Jeannie Campbell {Writer Wednesday}

Happy Wednesday to you all! I wanted to start off this post with something a little different before we dive into meeting the wonderful Jeannie Campbell.

As many of you know, I run a small photography business in addition to my writing and my work at the church. Well, I hit a milestone last week and reached 400 likes on my photography Facebook page *grins*. As a way of saying thank you, I'm offering a giveaway on my photography blog. I know a lot of you dear readers aren't in the area, but if -by some chance- you are near by Santa Clarita or know someone who is, feel free to send them to my blog [here] to check out the giveaway!

Ok, on to meeting the lovely Jeannie for our {Writer Wednesday} post!

A little bit about Jeannie...

Jeannie is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFC # 45366) in California. She currently serve as Head of Clinical Services for a large non-profit, and she’s worked with families, teens, parents, and kids for over 10 years.

You name it, she’s worked there: a crisis pregnancy center, psychiatric hospital, drug rehabilitation, elementary and high schools, college campuses, multiple non-profits and homeless shelters, a foster family agency, and in private practice. But in June 2011, Jeannie added one more location: the internet. She loves her day job so much, she crossed over to diagnosing make-believe people. (Just don’t tell her clients, or they might question their decision to get help from her!)

In addition to being a therapist, Jeannie is also a freelance writer, author, editor, and book reviewer. She writes a quarterly column for the ACFW Journal, monthly columns for Christian Fiction Online Magazine and Choose Now Ministries, and have been featured in several other e-zines, newspapers, and blogs. Two of her manuscripts have been finalists in the Genesis contest for unpublished writers, sponsored by the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), of which she is a proud member.

How to connect with Jeannie...
Website: http://charactertherapist.com
Blog: http://charactertherapist.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeanniemoodcampbell
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeanniecampbell
Jeannie's writer’s guides available for sale in her Therapy Store:
     Writer’s Guide to Personality Disorders
     Writer’s Guide to Personality Types
     Writer’s Guide to Breaking Stereotypes
     Writer’s Guide to Creating Rich Back Stories
     Writer’s Guide to Grief
Preferred purchase link to your book: http://charactertherapist.com/store/

 
Author Interview | Jeannie Campbell

You and Writing

Tell us a little bit about yourself: How did you start writing? What has kept you writing?
...I started writing as a little girl when I got my first journal at age 6. I moved on to angst-driven middle grade and then young adult, following my own developmental progress. Writing is breathing to me. If I don’t, I’d scream…or seriously need therapy.

Your Writing
Tell us a little bit about your book or what you’re working on currently? Why are you/did you write it?
...I’m writing a new adult trilogy currently. It’s a result of my having stumbled upon an incredible psychological theory about love that really resonated with me. The theory is triangular, stating that love has three sides: commitment, passion, and intimacy. I got the idea to have a heroine who experiences each side of the triangle with a different guy, one for each book. It’s more of a coming of age-type novel, one that I am writing mainly to engage that huge population of readers on Amazon who would rather read the NY Times and USA Today best sellers for teens, which are basically erotica for teenagers. I’m writing this series from a biblical worldview, but I think the book will appeal to these readers, and perhaps show them a different way.

What is one take-away from your book that you hope readers identify with?
...I hope that young girls, at that impressionable age of 16-22 or so, will realize that their worth is not defined by whether they are with a guy or not. I certainly want them to know that they don’t need to go into relationships hoping to “save” the bad guy, which is presented in so many novels geared toward this age group.

Writing

Where do you find inspiration for your story/characters? Are they based on real life or pure imagination or both?
...Definitely based on real life. As a therapist, I see a broad array of humanity every day that walk into my office. I never base any character on any one person or client, but make them montages of the people I’ve worked with or have somehow been associated with. I honestly don’t believe there is a better occupation by day to get fodder for bring a writer by night.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors for writing and/or publishing?
...Not to give up. Even if people don’t get it, don’t get you, don’t understand the draw…you keep writing.

You

In honor of the fall, what’s your favorite fall treat?
...I’ve been seriously scarfing down Oreos with the Candy Corn filling. Oh. My. Gosh. Have you tried these? Amazing. It’s like candy and a cookie at the same time.

When you were a child, what did you dream of growing up to be?
...I thought I’d be a vet through middle school…and then a journalist in high school. I did major in journalism, but double majored in psychology as well.

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Thank you so much Jeannie - what a fantastic interview! The series you are currently working on sounds like a fantastic idea. We are definitely in need of books with a biblical world view that isn't afraid to tackle real-world problems. I can't wait for them to come out. And no - I have not tried the Oreos with Candy Corn filling...I'm afraid to buy a carton of those or else...well...they'll be gone much too quickly ;) Maybe I'll bring them to an event and snatch one hehe!

Thanks again Jeannie! And I know I've benefited from your articles for ACFW - keep up the great work! And readers, make sure you check out her Therapy Store!