Interview with Jillian Kent, Day 2

Back for day two of the interview with author Jillian Kent!

“May 3, 2011 is the tentative date for the release of, Secrets of the Heart, which is Book One of, The Ravensmoore Chronicles, a tale of romantic suspense where an English noblewoman meets a titled gentleman whose desire to practice medicine could ruin any chance for love. You can read the first chapter on my website under the Books tab. I’ll be sharing more information on books two and three at a later time based on recommendations at Strang/Realms.”

“That’s a novel. ☺  In a nutshell, I’d say, learning the craft, practicing the craft, coping with full-time job and trying to write, coping with family problems (child’s disability) and trying to keep the entire family and marriage going, and trying to write. Lucky, for me I’ve got a great hubby. Attending many conferences and workshops has really kept me going. I guess it’s all a struggle; it’s just that some parts of it are more difficult than other parts at different times.”

“Persevere, hope, stay in the word, surround yourself with intelligent people, and don’t work so hard on one manuscript hoping for publication that you don’t write more books. It takes awhile and I wish I’d written more novels, but I’m not going to be too hard on myself because I really did the best I could possibly do under the circumstances. And God really does know what is best for us. If I’d been contracted sooner I probably could not have kept up with expectations. Read outside your genre as well as in it, and read both CBA and ABA fiction.”

“My oldest daughter became severely depressed when she was eleven years old and suffers from a developmental disability known as a non-verbal learning disability (NVLD) similar to Asperger’s Disorder. In fact some specialists think that children with severe forms of NVLD also have Aspergers.  http://www.nldontheweb.org/ It was heart-breaking because these kids appear gifted until they reach the 4th or 5th grade and then- to put it gently- all hell breaks loose. Very complicated mental health issues ensued, and there have been many challenges these past ten years but also progress. That kind of family stress takes its toll. I constantly considered not writing at all.

“However, my relationship with Jesus, my church family, my hubby, both my kids, my crit group, conferences, prayer loops at ACFW and FHL, friends, and a whole lot of Bible study, on my knees prayer, and the writing process helped me keep my own sanity.”