Hello, reader friends! Author Janet W. Ferguson is stopping by for a quick visit as part of a JustRead Publicity Tours blog tour and giveaway celebrating her new release, For the Love of Joy!
about the author
Janet W. Ferguson is a Grace Award winner, FHL Readers Choice Winner, and a Christy Award finalist. She grew up in Mississippi and received a degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Mississippi. She has served as a children’s minister and a church youth volunteer.
An avid reader, she worked as a librarian at a large public high school. She writes humorous inspirational fiction for people with real lives and real problems. Janet and her husband have two grown children, one really smart dog, and a cat that allows them to share the space.
Visit her website or connect with Janet on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
q&a
Share five of your favorites.
J: Favorite way to celebrate – Um… eating good food, ha! With friends or family of course!
Favorite food – I could live on potatoes! Fried, baked, boiled, roasted!
Favorite place to visit – The beach!!! Any beach!!
Favorite book quote – “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” C. S. Lewis
Favorite book – I’m a huge fan of Kara Isaac and have read all of her books! This year I loved her novel Start With Me!
B: We have all of these things in common, my friend!
What is your favorite activity or hobby not related to books?
J: I walk every day and try to praise God for the creation I see. I often take pictures of clouds, trees, sunsets, flowers, and even mushrooms, insects, or fungi and post them on Instagram. I take a lot of pics! My favorite place to walk is the beach when I can go!! There are so many treasures there!
B: He’s always there, isn’t He! We just have to look.
What are some of the challenges you faced while writing For the Love of Joy?
J: Writing a romantic comedy in the year 2020 wasn’t easy. It was hard to laugh and think funny thoughts with all the bad news. I tried to quit watching the news so much and just enjoy each day as a gift. I’m glad that I was writing something lighter. I hope readers will enjoy the lightness too!
B: I enjoyed reading all the romcoms I could get my hands on in 2020!
What did you learn or discover about yourself while writing For the Love of Joy?
J: My heroine Joy has a lot of mommy-guilt, the feeling where you feel you’re trying so hard to be a good mom, but are still failing your child. I realized I’ve had and still have a lot of that guilt even though my kids are in their mid-twenties. I know I could have done better at some things, but through writing this novel, I learned (am learning) that I have to give that to God, forgive myself, and just try to do the best I can with the days I’m given now.
B: Amen to that! I’m still in the trenches of raising grade school through high schoolers, it’s easy to fall into those lies of failure. We’re not enough but God is faithful and sufficient for all our needs.
What is your next release and/or what are you working on now?
J: I am working on Healing Skye for release in about a year. This will be a story set on Dauphin Island, Alabama, and will tell Skye’s story. She is the sister of Star from my novel Star Rising. It’s going to be a difficult one because Skye comes from a background of abuse. But I look forward to doing more beach research there!
B: Oooo, sounds like a place I’d like to visit too! Yep, Dauphin Island is definitely going on my bucket list!
What’s your writing style?
J: I am a mix of a pantser and a plotter, and I try to allow God to lead me. I started out being a total pantser which can be creatively fun, but also led me down some paths that didn’t work for the story. Eventually, I tried to have at least a loose outline of plot points.
For the last three years, I’ve been blessed to meet up and brainstorm novels with Mississippi authors Stephenia H. McGee, Pam Hillman, and Patricia Bradley. They’ve been amazing with helping me outline and dig deep into my characters! We have fun and eat a lot too!
Some pantsing still occurs as I write though. The fun thing is when the characters begin having a mind of their own and just spout out funny things onto the page. I know that sounds weird, but it really happens.
B: There’s just something super special about doing what you love with dear friends! Thank you so much for taking the time to visit with us, Janet!
about the book
For the Love of Joy by Janet W. Ferguson (Coastal Hearts)
Release Date: January 1, 2021
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance / Southern rom-comYears ago, a Dear John letter and then an IED explosion overseas rocked Davis Donnelly’s world and left him unclear about his marital status. He’d signed divorce papers, but broken mentally and physically, he’d never bothered to find out if his marriage actually ended. Now that he’s about to start a new position as an outreach minister, it’s time to settle things once and for all. At the moment he tracks down his wife—or former wife?—she takes a tumble while chasing a little boy. Her son. And that’s when life flips upside down.
Joy Jennings Donnelly made her share of mistakes. But one thing she never considered a mistake was her child, and she’ll do anything to protect him. Even keep his paternity a secret.
When she’s suddenly injured with not a soul to help her or her son, Joy is forced to rely on the man who has the most reasons to hate her.
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my thoughts
Oh, Davis! I’ve been anticipating this story from the moment Davis stepped onto the Coastal Hearts scene. Ferguson does not disappoint with For the Love of Joy.
Delicious sparks of frustration and attraction fly between Davis and Joy as they navigate their emotionally complicated situation. I found myself relating to Joy’s ever-present mom-guilt and self-doubt. Meanwhile, sweet little Hanky delights readers and keeps everyone on their toes with his mischievous antics!
For the Love of Joy is a page-turning journey of forgiveness and reconciliation filled with authentic community, heartwarming humor, and genuine faith. I highly recommend this story!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. Additionally, as a co-owner of JustRead Publicity Tours, LLC, I received compensation from the publisher and/or author to coordinate a promotional tour for this title. The opinions expressed are my own.
Coastal Hearts series
tour giveaway
(1) winner will receive a wetcat Hug Yourself Turkish beach towel, beach bookmark, Meyers lavender soy candle, signed book, note, and shell from the author! Dream beach 2021!
Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight January 19, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on January 26, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
enter giveaway here
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Follow along at the link above to learn more about For the Love of Joy by Janet W. Ferguson and earn more giveaway entries!
Faithfully Bookish 
Thank you for the review.
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Janet’s book is near the top of my TBR list. I’m looking forward to reading it. Thanks for the review.
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Thank you!
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Thank you!! So glad you enjoyed!
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I hope you enjoy!
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Great story, Janet!
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I enjoyed the author interview, and I appreciate that she wrote a book during 2020. I felt like I was in a creative desert at times.
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Nice interview, thanks for sharing. This sounds like a really good book, plus I really like that cover.
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Excellent review, Beth! I enjoy Janet’s novels. I’m looking forward to reading this series.
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Great interview! I love the beach too 🙂
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This book sounds like a great read and the cover is Beautiful! Thank you for sharing the interview. Have a Great week and stay safe.
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I want to catch up on this series soon! They all sound great!
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