Don't forget, Jen has a fabulous giveaway on her Facebook pages.
4) Welcome back, Jen! You're known for your humor. Is this a natural gift or did you study to acquire it?
I grew up in a sarcastic family. I learned to look at everything with a little snarky attitude. I turn it around and tell on myself, so that I'm not mean to others, but I have to be cautious so it doesn't get out of hand. I think my humor is mostly a grace gift from the Lord, but I've learned to increase it from reading humorists like James Watkins, Philip Gulley, and Erma Bombeck. No matter how big your gift is, you can always increase it by hanging out with people more gifted than you are.
5) What advice would you give a non-fiction writer, who wants to publish a book?
A) Pray and ask God to lead you down the path He wants for you. Everyone's trail is different, and the biggest mistake we can make is to try and follow another sheep rather than the Shepherd.
B) Hone your skills--determine to grow. Read craft books, go on blogs, join a critique group, and attend writers conferences.
C) As the Lord to put people in your path that can help you achieve the goals and dreams He's put in your heart. As BIG! We are talking God here. He formed the universe with the word of His power and raised Jesus from death and us from Satan's grip. He can surely open a few doors for you. But you have to ask, and expect Him to come through.
D) Be humble enough to take advice people give you.
E) Then set your bootie in the chair and write, write, write and submit, submit, submit.
Bio: A spunky pastor's wife of thirty-plus years, Jeanette Levellie authors a bi-weekly humor/inspirational column, God Is Bigger, a popular feature in the Paris Beacon News since 2001. She has published stories in Guideposts anthologies, Love is a Verb Devotional with Gary Chapman, articles in Christian and secular magazines, greeting card verses, and poems for calendars. She is also a prolific speaker for both Christian and secular groups and loves to make people laugh while sharing her love for God and life.
Jeanette is a mother of two grown children, three grandchildren, and servant to four cats. She lives in Paris (not the French one), Illinois with her husband, Kevin. Her hobbies include dining out, talking baby talk to her cats, avoiding housework, reading, and watching old classic movies.
To buy Two Scoops of Grace with Chuckles on Top, go to: Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble.
Question for Writers and Readers: What nuggets did you take away from this interview?
I particularly liked Jen's advice to follow the Shepherd rather than the sheep.
