Jennifer, tell us a little about yourself.
I've been married to my husband for 21 years. Still over-the-top in love with him. Sure, he gets on my nerves. Of course there are days I'm glad to see him go to work, but still, he's my man, and I'm always happy when he comes home. We have three daughters. Brooke, a 20-year-old senior at Western Kentucky University. She's studying to be an elementary teacher. Engaged to a man planning to go into the ministry. More about them in a bit. Our second daughter, Hayley, is 18 years old. She just graduated high school and will be attending UK in the fall. Allie is 14 years old. She starts high school this year and is an awesome soccer player. I teach 6th grade writing at our local middle school. By the end of this year, I'll have fifteen books in print. Crazy, huh! You can check out my website at www.jenniferjohnsonbooks.com.
How long have you been writing?
In high school I wanted to write children's books. I had several rhyming stories starring a critter named Albie. Time passed, and I got married and started having children. On one of our weekly visits to the library to borrow children's books, I stumbled upon one of Janette Oke books. I fell in love! Read all of them in a couple of months. I moved on to Lori Wick's stories. I devoured them as well. Once finished with her books, I thought, I think I could write these types of stores. So, at 26, I started writing. My first book, A Willing Heart, was a prairie historical. It was awful! Story was cute. Writing needed some help. :) My next book was I Promise. It was a contemporary romance- a genre I am much more comfortable writing. The story won 2nd place in the first Noble Theme Contest put on by ACRW (American Christian Romance Writers). The contest is now called Genesis and the organization is now ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). Because of contacts I made at ACfW's first conference in Kansas City, I now have a critique buddy, Rose McCauley, and I met Jim and Tracie Peterson, who gave me my first contract in May, 2005.
Do you want to touch on picking out Brooke's husband?
My first daughter, Brooke, is getting married this December. She and Derek have been dating for 3 1/2 years, since the beginning of their senior year in high school. Their upcoming nuptials are actually kind of comical, because, you see, I picked Derek as my future son-in-law when the child was in middle school. He didn't know me, and all I knew about him was that he was this cute kid who loved God. Moms of daughters, isn't that what we want for our daughters? A guy who loves the Lord, and if he's cute, that's an added bonus! :)
Anyway, I told Brooke that Derek was going to be my son-in-law. She thought I was crazy. He was a nice friend, and that was all! Well, time passed. Brooke got a boyfriend. Derek told her she and the boy weren't right for each other. For a while, she didn't listen, but she and Derek remained friends. When she and boyfriend broke up, Derek remained a good friend to her. Of course, my mommy radar said, This IS the kid God has picked out for her. For the entirety of her junior year, I had to bite my tongue as I watched their "friendship" deveDo you want to touch on picking out Brooke's husband? We won't embarrass anybody by mentioning your thoughts on son-in-law #2. Ha!
My first daughter, Brooke, is getting married this December. She and Derek have been dating for 3 1/2 years, since the beginning of their senior year in high school. Their upcoming nuptials are actually kind of comical, because, you see, I picked Derek as my future son-in-law when the child was in middle school. He didn't know me, and all I knew about him was that he was this cute kid who loved God. Moms of daughters, isn't that what we want for our daughters? A guy who loves the Lord, and if he's cute, that's an added bonus! :)
Anyway, I told Brooke that Derek was going to be my son-in-law. She thought I was crazy. He was a nice friend, and that was all! Well, time passed. Brooke got a boyfriend. Derek told her she and the boy weren't right for each other. For a while, she didn't listen, but she and Derek remained friends. When she and boyfriend break up, Derek remained a good friend to her. Of course, my mommy radar said, This IS the kid God has picked out for her. For the entirety of her junior year, I had to bite my tongue as I watched their "friendship" develop. Those who know me know I don't "bite my tongue" well. By senior year, they were dating. He has been a wonderful, supportive boyfriend, now fiance to her. Derek likes to think that HE'S the one who picked Brooke as his wife, but really, it was her mother who was praying for the two of them long before he knew it! :)
I'm sure you've read stories about nosy mothers who are constantly trying to match up their daughters. I have to admit it. I am one of them! I have been blessed to be head-over-heels in love with my girls' daddy since the first day I saw him. Corny, but it's the truth. I want that for them. I want them to have a godly husband, one who's not perfect, but still a man they can be proud of, respect, and love. I have a few potential candidates for the next two daughters, but we'll just have to wait to see if those fellows are in God's plan for the girls' lives. I confess. I'm a nosy mommy! :)lop. Those who know me know I don't "bite my tongue" well. By senior year, they were dating. He has been a wonderful, supportive boyfriend, now fiance to her. Derek likes to think that HE'S the one who picked Brooke as his wife, but really, it was her mother who was praying for the two of them long before he knew it!
I'm sure you've read stories about nosy mothers who are constantly trying to match up their daughters. I have to admit it. I am one of them! I have been blessed to be head-over-heels in love with my girls' daddy since the first day I saw him. Corny, but it's the truth. I want that for them. I want them to have a godly husband, one who's not perfect, but still a man they can be proud of, respect, and love. I have a few potential candidates for the next two daughters, but we'll just have to wait to see if those fellows are in God's plan for the girls' lives. I confess. I'm a nosy mommy!
I'm enjoying your new book, A Wedding Song in Lexington, Kentucky. I noticed it's longer than some of your other stories. Was it harder to write?
It is longer- 80,000 words in length. Normally, I write for Heartsong Presents. Those books are 45,000 to 50,000 words. A Wedding Song wasn't harder to write. It simply took a bit more time. I enjoyed being able to develop my characters on a deeper level. I plan to keep writing for Heartsong, but I would like to write longer books as well.
I hope you have much success. It's a great story. Thanks for stopping by, Jennifer.
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