Why do you write the
kind of books you do?
Most of my books are about women on journeys of
self-discovery. I think that’s something we’re always dealing with: Am I a mom,
a daughter, a career woman, a homemaker? What in the world is God’s plan for my
life? It may sound like a heavy topic, but my books tend to be light and laced
with humor. There’s no reason we can’t laugh our way through this!
Besides when you came
to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
I would have to say the day my son was born, because he’s
given me joy every day after that.
How has being
published changed your life?
Being published has affirmed that I’m in the place God wants
me. Not only has he given me a career, but he’s given me relationships with
other writers and folks in the publishing world that are priceless.
What are you reading
right now?
Walking in the Dust of
Rabbi Jesus by Lois Tverberg. It’s a fascinating look at Jesus’s ministry
from the perspective of the Jewish culture.
What is your current
work in progress?
I’m very excited to be co-writing (with Lisa Karon
Richardson) a historical series for Whitaker House. Diamond in the Rough, the first of three books in the Charm &
Deceit series, releases May 1, 2013.
What would be your
dream vacation?
My son’s godparents have spent several years in Greece , so now they’ve got me dreaming of a few
weeks in Crete . Beautiful beaches, lovely
people, and amazing food… what a great time that would be.
How do you choose
your settings for each book?
For my first two books, I made up towns, because that worked
best. But for the rest of them, I’ve used real locations. In A
Wild Goose Chase Christmas, I set it in Monrovia , California Monrovia is a place I’ve
lived in before. As it turned out, it fit the feel and tone of the story
perfectly.
If you could spend an
evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
I would love to sit down with retired author LaVyrle
Spencer. She was such an influence on me early on. Her books showed me that
romance novels could be superbly written and emotionally complex. I would love
to listen to her talk about her life.
What are your
hobbies, besides writing and reading?
I love playing games with friends, whether they’re board
games or internet games. And I’m a movie buff, although I don’t get to nearly
as many as I used to.
What is your most difficult
writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Procrastination is still my biggest enemy. If I’m not
inspired and ready to write, it’s so easy to flit to something else, or put the
writing aside until tomorrow. The problem is, tomorrow sometimes turns into next
week if you’re not careful. For me, the best way to overcome that is to
write down all my goals and due dates on an old fashion, paper calendar on a
cork board next to my desk. That way, I see it every day and I can’t ignore the
immediate need to work today.
What advice would you
give to a beginning author?
Don’t write to trends or fads. Chances are, if you write a
book about a topic simply because it’s “hot” now, it will be colder than ice by
the time your book could be published. Write what you love, and your passion
will come through onto the page.
Tell us about the
featured book.
Upon her grandmother's death, Izzy Fontaine finds herself in possession of a Wild Goose Chase quilt that supposedly leads to a great treasure. Of course, once the rest of the family finds out about it, they're determined to have a go at the treasure themselves. If that weren't enough, local museum curator Max Logan claims that Grandma Isabella promised the quilt to him. What is it about this quilt that makes everyone want it? Is Izzy on a wild goose chase of her own, or a journey that will lead her to the treasure her grandmother intended?
Upon her grandmother's death, Izzy Fontaine finds herself in possession of a Wild Goose Chase quilt that supposedly leads to a great treasure. Of course, once the rest of the family finds out about it, they're determined to have a go at the treasure themselves. If that weren't enough, local museum curator Max Logan claims that Grandma Isabella promised the quilt to him. What is it about this quilt that makes everyone want it? Is Izzy on a wild goose chase of her own, or a journey that will lead her to the treasure her grandmother intended?
Please give us the
first page of the book.
Izzy Fontaine was up to her elbows in family photos when the doorbell rang. The sound echoed, joined by two sharp barks and the clicking of nails on the hardwood floor as Bogie rounded the corner, bounded across the room and slid to a stop in front of the door. The Jack Russell terrier did the same thing anytime someone rang the bell. And every time the door opened and he saw it wasn’t his owner, he slunk out of the room with his head down.
Izzy Fontaine was up to her elbows in family photos when the doorbell rang. The sound echoed, joined by two sharp barks and the clicking of nails on the hardwood floor as Bogie rounded the corner, bounded across the room and slid to a stop in front of the door. The Jack Russell terrier did the same thing anytime someone rang the bell. And every time the door opened and he saw it wasn’t his owner, he slunk out of the room with his head down.
Izzy looked down at the dog. “I
miss her, too, Boy.”
Letting out a sigh, she dropped the
eight by tens from her hands, pushed her chair away from the table and trudged
across the room. Who would stop by unannounced? A list of the usual suspects
flitted through her mind: Students selling magazine subscriptions? Local
proselytizers unnecessarily worried about her soul? Or the man with the pickup
truck full of gardening tools who kept offering to rake the leaves from her
yard? What she didn’t expect to see through the fish-eye lens of the peephole
was a senior citizen standing on the porch.
How can readers find
you on the Internet?
I’m kind of all over.
Website – http://www.jenniferallee.com
Twitter - https://twitter.com/JenniferAlLee
Inkwell Inspirations blog - http://www.inkwellinspirations.com/
Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/jenallee/Thank you, Jennifer, for sharing this book with us. I can't wait until I get mine.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
A Wild Goose Chase Christmas: Quilts of Love Series
- paperbackA Wild Goose Chase Christmas: Quilts of Love Series
- KindleLeave 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.)
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