Jennifer Hallmark: Jessie’s Hope
What a treat today. Not only do we have an interview with Jennifer Hallmark, we also have an excerpt from her latest release, Jessie’s Hope. She also shares all the places you can go on her blog tour because she has some ahhh—mazing prizes in store!
What’s the theme or message we’ll find in Jessie’s Hope? Forgiveness. Learning to forgive, then release the past, and let God redeem the present. You’ll see people dealing with adversity through faith, family, and friends. Not all my characters are redeemed but they all have the opportunity, just like in real life.
How do you name your characters? At first, I go with what pops into my mind. Then, while editing, I make sure the name matches the age and personality of the character. I look for last names to fit their background. I often use a name generator/app and look for the meaning behind the name, even if it’s only known by me. 😉
What scene did you most enjoy writing? My favorite scene is about halfway through the book. It involves the antagonist, Angeline, when she first meets Ben, the groom’s cousin. At her job, Angeline has to do a tuxedo fitting for Ben and let’s just say it’s a lot of fun…but not for her.
Please share an excerpt from Jessie’s Hope.
Jessie pulled out her journal and turned to the last page. A faded photo slipped out, revealing a young couple in wedding attire. The bride’s champagne gown was ahead of its time. Her hair color was similar to Jessie’s as well as the same chocolate brown eyes. But Jessie’s features, her nose and the cleft in her chin, resembled the man.
Why couldn’t she remember him?
Sure, she had been only seven when he left. And the wreck had impaired so much of her memory. Distinct images of her mom dwindled at times, but her remembrances of her dad were basically gone, as if he never existed.
And to Papaw, he didn’t.
He and Mamaw had adopted her, given her their name so she wouldn’t have to hear the name Riggs. But they couldn’t understand; even without the name, that’s who she was. Wayne Riggs’s daughter.
She tucked the photo back in the journal, then placed the computer on her lap. The blank space of the search engine flashed before her and she typed in her father’s name. The screen glowered as her heart hammered within her chest, with a warning not to push the enter key.
What if she found him? He obviously wanted nothing to do with her. He never returned after she came home from the hospital. She’d lived in the same home as her grandparents, a home he knew well. So, why hadn’t he come by? Called? Written so much as a Get Well Soon card?
Then again … what if … Wayne Riggs could be dead. If he was, did she want to know?
Jessie’s Hope
Years ago, an accident robbed Jessie Smith’s mobility. It also stole her mom and alienated her from her father. When Jessie’s high school sweetheart Matt Jansen proposes, her parents’ absence intensifies her worry that she cannot hold on to those she loves.
With a wedding fast approaching, Jessie’s grandfather Homer Smith, has a goal to find the perfect dress for “his Jessie,” one that would allow her to forget, even if for a moment, the boundaries of her wheelchair. But financial setbacks and unexpected sabotage hinder his plans.
Determined to heal from her past, Jessie initiates a search for her father. Can a sliver of hope lead to everlasting love when additional obstacles–including a spurned woman and unpredictable weather–highjack Jessie’s dream wedding?
Jennifer Hallmark writes Southern fiction and has published 200+ internet articles and interviews, short stories in several magazines, and has co-authored three book compilations. Her debut novel, Jessie’s Hope, released on June 17th, 2019.
When she isn’t babysitting or gardening, you can find her at her desk writing fiction or working on her two blogs. She also loves reading detective fiction from the Golden Age and viewing movies like LOTR or Star Wars. Sometimes you can even catch her watching American Ninja Warrior.
June Blog Tour Giveaway Extravaganza
June 10th-June 30th
Prizes include:
- $25 Amazon Gift Card
- $10 Starbucks Gift Card
- Print copy of Jessie’s Hope
- 2 Kindle copies of Jessie’s Hope
Giveaway details: Go to my Rafflecopter Page to enter and possibly win one of five prizes to be drawn by Rafflecopter. Winners will be revealed on the author’s blog on July 1st. You can only enter by visiting my June blog tour from June 10th until June 30th. My visits include:
June 13th–Jennifer Slattery Lives Out Loud/Jennifer Slattery
June 14th–Favorite Friday Fiction/Me
June 15th–Inspired Prompt/Betty Thomason Owens
June 17th–Author Trish Perry/Trish Perry
June 17th–Southern Writers Magazine
June 18th–Author Liz Tolsma/Liz Tolsma
June 19th–Inspired Prompt/Betty Thomason Owens
June 21st–Snark & Sensibility/Linda Rondeau
June 24th–Fear Warrior/Jerusha Agen
June 24th–Author June Foster/June Foster
June 25th–Trumpet Tuesdays/Julie Arduini
June 26th–Seriously Write/Sandra Ardoin
June 28th–Heartfelt, Homespun fiction/Cynthia Herron
June 29th–The Write Conversation/Edie Melson
