Interview with Author Jenny Erlingsson

Jenny Erlingsson
https://jennyerlingsson.com/
Author of Almost by Design

T4JYM: Your book, Almost by Design, releases today. Can you tell our readers what they can expect from it?

JE: In Almost By Design you can expect a humor and heart-filled fake-dating/second-chance romance that introduces readers to an event planner who is doing her best to advance in her career but stumbling—literally—all along the way.

T4JYM: What other works have you published? How have they been received by the public? What kind of feedback do you receive? 

JE: My debut novel, Her Part to Play, released in June 2024 and readers found it to be a really heartwarming story that was surprisingly faith-filled. I am also the author a couple non-fiction books that include snippets of Biblical fiction to help readers apply the stories of women in the Bible to their lives.

T4JYM: What does the writing process look like for you? Walk us through everything that happens from idea to submission.

JE: This is a great question. My writing process varies based on the season I’m in but usually I start with a question and/or a Bible verse. For my current release, Almost By Design, I was inspired by my daughter with a learning difference and knew that I wanted my main character to have the same struggles as well.

The writing process has been different between my two novels. For my first novel, Her Part to Play, I expanded on the idea I had about an actor and a makeup artist falling in love. I worked on the first draft of the story and then sent it to an agent that I was querying. We had actually been emailing back back-and-forth for a year because there were some other book ideas that I had submitted that didn’t quite fit. But thankfully, she loved this one and I became her client a couple months later.

After this, we worked on a proposal so that she could submit it to different publishers. A proposal not only shares information about the story, but about the author, marketing ideas, and similar books. My proposal was rejected by one publisher because it didn’t quite fit with the stories they released. My agent wanted to try a different publisher and asked if I would add 25,000 words to the story to meet their guidelines.

Doing this in a month was a challenge, but it was also a lot of fun. After that, my agent submitted it to Revell and received interest back from an acquisitions editor. After several rounds of review, the publishing board decided that they wanted to give me an offer for the book, which was an amazing feeling.

After that, they was still much work to do, especially after each round of edits. But all the edits and comments made the story so much better. From there, the publisher works hard to get the cover design together and get everything in place to a release a book that all of you can read!

The process for Almost By Design was very similar. Even though I had to wrestle with my own insecurities as I wrote this second book, I was grateful that I had some experience this time around that helped me move forward with the story.

T4JYM: What’s next? Do you have any new writing in the works?

JE: I am working on a couple more book proposals so stay tuned to see what happens!

T4JYM: Let’s have a little fun… What is your favorite: Food? Drink? Color? TV show? Musician/Band? Hobby? Movie? Book of the Bible? Bible Verse? Worship Song?

JE: Oh dear, I’m always so bad at picking favorites. Before I got married I had like ten favorite wedding dresses and was distracted by new gowns during the fitting for the one I picked! But here are my current ones.

Food: Fried sweet plantain
Drink: Arnold Palmer (half sweet tea/lemonade)
Color: Hmm, I like sage green
TV Show: I really enjoyed watching the A Week Away series with my kids.
Musician: One of my current favorites is Madison Ryann Ward
Hobby: Reading!
Movie: Oh, this is hard but I enjoy watching the 2005 Pride and Prejudice a couple times a year.
Book of the Bible: Isaiah
Bible Verse: Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
Worship Song: Holy Forever

T4JYM: What do you feel is your “legacy” regarding ministry? Does your legacy include your writing or is it separate?

JE: This is such a good question. I feel like my legacy is encouraging others in Christ-Centered Identity, Intimacy, and Influence. That is the theme of my non-fiction books and weaves its way into my fiction books. Even when I speak and minister, my heart is to encourage others to find their identity in Christ and to anchor themselves at His feet. This legacy definitely includes writing because I’ve been writing since I was a child and it is my primary form of worship to the Lord and how I share authentically and vulnerably with others.

T4JYM: What background do you have in writing? Did you take any special courses or obtain a college degree? 

JE: My college background is Social Work, but I don’t have any degrees related to writing but I have been writing since I was a child. My old journals are filled with songs, poetry, prayers and lots of thoughts. I even wrote a couple short stories about my barbies when I was younger. As I grew older, I wrote devotionals, Bible studies, and content for junior high and women and even now. And now, even as a published author, I read books on writing, attend conferences and listen to podcasts that help me continue to grow as a writer.

T4JYM: What was the last book you read? Did you read it for pleasure or another purpose?

JE: I am currently reading On Living Stone by Heather Kaufman for pure enjoyment.

T4JYM: Are you involved in ministry in your own church or anywhere else?

JE: I am! I led the junior high ministry in my church for eight years, worked with women’s ministry for four years and then spent six years in Iceland with my family as a missionary. Now that we are back in the states I work in my church with the prayer ministry and in other areas. In between all that I continue to speak at gatherings, conferences, retreats and workshops as needed.

T4JYM: Please tell us how you came to be a Christian and how this has influenced your life, as well as how it applies to your writing.

JE: I became a Christian when I was six years old. I responded to an altar call after a children’s ministry event at my church to give my life to Jesus and was baptized shortly after. My mom ordered me a beautiful children’s Bible and in the back of it I wrote, “I want to be friends with Jesus”. I’ve known Him since then and my relationship with Jesus is foundational to everything I do. I loved reading the stories found in the Bible and then journaling out of the overflow. This same rhythm continues even now. I enjoy reading and sharing God’s word and then writing from the overflow. I consider writing to be my fingerprint of worship and as I write my prayer is that like Mary’s oil on the feet of Jesus, my words would be worship to him—and the fragrance (outcome) going wherever He directs.

T4JYM: If you could have 1 hour with God, what would it look like?

JE: Oh my, if He were right in front of me in the flesh, I think I would give him the biggest hug, fall at his feet in gratitude, and then climb into his lap and just rest there. I would ask Him what was on His heart and honestly just breathe deep in His presence. As a mom of four kids and a very full schedule, deep rest with God is what I crave in this season.

T4JYM: Who has been your biggest advocate and supporter in your journey to success?

JE: My husband has been my biggest supporter. He has invested a lot into my career and when I am discouraged he is always encouraging me to move forward. Even as I write this, He just finished cooking dinner for me and the kids so I could focus on this interview and other projects.

T4JYM: What advice would you give to someone interested in publishing?

JE: Don’t give up. Seriously. When I was in my early twenties, I submitted a book to an agent and after I received his very nice rejection letter, I stopped writing for years. I was so discouraged. But there are so many authors who received many rejection letters. Rejection is a part of the writing process and I wish I had not stopped and instead used that time to sharpen my skills and learn more about the publishing process. So if you have a dream to be in publishing learn all you can so that you know how to navigate and trust God with every part of the process.

T4JYM: What advice would you give to the youth of this world?

JE: I would give the advice I give to myself. Anchor yourself early in your identity in Christ. Everyone else wants to tell you who you are, but that is only found in God. Let Him speak to you about who you are and then stay connected to him like John 15 tells us.

T4JYM: Any final thoughts you want to share?

JE: Thank you for the invitation to share my books and myself with you all!