PenWorks of the Word | Featured Author | Jenifer Jennings

Greetings,

Welcome to the PenWorks of the Word Blog Tour. I'm thrilled you have found your way here. It is exciting to see how this event has come together, and today's featured author is Jenifer Jennings. I don't want to take up any more of your time, so without further ado... Here is an interview with her about her upcoming book, Leading Philippi, which is set to release on Friday, 10/10... I will be posting a review of this wonderful addition to Biblical Fiction on launch day. 

See you in the "digital" pages, 

M.J.E. 

~~~

Hello there, my name is Jenifer Jennings, and I am a passionate storyteller who brings ancient worlds to life through Biblical historical novels. I’ve been a devoted student of Scripture since coming to faith in Jesus at seventeen, and I hold a bachelor’s degree in Women’s Ministry and a master’s degree in Biblical Languages Exegesis. I’m an active member of Word Weavers International, serving as an online chapter president, and am a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). When I’m not writing, I’m usually on a date with my husband or mothering our two children, a wise-cracking mathematician and a feisty artist.

I’m delighted to share with you a little about myself and my writing journey. Let’s jump right into the interview. 

How does your faith journey intersect with your passion for writing?

My faith journey and writing passion are completely intertwined. It is my longing to explore the depths of God’s Word that drives my desire to write stories about the people and events I discover there. Every time I write, God shows up to teach me something about my faith journey. My prayer is to share that journey with readers through my stories. 

How do you balance the demands of being a writer with your spiritual disciplines and relationship with God?

Balance is a constant goal I strive for in every area of my life. None more so than in my walk with God and my writing. The more I study God’s Word and seek after Him, the more He ignites my imagination and drive to share my stories with the world. While I’m not always the best at keeping both in harmony, God weaves Himself into these areas and draws me closer to Him.

How do you ensure that your work is not only well-written but also biblically sound?

The best way I know to make sure my writing is biblically sound is to build on a great foundation. There is no better author than God. When I begin a new story, I always start by seeking what the Bible has to say first. Whether that be timelines, people, or places, I lay God’s Word as the bedrock. Then, I research as much as I can. There are mounds of archeological and historical evidence waiting to be explored, though sometimes there are gaps or contradictory information. Once I’ve built these two foundations, I layer fictional details to construct a good story that I pray blesses the reader.

What do you hope readers will take away from your writing, beyond just the words on the page?

The biggest thing I hope readers take away from my writing is that the same God who shows up in these incredible stories is the same God who desires to show up and show off in their lives. I truly believe that God wants to step into readers’ life stories just as much as He stepped into the lives of people like Abraham, Rebekah, Paul, Phoebe, and all the other incredibly ordinary people whose stories grace the pages of Scripture. 

What has been one of the most unexpected or rewarding parts of sharing your writing with the world?

One of the most rewarding parts of writing is getting to hear from readers. When they tell me after finishing one of my books, the very next thing they did was pick up their Bible and read about the person or events, it blesses my heart and soul. I’m always striving to draw people back to Scripture, and when someone says they’ve read a passage a hundred times, then it came alive for them while reading my book or hearing me teach, my heart practically does a happy dance. That’s the moment I know God’s Word is truly alive and active for them.

If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of advice about writing and faith, what would it be?

If I could send a message to my younger self, I would tell her to pay much better attention in English class. While in school, I could unveil the hidden meanings in countless literary works, but I couldn’t spell to save my life. Once, in high school, I had to write and present a research paper about a historical figure. Throughout the entire presentation, I referred to President Thomas Jefferson as “Thomas.” 

My teacher held me back after class, and I was mortified while he (justly) critiqued my writing and told me that we never refer to historical figures as if they were our BFF. Praise God for spellcheck and grammar programs of today. Needless to say, I resented History and English for a while. Thankfully, God has an incredible sense of humor and molded me into a Historical Fiction writer just so He could get all the glory.

Thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to share a little about myself and my work. I look forward to connecting with you in the future. 

My newest release, “Leading Philippi,” as well as my entire backlist of Biblical Fiction novels, are available wherever you get your favorite reads. 

You can connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube by searching: @authorjeniferjennings

If you would enjoy having a monthly encouraging newsletter filled with deep devotionals, behind the scenes looks, and giveaways, you can sign up for my newsletter and get a free short story: www.jeniferejennings.com/newsletter