I recently read and reviewed
Last Chance Wife (check out my review
here). I really enjoyed the book and am excited to share this interview with the author -- Janette Foreman! I hope you enjoy it and please leave her a comment below. :)
Welcome to Christian Bookshelf Reviews, Janette!! Will you tell us a little about yourself?
Hey, Melanie! I’m a former high school English teacher, turned stay-at-home mom. I’m passionate about inspirational, God-centered romances and teaching people to see themselves as having worth in God’s eyes. I’m also a proud member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), secretary of the ACFW Dakotas chapter, and am represented by Tamela Hancock Murray at the Steve Laube Agency. When I sneak in time for my extra hobbies, I love to read, quilt, make cloth dolls, and draw. I make my home in the northern Midwest with my amazing husband, polydactyl cat, bird-hunting dog, and the most adorable baby twin boys on the planet.
What is your novel, Last Chance Wife, about?
Last Chance Wife is my debut historical romance from Love Inspired Historical. It’s a mail-order bride story but not with the typical plot you normally see. I tell people it’s like You’ve Got Mail in the Wild West! Here is the back-of-the-book synopsis:
When six-time mail-order bride Winifred Sattler is stranded in Deadwood, Dakota Territory, she’s grateful to find a temporary position at Mr. Ewan Burke’s business until she can return home. Ewan is handsome, but stuffy and serious—her complete opposite. Unlike her new anonymous correspondent, Mr. Businessman, who appreciates her bubbly optimism.
To keep his mining company afloat, Ewan can’t be distracted by Winifred’s vivacious beauty. He needs a no-nonsense wife. Someone like Miss Thoroughly Disgruntled, the only respondent to his recent ad with whom he truly connected. In person, Winifred and Ewan don’t get along, but in their letters they’re falling in love. Will they discover a perfect match in each other?
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
When I was in second grade. My teacher assigned a story and mine was three pages long (including large pictures). We even went through an editing process (where I learned things like "quotation marks"). I had such a blast that I never stopped writing after that. I was always a writer, but my desire to be a published author started right there.
What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
When you turn in a manuscript to a publisher, they oftentimes prefer it to come in Times New Roman font. But often, when I write, I'll change the font to something fun and indicative of the manuscripts' mood. It helps me stay in the story world. Or I'll make it a fancy cursive font that I can't read...it keeps me from re-reading and editing when I should be writing!
Where do you like to write?
Coffee shops or the library are favorites. But with young kids at home, I also have places in the house where I like to write—like the living room recliner. ☺
What do you like to do when you're not writing?
Playing with my sons. But if it's something for myself, I love to read, draw, quilt, and garden.
What is your favorite genre to read and why?
Historical romance has always been a favorite, but contemporary romance is quickly becoming another! Books (and movies) touch me when there’s a romance plot to them. Historicals are rich with texture and facts while contemporaries (at least the ones I like) are lighter and fun/whimsical. I enjoy switching between the two.
What is your least favorite genre to read?
Horror. I just don’t.
Is there a place you'd like to visit, but haven’t yet?
Probably Hawaii, or oppositely, a snowed-in cabin in the mountains of Colorado. ☺ Somewhere I can escape and read/write/dream.
Do you have a favorite Bible verse?
Romans 5:8 – “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Do you have a favorite song and/or movie?
Waaay too many songs to name just one. ☺ Anything that strikes an emotional chord in me is a favorite. But my favorite movies are While You Were Sleeping and Ever After (just ask my husband…I’ve watched WYWS so many times, I wore out the DVD and had to get a replacement!).
What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas. I love family getting together, playing games, watching movies, and sharing lots of laughter.
Some this-or-that questions:
Snowstorms or Thunderstorms? Snowstorms! I love staying inside as the snow piles up, writing or reading in my favorite recliner and sweatpants. ☺
Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla. I’m boring that way, haha!
Tea or Coffee? Coffee. I’ll have chamomile tea with stevia on occasion, but generally dark coffee with some flavored creamer.
Call or Text? Text!
Cats or Dogs? Cats. ☺
Introvert or Extrovert? Introvert. Very much so! I love people, and love communicating online or in person, but when it’s done, I need alone time to recharge my batteries.
Are you currently working on any new novels? If so, could you give us a hint?
I have a couple of new projects I’m working on. Since Love Inspired’s historical line is closing in June, I’m taking advantage of the opportunity to try writing a romance for their contemporary line. I’m in the process of it right now and really enjoying it! Historical romance is always near and dear to my heart, though, so I also have a trade length series I’m working on, which deals with romantic suspense/mystery set in the West (1890s). It’ll be exciting to see what becomes of these projects!
Thank you so much for being here! Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers and where can we find you on the web?
Sure! You can find me at these places:
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