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Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Interview and a giveaway with Jill Elizabeth Nelson!


Let's welcome author Jill Elizabeth Nelson! Leave a comment to be entered to win a copy of her new book!





Tell us a little about yourself and your newest book.

Since grade-school age, I’ve been writing as a creative hobby outside of the classroom in one form or another—poetry, short stories, articles, essays. Becoming a published novelist was always my dream, but many times it felt foolish to believe I might actually succeed. In fact, the dream died for many years, especially when my four children were growing up. As they began to need my attention less, God relit the writing fire within me. Within a few years after that, I received my first novel contract. I was so excited! Still am.

That was in 2005, and my newest release, Rocky Mountain Sabotage, is my fourteenth novel with a mainstream, royalty-paying publisher. I’ve also self-published a couple of books on the craft of writing. Rivet Your Readers with Deep Point of View is on the popular topic of writing in deep POV, which is a skill my very first editor taught me to master. The Art of the Edit lays out some editing techniques that I’ve found valuable over the years.

Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special?

In Rocky Mountain Sabotage, my heroine is a newly minted physician’s assistant named Lauren Carter. Aside from her career, which is all about helping others, she is strong and courageous and a keen judge of character. Her insights into people play a key role in keeping her and her fellow passengers alive under intensely challenging circumstances. The crash landing of the charter jet, in which she and her mother are passengers, and the harsh environment of the abandoned Rocky Mountain mining town provide her with a number of patients who need every bit of her medical expertise, improvised without the amenities of a modern hospital.

Abandoned by her father at a tender age, Lauren sees in the hero, Kent Garland, the sort of man her father never was. However, she is reluctant to trust any man with her heart—even the ex-Special Forces pilot who successfully landed the sabotaged plane and now seems committed to sticking around, doing anything he can to ensure everyone’s survival.

What are you working on at the moment?

I just finished the manuscript for a book that is scheduled to release in January 2018, entitled Duty to Defend. I’m excited about the story because it explores a difficult but important topic for awareness and discussion—Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Hopefully, you dear Suspense Sisters will invite me back for an interview about that book at the end of the year. Bless you for hosting me for Rocky Mountain Sabotage!

What is the hardest thing about writing?

“How do you come up with your ideas?” is one of the most frequent questions I hear from people. I’m not sure I can give a scientifically precise answer. Ideas pop out at me all over the place—from people-watching, ordinary excursions to the grocery store, overheard conversations, newspaper or magazine articles, new interests and hobbies, etc.

I think a person has to have a certain type of brain to process these mundane facets of life into the stuff of suspense novels. Apparently, I have that sort of brain. So, getting the ideas is not the difficulty; it’s choosing which one to develop at any given time. Right now, I’m sifting through a bunch of different title and story ideas in order to develop my next book proposal for my publisher. Pray for me!


What is the easiest thing about writing?

 Getting to do what I’ve dreamed of doing all my life, rather than clocking in at a day job.


Anything else you'd like to share.


I’m going to be a grandma again! Just found out today. Our youngest is expecting her third child. “Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.” Psalm 127:3 (NLT) Grandchildren are like a reward from a reward!



BIO:

Award-winning author and writing teacher, Jill Elizabeth Nelson, writes what she likes to read—tales of adventure seasoned with romance, humor, and faith. Jill enjoys speaking at conferences, writer’s groups, library associations, civic and church groups. She delights to bring the “Ahah! Moment” to students as they make new skills their own. Her bestselling handbook for writers, Rivet Your Readers with Deep Point of View, is available at http://amzn.to/IvQTkj. Visit Jill on the web at: www.jillelizabethnelson.com or look her up on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/JillElizabethNelson.Author

56 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing Jill's thoughts and her good news. Congratulations Jill, grandchildren are such a joy!
    Connie
    cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

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  2. Great interview,Iola. I am definitely a fan of Jill's and consider "Rivet Your Readers with Deep Point of View" an absolute treasure. Blessings!

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    1. Delighted you find the Rivet book a blessing to you. Thanks so much!

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  3. Jill is a new author to me. I love the Rocky Mountain setting and this book sounds like one I would enjoy reading.
    marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
    Merry

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    1. Hi, Merry. Great to "meet" you. Hope you enjoy the book!

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  4. Congrats, I was told around Mother's day that I'm going to be a great grandmother :-) like all your other books I really looking forward to reading this one.

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    1. Wow! Big congrats on the Great Grand status! So glad to hear that you enjoy my books. Blessings!

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  5. Congrats to anew addition to your family! Children are a blessing!! ��

    Strgth4yu@hotmail.com

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  6. I love your writing and would love to read it. Congratulations by the way on your newest blessing.

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    1. Thanks, Tina. So glad to hear you enjoy my books. Blessings!

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  7. Have not read any of your books yet. Great to meet a new author. I can't wait to read your book. rose blackard (at) (Gmail) dot com

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. Hi, Rose. Great to meet you also. Blessings, Jill

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  8. We have one very gregarious three year old granddaughter who keeps us young....LOL!! Or exhausted one of the two :-)

    Thanks for sharing about your newest book. LIS are among my favorite line of the Love Inspired novels. Thanks also for the giveaway!

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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  9. Thank you for the interview and chance to win your book. I enjoy reading love inspired suspense. I have 8 grandchildren, 2 under 18 months. They are all a joy! carola245@hotmail.com

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    1. Wow! Enjoy those dear grands! Fun but busy. LOL. Blessings!

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  10. Congrats on the good news of your new addition to the family! How exciting that must be, we will look forward to pictures. Love finding out more about our favorite authors and what makes them tick. :) I have really enjoyed all your books and look forward to reading this with my mom. Thanks for a chance to win. Lela, paralegal7@hotmail.com

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    1. Thanks for your encouraging words, Lela. Blessings!

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  11. It's amazing you are such a prolific writer and have time for mission work. Go Jill. Virginia

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    1. Thanks for cheering me on, Virginia! Blessings!

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  12. Great interview! Would love to win a copy of this book! Thanks for the opportunity! Congrats on the new grand baby!

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  13. Forgot my email.
    jtabalk(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  14. Beverly Duell-MooreJune 5, 2017 at 11:25 AM

    Great sounding book! Can't wait to read it!
    duellonlysis(at)aoll(dot)com

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  15. Loved hearing more about your writing career, Jill. Thanks for sharing and also for the giveaway. Enjoy those grandchildren!
    bettimace at gmail dot com

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    1. I'll be sure to do that, Betti. Thanks for the encouragement. Blessings!

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  16. Rocky Mountain Sabotage looks like such an excellent read. Thanks for sharing about yourself.
    CherylB1987 AT Hotmail DOT com

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    1. You're welcome, and thanks for the encouraging words. Blessings!

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  17. Sounds like a good book! Grandchildren are a reward, aren't they? Fortunately, we have 4 of our 10 near us so we see them all the time. The others are a couple states away so only a few times a year do we get to visit. But FaceTime is a great tool to keep connected! Thank you for the interview. anne at rightler dot com

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    1. I agree, Anne. I'm so thankful for the Internet when I'm far away from kids and grands. Blessings!

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  18. This looks like a great read. Would so love to win it. Thanks for sharing a little of yourself in the interview.

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    1. Hi, Judy. I enjoyed "appearing" here on Suspense Sisters. Blessings!

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  19. This sounds like a really good and suspenseful read. Thanks for the chance to win. Gongrats on the new grand baby! We have five that are close to us and enjoy seeing them. paulams49ATsbcglobalDOTnet

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    1. You're right, Paula. It's so fun when the grands are close enough to see regularly. All of ours are in the same state at least. Blessings!

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  20. Can't wait to read Rocky Mountain Sabotage! I love Rivet Your Readers with Deep POV. :-)

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    1. Thanks for the encouraging words, Patricia! Blessings!

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  21. Love your books,would love to win

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  22. This book sounds like it would be a great one! I love mystery/suspense Christian fiction. Thanks for the great interview and giveaway. d[dot]brookmyer[at]yahoo[dot]com

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    1. Glad you enjoyed the interview, Donna. Thanks for chiming in. Blessings, Jill

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  23. Rose is the winner of a copy of Rocky Mountain Sabotage. Thanks so much to everyone for reading the interview and commenting. You've given me a lot of encouragement. Blessings!

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  24. I have not read one of this author's books but I would love to start with this one. Love suspense books. Spotts06(at)Comcast.net

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  25. New author to me. Love to win

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  26. Would love to win a copy for me and my mom to read. The very first book I read by you Jill was Calculated Revenge and I was hooked! :) Thanks for a chance to win.
    Lela: paralegal7@hotmail.com

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  27. I live close to the Rocky Mountain's so this book sounds like an extra good read for me. Can't wait to read it! tennisbec(at)hotmail.com

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  28. The Rockies and a good book! What more could a person ask for!

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  29. Congrats on the great news. Your book looks so exciting. Thanks for the chance.
    jhdwayne(at)peoplepc(dot)com

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  30. Would really enjoy reading your new book. Looks exciting! florencebarkman@gmail.com

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  31. I love books like this! I think I would really enjoy it.
    digicats {at} sbcglobal {dot} net

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  32. Great giveaway,would love to win,Love your books

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  33. I am anxious to read this book.
    Connie
    cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

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  34. Thank you for a great interview and congratulations on a new grandbaby joining your family in months to come... how wonderful!mauback55 at gmail dot com

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  35. Love reading your great interview. I'm starting to like suspense novels.

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