Meet and Greet is a regular feature on my blog. Be forewarned…Unlike the typical interview, these brief questions will get to the true heart of my guests…or at least the heart of what’s in their kitchen. Grab a latte (or other beverage of your choice), find a comfy chair, and prepare to make a new friend.
I am so, so excited to welcome Jody Hedlund here today! Jody has been a blogging friend of mine for a few years now, and I absolutely love her writing. Her third novel just released, and I don’t know how she manages to make each book better than the last but she does. I stayed up well into the night to finish Unending Devotion.
Jody Hedlund is an award-winning historical romance novelist and author of the best-selling book, The Preacher’s Bride. She received a bachelor’s degree from Taylor University and a master’s from the University of Wisconsin, both in Social Work. Currently she makes her home in Michigan with her husband and five busy children. Publishers Weekly called her newest book Unending Devotion, “a meaty tale of life amid the debauchery of the lumber camps of 1880s Michigan . . . exciting and unpredictable to the very end.”
She hangs out on Facebook here: Author Jody Hedlund
She also loves to chat on Twitter: @JodyHedlund
Her home base is at her website: jodyhedlund.com
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Welcome, Jody! Let’s get straight to the questions….
Opener Question: What seven words best describe you?
Chocolate-lover, coffee-guzzler, avid reader, passionate writer, busy mom and wife.
Either/Or Questions:
1) HGTV or Food Network? I’d probably prefer to ooh and aah over food creations, especially recipes that involve chocolate. Even though I’d likely never make the creations myself, one can always dream!
2) Sweet silence or Blessed noise? Sweet silence, especially since I’m constantly surrounded by the blessed noise of my 5 busy children.
3) English countryside or French Riviera? English countryside, especially if it involved sight- seeing in old castles and English manors.
4) Slave away in the kitchen or Call for take-out? Call for take-out! Late afternoons are my writing time, and so some days it’s hard for me to have to stop writing and make dinner. Fortunately, my mom invites us over for dinner a couple nights a week. And my daughter also loves to cook so often pitches in with meals.
5) Mommy chic or Comfy casual? A little bit of both. I like to have occasions to dress up, but since I’m so busy, I usually just grab something and go! (And hope it matches!)
6) Apple cobbler or Chocolate cake? Since I’m a chocolate lover, I’ll have to answer chocolate cake. But . . . in Michigan in the fall, I love getting fresh apples from local orchards. There’s nothing better than the first apple cobbler or crisp of the season.
7) Full steam ahead or Life in the slow lane? While I long for life in the slow lane (especially if it involves reading!), right now my life is definitely full steam ahead.
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Fun answers, Jody! I know what you mean about life moving too quickly, despite our best efforts to slow it down. A quiet evening with a book and some of that apple cobbler sounds amazing (after ordering take-out, of course). 
Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to visit here this week! I’ve loved having you.
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Publishers Weekly calls Unending Devotion: “A meaty tale of life amid the debauchery of the lumber camps of 1880s Michigan . . . exciting and unpredictable to the very end.” When Lily Young’s search for her missing sister leads to Harrison, Michigan, logging camp owner Connell McCormick takes notice. Lily can’t understand why the town’s rampant crime is ignored. Connell figures his own upright living—and earning a profit—is all that matters. Can these two work together to end the corruption and danger that rule Harrison?
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Blog Readers: Let’s talk…If you’re ordering take-out, where’s your favorite place to go? Or how about local produce…What’s your favorite fruit that you find nearby and what do you like to make with it?
*Giveaway Details: Jody has offered to give away a copy of Unending Devotion! All you have to do is leave a comment. (For extra entries, you can Tweet or share this post on Facebook…I’ll add an extra entry for each. Just make sure to mention it in your comment.) Winner will be announced in next Monday’s post. Good luck!
**Extra Giveaway Info! My friends Jennifer Hale and Lacie Nezbeth are hosting a massive book giveaway event on their blogs this week. Jody’s book is one of the prizes up for grabs, so hop on over and give yourself an extra chance to win Unending Devotion, as well as several other great Christian reads!
***The winner of last week’s Krista Phillips giveaway is Marney McCall! I’ll contact you this week with details.
YAY for an interview with Jody! So excited about the new book!
Proud of you, Jody! As for takeout…I rarely get this because I know it’s not good for me but there’s a pizza place here in town with crazy amounts of toppings….5 and 10 pound pizzas. I can usually only eat one piece but it is SO WORTH IT. If I had to choose takeout….it would be from there.
Wow, Bekah, I’ve never heard of pizzas classified by pounds. Sounds like a good once-in-a-while treat.
I would love to read UNENDING DEVOTION thank you. It looks wonderful.
If I order out it has to be pizza. We live not too far from a fruit growing district. It’s wonderful when the peaches are in season.
Ohhh, I love fresh peaches, Mary! There’s a restaurant near my hometown that makes the best fresh peach pie. Yum!
Cute interview! I’m not a big fruit lover but I do enjoy homemade cherry pie.
And take-out….we don’t really have that but I do go to Pizza Hut quite a bit. STuffed crust….mmmmmm! 
Looking forward to reading Jody’s next book!
My favorite at Pizza Hut is the breadsticks. Amazingly yummy!
Fun interview! It’s nice to learn more about Jody. Just finished Unending Devotion and enjoyed it very much. (So I’ll pass on the giveaway.)
Happy Monday!
Jody’s books are always great reads, aren’t they, Karen? Hope you have a great week!
Love the interview. I’ve read both of Jody’s previous books, and look forward to reading this one! I’m a full steam ahead, chocolate lover type gal too!
There’s no better fuel than chocolate, right, Loree?
I can’t wait to read Unending Devotion!!! It looks sooo good!!
I can guarantee you that it IS good, Marissa!
Hope you get to read it soon!
I really need to read one of Jody’s books! I’ve only heard good things! Great to meet a fellow chocolate lover.
Sarah, I found peaces at the farmer’s market lasts week and made a cobbler–yummy! Seems I’m always hungry after visiting your blog.
I’m assuming you mean peaches, Melanie.
A fresh peach cobbler sounds amazing. Oh dear, now I’m hungry too. Why do I do this to myself? 
I love nectarines and just about any other summer fruit. I don’t cook with them – just eat them in their natural state.
I just got on a nectarine kick lately, Susan. I love that they taste like peaches, but no yucky fuzz.
hmm…mangoes are wonderful! i love to put cottage cheese over one cut up. love vanilla yogurt on fresh blueberries and strawberries. another delicious treat.
can’t wait to read jody’s newest! and can’t wait to see you in a few short days!
Oh wow, Jeannie, I don’t know if I’ve ever eaten a fresh mango. I’m a big fan of cottage cheese with pineapple. Yum!
Hi everyone! Sorry I’m late to the party!
Thanks for having me on your blog, Sarah!!
When I order take out, it’s usually pizza too! Sometimes my hubby and I will get a special dinner after the kids are all in bed, like Applebees takeout. We enjoy the low key of having a takeout date at home!
Great post! I have been following Jody’s blog tour, and I really enjoyed this interview as well. As far as your question about food, my husband and children love pizza, so if we have take-out…that’s usually what we get. And since I live in south Georgia, I have to give a shout-out to our sweet Vidalia onions. My (homeschooled) children are very involved in 4-H, and our local extension office does a Vidalia onion fundraising sale each spring. We buy (and sell) lots of 1o pound bags, so I use them a lot in recipes. My favorite is my own simple creation of carmelized onions sauteed in butter, Ranch dressing, sharp Cheddar cheese, and bread crumbs all baked to bubbly goodness. Yum and oh. my. word!
Thanks for sharing, and I’d love to be entered into the give-away!
Blessings,
Amy O’Quinn
oquinn1(at)windstream(dot)net
Oh wow, Amy, that recipe sounds AMAZING! I wasn’t an onion fan for the longest time, but I’m learning to love them–especially when lots of butter and caramelization is involved.
Thanks for stopping by and joining the giveaway!