This month’s featured author is new to me, so I’m so excited to get to know Jennifer L. Wright. How about you?

For sure because of her beautiful writing, but also, well she just seems like a really interesting person. As a writer, Jennifer is all about character growth in her writing and isn’t afraid to tackle some challenging subject matter. Perhaps that comes from her journalism background, but I suspect it also comes from her love of the LORD and His redemptive power.

Peanut Butter Cup digs into his snack

Here’s a bit about Jennifer before we really dig in like Peanut Butter Cup:

Jennifer has been writing since middle school, eventually earning a master’s degree in journalism at Indiana University. However, it took only a few short months of covering the local news for her to realize that writing fiction is much better for the soul and definitely way more fun.

A born and bred Hoosier, she was plucked from the Heartland after being swept off her feet by an Air Force pilot and has spent the past decade traveling the world and, every few years, attempting to make old curtains fit in the windows of a new home.

[Terri here. Sorry have to interrupt and interject an LOL! As a former Navy wife, I totally get the curtain problem!]

The Newest Addition to the Wright Family: Snickerdoodle!

She currently resides in New Mexico with her husband, two children, one grumpy old dachshund, and her newest obsessions—guinea pigs named Peanut Butter Cup and Snickerdoodle. And, she enjoys hiking in the Sacramento Mountains in New Mexico.

My Book Pre-Review and Book Review episodes featured Jenn’s second novel Come Down Somewhere.

Her first novel, If It Rains, has received critical acclaim from the likes of Publisher’s Weekly and Fresh Fiction, as well as Library Journal.

Let’s find out more about her newest book that released this month. What is the story behind Come Down Somewhere?

Although I’d heard about the Trinity Test, of course, it wasn’t something I was particularly intrigued by—until we moved to southern New Mexico in 2014, to a place less than 100 miles from where it occurred.

Immersing myself in local stories is what I like to do—I’m a former journalist—and it wasn’t long until I learned about what the test meant, not in terms of what they teach in history books, but in a very personal and tragic way for the people who lived here. The requisitioned land that was never returned, the cancer rate skyrocketed, and the sacrifice of the local population went unacknowledged for many years (and, in fact, is still unacknowledged by the federal government in any meaningful way).

I knew it was a story that needed to be told.

I can see how your investigative training would come to bear, especially for a part of history that has mostly been neglected.

What is one of your favorite quotes from Come Down Somewhere and why do you love it?

My favorite quote comes not from the book itself but from the title. Louis Hempelmann, a physician in charge of health and safety for the test. He remarked as he watched the mushroom cloud ascend into the sky: “All I could think of was, my God, all that radioactivity up there has got to come down somewhere.”

This, of course, plays into the larger, historical picture of the novel but also the smaller, more personal story of Olive and Jo, the book’s main characters. Secrets, lies, and betrayal leave a path of destruction throughout their lives, a “fall-out” of sorts the instigators never intended but have dire consequences nonetheless.

*Sigh* “. . . the instigators never intended but have dire consequences nonetheless.” Humanity’s need to win whatever the cost seems to always have dire consequences.

What is something God taught you while you wrote your featured book?

Jenn at Ground Zero at the Trinity Test Site. Yikes!

There is no such thing as control! I started working on Come Down Somewhere in March 2020—we all remember what was happening in the world during March 2020.

I usually have a very strict schedule and regime I follow when drafting, and that was thrown completely out of the window as Suddenly, I was trying to homeschool two children and sharing an office with a husband who was now working from home. It was chaos all around.

I struggled so much writing this book because I really tried to cling to what was comfortable for me—my routine—and control the chaos rather than adapt to the circumstances in which God had placed me.

Trying to write a book during the worst days of the pandemic really taught me to release the things I can’t control and trust God to provide for me. If He has called me to do something, He will allow a way for it to get done.

Very wise insights for all of us, Jenn.

What was your inspiration for writing in general—why did you choose writing?

I have always been drawn to books and stories, even as a little girl. There’s something so wholly immersive about the reading experience—something you can’t experience in any other medium—so I always knew I wanted my life to be one that revolved around writing.

I started out wanting to be a journalist and, in fact, received my Master’s in Journalism from Indiana University. But, after working in the field for less than 6 months, I discovered that I absolutely hated it. Why? Because I’m a hardcore introvert and have a bit of a bleeding heart, so the callous, political, and often-times brutal nature of the job just didn’t fit. So, I decided to try my hand at fiction writing instead and…here we are!

Oh,  Jenn, I know what you mean. I worked on our school newspaper, but hated it, until I discovered feature writing. Then when a friend became publisher of a small international paper, he felt my calling was feature writing. I hated it, too. I kept wanting to make the interviewee’s story more interesting.

What are you working on now?

 I am really excited about my next novel, tentatively scheduled for release in summer 2023. It’s called The Girl From the Papers and echoes the story of Bonnie and Clyde, albeit with a hopeful rather than tragic twist. I had so much fun writing this one, and I cannot wait to share it!

And we can’t wait to read it!

The September’s Author Highlight Giveaway!

Yes! Thanks to Tyndale House Publishing, this month’s giveaway is a copy of Jennifer’s latest novel, Come Down Somewhere! 

Isn’t this exciting! And you could be the winner? How? Well, by entering!* And you can enter up to six times (see below).* Leave a comment below and share this blog and if you haven’t already, please subscribe to this newsletter and receive two free gifts from me — and an extra entry.

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

Check out my YouTube Author Highlight interview with Jennifer. Because, in the video interview she will answer different questions–including some insights into her latest novel. Plus you don’t want to miss one very fun little known fact about Jennifer.  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 September 15th!

Author Highlight with Terri & Jennifer

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!*

Be sure to tell your friends! See you there!

Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed getting to know Jennifer — I sure did!

Next month’s Author Highlight is the award-winning and bestselling author Joanna Davidson Politano.

Thanks for stopping by! God bless and KEEP READING!

*Entries from the contiguous U.S. only, please.