Everyone's Story warmly welcomes multi-published author Jean C. Gordon. This is Jean's second appearance here. It's been a joy watching her literary career growth through the years. Jean is now focusing on Christian Inspirational Romances. Her third Love Inspired title will be out this July. Go, Jean! Check out Jean's dynamic Book Giveaway offer below of SMALL-TOWN DAD, her current release (there's a link for a preview). Jean also joins us for an interview.
Jean is offering 1 copy of SMALL-TOWN DAD to 1 randomly chosen commenter. For easy contact, please leave your email address within the body of the comment. The winner will be announced next Friday, January 25th, between 4-6 PM EST. Looking forward to seeing your thoughts!
Click here to read an excerpt of SMALL-TOWN DAD
Questions for Jean:
Your
current Harlequin Love Inspired novel,
SMALL-TOWN DAD, centers on a theme of how God intervenes in one’s life with
another plan up His sleeve. Has God intervened in your life in such a manner?
Do
you have a reoccurring author’s theme amongst your novels or do they all vary?
While not intentionally planned, all my books seem to have a theme of home or
coming home.
You
set your stories on upstate New York. What are you hoping to capture for your
readers by this story setting?
I like to show readers the “other” New York, outside of New York City. I’m sure many people will be surprised to learn that Upstate NY has many small villages and hamlets with populations of 3,000 or less. Paradox Lake, where my current book is set is a mountain community with a year-round population of about sixty people (2010 census).
Has your tax and financial writing background
helped you to write novels in any way, such as self-discipline or maxing the
hours in a day or . . . ?
I think the most important thing I’ve learned from
my day job is to be open to revisions. Your editor is your friend. You’re a
team. S/he wants to help you make your book the best it can be.
Before
publishing with Harlequin you published six sweet romance novels, and now you
will see your third Love Inspired title coming out in July. Many will say
you’re quite successful! At this point of your career, are you running into any
bumps or unexpected surprises—writing or publishing wise—that you never thought
of before you were published?
The amount of time promoting takes. My earlier books were for a publisher that sold primarily to libraries. I couldn’t expect a lot of other sales, so it wasn’t cost effective—in terms of time or money—to promote. Publishing with Harlequin—and with my two self-published backlist books—I feel more pressed to promote. I try to pick and choose and do a medium amount of promotion based on what I know other authors are doing.
The amount of time promoting takes. My earlier books were for a publisher that sold primarily to libraries. I couldn’t expect a lot of other sales, so it wasn’t cost effective—in terms of time or money—to promote. Publishing with Harlequin—and with my two self-published backlist books—I feel more pressed to promote. I try to pick and choose and do a medium amount of promotion based on what I know other authors are doing.
Any
tips on juggling a full-time job/career with a growing writing career?
Yes, figure out a way to give up the other job. Seriously, you need to have the discipline to set up regular blocks of time to write and work on your book during those blocks. You have to look at writing as a job. You’re not going to last long at another job if you don’t show up to work when you’re supposed. Similarly, you can’t succeed as a writer if you don’t write regularly.
Yes, figure out a way to give up the other job. Seriously, you need to have the discipline to set up regular blocks of time to write and work on your book during those blocks. You have to look at writing as a job. You’re not going to last long at another job if you don’t show up to work when you’re supposed. Similarly, you can’t succeed as a writer if you don’t write regularly.
How
useful is getting the buzz out on your books social media wise?
I really don’t know. I post regularly on Facebook and every few months on the
Craftie Ladies of Love Inspired Romance, as well as guest blogs. But not having
privy to immediate sales information, I have no way to measure the impact.
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| Courtesy of Google Image |
What encouragement do you hope that your reader will carry in her or his heart upon finishing one of your novels?
That no matter what the situation, they can rely on God to show them the way through it.
Author Bio:
Jean C. Gordon’s writing is a natural extension of her love of
reading. A professional
financial planner and editorial group manager for an international communications
company in Albany, NY, Jean is as at home writing retirement- tax-, and
investment-planning advice as she is writing romance novels, but finds novels a
lot more fun.
She and her college-sweetheart husband tried the city life in Los
Angeles, but quickly returned home to their native Upstate New York. While Jean creates stories, her family grows organic fruits and vegetables and
tends the livestock de jour.
Jean likes to give back when she can. She and her husband
team-taught a seventh-and-eighth-grade Sunday school class for several years
and currently serve on her church’s Evangelism Committee. She also shares her
love of books with others by volunteering at the church’s Book Nook.
You can keep in touch with Jean at:
Love upstate NY and so glad you're writing about it! SUCH a beautiful place and most of the nation thinks NY is just NYC! Nice interview, Elaine and Jean!
ReplyDeleteHeather, you warmed my heart by your sweet comment--thanks for your visit tonight.
DeleteThanks, Elaine. I somehow missed this release from Jean and I'm glad to see the upstate setting as well.
ReplyDeleteJean, do you also do a lot of canning and freezing with your crops?
Debra, it's always a pleasure seeing you on Everyone's Story :)
DeleteHi Elaine and Jean. I enjoyed the interview. I hope someday I can be a full time writer, but for now I'm grateful God give's me the stamina to juggle 3 jobs
ReplyDeletesharonlsrock@sbcglobal.net
Nice to see you again, Sharon. I don't know how you do it--3 jobs. Wow! After a lot of listening to what He has to say about my whining () I just cut down to working 4 days instead of 5. You & Jean are amazing!
DeleteThanks, Heather and good luck Sharon.
ReplyDeleteDebra -- I used to do a lot of canning and freezing, but didn't have the time this past summer. I hope to again as I phase out my day job for full-time at-home writing.
Good luck everyone with the drawing.
I'm looking forward to reading your novel. I love how God is always in control of our situations in life. Thank you for this opportunity.
ReplyDeleteclSwalwell@gmail.com
Cheri, you're so right about God always in control of our lives... but funny how I personally need that reminder :) Thanks for visiting!
DeleteWow, Jean ...I'm inspired by how disciplined you are. I teach piano and voice lessons after school, but that's it for another job. So I should really be writing faster I guess;( Although, editing my 1st Historical Romantic Suspense has been more of a lesson in writing than I ever thought. You are right when you say your editor is your friend. She's been a God-send to me...and my book will be so much better because of her! Thanks too for sharing about other towns around NY...Paradox Lake sounds so cute...would love to visit there:)
ReplyDeleteWould love to read your novel:)
lornafaith@gmail.com
Welcome back, Lorna. I'm glad you enjoyed your visit here with Jean. Your editorial lessons reminded me of the valuable information my first agent had shared with me. There's so much to learn!
DeleteSo true Elaine...I wish I would learn quicker! But still getting it done all the same. Hopefully Book #2 goes a little faster because of all I've learned with the 1st book!
DeleteGreat interview Elaine...glad to hear you've been able to go to 4 days a week with your job. That'll definitely help you have time to write!
Glad you enjoyed the interview. I'm overdue to visit you... will work on that ;)
DeleteIt's a major relief to have a few extra minutes to myself, to try to shake off this plaguing exhaustion. But now I'm nursemaid to my very old cat that is fighting a severe urinary tract infection, among other things. I'm glad I'm not alone in this big world, that I have Him helping me. I just wrote a poem about this (on my Thoughts page)
Great writing encouragement. And I read the opening chapter. It drew me in and if I don't win, I'll just have to go buy it!
ReplyDeletepat at ptbradley dot com
Oh, Pat--it's nice to see you again. I'm glad you received encouragement from Jean, but I'm thinking that you may have just encouraged her & brightened her day ♡
DeleteJean, heartfelt thanks for appearing once again on Everyone's Story. It was a fun week! Looks like you picked up a few new fans.
ReplyDeleteThanks too for offering a Giveaway of SMALL-TOWN DAD. The lucky winner of Jean's book is Heather. Congratulations, Heather! Jean and I will contact you directly.