Behold, the return of the video intro! For any Tag(g)lines newbies, each week on Wednesday I try to do amazingly profound slightly quirky videos introducing the day’s guest. But my internet service provider has not cooperated lately. Finally, though, things are back in order. I’m sure you’re as relieved as I am. 🙂
Our guest today is author Regina Jennings. Regina’s first book was released from Bethany House last year–Sixty Acres and a Bride. I adored it, everything from the cover to the characters to the story. Her latest book is Love in the Balance. It just released and again, love, love, love!
We decided to have a little Q and A fun today. Hope you enjoy!
1) Okay, we’ll start with a normal-ish question, but get random later. So to start with, what inspired or sparked the idea for Love in the Balance?
Two things really…one was a re-reading of The Scarlet Letter and the other was working in my church’s youth department.
Now, before parents get worried about what kind of activity is going on in the youth department, let me clarify. The Scarlet Letter is about the burden of unconfessed sin, which is a theme explored in Love in the Balance. Working in the youth group brought to mind how clumsy our attempts are to make things right and how much pressure we put on people to project an acceptable image. We’re all pursuing holiness while trying to look good at the same time, but sometimes the two conflict.
2) If you could hang out for a day with any of your characters–either from Love in the Balance or Sixty Acres–who would you choose? And why?
I’d love to sit down to a meal with Molly Lovelace and Anne Tillerton. Molly has a quick wit and chats easily, which would be good since Anne doesn’t talk much. But I’d hope that Anne would do something to embarrass Molly before the day ended. They’d both be good for some laughs.
3) Let’s say there’s a soundtrack for Love in the Balance…what are a few songs that would make the list?
I love this question! And just so you can enjoy some of the songs that distracted…I mean inspired me…I’ll include YouTube links to the videos or performances.
Rolling in the Deep by Adele…listen here.
Cry Me a River the Michael Buble version…listen here.
At this Moment – Billy Vera…listen here.
4) Now let’s pretend (we’re doing lots of pretending today apparently) that you’re going to hang out for a week back in the time period in which Love in the Balance is set. What would you miss most from this century? 🙂
The availability of books, of course. Lockhart, Texas, has a beautiful library, but it wasn’t built until a few years after Molly’s story. I can’t imagine not being able to read something new whenever I wanted.
I’d also suffer withdrawal from processed sugar and chocolate. If my dessert choices were limited to what I can bake, I’d be in a sorry state.
5) Just for fun, who are some of your favorite authors? I always love to hear who other writers are reading…especially if it introduces me to someone new!
Choices, choices. I know you are familiar with Siri Mitchell, Mary Connealy and Lynn Austin so I’ll tell you about some authors that might have slipped your notice.
6) On a more serious note, what do you hope readers take away from Love in the Balance?
If readers respond to this book the same way I did, it might cause them to examine what memories and judgments we associate with people. A moment in time, one bad decision can affect what you think of a person for the rest of their lives. After putting Molly’s story on paper, I’m deliberately trying to change that tendency in myself.
Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor. She has worked at The Mustang News and First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She now lives outside Oklahoma City with her husband and four children. Visit Regina’s website at www.reginajennings.com.
Question for you readers…if you were going to hang out back in history, say in the 1800s, what would you miss most from this century?
Comments 38
The convenience of my kitchen and the grocery store! I already dislike the chore of meal planning and shopping, I cannot imagine what it would be like without those things!
I have yet to read Regina Jennings, she is on my TBR pile and everyone I know who’s read her, LOVES her – so great to meet you today, Regina! 🙂
I know, can you imagine having to, like, skin chickens instead of just going to the store and picking up some chicken? Ack! 🙂
Thank you, Susan. I’m happy to be here. Yes, cooking would be a hassle, wouldn’t it? Life without frozen pizza? No, thanks.
My eyebrow pencil. No, seriously. My eyebrows are so thin to almost nothing. Read one time that Raquel Welch was asked if she were stranded on a deserted island what 3 things would she take, and her eyebrow pencil was #1 on the list.
I’d miss a washer and dryer the most next.
LOL! I have the opposite problem. If I don’t pluck and wax I have giant woolly caterpillars on my forehead. (Thanks, Dad!) But maybe with fewer pictures and mirrors I wouldn’t mind as much.
Haha, I loved this conversation. 🙂 And I also love your point, Regina…about fewer photos and mirrors. I have a feeling there’s a lot about my appearance I wouldn’t care about it I didn’t see myself so often. Ha!
Fun interview! I’ve added Regina’s book to my Amazon cart. Sounds like a wonderful story. And I love the takeaway you’re hoping readers will gain. I know I’ve allowed my past judgments to color people for the rest of their lives.
I’d miss the Internet. I love connecting with people all over the world.
Thank you, Lisa. I’d miss all the fascinating people, too. Then again I’d get to know my neighbors a lot better. 🙂
I’d miss connecting with you, Lisa. 🙂
So, I’m going to be gone for a few hours. It’s livestock show season so I have to help my dad at the stockyards today weighing pigs. Yep! That’s the truth.
A post from last year’s stock shows:
http://www.reginajennings.com/blog/a-life-of-glamour
See you this afternoon!
Regina, I just looked at your photos and post from last year. I love it! The Iowa girl in me understands the pig weighing chore. 🙂
Thanks so much for being here today!!
I’m back! Stinky, but I’m here! Yes, the Des Moines pig market is world famous, if you didn’t know. 🙂
Oh My Word!
Regina, you are my new best friend!
I have never heard anyone else say they like These is My Words by Nancy E. Turner — and I love that book! Love it!
So glad you are visiting at M-Tagg’s today — and looking forward to reading your latest — because how could I not?
I’ve never read that book, Beth, so I was totally intrigued when she mentioned it.
Beth, it’s the best, isn’t it? I know there’s a sequel but I’ve never read it. I’m afraid it won’t live up to my expectations. Have you read it?
Hi Mel, and hi Regina! *waving*
I loved both of Regina’s books too. What would I miss? Totally the Internet. I’d feel so isolated and alone without a connection to all my friends who live elsewhere.
Waving back!!
How did we survive before, Lindsay? Thanks for the good report!
The book looks great! Love your intros Melissa.
I love that you are looking at how much pressure we put on others to present an acceptable image. I feel so deeply on that topic. God takes us all.
That’s so true, Lisa. And it’s kind of crazy because I would never want someone to look at me and form their whole image of me based on one thing, one action, one moment in time. And yet, how often do I do that to others?
And when you live in the same place your whole life, like I have, that bad decision might be decades old. How long do we make people wait before we give them a “do-over”?
Thanks for commenting, Lisa.
Regina, I’ve heard such great things about your books. I’ve got them both on my Wish List, but time for reading is limited. If only I didn’t have to sleep.
If I were whisked back to the 1800s, I’d miss indoor plumbing and running water. Seriously. Can you imagine life without frequent showers and/or baths? There’s a reason people wore colognes, perfumes, or toilette waters (no pun intended, truly) back then.
From a girl who likes to take bubble baths on a regular basis, Keli, I’m with you. 🙂
Keli, we camp out at a big family reunion every year on family land out of state…homemade outhouse and shower that siphons water from the river. Then when we get together for a funeral or wedding I’m amazed by what everyone looks like. I might go five years without seeing them clean. It shows the truth to the phrase “You clean up real good.”
Hot water…where would we be without it?
One of the reasons I worked at a historic site for ten years, and now write historical fiction, is because I would LOVE to hang out in the 1800’s for a week. 🙂 I would have a really hard time choosing which year to visit…but that’s a different question. What would I miss from the twenty-first century? I would miss central air in the summer and a furnace in the winter (provided I visited a northern climate in the 1800’s – but I think I’m over thinking this…) 🙂 I do love our modern conveniences. I often think about all the things we have, and take for granted, while I’m writing. One is medical advancement. That, in itself, should be enough for us to thank God every day for living in the twenty-first century.
Regina, it was so fun seeing you here today! I’ve been in awe of your publishing story and love watching God work through your life and your writing. I can’t wait to read Love in the Balance! Congrats on a new release.
I think it’s so fun when you start talking about your love for history, Gabe. And I love how you know so much history from your home state and even hometown and how you thread it into your stories!
Thanks for stopping in, Gabrielle. I’d love to know which historical site you worked at.
Yes, it’s nice having teeth at my age and surviving childbirth four times. Three cheers for doctors and dentists.
Regina, I worked at the Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site in Little Falls, Minnesota (my hometown). We interpreted his life there from 1902 to 1920, with a strong emphasis on the year 1917 – a wonderful time period!
What a fascinating man! If I have a novel in that time period, I’ll know where to turn. Making a note…
Such a fun interview with Regina! Thanks, Melissa!
I’d miss the indoor plumbing! (We’re on a well where we’re at, and when the electric goes out, no well pump, of course!)
Can’t wait to read Love in the Balance! (Oh, and Adele is the BEST!) 🙂
I love Adele, too! I was totally late to join the bandwagon, but once I did, I was hooked. Man, she has an amazing voice.
Hey, Cynthia! Don’t you wish you could sing like her? Well, maybe you can, but I definitely can’t. That doesn’t mean I don’t try, though.
Blessings!
Awesome interview! I loved the first book and am definitely adding the new one to my list of must haves!
Thank you, Sherrinda! Melissa came up with some great questions, didn’t she?
I appreciate you stopping in.
I watched a PBS show about living in 1900 a few years ago, and I think the worst part of it BY FAR was the laundry situation. I’d have to say my appliances (washer, dryer, dishwasher, etc.) I don’t know how women found enough hours in the day to get everything done!
I remember that show. I’d love to try one of those shows if it wasn’t in front of a camera. How embarrassing for everyone to know how inept I was! My grandma would posthumously disown me.
They certainly stayed busy.
Indoor plumbing! 🙂
I LOVE These Is My Words – such a fantastic book. Great interview!
Thanks, Stacy. I’m glad to meet more of Ms. Turner’s fans.