Shannon here: JoAnn Durgin shares how her character in her latest Contemporary Romance, An Early Spring, is like and unlike her, plus insight into her research, & a chance to win my August Book Bundle #2 of 6 books, which includes three of JoAnn’s titles. Comment or answer the question on any post dated Aug 19th – 28th to enter the drawing Deadline: Sept 6th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s JoAnn:
I find it difficult to believe I’ve been married to my sweetheart, Jim, for 38 years on September 5th of this year. A helpful tip: if you marry a man on his birthday, he’s less likely to forget his anniversary! We met on a blind date in the early 1980s in Dallas, Texas, where he was a seminary student, and I worked in a large law firm. We established a close friendship before the Lord’s creative matchmaking brought us together via an unusual pathway that included a graduation (Jim), an unexpected job loss (me), months of long-distance courting, Jim’s first ministry position in California, and even a Caribbean cruise (with my mother) where I met my future employer’s wife and two children onboard the ship (her husband was home in California “stomping on the grapes,” as she put it). I moved to CA and Jim proposed in beautiful Carmel on Valentine’s Day in 1986 (with the help of the fabulous grape-stomper and his lovely wife who took us to lunch in Pebble Beach with its breathtaking views overlooking the Pacific Ocean).
After marrying Jim in KY, honeymooning in HI, and living in CA, PA, and MA, our family (which now included three children) moved to my native Indiana in late 2005. I finally recognized it was time to pursue one of my greatest passions, so I blew the dust bunnies off the manuscripts I’d penned during the past two decades. My debut novel, Awakening, released in late 2010 (the first in a now completed 13-book series) and sent it off to a publisher with fervent hopes and many prayers. In 2022, and more than 40 published books, I asked the Lord (during the Covid lull) to inspire me with something different to bring in an income yet use my talents for His glory—and He answered. Besides writing, I’m now designing book covers for inspirational and Christian romance authors and having a ball! Of course, there’s much more to my story, and I welcome you to read about it on my website.
My latest book, An Early Spring, is part of a fun series with seven total authors called Dogwood Creek Matchmakers, a 12-novella, two-year project set in a fictional town filled with fabulous characters and six lively matchmaking ladies near Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tennessee. After growing up in Nashville, my heroine, Jennifer Collins, is living with her grandmother, Eleanor, and serving as her personal assistant. Eleanor is a successful playwright with a long-hidden secret that threatens to emerge, prompting Jennifer to wonder if handsome Ryan Hartmann has something to do with the sudden nosiness into her grandmother’s past. He’s an investigative journalist, after all.
Jennifer is similar in personality to me with her natural curiosity, spunk, independence, and creativity. She can also be outspoken and impulsive at times. Unlike me, she’s also a part-time actress with a local playhouse, so she can sometimes be dramatic. She’s also musical, something I am with limited capabilities. We share a similar sense of humor (well, she is me), and her conversations with the witty and charming Ryan can be quite amusing. Jennifer and Ryan’s interactions with Nancy Lundgren and Robbie Watson of the Dogwood Creek Matchmakers (a recognized group) were great fun to write. Jennifer displays great compassion for others, especially her grandmother, and their conversation touching on Eleanor’s spiritual condition, as well as Ryan’s discussions with his grandfather (who also lives in Dogwood Creek and has a fondness for Eleanor) are situations I hope readers will identify with and take to heart.
One of my favorite aspects of being an author is researching and sharing tidbits here and there of what I’ve learned. Near the end of An Early Spring, Jennifer tells her mother about research she’d done about World War II wedding gowns. Money and available fine materials were scarce during that era leaving many brides to walk down the aisle in their everyday clothes or best Sunday dress. Jennifer relays the story of one bride who sewed her wedding gown from the silk of her groom’s parachute in the war—the very thing that saved his life!
I talked with my 89-year-old Uncle Mack last week, and he told me something I’d never known. My beloved Granny quit high school early to join the war effort in World War I. She got a job in the nearby Army Depot as a seamstress. Take one guess what Uncle Mack told me she was assigned to make? If you guessed “Parachutes!” you get the prize. I knew nothing about any of that until I did a short internet search of “wedding gowns in World War II.” You see, I consider that a sweet “God wink.” I love how God affirms our work and gives us the encouragement we need to know we’re fulfilling His will by serving Him. If we’re entertaining readers at the same time, all the better!
Thank you for reading my post, and a big thanks to Shannon for allowing me to share on her wonderful Inkslinger blog.
Question for Readers: In my blog post, I mention a “God wink” I discovered after writing my latest book, An Early Spring, a revelation that affirmed my work and gave me great encouragement. Have you ever experienced something like that?
August Book Bundle #2 Giveaway
Blogs for this giveaway will run from Aug 19th thru 28th:
Frayed Promises by Lynn U. Watson print U.S. only, Historical Romance
Awakening (Lewis Legacy Series, Book 1) by JoAnn Durgin, e-book U.S. only, Contemporary Romance
Only A Heartbeat Away by Julianna Desmond/JoAnn Durgin, e-book U.S. only, Contemporary Romance
Love Upon a Midnight Clear (Snowcrest Christmas Series, Book 1) by JoAnn Durgin, e-book U.S. only, Contemporary Romance
Gazing into Darkness by Heidi Glick e-book, Romantic Suspense
A Lesson in Love by Linda Shenton Matchett e-book, Historical Romance
About JoAnn: JoAnn Durgin is a USA Today Bestselling Author of more than 40 books, including the beloved Lewis Legacy Series and the popular Starlight Christmas Series. She was honored to be named one of the “35 Essential Christian Romance Authors” by Family Fiction Magazine (nominated and voted on by readers) in 2018. She also writes contemporary Christian romances (unrelated novellas/novels with similar titles) under the pen name of Julianna Desmond. A former estate administration paralegal, JoAnn writes contemporary Christian romance fulltime. After living in various states across the country, she lives with her family in her native Southern Indiana. She thrives on writing uplifting novels that share the hope to be found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Feel free to send JoAnn a message at jdurgin9587 at att.net, learn more & connect:
JoAnn’s Website JoAnn’s Facebook JoAnn’s Facebook Author Page
JoAnn’s books can also be found on GOODREADS and BOOKBUB.
About the book – An Early Spring: 
Investigative journalist Ryan Hartmann is living his best life. Based in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, he gets the prime assignments and travels the world. When he finally takes a break to visit his Grandpa Luke in a tiny mountain town in Tennessee, Ryan encounters a gorgeous fireball of a woman at the local diner before he even steps foot in his grandfather’s house. After a case of mistaken identity and a wacky run-in at the local bookmobile, these two are off and running!
Jennifer Collins moved into her grandmother’s mansion in Dogwood Creek five years ago. Her Grandma Ellie has plenty of room and, as a successful playwright, she needs an assistant. Also a part-time actor at the nearby Smoky Mountain Playhouse, Jennifer slides effortlessly into both roles. What she doesn’t expect is a handsome man from Atlanta with mesmerizing eyes, surprising transparency, and a witty sense of humor who comes to town and challenges her at every turn. When a long-held, fiercely guarded family secret is leaked to the public, who has the obvious motive? Who can be trusted?
Join the fun among the dogwoods where love is always in bloom. Toss in a bit of mystery, a group of lovable matchmakers, and the perennial possibility of small-town hijinks. Dogwood Creek…where the ordinary becomes extraordinary and everyday citizens step out of the shadows as heroes. Who knows, there might even be a knight in shining armor among them!
Interested in JoAnn’s titles?
Get your copy/copies now!
Come back Aug 23rd for Shannon’s Book Bargains Roundup!
I don’t think I’ve ever experienced something like that. How neat, though!
Hi Kelly! I hadn’t experienced anything quite like it, either, and it was very cool. Thanks so much for stopping by the blog and commenting!
I’ve not experienced that either–but I’m so happy you have! How awesome that must have been. I’m glad to “meet” you and learn about your book. I think I would love it, what with run-in at a bookmobile and all 🙂
Thank you, Susan! It was awesome indeed. Wonderful to “meet” you, too, and feel free to join me on FB if you’d like. And, yes, that bookmobile scene was a hoot to write. I added quite a bit of humor in AN EARLY SPRING and love our fictional little town in the Tennessee mountains. I appreciate the comment. Blessings!
Absolutely love this God wink for you. An Early Spring is such a good book. I adore Jennifer and Ryan’s love story and the secondary love story in the novel. I love when God winks happen. It is a reminder of how much He loves us.
Hi Lori! It IS “a reminder of how much He loves us.” Perfectly stated! What I particularly love about this God wink is how it happened AFTER I’d already written and released An Early Spring. And discovered that fun little tidbit from talking with an elderly uncle! His mind is still sharp, and now I want to hear more family stories. You just never know. Thanks for the comment and lovely compliments about the book!
I have experienced “God winks” before while writing. I have had inspiration for a book to go a completely different way than I expected. I feel it was one of those moments. The same goes for picking out a book cover.
Hi Julie! I’m sure you love those unexpected “God winks,” too. Choosing a book cover is so important in attracting potential readers, and–like with writing our stories–we should heed those little “nudges.” Thanks so much for stopping by the blog and leaving a comment. Blessings!
Hi JoAnn! It’s always great to chat about “Carmel” with you 😉
Yes, I’ve experience a “God wink” in my life, which proves over and over again that He writes my story for His glory and my good!
So great to see you here, Natalya! Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment. Aren’t “God winks” marvelous? And yes, He is the Master Author, and I’m so grateful! As I mentioned on your birthday post on FB, please say hello to beautiful Carmel for me. I still hope to make it there again one day. Blessings to you!
I have a winner! Leela won the drawing. I appreciate JoAnn for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.