Looking Out the Window: Jennifer Slattery Tells Us about Her New Book, When Dawn Breaks, and Discusses Valentine's Gifts. Gives Away a Book.
A Warm Welcome to Jennifer Slattery
Jennifer will give away a print copy of When Dawn Breaks. To enter to win leave a comment and an e-mail address below.
Jennifer's Shares Her Thoughts on Valentine's Gifts
February is coming. You know what that means, right? Husbands across the nation stressing and conniving as they try to find that perfect Valentine’s gift. The media doesn’t help, with jewelry commercials depicting Mr. Sensitive surprising his love with a very expensive ring. The kind I’ve lost. On numerous occasions.
Once it was almost shipped to Japan. It isn’t that I don’t find the ring, or any other gift my husband gives me, special. I do. I cherish that glimmering band, but not because of the rock. Rather, I cherish the marriage it represents.
And all the memories that encompasses. Some of my favorites are the simplest. I find it a bit surprising that most of my memories, in fact, involve he and I walking hand-in-hand, talking. About everything and absolutely nothing.
When our daughter was young, we lived in a small apartment in Southern California. Each day, as four o’clock rolled around, I’d tidy the house, peek out the window, watch the door, anxiously awaiting my husband’s return. Then, when he’d arrive, we’d plop our princess in the baby backpack and walk to the corner store where we’d buy a giant fountain soda and a bag of pretzels. Then we’d walk back, munching, sipping, talking. Laughing.
That was almost 17 years ago, and yet, it’s still one of my favorite memories, one of my favorite “dates”. One that cost us maybe $3. Because often it’s those simple, quiet, and peaceful moments that mean the most.
I wonder if my husband knows this. I have a feeling, even if I were to tell him, he’d still stress, plot, and plan, trying to find that perfect Valentine’s Day gift. And that’s fine. So long as, after the gifts are exchanged and our restaurant meal eaten, he twines his fingers in mine and we go for a romantic, leisurely stroll.
What about you? What are some of your most romantic memories? Do you find any of them unexpected? If you could plan your favorite Valentine’s Day, what would you do? Where would you go?
About When Dawn Breaks
As the hurricane forces Jacqueline to evacuate, her need for purpose and restitution propel her north to her estranged and embittered daughter and into the arms of a handsome new friend. However, he’s dealing with a potential conspiracy at work, one that could cost him everything, and Jacqueline isn’t sure if he will be the one she can lean on during the difficult days ahead. Then there are the three orphans to consider, especially Gavin. Must she relinquish her chance at having love again in order to be restored?
Read a free, 36-page excerpt here
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Bio
Jennifer Slattery writes soul-stirring fiction for New Hope Publishers, a publishing house passionate about bringing God’s healing grace and truth to the hopeless. She also writes for Crosswalk.com, Internet Café Devotions, and the group blog, Faith-filled Friends. When not writing, Jennifer loves going on mall dates with her teenage daughter and coffee dates with her handsome railroader husband.
Visit with Jennifer online at Jennifer Slattery Lives Out Loud
Her debut novel, Beyond I Do, is currently on sale at Amazon for under $4 (print and kindle version)! You can get that here
Comments
You're right on, the most genuine memories are the truest treasures. I started seeing my husband-to-be while taking care of my mother at home, and due to her Alzheimer's, every day was different and we simply played things by ear since it was next to impossible to plan anything. Valentine's Day? Not the fancy restaurant he would have preferred. But it was incredibly romantic, dashing out to the local Newport Creamery and sharing a "Love You Sundae". 18 years later, we still go there every February 14th.
Gail, thank you for a beautiful and romantic post.
Miss Mae, thanks. Oh, that truly sounds lovely! For the longest time I've had a vision of my husband and I, when both of us are old. We're sitting on a front porch that looks out to a pond, him whittling, me writing. Not sure where that porch and pond would be, but... :)
Beth, thanks. I Hope you have a great Valentine's Day, too! If you're in a special relationship, I hope the two of you do something special, simple, and sweet. If not, I hope you do something special just for you!
Thanks, Gina, it's good to meet you, too. :) What a precious story you have! That sounds so incredibly romantic! I love real life heros, those we ladies can lean hard on when times are tough or crazy. It sounds like you've got one of those! And 18 years???? Awesome!
Hi, Sonja! Thanks so much for stopping by, and thanks for the well wishes. Best of luck in the give-away drawing!
Laureen, that sounds enchanting! Have the two of you had a chance to return to that location? I imagine it would be such a sweet way to relive a precious day. :)
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Happy Valentine's Day ! !