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Wednesday, March 6, 2013

BEHIND THE BOOK: WELCOME JULIE JARNAGIN


ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 
Julie Jarnagin grew up in a rural community where her family farmed and raised cattle, inspiring her to set much of her fiction in small towns. She earned a B.A. in Journalism/Professional Writing from the University of Oklahoma, and she is a member of America Christian Fiction Writers. Her articles have appeared in local and national publications. Through her writing, she hopes to share stories that inspire readers through reflecting God’s love. She lives in Oklahoma with her husband, Kevin, and their energetic young son. Her series of inspirational romance novels, Canyon Walls, Canyon Crossing, and Canyon Cafe, were published by Barbour Publishing. Connect with Julie at www.JulieJarnagin.com, https://twitter.com/juliejarnagin, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Julie-Jarnagin-Books/118825474838968 and http://pinterest.com/juliejarnagin/

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Canyon Walls

Sunset Camp changed Cassie’s life, and she is determined to keep it from bankruptcy.

As the family real estate firm is approached about brokering the sale of the camp, Will Overman is given an opportunity to finalize this deal and move up the ranks of the family business. But as Will falls in love with the camp—and Cassie—the deal doesn’t seem so cut-and-dried.

Can Will help Cassie save the camp and win her heart, too?


AND NOW . . . THE STORY BEHIND THE BOOK: 

The summer after sixth grade, I attended my first week of church camp. I returned to that camp every year until I graduated high school. I loved everything about it and always looked forward to my week. I enjoyed learning more about God, meeting new people, staying in the cabins, and participating in activities like swimming and hiking.

After my freshman year of college, I didn’t want to go back to my tiny hometown for the summer, so I applied for a job cleaning cabins and cooking cafeteria food at my beloved camp. It wasn’t the most glamorous job, but I was excited to spend a few months in one of my favorite places in the world.

I could have never known that the man I would later spend my life with and start a family with would show up as a camp counselor. Kevin and I established a friendship that week, and a few weeks after he’d gone back home, he drove back down to the camp to take me out on our first date.

When I decided I wanted to write a romance novel, I couldn’t think of a better setting than the place where my own love story began. Cassie and Will’s story is very different than our love story, but they share the camp setting and the undeniable hand of God in bringing two people together.

When I’m having a blast writing a new romance and creating my characters’ journeys toward love, I wonder how much God must love designing our real-life love stories. Better yet, the Lord loves us more than any love story we can read about or experience during our time here on earth. 

12 comments:

Julie Jarnagin said...

Thank you for having me here, Darlene!

Jessica R. Patch said...

I loved this! Summer church camp was a highlight of my growing up years and btw, I loved this book! :)

Terri Tiffany said...

That is so romantic!!

Julie Jarnagin said...

Thanks for stopping by, Jessica & Terri. :)

Linda Goodnight said...

Julie, what cool inspiration. Thanks for sharing it!

Darlene Franklin said...

Jessica and Terri, thanks for stopping by! Are you friends with our Julie? Linda, how good to see you.

Lisa said...

So sweet! I meet my husband at summer camp too, we were both counselors!

Jessica Ferguson said...

What a wonderful story! I have this book but haven't read it yet. Now I'll picture you when I do. ;)

Anne Love said...

Julie,
Camp is a great story world idea. Most people have a lot of good feelings about their experiences at summer camp. I met my husband there in 3rd grade. :)

My kids are 17 & 19 and will spend their 2nd and 4th summers at camp as staff. I've been praying that God will raise up young leaders there this summer--and who knows who might just show up?!

Also, I used to spend spring breaks in Elmore City, Ok with our family. My dad used to coon hunt and we stayed with a family there out on a ranch. I have very fond memories of the OK state! :)

Julie Jarnagin said...

:) Elmore City isn't far from where I live. I actually have a friend who lives there. It's a small world.

Erin Taylor Young said...

Julie, you're such a romantic at heart! Cool that God gave you the gift to write. : )

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Darlene & Julie -

How neat that your own romance inspired this book! I enjoy hearing the story behind the book.

Blessings,
Susan :)