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Monday, October 10, 2011

Interview with Jennifer Hudson Taylor


Jennifer Hudson Taylor is a member of Colonial American Christian Writers and a contributor on Colonial Quills.  She has just released her newest book - Highland Sanctuary.
Published by: Abingdon Press
Date: Oct 2011

Jennifer Hudson Taylor is also the author of Highland Blessings (Abingdon Press, 2010).  Her website is http://www.jenniferhudsontaylor.com

Jennifer, what got you interested in the colonial time period?
I grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina where one of the great battles of the Revolutionary War occurred between the British and the colonials. (http://www.nps.gov/guco/index.htm) As a result, my hometown is actually named after the colonial General in that battle, Nathanael Greene who fought Lord Cornwallis. For as long as I can remember, my dad took us out to the Guilford Battleground Park for their annual re-enactments. Imagine my excitement when as an adult I began researching my family history and discovered we had ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War, as well as Quaker ancestors who lived right there where they were fighting on their land and they cared for both the British and the colonials and buried them together. Yes, there will be another story from my family history coming—I can feel it!
When my dad talked about the history of our country, his voice was so animated it became contagious for me. He spoke about it in a way that brought patriotism to my heart and a spirit of pride for my country and how much our ancestors must of sacrificed for us to have what we have today. I’m very grateful to my dad for that.

You have some upcoming releases set during colonial times, besides this new release set in the 15th century. Can you tell us about them?
I have some colonial works coming out -  a novella entitled “Highland Crossings” in the spring and another 3-book series I’m working on which won’t release until 2013.


Note: Jennifer is also an author in this 19th century Spring 2012 release:


The Quakers of New Garden (Romancing America)

Do you have a favorite colonial place you like to visit and why?
Yes, so many! In my home state of North Carolina, I love to visit Old Salem, (www.oldsalem.org) the Moravian colonial village that is a living re-enactment year round. My favorite time of the year to visit is in the fall when all the leaves are changing and they have lots of activities going on. I enjoy their colonial shops, museums, their tavern, their book store, and especially their bakery, which still bakes things in their old-fashioned colonial oven. You can watch them do this and buy what they make. Everything tastes so good, their breads, cookies, cakes. Their tavern has excellent food as well.


What other colonial places are there in your state?
I live in North Carolina so as one of the original 13 colonies, our state abounds in colonial history. In addition to Old Salem and Guilford Battleground Park, we have New Bern with the Tryon Palace in New Bern, the first capital of our state and where the governor lived. (http://www.newbern.com/tryon/)  We have several surviving plantations. If you’re interested in some of these plantations, I’ve written about them here: http://jenniferswriting.blogspot.com/p/historical-research-tidbits.html

Giveaway: Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Jennifer’s new release Highland Sanctuary, which I am reading and really enjoying!  You can choose Kindle or paperback.

22 comments:

  1. Congratulations on your new release. I loved Highland Blessing and am looking forward to reading Highland Sanctuary.
    kelly_mann@hotmail.com

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  2. Just finished reading Highland Blessing and loved it. I would love a change to read this Highland Sanctuary. Please enter me for the drawing :)

    Sheri(dot)Salatin(at)gmail(dot)com

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  3. Hi, Jennifer, and Carrie! What a great interview! I am surrounded by alot of history, myself, Jennifer, as I live a few minutes away from Columbia, SC. I have been to Greensboro to visit friends, but never really got to see the historical sites.:(

    I love all of your book covers and my sis-in-law would go absolutely "ape" over the cover of Highland Sanctuary, or maybe I should say go "grape" instead. lol She loves anything purple; her house has purple walls, and purple decor, she has purple flowers in her garden, she wears purple hats and clothes, and she would love this cover as do I!

    I LOVE Scottish books and have read some other authors' Scottish series, and recently downloaded Highland Blessings on my Kindle, and haven't read it yet, because I want to read these back to back. If I win HS, I would have to have it in paperback, though, to loan to my "purple" sis-in-law. I mean she isn't really purple, but she'd probably like to be! LOL!

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  4. Oops-forgot my email, but Carrie has it.

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  5. Am excited about your new book. You bring history alive. I have Highland Blessings and loved it. Would love to win this one. Juanita W
    whisper97304@yahoo.com

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  6. Loved reading your interview. So grateful I learned about you a year or so ago, love your books. Juanita W
    whisper97304@yahoo.com

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  7. For those of you who loved Highland Blessings, thank you! I appreciate the encouragement. Thank you for stopping by!

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  8. Diana, My daughter's favorite color is also purple. Since I dedicated Highland Sanctuary to her, I had to create a purple plaid!

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  9. Sounds like a great book :) And the upcoming releases look great too!

    crazi.swans at gmail dot com

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  10. Jennifer, It's so interesting to learn more about you here - love all your covers and especially the Quaker cover as my next heroine is one:) We have a lot of good books to look forward to! You have a rich family history and I know it shows in your novels. Bless you and your writing!

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  11. Jennifer, I so envy you living in North Carolina. It's one of those states I've never lived in, but since childhood it's captured my heart, from the mountains through the Piedmont to the Outer Banks. Have you visited the Alston House (or House in the Horseshoe)? I was able to tour that a few years ago while researching the novel I set in the Asheboro area. There was a small skirmish there during the Revolution, and the bullet holes are still to be seen in the walls. I based a house in my story on that house. What a thrill to walk through it and explore the grounds.

    Congratulations on your new release!

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  12. Jennifer, property in Leander, Tx next to my inlaws property was used for re-enactment of a battle also. Very exciting! It gave you chills to think of how vulnerable the men were back then to being killed or if they were lucky they might have survived an injury. Can't wait to read your books that are coming out.

    Blessings, Patricia
    plb1050 at gmail dot com

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  13. Laura, I think Quaker novels are a great resource and a market that hasn't been thoroughly tapped into. I'll be interested in your story!

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  14. Lori, This is a great state that has a little bit of everything. I'm surrounded by beautiful mountains on one side and the sea on the other. I have lots of family in the Asheboro area, but no I don't recall every visiting the Alston house and I've done a lot of genealogy research all through Asheboro and Greensboro areas.

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  15. Thanks, Patricia. Yes, it does give me chills to think about what my ancestors must have endured and survived.

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  16. I love books set in Scotland... what is it about that country that so intrigues? I'll be interested in your Quaker story too, my great-grandmother was a Quaker. I knew her well, she lived to be almost 100 years old!

    twinwillowsfarm at gmail dot com

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  17. Highland Sanctuary has so many possibilities for bibliotherapy use that I am not even sure where to start for my review for Overcoming Through Time! And a great romance! And Jennifer and Laura Frantz both seem to like those red-headed heroes!

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  18. This sounds like a great book! Count me in!

    Blessings!
    rhonda(dot)ritenour(at)gmail(dot)com

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  19. Pegg, I wish I knew, but I'm pining for a visit over there. Just not sure I'll ever be able to finance it. Seems like something else is always coming up. Then I feel guilty for even thinking about it.

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  20. Lots of red-heads in our family--it comes naturally. I'm sorry I don't have more than a few red highlights in my brown hair.

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  21. thanks for the chance to read jennifer's latest novel :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  22. And random.org has the pick being Sheri Salatin. Congrats, Sheri on winning a copy of Jennifer's new release! Will email you! CONGRATS!

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