Saturday, June 29, 2024

"Her Part to Play" by Jenny Erlingsson -- Author Interview

 

About the Book

Book: Her Part to Play

Author: Jenny Erlingsson

Genre:Contemporary Romance

Release date: June 18, 2024

Desperate for extra income after her mother’s passing, Adanne accepts a last-minute job as a makeup artist for a movie filming in her small Alabama hometown. She’s working to save her parents’ legacy and help her brother, but the money hardly seems worth having to face the actor who got her fired from her last job in Hollywood.

John Pope has made his share of mistakes over the years. But after turning his life over to God and enduring a messy breakup, he’s ready to start rebuilding his career. Imagine his surprise when the woman called in to cover for his usual makeup artist is a quiet but feisty newcomer on the set–and definitely not a fan.

Sparks of tension–and could that be attraction?–fly between them, but Adanne hates the spotlight, and John’s scheming manager has bigger plans for him than to end up with the humble makeup girl from the small-town South. Can these star-crossed lovers find their way to happiness? Or will the bright lights of Hollywood blind their eyes to what’s right in front of them?

 

Click here to get your copy!

Author Interview 

1. Do you set a plot or prefer going wherever an idea takes you?
I think I do a little bit of both. I like to create a loose outline that
gives me some direction as I brainstorm. That way, when I get a
margin or sliver of time, I can write words down under those plot
points or themes. I actually wrote most of the first draft of Her
Part to Play in the notes app of my phone. I would sit next to my
daughters as they drifted off to sleep after bedtime stories and
prayers. Those fifteen to twenty minutes allowed me to focus
and write down ideas as they came, which I edited the next day.
2. What, according to you, is the hardest thing about writing?
Good question! For me, currently, I think the hardest thing about
writing is finishing. Brainstorming and dreaming and writing
down ideas is fun, but it is hard to finish! I have notebooks full of
story ideas and snippets that I started but never finished.
3. What would you say is the easiest aspect of writing?
Right now, it feels like the easiest part is the editing. I know that
seems strange, but once the draft is down, it feels easier to
enhance words that have already been written.
4. How long does it usually take you to write a book?
If I can focus and discipline myself to write a little each day, or
even a lot if I’m in the mood, I can write a book in about six
weeks. It doesn’t mean that draft is very good, lol, but it is
written.
5. Anything else you'd like to share?
Thank you so much for taking the time to connect with me and
my debut novel, Her Part to Play! I hope readers are sweetly
entertained and deeply encouraged by this story.


About the Author

Jenny Erlingsson is an author and speaker of Nigerian descent. After 12 years working in junior high and women’s ministry, she moved with her family from Alabama to Iceland. When she’s not running after her four kids or ministering alongside her 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 other writings have been featured on (in)courage, Live Original, Velvet Ashes, and more. And in the margins, you might find her reading five books at a time with a side of Icelandic chocolate.

 

More from Jenny

Sometimes it can be easy to underestimate the significance of our part to play in God’s story, especially when it’s something behind-the-scenes. I wanted to portray that in the story that unfolds between my characters Adanne and John. In Her Part to Play, readers are introduced to a make-up artist who had dreams of becoming successful in her career, but she sacrificed that to take care of her dying mother and ended up getting fired in the process.

This idea actually developed while I watched behind the scenes footage of The Chosen. Like any industry, profession or product, what we see is only a small part of the process. There are details that we don’t consider when we are being swept away in a story.

On the surface, working with the actor who got her fired was not the way Adanne wanted to earn much needed income. But there’s so much beautiful redemption that can be found in hidden places and that’s what John finds as well. Every day that Adanne works on his face to get him ready for his scenes, God starts working on both of their hearts. A beautiful transformation is carried out through someone who may not have seemed valuable in the grand scheme of things, but who was a very important part of the process.

Her Part to Play gives a glimpse of that through a charming romance between two people with different roles and from different cultures, but they both have a core need to be known and loved for not just what they do, but for who they are.

Blog Stops

Back Porch Reads, June 25 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 26

Where Crisis & Christ Collide, June 27 (Author Interview)

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, June 27

Inspired by Fiction, June 28

Blossoms and Blessings, June 29 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 30

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 1

Vicky Sluiter, July 2 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 3

By The Book, July 4 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, July 5

Blogging With Carol, July 6

For the Love of Literature, July 7 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, July 7

Pause for Tales, July 8

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jenny is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card, a custom journal and copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2c55e/her-part-to-play-celebration-tour-giveaway

4 comments:

Rita Wray said...

Sounds like a good story.

Jcp said...

Sounds great!

LV said...

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. This sounds like a good story.

Michael Law said...

Great interview! This looks really interesting.