Greetings from the sunny South! If we do not get some rain soon, it will be the Sahara West!
It's the second Wednesday of the month. That means it's time for another page in our "Author Behind the Story" series! This marks interview #5 of the series. I hope everyone has enjoyed the series so far as much as I have. It's fun getting to know new people. It's even more fun getting to know the authors behind the titles I see on Amazon, Facebook, the store shelves of Barnes & Noble, your local, independent bookstore, and elsewhere. A book title and cover is great, especially when it's a great cover. But who is the person who wrote the pages in between? That's why we're here. So, when you finish reading this page, you can scroll down our home page and catch the rest of the series!
This month, we welcome - to the blog "Where imagination meets eternity" (drum roll, please) - Author Janet Grunst!
Welcome, Janet! So, here we go! Give us a quick
bio. In fifty words or less, who is Janet Grunst?
I
grew up in a Navy family and had the opportunity to live in many different locations,
mostly on the west coast and east coast, but also in Spain. I was fortunate to
be able to live most of my adult life in Virginia – my favorite place of all.
Before you ever got a notion of
becoming a writer/author, how old were you, and what were you doing in that
time of your life?
I’d
worked in the mortgage lending and banking industry prior to having children
and knew that when the time came for me to seek employment outside the home I
wanted to work in ministry. In my mid-thirties as a stay-at-home mom of two
little boys I began writing two special interest columns in local papers. In
one of the columns, I interviewed people in town who ran home-based businesses.
It was fascinating to discover the creative things people came up with to
market from their homes. That’s when the dream of writing fiction began to dog
me. Could I write fiction while taking care of my children? God made a way.
That's cool. What educational background do
you have?
I
went to high school in Los Altos, CA and then to San Diego State for college. It
was in the midst of the Vietnam War, and San Diego seemed a less hostile place
for a conservative girl with a military background. I left before completing
college because I was engaged to someone serving in Vietnam. When he got out
of the Army, I worked in the banking industry so he could complete his college
education.
So, what is your marital status? And do you have a family?
My
husband and I were married in 2003. We met through Community Bible Study, the
ministry I was employed in and in which we had both served for many years. Ken
had a grown daughter, and I had grown sons. His son-in-law is a Colonel in the
Army, my oldest son is a Commander in the Navy, and my youngest son is a Major
in the National Guard in addition to being an intelligence officer in his
civilian job. Ken has two grandchildren, and I have eight grandchildren, four of which are 15 month old quadruplets.
I’m going to give you a shotgun
list of favorites. List your favorite in each category and then tell us in one
sentence why it is your favorite.
Favorite
Food:
healthy~ fish———less healthy~ popcorn
Favorite
Drink:
healthy~coffee/ice water————less healthy~diet Coke
Favorite
Song:
Mary,
Did You Know
Favorite
Non-Fiction Book (other than your own & besides the Bible): Jesus Calling by Sarah Young
Favorite
Bible Verse:
“But
to all who did receive him, who
believed in his name, he gave the
right to become children of God,” John 1:12 (It helped me to mature to being a receiver,
not just a believer — from religion to relationship.)
Favorite
Movie:
There’s a tie 1. Pride and Prejudice (The 1995 version – most like the book –
absolutely delicious!) 2. Ben Hur (The 1959 version)
Favorite
Actor or Actress: That’s tough. There are many. Charlton Heston, Susan
Hayward
Favorite
Novel (other than your own): Pride and Prejudice
Favorite
Novelist (other than you): Jane Austen
Favorite
Sport:
To watch – golf. To do – walking
Favorite
Team (Can be any sport, any level): The US Naval Academy – Go Navy ~
Beat Army!!!
Favorite
Subject in School Growing Up: History & English
Favorite
Subject Now:
History
Favorite
Teacher in School: Can’t pick a favorite
Favorite
Time of the Year: Living in Williamsburg, VA ~ it’s all good
Favorite
Place to Vacation: Great Britain and Ireland
If you had one person you could
meet (think outside the Bible here) and could spend as much time as you wanted
with that individual, who would it be?
Milton Hershey, a man who
continually failed in business, before he created his chocolate empire. He
built a town, homes, hospital, and schools for his employees and the needy.
I didn't know that about him. I just know he's been responsible for my weight gain over the years. I wonder if he'd build me my own Planet Fitness???
If you had one person you could
meet (think ONLY Bible characters here) and could spend as much time as you
wanted with that individual, who would it be besides Jesus?
The Apostle John, a man with many
answers about the future.
Amen to that. Besides the usual things authors
face, has there been an unusual event that changed your perspective about being
an author?
In
late 1993 I had to put aside my writing for many years because my life
circumstances required I return to full time employment while raising two sons
on my own. God was very gracious and answered an earlier prayer. I was able to
get a job in ministry. Years later, with my husband’s encouragement, I returned
to pursuing writing.
Why do you live where you live?
We
left northern Virginia eleven years ago to get away from the congestion and
traffic. Williamsburg, VA, part of the historic
triangle of Virginia (Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown), was our
retirement destination. It is a charming and interesting college town (The
College of William & Mary – the second oldest college in America). It’s not
far from the Richmond, Virginia Beach, the mountains, the beach, and rural
countryside. It has a small town atmosphere in the best sense yet is also
sophisticated as people from all over retire here.
We know “Readers are leaders,
and leaders are readers.” Is there a book you’ve read in the past five years or
so that has helped you become a better you? If so, which one was it, and how
did it affect your life?
One
of my favorite devotionals that I read periodically is 31 Days of Praise by Ruth Meyer
It
really inspires and motivates me to be intentional about praising God in all
circumstances. In the early nineties, when I was experiencing many trials, I discovered
it improved my attitude as I faced each challenge.
When you look for a new home,
what are the things that are important to you?
My
husband and I designed the home we live in to meet our specific needs and
wants. It is a ranch style with a walk-out basement and it overlooks a pond and
two golf fairways. Ken is a golfer and a luthier, (a guitar builder) and wanted
a large workshop in the basement with lots of light and a storage area for his
woods. My writing space is on the main level at the opposite end of the house.
Given that we are both introverts, it works beautifully for us. J
When you are looking for a book
to read, what are the things that are important to you?
I
enjoy reading historical novels, biographies, non-fiction, and history books.
I’m usually drawn to them because it’s a subject I’m interested in reading.
What Bible scripture has
impacted your life the most, and why?
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be
dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 It’s a
powerful reminder that no matter what I am facing, that the Lord is always with
me.
Janet, it has been a pleasure meeting you. Thank you for taking the time to be part of our blog series. May God bless your writing endeavors!
If you wish to connect with Janet, you can find her here:
