Friday, November 19, 2010

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 (Heavenly, #1)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!

19 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for the wonderful interview and giveaway.
    New GFC follower

    Elise
    caliblue7 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. great giveaway!
    follow via gfc
    drakebdog@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a great post! I hadn't heard of her books before but they sound really good. Actually, they sound really sad. I'm almost afraid to read them. But I think I want to, just to see what it's like for Zoe.

    And I think you're right, I think it's hard for people to focus on the other kids when the other has a special need. I don't have first hand experience but I can see how easy that can be.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi!
    New follower here!
    Jacque at twinmomx5@gmail.com
    3 points!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for the giveaway I keep seeing this book on all the blogs and I would love to read it.
    I'm a follower.
    Entry Total=3
    apk1princess@live.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'd be thrilled to win one of Jennifer's books Thanks so much
    +1 Tanya / tanyainjville at yahoo dot com
    +1 follower via google
    +1 following on networked blogs (Tanya Riley)

    Total 4 entries

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love Jennifer Lauren's Heavenly. She's becoming one of may favorite authors too. I would love to win this book. I follow you on GFC and am a fan of Jennifer Laurens on GoodReads. Thanks for the giveaway. marcie.turner@yahoo.com =4

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks for this awesome giveaway :D

    I'm a follower :) +1
    I'm a fan of Jennifer on goodreads (Ambur Hostyn) +1
    I'm a Networked Blogs follower +1

    .Ambur.
    ambiepie_6(at)htomail(dot)com

    name & email (+1) and +1 for adding
    That's 5 entries :)

    Thanks again :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hey !

    Everyone has been talking about this awesome book and Jennifer is nice enough to be sending me Heavenly to review ! Awesome review ! Can't wait to read the book :)

    Yay! Thanks for giving away Falling for Romeo. I saw someone talk about it somewhere and I only made the connection that it is written by Jennifer! Gah. It sounds amazing xD

    +1 New Follower (lostinbelieving)
    +1 Fan of Jennifer on Goodreads
    +1 Comment

    +1 Total points: 4

    ~Alison
    lostinbelieving(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  11. +1) I follow you via GFC
    +1) Leanna Morris
    lgm52(at)hotmail(dot)com
    +1) Total = 3

    ReplyDelete
  12. awesome interview! jenifers books totally utterly rock

    Beverly G aka SiNn

    mortalsinn@yahoo.com

    1. done
    2. done
    3.done
    4.done

    5: 5 entries

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am a new GFC follower. I am a fan of Jennifer on Goodreads.
    +3
    brandonaimeeATgmailDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'd love to enter!

    +1 New follower

    +1 I'm a fan of Jennifer on goodreads.

    +1 Follow on Networked Blogs

    Total entries: 5

    aikychien at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I've got a bunch of Jennifer's books on my wishlist so thanks for the giveaway.

    +1 for being a follower
    +1 A Canadian Girl - ayareader@hotmail.com
    +1 for being a fan of Jennifer on Goodreads

    Total entries: 4

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm a follower! Jacque at twinmomx5@gmail.com
    nice interview...you did great!
    total entry 2
    jacque

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thanks for the chance.

    *gfc follower
    *ldsmomof03 at yahoo dot com
    *Total = 3

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thanks for the giveaway!

    +1 follower (Melanie L)
    +1 fan of Jennifer on Goodreads
    +1 Melanie L- peacelily_2006(at)yahoo(dot)com
    +1 add it up

    Total: 4

    ReplyDelete
  19. I am a follower+1 entry
    2. Lisa McGeen lisa.mcgeen@hotmail.com +1 entry
    3. I am fan of Jennifer on goodreads. +1 entry.
    4. I just added my Network Blogs widget. +1
    5. Please add up your entries for another po

    Total points 5

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for commenting. Each and every one is read and appreciated.
Have a wonderful day.