It’s been a busy month for me—getting settled in our new house, the release of Mayhem and Moonlight, and life in general. It just zoomed by at warp speed. But whenever I have the opportunity to sit down and interview authors for this podcast, I’m so incredibly grateful. Not only do I get to meet talented and interesting people, but it’s a time of relaxation for me. This wasn’t the case when I first started Between the Lines. I would stress about what questions to ask, if I would miss anything important, or if I’d able to connect with the person on the other end of Zoom. That has never been the case. It’s like chatting with a new friend. A time of discovery and delight.
And that was certainly true of my time with Jennifer Hallmark (just love her name) and Becca Wierwille. What a joy to hang out with these ladies. I hope you enjoy their interviews as much as I did.
Jennifer Hallmark’s tagline is Stories from Off the Beaten Track: A twist here, a revelation there. Southern through and through which says it all. She creates stories with unforgettable characters—a little eerie and otherworldly but with a positive turn.
Jessie’s Hope, her first YA novel, was a Selah Award nominee for First Novel. Her latest book, Smoking Flax, was released in January 2024.
Here is the Back Cover Copy of Smoking Flax:
Almost nineteen-year-old Reed Anderson wants to belong in a world where he hasn’t always fit. Three days after graduation, he decides to ride a bus back to Louisiana and deal with the events of his thirteenth summer once and for all. Back then, he’d stood up to his abusive Pa, protecting Momma and his sister, taking control of his life. But who was the faded image of the child he saw that day? Aunt Lula predicted his life would shift and change. Something about space-time-continuum and the fourth dimension? He tucks her words into his heart. If he survives the shift, this could be his chance to start over. But the ghost child haunts his dreams. Even though six years have passed, does he want to confront the lies he’s always believed?
When Jennifer isn’t babysitting, gardening, or exploring the beautiful state of Alabama, you can find her at her desk penning fiction or studying the craft of writing. You can connect with her via her website at JenniferHallmark.com where you can sign up for her newsletter, read her blog posts, and learn more about her books.
Becca Wierwille is an author of middle grade fiction whose tagline is Live Wonderfully Created. She writes stories about extraordinary kids, unexpected adventures, and forever friends.
Her latest book, Road Trip Rescue, is a 2024 Selah Award finalist. It is Book 1 of her Road Trip Series and is geared for children ages 8-12. Although, I’m far beyond that age range, I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook.
Book 2, Road Trip Return, is in the works and awaiting Kickstarter funds to be launched.
You can connect with Becca, sign up for her newsletter, and follow her blog (as well as contribute to her Kickstarter campaign) on her website at beccawierwille.com.
BCC for Road Trip Rescue:
Twelve-year-old Kimmy trusts dogs more than people.
After all, her dog Bo never made fun of her for having one hand. But two years ago, Bo disappeared.
When Kimmy stumbles across a magazine photo of a dog in upstate New York that looks just like Bo, she knows she has to find him. Her parents seem oddly unsupportive, but pink-haired, adventure-hungry Aunt Skylar agrees to a road trip with a stop in the Adirondacks. Kimmy jumps at the chance to bring her furry family member home.
Unfortunately, Aunt Skylar’s idea of a road trip isn’t the rescue mission Kimmy had in mind.
