Jennifer Slattery & Ginger Solomon {Writer Wednesday}

Ok, before you say anything...yes, I know that it's in fact Thursday and I'm still posting a {Writer Wednesday} post. I'm going to beg your indulgence and ask for a bit of grace. We just found out that our church (where I work) is moving offices next week. In addition to that I'm also preparing for our women's conference in two weeks. Needless to say...I've got a wild, semi-crazy look in my eyes that can only be explained by stress and trying to coordinate too many things ;)

I am excited to introduce you to Jennifer Slattery (a returning guest) and Ginger Solomon. Here's an interview they prepared for you all. Enjoy!

A little bit about Jennifer...

Jennifer Slattery is a missional romance novelist with New Hope Publishers. She writes and edits for Christ to the World Ministries, is a regular contributor to Crosswalk.com, Internet Cafe Devotions, Inspy Romance, and Jewels of Encouragement, and manages the social media for Takin’ it to the Streets, a ministry that serves Omaha’s working poor and homeless. She’s placed in numerous writing contests and her work has appeared in numerous compilations, magazines, and e-zines.

Visit her online at http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com

A little bit about Ginger...

Ginger Solomon is a stay-at-home mom of seven, five of whom she homeschools -- the other two have graduated. When she’s not working or having fun with my family, she enjoys reading, crocheting, and writing.

Her debut novel, One Choice, will be available at Amazon sometime after the first of the year. She’s currently working on a new contemporary inspirational romance while editing a Scottish historical romance.

Visit her online at: http://gingersolomon.blogspot.com/

Author Interview | Jennifer Slattery & Ginger Solomon

You both are part of a large group blog, correct? Can you tell me more about the blog and why you joined it?

...Jennifer: The blog is called Inspy Romance, and it’s comprised of 27 contemporary romance authors. I joined because I know it’s going to be a blast. But having a personal blog that’s 100% devotional/Christian living, I knew I wanted an outlet that allowed me to connect and interact with readers on a lighter level. We launch in February, and we’ve got some great launch-prizes! And I mean great! Come check us out! http://www.inspyromance.com/ I’ll be blogging on February 18th and Ginger’s first blog appearance is March 22nd.

Tell us your funniest/craziest/most embarrassing blogging story.

...Jennifer: Hm… I’m not sure I’ve experienced crazy-fun in the blogosphere. As to embarrassment, I’ve come to learn that comes with being a writer. At least for me. There’s always an abundance of typos that make it through your umpteen read-throughs. Then for me, there’s always the added face-coloring moments when you misword what you wanted to say. When I first started blogging, those oops drove made my stomach knot, but now they hardly bother me at all. Which might not be such a good thing. Haha.

...Ginger: I’m a little OCD, and I haven’t been blogging that long, so I can’t think of anything embarrassing, and I’m not sure about funny or crazy. I guess the funniest would be the time I had a photo contest. I selected some random pictures from my own photographs and cropped them so readers could only see a portion. The guesses I received certainly made me laugh, especially the picture of my husband’s beard.

So, you both write romance. Tell us about the type of romance you write. What makes it unique? What do you hope readers will take away from your stories?

...Ginger: My debut novel, One Choice, is much like the show The Bachelor, except it’s set in a foreign country, and the “contestants” don’t volunteer, nor do they get to choose whether or not they will marry the bachelor, who happens to be the prince. :) Most of the manuscripts I’ve written focus on trust and forgiveness. I hope readers walk away from my novels understanding that forgiveness is not for the benefit of the recipient as much as it’s for ourselves.

...Jennifer: I write what I like to term “missional romance.” It’s a romance in that there’s plenty of swooning and falling in love, but it takes the romance a step further, showing the couple to be one another’s helpmate in their pursuit of God’s mission. This stemmed from my relationship with my husband. We serve together, whether the ministry is his passion or mine, and I believe we’re ten times more effective for it. There’s something unifying and beautifully romantic about making an eternal impact as a couple and helping one another grow into their giftedness and calling.

Speaking of romance, and with Valentine's Day soon to arrive, what would be your dream Valentine's Day gift?

...Jennifer: This is a hard one! Honestly, I’m not sure I have a “dream gift.” I’m very much a hold-hands-and-talk kind of girl. My husband and I have been married for over 18 years, and it’s been those quiet times of connecting on a heart-to-heart level that have drawn our hearts together most. So I’d have to say, a surprise hike or stroll through a beautiful area followed by a picnic. Maybe a weekend in the mountains.

...Ginger: My dream Valentine’s Day gift? A tour of Ireland and Scotland, especially the castles. I’ve a bit of the blarney in me (and some of the well-known Irish temper, too), and for reasons unknown to me I have latched onto learning as much as I can about these two places. I’ve gone so far as to request an engagement ring with a Celtic knot (as a replacement for my original ring, which I managed to break), and will eventually talk my husband into a Celtic knot wedding band to match. I listen to Celtic music, and well, in general, love most things Irish or Scottish — including the brogue.

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Thank you ladies so much for stopping by my blog! I'm excited for your soon-coming blog launch. I love how you both have similar yet different perspectives on your romance writing. That's one of the best things about the different types of writers and readers. We all write and see story so differently but guaranteed there are readers out there who want to read what we write! Thanks again and I know my readers and I look forward to what this new blog will introduce!