In the last month, I:
1. Painted my husband's classroom
2. Moved back in with my parents (Bet you weren't expecting that! Don't worry...my hubby came with me)
3. Moved my bedroom furniture into the living room, my couch into the kitchen, the shoes into the bathroom, the files into the dresser drawers, and basically turned my house upside down
4. Ripped up and replaced the floor
5. Repainted
6. Did some more painting
7. Oh, and painted again
8. Did something to my laptop so that it can't be unplugged or it'll die...maybe forever
9. Wrote a grand total of well, a grand or so. Sadly.
10. Spent way too much time and money at Home Depot
11. Spent three days organizing my new closet
12. Almost went with my mother to put down the family pet. The poor dog came within about half an hour of doggy heaven before she showed she still had enough life within her to enjoy a few more weeks of sweet Florida air
13. Saw my cover on Amazon, although no description is listed yet
14. LOST MY KEYS. Sadly.
15. Lost one of the supports for a corner shelf
16. Probably lost my mind, too
17. Bruised underneath my big toe by nearly falling down my parents' steps
18. Broke my poor Col. Klink bobblehead. (Schultz is okay, though.)
19. Fried myself so nicely that the librarian noticed and recommended buying an aloe plant
20. Moved back home into a beautiful, almost new interior, and am ignoring the rest of the work that needs to be done.
Now it's time to get to writing. Although I do have some decorating to do. And a big shopping trip to take. And a summer trip to plan. And a yard sale to oversee. And an attic to clean out. (Before the yard sale.) And...
Don't you love summer?
6/30/09
5/31/09
Tennessee Three
Here's the rest of our Tennessee trip. On the way out of Nashville, we stopped at the Hermitage, Andrew Jackson's homestead. It was cool to see it and to walk around the property a bit.
Next stop was a bed and breakfast on the way to Memphis. We stayed at the Chestnut Hill Ranch, which had quite a few farm animals and a very relaxing atmosphere. We had fun hearing stories about the pet pig, Esmerelda, reading outside on the deck, and watching hummingbirds and finches right outside our window while we ate breakfast.
The next morning, we drove to Memphis, but with a pit stop in Collierville. They had a great town square area with a park in the center and unique shops all around it. We ate lunch in a railroad car, trying out some Southern cooking. And not doing so well. Fried green tomatoes just aren't for me. 
Then came Memphis. It wasn't my favorite city of the trip, but the food was amazing! We ate at an Italian restaurant called Papa Pia's near Beale St.
After eating way too much, we meandered over a few blocks and watched part of a baseball game. 
Another thing we did in Memphis was to take a tour of Sun Studios (where Elvis first recorded).
We also walked Beale Street and ate some BBQ at the King's Palace Cafe. Good stuff!
All in all, the Tennessee vacation was a lot of fun. Great memories.
Now it's your turn--what great stuff did we miss doing in Tennessee...just in case we decide to go back sometime? :-)
5/29/09
More Travel Stuff
Okay, here's some more Tennessee trip stuff...just because it was a great trip and it's summertime. :-) When we left Chattanooga, we headed to Nashville. But we made a pit stop in Bell Buckle for some shopping. I LOVE that place. I'm going to have to set a story there, I think, just so I can go back sometime. 
After Bell Buckle, we drove to Nashville and checked into our hotel. On one of our spring break trips, we'd stayed in the Hotel Indigo in Sarasota and loved it, so we decided to try out the Nashville version. It's a botique hotel with different decor at each location. I think we both liked the Sarasota version better, but it was still great.
This was an upstairs lounge area where we read and hung out.
Jason and I love to check out a zoo on our trips. Our favorite animal display is the meerkat--love watching those things. In Nashville, we skipped the country music stuff and went to the zoo. There's probably something wrong with that, but we had fun. We walked around downtown then ate some BBQ.
Later, we checked out a bookstore (of course). It was here that I realized my books will probably be shelved very close to one of my all-time favorites--Walker--Warren. I thought that was pretty cool.
Here's the sign for Broadway - had to get that in there.
So there's a snippet of Nashville. Stayed tuned for Memphis. I'm sure you'll wait on the edge of your seat. :-)
5/19/09
Check it out...
Lovely author Erynn Mangum is doing a series on her blog, answering questions about publication, etc. She also is doing author interviews, and today she kindly interviewed me. :-) So check out Erynn's blog at http://www.erynnm.blogspot.com.
5/9/09
Travel Log
Okay, so I'm supposed to be writing. But as I sit here in the front room, surrounded by books, with music blaring, my gaze keeps falling on a picture of a historic hotel in Abbeyville, SC. And since I haven't blogged in a while, I thought maybe I post a few pictures from one of my vacations. (Not Abbeyville, because that was before I had a digital camera, and I don't feel like scanning pics. :-) )
I love to travel with my husband, and we have a lot of fun planning trips. Last summer we did a quick "tour" of Tennessee. We stayed at a bed and breakfast on a farm as well as a couple cool hotels. A lot of fun. Here are some pictures from our first stop: Chattanooaga.
On our anniversary, we went to cool restaurant in an old warehouse. Most of the building had been converted into an antique shop. The other part was a restaurant called Foodworks.
After supper, we picked up our tickets for a play at a community theater, then grabbed some dessert at the Mudpie restaurant. I loved that place. So much character. :-) The tables were mismatched, most of them heavy wood and scratched up. It was on a strip with little shops and restaurants near the water. The sidewalks outside had shoeprints in some areas with numbers beside them to teach you the steps of a waltz and other dances. After the play we walked out on a pedestrian bridge and looked at the water while we listened to a live band playing on the porch of another restaurant on the strip. A perfect evening. 
My brother and his family met us for a day, and we had fun taking a tour on a riverboat as well as checking out the aquarium. Jason and I also went to an art museum, but to get there, we had to walk over this glass bridge. Did I mention Jason is afraid of heights? :-) 
Our hotel was under construction, so the outside was a mess, as was some of the downstairs. In fact, if you looked at the building you wouldn't think it was open for business. But the rooms were newly remodeled and really great.
I absolutely loved Chattanooga. If we could have changed anything about our trip, we would have stayed there longer. The city was clean, there was a big variety of things to do, and there were tons of cute shops, coffee shops, dessert places, etc. One of these days I'll have to write a story that takes place there. I'd have to go back for research, right? :-)
My brother and his family met us for a day, and we had fun taking a tour on a riverboat as well as checking out the aquarium. Jason and I also went to an art museum, but to get there, we had to walk over this glass bridge. Did I mention Jason is afraid of heights? :-) Our hotel was under construction, so the outside was a mess, as was some of the downstairs. In fact, if you looked at the building you wouldn't think it was open for business. But the rooms were newly remodeled and really great.I absolutely loved Chattanooga. If we could have changed anything about our trip, we would have stayed there longer. The city was clean, there was a big variety of things to do, and there were tons of cute shops, coffee shops, dessert places, etc. One of these days I'll have to write a story that takes place there. I'd have to go back for research, right? :-)4/28/09
New Website
The new JennessWalker.com is officially up! Not necessarily finished, but good enough to go live. I'm so excited! My husband is amazing, in my humble opinion. :-) So go check it out!
But first, a disclaimer. NO, I am not vain. I just couldn't think up more content at this point, so I posted pictures instead. lol. When I get more info on my book, and as I sell more, we can replace my face with lovely book covers. Ah...heaven. :-)
So go look it over and sign my guestbook. Then email Jason to have him build you a website, too. Everybody's doing it. :-)
www.jennesswalker.com
But first, a disclaimer. NO, I am not vain. I just couldn't think up more content at this point, so I posted pictures instead. lol. When I get more info on my book, and as I sell more, we can replace my face with lovely book covers. Ah...heaven. :-)
So go look it over and sign my guestbook. Then email Jason to have him build you a website, too. Everybody's doing it. :-)
www.jennesswalker.com
4/19/09
Interview with Christy Barritt
Part 1
I had the honor of being an influencer for Christy Barritt’s debut novel. I’d never been an influencer before and wasn’t sure what all it involved, but I did know it meant a free book. With a heroine who does cleaning jobs—okay, crime scene clean-up, but that’s pretty close—how could I resist? So I didn’t. Hazardous Duty, a humorous mystery, was a really fun read, and Christy is an amazing writer.
So, without further ado, let me introduce Christy Barritt.
JW: How did you get into writing?
CB: Ever since I was a child, I’ve loved stories. I’ve always had a great imagination and I spent a lot of time spinning tales. I remember writing my first “book” when I was in elementary school. It was about a turtle named Myrtle. In high school, I wrote my first complete novel! I continued pursuing my passion to write when I went to college and studied communications. After graduation, I got a job at a Christian publishing house. After working there three years, I left and began to work on my own writing again. I’ve been doing that ever since.
JW: A turtle named Myrtle? Now that sounds like a great read. Do you have a specific purpose for writing?
CB: Lately, it’s been impressed on me that I need to write in order to express truths. I’ve got a big heart for Christians who have been hurt by the church and I think my writing reflects that. I want to portray Christians honestly, so we can look at ourselves and realize the areas that need improvement. I also write to bring a sense of adventure and humor to those who read. Most of all, I write because I know that’s what God’s called me to do.
JW: Tell me about your writing space and routine. And how has having a child changed that routine?
CB: I wish I had some great and inspiring stories to tell you about my awesome writing space and routine. HOWEVER—my routine right now is mostly that I write on Tuesdays and Thursdays while my mother watches my 16-month-old, Eli. He’s banned from my cluttered little office, you see. At first, he just went through my drawers and disorganized them, pulled books off my shelf and gleeful poured dirt from my potted plant onto the carpet. The other day, however, he turned off my computer. The hard drive is on the floor and someone brilliantly designed it so that the “on” button lights up.
JW: Oh, no. Please say no…
CB: Well, little Eli just couldn’t resist. He pressed it. In doing so, I lost pages of work. Now, HE’S BANNED! I’m still trying to figure out how to balance writing with having a child. It’s challenging.
JW: I hear ya. It’s hard enough babysitting a dog who likes to poke his head in front of my screen and press mmmmmmmmmm. Okay, got a little carried away there. Challenging or not, you do a great job! Now, you do articles, novels, and non-fiction books. Do you have a favorite?
CB: Fiction is definitely my first love. I love the whole story world and creative process. Non-fiction helps to pay my bills, though!
JW: So how do you get ideas for your stories?
CB: Everywhere! And honestly, one of the reasons I love writing for the newspaper is that I get so many “ideas” from the people I’ve interviewed (not directly, mind you). For instance, my next book (Suspicious Minds) deals with an Elvis Tribute Artist. I got the idea after interviewing an Elvis impersonator for a story. When I saw how ga-ga some women were going over this man, I knew I had to use a fake Elvis in one of my stories. Usually, I have so many ideas that I don’t know what to do with them all. It’s hard to narrow them down. But somehow, I do. I usually pick the one that I can’t get out of my mind!
JW: I definitely hear you on that. So, Christy, you are one busy woman, but when you’re not writing, what are some of your favorite things? To do, to eat, whatever.
CB: My favorite things…I love singing and playing the guitar. I love musicals and dogs (I even have two!). I also love watching people and being a student of human behavior. My favorite thing in the whole world lately is just watching my son learn. It’s amazing! Really!
JW: My dad tried to teach me how to play the guitar. Those lessons went about as well as the stick shift lessons. I could give advice from that, but I’d rather hear some from you. Two bits of random advice—one writing-related and one not.
CB: Writing advice: Keep at it! Writing requires a lot of determination and perseverance. Use your setbacks to make you stronger. Rejection letters can often offer good advice to make you a better writer. Pushing ahead in seasons of dryness will strengthen your character. Learning the basics of the craft will make you more knowledgeable. One bit of non-writing related advice would be to enjoy the journey and not get distracted by whatever your end goal is. Life is short and we have to make the most of each day. I recently found myself in a situation where I’d taken on too much, and I was just miserable. All of the things I was doing would led me steps closer to where I wanted to be professionally, but it wasn’t worth it to feel so tired, lonely and overwhelmed.
JW: Thanks so much, Christy, for sharing with us. Folks, check out Hazardous Duty, a chick lit mystery that will keep you guessing…and laughing.
(Originally posted 11-6-07)
Part 2 -- 6/15/08
A few months ago, I was privileged to be a first reader for Suspicious Minds, the second book in Christy Barritt’s Squeaky Clean series. Though it was a different experience reading the story in manuscript format, I loved it just as much as her first funny mystery, Hazardous Duty. Suspicious Minds is now out, and you don’t want to miss it!
Christy kindly consented to answer some more questions. So, without further ado…
JW: In your Squeaky Clean series, who is your favorite secondary character?
CB: It’s so hard to pick! I have to say, I really like Sierra. I’ve had a lot of fun with her. She’s an animal right’s activist and she’s always getting herself into some sort of trouble. I based her character off of some people I met while doing a newspaper interview at the headquarters of a really large animal right’s group.
JW: I do love Sierra. Of course, the new guy in Suspicious Minds…Well, yeah. It’s definitely hard to pick! Here’s another tough questions for you. Hazardous Duty or Suspicious Minds—do you have a favorite?
CB: I like them both in different ways. I probably couldn’t pick a favorite. I will say I had a lot of fun in Suspicious Minds because I already knew the characters. Writing that book was like sitting down to coffee with old friends and asking them, what’s been going on?
JW: Can you give us a sneak peak at what Gabby’s next adventure might be?
CB: It’s a mystery that involves Sierra and her friends. She actually starts to date
someone who’s a freegan. No, I did not make up the word freegan—they’re real. Freegans are people who feel like the U.S. is wasteful so instead of buying things, they go dumpster diving to find what they need for free. That’s where they get their food, their clothes, almost everything. Anyway, this freegan that Sierra starts dating ends up being trouble. The book also addresses the “Going Green” trend that is so popular in our culture right now.
JW: Another must-read, I’m sure. Sounds great. Hurry up and finish it! Meanwhile, I have just a few questions about your writing journey. First, where do you see God leading you?
CB: I know I have a lot of stories in me that I would love to write. I honestly feel like writing is what God has called me to do. But I also feel that God has brought me to a place where I have to be willing to lay it out if he says so. It’s too easy to base your self-worth on your successes or failures. I think God wants me to be content in him.
JW: What has been the hardest thing so far?
CB: The past year has probably been the hardest, to be honest. I think people are surprised to hear that, because I’m published. I like to compare being published to being married. Before people get married, they think about wonderful marriage will be. They dream about finding their soul mate. And then they get married and realize (hopefully) that marriage is wonderful--but it’s also a lot of hard work. Being published is similar. Before getting the big contract, you dream about how wonderful it will be. But after you’re published, you realize the amount of work you have in front of you. There’s pressure coming at you from different directions. Being published is wonderful, but also challenging.
JW: That’s really interesting (and a little hard) to hear. Thank you for sharing that. I’ll keep it in mind since I hope to, um, sign the knot? soon. Ha. Last question. What is your favorite part about the writing life? The biggest reward?
CB: I love the creation process. I love getting to know my characters and seeing where they’ll take me. I love dreaming up plot twists and making life miserable for my story people. The biggest reward for me is when someone really “gets” my book—I don’t mean purchases it and reads it, but when they really connect. When my story has given them a temporary escape from their life. When they can relate to my characters and their conflicts and hurts and triumphs. That’s the biggest reward.
JW: Thanks so much for sharing, Christy. If you want to learn more about Christy and her books, check out her website at http://www.christybarritt.com. You can purchase the Squeaky Clean series on Amazon or the Kregel website.
(Originally posted 6-15-08)
I had the honor of being an influencer for Christy Barritt’s debut novel. I’d never been an influencer before and wasn’t sure what all it involved, but I did know it meant a free book. With a heroine who does cleaning jobs—okay, crime scene clean-up, but that’s pretty close—how could I resist? So I didn’t. Hazardous Duty, a humorous mystery, was a really fun read, and Christy is an amazing writer.
So, without further ado, let me introduce Christy Barritt.
JW: How did you get into writing?
CB: Ever since I was a child, I’ve loved stories. I’ve always had a great imagination and I spent a lot of time spinning tales. I remember writing my first “book” when I was in elementary school. It was about a turtle named Myrtle. In high school, I wrote my first complete novel! I continued pursuing my passion to write when I went to college and studied communications. After graduation, I got a job at a Christian publishing house. After working there three years, I left and began to work on my own writing again. I’ve been doing that ever since.
JW: A turtle named Myrtle? Now that sounds like a great read. Do you have a specific purpose for writing?
CB: Lately, it’s been impressed on me that I need to write in order to express truths. I’ve got a big heart for Christians who have been hurt by the church and I think my writing reflects that. I want to portray Christians honestly, so we can look at ourselves and realize the areas that need improvement. I also write to bring a sense of adventure and humor to those who read. Most of all, I write because I know that’s what God’s called me to do.
JW: Tell me about your writing space and routine. And how has having a child changed that routine?
CB: I wish I had some great and inspiring stories to tell you about my awesome writing space and routine. HOWEVER—my routine right now is mostly that I write on Tuesdays and Thursdays while my mother watches my 16-month-old, Eli. He’s banned from my cluttered little office, you see. At first, he just went through my drawers and disorganized them, pulled books off my shelf and gleeful poured dirt from my potted plant onto the carpet. The other day, however, he turned off my computer. The hard drive is on the floor and someone brilliantly designed it so that the “on” button lights up.
JW: Oh, no. Please say no…
CB: Well, little Eli just couldn’t resist. He pressed it. In doing so, I lost pages of work. Now, HE’S BANNED! I’m still trying to figure out how to balance writing with having a child. It’s challenging.
JW: I hear ya. It’s hard enough babysitting a dog who likes to poke his head in front of my screen and press mmmmmmmmmm. Okay, got a little carried away there. Challenging or not, you do a great job! Now, you do articles, novels, and non-fiction books. Do you have a favorite?
CB: Fiction is definitely my first love. I love the whole story world and creative process. Non-fiction helps to pay my bills, though!
JW: So how do you get ideas for your stories?
CB: Everywhere! And honestly, one of the reasons I love writing for the newspaper is that I get so many “ideas” from the people I’ve interviewed (not directly, mind you). For instance, my next book (Suspicious Minds) deals with an Elvis Tribute Artist. I got the idea after interviewing an Elvis impersonator for a story. When I saw how ga-ga some women were going over this man, I knew I had to use a fake Elvis in one of my stories. Usually, I have so many ideas that I don’t know what to do with them all. It’s hard to narrow them down. But somehow, I do. I usually pick the one that I can’t get out of my mind!
JW: I definitely hear you on that. So, Christy, you are one busy woman, but when you’re not writing, what are some of your favorite things? To do, to eat, whatever.
CB: My favorite things…I love singing and playing the guitar. I love musicals and dogs (I even have two!). I also love watching people and being a student of human behavior. My favorite thing in the whole world lately is just watching my son learn. It’s amazing! Really!
JW: My dad tried to teach me how to play the guitar. Those lessons went about as well as the stick shift lessons. I could give advice from that, but I’d rather hear some from you. Two bits of random advice—one writing-related and one not.
CB: Writing advice: Keep at it! Writing requires a lot of determination and perseverance. Use your setbacks to make you stronger. Rejection letters can often offer good advice to make you a better writer. Pushing ahead in seasons of dryness will strengthen your character. Learning the basics of the craft will make you more knowledgeable. One bit of non-writing related advice would be to enjoy the journey and not get distracted by whatever your end goal is. Life is short and we have to make the most of each day. I recently found myself in a situation where I’d taken on too much, and I was just miserable. All of the things I was doing would led me steps closer to where I wanted to be professionally, but it wasn’t worth it to feel so tired, lonely and overwhelmed.
JW: Thanks so much, Christy, for sharing with us. Folks, check out Hazardous Duty, a chick lit mystery that will keep you guessing…and laughing.
(Originally posted 11-6-07)
Part 2 -- 6/15/08
A few months ago, I was privileged to be a first reader for Suspicious Minds, the second book in Christy Barritt’s Squeaky Clean series. Though it was a different experience reading the story in manuscript format, I loved it just as much as her first funny mystery, Hazardous Duty. Suspicious Minds is now out, and you don’t want to miss it!
Christy kindly consented to answer some more questions. So, without further ado…
JW: In your Squeaky Clean series, who is your favorite secondary character?
CB: It’s so hard to pick! I have to say, I really like Sierra. I’ve had a lot of fun with her. She’s an animal right’s activist and she’s always getting herself into some sort of trouble. I based her character off of some people I met while doing a newspaper interview at the headquarters of a really large animal right’s group.
JW: I do love Sierra. Of course, the new guy in Suspicious Minds…Well, yeah. It’s definitely hard to pick! Here’s another tough questions for you. Hazardous Duty or Suspicious Minds—do you have a favorite?
CB: I like them both in different ways. I probably couldn’t pick a favorite. I will say I had a lot of fun in Suspicious Minds because I already knew the characters. Writing that book was like sitting down to coffee with old friends and asking them, what’s been going on?
JW: Can you give us a sneak peak at what Gabby’s next adventure might be?
CB: It’s a mystery that involves Sierra and her friends. She actually starts to date
someone who’s a freegan. No, I did not make up the word freegan—they’re real. Freegans are people who feel like the U.S. is wasteful so instead of buying things, they go dumpster diving to find what they need for free. That’s where they get their food, their clothes, almost everything. Anyway, this freegan that Sierra starts dating ends up being trouble. The book also addresses the “Going Green” trend that is so popular in our culture right now.
JW: Another must-read, I’m sure. Sounds great. Hurry up and finish it! Meanwhile, I have just a few questions about your writing journey. First, where do you see God leading you?
CB: I know I have a lot of stories in me that I would love to write. I honestly feel like writing is what God has called me to do. But I also feel that God has brought me to a place where I have to be willing to lay it out if he says so. It’s too easy to base your self-worth on your successes or failures. I think God wants me to be content in him.
JW: What has been the hardest thing so far?
CB: The past year has probably been the hardest, to be honest. I think people are surprised to hear that, because I’m published. I like to compare being published to being married. Before people get married, they think about wonderful marriage will be. They dream about finding their soul mate. And then they get married and realize (hopefully) that marriage is wonderful--but it’s also a lot of hard work. Being published is similar. Before getting the big contract, you dream about how wonderful it will be. But after you’re published, you realize the amount of work you have in front of you. There’s pressure coming at you from different directions. Being published is wonderful, but also challenging.
JW: That’s really interesting (and a little hard) to hear. Thank you for sharing that. I’ll keep it in mind since I hope to, um, sign the knot? soon. Ha. Last question. What is your favorite part about the writing life? The biggest reward?
CB: I love the creation process. I love getting to know my characters and seeing where they’ll take me. I love dreaming up plot twists and making life miserable for my story people. The biggest reward for me is when someone really “gets” my book—I don’t mean purchases it and reads it, but when they really connect. When my story has given them a temporary escape from their life. When they can relate to my characters and their conflicts and hurts and triumphs. That’s the biggest reward.
JW: Thanks so much for sharing, Christy. If you want to learn more about Christy and her books, check out her website at http://www.christybarritt.com. You can purchase the Squeaky Clean series on Amazon or the Kregel website.
(Originally posted 6-15-08)
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