Jody Hedlund’s
Frequently Asked Questions
and
Grand Prize Giveaway
********
It is my delight to be the final stop on Jody Hedlund’s Noble Knights Blog tour, celebrating the release of her first YA (Young Adult) novel, An Uncertain Choice.
With two teenage daughters and a third on the cusp, I’m always looking for stories that will entertain, challenge, and encourage my girls ~ An Uncertain Choice fits that bill perfectly! That said, I highly recommend it to “girls” of all ages! Be sure to read the novella prequel, The Vow, so you know the whole story behind the Lady Rosemarie!
Be sure to visit all the previous blog tour stops to discover more about the characters, setting, history, and all things An Uncertain Choice. Just visit Jody’s Events page which has all the details.
On this final stop, Jody shares answers to the most frequently asked questions about An Uncertain Choice and you can enter the GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY!
FAQs
Is there a sequel?
Yes, while An Uncertain Choice has a happily-ever-after for one of the knights, I purposefully left a cliff hanger at the end. I hinted that one of the other two knights is facing grave danger and that his friends must rush off to save him before it’s too late. This second book releases in March of 2016.
Will the other knights fall in love?
Since one knight finds his true love in An Uncertain Choice, it’s only fair that each of the other two knights gets the chance to find love too. So they begin their own quests to find their places in the world, overcome shortcomings, and along the way find the woman that God has planned for them.
Do you have a title for other books in this series?
The title for the second book in the series is A Daring Sacrifice.
Do you intend to write more YA novels?
I had so much fun writing the three books in this series that I’m definitely planning to write more YA.
An Uncertain Choice
Due to her parents’ promise at her birth, Lady Rosemarie has been prepared to become a nun on the day she turns eighteen. Then, shortly before her birthday, a friend of her father’s enters the kingdom and proclaims her parents’ will left a second choice—if Rosemarie can marry before the eve of her eighteenth year, she will be exempt from the ancient vow.
Before long, Rosemarie is presented with the three most handsome and brave knights in the land. But when the knights’ arrival results in a series of attacks within her land, she begins to wonder if the convent is the best place after all. If only one of the knights—the one who appears the most guilty—had not already captured her heart.
Does Rosemarie resemble any of your daughters?
My two oldest daughters (twins) are in high school and so are facing some of the same growing up issues that Rosemarie faces: the struggle to know what to do with their futures, the desire to make their own decisions and yet still listen to wise advice, the longing to be courageous in the face of hardship but not always knowing how. And of course, my daughters are in the thick of learning how to handle blossoming feelings of interest in guys.
Did your daughters give you their input on the story? Do they like your book?
One of my teen daughters is an avid reader. And so she’s read all of the books in the series (including the novella). While she prefers contemporary suspense and thrillers, she enjoyed my historicals even though they’re not her favorite genre. I’ve really appreciated her feedback and ideas and take all of her critiques very much to heart.
An Uncertain Choice is a romance. What is the inspiration behind this kind of story?
My two oldest daughters (twins) are in high school. They’re starting to notice boys. And boys are starting to notice them.
Okay, who am I kidding? My teen daughters have been paying attention to boys for quite a few years. Yes, they’re human. But of course, up until now they’ve been a tad young to enter the world of dating. My husband would prefer that we have a family rule, “No dating until at least the age of 22.” And he’ll likely greet any boy that comes calling for them with a baseball bat in hand (wink!).
But because we know that we can’t beat away the boys forever, we wanted to have a tool that we could use for our daughters to help prepare them for dating.
Let’s face it, the dating world has become rather big and scary to many young people. And rightly so. Our modern culture, particularly social media, has changed the nature of dating. Cell phones, texting, Facebook, online dating services, etc. have all impacted the how’s, why’s, what’s, and when’s of dating.
When I began to think about what kinds of dating experiences I wanted my daughters to have, I decided to write a book that models the purity, nobility, and courtly love that existed in the days of old, during the times of knights and their ladies, a time in history when chivalry was at its height. Thus, An Uncertain Choice was birthed.
Thanks Jody!
Jody Hedlund is the bestselling author of seven novels, including Captured By Love, Rebellious Heart, and A Noble Groom, winner of the 2014 Carol Award and INSPYs Award. She received a bachelor’s from Taylor University and a master’s from University of Wisconsin, both in social work. Currently she makes her home in Midland, Michigan, with her husband and five busy children.
GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY
Entering is easy! Complete as many steps as you like in the Rafflecopter form below
April 2, 2015 at 10:31 pm
I suppose the innocence and the remembrance of being young and starting out appeals to me in YA fiction. Oh, those days…..
April 2, 2015 at 11:00 pm
YA novels appeal to me because I love seeing younger boys and girls standing up for their beliefs. Plus, i’m always on the hunt for good stories for my teenage sons.
April 3, 2015 at 12:08 am
YA novels appeal to me b/c they encourage teens to pursue worthy goals such an integrity and honor. 🙂
April 3, 2015 at 1:04 am
Looks fantastic!
April 3, 2015 at 1:20 am
I think the appeal of YA novels is BECAUSE I can still read and enjoy them as I get older. Every time I read a good story, I always find something that I may have missed the last time I read it, that either gets some kind of new reaction out of me or that makes me think a little more.
April 3, 2015 at 2:18 am
I love how open the possibilities are, how fresh the hope is.
April 3, 2015 at 2:36 am
YA is such a different style of books, I like it for its uniqueness 🙂
April 3, 2015 at 3:03 am
I enjoy YA novels because I love to read and it takes me back to my childhood.
April 3, 2015 at 3:05 am
I love that you were thinking of what you would want for your daughters in dating, as being your inspiration for this book and series!
Thank you,
Stephanie C.
April 3, 2015 at 3:12 am
I enjoy being able to read books that speak to my heart and spirit.
April 3, 2015 at 3:32 am
I am not sure if there is one thing that appeals to me about YA!! I read pretty much every age range 🙂
April 3, 2015 at 3:36 am
I actually really enjoy YA fiction. It brings me back to the “younger days” and speaks to the young at heart in faith. Sometimes the new believers have such faith and spirit – Not afraid to ask questions.
April 3, 2015 at 3:49 am
I just love to read – YA, books for my age, children’s books, nonfiction, etc. 🙂
April 3, 2015 at 4:01 am
These books have definitely caught my attention! I read children’s books all the time; I love the simpler story lines and refreshing innocence. They always spark my imagination.
April 3, 2015 at 4:03 am
YA novels appeal to me because of the innocence and simple but uplifting message.
April 3, 2015 at 4:42 am
I love YA books! They are so easy to read and that is what I love about them.
April 3, 2015 at 5:01 am
LOVE the unique concepts and writing!
I have a US address but rafflecopter might show my location outside US because I’m doing a semester abroad
thank you so very much 🙂
April 3, 2015 at 5:23 am
Your books look so enticing. I can hardly wait to read them. YA books are the crossover to adult. They are usually cleaner than adult so safe to read but with real excitement.
April 3, 2015 at 9:33 am
I like how YA books are generally very clean and I don’t have to worry about accidentally reading about something I have no business reading about. What appeals to me most about these books though is that they are about Knights !
April 3, 2015 at 11:12 am
I enjoy YA Christian fiction especially historical.
April 3, 2015 at 12:26 pm
I know their won’t be any questionable content for me, as an adult!
April 3, 2015 at 12:49 pm
YA novels remind me of being younger.
April 3, 2015 at 2:08 pm
This is awesome! Christian historical fiction is great. God Bless 🙂
April 3, 2015 at 2:33 pm
maybe the characters
April 3, 2015 at 2:43 pm
As my church’s librarian, I am interested in finding books for young people that will encourage their walk with God iand this looks like it fits the bill! 🙂
April 3, 2015 at 3:10 pm
The only YA books I’ve read recently are Melanie Dickerson’s fairy tale re-tellings. I think they appeal to the romantic in me. I think I’d like Jody’s An Uncertain Choice because it’s in a similar time period as Melanie’s books and I’ve liked Jody’s other books. Also, all these books are historical fiction. I’m not sure I’d enjoy contemporary YA fiction as well.
April 3, 2015 at 10:27 pm
YA novels appeal to me for two reasons, one is that I was a avid reader when I was that age and I have fond memories of some wonderful books I read at that time. The second reason is the innocence factor. Not all YA’s are innocent, but at least there is a tendency to tone down adult problems. Thanks for the interview and giveaway!
April 4, 2015 at 12:45 am
Hi Everyone! Thank you all for stopping by my Grand Finale of the blog tour! I enjoyed reading all of your reasons for why you read YA. I think you’ve listed many of my reasons as well. I hope that you’ll all have the chance to eventually read An Uncertain Choice!
And thank you to Rel for hosting my final stop in the blog tour! You’re a blessing!! 🙂
April 4, 2015 at 6:39 am
This sounds good Rel. Would be nice to win. I have some of Jody’s books. have a Happy Easter.
Maxie > mac262(at)me(dot)com <
April 4, 2015 at 8:07 am
Loved the interview. Thank you for sharing. I think that reading YA is fun 🙂
April 4, 2015 at 12:57 pm
I think YA novels remind me of the joy I found in reading during that period in my life. I must t admit that as a librarian , I found some of today’s YA to be much more explicit than I prefer . That is why I am so excited that many Christian authors are writing for this market.
Thank you for a wonderful giveaway.
Connie
cps1950 at gmail dot com
April 4, 2015 at 1:56 pm
I think what appeals to me most about YA novels is that it is approximately the age where I am at right now. I’m not sure exactly what the age range is, but even if I am no longer in it at 25, I am not that far past it. I can relate to (some) of the things they are going through. And since I have yet to find the man that God has planned for me, I love going on the journey of falling in love vicariously through these characters.
April 5, 2015 at 12:51 pm
What appeals to me about ya books is if it’s a great story with a great plot it doesn’t matter if it’s labeled ya. I enjoy reading a new fresh perspective on thngs with the ya books. I am also looking for fresh faith based clean reads for my teen girls and boys !
April 7, 2015 at 3:12 am
Very much looking forward to reading An Uncertain Choice. It is in a stack of books I am planning on reading this month. 😀
April 7, 2015 at 11:43 am
i love YA novels, especially Jody’s book, because it is relatable. I gave the same dilemmas with growing up everyday and being able to relate to characters makes me feel like I’m not the only one who deals with it.
April 7, 2015 at 1:26 pm
I love inspirational YA novels because many times they are much happier than regular YA books. Often times, regular YA books have cursing and inappropriate scenes. They are also often very dark and sad. None of this is visible in Inspirational YA novels. Instead, they show hope, love, and a good sense of morals.
April 7, 2015 at 5:53 pm
There are quite a few good YA books that aren’t in the inspirational category, though. I personally prefer fairytale retellings such as The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale and Princess of the Silver Woods by Jessica Day George.
April 7, 2015 at 2:28 pm
I love the different tones of voices that are used and the pace is often quick and sharp.
April 9, 2015 at 12:34 am
I’ve read An Uncertain Choice and Dauntless and enjoyed them very much. You don’t have to be a certain age to read a genre created for that age. I still enjoy rereading books from my childhood by Lois Lenski. Reading is good no matter what!
April 9, 2015 at 3:23 am
I am you at heart that’s why I read the YA.
April 9, 2015 at 12:52 pm
I enjoy reading about life from a teenager’s point of view. The characters and the storyline are sometimes more innocent than an adult novel.
April 9, 2015 at 5:57 pm
I love books that are an easy, fun read! Sometimes you just need light and easy in life (:
April 10, 2015 at 6:55 am
As the church librarian, I’m always looking for young adult fiction to add to our collection. I will keep these in mind for the next time I purchase books.