"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it." - Hebrews 13:2



Monday, September 17, 2012

Wedded To War And A Giveaway With Author, Jocelyn Green




Author, Jocelyn Green


Welcome everyone! Most of you know how I feel about the Civil War, that’s why this week I’m excited to introduce you to Author, Jocelyn Green. Jocelyn’s debut novel, Wedded to War, takes place during my favorite time period—The Civil War. I invited Jocelyn over to get to know her better and to learn a little more about her book—which, by the way, is an outstanding historical read.

Jocelyn has also graciously offered to give away a copy of Wedded to War. To be entered in the drawing, all you have to do is answer Jocelyn’s question (it’s in bold and green) at the end of the interview. Leave your answers in the comment section, or for those who have trouble commenting on Blogger, leave your answer on my Facebook Author Page on the link to this blog post. Every tweet on this post @LoreeHuebner will get you an additional entry. The winner of Jocelyn’s novel will be drawn at random on Sunday, September, 23rd at 9pm CDT. I will announce the winner on next Monday’s regular blog post, and Jocelyn will be mailing out the book.





Charlotte Waverly leaves a life of privilege, wealth–and confining expectations–to be one of the first female nurses for the Union Army. She quickly discovers that she’s fighting more than just the Rebellion by working in the hospitals. Corruption, harassment, and opposition from Northern doctors threaten to push her out of her new role. At the same time, her sweetheart disapproves of her shocking strength and independence, forcing her to make an impossible decision: Will she choose love and marriage, or duty to a cause that seems to be losing?


I’ve asked Jocelyn a few questions. I hope you enjoy the interview.

Welcome Jocelyn!

Your novel is titled, Wedded to War. How long have you been writing novels? Is this your first book?

This was my first novel! My first nonfiction book was published in 2008, though. I’ve been writing books ever since, with lots of magazine articles thrown in between, too.

The book is a work of historical fiction. What inspired you to choose the Civil War as the setting?

I was working in a nonfiction book which also released this summer, called Stories of Faith and Courage from the Home Front. That book is a collection of 365 stories about what women have done in times of war, from the French-Indian war up until today’s conflicts in the Middle East. My research for the Civil War time period was by far my favorite, and inspired all four books in the Heroines Behind the Lines series.

They say that there is a bit of each of us in all of our characters. Which character in the book is most like you, and why?

The main character, Charlotte Waverly, but it just happened as a coincidence—I didn’t plan it that way. Charlotte is based on a real Civil War nurse by the name of Georgeanna Woolsey, so I followed her personality, physical traits, strengths and weaknesses as closely as possible. We do have a few things in common though—a real independent streak, a soft spot for the underdog, love of a challenge, and strong desire to make a different not just in our own homes, but in society.

I love Charlotte's strength. I also have that soft spot for the underdog too. Now it sounds as if there is a sequel or series planned?

Yes. Wedded to War is the first in the Heroines Behind the Lines series. (See www.heroinesbehindthelines.com.) All four of these books will be set in the Civil War. The next one comes out in April and focuses on Gettysburg- the battle and the aftermath, and what women did to pick up the pieces after the armies left their gruesome wake.

I’m almost finished reading Wedded to War, and I will be looking forward to the next one for sure! What do you read for enjoyment, Jocelyn?

Lots of fiction! Although I do enjoy research books, I go to novels for fun. Here’s what I have either finished recently or have on my list to read next:
Hidden in Dreams by Davis Bunn
A Love Surrendered by Julie Lessman
With Every Letter by Sarah Sundin
Still Life in Shadows by Alice J. Wisler
Veil of Pearls by Mary Lu Tyndall
Heiress by Susan May Warren
The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck

I tend to gravitate toward historical fiction, but you can see I am branching out a little bit in this list to historical romance and contemporary fiction. I have read LOTS of Civil War fiction too, of course.

Awesome list of books! Well, it has been a real pleasure to have you here, Jocelyn! Thank you so much for taking the time to visit.

Thank you, Loree!

Now Jocelyn has a question for you—

Question for readers: I was personally fascinated by the fact that nursing was a male profession prior to the Civil War. What little tidbit have you learned from the Civil War that took you by surprise? (Or if you’d rather share from a different war, that’s OK too!)

Great question, Jocelyn. I would say my surprising tidbit would be that during the Civil War, it wouldn't be unusual for a surgeon to extract a bullet out one soldier/patient and also find a piece of a garment in the wound that didn't match the patient's shirt, jacket, or pants - which meant that the lead ball had passed through another human being before it was found lodged in the patient. Strange stuff.


Jocelyn Green is an award-winning author and freelance writer. A former military wife, she authored, along with contributing writers, Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives and Faith Deployed . . . Again: More Daily Encouragement for Military Wives. Jocelyn also co-authored ofStories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq & Afghanistan, which won the Gold Medal from the Military Writers Society of America in 2010, and Stories of Faith and Courage from the Home Front, which inspired her first novel:Wedded to War.
Jocelyn graduated from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, with a B.A. in English, concentration in writing. She is an active member of the Evangelical Press Association, Christian Authors Network, the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, American Christian Fiction Writers, and the Military Writers Society of America.
She loves Mexican food, Broadway musicals, Toblerone chocolate bars, the color red, and reading on her patio. Jocelyn lives with her husband Rob and two small children in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Visit her at JocelynGreen.com.





Between you, me and the gatepost,

Loree

23 comments:

Sandra Orchard said...

Great interview, Loree and Jocelyn. The most fascinating thing I learned about WWII was learning that I was working with a woman who'd been a spy with the European underground!

Jessica Nelson said...

Wonderful interview! I've heard about this book. I've learned some interesting things about WWI and how involved women became.

Amy said...

Great post! I grew up in a "Civil War town". Nothing that I hear surprises me about the war. Though I can remember my dad taking me a place near our home (way out in the country) where they had recently (At least it was recent at that time) exhumed several bodies that had been buried during the war. Best of luck with your writing. :)

Loree Huebner said...

Sandra: Spying is an interesting subject in any war. Awesome, Sandra!

Jessica: World War I is a subject I'm starting to read about more as I research my family tree. I have relatives that fought in WWI and WWII.

Amie: So fascinating about your town, Amie. We'll have to talk more about it sometime. I agree, anything and everything that happened - did. So great to have you aboard!

Sandra, Jessica, and Amie, thanks for stopping by! Love reading your comments.

Jeanette Levellie said...

Oh, how fascintating! And a great interview, ladies. Civil War is my fave time period to study, too.

I was surprised--although I shouldn't have been--to learn that some surgeries were done with no anesthetic. Even amputations! I think in some cases they gave the patient liquor, other times they fainted from the pain. Oh, my.

Please enter me to win this awesome book. I will retweet this post.

Jessica said...

I suppose one of the things that suprised me the most was the story that Jocelyn told on her page of the man that lived in the deadhouse for 15 days before he was discovered and helped!
Thanks for the chance to win a copy of the book! I've really been wanting to read it!

Sarah Forgrave said...

Thanks for the introduction to Jocelyn, Loree! She and I share a lot of favorite authors, so I have a feeling I would enjoy her book as well. :)

Victoria Lindstrom said...

Jocelyn's book sounds awesome - and I love the cover! Thanks for the great interview, Loree!

Jocelyn said...

Hi everyone! Thanks so much for stopping by and entering to win the book! Jeanette, yes, some amputations were done with anesthesia. Some surgeons gave the patients brandy or whiskey before hand, if they had it, which they thought "stimulated" him. If they had chloroform or ether they would use that too, but unfortunately, it wasn't always available. I'm studying amputations in depth right now for book #2 in this series, Widow of Gettysburg!

Good luck to all!

Terri Tiffany said...

Her book sounds wonderful--I love the Civil war period but to be truthful, I know very little except what I've learned living near Gettysburg and then in VA--:(

Melanie N. Brasher said...

Thanks for introducing us to Jocelyn, Loree! Beautiful book cover!

Loree Huebner said...

Jeanette: Got your RT! You have two entries in the drawing! The amputations were horrible! You are right, when they didn't have chloroform or either they did give liquor medicinally.

Jessica: Welcome here! Ooooh, the dead house was the morgue. I heard a story (probably the same one)that there was a man that was mistaken for dead and was put in the pile, only to wake up days later...the horror!

Sarah: You're welcome, Sarah! Jocelyn does have a great list of favorite books, and you will enjoy her book!

Victoria: I love the cover too. I think she sort of looks like Jocelyn in the eyes...

Terri: Gettysburg is one of my favorite places. Jocelyn's next book in the series takes place in Gettysburg!

Melanie: You're welcome! The cover is awesome.

Thanks for stopping by everyone, and we've got you all in for the drawing!!

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Congrats on your book release, Jocelyn!

I was surprised that nursing was a male profession prior to the Civil War. The tables turned for awhile, but there are now a lot of male nurses once again.

Please enter me in the giveaway.

susanjreinhardt AT gmail DOT com

Thanks,
Susan :)

Unknown said...

I love to win her book!! I'm an avid reader of Historical fiction and I love History. Gabrielle at mysterylover93[at]yahoo[dot]com.

Loree Huebner said...

Susan: We got you in the giveaway! Strange how things come around again...

Gabrielle E: Welcome here! We have your name in the hat too!

Susan and Gabrielle: Thanks for stopping in. We enjoy your comments! We've got your names in for the drawing for Jocelyn's book.

Unknown said...

Wonderful interview, Loree. I've loved Civil War historicals since I read "Gone with the Wind" and I can tell that Jocelyn's book will be engaging. I've got it on my Kindle, and I can't wait to read it. :-)

Congrats on the release of your book, Jocelyn! I'll have to check out your non-fiction work too. :-)

troutbirder said...

The Civil War is indeed fascinating although because at it's core was a horrible national trajedy I can take only so much of it. Most fascinating to me is the politics and Lincoln's choice of his main rival as his Secretary of State reminds me in his openenss and wisdom of Obama choosing Hilary Clinton....

Rhonda Schrock said...

This interview reminds me that one day, I'd like to visit these historic locations with the boys. Not that they haven't fought plenty of wars here on the home turf, but I'd like them to see the ones of real historic significance. (rueful sigh)

Great job, Loree, and best wishes to Jocelyn!

Rhonda Schrock
www.rhondaschrock.com

Loree Huebner said...

Gwen: Wedded was the first book that I read on my new Kindle...I loved it.

troutbirder: Very true. Sounds as if you have read, Team of Rivals. Great book. As far as the Civil War, I'm like you, I'm not just interested in the battles but also the civilian life, politics, medicine, and the soldier's life.

Rhonda: Your boys would love it. There is something about a battlefield that stirs the heart...even in the kids.

Gwen, trout, and Rhonda, thanks for chiming in, and I got you all in the hat for the drawing.



Stacy Henrie said...

Sounds like a great book! Thanks for sharing. I've found WWI to be a fascinating time to research - there was all this new war technology and yet that meant doctors and nurses were caring for types of wounds they hadn't dealt with before.

Cynthia Chapman Willis said...

The second book, on Gettysburg, sounds as interesting as the first! The civil war is fascinating, but so gruesome at times. I can't imagine the trials of being a nurse during that war.

Loree Huebner said...

Stacy: So true! They did have wounds they hadn't dealt with. I look forward to your series on WWII, Stacy! So excited for you.

Cynthia: I'm so looking forward to Jocelyn's second novel. The war was gruesome but medicine made huge steps forward during the Civil War.

Stacy and Cynthia, thanks for dropping by! Got you guys in the hat for the drawing.

Karen Lange said...

Loree, thanks for the intro to Jocelyn. Thanks to both of you for an interesting interview. Jocelyn, your book sounds wonderful. I've long enjoyed stories set in this era.

I do find it surprising that only male nurses were allowed, but then, it makes sense now that I think about it. Women, of course, didn't hold positions then that they hold today. I was also surprised recently to learn that there was resistance to using female flight nurses in World War 2.

Thanks for doing the giveaway!