Charity Andrews

Oh My Goodness! IT’S FACE-OFF TIME!!!!!!

I am beyond excited to have the awesome Jen Turano facing off with me today. I want to win this! That has not been going exactly as I would like…

So, in light of Jen’s new book,  I am going to be doing a review later today. She has also offered to give away a SIGNED COPY to one lucky winner. You may click on the Rafflecopter link as of 7:00am. Once there, you may enter as much as your little heart desires! This is a FANTASTIC prize, you aren’t going to want to miss it.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now, down to business!!! FACE-OFF TIME!!!!!

The rules are simple: I ask Jen some random questions. She replies and then I give my answers. Each winning answer is worth one point and I get to decide whose answer is better.

It’s my blog.

Here we go!

1. Do you enjoy shopping, or do you just go into a store when you have to and go straight to the item you want?

Jen – Since I had a career in retail before I had my son, no, I would not claim to enjoy shopping. After a person spends so many hours in stores or at merchandise marts, well…I have a completely different perspective regarding stuff – Not that I don’t enjoy a good handbag or a pair of fabulous shoes – but I don’t linger around the racks when I decide I need to refresh my wardrobe.

Charity – Um, YES. I Absolutely believe in retail therapy. However, since I am sick a lot, that puts a bit of a damper on things, now doesn’t it? But, I could spend the whole day shopping (if I was ALONE…ie: no kids).

— I am giving myself that point!

Charity 1 / Jen 0

2. Who is your favorite fictional character (book, movie, whatever)?

Jen – I absolutely adore Sugar Beth Carey from Susan Elizabeth Phillips book – “Ain’t She Sweet.” She was crafted so perfectly that I still enjoy that book to this day, even after having read it numerous times. Think mean girl finally discovers a heart.

Charity – Sounds delightful!! I haven’t ever heard of it, but now I would like to read it. I think it is too hard to answer this! I can’t imagine where to start… Probably Colonel Brandon from Sense and Sensibility. He is so dreamy because he’s patient and kind no matter the circumstances.

— Obviously Jen is a bit more cultured than myself, so she gets this point.

Charity 1 / Jen 1

3. Have you ever been under a waterfall in those neat caves they have behind them in movies?

Jen – I have not, although when I was younger, my father used to love to fish at this creek – Sunfish Creek. It was out in the middle of nowhere, and…there were caves formed in the hillside and water from the creek disappeared into them. Well, that was far too fascinating for us to ignore, so my sister and I would swim into the opening, although we never traveled far since it was entirely too dark and creepy once you got into the caves.

Charity – Oh my goodness gracious. That is so cool. I haven’t even come close!! I would love to. It sounds so romantic and beautiful, but it’s probably just dark and full of bats 8-/

— Definite point for Jen

Charity 1 / Jen 2

4. Did you ever wake up your kid/kids in the middle of the night to do something fun like play “hide and seek” in the dark?

Jen – My one and only child, Dominic, was never a good sleeper as an infant or toddler, so when he finally did sleep through the night, there was no way I would even consider waking him up – not even to do something fun – because what would happen if he decided to abandon sleep once again?

Charity – Oh man. I can imagine. Luckily, my boys are good sleepers and I have, on occasion, gotten them up with glow sticks and said, count to 100 and then find me!

— I WIN!!

Charity 2 / Jen 2

5. When you were in college, did you play pranks on the dean or the staff?

Jen – I’m not really a prank-playing kind of girl, although I did enjoy my college years, but I was more on the lines of the typical sorority girl than a prankster. I could normally be found wearing a pink Alpha Phi sweatshirt paired with a lovely bow in my hair – inspired by early Madonna MTV videos – remember when MTV actually played music videos? Wow, that right there shows you that I’m….old.

Charity – Well, I remember that too, so you certainly aren’t aging yourself in young company. I was trouble with a capitol T. I did not like the dean, thus I tried to drive him as crazy as possible. I would fill out those “free stop bed wetting magazines” and send them to his house…amongst other horrendous things.

— Classy always wins

Charity 2 / Jen 3

6. Do you love Ikea? If so, favorite thing you have bought from there?

Jen – Surprisingly enough, I loathe Ikea – I’ve only been there a few times and did not care for it in the least and have not bought a single item there. But, my loathing of the place might be because of my love of old-fashioned department stores – especially the ones that used to anchor downtown areas. They always had the coolest elevators, Christmas window displays, beautiful décor, and one mustn’t forget the tea rooms. The cafeteria at Ikea just can’t compete with a tea room.

Charity – I think a little piece of my heart just broke off. Ikea is my favorite store in all of the land. In fact, my entire house is one big Ikea showroom. ha ha. I do know what you mean about the old department stores. My mom lives in upstate NY and they still have a Boscovs there that is just like you described. I love going to visit.

— I am sorry, but I could never award a point to an Ikea hater.

Charity 3 / Jen 3

7.How do you feel you are bringing God the most glory through your writing?

Jen – By writing amusing tales that will, hopefully, allow readers a bit of an escape from their troubles, I believe that God has allowed me a means to bring Him into my storylines in a manner that readers will enjoy. Life isn’t all about hardships and despair, and occasionally we need to be reminded that God probably expects us to find enjoyment in our lives, no matter the problems we might be facing.

Charity – I would completely agree with that since all the verses with suffering seem to mention something about being joyful and not trying to get out of it prematurely. I supposed that’s what sets a Christian apart.

— God wins.

8. The covers of your books are ALWAYS so beautiful! To me, that is 90% of how much I will like the book (Ok, maybe not that high of a percentage…but it’s close!) How do you get the ideas for them and make them so perfect?!

Jen – I would love to be able to say I’m responsible for my covers, but that’s really not the case. I send my editor a character and scene sheet, describing my heroine and settings that are important to the story. She then takes it to the design team and they begin plotting out the cover. They send me a proof of the cover everyone likes the most, and we go from there. Interestingly enough, a lot depends on what models are available when shooting the cover is scheduled. Sometimes there simply aren’t any models around who resemble Grace Kelly, no matter that I might have had Grace in mind as I wrote one of my stories.

Charity – That is cool! I didn’t really know what that process was like. Well, you have an AMAZING design team!

— easy win for Jen

Charity 3 / Jen 4

9. Lastly, which Jane Austen character do you connect with the most? (as in, you are most like)

Jen – I’ve always been drawn to Elinor Dashwood in “Sense and Sensibility.” She’s far more complicated than anyone knows, especially since she doesn’t wear her emotion on her sleeve.

Charity – ahh, and I have always found myself to be Marianne. I suppose we would make great sisters (:

–tie

FINAL:

CHARITY 3 / JEN 4

I cannot believe that I ALWAYS lose! Well, almost always!!! ugh.

Well, that being said, BOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

(:

Thanks, so much, Jen! I had a great time doing this and getting to know you! Looking forward to your next book!!!!