Today we are
Jae Blessing has always enjoyed the creative process of writing. One of her earliest memories of writing includes a free-style report she gave in second grade that had her classmates laughing by the end of her tale. Her very first Christian novel was On A Slow Boat To China, followed by her Western novel, Evergreen Tree. She now has plans to re-release Evergreen Tree in 2020 with updated content. In the meantime, her first novel and several of her short stories are available on her website for readers to enjoy! Jae's desire is that the people who read her stories are not only entertained but also blessed by them!
Visit Jae Blessing at her website(http://castleguardchristianfiction.com/Castleguardart.html) or send her a message at jb@castleguardchristianfiction.com!
Visit Jae Blessing at her website(http://castleguardchristianfiction.com/Castleguardart.html) or send her a message at jb@castleguardchristianfiction.com!
Interview ~
First things first, would you order coffee, tea, or hot chocolate in our virtual coffee shop? Something else altogether? This is possibly the most important question... No pressure or anything. ;-)
Definitely tea. But if it’s warm out, it’s going to have to be unsweetened iced tea. And if it’s cool
out, a nice cup of hot tea— Irish Breakfast or English Teatime— with cream and sugar. It’s my
comfort drink.
Yummy! On to our second most important question: if you could order anything in the world to eat, what would it be?
Anything? Oh, wow, let me see... There are so many things to choose from... Hmm... Okay,
so, since I’m having tea of some sort whilst visiting with you, I would order a gorgeous cheese
danish (heavy on the cheese, please), or a great big beautiful bear claw with butter on the side.
Oh, why not? I’ll have both! ;)
Yum, yum, yum! Where is your favorite place to write? And why is that your favorite place?
I would like to say that my favorite place to write is in my wicker rocker next to a window that
overlooks a pine lined horse pasture as butterflies flit by and the bird song serenades me.
Unfortunately, it’s far less interesting, because when inspiration hits, just about any place will
do: Indoors, outdoors, table, sofa, floor, vehicle... It doesn’t matter as long as it’s somewhat
quiet. Shhhh! Writer at work!
Haha! "Writer at work!" should be a sign that we carry at all times! Do you have an odd habit that is only explained by your bookish, writer tendencies?
Hmm. I had to really think about this one and I kept coming up with zilch. So, I asked my Mom
and she came up with one in short order! ;) My odd habit would be that I cannot just give a
quick reply to emails or letters (what are those?). For instance, when I inquire about something
or other and the party in question replies, I can’t seem to just type out, “Thanks” and let it go at
that. No-o-o, not me. It will go something like this— “Hello ______! :) Thank you for your
reply and the information that you sent me. I’m sorry that I took so long to get back with you.
Thanks again for your time. Have a great day! :) Sincerely, blah blah.” I’ve also been told by
my brother that when I email a friend, it’s like I’m writing a book to them. In conclusion, I am wordy! It’s actually ironic that the majority of my books are short stories. Go
figure! :)
Haha! I can definitely relate to the wordy, long responses! What inspired you to write The Twelfth of Never?
Well, I believe that my Heavenly Father gives me the inspiration for every story I have written,
and He inspires me in so many different ways. For this story, it was a very particular section of
a piece of music from an old movie soundtrack. I heard the instrumental and with it started
coming these pictures (not from the movie, mind you!) or scenes, as if a teaser trailer was
playing in my imagination. Now, whenever I hear that piece playing, this story is all I see in my mind’s eye. That probably sounds kind of weird, but there it is.
I always LOVE hearing about the different things God uses to inspire a story! It's so cool! What led you to write in this genre?
I enjoy writing in a variety of genres, but for this book, the setting is a real location that I visited
with my family, more than once, many years ago. The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North
Carolina. It is such a beautiful, grand old “summer cottage”. It was built in the late 1800’s and
the romance of that era permeates the entire estate. With that said, I just couldn’t imagine the
story being anything but Victorian.
I love the Victorian Era! *happy sigh* What message do you hope to convey to your readers?
I’m not sure if all writers are like this or not, but whenever I begin a story, I’m not even thinking
of a message that I could be conveying to a reader. All I’m doing is just writing what I would like
to see in a movie, or on TV, or in reality. But I’ve noticed that the farther I get into the story, the
LORD starts dropping in these life lessons that minister to me. By the grace of God, I always
come away from writing these stories stronger, I think. Wiser, and just— somehow better, you
know?
So, all that to say, I think the message in this book is: Take your time when answering
something as big as a marriage proposal— or anything else that can be life changing. Talk to
God and let Him show you what way to go, no matter how long it may take, and no matter how
much pressure there may be from whoever or whatever. It will be worth it.
Yes, seeking God's heart on those big decisions is always worth it! Can you tell us a little about your next project(s)?
Well, now that my wonderfully simplistic website is finished (visit me at
CastleguardChristianFiction.com or contact me at jb@castleguardchristianfiction.com), I can
get back to revising my previously published Western novel, Evergreen Tree. I have hopes of
re-releasing it in 2020 (even if it’s December 31, 2019 at 11:59 p.m.!). In the meantime, as the
Holy Spirit leads me, I will continue to grow my “Jubilee Series” and work on various other
writing projects I have going. That’s my goal for now, anyway. I’d also like to be able to
someday have my books available in print-on-demand, but until then, this is where I’m at.
Awesome! Do you have a favorite Bible verse or story that inspires you on a soul level?
I’d have to say that Paul’s Epistles to Galatia and Ephesus are my current favorites. Over the
past month or so, the main theme that keeps running through my spirit and soul is that we have
been saved by grace, and that we are not under the law of Moses, but rather the law of Love.
That it’s not religion, but a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. I heard a Bible teacher say
something like, we’re not in God’s Throne Room, we’re in His Family Room. I like that! :)
YESSS!!! I LOVE THAT!!! *clears throat after exuberantly shouting* ;-) What are you currently reading? Inquiring minds - mine - want to know. :-)
It’s actually been quite awhile since I read any fiction or non-fiction books. However, if you
would have asked me a few years ago, I would have given you a list like none other!
Sometimes life gets in the way of a bookworm's valuable reading time. So rude. Sigh.
Great chatting with you Jae! Thank you so much for answering all of my prying questions!
Giveaway ~
Jae Blessing has generously offered to giveaway a digital copy of The Twelfth of Never in pdf format to one winner!
First things first, would you order coffee, tea, or hot chocolate in our virtual coffee shop? Something else altogether? This is possibly the most important question... No pressure or anything. ;-)
Definitely tea. But if it’s warm out, it’s going to have to be unsweetened iced tea. And if it’s cool
out, a nice cup of hot tea— Irish Breakfast or English Teatime— with cream and sugar. It’s my
comfort drink.
Yummy! On to our second most important question: if you could order anything in the world to eat, what would it be?
Anything? Oh, wow, let me see... There are so many things to choose from... Hmm... Okay,
so, since I’m having tea of some sort whilst visiting with you, I would order a gorgeous cheese
danish (heavy on the cheese, please), or a great big beautiful bear claw with butter on the side.
Oh, why not? I’ll have both! ;)
Yum, yum, yum! Where is your favorite place to write? And why is that your favorite place?
I would like to say that my favorite place to write is in my wicker rocker next to a window that
overlooks a pine lined horse pasture as butterflies flit by and the bird song serenades me.
Unfortunately, it’s far less interesting, because when inspiration hits, just about any place will
do: Indoors, outdoors, table, sofa, floor, vehicle... It doesn’t matter as long as it’s somewhat
quiet. Shhhh! Writer at work!
Haha! "Writer at work!" should be a sign that we carry at all times! Do you have an odd habit that is only explained by your bookish, writer tendencies?
Hmm. I had to really think about this one and I kept coming up with zilch. So, I asked my Mom
and she came up with one in short order! ;) My odd habit would be that I cannot just give a
quick reply to emails or letters (what are those?). For instance, when I inquire about something
or other and the party in question replies, I can’t seem to just type out, “Thanks” and let it go at
that. No-o-o, not me. It will go something like this— “Hello ______! :) Thank you for your
reply and the information that you sent me. I’m sorry that I took so long to get back with you.
Thanks again for your time. Have a great day! :) Sincerely, blah blah.” I’ve also been told by
my brother that when I email a friend, it’s like I’m writing a book to them. In conclusion, I am wordy! It’s actually ironic that the majority of my books are short stories. Go
figure! :)
Haha! I can definitely relate to the wordy, long responses! What inspired you to write The Twelfth of Never?
Well, I believe that my Heavenly Father gives me the inspiration for every story I have written,
and He inspires me in so many different ways. For this story, it was a very particular section of
a piece of music from an old movie soundtrack. I heard the instrumental and with it started
coming these pictures (not from the movie, mind you!) or scenes, as if a teaser trailer was
playing in my imagination. Now, whenever I hear that piece playing, this story is all I see in my mind’s eye. That probably sounds kind of weird, but there it is.
I always LOVE hearing about the different things God uses to inspire a story! It's so cool! What led you to write in this genre?
I enjoy writing in a variety of genres, but for this book, the setting is a real location that I visited
with my family, more than once, many years ago. The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North
Carolina. It is such a beautiful, grand old “summer cottage”. It was built in the late 1800’s and
the romance of that era permeates the entire estate. With that said, I just couldn’t imagine the
story being anything but Victorian.
I love the Victorian Era! *happy sigh* What message do you hope to convey to your readers?
I’m not sure if all writers are like this or not, but whenever I begin a story, I’m not even thinking
of a message that I could be conveying to a reader. All I’m doing is just writing what I would like
to see in a movie, or on TV, or in reality. But I’ve noticed that the farther I get into the story, the
LORD starts dropping in these life lessons that minister to me. By the grace of God, I always
come away from writing these stories stronger, I think. Wiser, and just— somehow better, you
know?
So, all that to say, I think the message in this book is: Take your time when answering
something as big as a marriage proposal— or anything else that can be life changing. Talk to
God and let Him show you what way to go, no matter how long it may take, and no matter how
much pressure there may be from whoever or whatever. It will be worth it.
Yes, seeking God's heart on those big decisions is always worth it! Can you tell us a little about your next project(s)?
Well, now that my wonderfully simplistic website is finished (visit me at
CastleguardChristianFiction.com or contact me at jb@castleguardchristianfiction.com), I can
get back to revising my previously published Western novel, Evergreen Tree. I have hopes of
re-releasing it in 2020 (even if it’s December 31, 2019 at 11:59 p.m.!). In the meantime, as the
Holy Spirit leads me, I will continue to grow my “Jubilee Series” and work on various other
writing projects I have going. That’s my goal for now, anyway. I’d also like to be able to
someday have my books available in print-on-demand, but until then, this is where I’m at.
Awesome! Do you have a favorite Bible verse or story that inspires you on a soul level?
I’d have to say that Paul’s Epistles to Galatia and Ephesus are my current favorites. Over the
past month or so, the main theme that keeps running through my spirit and soul is that we have
been saved by grace, and that we are not under the law of Moses, but rather the law of Love.
That it’s not religion, but a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. I heard a Bible teacher say
something like, we’re not in God’s Throne Room, we’re in His Family Room. I like that! :)
YESSS!!! I LOVE THAT!!! *clears throat after exuberantly shouting* ;-) What are you currently reading? Inquiring minds - mine - want to know. :-)
It’s actually been quite awhile since I read any fiction or non-fiction books. However, if you
would have asked me a few years ago, I would have given you a list like none other!
Sometimes life gets in the way of a bookworm's valuable reading time. So rude. Sigh.
Great chatting with you Jae! Thank you so much for answering all of my prying questions!
Giveaway ~
Jae Blessing has generously offered to giveaway a digital copy of The Twelfth of Never in pdf format to one winner!
The Twelfth Of Never
Summer 1896
Asheville, North Carolina
Spending a couple of relaxing months at her childhood friend’s new summer cottage in
Asheville, North Carolina, seemed to be exactly what Emerald Rose Lockheart needed as she
prayerfully contemplated accepting the proposal of marriage she had been given some weeks
earlier by her suitor. With the decision having been more confusing than anything, she
suddenly finds it not quite as difficult upon meeting one of her friend’s old school chums— the
gentleman cowboy, Edward Grayson.
Rules, Info, and Such ~
The author is giving away one digital copy of The Twelfth of Never in pdf format!
This giveaway will close on June 26th, 2019, at 12:00 A.M. for all the night owls.
A winner will be drawn within four days of close of giveaway. If the winner does not respond to our e-mails within one week of notification, then a new winner will be drawn in their place.
May the odds be ever in your favor. ;-)
Enter using the handy Rafflecopter here ~
This giveaway will close on June 26th, 2019, at 12:00 A.M. for all the night owls.
A winner will be drawn within four days of close of giveaway. If the winner does not respond to our e-mails within one week of notification, then a new winner will be drawn in their place.
May the odds be ever in your favor. ;-)
Enter using the handy Rafflecopter here ~
Thanks for stopping by, my writerly, bookish friends! <3 See you next time!
Hugs,
V. Joy Palmer
Hugs,
V. Joy Palmer
V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.
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