Friday, August 31, 2012

September's Author of the Month: Jody Hedlund

Welcome to September, everyone! I was so blessed to feature Laura Frantz in August. She is a wonderful woman and it was a joy to get to know her better. Have you ordered her new book LOVE'S RECKONING? It comes out this month, don't forget!

(PS...yes, I know this post is a day early, but do to my schedule, I wouldn't be able to post it tomorrow...)

I am so happy to spotlight Jody Hedlund this month!  YAY!! I love this amazing author for so many reasons. Not only does her talent shine, her spirit does as well.

I first read THE DOCTOR'S LADY sometime last year not long after I discovered this fabulous genre. I immediately fell in love with Hedlund's style and ordered THE PREACHER'S BRIDE the very next day. Both books are truly inspiring! (Not to mention loaded with top-of-the-line romance!!)

Her next book UNENDING DEVOTION has just been released, and friends, it's AH-MAZING!! I could hardly put it down, and as I said in my review, I totally cried...and, if you didn't know, that's a good thing. *wink* The characters (and romance!) and message of the book will really affect you--at least it did me!

So, here are some questions that I asked Jody. I have loved getting to know more about her. Wow, she is an incredible woman. I don't know how she does all that she does, but somehow she does it, and she does it very well!  *giggle*  I decided that I want to be like her when I grow up!


First, tell us about yourself!  

I've been married to my college sweetheart for over twenty years, and we have five children ranging in ages from 15 down to 6. Between homeschooling and running our kids to activities, we're crazily busy! We live in central Michigan and so take our summers very seriously, considering at least 6 months of the year are cold and overcast.

I've been creating stories for as long as I can remember but began taking my writing seriously after I got married. Once I started having babies, I took a hiatus from writing. The time away from my writing really enriched me. The first book I wrote after my break was The Preacher's Bride.

When I'm not homeschooling or writing, you might find me sneaking in some pleasure reading. And you'd definitely find me eating chocolate and guzzling coffee!

What inspired you to come up with the story for UNENDING DEVOTION?

I live in central Michigan in an area that was once filled with towering white pines and that played a major role in the lumber era. In the 1870’s through the early 1880’s, lumbering employed more workers than any other industrial occupation in the United States. The white pine tree was considered “green gold” and netted greater profit than the gold rush of the West.

During my research for the book, I began reading biographies about people who lived during the lumber era. And as I did, I ran across stories of young women who didn't fit into the glamorized legends and songs.

The stories of many of these women were much darker. They're tales of women who were abused, exploited, and even enslaved.

Unending Devotion is inspired by one of those women, Jennie King. She rode a train into central Michigan in answer to  newspaper ad for a job. She expected to work in a hotel. Instead she found herself enslaved in a brothel. She fled, but was recaptured and beaten. The brave and desperate woman escaped again, wearing only a nightgown, and this time gained help from a local family. The brothel owner tried to get her back again. But the family helped smuggle Jennie out of town and to a safe place.

If you could take one historical Christian romance with you on a deserted island, which one would it be and why?  (It could be one of your books or someone else's!)

Oh, that would be SO hard! There are too many awesome books to choose from! But if I had to choose, I'd probably go with Deeanne Gist's A Bride Most Begrudging. It was one of the books I read when I was coming out of my writing hiatus, and it inspired me to work harder at writing historical romances (before that I'd been writing contemporary Christian romances).

What is your favorite bible verse?

One of the many verses I treasure is "I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength." Phil. 4:13 That verse has held me in good stead through many trials.


Here are a few more fun facts about Jody:

Jody Hedlund is an award-winning historical romance novelist and author of the best-selling book, The Preacher's Bride. She received a bachelor’s degree from Taylor University and a master’s from the University of Wisconsin, both in Social Work. Currently she makes her home in Michigan with her husband and five busy children. Publishers Weekly called her newest book Unending Devotion, " a meaty tale of life amid the debauchery of the lumber camps of 1880s Michigan . . . exciting and unpredictable to the very end."

I hang out on Facebook here: Author Jody Hedlund
I also love to chat on Twitter: @JodyHedlund
My home base is at my website: jodyhedlund.com


Book Giveaway!!!!

Ladies, Jody has kindly offered to do a giveaway for her new book UNENDING DEVOTION! (I can hear you squealing with pleasure.)  *big grin* If you want to be entered to WIN the book, please comment on this post and include your EMAIL. And, if you're feeling chatty, please tell me what  historical Christian romance you would take with you on a deserted island!!


Three cheers for Jody Hedlund!!


Thank you SO much, Jody! I am thrilled about your new book, and I can't wait for other people to read it and feel uplifted just like I did. You are a blessing in so many people's lives and I am very grateful that you are sharing the magnificent gift God gave you.

God bless you and your family!

Happy Reading!!!!



22 comments:

  1. Great interview! I had no idea about the crime in the lumber camps, how awful!

    If I was on a deserted island I'd probably take A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers. I could read that one all day long!

    ecriggs1990(at)aol(dot)com

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  2. What a great giveaway! I LOVE Jody's books, and can't wait to read this one! Hmmm... which book would I bring with me on a deserted island? Do I have to pick one? lol! I'd probably say the Chronicles of the Kings series by Lynn Austin... all amazing books!

    lubell1106(at)gmail(dot)com

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  3. I would definitely have to say that I would choose Pilgrim's Progress if I were stranded on an island... such a beautiful allegory!
    Thanks for the great giveaway!

    jennycohen104(at)gmail(dot)com

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  4. What would I bring? I'd probably say The Lamplighter by Maria Cummings. It was written in the 1800s, and I instantly fell in love with the story!

    Awesome interview and giveaway- can't wait to read this book!

    thejesusfreak62(at)gmail(dot)com

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  5. I absolutely LOVE Jody's books! I have been waiting for this one as well...so excited!!!

    If I were on a deserted island what Christian romance novel would I take....?(oooh, there are sooo many that I just love! Are you sure I can only take one? ehehe!) Um, I might say The Longing by Beverly Lewis...but that's only a sudden thought. Give me a little longer and I might come up with something else. lol!

    Thanks for the giveaway!!!

    Emreilly303(at)gmail(dot)com

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  6. Thanks for giving away this book! I've heard so much about Jody's books and can't wait to dig into this one!!!

    I'm new to the christian romance scene, so I'm not sure I can answer that one. I'd probably bring my Bible above anything else anyway...

    Dreilly316(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Debbie--congratulations!! You are the happy winner of UNENDING DEVOTION!!

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  7. Please enter my name into the giveaway...I'm entering for my daughter. Have a blessed day!

    Jreilly316(at)verizon(dot)net

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  8. I have read Jody Hedlund's two previous books. When I saw the cover for this book, I wasn't convinced I should buy it. Now that I know what it is about, I definitely will. I plan on passing it on to friends. I support an organization that frees women and children from sexual slavery.
    The book I would take with me? "The Oak Leaves" by Maureen Lang.
    josieringer@gmail.com

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  9. One of my must reads for the fall, I'd love to win Jody's book! Loved the first two and am looking forward to many more! Siri Mitchell's She Walks in Beauty would get me through many a day on a desert island!

    dollyandrobert@msn.com

    Thanks!

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  10. Love Historical Christian Romance! I'm with Jody One of my favorites is "A Bride Most Begrudging" but I just might have to take Tamera Alexander's "Remembered".

    jimmy.douglas@att.net

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  11. I have wanted to get my hands on one of Jodys books for awhile now! Esp. when I read the beginning of THE DOCTORS LADY when it was set in upstate NY (where I lived for 6 years). Enjoyed this interview and please sign me up! (heatherdaygilbert@gmail.com)

    And historical romance? Hmmm...I am not the hugest romance afficionado, but I loved GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING by Chevalier.

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  12. what a wonderful posting/interview...i, too, love jody's novels...thanks for the chance to read her latest one, amber.

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot comn

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  13. I would love a chance to win Unending Devotion! As far as which book I would take with me, I'm not really sure, I've read so many good books that sometimes its very difficult to choose which one is my favorite. But I would say that the Preacher's Bride is one of my favorite books!

    Hannah.jones@netta.us

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  14. SO excited for this book! I love Jody's writing.

    lmbartelt(at)gmail(dot)come

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  15. I loved both of Jody Hedlund's previous books. This genre of historical Christian is probably my favorite as books go! I'd love the chance to win her new book. If I were on a deserted island, I'd take either Anne Mateer's first book Wings of a Dream or Jennifer Erin Valent's book Catching Moondrops!

    cdegr002@gmail.com

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  16. I read Mrs. Hedlund's "The Doctor's Lady" last year also and loved it! Since then, I have purchased "The Preacher's Bride" and hope to read it soon. Thanks for the chance to win her latest novel!

    If I could only take one book ... it's so hard to choose, I'd probably "cheat" a bit and take an omnibus collection (e.g. many of Tracie Peterson's trilogies were released in a single, large paperback & Marylu Tyndall's Charles Towne Belles Trilogy). =)

    jafuchi7[at]hawaii[dot]edu

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  17. Threeboys1gift(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Oh.. How hard! What book. I've read so many good ones lately! I think I would have to say "A Promise for Ellie."

    It was the first Laraine Snelling book I ever read and I fell in love with her writing. I love all her "blessing" books! I have a lot of love or a lot of books, but that might be one of my favorites.
    I love Jody's writings as well and I think I will be putting "the doctors lady" and "unending devotion" on my Christmas wish list!!!


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  18. I love Jody's book, they are soooo GOOD!!! And I am a fellow Michigander! :)
    dcsonn1983@att.net

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  19. Thank you so much, everyone for stopping by and entering my book giveaway!! If you don't win a book here on Amber's blog, be sure to check out my News & Events Page on my website for LOTS more giveaways this month!!

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  20. I am really excited about Jody's new novel.
    I just finished reading Glamorous Illusions and LOVE that book. So, I think I would take that with me.

    campbellamyd at gmail dot com

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  21. Thanks for posting the interview! I'm looking forward to reading Jody's new book. The Preacher's Bride is one of my favorites.
    emilyjeanmq (at) yahoo (dot) com

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