POISON - Jordyn Redwood - One Free book

Welcome back, Jordyn. Why do you write the kind of books you do?
Jordyn: I write suspense because it’s inherent to my nature as an ER nurse. I want readers to experience the adrenaline rush I get at work when they read my novels.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?
Jordyn: So many happy days. Probably the next that would rank the highest were when I got married and when my daughters were born.

How has being published changed your life?
Jordyn: Great question. I work a lot more now. But also, it has brought me in closer relationship with God. For me, writing was a path I didn’t pursue until the Lord essentially pulled me onto it through some significant events in my life. It’s faith affirming for me to see God’s fingerprints all over my writer’s journey.

What are you reading right now?
Jordyn: I just finished Andrew Klavan’s A Killer in the Wind and Henry Kraus’s A Heartbeat Away. I read both secular and inspirational suspense. This is why I’m now reading Beautiful Creatures by Garcia and Stohl. What is it about these books that’s resonating with readers and if it’s secular—it there a way to write these storylines from a Christian worldview?

What is your current work in progress?

Jordyn: Right now I’m working on a book proposal for my next trilogy. Haven’t settled on what it will be quite yet but I’ve been doing some research into near death experiences and views on consciousness/memory.

What would be your dream vacation?
Jordyn: Either Italy or Hawaii. Italy because I’m a research nut and I desperately want to get into the secret Vatican archives.

How do you choose your settings for each book?
Jordyn: With my first trilogy, I picked something close to home—literally. I set the novels in my home state. I love Colorado for its beauty and mystery. It lent well to a suspense novel.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
Jordyn: Dean Koontz. He’s my all time favorite suspense author and a huge inspiration to me on many levels. I’d love to just pick his brain about his writing, his faith, and his love of golden retrievers.

We had a golden retriever when I was growing up. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?
Jordyn: I love to quilt and cross stitch. That’s how I unwind at night.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Jordyn: The first draft is the hardest for me—particularly if I don’t know what’s coming next in the book. I’m somewhere between a plotter and a pantser so I don’t have every scene outlined. Staring at a blank computer is difficult.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?
Jordyn: The first draft is just yours. What happened to me for years is I was stuck on the first 30,000 words. I would submit the first part of my book to others for critique but then I felt like I had to incorporate all their suggestions. I was having trouble discerning my own author’s voice. Finally, I just decided I needed to finish my novel and then go to a few trusted people for their opinion. The result was a finished novel and through the writing of the book I learned what was important to keep and what could be deleted/changed without harming the integrity of the story.  

Tell us about the featured book.
Jordyn: Five years ago, Keelyn Blake's armed, mentally ill stepfather took her family hostage in their house in rural Colorado. She and her half-sister Raven made it out alive, but others did not. Authorities blamed the father's frequent hallucinations about a being named Lucent, but in the end, even the best of the FBI's hostage negotiators failed to overcome the man's delusions and end the standoff peacefully.

Now, Lucent is back, and he's no hallucination. In fact, he is a very real person with dangerous motives. He has kidnapped Raven's daughter, and—Keelyn worries—maybe has hurt Raven as well. Though she is estranged from her sister, Keelyn feels the immediate need to find Raven and save what family she has left. But when others who were involved in that fateful day start dying, some by mysterious circumstances, Keelyn wonders if she can emerge unscathed a second time.

Poison delves into some interesting medical concepts: Are there such things as repressed memories? Does hypnosis work? Can someone be brainwashed? And of course—there’s a deadly toxin mixed in.

Please give us the first page of the book.
Jordyn: Here is a website link to the first five chapters.

How can readers find you on the Internet?
Jordyn: They can find me at www.jordynredwood.com or at my medical blog for authors: www.redwoodsmedicaledge.com.

Lena—thanks so much for having me back! It’s been a pleasure joining you and your readers.

It's a pleasure to have you back, Jordyn. Both my husband and I loved your first book. I'm sure we will love this one, too.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Poison: A Novel (Bloodline Trilogy) - paperback
Poison (Bloodline Trilogy) - 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 Google +, 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

PROOF - Jordyn Redwood - One Free Book

Short bio: Jordyn Redwood is a pediatric ER nurse by day, suspense novelist by night. She hosts Redwood’s Medical Edge, a blog devoted to helping contemporary and historical authors write medically accurate fiction. You can connect with Jordyn via her website at www.jordynredwood.net.

Welcome, Jordyn.

First, Lena, thank you so much for hosting me on your blog. It's an honor and pleasure to be here.

Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters. 

JR: I don't think I intentionally write a lot of myself into my characters. For me, I give my characters qualities that I aspire to have. Though, when my mother read Proof, she did say, "I can see a lot of you in this book."

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done? 

JR: Well, there could be a lot to draw on here. When I was in high school, I was trying to figure out if I could handle trauma nursing and I thought the best way to do that was to ride around with the our local fire department to see if I could handle all the blood and gore. Those ride-a-longs gave me some interesting life experiences.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

JR: I don't know if I have a date and time per se. In elementary school, I began to write stories. I had a Disney themed pocket folder that had a picture of a few characters panning for gold and I remember writing a story based on that picture. Storytelling has always been a joy of mine.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

JR: I have two broad categories that I like to read. I'm well read in suspense, the genre I love to write, and I have my favorite authors where I'll read everything they publish. I also read a lot of non-fiction as research for my fiction and the range of this can be very eclectic. For instance, for a trilogy I'm developing, I'll be doing a lot of reading on scientific evidence for the soul, near-death experiences, and prayer and how we can interpret these findings through a Christian worldview.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

JR: I really have to be organized to stay on schedule—particularly with working 24hrs/wk and having younger children in the home. I set monthly word count goals and try to write at least one blog post on my writing days. I try to stay ahead of the writing things I can control because it has surprised me that it's hard to anticipate publisher's demands at times. I know when the initial manuscript is due, but the different points of the editing phases are harder to plan around. I'll think the next month is smooth sailing, yet, get my manuscript from the publisher with a few weeks to turn it back around.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

JR: I don't delve too long into picking character names. I generally go with something I like with good beginning letter variability.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

JR: Finishing my novel and getting a publishing contract. There is something very gratifying by having "gate keepers" find value and entertainment in your writing enough to put their money behind it.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

JR: A black panther. They're beautiful and stealth-like. You don't want to tangle with one. I admire their strength and don't-mess-with-me attitude. ER nurses tend to be like this, too.

What is your favorite food?

JR: Love a big plate of Nachos-- complete with fake cheese. Though, just the basics. Taco meat, nacho cheese, sour cream and black olives.

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

JR: One of the critiques I got of my early writing was that it was very stark emotionally. When I first wrote stories, I wanted the reader to infer their own emotions onto the characters versus me adding that emotional impact. What I learned was the author and reader function hand in hand but the reader needs to feel the emotions on the page to feel connected to the story. Overcoming it took a lot of work and I don't know that I'm there yet. I literally made a note card that said "add emotion" as a constant reminder to add that extra punch to engage the reader. I think the note card also said "Less i-n-g words".

Tell us about the featured book.

JR: Proof examines the real life possibility of DNA testing setting a guilty criminal free. Lilly Reeves is the fifth victim of a serial rapist and even though she correctly identifies her assailant to the police-- DNA testing sets him free. Convinced of his guilt, she sets on a path to unravel his DNA mystery.

Amazon Blurb: Dr. Lilly Reeves is a young, accomplished ER physician with her whole life ahead of her. But that life instantly changes when she becomes the fifth victim of a serial rapist. Believing it's the only way to recover her reputation and secure peace for herself, Lilly sets out to find--and punish--her assailant. Sporting a mysterious tattoo and unusually colored eyes, the rapist should be easy to identify. He even leaves what police would consider solid evidence. But when Lilly believes she has found him, DNA testing clears him as a suspect. How can she prove he is guilty, if science says he is not? 

Please give us the first page of the book.

JR: How about the first five chapters? They can be found here: http://www.jordynredwood.net/resources/

How can readers find you on the Internet?

They can find me at www.jordynredwood.com .

Again, thank you so much for having me. It's been a real pleasure to be here.


I've loved having you, Jordyn.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Proof: A Novel (Bloodline Trilogy) - paperback
Proof: Bloodlines Triology 1 (Bloodline Trilogy) - 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