About the Book
Book: Joy Express
Author: Jody Day
Genre: Christian Women’s Fiction
Release Date: Nov 8, 2019
Nearly a year has passed since Scott and Bailey’s Christmas wedding. Now they are expecting joy in the form of twins!
The day arrives for the opening of Barkley House, a missionary retreat provided by Bailey’s inheritance, but an unspeakable evil descends upon Bailey as she awaits her ride to the opening ceremony. Scott can’t find her.
Shocking revelations accompany Bailey’s ordeal. Will she ever find joy again?
Click here to get your copy.
About the Author
Jody Bailey Day writes inspirational fiction, poetry, Bible studies, and articles from her home in West Texas. She is a member of Faithwriters.com, American Christian Fiction Writers, and is the president of Critique Café, West Texas area writers group. She mentors young writers, and is a musician and music teacher. She and her husband love silent and black and white movies, and the chaos that comes with fifteen grandchildren. She crochets blankets for her ministry called Wrapped in Prayer Blanket ministry. Jody considers herself a professional nerd, and loves every minute of it.
More from Jody
I’m so excited about the release of Joy Express. It’s the culmination of a series that began in my heart on the way home from the first writer’s conference I ever attended. The East Texas Writer’s Conference was held at my alma mater, East Texas Baptist College, which is now University. I was incredibly inspired, and on I20 toward Dallas I saw a sign that said Washout Express, Exit 477. Turns out that was giant truck wash. My thought was, “What would it be like to be totally washed out, washed up, and at the end of your rope?” I’d been there and was on the other side, but I wanted to write a story about the process. Bailey Brown was born. Joy Express is Book 3 in the series and follows Bailey and Scott through a series of tremendous obstacles, and how their faith and family got them to the other side. It’s not tied up with a nice little bow, life is rarely like that, but it does come to a redemptive pause in their story. I hope you’ll pick it up and read the message of faith. You can come back from anything.
Author Interview with Jody Day
What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?
I spent some time in the Cambridge and Boston area after college, and took a tour of Longfellow’s home, Craigie House, in Cambridge where he lived from 1837 until his death in 1882. The guide pointed out his rocking chair where he read to his children. So inspiring. I’m about to take a literary pilgrimage of a lifetime by vising Prince Edward Island this fall. I can’t wait to see Anne’s Land!
What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?
The Anne’s House of Dreams book in the Anne of Green Gables series is my favorite. Montgomery is at the top of her game in that book, and I think the story would have made a fantastic movie.
How do you select the names of your characters?
Yikes, that’s hard for me. I’ve often had to rename them because I didn’t think it through. For instance, my male main character in my first published book was Adam West. Yeah, the man that played batman. I’m getting better at it.
What was your hardest scene to write?
Joy Express had a tragic scene that was difficult to write. Death is hard to write well, for me, anyway.
What is your favorite childhood book?
Charlotte’s Web. I can almost feel my hand under my chin and the smell of my 4th grade classroom as my teacher read to us every day after lunch.
If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?
I would read a whole lot more, and I was a reader in the first place. I wish I had started writing down the stories in my head much sooner.
What comes first, the plot or characters?
Usually just idea. I was driving home from a writer’s conference once and passed a sign that said, Washout Express, Exit 477. My mind went to wondering what it would feel like to feel completely washed out, lose everything, and then pass by that sign. Washout Express, Book 1 in the series was born.
Who is the author you most admire in your genre?
So many. Jan Karon has been hugely influential in my writing journey.
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I love spending time with my husband, kids, and 15 grandchildren. I’m blessed that for now, they all live in my hometown. We are a family of musicians, and participate in just about anything music related in our town. Randy and I love serving in our church, watching black and white and silent movies. I have a sign that says, “I’d rather be crocheting.” I love to make things. I’ll have to live to be 150 to do all the things I’m interested in!
If you could invite one person to dinner, who would it be and what would you cook?
The pioneer matriarch of our town is Annie Stella Frazer Riggs. She was quite a devout, forward thinking woman. I’m working on a book about her, and to have dinner with her to find out more about her, more than what the history books say would be amazing. She was a fantastic cook so I’d be nervous about what to serve her. Probably something not readily available in her time. I’ll have to think on that one 🙂
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 27
Inklings and notions, March 28
Texas Book-aholic, March 29
For Him and My Family, March 30
deb’s Book Review, March 31
Spoken from the Heart, April 1
SPLASHES of Joy, April 2
She Lives to Read, April 3
Batya’s Bits, April 4
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 5
Artistic Nobody, April 6 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 6
Vicky Sluiter, April 7
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 8
Simple Harvest Reads, April 9 (Author Interview)
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Jody is giving away the grand prize of a print copy of Joy Express!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/f666/joy-express-celebration-tour-giveaway