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Jennifer AlLee: Daughters and Mothers Together & Giveaway

4/15/2012

 
This week we welcome back Jennifer AlLee to Author Memories.
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Jennifer AlLee believes the most important thing a woman can do is discover her identity in God – a theme that carries throughout her stories. 

She has written skits, activity pages, and over one hundred contributions to Concordia Publishing House’s popular My Devotions series.

A multi-published novelist in the Women's Fiction genre, Jennifer has two novels releasing this year alone.

Jennifer resides in the grace-filled city of Las
Vegas with her husband and teenage son.
 

Daughters and Mothers Together
by Jennifer AlLee

I come from a long line of stubborn…eh…strong women. Just look at this picture. Four generations gathered together. You might think we were all in one place because it was a holiday or some other special occasion. It may have been (since someone had to take the picture) but in truth, we were always together. 

If you read my earlier Author Memories story, you may remember that I grew up in
Hollywood, CA in an apartment above a mortuary. That’s where all four of us women lived. Let me introduce you...
Picture
(L to R) Meta Wittrock (my great-grandmother), Marie Staats (grandma), Jennifer (me), and Rose-Marie Taylor (mom).
From the left we have Meta Wittrock (my great-grandmother), Marie Staats (grandma), Jennifer (me), and Rose-Marie Taylor (mom). We started out living in three different apartments , but since my mom was divorced and the other two were widowed, we eventually all ended up sharing the biggest of the apartments, which was my grandmother’s.
 
Interestingly enough, they continued to rent the other two. I remember that great-grandma’s apartment was tiny, but full of fun stuff, like her piano, her doll collection, and a bed so big you had to crawl over it to get to the kitchenette. And mom’s old apartment was where my
dog, Tinkerbell, lived. It was also where we went to do the laundry on an old, forest-green, barrel-shaped machine with a crank-by-hand ringer. Then we’d take the wet clothes to the roof and hang them on the line to dry. Yes, my friends, all this was in the heart of Holly-weird.
 
You might be wondering how we ended up living above a mortuary at all. Well, they all worked there at one time or another. My grandmother (the former ballet dancer) pretty much ran the place, meeting people and being a PR expert. My great-grandmother (the former beautician) prettied up the dearly departed by doing their hair and makeup. And my mother (when she wasn’t working one block away as the switchboard operator at The Broadway department store on the corner of Hollywood and Vine) filled in from time to time doing more
office-related jobs. Because of this setup, there was almost always someone upstairs with me when one of the others was off working.

Growing up in a house full of women has its benefits, but it also gets confusing. I never could figure out which one to call “Grandma” and which to call “Great-grandma.”At one point, I started addressing my great-grandmother as “Grandma” and my grandmother as “Great Marie.” Finally, someone decided it would be easier if I just called my grandmother by her first name, a solution which simplified my life, but confused the women of the First
Baptist Church’s Berean Bible Study group.

Picture
Great grandma and Jenny at Patty's Wedding
One thing I learned from these women was the importance of respecting your elders. The picture above is of my great-grandmother and I at the wedding of my Sunday School teacher, Patty. I was a flower girl. My mom wanted to make sure I didn’t wander off at the reception, so she told me to “take care of Grandma.” Apparently, I took my charge very seriously. She says I never left great-grandma’s side. From the expression on my face, I’d say no one was going to cross me and mess with my grandma! 

The relationship between mothers and daughters is a complex one, full of joys and sorrows, ups and downs. Looking at these pictures brings back only the good memories, the things that make me smile. Maybe today would be a good day for you to pull out your photo album or scrapbook and take a sentimental stroll down memory lane. Enjoy the journey! 

How about you? Have you ever lived in a multi-generational home? What have the elder women in your family taught you?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Giveaway! 

Leave  a comment with a valid email address
by midnight, Apr 22
if you want to be  entered to win a copy of Jennifer's novel,
The Mother Road. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Mother Road, Abingdon Press, Apr 2012

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Sometimes, the end of the road is just the beginning.

Natalie Marino has made a career writing about happily-ever-afters, making her own life an open book in order to help others. She never expected her husband, to come home one day and demand a divorce so he can be with his pregnant mistress. To Natalie, who's struggled with infertility, it's the worst betrayal imaginable. She's still dealing with the shock when her father calls, delivering another blow: Her mother's Alzheimer's has progressed. He wants Natalie and her sister to come
home while she can still recognize them.

Desperate for a change of scenery, Natalie decides a road trip is in order, even if her estranged sister isn't the most obvious travelling companion. She and Lindsay will take Route 66 – the mother road – from Santa Monica, California, to their childhood home in Illinois. But when she picks up her sister, she's in for another shock: Lindsay is pregnant.

In a road trip that's one part Lucy and Ethel, one part Thelma and Louise, the two sisters trade snarky barbs, visit quirky tourists spots, and dodge Ben, Lindsay's ex-boyfriend turned stalker. Will their trip down the mother road bring the two sisters closer together, or turn out to be the biggest wrong turn yet?

Excerpt of Chapter 1 of The Mother Road

Jennifer invites you to visit her online at the following places:

website
 blog
Twitter
Facebook
Inkwell Inspirations
Jennifer AlLee link
4/15/2012 10:39:41 am

Thanks so much for having me back on the blog, Anita! You always do such a nice job setting up the posts :)

Anita Mae
4/15/2012 11:29:42 am

Thanks, Jen and welcome back. I remember your post last August... it's the one where you were kidnapped as a kid. Very frightening. Glad to see you're not in danger for this one.

Living with 3 other generations of women is so unique. I envy you having such close contact with them. But I'm sure it wasn't a cakewalk always either, eh.

I'm glad you're sharing this week with us. :)

Jennifer AlLee link
4/15/2012 12:00:52 pm

No, definitely not a cake walk! Every woman has her own way of doing things, and when three of them are jockeying for position... watch out! But we were all very close.

Nancy Farrier link
4/16/2012 01:46:48 am

Jen, what a delightful interview and story of living in a home with four generations. Route 66 goes right through the town I live in, and the story sounds very intriguing. :)

Jennifer AlLee link
4/16/2012 01:49:59 am

Hi Nancy! What state do you live in? After I was married, our first apartment was in Duarte, right on Huntington Drive, which is part of 66. It's cool to be right there on history, isn't it?

Jo
4/17/2012 09:51:51 am

I just can not imagine 4 generations of women or men for that matter living in the same household. That would be quite an experience. Of course, I am also a only child so not used to too many people living in the household at the same time.

Your new book sounds delightful and I can't wait to read it. Am definitely adding it to my wish list right now.

Blessings,
Jo

Jennifer AlLee link
4/17/2012 10:06:03 am

Hi Jo! My brother, Josh, was born when I was 14, so I grew up as an only child. I certainly got a lot of attention living with my mom, grandma, and great-grandma!

karenk
4/19/2012 07:35:10 am

thanks for the chance to read this fabulous novel ;)

Jennifer AlLee link
4/19/2012 08:35:29 am

Thanks for stopping in, Karen!

Janice
4/19/2012 08:45:55 am

I would love to read this book. I have never lived in a home with more than two generations present, however work and church offer a glimpse of what it could be like in a more formal atmosphere. Thank you for a chance to win. Blessings, Janice jsmithg(at)hotmail(dot)com

Jennifer AlLee link
4/19/2012 09:00:50 am

Janice, church is great place to observe the interaction of multi-generational women. Thanks so much for your interest in my book. Be blessed :+)

Rick Estep
4/19/2012 09:03:23 am

Really enjoyed your last book! Looking forward to this new one.

Jennifer AlLee link
4/19/2012 09:10:01 am

Thank you, Rick. I really appreciate it! Be blessed :+)

Ladette
4/19/2012 10:28:51 am

I have never had the chance to be close to generations of women. My grandmother was abusive to my mom and then to me. Then we moved away. My mom and I are fairly close, but my daughters and I are VERY close.

My sister actually was married, couldn't have children and then her husband divorced her to be with his pregnant mistress... I remember how painful that was for my sister who has always wanted to have children...

Sounds like a good book. Would love to win

Jennifer AlLee link
4/19/2012 11:35:27 am

Hi Ladette, I'm so sorry for what your sister went through. I'm sure you were a great comfort to her. It's a blessing that you're close to your mother and your daughters. Family needs to stick together! Be blessed :+)

Anita mae
4/19/2012 11:20:37 pm

Ladette, your story is painful, but only goes to show that no matter what kind of stories we as writers come up with, there's always someone out there who's gone through it.

I believe that's where the adage, "Truth is stranger than fiction" came from.

It's also one of the reasons I argue with others about unrealistic storylines - because there is always the exception.

Thank you for sharing with us.

Darby Lohrding
4/20/2012 02:16:59 am

I'd love to win a copy of "The Mother Road"! I love the title and the story line sounds great! Plus I love Jennifer's belief that the most important thing for a women is to find her identity in God!!! i have never lived in a multi-gen home; the closest would be when we visited my granparents. Yet my Mom's Mom was very instrumental in introducing me to God, a gift I carry with me to this day!!!
Thank you for the opportunity!
Darby

darbyscloset at yahoo dot com

Jennifer AlLee link
4/20/2012 04:16:20 pm

Hi Darby! There's nothing like a praying Grandmother, that's for sure! All the women in my family have been a great example of how to love God, even when the road gets bumpy. Blessings to you!

Rose McCauley link
4/20/2012 08:13:06 am

I also would love to win The Mother Road as I love Jennifer's writing! And I share the same first and middle names as her mom--Rose Marie! My grandmothers were both very influential in mylife, and I did live with my maternal grandmother my senior year in HS after my grandfather died the summer before. Precious memories.

Jennifer AlLee link
4/20/2012 04:18:40 pm

Hello sweet Rose! I had no idea your middle name is Marie. What a fun coincidence. I'll bet you have wonderful stories about your year with your grandmother. Hey Anita... Rose could be a great guest here, eh? ;+)

Sharon Moore
4/20/2012 01:57:54 pm

I had the privilege of living with my grandmother during my college years. Wonderful memories, even though some late night courses caused Grandma some worries.
During our short term mission trip to Ukraine, we lived with a family that had 4 generations living together. What a great experience!
Jennifer - thanks for the chance to win a copy of your new book. Really enjoyed "The Pastor's Wife".

Jennifer AlLee link
4/20/2012 04:20:40 pm

Hi Sharon. Wow, a mission trip to the Ukraine... I'll bet that was amazing! So glad you enjoyed TPW. Be blessed :+)

Pam Williams
4/21/2012 03:55:21 am

Why am I surprised at all the complications already listed in the paragraphs above that tell us a little about this book? I can almost feel my pulse quickening and my fingers digging into the chair while I hold my breath to read the next page.... Oh. That is, when I get the book to read. Thanks for the chance to get to win and read it. :)

Jennifer AlLee link
4/21/2012 10:38:42 am

Pam, I love your enthusiasm! I hope the book lives up to your expectations and is a journey you're glad you took :+)

Suzie Johnson
4/21/2012 11:15:09 am

Jen, I loved this post. You had a precious family while growing up. Thanks for sharing the pictures,, too. For some reason, the one of you "taking care of" Great grandma brought tears to my eyes. Very sweet. For anyone who hasn't read this book yet, it's a fun but serious and touching read - the perfect blend for a satisfying read!

Jennifer AlLee link
4/23/2012 01:34:42 pm

Thank you, Suzie! I'm so glad you enjoyed the book :+)

Anita Mae
4/23/2012 11:21:03 am

Suzie, I had the same feeling. I'm always amazed at how responsible children are when they sense they are truly needed.

Anita Mae Draper
4/23/2012 11:35:16 am

Thank you, Jennifer AlLee for visiting with us this week and promoting your newest release, The Mother Road.

Using random.org I've picked a winner of Jennifer's book and that winner is...

karenk!

Congrats, Karenk. I'll be emailing you shortly so hang in there.

Meanwhile, I'm giving away a historical by Dina S. Sleiman. If you'd like to win a copy of Dina's debut novel, Dance of the Dandelion, come back and leave an comment under my post, Mamma's Memoirs Final Part.

Thank you.

Jennifer AlLee link
4/23/2012 01:35:42 pm

Thanks for having me, Anita. I had a great time!

aswatysaran link
5/17/2012 06:55:08 pm

Thank you,. I really appreciate it! Be blessed +..

Santiagolyons link
5/17/2012 06:56:10 pm

Thanks for sharing this very useful information regarding travel.


Comments are closed.
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