Author Interview with Jennifer Laurens, Review of "Heavenly", and a book giveaway!

It seems like I'm trying to fit quite a few things into one blog.  Nice compact and a little easier to access, maybe?

I am grateful that Jennifer Laurens agreed to do an author interview with me. This is my first one, and it may be a little ragged around the edges.  But I am learning. Jennifer is gracious enough to be part of my learning curve.  Thank you!

I will start off with my review of "Heavenly".

Heavenly by Jennifer Laurens

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I was pleasantly surprised by "Heavenly". I went into this book not knowing what to expect. It looked like another human falling in love with an immortal book, I do enjoy that genre and I was thinking this would fit into that mold.

I was wrong. "Heavenly" creates it's own niche.

Zoe has a little sister who has autism. Abria is the center of everything. She is very high maintenance. She runs, she doesn't answer so you can find her and she likes to flap her arms. Zoe is a bit embarrassed by her sister. Her brother Luke is a pothead. Zoe has her own problems, she likes to escape by partying. She goes to parties, gets drunk, and hooks up with a cute guy.

Zoe's parents are so focused on Abria that they fail to see the problems with their older two children. The family is in denial.

Enter Matthias. He is the guardian of Abria. One day while Zoe is at the park with Abria, she is texting a friend, looks up and finds that Abria has disappeared. She finds her with a strange, yet comforting, young man. He has saved Abria and brought her back to Zoe.

We come to find out that he is there when Abria is in danger. Zoe and Matthias become friends and Zoe falls in love with him. That is all that I will say on that, because you should read this book.

This story has another layer dealing with the fight of good vs. evil. The consequences that come for our choices, and learning to heal with love.

I am looking forward to reading the two books that follow this one, "Penitence" and "Absolution". (Won't my husband be surprised when he finds out he purchased them for me for Christmas?)  I recommend this book to anyone and everyone who likes a great book!  This IS a good book.

I hope you don't mind me adding a little bit of a personal note.  Sixteen years ago, when my husband and I had been married for a little over a year, he had a younger sister who committed suicide.  I watched a family  struggle, parents drowning in sorrow, and younger siblings left floundering.   Good kids began to party and start a life dealing with addictions. 

This story has a very real  and timely message for youth.

Another person interjection, one that is hard for me to write about.  I have a son who is dealing with mental illness.  He started threatening suicide at age six, we have had therapy and psychiatrist appointments.  I don't mention this for sympathy, I want to illustrate my next point. I empathise with the parents in this story, it is easy to become so focused on the child who is struggling and leave the others to their own devices.  This book has helped me see the error in my ways, and I hope to become a better mother because of it.

MOVING ON....

I am excited for the next bit.... my interview with Jennifer Laurens.

Jennifer Laurens is the mother of six children, one of whom has autism.  She lives in Utah with her family, at the base of the Wasatch Mountains. (Taken from About the Author in the back of "Heavenly")

1. How would you describe "Heavenly"?

 A real life book.  A story most people can take something beneficial from.  A gook about hope, faith, family loyalty.  A story with thought-provoking ideas about the handicapped.

2. Who or what inspired you to be a writer?

 My step-father was a writer.  I'd go to sleep with the sound of his typewriter clicking away in the other room... coffee and cigarettes always accompanied his writing time.  Those scents filled the house and signaled that he was hard at work for long hours.

3. Name one thing that you would like your readers to know about you?

 I write what I want to write, and not what's hot.

4. How do you get past "writer's block"?

 Write through it.  Something always ends up changing for the better.

5. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

 Join a critique group.  Let people other than your family (who will always love your work) read your work.  Take their suggestions.  Read across all genres.  Write as much as humanly possible.

I would like to thank Jennifer for taking time out of her schedule and answering my questions.  As I said before, I found her to be a very gracious woman.  I think she is going to become one of the author's on my favorite authors list on the bottom of my blog.  I appreciate her and the books that she publishes for us to read.  (I have added her web page to my author pages in the bottom left, if you want to check it out.)

So.... I will be giving away one of her books.  It was published in 2007.  It is the first book of hers that I read.  If you would like to see my full review, click on this link : http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/2010/11/review-of-falling-for-romeo.html

John can have any girl he wants. Jennifer's never been kissed. Everybody thinks he's perfect. She's got issues with pride and jealousy. They were best friends-once. Now, they're playing Romeo and Juliet. Virgin lips Jennifer must have her first kiss on stage with John, the guy every girl in school wants. The pressure and tension build along with each staged kiss. Both are shocked when feelings bloom. Can either tell which kisses are real and which are for show?    ( taken from Goodreads.)

To enter leave me a comment and answer the following requirements.

1.  You must be a follower of my blog. +1 entry
2.  Leave your name and email address.  +1 entry
3. Become a fan of Jennifer on goodreads.  +1 entry.
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/758992.Jennifer_Laurens
4. I just added my Network Blogs widget.  Follow on Networked Blogs for another entry. (I would love to see another picture besides mine posted there!)
5. Please add up your entries for another point.  Up to 5 entries.

I am making this available for US and Canada.  I  am currently doing two international giveaways, and quite frankly, the shipping adds up.  You may feel free to look at my other giveaways and enter there as well.  They are my 100 followers,ending on the 27th and Gratitude Giveaways, ending on the 28th.  Links are found  in the upper right sidebar.

This giveaway will run until  November 28th, 11:59 Mountain time.  You will have 48 hours to respond to my email if you win.  If there is no response another winner will be chosen.  I will be using random.org.

Thanks for joining me and Lauren today.  Wishing you many happy hours of READING!