Shannon here: Janilise Lloyd shares insight into her character’s and her real-life romance, plus a chance to win an ebook copy of her Young Adult Fantasy, The Whisperer’s Wish and a character art print with a personal note on the back. Readers are always asking for clean and/or Christian books for the young readers in your life, so here’s your chance to check one out. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing. Deadline: April 8th, 11;59 pm central time. Here’s Janilise:
Hero & Heroine Questions:
- How soon after meeting the heroine did your hero know she was the one [and vice versa]?
Aaron and Laurelin first meet as kids, about four years before the book’s beginning. Laurelin is twelve and Aaron is fourteen. For both of them, there’s pretty instant attraction, but their relationship has barriers. Laurelin is keeping a secret from Aaron, like she is from everyone else, and this always puts distance between her and people she could be close to. Besides, she figures a boy older than her isn’t interested in her anyway.
Aaron doesn’t see himself as good enough for Laurelin. After the death of his mother, he’s just doing his best to survive on his own by selling things illegally on the black market. So to answer the question, both Laurelin and Aaron have feelings for each other from the get-go, and these feelings grow stronger through the book, but they both have personal issues they have to overcome before they’re able to think of each other as “the one.” Soon enough, the feelings they’re having for each other become unavoidable and they decide to get through the messy parts together.
- What’s the most romantic thing your hero ever did for your heroine?
As a competitor in the Pentax, Laurelin has to give a TV interview. This is terrifying for her. Because she has always been concerned about revealing her magical gift, she’s someone who sticks to the shadows. Don’t get me wrong—in many other ways, she’s fearless. But when it comes to attention, she freezes up.
When it’s time for the interview, things are even harder than she imagined because—without giving up too much of the story—she’s just been accused of something awful, and she knows the interviewer is going to feast on the gossip. Aaron, our hero, is part of this interview with her. When Laurelin is asked her first question, she stutters, unable to respond. Aaron steps up and tells a story from years ago that shows the audience how Laurelin tries to use her magic to help people. At the time of the incident, Laurelin was unaware Aaron was watching her.
This is a pivotal moment in their relationship. Laurelin has always been attracted to Aaron, but before this, she didn’t know if he ever thought of her as more than a business partner. Aaron’s story helps her see that he’s been as aware of her—if not more so—than she has been of him. Even more important, Aaron helps the audience see the soft side of Laurelin, and this gives her the confidence she needs to carry the rest of the interview on her own. This is a moment that demonstrates what Laurelin loves most about Aaron. He’s reliable and loyal. She can always count on him.
- What simple gesture does your hero do that melts your heroine every time?
After the interview mentioned in the last response, Aaron walks Laurelin back to her room and gives her a kiss on the forehead. Like most girls, Laurelin loves a good forehead kiss. This becomes a turning point in their relationship. They can’t ever go back to the friendzone after this.
Real-Life Interview:
- What’s the most romantic thing your spouse has ever done for you?
I met my husband when we were in high school. I was a junior and he was a senior when we began dating. He used to leave little notes in my locker that he’d carefully fold into different shapes—a heart, a butterfly, a frog, etc. These little love notes clued me into something that has proved to be true about my husband: he is sensitive, thoughtful, and caring. It was striking compared to the way many other boys acted in high school. And I’m happy to say, he has continued to leave short notes to let me know I’m on his mind.
- How soon after meeting did your spouse know you were the one [and vice versa]?
As I mentioned, my husband Ryan and I were young when we started dating. I asked him on our first date, which was a girl’s choice dance in high school, because my best friend really liked his best friend. We figured we could go as a group. At the time, I thought I was asking more as a favor to my friend than because I was interested in Ryan, but it didn’t take long for me to realize what an amazing person he was. We were young, so we continued to date other people, but we seemed to circle around to each other very often. I’d say within about six months, we both were convinced we’d eventually end up together. It took some time. He served a church mission, and I went to college. But from high school on, we always knew we’d end up together.
Question for Readers: Both my own love story and my main character’s love story involves teens who fall in love. What do you think? Are teenagers capable of being in love? Do they understand what love is about? Do you know any couples who met very young and stayed together?
About Janilise: Janilise Lloyd is a former junior high school teacher who lives in Northern Utah with her husband and toddler. She balances a love for running with a love for all things dessert. Her family likes to be on the go, so you will often catch them at the zoo, the park, or skipping rocks by the river. Janilise is the coordinator for the ScrivKids writing community for student writers and is a member of the Storymakers Guild. Learn more & connect:
Janilise’s Website Janilise’s Goodreads
Janlise’s Instagram Janilise’s Facebook
About the book – The Whisperer’s Wish:
For sixteen years, Laurelin Moore has been keeping a secret. She is a whisperer, and she knows that to reveal her gift now is a dangerous risk. Past whisperers have been exploited for their power. But Ausland’s queen is dead and acknowledging her magic is her only chance at becoming a Rook in the Pentax—a competition that will decide the kingdom’s next ruler.
Laurelin isn’t in it for the crown, though. She’s after the wish that will be granted to the victor. A wish that would save her dying brother, Pippin. But there are dangerous undercurrents to the competition, and Laurelin finds herself at the center of it. She begins to search for answers and discovers a secret with the potential to shatter the entire kingdom.
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Thank you for having me on your blog today!
My parents were high school sweethearts and missed their 65th anniversary by 49 days when my father passed away. My mother was heartbroken and followed him 13 months later. They had a wonderful love story!
Good to have you here, Janilise. I fell for my now husband when I was 14. He was 16. We got married 5 years later. We’ve been married 38 years. So, yep, I believe in teenage love.
But now as an adult, I’ll admit, I look at teenagers and think they’re just silly little babies and don’t know what real love is. I was much more mature 🙂
could be possible
Yes! Our friends got married at 16 and 17. Still happily married after 20 years together 😊 our weddings were a week apart.
I have a winner! Natalya won the drawing. I appreciate Janilise for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.