great book for a first time auther. I would love to have a physical copy to pass on to family and friends.
Patty in SC
I really, really, want this book, thank you so much for hosting this gieveaway.
I live in FL.
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
ok well your dessert choice sounds awesome! Thanks for the chance
cheryl in IL
msboatgal at aol.com
i'd love to win
maggie in northern indiana
I already have SIXTY ACRES AND A BRIDE on my wish list.It does look wonderful.
Mary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
Wow--what an opener. Can't wait to read it. Also, looking forward to the FB party. See you there!
coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com
NE
Enter me I would love to win a copy of this book it sounds and looks like a great story!! Thanks and God bless.
Sharon Richmond
Blanch, NC.
Mrs. Lena, I'm so honored to be on your blog. You were the first person to critique anything I'd ever written when you came to OKC a couple of years ago. I'm not sure those first pages made it into Sixty Acres, but you taught me a lot.
God bless!
Please enter me in the drawing!
God Bless,
Sarah
Blanch,N.C.
Ah, another chance to win this book. I WILL read it, one way or another. :)
Ginger in AL
Enter me!
Abigail
Blanch, N.C.
Please enter me for drawing for 60 Acres and a Bride by Regina Jennings!
And... picking an animal, I would pick an otter because they look like they have so much fun. When we go to a zoo I hunt them up! See you at the party!!
Missouri
lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net
I'd really enjoy reading this.
Beth from Iowa
I love hearing where you all are from. "Lane Hill House" - an otter would be a great choice. There's a personality book that divides people into golden retrievers, lions and I think another category is an otter. You might be an "otter" and didn't know it. :)
Thank you for the Interview, I love the story about you dressing up and going to school with your sister, very funny :)
Your Book sounds so good, please add me at your drawing.
I live in S.Illinois
ingrids62448(at)yahoo(dot)com
This book sounds interesting. Would love to win. Thanks for the giveaway.
Karen Gervais
kmgervais@nycap.rr.com
Hi!
I would love to read this book!
Thank you for the chance!
~Mippy in Northern Utah, USA
(given name, Sabrina)
bunnysmip (AT) yahoo (DOT) com
Already have on my wish list but would love to win. Great interview.
Thanks for the opportunity to enter giveaway.
Brenda from Georgia
misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com
I'm in the mood for a good romance. I can't imagine being a widow especially in the 1800s. Yikes! Sometimes lightening (love - true love) strikes twice. If you are very fortunate. I know someone like that. It was really amazing. Her husband was a Marine and died in Iraq but she ended up married to his best friend who was a Marine in the same company. I would be a bookworm too, since I'm a librarian. Thanks for the givewaway. I'm from Ohio. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.
I'm pleased to say that I won Regina's book in another giveaway, and I just began reading several days ago. Already, I don't want to put the book down. I don't need to be in the giveaway..I think it's over...I just wanted to comment.
Blessings,
Barb Shelton
barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com
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