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Category: Author Interview
Oh my goodness gracious!
I am so excited about the next few weeks. I have so many AMAZING books to share with you guys. I am blown away by how awesome God is. He has given me such a blessing with this job that I can do in spite of my health. He truly created us to have what our heart most desires when we seek to bring Him glory.
Over the next few weeks, we will have a multitude of Face-Off’s, some new games, reviews of some INCREDIBLE books and GIVEAWAYS!!! Take a look at some of the books I am reading right now:
Face-Off with Author Jocelyn Green and more!!
A few weeks back, I reviewed an awesome
book named Spy of Richmond.
Each one tells the perspective of women and how they managed to live through, and help their cause. Check these books out on Jocelyn Green
As a homeschool mom, I was excited to hear that Jocelyn also homeschools her children. 
I was telling her that her books were so full of history, I was having my 11th grade son read one of them. That is when she informed me that she is, in fact, so passionate about teaching history through books and novels that she has begun writing a curriculum based on these books. You will have to check it out. I thought it was really awesome!
Ok, now that we have the official business taken care of….. HERE WE GO!
The rules are simple. I ask Jocelyn 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. Have you ever gone Ice Skating in NYC at the Rockefeller ice rink?
Jocelyn – Nope—I’ve been to NYC a few times, and to Rockefeller Center, but haven’t skated there.
Charity – I have not been there, let alone skated there 😦 I saw a lot of NYC, just not there.
— Easy point for Jocelyn
Charity 0 / Jocelyn 1
- Do you ever set all the clocks in your house ahead by a couple hours on New Years Eve so you can celebrate with the kiddos and get them to bed at a good time? ha ha ha
Jocelyn – I haven’t yet, but this is a great idea! Thanks!
Charity – I haven’t either. My friend did it every year. Her and her friends would have a big party with all the kids and then go home and have their kids in bed by like… 9:00. ha ha ha. My husband thinks that horrible. I like it!
— Fail
Charity 0 / Jocelyn 1
3. Do you do Civil War Re-enacting?
Jocelyn – I don’t, but my husband did in high school. He was a re-enactor at Fort Clinch, Florida. Ironically, though, he wore Union blue because nobody else wanted to be a Yankee!
Charity – ha! That’s awesome. Well, I used to do a lot of it when I was a teenager (over 20 years ago….). I am currently part of the Regency Society of Virginia though. I love that.
— I get that one! woot!
Charity 1 / Jocelyn 1
4. Any relatives (that you know of) in the Civil War?
Jocelyn – Yes, I had a relative who fought at Gettysburg but died of pneumonia around Little Rock the next year.
Charity – One of my great grandpa’s was also in the Confederate Army. Pretty crazy! What’s crazy is how it wasn’t even that long ago…Seems so archaic.
— Tie
Charity 2 / Jocelyn 2
5. Do you have any guilty pleasure tv show (that may, or may not be embarrassing)?
Jocelyn – Parks & Rec. And Psych. I need a little buffer of ridiculousness between researching the Civil War and going to bed! I also love more cerebral shows like Sherlock, but I wouldn’t call that a guilty pleasure.
Charity – I am a sucker for all those cheesy Hallmark movies. Big time!!! The funny thing is, I like Jane Austen movies, Hallmark movies, and then SUPER bloody movies like Warrior and Lone Survivor. No in-between with me, I suppose.
— Not sure how to judge that one.
Charity 2 / Jocelyn 2
- What’s your biggest phobia?
Jocelyn – I know there are worse things in the world to be afraid of (ebola, tornadoes, etc.) but the one recurring fear I have is of bats in my house. I have friends who appreciate bats, but I do not appreciate bats in my home. We’ve had this happen three times, and I just can’t stand it. Once a bat flew into my office at 11pm while I was writing Yankee in Atlanta, and I was so freaked out I almost couldn’t move. Not long after that, a bat was swooping around my kitchen at two o’clock in the afternoon! Ack!
Charity – OMGosh. That is bad. ugh. We had a injured bat in front of our house a few months ago and I was FREAKING OUT. My biggest phobies are snakes and spiders and crickets and heights. ha. I have a lot!! We were raking our back yard a couple of years ago and I was wearing flip flops because it was in the middle of summer. I look down, and there is a copperhead RIGHT. BY. MY. FOOT. Omgosh. I almost died. I told my son (he was 13 at the time) that I needed something QUICKLY so that I could kill it before it devoured my toes. He comes back with a little tiny garden shovel and scissors. ????!!!!!!!!!! I was like, “What in the world!??” So, I pinned it’s head down with the shovel and cut through his body…… *shiver* it was SOOOOOO GROSSSSSSS AND TOOK SO LONG! *shudder*
— Both had horrible experiences. Even
Charity 3 / Jocelyn 3
7. I see on your Amazon profile that you love Mexican (I applaud you). Do you have any amazing Queso or Guaq recipes for us?
Jocelyn – Thanks! I was a nanny in Mexico one summer during college, and I was in total food heaven. As for a recipe, here’s one for a dip I really enjoy:
½ lb. ground beef
½ t. ground mustard (dry)
¼ – ½ t. chili powder
¼ c. chopped onion
¼ c. finely chopped green pepper
1 can (16 oz) refried or black beans
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
1 envelope taco seasoning mix
Finely shredded lettuce
Shredded cheddar cheese
Sour cream topping (mix 1 c. sour cream, 2 T. shredded cheddar, ¼ t. chili powder)
- Cook beef in skillet. Drain.
- Stir in rest of ingredients (except for sour cream topping, lettuce and cheese). Heat to boiling, stirring constantly.
- Spread in ungreased pie plate. Spread sour cream topping over it. Sprinkle with lettuce and cheese. Serve with chips.
That’s really delicious, but sometimes I don’t have enough time for that. SO if that’s the case, I resort to another yummy but simpler version of Taco Dip. I call this one my Dip on a Deadline since I’m usually on a book deadline if I’m too time-starved to make the first recipe. Here we go:
1 package (8oz) cream cheese, softened
1 c. (8oz) sour cream
1 carton (8oz) French onion dip
1 envelope taco seasoning
4 c. shredded lettuce
2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1 ½ c. chopped tomatoes
In a small mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, sour cream, onion dip and taco seasoning until blended. Spread onto a 12-in. round serving platter. Top with lettuce, cheese and tomatoes. Serve with tortilla chips.
Charity – Oh goodness. I will be trying that!!!!!
Charity 3 / Jocelyn 4
8. How is God being brought the most glory in your life?
Jocelyn – I would like to think that my books, both nonfiction and fiction, bring Him glory. That is certainly my goal. But I’m sure that I bring Him the most glory when I fulfill the role He has for me inside my own home as wife and homeschooling mother to our children.
Charity – Great answer. I agree. It’s like God is letting us “babysit” these people He has huge plans for somewhere down the road. It’s up to us to take care of His kids and train them up right. Heavy, but lovely job ❤
Charity 3 / Jocelyn 4
9. What made you choose Libby Prison over Andersonville?
Jocelyn – I had chosen to do a novel on Richmond’s spy network because I was so intrigued by the historical figure of Elizabeth Van Lew. So Libby Prison just naturally fit into that because of its location, and Van Lew’s connection to it. Even beyond that, though, Libby appealed to me because it’s much lesser-known than Andersonville. Many books have been written about Andersonville, so I didn’t feel the need to shine more light on that prison.
Charity – Ok, that is pretty neat about the spy ring. I can’t imagine how scary that would be. I live right outside of Richmond and didn’t even know about Libby Prison!!! I was, however, part of the movie Andersonville. I used to be in the Yorktown Fife and Drum Corp and we were able to take part in the production. So fun!!!
— Again, no real winner here!
Charity 3 / Jocelyn 4
10. Do you have any writing rituals or warm-ups you routinely perform as you get ready to write for the day?
Jocelyn – Other than prayer, which is absolutely indispensable, I do two things. I read a little bit of poetry, which shows me that it really is possible to say a lot without overwriting. I also put on my writing pants. These are really just pajama pants from L.L.Bean, but they are so comfortable, I just love them. It’s easiest for me to be creative when I’m wearing comfortable clothes.
Charity – Ok, I see what you did here. You asked me a question that you knew I couldn’t win a point for!!! My My. (; I will agree that I wear my yoga pants all day. You know there’s a problem when you put normal clothes on and your kids start freaking out wanting to know where we are going…”I’m just getting dressed…” “huh???” That confuses them. ha ha ha ha
Final:
Charity 3 / Jocelyn 5
Total annihilation. One day, I WILL BEAT one of you (:
Thanks so much, Jocelyn. I had a great time getting to know you better and facing off. Readers, check out her website. She has some awesome ministries to military families as well as her books and some homeschool stuff.
You can also give her a 
on her FB page, or on 
.
FACE-OFF with Jody Hedlund!!!!
It’s time. The time has come for a frenemy face-off! (and, boy do we look fierce!)
I recently reviewed Jody’s newest book, An Uncertain Choice
It’s a great book and it is going to be released on March 3rd. So, get ready!!! There is also a 
The Vow: A novella
Ok, ready to get down to business?
The rules are simple. I ask Jody 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. Where’s your favorite place to shop?
Jody – Any bookstore! In fact, walking into a bookstore is like stepping into heaven! I even love shopping at used bookstores (and my favorite section is the history section where I love to try to pick up gems that I can use for my research).
Charity – Ah, yes. I do love both! I am also a history nerd buff! I will have to say that Target is my true love though. I spend way too much time there. I do most of my book shopping on Amazon, so it’s a toss up.
— I am going to have to give that one to Jody because I can’t decide between Target and Amazon.
Charity 0 / Jody 1
2. Favorite Band/Musician?
Jody – I have lots of favorite contemporary bands that I love (including Rend Collective, The Afters, King & Country, etc.). But I admit, my favorite music is piano music. I LOVE the Piano Guys and during my writing time, I listen to my Pandora Piano Guys station the most of all my other stations.
Charity – Nice! I, myself, am a pianist. I used to teach music before I became a Home Momma. So, your love of piano makes me happy. Especially if you like Chopin!! Of course, I love those that you listed (except, I’ve never heard of Rend Collective), as well as Tenth Ave. North, tobyMac, Taylor Swift and on and on.
— I can’t see a clear winner here…
Charity 0 / Jody 1
3. Ever had a super embarrassing haircut at a critical time in your life?
Jody – I can’t think of anything now as an adult, mainly because I’ve had my same very talented stylist forever and she’s awesome. But when I was young (like around six or seven), I had really long pretty blond hair. Someone convinced me that I should get it cut and try a new hair style. So of course, being naive and not really understanding the reality of “short hair,” I got all of my hair chopped off to above my shoulders. When I saw myself for the first time in the mirror, I was horrified and wanted all my long hair back.
But of course, I was stuck. So rather than let anyone see me with my new short hair, I decided to wear a towel over my head out in public instead. Nice way stay incognito, right? *wink* Little did I know that I was making more of a spectacle of myself with the towel-hat than if I’d merely showed my cute new hair-do!
Charity – OMGosh. I thought I would win this one hands down, but … I think you got me! You actually wore a towel around! ha ha ha ha That’s amazing. Well, I had a friend that lived in Israel. We had met in a chat room when the internet first came around (ok, I just aged myself). Anyway, we were really good friends (nothing romantic). He came to visit me from Israel, so I went and got my hair cut. SHE MESSED UP AND GAVE ME A BUTCH CUT!! It was so horrible. I mean, HORRIBLE. He couldn’t really believe it was actually me. He was so confused. ha ha!!
— Wearing a towel around town trumped me. Unbelievable.
Charity 0 / Jody 2
4. “Go to” movie when you are sick and just want to rest and watch something relaxing?
Jody – I rarely go out to the movie theater to watch new releases. Occasionally, my husband and I will go out for a movie date. But usually we’re too cheap to go to the theater (and just way too busy!). So we usually wait until a movie we like comes out on DVD before we watch it.
However, I do have my “sick movies,” the ones that I watch when I’m lying flat on my back on the couch and can’t move. Of course, those are all my Jane Austen movies! There’s just something soothing and healing and altogether calming about them.
Charity – I completely agree. My “go to” is Sense and Sensibility (with Kate Winslet and Emma Thompson). And you are completely right about going to theaters. It’s outrageous!!! At least the one’s near us have lazyboy chairs. There are foot rests and the chairs recline. ahhhhh
(and, my mistake for not phrasing that question very clearly).
— I’m totally taking that one because I had a specific movie title!!!!
Charity 1 / Jody 2
5. Lastly, how is God moving and getting great glory in your life.
Jody – Right now I’m in the midst of trying to bring him 
glory through my new YA book, An Uncertain Choice. It’s my passion and desire that young women can use the book to talk about dating and relationships during a time when it’s VERY much needed (especially in light of the recent release of the Fifty Shades of Grey movie). I’ve developed an extensive discussion guide that corresponds with the book and hope God will use the book and guide to facilitate lots of good discussion about what it means to have God-glorifying relationships.
Created by Jody for group discussion or individual study, the discussion guide is a great tool to share with your friends, daughters, and youth groups.
Download Jody’s An Uncertain Choice Discussion Guide
**Be aware there are spoilers, if you read the guide prior to reading An Uncertain Choice.
Charity – That is amazing. I am so sickened by this whole fifty shades thing. Makes me so sad. I think that is INCREDIBLE. I, in fact, just reviewed a CHRISTIAN book today that was saying how sexuality is up to what you are comfortable with in your own life. God is ok with whatever, as long as you are happy. It was horrifying and I have felt sick since I read it. I ended up deleting it off my page because I didn’t want to promote it (even with the scathing review). I hope that we can get that discussion guide! I’d love to put that up on my page.
—-blowout 
Charity 1 / Jody 3
Ok, you win. I have yet to win a Face-Off! This is getting embarrassing. For real! (:
Thanks, so much, Jody, for taking the time to face-off and let us get to know you a little better. It’s been a blast!
The rest of you, head on over here
Give a 
to her FB page! And don’t forget about !
FACE-OFF with author Karen Swallow Prior
Ok, let’s get this thing started by me saying that we all wish we were as stinking adorable as you!
That being said, let the introductions begin. Karen is a Professor of English at Liberty University. She recently wrote a book, that I reviewed, on Hannah More. Hannah was an abolitionist, poet and reformer in the 18th century (and on into the 19th). 
You can pick up a copy of Fierce Convictions: The Extraordinary Life of Hannah More – Poet, Reformer, Abolitionist
Unfortunately, being a woman, she did not receive the fame as her contemporaries did, even though her contribution to the abolition of slavery and schools for the underprivileged helped to change the world.
Now that we have taken care of business, it’s time to get this show on the road!
The rules are simple: I ask Karen 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. Who is your favorite person in history?
Karen – You mean besides Hannah More? Well, I guess that would be another favorite writer, Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver’s Travels and the most splendid satire ever written, A Modest Proposal.
Charity – Whew. Ok. I thought you were going to pull the “Jesus” card. Of course He is first… I would have to go with George Washington and Jane Austen. Totally cliché, but I can’t help it! I am also very interested in British royals throughout the ages.
— Your answers are very original, while mine reek of trendiness. yuck.
Charity 0 / Karen 1
2. What’s your take on the festive holiday sweatshirts?
Karen – Um, no. Just no.
Charity – Ha ha ha ha. My husband has a sweatshirt that says “Moosletoe” with a picture of two moose (weird that that’s the plural of moose.) under mistletoe kissing. It’s wretched and he loves wearing it. ha.
— I think I get that one on account of my husband.
Charity 1 / Karen 1
3. Have you ever ridden a camel?
Karen – Yes! During a trip to Morocco. Not quite the same as riding a horse!
Charity – Me too! I was actually in Israel. I road a camel in Jericho. Pretty sweet. They are nasty though.
— tie
Charity 1 / Karen 1
4. What translation of the Bible is your “go to”?
Karen – ESV
Charity – NASB – My husband likes NIV, my oldest son (11th grade and wants to be a pastor) likes ESV and my youngest, understandably, likes NIrV (he’s 7). So, it’s a battle ground here.
— Wow. another tie, I guess?
Charity 1 / Karen 1
5. How has God been brought most glory through your career?
Karen – Well, you’d have to ask Him that, but if I had to guess it would be (I hope) in showing that Christians can love God with their minds—and their sense of humor, too.
Charity – I like that. Enjoying life through anything and loving others. I think that’s what it comes down to.
— We aren’t getting ANYWHERE!
6. Favorite flower?
Karen – Gerber daisies and antique roses.
Charity – I used to be a MAJOR FAN of the Gerber/Gerbera daisy. I have a problem though…Usually when things get too trendy, I stop liking them. So, whilst I still enjoy them, I have moved on to ranunculus and hydrangeas.
— You are solid. I am wishy-washy (such a dumb term). I’ll give you that one.
Charity 1 / Karen 2
7. Favorite sitcom?
Karen – Seinfeld
Charity – Oh, good one! I am a Friends lover first and foremost thought.
— This is getting ridiculous
Charity 1 / Karen 2
8. Summer, Fall, Winter, or Spring?
Karen – Summer, Spring, Fall, Winter—in that order. And I tolerate winter only for the boots. And scarves. And cool coats.
Charity – Hmm. I do love a good pair of boots and I love the hoodies. I am a fall girl, for sure. So pretty and festive and perfect weather (here in Virginia, at least).
— This was the closest Face-off I have ever done! 
Final: Charity 1 / Karen 2
I suppose I will win one of these days! This one was so close….
Thanks, so much, Karen! I had a great time getting to know you. Looking forward to your next book on Jonathan Swift (;
In the meantime, you can check out her books at Karen’s Amazon Page
