The Inside Scoop!
Regina Jennings
and her historical romance
At Love’s Bidding
Bethany House
*********
I grew up in… Mustang, Oklahoma. When I was young, Mustang was a rural bedroom community of Oklahoma City. Now the city has swallowed it whole, but it retains a lot of that country feel.
I was inspired to write my first published novel by… my church. Writing fiction had always been a secret dream of mine, but it was only when people from church learned about it, and then they continued to hound me over it, that I finally gave it a go.
The books that have most influenced my life are… besides the Bible? The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn and How Now Shall We Live? by Chuck Colson and Nancy Pearcey.
My biggest challenge when writing is… Thinking of all the things I should be doing instead.
One of my favourite authors is… Julie Jarnagin. I love her contemporary cowboy romances. She does a great job with hot heroes and quirky characters.
If I wasn’t a writer, I would be… volunteering a lot more. I used to do a lot more with our ladies’ ministries, but when God opened the door to a writing career, I had to let some of that go. I miss it, but maybe when the kids get raised I’ll be able to do both.
The superhero talent I would love to have is… teleportation. Just think how easy research would be if I could instantly appear at any site, any library, or any museum. Then again, if I could teleport, I would probably be having too much fun to sit down and write a book.
At Love’s Bidding
After helping her grandfather at their Boston auction house, Miranda Wimplegate discovers she’s accidentally sold a powerful family’s prized portrait to an anonymous bidder. Desperate to appease the furious family, her grandfather tracks it to the Missouri Ozarks and makes an outlandish offer to buy the local auction house if they promise not to sell anything until he arrives.
Upon their arrival, however, they discover their new business doesn’t deal in fine antiques, but in livestock. And its manager, ruggedly handsome Wyatt Ballentine, is frustrated to discover his fussy new bosses don’t know a thing about the business he’s single-handedly kept afloat. Faced with more cattle than they can count–but no mysterious painting–Miranda and Wyatt form an unlikely but charged partnership to try and salvage a bad situation getting worse.
My latest novel can be described by these 5 adjectives… Funny. Romantic. Layered. Cinderella-ish. Must-Read. 🙂
My main character is… a hard-working lady in Boston. Miranda’s family business deals in fine arts and antiques, which forces her to interact with society even though she’s really an outsider. She’s very conscious of class and wealth, and of her own short-comings.
Wyatt Ballentine manages a livestock auction in the Ozark Mountains. He too has never felt like he belonged. While, he’s true to the dream that his father left him, he wonders if life might hold something more.
My main characters resemble…. Natalie Portman and Scott Eastwood.
A previously unknown fact about this novel is… that Miranda’s dealings with her grandfather were inspired by our adventures with my own grandpa. Bittersweet memories.
My story’s spiritual theme is… don’t let others define you. Let God shape you into the wonderful creation He intended.
While writing this novel I was challenged to… examine what I’d been told about myself over the years. Was it true? Did I want it to be true? If I could change one thing that people said about me, what would it be? It’s a good thing to evaluate occasionally.
The title was chosen by… me, with input from the marketing department. My working title was Bid Your Heart Good-Bye, but it was thought that it sounded a bit threatening. At Love’s Bidding was in the short list of alternate titles I provided.
As an author, the hardest scenes for me to write are… I’d say descriptions are the hardest part of any scene for me to write. I love story and character, but I’d rather gloss over what she was wearing and how the room was decorated. Those aren’t things I notice much in real life and they require a ton of research to describe accurately in historical novels. But I do it because it does make the story better. You’re welcome.
The story I’m currently working on is… I’m getting ready to start a new series set in Fort Reno, Oklahoma Territory. Cavalry officers, cowboys and Sooners—it’s going to be a rip-roaring good time.
You may not know this about me, but I… don’t have a smart phone. I rarely even carry a cell phone. I enjoy trying to figure things out by myself rather than mapping and googling. I hope it keeps me sharp in my old age.
If I could be a character in any novel, I would want to be… in the worst written book ever. You know the kind where the character just has one amazing thing after another happen to her. Some conflict would be OK, but really I’d rather not be in doubt about the outcome. And the heroine should be free of character flaws, too. No reason for her to embarrass herself, make people angry or any of that. That’s the book I want to live.
Thanks so much, Regina!
Relz Reviewz Extras
Character spotlight on Abigail & Jeremiah, Anne & Nick, Molly & Bailey, and Rosa & Weston
Review of Sixty Acres and a Bride
Visit Regina’s website and blog
Buy at Amazon: At Love’s Bidding or Koorong
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Character Spotlight: Regina Jenning’s Louisa & Daniel (with giveaway)
Character Spotlight: Regina Jennings’ Jack and Hattie (with giveaway)
December 13, 2015 at 1:10 pm
This cover grabs your attention right off, which led me to read the blurb which makes me want to read this book.
December 13, 2015 at 2:48 pm
Yes, I know I could live without a smart phone . . . cuz I do. Yep, I still have a dumb phone. Works for me.
December 13, 2015 at 3:58 pm
First of all, I’m excited about a new book. I really enjoyed A Most Inconvenient Marriage, especially upon learning that the hero should resemble Tim Tebow. Seriously, good writing was key.
Anyhow, in response to the question, I am a new convert to the world of smartphones, but I am sadly already an addict. I’d sure hate to go without my phone.
December 13, 2015 at 6:00 pm
My daughter borrowed my smart phone 3 years ago and took it to school and it was stolen. I did not replace it until a few months ago so in answer to your question, yes I could. It just becomes a habit o use.
December 14, 2015 at 1:46 am
I live without a smartphone quite well. We don’t even own a regular cell phone. I choose not to be so easily accessible. 😉
December 14, 2015 at 7:55 am
When I got an iPhone several years ago, I didn’t think I’d use all the added features. Was I wrong about that one! While I’m sure I could get along fine without a smart phone, I’d rather not. I love having so much information easily accessible.
December 14, 2015 at 8:06 am
Want to read this book. Have enjoyed others so much
December 14, 2015 at 8:29 am
I could live without a smartphone. I just bought my first one & that was only because my boss likes to text me instead of call & even though my basic cellphone can text it’s not really text friendly.
December 14, 2015 at 9:23 am
Looking forward to reading this one.
December 14, 2015 at 9:28 am
Honestly, YES I can live without a smart phone! Maybe I’m one of the few that can nowadays. I do have one, but barely use it. And can you imagine, I actually use it for the phone….lol! Or I do text every once in a while, but that’s because my sister-in-law texts more than talks on the phone.
Great interview, enjoyed reading it. Thank you for the chance to win a copy of “At Loves Bidding”!
December 14, 2015 at 10:30 am
I haven’t had a smart phone ~ more time to read print books 😀 Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
December 14, 2015 at 1:00 pm
I not only can live without a smartphone… I do live without one. And I don’t really want one either.
And… it would probably surprise people to know that a 25-year-old just said that. ;P
December 14, 2015 at 5:24 pm
Oh, I could but it would be so hard!I use it to track my food, keep track of my family and find each other on shopping trips… the list goes on. 🙂
December 14, 2015 at 11:33 pm
I love hearing all your smart phone/dumb phone stories! I’m afraid if I got one I’d never get off it. 🙂
December 15, 2015 at 3:05 am
I don’t have one now so yes i could.
December 15, 2015 at 3:26 am
I’ve only had a smart phone for a few years, but would really miss it if I didn’t have it!
December 15, 2015 at 10:27 am
Probably, As long as I have books! 🙂
December 15, 2015 at 2:49 pm
Love Eegina Jennings’ books. She is a fabulous author.
I could live without my smart phone if I had too, not interested anytime soon though. 🙂
December 16, 2015 at 3:51 am
My smartphone allows me to make calls to people I love who live in a different country than me so I don’t know if I’d be able to go back to not having one…
December 16, 2015 at 6:10 am
Yes…because without a phone one has more time to read real books. 🙂
Merry Christmas!
December 19, 2015 at 5:05 am
I’ll admit it would be difficult to be without a cell/smart phone as so many things can be done on it. Reading ebooks while waiting at the doctor’s office. lol.
December 19, 2015 at 3:01 pm
Yes I could live without my smartphone, since I don’t have one and can’t afford one. I have one of those free government phones with little to no frills. If I did have a smartphone I would probably be reading books on it more than making calls. Assuming you can download books on a smartphone to read?
December 19, 2015 at 6:49 pm
I do live without a smartphone! I hardly, if ever, carry any kind of cell phone. My kids can’t stand it, because they are so used to the convenience of electronics. I can’t be bothered with worrying about checking my cell all of the time. I’m in my early 40’s and my older friends rib me all the time about not texting, etc. I usually have my Kindle with me for books and if I really need the internet I can use that. Otherwise, I will carry a cheap cell with me when I need to be available. Sometimes, rather then feeling like I don’t fit in with the rest of society, I feel like a rebel!
December 20, 2015 at 3:38 am
We are united in rebellion, Terrill! I want to see what’s around me, not what’s on my phone. Viva la resistance!
December 20, 2015 at 6:41 am
That had me laughing.
December 30, 2015 at 11:05 am
Terrill Rosado » Love it!