The Core of Characters by Jennifer Slattery | Guest Post

Emilie here: This month the blog's focus is on characters in reading and writing. To kick us off we have the lovely Jennifer Slattery talking about the core of her character creation! I know you're going to enjoy this.

The Core of Characters

Some characters develop slowly. Maybe I’ll catch a glimpse of their career or whom they spend most of their time with. But other characters seem to unveil themselves rapidly in my brain. In my latest release, Bianca was very much the latter type.

That isn’t always the case, however, so when I begin to sketch out new characters, there are certain steps I normally take.

One might think I start with the easy stuff—hair color and style, eye color, and build. But I’ve found, I can’t determine those things until I know about my character’s core. The first and most important thing I need to know is, what do they want and why do they want that?

The why needs to be significant enough to pull my reader in and cause them to root for the character.

In order to answer this question, I need to know the character’s inner lie, because once I know this, I land on the why behind every action, reaction, dream, and fear.

For example, in Restoring Love, Angela believes she’s a failure. She’s made some incredibly big (and hurtful) mistakes that would have resulted in her being homeless—had her daughter not taken her in. But then she encounters Christ, begins to change, completes a college degree, and takes steps toward creating a new life.

Only problem—that nasty inner lie won’t leave her alone. It haunts her, increases her insecurities, and at times, causes her to perceive rejection when there isn’t any.

In an effort to throw off her lie, she determines to get a job as an educator. This is an admirable goal and one many share, but the goal alone wouldn’t be enough to keep women turning pages. Readers need to know why it’s so important that a character reach that goal. That, as I said, is where the inner lie comes in.

Once I know a character’s internal (to prove herself competent) and external (to gain a teaching position) goals, I need to figure out what keeps them from that. In Angela’s case, she has internal and external challenges. Internally, past failures make her reluctant to take healthy risks. When an opportunity arises, the moment she begins to step forward, her inner lie begins to rise up, whispering incessantly, “You can’t do that. They won’t hire you. You’re not good enough for that.”

But she also faces some hefty external challenges, the biggest of which is that she has zero teaching experience. This roadblock is compounded by the fact that she lives in a competitive job market where there are plenty of experienced teachers are seeking the same jobs that she is.

There are numerous other aspects to each character I come to discover, sometimes before I begin writing, other times as they face struggles or change. These include things like unique personality traits, quirks, fears, close relationships, and favorite ice cream. (All my characters must love ice cream if they ever want page time. It’s a rule.) And those things are important, but they’re secondary to the character’s inner lie, internal and external motivation, and internal and external obstacles.

How about you: Do you write? How do you develop your characters? Do you prefer to start surface level then go deeper, or do you go straight for the jugular as I do? Do you have any craft books on character development that you’d recommend? Share your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions in the comments below, because we can all learn from one another.
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Novelist and speaker Jennifer Slattery has a passion for helping women discover, embrace, and live out who they are in Christ. As the founder of Wholly Loved Ministries, (http://whollyloved.com) she and her team put on events at partnering churches designed to help women rest in their true worth and live with maximum impact. She writes devotions for Internet Café Devotions, Christian living articles for Crosswalk.com, and edits for Firefy, a Southern fiction imprint with Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. When not writing, reading, or editing, Jennifer loves going on mall dates with her adult daughter and coffee dates with her hilariously fun husband.

Visit with Jennifer online at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com and connect with her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte

Book Description for Restoring Love

Mitch, a contractor and house-flipper, is restoring a beautiful old house in an idyllic Midwestern neighborhood. Angela, a woman filled with regrets and recently transplanted to his area, is anything but idyllic. She's almost his worst nightmare, and she s also working on restoring something herself. As he struggles to keep his business afloat and she works to overcome mistakes of her past, these two unlikely friends soon discover they have something unexpected in common, a young mom who is fighting to give her children a better life after her husband's incarceration. While both Mitch and Angela are drawn to help this young mother survive, they also find themselves drawn to each other. Will a lifetime of regrets hold them back or unite them and bring redemption along with true love?

Purchase: Restoring Love 

Intertwined by Jennifer Slattery | New Novel News

Say what? Another New Novel News book? Yep! Thought I'd sweeten the deal and host one more this week since there have been a lot of releases recently. Welcome back to the blog Jennifer!

Intertwined
by Jennifer Slattery

October 7, 2015
New Hope Publishers
Purchase: Intertwined
 
Abandoned by her husband for another woman, Tammy Kuhn, an organ procurement coordinator often finds herself in tense and bitter moments. After an altercation with a doctor, she is fighting to keep her job and her sanity when one late night she encounters her old flame Nick. She walks right into his moment of facing an unthinkable tragedy. Because they both have learned to find eternal purposes in every event and encounter, it doesn’t take long to discover that their lives are intertwined but the ICU is no place for romance….or is it? Could this be where life begins again?

Intertwined, part of New Hope Publisher’s contemporary fiction line, is a great reminder of how God can turn our greatest tragedies and failures into beautiful acts of love and grace. Readers will fall in love with the realistic characters and enjoy the combination of depth, heart-felt emotion and humor that makes Jennifer’s novels so appealing. Readers will be inspired to find God in every moment and encounter in their own lives!

Get to know Jennifer...

If you were a superhero, what would be your super power?
I think my answer to this might change depending on the season I’m in, but lately I’ve been in an incredibly busy season, so I’d have to say, the ability to clone myself. Imagine what I’d get done with four Jennifers. Hm… Not sure my family could handle so much of me, though. I might have to get back to you on this one.

Favorite place you’ve traveled to?
This is another question that has changed and will in the future, but for now I’d for sure say Seattle. My husband and I spent a week on the waterfront for our 20th anniversary, and it was such fun and so incredibly romantic. It came at the perfect time—at the end of a tight deadline and before another busy season, so it was a much needed time to relax, unwind, and reconnect. Plus, Seattle is where we first fell in love, so it was incredibly special to return, after two decades of marriage. Man, is love awesome!

What’s one thing you must have/do in the morning? If it’s a combined experience, can I share two things? I absolutely must start my day with coffee and my Bible, and this is usually a 30-45 minute experience. I’m not ready to face my day until I’ve had both.

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Jennifer Slattery writes soul-stirring fiction for New Hope Publishers, a publishing house passionate about bringing God’s healing grace and truth to the hopeless. She also writes for Crosswalk.com, Internet Café Devotions, and the group blog, Faith-filled Friends. When not writing, Jennifer loves going on mall dates with her adult daughter and coffee dates with her hilariously fun husband.

Visit with Jennifer online at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com and connect with her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte

Jennifer Slattery {Writer Wednesday} + GIVEAWAY

A little bit about Jennifer...

Jennifer Slattery is an inspiring contemporary novelist whose stories of hope, love, and grace resonate with real people. She also writes Christian living articles for Crosswalk.com and devotions for her personal blog, Jennifer Slattery Lives Out Loud; Internet Cafe Devotions; and Takin' It to the Streets, a ministry serving Omaha Metro's working poor and homeless. When not writing, she enjoys hanging out with her teenage daughter and real-life hero husband, as well as serving in her church. She is the author of Beyond I Do and When Dawn Breaks.
How to connect with Jennifer...
 
Website: http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3003937.Jennifer_Slattery
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jenslattery
Purchase: When Dawn Breaks

Author Interview | Jennifer Slattery

**Leave a comment below for Jennifer to enter to win a copy of her novel, When Dawn Breaks.**

[Limited to Continental US only]

You and Writing

Tell us a little bit about yourself: How did you start writing? What has kept you writing?
...Although I’ve always pittered around with writing, journaling, that sort of thing, I started writing largely when I began to become involved in various church ministries. I saw it more as a tool to further ministry goals, and other times it was a hobby. I didn’t pursue it as a career until around 2009.

Do you have a favorite book or work that you’ve written? If so, why?
...I do! It’s one I thought would never go to print, mainly because it was my first real, fully fiction adult novel, and you know what they say about a writer’s firsts. It’s my favorite because I sensed God’s presence so strongly, and I really feel the message of the book encapsulates the desire of my heart—to surrender fully to Christ. I’m excited to say, I recently signed a contract with New Hope Publishers for this novel, and it will release in winter of 2016!

Your Writing

Tell us a little bit about your book. Why did you write it?

...I’d love to!

...When Dawn Breaks is about a middle aged woman who’s made some big mistakes in her life and is now paying the consequences, largely in terms of her relationships.

...As the hurricane forces Jacqueline to evacuate, her need for purpose and restitution motivate her to head north to her estranged and embittered daughter and into the arms of a handsome new friend. However, he’s dealing with a potential conspiracy at work, one that could cost him everything, and Jacqueline isn’t sure if he will be the one she can lean on during the difficult days ahead. And then there are the three orphans to consider, especially Gavin. Must she relinquish her chance at having love again in order to be restored?

You can read a free, 36-page excerpt here: http://issuu.com/newhopedigital/docs/slattery_sampler/1

Care to share what you're working on right now?
...I’m writing the first draft of a sequel to Beyond I Do, my debut novel. In Beyond I Do, we catch a less than admirable image of my heroine’s mother. She’s non-Christian, irresponsible, and often loses sight of the important people in her life. But… she goes through a major change that becomes the catalyst for book two. I wanted to show this change and in so doing, show that everyone is redeemable. I also enjoy writing about new believers. I think sometimes, as we journey with Christ, we forget what it was like to be new in our faith. To struggle, to still have areas of deception in need of truth, to feel as if we don’t quite fit. 

Do you have a favorite character in this work? If so, why?
...I do, and that’d be the main character, Angela Meadows. I really love her heart and I can relate to her desire to fit in, to find authentic community, but feel like she’s “less than”. I think that’s something so many of us women struggle with, and I love the message God gives Angela. I think it’s something He’s saying to each of us. :)

What is one take-away from your book that you hope readers identify with?
...That God can use everything—every tear and regret—to bring about His glorious purposes, and there’s peace and joy in that.

Writing

Where do you find inspiration for your story/characters? Are they based on real life or pure imagination or both?
...I’d say a bit of both, though I’m not sure I know where the line between the two is. Haha.

When you write, what is your overall intention with your stories?
...To glorify Christ. Other than that, I just enjoy getting lost in the telling of a story.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors for writing and/or publishing?
...Keep writing! Never give up, and always seek to learn as much as you can. Pay attention to every critique, no matter how painful, and put your desire to grow above your personal feelings. And most importantly stay connected to Christ, pliable to His Spirit, and tuned to His voice.

You

What’s one thing you are looking forward to in 2015?
...Going to the Mt. Hermon conference! I’ve always wanted to go, and this year will be especially memorable as my husband and daughter will be joining me. And because she’s a senior in high school, this could be our last spring break with her. They’ll have some one-on-one time in the San Francisco area while I learn and hang out with other writers. Then my husband will pick me up and we’ll head to San Diego for the remainder of the week.

Can you recommend one book that you think every writer should read about the writing craft?
...One? There’s two I really like. The Moral Premise by Stanley D. Williams and Stein on Writing by Sol Stein. They’re both excellent; must haves.

Do you prefer New Years fireworks or a bonfire to celebrate with? Or something else?
...Bonfire, some board games with close friends, and hot tea. 

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Great to have you on the blog Jennifer! You latest book sounds great and thanks for offering to give a copy away. I love you you mention to listen to the critiques even if they are painful. I also love how you will be celebrating your time in Mt. Hermon and San Diego. Sounds like a fantastic Spring Break to me!

Deadlines and Friendlines: Finding the Balance | Guest Post by Jennifer Slattery

Welcome Jennifer Slattery to the blog today! I asked her to share a little bit about writing on a deadline and how she manages that with friend time and life. I'm positive you'll love her insights and I can't wait to hear what YOU think in the comments below.

P.S. Don't forget - one more day left to comment on Cherie Burbach's {Writer Wednesday} interview to enter the drawing for a free print from her Etsy shop! To enter, leave a comment on her post.

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Flickr by photosteve101

You want to feel empowered and insanely organized? Stop by the calendar section at your local office supply store and simply flip through the pages. There are 24 hours in a day, seven days in a week, and 52 weeks in a year. Which means, I have 8,760 hours a year in which to write. Considering I type around 76 words a minute, I have the capacity of pounding out 39,945,600 words a year.

Except I have to sleep. And eat. And shower on occasion. And…

Spend umpteen hours with my besties sipping flavored coffees and trying on clearance jewelry. Which inevitably sends us to the shore store to find matching sandals, which sends us to the department store to find an outfit to go with it. Which wears us out completely and sends us back to the coffee shop for a mid-spree pick-up.

Flickr by chichacha

That, my friends, is where the problem lies—not with the jewelry but the “can dos” that threaten to steal the must-dos. Because writings a funny thing. You set a goal, to say, write a novel in a year, and you really intend to do just that. But well, a year’s a long time. Surely it won’t hurt to spend one afternoon out with friends.

Nope. Won’t hurt at all, so long as you maintain a balance.

I admit, I struggle with this, partially, I believe, because I and everyone else know I have no set schedule. Plus, I’ve got some really awesome friends, and numerous coffee shops nearby. Plus, there are times I plain don’t feel like writing, especially when I’m working on that same scene I’ve edited, oh, I don’t know, five hundred times.

This is exactly why I need to create and stick with a schedule! A workable schedule that allows for productivity without leaving me severely socially deprived. In other words, I need to draft a schedule that takes real life into consideration.

Though I’m not much of a numbers person, percentages always help keep me balanced.

If I consider writing a career, I must treat it like one. For some, that may mean devoting 40 hours a week to the craft. For those with full-time jobs, perhaps they’ve only ten hours a week to spare. Others may only have five. (And if you have less than five free hours in a given week, something’s got to give.)

BUT, I also need friend-time. Truly, we do. The Bible is very clear on this point. God created us as social beings to live in vibrant community. In fact, we grow most, as individuals, into our calling, and in the knowledge of truth, in community.

I also need family-time.

And God time. Oh, boy, do we need God time.

Plus, we need to serve, and no, writing doesn’t exclude you, because God placed you in a local body for a reason. And it wasn’t to be a pew warmer. Or dust collector.

I believe most of us can work it out so that we can have a little of all three, if we’re pro-active and intentional.

So how do you do it? 

Flickr Imtiaz Tonmoy

1. Meet with God each and every morning, offer your schedule and concerns to Him, trusting Him to work everything out. Because here’s the thing—

If it’s of Him, He’ll make it happen. In His timing and His way. 

2. Determine your most creative time of a given day and set that aside as if it were a job. Leave the house, lock yourself in the attic, and turn off your phone, if you have to. This should be your “disturb-at-your-own-peril” time. Guard it and guard it well, and if possible, keep it consistent. Make sure you communicate this with your family and friends.

3. Schedule meaningful family time, and release your expectations of perfection. If your schedule’s tight, you might not be able to cook a three-course meal every night. But that’s okay. Your family truly won’t starve.

4. Intentionally schedule in your girl (or guy) time, recognizing though it might not be as often as you’d like, it will happen. And it will be awesome.

Writing isn’t for the weak of will or easily swayed, but if you want to complete that novel bad enough, you *will* do what it takes to reach the end. The good news is, it gets easier with practice.

What about you? What are some things you do to balance friend-times with deadlines? Do you feel your friends and family are supportive of your writing time?

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Jennifer Slattery writes missional romance novels for New Hope Publishers. Her debut, Beyond I Do, releases in August and is available at a discounted price for preorder now! Click here to read more about it and order your copy!

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!

Spread the Christmas Joy with Jennifer Slattery and Giveaway | Day 24

Joy from Jennifer Slattery

It was ten AM Saturday. I was in my jammies, feeling unwell, nursing a big ol’ mug of chicken broth. My husband, on the other hand, had been up for hours, ready to tackle everything on his (and, it seemed, my) to-do list long before lunch. Me? I was ready to go back to bed, like for the entire weekend. Unfortunately, he needed me. I’m pretty sure every married woman can relate.

Hubby: “Honey, where’s my socks? You know the thick ones I like so much?”

Me: “In the back bottom of your sock drawer.”

Hubby: “Have you seen my jacket?”

Me: “Yeah. I hung it up.”

He darts in and out, upstairs and down, and soon lugs the box containing our fake Christmas tree upstairs.

“What’s this?” Face contorted, he holds up a mass of tree limbs conglomerated by some wiry, netting gunk. We didn’t know what it was, but one thing was certain—that tree was going back.

Forty-five minutes later, he returns with a four foot, pre-lit Christmas tree, which now sits, neatly decorated, near our window. Pleased the tree drama is over, I settle deeper into the couch cushions, ready to finish my now cold broth.

But the questions keep coming, and he shows no signs of slowing.

Me: “That’s good, hon. I think you can be done now.”

He looks from the mantle to me to the mantle again. “You think the nativity scene is good?”

Without looking, I reply, “Yep. It’s fine.” I pause. “Do you have baby Jesus?”

“No.”

Me: “No baby Jesus?”

“Nope. I can’t find Jesus.”

 
--> Apparently, we’re awaiting His return.

Not wanting to be sacrilegious, we decide to forego the manger scene that is now missing the most important aspect of Christmas. (Chew on that for a moment.)

So, he carries the incomplete set to the trash then returns to tackle a new project—going through the ornaments stored in the basement.

You better believe this got me off my toosh, and quick. I lurch downstairs and form a human barricade between him and our decorations.

 
--> “You can’t throw these away!” I say, because I know what’s in there. Every ornament, and where they came from.

The first ornament I ever received, given to me sixteen years ago by a special friend from high school, a woman now married and preparing for the mission field. The delicate angel is missing one arm and half of the other.

And it stays.

Then there’s the ornament made for us by my mother-in-law, sent to us in December of 1997. Our daughter’s first Christmas where we took a billion pictures of her playing with wrapping paper and discarded boxes.

 
--> And then there’s this one, given to me by a special woman named Iris Peters. She was one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever met, inside and out. She loved books, food, Mt. Dew, and her three adorable little boys. More than that, she loved Jesus, and the Christmas of 2011, after a brave and valiant fight against brain cancer, she realized she’d meet Him sooner than anticipated.

So how does a dying woman spend her last Christmas?

Simply, making sure her friends and family know how much they are loved. And that she’ll be waiting for them. Because they’ll see her again.

And that, my friends, is what Christmas is about.

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--> Jennifer Slattery is a novelist who writes missional romance novels, her first of which will be released by New Hope Publishers in 2014. She also writes for Crosswalk.com, Internet Café Devotions, and writes and edits for an international ministry called Christ to the World Ministries. When she’s not working on her own projects, she’s helping other authors grow in their craft. Find out more about her and her writing at http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com and find out more about her editing services at http://wordsthatkeep.wordpress.com/experience/

I've got to take a second to brag. My mom, Connie, is pretty amazing. She's a quilter and crafter and has offered one of her small quilts to be one of my giveaway items! Check it out and comment below to enter for your chance to win it :)

**Giveaway rules: To enter, comment on each the post (or posts) in the month of December that offer giveaway items you wish to win. One entry per person per giveaway item is permitted. All winners will be drawn in January (after the holiday craziness) and will be notified shortly thereafter.

Guest Post on Lives Out Loud: Wisdom

I had the pleasure of guest-blogging on Lives Out Loud, a blog by Jennifer Slattery as she takes her readers through Proverbs this month.  My focus was on wisdom and my passage was Proverbs 2:1-8. I'd like to invite you to check out the post [here] and leave any comments that you'd have!  I'll be checking back often and would love to hear your thoughts on my post as well as the great questions Jennifer added at the end.