Please welcome Jessie Andersen today

Please welcome fellow Astraea press author Jessie Andersen today.
About the Author
Jessie Andersen lives in a small town in Western New York with her husband and three kids. A former English teacher, she now spends her time writing while the kids are at school and the baby is sleeping. She volunteers at the local library and sings in the church band.

You can find information about her books at jandersenbooks.com, and you can follow her blogs at Therabidwriter.blogspot (Personal blog) 

and Readbetweenthelinesbookclub.blogspot.com (Book blog).

You can also follow her on Twitter at

www.twitter.com/jvdlandersen

and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jandersenbooks

 

Hi Jessie, welcome to The Heart of Romance. Please will you tell us what influenced you to write this particlar book?

The Influence of At What Cost.

               I was teaching middle school at the time, reading everything the kids were reading so I could talk to them about the books they loved. I kept thinking, “I could do this. I could write like this.” So I started praying about it. The conversation went something like this:

               Me: Hey, God, if you want me to write a book, you need to tell me what to write about.

               God: Abortion.

               Me: Ummmmm, yeah, I don’t think so. That’s a little too heavy for me, don’t you think?

               God: Neh, that’s what I want you to write about. Abortion.

               Me: No offense, but I really don’t think that’s a good idea. I don’t have any experience with that.      I don’t know enough about it. Let’s pick something else.

               God: Nope, you’re going to write about abortion.

               Me: You sure?

               God: Yep. Get to it.

               Me: (sheepishly) Okay.

When will I ever learn that arguing with God is futile? Anyway, I went to it, but after about three chapters I got stuck. I needed more information, more knowledge about what it was really like. That’s when I contacted the Women’s Services of Jamestown, NY. The director hooked me up with several post-abortive women I could interview. So, I set a few up and listened to their stories. I also began talking about my book. I can’t tell you how many women would come to me and say, “I hear you’re writing a book; can I tell you my story?” And I’d listen. Bits and pieces of all of those stories are in AWC. It’s not one person’s story but several people’s story.

This topic has always been one that tugged at my heartstrings even way back in high school. I can remember doing debates in government class and adamantly arguing the topic. I think God places a call on each of our lives. It’s our job to discover what it is. I’ve always loved writing, but never thought anything of it until He started laying it on my heart again. Now, when I look back over the course of my life, I can see how He placed writing on my heart over and over. From the third grade ‘about me’ packet where I said I wanted to be famous for writing a book, to camp when I was 12 and said my life goal was to publish a book, to short story contests in high school. It’s always been there. If only I’d have recognized it sooner. But now I know.

So, that’s basically it. I felt God was calling me to write a book and he handed it to me on a platter, but only once I decided I’d be obedient.

Blurb:

During her junior year, sixteen-year-old Maggie Reynolds expected to shop for prom dresses not maternity clothes. Now, instead of studying for the SATs, she’s reading, What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Maggie’s ‘Mother Dearest’ lives in fear that Maggie will somehow taint the family name, so Maggie can’t turn to her for help. Meanwhile, her father is oblivious to anything but his 9-9 job. And her boyfriend, Justin? She’s pretty sure he’ll stay by her side.
While Maggie wrestles with her options, Justin offers a solution: abortion. It would solve all her problems quickly, easily, and effectively. And her parents would never know, which means they won’t throw her out and cut her off like they’d always threatened if she got herself knocked up. But an easy decision becomes difficult when Maggie’s aunt discovers her secret and sets out on a mission to stop the abortion, putting a kink in Maggie’s plan. Now Maggie must decide which choice she can live with: abortion or teenage motherhood. Either way, it’ll be a tough road to travel.

 

You can find At What Cost at -

AMAZON

Barnes and Noble

Atsraea Press

You can find Jessie at:-www.Jandersenbooks.com
www.Therabidwriter.blogspot.com
www.readbetweenthelinesbookclub.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/jandersenbooks
www.twitter.com/jvdlandersen
http://www.goodreads.com/jvdlandersen