The Ideal Wife Blog Tour with Jacquelin Thomas
Written by RAWSISTAZ · October 6, 2009 · 314 views
Meet Jacquelin Thomas, author of The Ideal Wife
Jacquelin Thomas is an award winning, bestselling author with twenty-nine titles in print. Her books have garnered several awards, including two EMMA awards, the Romance In Color Reviewers Award, Readers Choice Award and the Atlanta Choice Award in the Religious & Spiritual category. Jacquelin was a 2005 honoree at the Houston Black Film Festival for the movie adaptation of her novel, Hidden Blessings. She was the first recipient to receive the Writers Achievement Award at the North Carolina Book Festival in Winston-Salem.
Although Jacquelin initially published in the romance genre, she decided to follow the call on her heart to write Christian fiction because she seeks to write books that will touch your heart and uplift your spirits with tales of characters who yearn to have an intimate relationship with God. Committed to writing books that glorify God and her growing teen audience, Jacquelin published the first of her Young Adult Inspirational Fiction series titled Simply Divine in October 2006. Her second book in the series, Divine Confidential was nominated for a 2008 NAACP Image Award. She has since gone on to publish two more books in the series. When asked why she is so passionate about writing teen novels, Thomas shares that teens are confronted with so much—sex, drugs, violence and abuse, physically and mentally. They need to not only listen to what the world says about these things but also to what the Bible says.
Jacquelin is a member of the National Writers Union, Romance Writers of America and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. She is happily married to her best friend and is the proud mother of three children. Jacquelin and her family live in North Carolina.
Jacquelin, list your published books.
- Romance
Hidden Blessings – A Resolution of Love – Forever Always – Someone Like You – Cupid’s Arrow – Family Ties – Love’s Miracle – Undeniably Yours – With A Song In My Heart – After The Vows – Stolen Hearts – Treasures of the Heart – To Mom with Love – The Pastor’s Woman – Teach Me Tonight
- Christian Fiction
Shades of Gray – Singsation – The Prodigal Husband – A Change is Gonna Come – Soul Journey – Saved in the City – Blessed Assurance – How Sweet the Sound – Have A Little Faith – Defining Moments – Redemption – Jezebel – The Ideal Wife
- Young Adult
Simply Divine – Divine Confidential – Divine Secrets – Divine Match-Up – It’s A Curl Thing
Which book did you find the hardest to birth?
I would say it was The Ideal Wife. I had to write about a subject that I knew would be controversial and I knew that readers would either love the story or hate it. Writing about the swinging lifestyle would challenge what people believe.
Which book is your current favorite?
My favorite is always the book I’m working on at the moment.
How would you describe your writing style?
I write stories about characters who are deeply flawed, but truly have a heart for God.
Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what kind?
I love Gospel music because it really ministers to me, but there are times when I’m writing that I listen to Patti LaBelle, Whitney Houston and Mary J. Blige.
Tell us anything about you as a writer that you think might be interesting or unusual.
Probably that I’m a diehard sports fan. Nothing gets in the way of my football and basketball games.
What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
Keep writing because the more you write, the better you get. Give yourself permission to write it wrong! Most writers spend too much time trying to write ‘perfectly’ the first time out–they end up never finishing the manuscript.
Writers are often encouraged to write what they know. Have you found that to be the case with your writing?
I am a researcher, so I tend to do a lot of research for my stories.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Jana Collins loves her husband with all her heart. But what if love isn’t enough?
Marrying a handsome, wealthy lawyer and living in a Hollywood Hills mansion . . . it’s a dream come true for twenty-four-year-old Jana, from the moment Lawrence Collins swept her off her feet and into his luxurious world. True, she put her studies at a local Bible college on hold in order to wed after a six-month whirlwind romance. Beautiful and vivacious, with a stunning body, Jana knows men like Lawrence don’t come along every day, and she vows to be a perfect companion—the ideal wife—to this sexy, powerful man. But at what price?
From her wardrobe and hairstyle to her friends and her choice of church, Lawrence seems to want to change Jana into someone she’s not . . . and soon, the man Jana thought she knew will test her values and her faith with a shocking revelation that goes against everything she believes—how far will Jana be willing to go to keep the man she loves? With her “ideal” marriage falling apart, Jana—the real, modest, smart, and strong girl who knows what she stands for—must put her trust in God, and follow His guiding light out of the darkness of a broken relationship.
Drawing from a moving scripture tale with an insightful message for women today, Jacquelin Thomas delivers a provocative and enlightening new novel.
Follow the blog tour at http://bit.ly/TheIdealWife
Read an excerpt at http://www.docstoc.com/docs/9653509/The-Ideal-Wife-by-Jacquelin-Thomas-(excerpt)
For more information about Jacquelin, visit her at http://www.jacquelinthomas.com
RAWSISTAZ Literary Group was founded in 2000 to support and promote the work of African-American authors. The groups, on and offline, represent close to 600 readers, writers, aspiring writers, and others interested in literacy and the impact on our communities.
Jacquelin, it’s such a pleasure to have you visit with us today. I recently purchased all the books in your YA series and The Ideal Wife is sitting on my desk. I can’t imagine how fulfilling it is to write books that glorify God, but how was the transition from romance to Christian Fiction?
Also, how in the world do you keep up with all these books?
-Tee
Tee:
It was easy for me, in that I still write romance, but with a more inspirational tone these days. As I drew closer to the Lord–He made the way easy for me. I love writing and I can’t NOT write, so the stories are there–I just have to put pen to paper. I keep a log of my stories because there are so many now. I’m not complaining though. Thanks so much for having me on your site. May God continue to pour His many blessings upon you.
Jacquelin
Thanks for stopping by Jacquelin!!! I can’t wait to get into The Ideal Wife.
Jacqueline,
My book club has read “Singsation” as a part of the former “Glory Girls” nationwide book club. I have also read the “Prodigal Husband”. I’m looking forward to reading your new book because we must expose all sides of what Christians are facing in the world and how we must be careful to know how to address “temptation”.
I ‘m excited about your books for youth as I want to start a “book ministry” for them. Thank you for the thought of giving yourself permission to write it wrong. I know you mean that we are to strive for excellence but do not let the perfectionist attitude stop youf from completing that manuscript. Do you provide writing tips or counseling for writers/authors?
Thanks for your support and yes, if you have any questions on writing–email me directly at: jacquelinthomas@yahoo.com.
Hello Jacquelin,
I’m in this literary house wishing you much success, love to the family.
Hello Jacquelin! I was one of those people who thought Christian Fiction might be a little bland but you really proved me wrong and now I am such a big fan!! I tell EVERYBODY about Jezebel. I will definately be picking up your latest.
Thanks everyone for your support and I hope you’ll all enjoy The Ideal Wife.
Hey Tee,
Stopping by to say thanks! I appreciate you introducing readers to Jacquelin Thomas’ latest novel, The Ideal Wife.
Let me now how the Wordpress updates go. Just take your time!
Blessings,
Ty
I’m all late checking it, but great interview and great story! I loved it.