Author Pens Worst Book Promo Ever
by
Jenny B. Jones
*******
I started crafting this post to tell you about my new book I’ll Be Yours. So I will tell you about it: it’s a YA, it’s hopefully funny, it’s about a nerd girl’s first love, it’s about American football, and it’s about broken people trying to put it all back together again when nothing can truly be the same.
I wrote three posts about the book, but scrapped them all, as I kept coming back to the words I really wanted to say to you. And that is… STOP WAITING.
That’s right, I’m talking to you. You with the dream. You with the goal. You with the big star marked on the 31st of Someday. Stop putting off that big thing you’re wanting to do. Or that small scary thing that lingers in your mind. That follows you from year to year, sits down with you at meals, and sneaks into your dreams. That thing that is easy to silence, but like my deep and abiding love for stretchy pants, never really goes away.
When I started teaching at the starry-eyed age of twenty-two, I was immediately exposed to children who had terrible home lives, children who had no home lives. I saw the enormous difference one good parent figure could make. That year I began to hear this inner whisper say, “You should be a foster parent.” But I ignored that voice, as we often do when an idea settles on us that would be radically inconvenient, illogical, or just plain crazy. (In unrelated news: I never ignored the voice that says “Eat cheese dip.”) The call to be a foster parent never went away, but I always threw up excuses such as I’m too young, I’m a poor teacher, I’m too busy, and of course, I’ll wait until I’m married. I made a deal with myself—I’d foster when I got married or if Prince Harry failed to show up, and I wasn’t married by the time I was 40, I would foster by myself. And in the meantime, I did what I thought was the next best thing—write about it. And then write about it some more.
My first book, In Between, was centered around a character I based off two students, primarily one named Maggie, whose life and whole personality changed when she was finally placed in a home with a caring adult. I saw this teenager absolutely transform, and it inspired me to write about a girl named Katie Parker. Thanks to an adult investing in Maggie’s life, my student went from being a probable statistic (high likelihood of teen pregnancy, 10x more likely to be in prison, high occurrence of PTSD and substance addiction, shorter lifespan) to years later, now being a married mother of two, pursuing her math degree to become a teacher herself. All because someone gave her a home. (And because Maggie is one fierce fighter, incredibly smart, and so determined.) My gosh, I’m so proud of her.
So the age of Forty came and found me. Chased me down really, jerk that she is. And Forty said, “Hey, remember that promise you made yourself? It’s time to stop creating fictional stories about foster care and time to start living the real ones.” I was a little appalled at how much time had passed, how quickly the years had flown. Completely overwhelmed at the prospect of balancing work and children, meshing my world with the needs of a young stranger. Conditions were still not anywhere near favorable. But I went to an informational meeting just to learn more. And I knew I was sunk as soon as I got there.
This week I have my final home inspection, and my home should be open by the end of the month. I have a million fears about it all and am pretty sure I’m going to fail on a regular basis. My prayers to God have been reduced to the simple plea of “Don’t let me screw them up.” But do you know what my main thought is? Why didn’t I do this sooner?
Photo courtesy Jenny B. Jones
That dream you’ve been putting off? That goal that lives in Someday? What would happen if you attempted it now? In my case, God didn’t command me to take care of the widows and orphans when the checkbook overflowed and it felt right. I’m the one who put all the conditions on it. Bob Goff, in his amazing book Love Does, said something like “In the end love doesn’t just keep thinking about it or planning for it. Simply put: love does.” Goff makes the point that love takes risks and reaps the rewards, instead of fearing that taking the wrong path might not have been in God’s will, and we’ll suffer forever. Whether you take Path A or Path B, God is there. The tidy path or the brambled path, God is there. The This Was Definitely The Right Thing to Do Path or the Oh, Child You Have Screwed Up Path, God is there.
I’m a person of order and planning. I like logic and reason. I live for security and safety. But I know, it can be to my own detriment. Let’s be risk takers. Let’s be crazy folks who do unsafe things. For me, that means riskier than using the men’s bathroom when the line for the ladies’ is too long. Riskier than eating M&Ms that have now progressed to the ten second rule. Riskier than purchasing a burrito from a diner I haven’t thoroughly researched on Trip Advisor. Real Risk.
That thing you want to try? Don’t wait until your youngest is out of college, until your house is paid off, until you’re no longer caring for an elderly parent, until you lose that twenty pounds, until you don’t care what someone thinks, until your job is more stable, until Prince Harry marries you.
Our greatest adventures are when we throw off all logic and just do it. Love does. I wish I hadn’t waited nearly twenty years to pursue the big thing I wanted to do. Time waits for no man or woman, no matter how much we beg it.
So I wrote yet another book that deals with a facet of a foster care graduate. And I hope people buy it. And let’s pretend that I used this time to tell you all about it. But what I want more is for people to punch logic in the face and run hard after that dream, that wish that won’t leave you alone. (And should that happen to include inviting children in need of care into your home, feel free to email me, and I’ll point you in the right direction to get you started.) But whatever that Relentless Thing is, be even more relentless in pursuing it before it’s too late.
“Every day God invites us on the same kind of adventure. It’s not a trip where He sends us a rigid itinerary, He simply invites us. God asks what it is He’s made us to love, what it is that captures our attention, what feeds that deep indescribable need of our souls to experience the richness of the world He made. And then, leaning over us, He whispers, “Let’s go do that together.” Bob Goff
Award-winning, best-selling author Jenny B. Jones writes YA and women’s romance with sass and Southern charm. Since she has very little free time, Jenny believes in spending her spare hours in meaningful, intellectual pursuits, such as eating ice cream, watching puppy videos, and reading celebrity gossip. She lives in the beautiful state of Arkansas and has worked in public education for half of forever. She loves the sound of bluegrass, loves a good laugh, and loves to hear from readers.
She’s the coach’s brilliant daughter, clueless about love.
He’s the dethroned football star, ready to teach Romance 101.
When dark secrets and sparks collide, there’s no playbook for what happens next.
If life were a nerd parade, sixteen-year-old Harper O’Malley would be its grand marshal. This trumpet player’s got a laundry list of accomplishments to her credit, but none of them include snagging a boyfriend. When a new guy finally catches Harper’s eye, she’ll stop at nothing to win his heart, even if it means asking for assistance from an unlikely source.
High school senior Ridley Estes’s future depends on playing football for the University of Southern Kentucky. When his past catches up with him, Ridley will need more than just a scholarship to get his ticket to college. He needs the kind of help only a brainiac like Harper can provide.
Harper knows she’s insane to agree to tutor Ridley in exchange for love lessons, but these are desperate times. Just when she sees promise with her crush, a national scandal rocks the SEC, and no one is safe from the fallout. Harper’s family implodes from the aftershocks, dredging up devastating memories she’d rather keep buried.
Harper suddenly has everything to lose—her family, friends, and even her heart. Who can she trust? When the dust of the scandal settles, nothing will be the same. Including the girl who asked the most popular jock to teach her about love.
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Buy at Amazon: I’ll Be Yours
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April 4, 2016 at 11:49 am
My dream that I would like to fulfill but probably never will is to play college soccer. It has been my dream since I was little.
April 4, 2016 at 11:50 am
I’ve always loved Jenny’s work!! Something that I want to accomplish is definitely to travel more. I want to see and explore the wonderful world my God created!
April 4, 2016 at 11:56 am
My dream is to become a writer. I put it off because I have a baby now but really, I use that as an excuse. I need to write, dang it! I need to write because I feel like I was born to become an author. I feel it in my bones.
April 4, 2016 at 11:57 am
A dream that I hope to fulfill is to let go of all the fears that hold me back and do something out of my comfort zone. I’d like to travel and experience life at its fullest.
April 4, 2016 at 12:14 pm
I adore this post and you, and I can’t wait to meet the lucky child who will be blessed to have you as a foster parent.
April 4, 2016 at 12:35 pm
It’s a dream of mine to find my purpose, I guess. I’d love it if that purpose involved caring for children someday, one way or another, or if it incorporated any sort of creating. Another dream I have is to eat whatever I want without allergy/weight involved repurcussions, but that one might be a little like my childhood dream of being a fairy mermaid.
April 4, 2016 at 12:44 pm
I flt like this was written specifically for so many reasons! I dream of being an author someday. It’s the one dream I’ve had since childhood that I have only half-heartedly pursued. Someday! Or rather, today!
April 4, 2016 at 12:46 pm
My dream was to be a professional singer.
April 4, 2016 at 12:47 pm
101 reasons NOT to comment using one’s phone include 1) mistypings and 2) missing words. And I said I wanted to be an author someday! Oh, the irony.
April 4, 2016 at 12:59 pm
My biggest dream is to raise my four kids to enjoy each other’s company when they’re adults. They range in age from eleven to twenty years old, and I’m seeing glimpses of it now, which makes my heart swell with pride.
April 4, 2016 at 1:03 pm
Love this so much! I have this book ready for read soon 🙂 🙂
April 4, 2016 at 1:05 pm
I’ve always wanted to explore more of the world. My bucket list is mostly places to visit and I’m slowly knocking them off.
April 4, 2016 at 1:08 pm
Travel more and do mission work!
April 4, 2016 at 1:51 pm
Wonderful post! Good luck with your new adventure! I’d love to do more traveling.
April 4, 2016 at 8:35 pm
I love this! Such an inspiration. Prayers for you as you pursue this dream of yours. Fostering is often filled with frustration, heartache, doubt… just like parenting any child, when I think about it. But, oh, the rewards, for both the parent and the child. This is a noble calling. Unlike my dream to eat as many loaded nachos and as much chocolate as I want without becoming the size of a house. (Yeah, that’s not really my big, tippy-toe, top shelf dream, as a friend of mine calls it. I’ve got one of those, too…)
April 4, 2016 at 9:34 pm
Way to go, Jenny! What an exciting season.
My dream was to be a teacher. It wasn’t even that big of a dream until about 6 years ago. Now I am a teacher and every single day I wonder a) if I will ever feel like I know what I’m doing, and b) what took me so long to figure out this is the best job in the world. Living your dream is so scary and so awesome all at the same time.
Next dream: I am still adjusting to my teacher dream. I am too tired to dream about anything else right now!
April 4, 2016 at 10:24 pm
Beautiful post. Such inspiration. I will pray for you Jennie. Did you read the Elizabeth Gail series when growing up? That made me want to foster. Your book looks great.
April 4, 2016 at 10:34 pm
I want to write a book, several actually. I have started to take my first tentative steps in that direction.
April 5, 2016 at 12:21 am
My dream is pay off student loan debt to build a tiny house.
April 5, 2016 at 2:25 am
I just wanted to say how much I loved this inspirational post. Amen!!
April 5, 2016 at 2:48 am
There’s a typo in the title of this post. It should be the BEST book promo ever! I’m so excited about a) a new Jenny Jones book and b) that you’re fostering! Way to chase your dream. Hugs (and I’m off to order the book!)
April 5, 2016 at 2:55 am
love the post.
April 5, 2016 at 3:09 am
The call came late on a Monday afternoon – “Mrs. Broyles, this is ….from your church…. we have a request that we are asking you & your husband to pray about – we need a home for an abused child – a 15 year old – would you & your husband consider taking her in.” – – – and with that one call, our whole world changed. My husband and I never had children of our own – we had no experience – but we have a home and a willing heart. And what started as a “only 2 weeks” commitment turned into almost 2 years. I wouldn’t change any of it for the world. Did I make mistakes – yes. Did I spend a whole LOT more time in prayer – yes!! But as my coffee mug says to me each morning – “A hundred years from now, it won’t matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove …. but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a CHILD.” Don’t ever forget that Jenny – the only thing that matters is your commitment to God and that a child has been entrusted to your care through His Will – through His plan – through Him. A story is told of a child who became frightened during a storm one night and was found hiding under her bed. The parent reached out and helped her back into bed and soothed the child with tender words. The parent reminded the child that Jesus would always take care of her – through every storm. The child said, “Yes, I know – but right now I need Him with some skin on.” And for the little ones that God sends your way, Jenny – You will be that Jesus with skin on. God bless you, you’ll be in my prayers.
April 5, 2016 at 3:09 am
I want to be an interior designer and I want help my daughter’s with their writing and launching their books.
April 5, 2016 at 3:27 am
All the amens! I became a single foster mama last year after contemplating it for years and then convincing myself I didn’t even want to do such a radical thing. It is not easy, but it’s wonderful!
April 5, 2016 at 3:39 am
I am so happy that I’ve purchased this book. The first four chapters are off to an incredible start- but I’ve yet to read a Jenny B book that’s not incredible. This post inspires me. Thank you for listening to the still small voice when you penned this worst promo ever, though that’s a misnomer. In response to the question, I’d love to adopt even though I have 1000 fears and 10,000 excuses of why I’m inadequate. I’m curious to what the Lord has in store. Thank you for providing this giveaway. I have a recipient in mind if I’m the lucky one.
April 7, 2016 at 8:36 pm
Wow. Wow. Wow. This book was AWESOME. I finished it yesterday afternoon and am still thinking about it this morning. Kudos!
April 5, 2016 at 3:53 am
To become a published author.
April 5, 2016 at 3:56 am
First off: that is so exciting, Miss Jenny!
I am going to be going to China this summer on a mission trip! That has been a dream of mine for years and it’s finally happening!
April 5, 2016 at 5:14 am
Jen! Love this post so much. You inspire me, girl, and not only to eat more cheese dip. Hugs 🙂
April 5, 2016 at 5:18 am
I would love to travel all over the world at some point. Guess I better get started!!
April 5, 2016 at 5:52 am
This is just beautiful. May God bless you on your endeavors, Jenny B. Jones!
April 5, 2016 at 7:11 am
love, love, LOVE everything about this post! My husband and I are currently going through foster care training right now! Your book has just landed on the top of my TBR pile 🙂 also, icecream and celebrity gossip? I’m right there with ya!
April 5, 2016 at 7:39 am
this is an amazing post and i am so glad it is here! Kudos to Jenny ! I applaud strong women who step out in faith and don’t let anything hold them back. Maybe it is unique for a forty year young woman to take on foster kids by herself. Maybe dreams manifest in different ways than we thought possible.
This is a brilliant, uplifting, empowering and defying-expectation post and I dig it!
April 5, 2016 at 9:05 am
My dream is to go tiny and possibly even mobile! I’d love to convert a school bus for our family of six and see more of the country, maybe even Canada! I really want to live in Idaho for a time and I’d love to try one of the warm, dry states too! This midwest girl has wanderlust, bad.
April 5, 2016 at 9:06 am
I love this idea! Travel is worth SO MUCH.
April 5, 2016 at 9:10 am
Hi Rel and Jenny, I loved this post and I’m so going to pray for you, Jenny. We were foster/adoptive parents of twin girls age 3 when they came to us. It has been quite a journey with many joys and challenges. They’re 28 now and we’re still very much involved and helping them move forward in life. Foster parenting is not for the faint at heart, but if the Lord is calling you to it, He will provide the wisdom and grace you’ll need.
April 6, 2016 at 5:58 am
Thanks so much, Carrie.
April 5, 2016 at 9:29 am
Thanks for the encouragement and offers for prayer, everyone. I’m loving reading your goals!
April 5, 2016 at 10:31 am
Jenny: this is BEAUTIFUL! Thank you for your encouragement to just do what God asks! And now I’m off to buy the book despite…nope, BECAUSE of this book promo post! 🙂
a
April 5, 2016 at 11:39 am
As a librarian, I’ve always wanted to work for the public library–mostly NYCPL–but we have to start somewhere. After 17 years of teaching/being a librarian for teens, I took the leap of faith and now am working for our local public library system. It was a HUGE pay cut, and I’m not downsizing to make up for it, but I figure I’m one step closer to my dream, and haven’t been happier!
April 5, 2016 at 6:15 pm
My dream is to one day open my own cafe.
April 6, 2016 at 8:59 am
You know, I’ve read several posts lately that focus on being brave and going after that dream that just won’t go away. Because of that, I’m kind of wondering if God’s trying to tell me something. But when I’m reading them, I come back to the question, “what is my dream?” What wish lingers in the back of my mind and won’t go away? The gut answer is “I want to be a journalist.” I do. I love stories. I love listening to people tell their stories. And my dream job would be getting to listen and then tell the stories others entrusst me with. But it’s scary. I would have to go to college. And I don’t have the money. I would have to step out of my comfort zone and reach toward a dream that I might fail at. And that’s the scariest of all: I could fail.
April 6, 2016 at 1:12 pm
Sarah – but you could also succeed!
April 6, 2016 at 5:07 pm
So beautiful.
April 7, 2016 at 12:26 am
I’ve loved Jenny B Jones for a long time – even got my parents reading her books (my dad loved Save the Date – no joke!). I really want to read this new book! I read the first chapter on FB and am already hooked 😉
April 9, 2016 at 5:00 am
Two years ago, after 11 years of marriage, my daughter gave birth to my first grandchild. I am now experiencing ultimate joy!!
Connie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
April 12, 2016 at 5:04 am
Beautiful post, Jenny. Wishing you all the best with this next journey you’re facing. (Ps; and you’ll rock being a foster parent! *smile*)