We welcome in Jennifer Rodewald who has lived both in the mountains and the rural midwest. But today we focus on being lakeside with her new book, Lake Shore Sanctuary. Grab your fishing pole and enjoy the virtual lake view while we get to know Jennifer a little better.
PT: Tell a bit about yourself and how you landed in writing and why you write the contemporary genre.
JR: I’ve always loved story, and I’ve always written. At
some point in my early teen years, I turned from journaling, in which I found
myself often complaining about some aspect of life, to writing stories instead.
Story is instructive to me, and I find that I learn best through that vehicle.
In my adulthood, I began to pray that God would give me a
story worth telling. I had thought that it would be something historic, as that
is what I usually read. What eventually filled my imagination, however, was a
complicated contemporary story of a stubborn man trapped in alcoholism and a
young woman dragged into that undertow. Not something I ever thought I’d write
. . . but I did, and it eventually became Blue Columbine, my first published
novel. I’ve written contemporary ever since—though when I read, I prefer to
read historical. Life is quirky like that. 😉
JR: When I read for pleasure, as I said above, it’s usually
something in the historic genre. I particularly love Regency.
My very favorite books have been biographies, though. PureGold, the story of Eric Liddell by David McCasland is my all time favorite.
PT: Do you have a current Bible verse that has a special
meaning to you?
JR: Hmmm . . . I tend to favor passages of God’s Word—I feel
that context is very, very important, so I shy away from solitary verses. I
love the Psalms—one commentator names them the “anatomy of the human heart,”
and I lean into Psalm 103 quite a bit as it reminds me to glorify God for all
that He has done.
PT: Are you a city gal, a country girl, a beach lover, a mountain lady or a lake shore lass?
JR: Funny you should ask that. 😊 I spent the first 7
years of my life in the mountains of Colorado, and that left a substantial
impression on my life. Then we moved to a not-so-great suburb of Denver where I
spent the next dozen or so years. I hoped and prayed that I would not live
there forever . . . and God kindly gave me a Husker for a husband. I have lived
in rural Nebraska for the past 22 years—and let me tell you that adjusting to
not only small-town life, but small-town rural life, took some time. There are
still things that I think or say that my husband will respond with, “Jen, your
city girl is showing.”
I love my small-town life, though, and hope to stay here
forever. We try to get away to the mountains at least once a year. I have
summitted (bagged) 4 Colorado 14ers (peaks that stretch upward at least 14,000
feet), and have wandered many, many more mountain trails in our adventures. My
kids used to joke that we were the only family they knew who had to train for
their vacations. Good thing they were cross country runners!
PT: Since the spring season is on the cusp of appearing,
tell your favorite season and why.
JR: I love them all. I love the changing of times and
seasons. Spring and summer bring a lot of work my way—I am a very small,
hobby-level flower farmer, but I savor the work and the beauty. Fall and winter
bring a little bit of rest, and that is lovely, too.
PT: Talk about Lake Shore Sanctuary, how you came up with the idea, and a little about the series itself Redemptive Shores.
JR: Redemption Shores came about from a group project I participated in a few years back—we put together an anthology of 80’s movie spin-offs. It was super fun! I knew, though, that once the anthology had gone it’s year-long course, I wanted to refresh and expand the story I’d written for it (mine was a reverse-roll spin-off of overboard, set in the Montana mountains), and I wanted to try a Saga-style series so that I could really dig in deep with complexity and character development.
That sort of threw off a lot of my readers—contemporary
Christian romance doesn’t see a lot of a Saga-style series (think of your
favorite, bingeable TV series—like Heartland or Miss Scarlet—and you’ll know
what I mean). Readers tend to like their romances all neatly tied up at the end
of each book—and I get it! But this series has been challenging and wonderful
to write, because of the complexity, and because the characters are given time
to really ferment and grow. It’s been a beautiful reminder that in real life,
people’s stories stretch over a lifetime—and we all need patience, humility,
and grace for the course.
PT: What was your favorite part to write in Lake Shore Sanctuary?
JR: I loved having a story that had a strong element of
suspense. I’ve never written one before, so that was a fun change-up. I also
really, really loved writing a marriage that grew into love—and that happened
because of a determination on both sides to choose love—and to show love—even
when they weren’t “in love.” One of my favorite lines from the story was this:
"Falling in love and loving someone are very different.
I think you will discover that loving is the deeper end of the pool."
If I could hammer in something about love and marriage to my
four children and have it stick, I think that would be it. Loving is gritty and
hard and humbling and full of sacrifice. But it’s also glorious and beautiful
and worth every tear and effort.
PT: Did you enjoy researching for this novel? What interesting tidbits did you discover that may or may not have made it into the book?
My favorite part of research for LSS was watching VLOGs of
backpackers who took me into the Yellowstone backcountry. I loved getting a
virtual journey into parts of the Park that I wouldn’t be able to access
otherwise. Man, it’s really beautiful! God sure does amazing work!
It was also interesting to find that the FBI does “contract”
(sort of) some of their undercover operatives—though often those are criminals
who work as part of a plea bargain (think White Collar). It was also
interesting (alarming!) to discover that the cartel does have a presence in
Montana (my husband questioned that), and it’s not small. Yikes!
PT: Tell a little about LakeShore Sanctuary.
JR: Winning her husband’s heart might be the adventure--if
not the achievement--of her life. If she can pull it off.
Grady Briggs is quiet
and dependable and wants a life that looks nothing like his years spent working
as a criminal investigator. But when a known member of the cartel comes
searching for Isa Romero, that calm, predictable life he'd hoped to find in
Luna goes up in flames. Things get complicated when Grady discovers why the
crime boss is after Isa.
Though the flirty,
vivacious young woman has rubbed him wrong since day one, Grady is willing to
go to any length to protect her--even if that means marrying her.
Isa wanted a life
full of romance and adventure, but her search for it has landed her in a whole
lot of trouble. Grady’s offer of protection is the smart choice, but a
lifeless, loveless marriage isn’t something she can live with. Her best option?
Win her husband’s heart—which might be the adventure, if not the achievement—of
her life, if she can pull it off.
Their marriage is supposed
to be her refuge, but the danger only gets worse . . .
Just when they discover that they might have a chance at a real future together, their secret is exposed. When the danger becomes life-threatening, will Grady be able to protect his wife like he promised?
PT: Tell 5 things about Jennifer Rodewald that have nothing
to do with writing.
I’m a girl who loves Jesus and want others to love Him too.
I have been married to my own personal Superman for almost
26 years.
I have 4 nearly grown children (my baby is a junior in high
school).
I am a small-scale flower farmer.
I am a part-time swim coach.
PT: Talk about your future plans and what direction you are
heading in your career. Will there be another book in the Redemptive ShoresSeries, or will you head in another direction?
JR: I am finding that I have to hold tomorrow up with an
open hand. Currently, I am on a writing break, praying, as I did in the
beginning, for a story worth telling. I have ideas for more Redemption Shores
books, but for now, I wait. And in the meantime, I live. There is so much to do
and savor in this beautiful life God gives!
PT: And there you have it, readers~the inside scoop on Author Jennifer Rodewald! We are doing a free book giveaway~although if I am honest, we haven't had to give away any books in the last several weeks because of lack of comments~and you can enter by leaving a comment and your email. Or, you can enter by using our contact form. I sure would like to giveaway a copy of Jennifer Rodewald's book, Lake Shore Santuary, but that is up to all of you readers! We want to hear from you, and thanks for stopping by our virtual lakeshore chat!
Thanks to Jennifer for stopping by The Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction!
Jennifer Rodewald Bio:
Jennifer Rodewald lives on the wide plains somewhere near the middle of Nowhere. Somehow she is both a realist and a romantic. She writes faith-based stories of Christian romance with real-life struggles and the hope of happily-ever-after grounded in the goodness and faithfulness of God. She loves stories and believes they can be powerful vehicles of truth and hope. Mostly, she loves Jesus and wants to see others fall in love with Him too, because HE is the real hope for that eternal happily-ever-after.
Or on Facebook @https://www.facebook.com/authorjenrodewald
You can find all her books on Amazon @ https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jennifer-
Rodewald/author/B00XZK0PQ6
Lake Shore Sanctuary links:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222951465-lake-shore-sanctuary
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/lake-shore-sanctuary-a-christian-novel-
