Taming Julia – Janet Grunst

Taming Julia is Jodie Wolfe’s latest release.

Please tell us something about yourself, Jodie. Where were you raised and now live?

Hi Janet, thank you for having me here today. I was raised in Hershey, PA and now live about an hour away from there. Although when my husband was in the military we lived in Georgia, Ohio, and Germany.

What sparked your interest in writing?

My interest in writing was sparked as a second-grader when we were given an assignment to write a poem. Soon after, I wrote my first story about our pet dog, Ginger, attending Jimmy Carter’s inaugural ball. I was hooked and knew I wanted to be a writer when I grew up.

Are you a plotter or a pantster?

I would call myself a plottster. J While I do some plotting of each of my

stories, there’s always times when the characters take over, and I’m flying by the seat of my pants to keep up with them.

You’ve written several books, some published by traditional publishers, some independently. Please tell us about your writing journey.

My first book, Hearts Tightly Knit started because several of the contributors from the Stitches Thru Time blog decided to write an indie collection together. I had such positive feedback, that I wrote the sequel, Love in the Seams. Soon after I was contracted to write a novelette as part of a collection with Celebrate Lit Publishing, Let Love Spring. Next, I received a contract for my first full-length novel from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, To Claim Her Heart. In the midst of the editing process, I was contracted again (Celebrate Lit Publishing) for a sequel to my novelette. That story is part of The Hope of Christmas collection. When my full-length story finally released, I had many people ask me about the etiquette quotes at the beginning of each chapter. I put together 100 of these sayings in Mrs. Wigglesworth’s Essential Guide to Proper Etiquette and Manners of Refined Society. Then recently I was contracted for my second full-length novel, Taming Julia with White Rose Publishing. For each story, I pray that it will find the home where God wants it to be, whether it’s with a publisher, or something indie produced.

What do you find most challenging about being a writer? (research, plotting or organizing a story, marketing, or something else)

For me, the hardest part is the editing and marketing process. I love the research, plotting, and writing a story, coming up with characters and developing their story world.

Please tell us a little more about Taming Julia.

Here’s what the back cover says:

In 1875, Kansas bachelor Drew Montgomery’s sole desire is to serve God, but his congregation’s ultimatum that he marry or leave forces him to advertise for a wife by proxy.

Jules Walker strides into Drew’s life wearing breeches and toting a gun and saddle–more cowboy than a bride. After years on the trail, she’s not exactly wife material, but she longs for home and family and will do anything to ensure Drew never discovers what she really is.

God often teaches us something through our writing. What did you learn about life, faith, or yourself in the process of writing Taming Julia?

I actually wrote this book almost eight years ago. Through the process of getting it accepted and into print, I’ve learned to trust God with His timing. Even when it seems like an answer is long in coming, we can trust and know that He hears us and is working.

Is there a message in the story you want readers to grasp?

At the start of my novel, Jules Montgomery has no idea what it means to follow the Lord. Throughout the book, she learns more about God and who He is. She finds that each step of her life, the Lord has been calling her, wooing her to Him.

Through a series of events, she learns that she can trust God even in the midst of a dangerous situation. She can trust that He’s working in her life even when the outcome doesn’t have any hope of changing. In the same way, we can trust God to be working in our life. It’s important to have our heart seeking after Him. We can take comfort in Psalm 61:1-2 (KJV) “Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

Thank you so much, Jodie for being my guest. I know folks will enjoy your books.

It’s been my pleasure to be here! Thank you for inviting me.

Where can readers find your books?

https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Julia-Jodie-Wolfe-ebook/dp/B083L8MDD5/ref

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/taming-julia-jodie-wolfe/1136004491?ean=9781522302711

https://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=37_46&sort=&filter_id=671&alpha_filter_id=0

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Jodie_Wolfe_Taming_Julia?id=FH7IDwAAQBAJ

What are your social media sights?

Website: https://www.jodiewolfe.com

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jodie-wolfe

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jodie-Wolfe-553400191384913

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JodieAWolfe