Welcome, Jessica. What
would you like for our readers to know about you personally?
First of all, that I’m delighted to be here talking to you
today! My thanks to Lena for so graciously
hosting this discussion.
I’m a writer, an editor, and—before either of those—a
reader. I work for small publisher Doulos Resources as the General Editor of
their literary imprint, Kalos Press. My
freelance work has appeared in Daily
Science Fiction, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Touchstone: A Journal of Mere
Christianity, and more.
Tell us about your
family.
I’m a missionary kid who married another missionary kid—only
I grew up in the snow of the sub-Arctic and my husband, Adam, got to grow up
beside the warm turquoise waters of Indonesia ! Adam and I have four
school-age children, and we live in southern California .
Have you written
other nonfiction books?
I was also the contributing editor of “Let Us
Keep the Feast: Living the Church Year at Home,” which is a guide to
following the traditional Christian seasons in daily life. It includes prayers,
recipes, history, and more. It’s the book I wish I had when I was first
learning about things like Advent and Lent!
Do you have any other
books in the works right now?
When it comes to non-fiction, I’m currently doing more editing
than writing. One project I’m particularly excited to be working on is “Sarcastic
Devotionals for Angry or Worn-out People” by Anne Kennedy. Despite the
title, it’s one of the most encouraging things I’ve ever read. It’s an honor to
help bring it to press.
What kinds of hobbies
and leisure activities do you enjoy?
Oh, knitting! It’s my love. After a day full of words, it’s
so relaxing in the evenings to turn to a hobby that’s so tangible and
meditative. It brings me down out of my head and back into my body.
Why did you write the
featured book?
Truly, because it was needed. As you and I were discussing
earlier over email, so many people have gone through the grief of miscarriage and
infertility. Somewhere between 20-25% of all women suffer a miscarriage, and at
least 1 in 10 has dealt with infertility.
These can be very private griefs, which lead to people
feeling very alone. As the church, it’s important to comfort one another and to
be there for each other—especially because, as Christians, we know that the
unborn are real people, loved and known by God. And because we value children,
and so can acknowledge that infertility is a real loss—not some pretend grief
that people should just “buck up” and “get over.”
I think this book, which features so many real stories and
which doesn’t shy away either from sorrow or from comfort, fills a real need in
the church today.
What do you want the
reader to take away from the book?
If readers have not experienced miscarriage or infertility,
I hope they come away with a new understanding of their friends and family
members who have and a new willingness and ability to love, comfort, and simply
be with their loved ones in their grief.
If readers have been in the same place as the contributors
to this book, I hope they will come away feeling known, affirmed, and
understood.
And in all cases, I hope readers will come away with a
deeper appreciation for our Lord, who didn’t leave us alone in this fallen
world, but who came and suffered with us, who saved us, loved us, shares our
sorrows, and will someday come again to make all things right.
Everything is not alright in the world right now. But the
Lord knows that. And as Christians, we don’t have to ignore our pain or pretend
everything’s okay. The Lord knows. He hears us, He knows us, and He will be
with us.
Is there anything
you’d like to tell my readers about you or your book?
Simply that I know that this isn’t the easiest book. This
isn’t a book you pick up because you’re looking for a fun read. It’s more like
the hospital; you don’t want to have to be there. But if you need it … well,
you’re glad it’s there.
And I hope, like a hospital, this book will be for you a
place of healing.
Please give us the
first page or two from the book.
Here is the beginning of the first story in the book, from
author Erin Gentry:
Miscarriage. My then-eight-year-old niece leaned in,
eyebrows drawn, as she tried out the word in a funny, low little voice. Her
face was a mixture of both sadness and trepidation, as if she understood that
it was a sad word but wasn't sure it was okay to inquire further.
Kneeling down, I put my hands on her shoulders, looked her
right in the eyes even as I felt tears forming in mine, and I said, “Yes. I had
a miscarriage last week. Do you know what that means?”
She looked down, nodding. “Yes. Mama told me.”
I asked her if she had any questions or wanted to discuss it
further with me.
“No,” she said, peeking back up at me, “but I am very sad
that it happened.”
“That’s okay.” I reassured her, sniffling. “Uncle Peter and
I are, too. Very, very sad.”
*******
Even as I write this, nearly two years out from that moment,
I am staring at these words as though they are coming from someone else,
wishing desperately that they were, and yet they are inescapably mine. I had a miscarriage.
Where on the Internet
can the readers find you?
I have a
website where I regularly blog about faith, family, and fiction. I’m also
active on Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads, and (for my
fellow knitters out there!) on Ravelry.
I’d love to connect with readers in any of those places.Thank you, Jessica, for sharing this book with us. I'm sure all of us have known more than one family that has experienced one either a miscarriage or infertility.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Not Alone: A Literary and Spiritual Companion for Those Confronted with Infertility and Miscarriage - paperback
Not Alone: A Literary & Spiritual Companion for Those Confronted with Infertility & Miscarriage - Kindle
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. If the winner is from the US, you will receive a print book. If the winner is foreign, you will receive an ebook. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
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6 comments:
angela in ky would like to win.
Thank you again, Lena, for hosting me. I'm happy to chat down here in the comments with any readers who want to talk. :)
it is so hard dealing with infertility. Especially as a Christian. So many people don't understand it and it is hard to explain. I would love to be put in the draw. I know i will only get an ebook, but that is life.
I can only imagine the devastation of a miscarriage and I truly hurt for those dealing with infertility. Thank you for sharing!
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Yes, this book is definitely needed. Thank you.
Brenda in VA
Melanie, I'm so sorry you've had to grapple with infertility. The authors in this book taught me that it is indeed something many, many people don't understand or know how to sympathize with.
Connie, thank you! You sound like someone who would be a great comfort to a friend who was dealing with this kind of pain, simply because you're aware of it and you care.
Brenda, thank you for commenting. I agree that it was needed, but I had no idea how much until I was actually working through the stories the authors contributed. It was hard, but such a learning experience!
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