August 9, 2006 @ 10:14 pm | Filed under: Books

A few weeks ago I received a book in the mail that totally captivated me. Coldwater Revival, by Nancy Jo Jenkins, a fellow ACFWer. Nancy’s debut novel is full of southern charm and laced with whimsical lyricism that captures your heart on the very first page and doesn’t release it until the last paragraph fades from your memory.

If you’d like to win a copy of this book for yourself, please leave a comment for me and you’ll be automatically entered into a drawing that will take place on August 18th.

About the Author:

(in her own words)

I’m a southern girl, born in Texas and have lived here all my life. I come from a large family. My daddy’s parents had fifteen children, thirteen of whom lived to adulthood. There were seven sons and six daughters. A baker’s dozen, so to speak.

My grandparents sent all seven sons – plus one grandson – off to fight in World War II. All returned safely, though my dad suffered back injuries when his ship was attacked in the South Pacific. Our annual family reunions usually pack in around two-hundred and fifty attendees.

Family has remained a strong influence in my life. Perhaps it was my family background that precipitated the writing of Coldwater Revival. I remember many get-togethers where love and laughter flowed like honey, but where there was sometimes a bit of “scrapping” going on, as well. Maybe it was during one of those rowdy gatherings that the seed of Coldwater Revival was planted in my heart.

I taught grade school (special education and second grade) for twenty-one years, and I absolutely loved working with children. Now I have beautiful grandchildren to dote on. But during the last ten years of teaching, I dreamed of the day I could write the stories that God had placed in my heart.

Coldwater Revival is one of those stories. The Falins are a farming family who lived in rural Texas in the 1920’s and 30’s. Emma Grace’s story is one of love, tragic loss, forgiveness, and survival.

About the Book:

Just three weeks before her wedding, Emma Grace Falin has returned to her hometown of Coldwater, Texas, consumed by a single, burning desire. She must confront the guilt and shame of a devastating event that has haunted her since childhood.

THE INTERVIEW:

Q.   How long did it take you to write Coldwater Revival?

A.   I perceived the idea for Coldwater Revival in June, 2003, and completed the manuscript in March, 2005.

Q.  Tell us about your journey from writer to published novelist.

A.   During my teaching career, I dreamed of the day when I could write the stories that continually swam around in my head. I didn’t know at the time that it would take me four or five years of attending workshops, conferences, retreats, lectures, and of studying tapes, books and other materials before I was ready to put my newly-acquired knowledge to use, and begin writing the stories that God had prompted me to write. In March, 2004, at the Mount Hermon Christian Writing Conference, I submitted a book proposal to Steve Laube (Literary agent), and Jeff Dunn, (Acquisitions Editor) for RiverOak. Both gentlemen asked me to send them all I had written on Coldwater Revival, which at the time was 109 pages. During the summer of 2004, both men offered me a contract. My book was published by RiverOak and released in May, 2006.   

Q.  The agony and healing Emma Grace went through are so real. What personal
experiences did you draw from to portray Emma Grace’s feelings so well?       

A.   There was a time in my life when I suffered with depression, though it was not due to a death in the family, as Emma Grace’s was. At the time, it seemed that I was in a daily knock-down, drag-out fistfight with sadness. I was truly blessed in that I was never prescribed any kind of medication to treat my depression, which proved to be relatively short-lived. But I did receive counseling, which was just what I needed to win the battle with this debilitating condition. During that time of depression I endured many of the symptoms that Emma Grace suffered through. Excessive sleeping was about the only symptom we did not share. There were times when I couldn’t swallow my food, and times when I could almost touch the face of that same blackness that almost overwhelmed Emma Grace. Her sorrow and guilt were difficult scenes for me to write, and I found myself crying each time I wrote about Emma Grace’s sadness and the continual ache in her heart. 

Q.   Emma Grace loses all desire for life when her brother dies - not eating or talking, just living in the blissful cocoon of sleep. Do you have any advice for folks who are in that dark place right now?

A.   Communication was the key that unlocked the door of depression for me. Communicate with God, even if the only words you can utter are the words, "Help me." But I also benefited greatly from talking to a certified counselor; one who was trained in helping people express their pain, their needs, their fears. I hope that anyone who feels sad and lonely for an extended length of time, will contact their pastor, or someone who can direct them to a Christian counselor.

Q.    Emma Grace’s grandmother lives in the city while the rest of the family lives in the country. Why do you think she didn’t move out to the country with the rest of the family long ago?

A.    Granny Falin immigrated from Ireland to America with her husband and son when Emma Grace’s papa was just a lad. This family shared a dream about their new country. It would be a place where they could find work and prosperity, raise their family, and put down roots. Even the Great Hurricane of 1900 couldn’t wash those dreams from Granny’s heart. Though her only remaining child lived a hundred miles away in the rural township of Coldwater, Texas, Granny could never leave Galveston. The island and the sea that surrounded the island were her home now. It was where the ashes of her husband and three children were buried. It was the home she and her husband had dreamed of during their desperate years together in Ireland. If she left Galveston and moved to Roan’s home, she would be giving up the dream she had shared with her husband.          

Q.   Papa and Elo have a tough time showing their emotions. Elo, especially, is so hard to read in the book. Why do you think some people hole up inside themselves rather than sharing their emotions?

A.   I believe we are born with a portion of our personality already deeply embedded within us. Some people are reticent to express their feelings and emotions, while others have no problem whatsoever in expressing what they feel or think. I have known many individuals who are like Elo; people we sometimes refer to as "the strong, silent type". Papa and Elo are powerful protectors and providers who waste little time and effort on words. Both of these men feel that "actions speak louder than words". Added to that is the fact that Elo feels extreme discomfort when his mother and sisters are emotionally distraught, therefore, he maintains a rigid demeanor, in part, to provide a stable link in the chain that makes up his family - The Falins.

Q.   Do you have other books coming out soon?

A.   Thank you for asking about my upcoming books. I’m about to submit my proposal for a novel entitileld, "Whisper Mountain". This story takes place in the early 1900’s in the Great Smoky Mountains. It is the story about lost love, and a desperate woman’s journey to fill the void that deprivation and loss have left in her heart. The story has elements of mystery, intrigue, murder, and of course, romance. I’m very excited about this story. I’ve also begun writing a sequel to "Coldwater Revival" which will parallel both Emma Grace’s life after 1933, and the adventurous trek Elo begins when he falls in love.