Have you ever searched for a gift in a challenge?

I love authors who make me think … and laugh. This month’s featured guest is critically acclaimed Southern fiction author, Jenny Erlingsson.

Jenny is an Alabama-born author and speaker of Nigerian descent. When she’s not running after her four kids or ministering alongside her Icelandic husband, she can be found writing romantic fiction and creative nonfiction to inspire deep faith in diverse settings, as well as encouraging other writers. Her writings have been featured on (in)courage, Live Original, Velvet Ashes, and more.

Latest Novel

Almost by Design is Jenny’s latest novel. This charming Southern contemporary Christian romance features humorous banter, second chances, faking dating, and neurodiverse characters in small-town Alabama.

Here’s a little more about it:

Kenya Stewart is so close to getting her dream position at an event agency. When a scheduling blunder risks her promotion, she hopes an upcoming pitch will allow her a second chance. Then an accident at her cousin’s wedding sends her to the emergency room in the care of another wedding guest, Solomon Anruchi, the handsome doctor who ghosted her after their first date.

Solomon’s parents are eager for him to find a business-savvy wife and make the move to New York to take over a recent acquisition by their family’s company. But he needs to buy more time to finish his residency and convince them that staying in Hope Springs is the best path for him. He realizes that Kenya is the perfect person to help, and she needs his connections to land a high-profile client and save her career. Their solution? A fake-dating relationship.

As attractions increase amid their ruse, secrets they’ve kept from each other, and the weight of others’ expectations begin to unravel their scheme. Will their carefully constructed plans crumble when the truth comes out?

Your characters are so realistic. What did you read as a child? Or, what did/do you read to your children?

I love this question because I miss how much I was able to read as a child. My earlier years I enjoyed reading Little House on the Prairie and honestly all the classic books we had to read for school. I distinctly remember reading The Secret Garden, Little Women, and similar books in Elementary School. During the summer, I gobbled up The Babysitter Club Books and Sweet Valley High. Thankfully my formative years were spent in Knoxville, TN where McKays Used Books had its beginning and allowed me to buy multiple books with my limited budget.

Who are your favorite authors to read & why?

This is a hard question because I’ve gotten to know so many authors over the past few years. I’ll say my favorites depend on the season and the genre, but I consistently go back to reading Tessa Afshar, Patricia Raybon, Rachel Hauck, Susan May Warren and Francine Rivers. I just think their books are so rich and teach me a lot about writing in general. In my current season, I really enjoy reading too many of my publishing peers to name. The variety of faith-based authors that we have to choose from is incredible.

I totally agree, Jenny! Which of your characters has really stretched you as a writer?

Good question! I think my character Adanne stretched me because she had gone through a lot as a character and the way I initially wrote her made her more burdened than I intended. After feedback from my editor, I struggled with trying to write her realistically but also likable. I think some readers still didn’t always like her but I think she grew a lot as a character and helped me grow in the way I develop my characters.

Totally understand that fine line between developing a character who has a challenging faith journey and making them sympathetic to the reader.

What is something God taught you while you wrote Almost by Design?

I believe the Lord definitely taught me perseverance and how to encourage myself in Him. I wrote Almost By Design in the middle of a move from Iceland back to the states. It didn’t flow as easily as I wanted to, especially since I was wrestling with so much change for my family and getting my kids settled into new rhythms.

This book felt like more of a step of faith where I had to trust that He would give me the words and the ability to form the book, despite all the lack I felt. This is quite fitting, considering that my character Kenya has to remember her own worth as she pushes through her own areas of perceived lack.

June’s A2A Giveaway!

Yes! Thanks to Revell Publishing, the winner will receive a copy of Jenny’s latest release, Almost by Design!

 Leave a comment below and share this blog and if you haven’t already, please subscribe to my newsletter at the bottom of this blog and receive another free gift from me — and an extra entry.

NOTE: WANT TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING THIS INCREDIBLE GIVEAWAY?*

Check out my YouTubeA2A interview with Jenny. Because, in the video interview Jenny answers different fun questions–and we have some inspiring discussions! 

By Liking and Commenting on the video episode, you will have one more entry.* Sharing the video, another entry.* Subscribe, and you have TWO entries for a chance to win.* 

The Deadline is June 12th   

Watch our interview–

That means, my friends, if you comment and subscribe -– or are already a subscriber -– to my blog, then watch the video and LIKE, SHARE, and COMMENT on the VIDEO, then Subscribe to my YouTube Channel, your name will be entered SIX TIMES–SEVEN!*

Next month’s A2A Guest: Angela Bell! She describes herself as a 21st-century lady with 19th-century sensibilities. Her book A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventure was named a Booklist Top 10 Romance Debut. 

Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed getting to know Jenny–I certainly did! Until May, God bless and KEEP READING! 

*So sorry, entries from the contiguous US only.