Interview with June McCrary Jacobs

About the Author

June McCrary Jacobs was the winner of Cedar Fort Publishing's 2013 Holiday Tale Contest for her debut novella, 'A Holiday Miracle in Apple Blossom'. 'Robin's Reward', her first full-length novel, was set in her favorite location in California—the Mendocino coastal region. This book is the first installment of the 'Bonita Creek Trilogy'.

June's debut middle-grade novel, 'RES-Q Tyler Stop', an historical novel set in Sonoma County, California, in 1968, will be released in the spring of 2019. The second installment of the 'Bonita Creek Trilogy', 'Penny's Promise', will be released in late 2019 or early 2020.
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June's original sewing, quilting, and stitchery designs have been published in over one hundred books, magazines, and on sewing industry blogs in the past decade. When she's not writing, reading, blogging, or sewing, June enjoys cooking, walking, visiting art and history museums, and touring historic homes and gardens.

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​The Interview

​1. Who or what inspired you to become an author?
I have loved books, reading, and writing since I was very young. I was the type of child who read in my spare time whenever possible after chores, homework, and other activities were completed. I used to enjoy writing short poems when I was a middle-grade student. I remember in fifth grade I loved to write book reports for extra credit. I've been a letter writer my whole life, too, since my grandmother and favorite aunts lived in Louisiana and I only saw them every other summer or so. I have some of the letters I originally wrote to my grandma as they were passed along to me when she died in 1992. It is so interesting to read my writings from my elementary school and teen years! It's like being introduced to my younger self as a friend.
 
Many friends and relatives have complimented me over the years on the messages I've written in greetings cards for all occasions. I began writing non-fiction articles for sewing and crafting magazines about ten years ago. I enjoyed writing these articles about sewing events I had attended, sewing trends in the United States, charity sewing organizations, etc.
 
In 2011, I took the leap and began writing in my favorite genre—fiction. I feel like my love of written language naturally led me to want to write my own stories and books.
 
2. When you are not writing, what other "hats" do you wear?
I launched my 'Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic' blog in late January, 2018. I enjoy reading and reviewing middle-grade fiction and non-fiction for my weekly 'Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday' blogging group post. I also enjoy posting about Christian and clean fiction for various publicity companies such as your Singing Librarian Books and JustRead Publicity Tours.
 
I enjoy sewing and quilting. I belong to a quilting group which makes scripture comfort quilts for the church members and their friends and family who are in need of comfort due to health concerns, grief, or other tragic life events. I also sew a lot at home making clothes for myself and my family and making charity quilts for the shelter in county which houses women and children who are fleeing domestic violence.

3. What top 5 books do you currently have on your TBR pile?
As of late December when I am writing this, I have these three books checked out of our local library:

•  'Louisiana's Way Home' by Kate DiCamillo, a middle-grade sequel to a book I read in mid-2018, 'Raymie Nightingale';
  
• 'Her Fear' by Shelley Shepard Gray, Amish fiction
  
• 'Ways of the Heart' by Kathleen Fuller, Amish fiction.
  
• I'm looking forward to reading 'A Christmas Prayer : A Cross-Country Journey in 1850 Leads to High Mountain Danger and Romance' by Wanda E. Brunstetter; 'The Tinderbox' by Beverly Lewis; and several new middle-grade historical novels which will be coming out very soon!
  
• In December, I always reread my favorite Christmas stories such as 'The Story of Holly & Ivy', 'A Christmas Carol', 'Twas the Night Before Christmas', and several other Amish stories I enjoy reading over and over again.

4. What inspired the idea for Handmade Hearts?
My love for my uncle inspired this story . . . My uncle was an interesting, humorous, kind man. He lived in Mississippi, and with me in California, we spent hours on the telephone talking about his military career, wife, and hobbies. He openly adored my aunt, and was still 'crazy nuts' about her after 59-plus years of marriage. One day I asked him how they met. 'Handmade Hearts' is a fictionalized version of the sweet story he shared with me.
 
5. What did you as an author take away from writing Handmade Hearts?
I have always believed in and have been fortunate enough to witness the power of love, but putting it down on paper for others to read was a joy and a challenge. I hope readers can sense even a fraction of the love these two people shared during their life together.
 
I also learned how much fun it can be to write historical fiction! I truly enjoyed my research into the customs and moirés of the World War II era in New Orleans. I interviewed one of my friends who was a child during World War II, and I read as much about it as I could find in books and on the internet. I have always been a history buff since I was a kid, but in the past few years I have discovered that I love to write historical fiction.
 
6. What is your current WIP?  What can you share with us about it?
My current work-in-progress is my debut middle-grade novel. It is an historical novel set in Northern California in the summer of 1968. The title is, 'RES-Q Tyler Stop'. The writing is completed and is now in the hands of my talented editor, Author Cindy C. Bennett. I am planning on releasing it in the spring of 2019, probably in early April. I'm so excited about this book because when I was writing it the words just flowed onto the pages {on my computer, of course}.
 
This book required a lot of research because one of the main themes involves a situation where one student is outspoken and unkind about his racial prejudice against a tribal nation in the Sonoma County area of California. I read many non-fiction books about the Pomo people because I wanted my story to be as accurate, authentic, and sensitive to their plight as possible. Early readers have mentioned that I accomplished my goals.
 
As I have time, I'm working on Book Two in my 'Bonita Creek' trilogy. 'Robin's Reward' was released in spring of 2015. Book Two, 'Penny's Promise', is about Robin's best friend and cousin, Penny. I hope to release this book in late 2019 or early 2020.
 
Penny is a gifted seamstress and designer who has to deal with her own share of grief and challenges in life because of how one of her family members has treated her since she was a teen. This book is fun to write because I love the fictional town of Bonita Creek located in the Mendocino County coastal region of Northern California and I have loved to sew since I was eight years old. Penny and I have the passion for sewing in common! It's exciting to see this story come together.
 
Thank you for having me as your guest today on Singing Librarian Books, Sydney. I appreciate your time! Best wishes to you and your readers for a happy, healthy 2019!