When Brenda asked if I would be interested in writing a post about who I am thankful for, it went a little something like this:
I mean, I have a lot of people I am thankful for, especially when it comes to my writing career. And then when I went to go write the post, I realized how hard it was to put into words how thankful I am for the people I love the most—the people who have supported my writing 110%.
First and foremost, I want to thank my husband. I don’t think I could have asked for a more supportive partner in life. He is my voice of reason, an excellent cook, and supplier of DQ Blizzards. He is my biggest fan. Usually, when I introduce myself, I tell people I’m a teacher, sometimes omitting than I am an author. If anyone has met me in real life, they know I absolutely LOVE to pimp other authors’ books, but have a really hard time promoting myself (something I’m still working on!). But whenever my husband is with me when we meet new people, he is always quick to add that I’m a romance author and that they should buy my books. He’s my built-in promo, I think I should really just take him everywhere I go.
Without his support, I don’t think I would have the confidence that I do today, and for that, I am forever grateful. I’m also thankful for my writing partners and friends (particularly Lia Riley, A.J. Pine, Jessica Gunn, and Rene Gilley). These ladies have been my shoulder to cry on when I went through rough patches, the people I celebrated successes with, and the ones who truly understand everything I am going through. Because as writer know, this industry is tough! The great part about the writing community is that we all stick together. There are amazing opportunities, such as Pitch Wars, hosted by the fabulous Brenda Drake, and query advice blogs like Amy Trueblood’s Chasing the Crazies. But what I love most about this community is that they are a supportive network that loves to give feedback/advice, virtual hugs and chocolate, and a good dose of laughter. Without them, I wouldn’t be half the writer I am today.
The third person I am very thankful for is my agent, Courtney Miller-Callihan. She has been my guiding light through this whole pub process. She listens to my crazy ideas and is always supportive. Plus, she is totally badass with knitting and shares a mutual love for office supplies (notebooks, anyone??). She is truly the yin to my neurotic yang. I really couldn’t have asked for a better agent.
With all their powers combined—whoops, this isn’t a Captain Planet episode… But really, all jokes aside, these lovely people have been here for me and have made my writing journey so much more enjoyable. This is something I will always be thankful for.
Jennifer Blackwood is an English teacher and New Adult author. She lives in Oregon with her husband, son, and poorly behaved black lab puppy. She is the author of Unethical. Her second book, Foolproof, comes out January 2015 from Entangled Embrace.
Unethical is now available online at the following retailers:
Barnes and Noble
Amazon
Kodo
iTunes
A new adult romance from Entangled’s Embrace imprint…
Love burns hotter the second time around…
Two years ago, the medical world was shaken by scandal, and Payton Daniels’s family was at the center of it. The second she graduated, Payton left everything behind-her high school sweetheart, her family, and the controversy surrounding her mother’s death-and hid within the anonymity of college. But Payton’s ex, Blake Hiller, hasn’t forgiven her for leaving, and when he enrolls in the same medical ethics class, she panics. She can’t run the risk of him telling everyone who she really is.
As if being at the same university isn’t enough, both Blake and Payton land the same internship. Forced together, their passion for each other reignites, but when Payton is asked to testify in her father’s high-profile trial, she must choose between risking her acceptance into medical school to help her father, and losing every connection to her past-including the only guy she’s ever loved.