Independent Miss Mabel Walker -- Character Interview with Author Jennifer Hudson Taylor

The inspiration for Mabel Walker is actress Tracy Spiridakos

Character Interview with Jennifer Hudson Taylor for her heroine, Mabel Walker

In: The Backcountry Brides Collection (Barbour Books, May 2018)

It’s 1757 and Mabel Walker is grieving over the death of her older brother in the Heart of Nantahalanovella in the Backcountry Bridescollection. He lost his life in a logging accident a month ago, and with the loss of their parents three years ago, Mabel and her fifteen-year-old sister, Bethany, are now alone.

With the inheritance of her brother's logging business and several acres of rich timber land, suitors are lining up, eager to take possession of her newfound property. There is only one problem. Mabel doesn't intend to give up her brother's gift through marriage, especially a loveless marriage. She defies all the unsolicited advice from her friends and neighbors at church, ignores the spiteful comments from her brother's employees who dislike working for a woman, and begins the process of learning all about the logging business.

It isn't until attempts are made on her life and someone tries to sabotage the lumber mill that she realizes how much danger she and her sister could be in. Unsure of who she can trust, Mabel becomes more determined and less dependant on her brother's best friend and foreman. Her faith is seriously tested and several men quit because they refuse to work for a woman. 

Out of the midst of chaos and betrayal, an unlikely ally emerges through a business partnership with Joseph Gregory, a man who clearly wants to purchase her property and business. Mabel finds his rare honesty and loyal support to be of more value than any of the relationships she has formed in Nantahala over the last three years after arriving to the North Carolina colonies.

With medium brown hair often swept up in pearl pins, and intense blue eyes that draw people toward her, Mabel’s appeal even encourages suitors beyond wealth seekers. Think of Miss Mabel Walker as modern-day Canadian actress Tracy Spiridakos in 18th century clothing, hairstyle and hat or colonial cap. I’ve included a photo of Tracy from Wikimedia Creative Commons. 

Mabel is loyal and always dependable. She hates the thought of letting someone down and so it is important for her to carry on the legacy of what her brother built. She’s determined to take care of her sister and the hired help, a Cherokee mom and son who have become like family and also depend on her. Mabel must find a way to overcome her enemies and convince her brother’s former employees that she is a worthy business woman and capable of providing their jobs just as he did. God answers her prayers in a most unexpected way.

CFP: Thanks for visiting with us Jennifer (and Mabel!) 

You can contact Jennifer at:
Author's website: ​
Author Jennifer Hudson Taylor

Amazon Author Page:
Jennifer Hudson Taylor

Jennifer's Twitter:
Jennifer H Taylor (@jt4novels) | Twitter

Jennifer's Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/jt4novels/


Don't forget we also have a Backcountry Brides collection Rafflecopter with lots of giveaways including a Kindle Paperwhite!

Here's the link:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway: We're giving away a paperback copy of The Backcountry Brides collection this week on the blog. Leave a comment on this post to enter!

Backcountry Brides -- More Reviews by Regina Fujitani

The Backcountry Brides Collection (Barbour Publishing, May 2018)
More Reviews by Regina Fujitani

"Hearts of Nantahala" by Jennifer Hudson Taylor
Mabel owns a successful lumber mill. Every man wants to marry her so they can inherit all she has. Except for Joe, he comes with business proposal that’s too hard to resist. Its a delight to be reading Jennifer’s books again! Another talented and gifted writer.

"A Heart So Tender" by Debra E. Marvin
A delightful tale between Arch and Susannah. Arch is a Lt. and is a soldier through and through. He was talked into watching over the Kimball family. That’s when he meets the lovely Susannah. A great story by Debra!

"A Worthy Groom" by Angela K. Couch
Marcus and Lorinda have a lot to learn as married couple. Lorinda has every right to fear men. Marcus has to win her heart and show her his not like the other Cowden men. Things start happening around the farm...who can it be? A wonderful story of strength in trials and forgiveness. Importantly loving those who are around you.

"Love's Undoing" by Gabrielle Meyer
Home is truly where the heart is. Abi has to discover this sentiment all too well. All is not fresh roses in Montreal. Henry discovers more to his life and who is a worthy bride.

Giveaway: We're giving away a paperback copy of The Backcountry Brides Collection this week. Leave a comment on this post and on Shannon McNear's Character Interview for up to two entries for the prize! 

Book Review – Highland Blessings by Jennifer Hudson Taylor

Holt Medallion Winner for 2011 for Best First Book!

Highland Blessings

By Jennifer Hudson Taylor

Abingdon 2010

Five Stars *****

Reviewed by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Akira has prophetic dreams.  And that makes her suspect in 14^th century Scotland.  When her Highland warrior bridegroom comes to claim his bride, she is quite taken by surprise – he kidnaps her!  Lots of romantic tension early on when she is taken to her new clan and new village.  Bryce MacPhearson takes Akira on the day she is to wed another.There has been bad blood between the two clans for a long time. Bryce gave his father a promise as he was dying.  Despite her strong faith, Akira rages against Bryce’s determination to make her his wife.  He finally gives her an agreement that although wed, they will not act as husband and wife until she has come to know him. 

One murder after another occurs, stirring up the rivalry between their two clans.  Akira’s own family begins to turn against her.  God warns her of trouble in her dreams. Bryce isn’t sure what to think.  Akira’s life is endangered and her husband must rescue her. 

Available in paperback and in ebook formats.


This was a really good read and a page turner (Kindle page!) with strong suspense and lots of twists and turns in it. 
 

BIBLIOTHERAPY: Trust, betrayal, grief, and rivalries.

GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of either Highland Blessings or Highland Sanctuary – your choice and choice of format.

Friend on Friday - Review of Highland Blessings

Highland Blessings
by Jennifer Hudson Taylor (Goodreads Author) 

Sheri Salatin's review 

Oct 10, 11

Read from October 08 to 09, 2011

Scottish lass, Clan chief and an arranged marriage between two feuding clans. Is this an overdone storyline? Perhaps, but if you like these kinds of stories and I do, the book is excellent. Is it predictable? Yes, but what romance novel isn't? Doesn't the guy always get the girl in the end. Ah, yes, but it's the journey that makes it fun and entertaining.

A very enjoyable read and a book that I will probably read again when I'm in that "want to read something light and romantic" mood.

Thanks Sheri for sharing your review from GoodReads with us!

Here's a link to a video clip from Jennifer's blog: 

http://jenniferswriting.blogspot.com/2009/06/highland-blessings.html

Book Review – Highland Sanctuary by Jennifer Hudson Taylor

Book Review – Highland Sanctuary

by Jennifer Hudson Taylor

Abingdon Press 2011

Reviewed by Carrie Fancett Pagels

This book really parallels what this blog is all about - people overcoming problems, through time, with God's help. In Highland Sanctuary, Jennifer's characters live in a village of outcasts. Serena Boyd has suffered since infancy from seizures, which the people, including her father, believe reflects demon-possession. As Jennifer shared in her interview on Monday, she has a daughter with seizure disorder so she well knows what the heroine, Serena, in her story is going through. Mothers will relate to Serena's mother, a true lady in every way and heroic in her love of her daughter.

The hero, Gavin, comes to help repair the castle in the village, along with his men. He is as faithful and steady as they come, something I really like. Those rogues are fun to read about once in a while but in my way of looking at things, a loyal steady man is a lot more romantic than an impulsive dashing rogue! The laird of the castle has his eye on Serena, too. I won't do any spoilers here, but you will have to read to find out how the two compare. The laird is a kind and thoughtful man who goes to great lengths to include Serena in activities at his castle and to make her feel welcome.

Be prepared to set all other activities completely aside as you get near the end because you will not be able to stop reading the last tenth of the book until you are entirely done!  Great wrap up, a nail digger!  Well done, Jennifer!

Bibliotherapy: This book really packs a punch when it comes to people overcoming problems, through time, with God's help. 

This book could be used for bibliotherapy in mental health practices and by special education teachers, also, as well as by other groups who minister to persons with disabilities.  

The entire book ministers to people with disabilities.  Seizure disorder, blindness, stuttering, and more are addressed in the village of the Outcasts. It also tells a great story.  

Disability Friendliness: Available in paperback and Kindle. I received this as a PDF file and began to read on my computer but switched to the Kindle version as soon as that came out. Apparently Abingdon had a tiny hitch in getting the Kindle version out near the time that the print version became available.

GIVEAWAY THIS WEEK - Highland Sanctuary. Leave a comment and your email address!

Interview with Jennifer Hudson Taylor

Jennifer Hudson Taylor is the author of Highland Blessings and her new release, Highland Sanctuary through Abingdon Press.

I met Jennifer Hudson Taylor through ACFW and she is a member of Colonial American Christian Writers and a contributor to Colonial Quills, our group blog. We are also both members of HisWriters, those who have either published or planned works with European settings. And Jennifer is our Hartline publicist advisor!

Jennifer Hudson Taylor http://jenniferswriting.blogspot.com/ welcome to Overcoming Through Time.

Would you share either the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help, or the most tragic situation or circumstance one of your character’s has had to get past?

There are a number of difficult things that seemed to cause other difficult things in my life. Some, I’m still trying to overcome. The worst feeling was the fear of losing my baby when she was born. Each time she stopped breathing and needed CPR, my husband was the hero, while I mentally fell apart. She never had a seizure while my husband wasn’t with us. God knew it was more than I could bear—and she had many.

What is your favorite bible verse and why?

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39) Something seems to be happening in my life all the time, either it is finances, health concerns, conflicts with people or death to loved ones and all things they are going through. This verse is a constant comfort to me.

Disability friendliness: These book are available as e-books with audio capability.

What has been the most important thing you hope your readers will get from your books and why?

While each book contains a different message, I hope all of them inspire people to hunger for a stronger understanding and relationship with God, grasping the fact that He is waiting to love them unconditionally no matter what they’ve done.

As you researched your books, did you learn anything that particularly touched your heart?

Yes, it was heart-wrenching to learn how people with disabilities or mild special needs were treated in 15^th century. They were ridiculed, mocked, taken advantage of, beaten, and cast out of society.

In this latest work, do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation? (This latest book is bibliotherapy in and of itself!)

Yes, I tell everyone that writing is therapeutic, and Highland Sanctuary is complete evidence of it. The story came to me back when Celina was a toddler, but I didn’t feel qualified or ready to write it then. Understanding and accepting special needs and disabilities is one of my therapeutic topics.

While we’ve come a long way since the 15^th century, we still have a long way to go. For instance, people assume that just because my friend’s boy looks 9 that he should behave at that age level, not realizing he’s actually only 5. We judge and criticize too quickly.

Here’s another example, my daughter still struggles with some things. She knows her locker combination and can open the lock, but if she feels rushed between classes, kids are all around her making a lot of noise and shoving each other to get to their lockers, she can’t get it open.

One day after the bell rang, about 15 kids were still out in the hall. I don’t know about the other kids, but my daughter was still out there because she couldn’t get her locker open. The teacher threatened to give all of them detention. My daughter kept saying, “but I’m a good girl!” Her main concern was that her teacher wouldn’t think she’s irresponsible. Of course, she didn’t speak up to defend herself. That is another challenge.

Things like this may end up in my stories.

Thank you Jennifer Hudson Taylor for agreeing to answer these questions. Have a blessed day and keep on writing!!

Jennifer Hudson Taylor is an award winning author of historical Christian fiction set in Europe and the Carolinas and a speaker on topics of faith, writing and publishing. Her work has appeared in national publications, such as Guideposts, Heritage Quest Magazine, Romantic Times Book Reviews, and The Military Trader. She serves as the in-house Publicist at Hartline Literary Agency and co-owns Upon the Rock Publishing, an e-publishing/publicist company. Jennifer graduated from Elon University with a B.A. in Journalism. When she isn't writing, she enjoys spending time with family, long walks, traveling, touring historical sites, hanging out at bookstores with coffee shops, genealogy, and reading.

Jennifer's fiction is represented by Literary Agent, Terry Burns with Hartline Literary Agency.

Giveaway: We are giving away a copy of Jennifer's new release "Highland Sanctuary" this week. Leave a comment and your email address on any of the posts through this Saturday during Jennifer Hudson Taylor Week!