Author Interview: Jennifer Chastain

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Tell us a bit about yourself? I am what you call a “Yankee transplant”. My dad’s job brought us to North Carolina when I was 16. Let me just tell you, we experienced culture shock when we moved from our small, dairy farming community in NY to the big city of Charlotte. My husband is a native Charlottean and we’ve been married for 26 years. He always jokes that I had to travel 750 miles south to find a husband! But we do disagree during football season. If you know anything about NFL team rivalries, well, you’ll understand when I say that he is a Washington fan and I’m a Dallas Cowboys fan. ‘Nuff said!
 
What is your book about? My story is a modern-day marriage of convenience, filled with second chances, redemption and hope. My two main characters fell in love eight years ago, but now the hero needs my heroine’s help to keep his company. Nate broke Meredith’s heart 8 years ago and he still regrets the way he treated her. Meredith is an accountant who is sent to his company to conduct a forensic audit. They marry but face a lot of obstacles, old hurts and misunderstandings along the way.
 
Why did you write it? I love stories of second chances, redemption and forgiveness. And three years ago when I wrote this story, I’d been watching a lot of Christmas movies. But I’d also been watching Married at First Sight. I had an idea for a Christmas story too, and thought, why not try? I could combine both these ideas to have a little different twist on a Christmas romance.
 
If you had a pet unicorn, what color would it be and what would you name it?
I never thought about having a pet unicorn, I’m doing good just to have a cat! But if I did, I suppose it would be a sea-green blue and I’d name it Charlie.
 
Do you need background noise when you write? It really depends. Sometimes I need it completely quiet. Other times, I like to have the tv on, with the volume turned down. And sometimes, I’ll listen to country music. It really depends on whether or not the characters are talking to me or if I need some additional inspiration.
 
What's your writing process like? Well, first I have to figure out who my main characters are, what are their occupations, I write out what they look like, how old they are (I’ll even find pictures online of people who look like what I envision my characters look like). Then I’ll interview them, find out what is their black moment event – this is the event that shaped who they are as an adult. Then I have to talk through the story, to get a general idea of where the story is going. I’m a plotter, I definitely have to write out the general story outline, along with the plot points on a huge post-it note and hang it on the wall facing me. And then I’ll set up the story outline in Scrivener, the writing software that’s been invaluable to me. Finally, I’ll write. I try not to edit as I write since I just want to get the story down.
Editing comes much later! If I think of something I forgot, I’ll jot it down on either in the notes section of Scrivener or a blank notepad I keep handy.
 
Fun fact about the book/character. In The Mistletoe Contract, my 2 main characters visit a small town called McAdenville, NC in the book. This is an actual small town about 40 minutes south of Charlotte. It is a town filled with Christmas spirit. The entire town is decorated for Christmas and then thousands of people from miles around visit the town – for free - to look at all the Christmas lights, the displays, take pictures as well as listen to Christmas music and sit on Santa’s lap.
 
Do you read as much as you write? Oh my goodness, I’m always reading! I read probably as much as I write. I have to do this in order to replenish my words as well as relax after a long day of working my full-time job and then writing at night.
 
Favorites:
Bible verse: Psalm 91:1-2
Book – just one? Persuasion by Jane Austen and Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Cartoon – I’m going old school with Bugs Bunny
Cereal – not a big fan of cereal but I like Kashi Heart to Heart Warm Cinnamon
Color - pink
Movie – again, just one? LOL – Comedy: Galaxy Quest starring Tim Allen and Jane Eyre, starring Joan Fontaine and Orson Welles (1944)
Song – this usually depends on what I’m writing and where I get my inspiration from for the story. Right now, it’s Keith Urban’s Somebody Like You and Randy Houser’s, Goodnight Kiss
 
Where can we find you online?
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Website  jenniferchastain.com
Newsletter: https://RB.GY/VEYZCY
 
 

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