It’s my pleasure to host Lisa Jordan, one of the sweetest, most generous people I know. I’m joining her in celebrating the release of her debut novel, Lakeside Reunion, which will be released in November by Love Inspired.
Home and family have always been important to Lisa, so writing stories that feature both comes naturally to her. Happily married for over twenty years, Lisa and her husband raised two sons who are now young adults. In addition to caring for her own family, she opens her arms—and her heart—to others’ children on a daily basis. She’s worked as an in-home childcare provider the past 14 years, a job she not only loves but one that gives her hands-on experience, which enables her to add realistic and yet adorable children to her stories of life and love in small towns like hers.
When she isn’t writing or caring for children, Lisa enjoys family time, romantic comedies, good books and crafting with friends.
OK, now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s have some fun learning more about Lisa. . .
Keli: You and your hubby will celebrate 22 years of marriage on the 30th of this month, but you don’t have wedding pictures to pore over since you eloped. What was the reaction of your families at the time, and how are things now? Do you have plans for a couple in one of your romances to elope? Why or why not?
Lisa: We don’t have formal photos of our day, but we do have pictures taken by the judge’s aide while the ceremony was being performed—I wore peach, and Hubby wore gray. We dated for 18 months long distance while he was in the USMC, stationed 6 hours from me. Then he received orders to a new duty station that was 16 hours away. We didn’t see each other for almost 5 months and couldn’t be that far apart anymore, so we decided I would move down to where he was stationed. His father said, “And you two will get married.” We were married three weeks later. We wanted a church wedding, but trying to plan it around his military schedule was a challenge. We are talking about renewing our vows in 3 years, so I may get my church “wedding” after all. My family adores Hubby. I get along well with his family, too.
I haven’t considered having one of my couples elope, but that’s always a possibility. As a romantic, I always longed for the white gown and church wedding. I’d hate to deprive my fictional brides of their dream wedding, but there may be one who wants to run away and get married.
Keli: You spend much of your day with your Little Darlings, as you call the children for whom you provide care. No doubt they are a source of amusement and inspiration. Have any of their antics or cute sayings worked their way into your stories?
Lisa: During our group time where we do our daily calendar, weather, music, etc, I had to tell one of my Little Darlings to please stop licking his feet. Never a dull moment around my house. I’m sure those sayings or antics will crop up in my stories. Working with children helps me to write children the way they sound and act.
Keli: In your bio you mention enjoying crafts. What are some of your favorites?
Lisa: When I have time, I love to scrapbook and make cards. My mom taught me to crochet and sew when I was a child, so I’ve been doing those for years. Two years ago I taught myself how to knit. Now I’m getting into repurposing old furniture. I have a “Creative Therapy” nook in my basement, but I don’t have as much time as I would like to spend down there.
Keli: If we were to peek in your bedroom closet, what would we learn about you?
Lisa: For both our sakes, I wouldn’t want you to look in my closet, especially once you caught a peek of the new toilet in a box waiting to be installed in our master bathroom. You’d learn I love purses. Shopping for shoes is not a joy to me, but I sure can get lost in the purse racks. You’d also realize I need a bigger, better-organized closet.
Keli: Fall has arrived for many of us. What are your favorite aspects of this season?
Lisa: Two words—pumpkin doughnuts. One of our local grocery stores has the best bakery that makes pumpkin doughnuts that melt in your mouth. In my part of the country, the hillsides are ablaze with an explosion of color—crimson, gold, orange leaves. September and October are my favorite months of the year because we were married in October, and both of our boys were born in October and September, respectively. During this season of thanksgiving, I’m so thankful for those three blessings in my life.
Keli: Thanks for your great answers, Lisa. A vow renewal for your 25th wedding anniversary sounds like a wonderful plan. I enjoy making cards and scrapbooking, too, but have done little of either since I began writing. I’m impressed that you work full-time, write, and still find time for your crafts. I share your passion for purses as well. One of my favorite shopping trips involves a stop at the Coach store where I drool my way through it admiring the new handbags.
Lisa’s Question for You
In Lakeside Reunion, Lindsey returns to her hometown after being away for five years. Have you moved away from where you grew up? Have you gone back? What have you learned about yourself in that time span?
Enter Lisa’s Drawing
Lakeside Reunion Scavenger Hunt
• Download the Lakeside Reunion Blog Hop Scavenger Hunt Form.
• Visit the blogs listed in the table during their corresponding dates.
• Read through the blog post and find the token mentioned within the text of the post.
• Fill out the form.
• Email the completed form to lisa@lisajordanbooks.com by 11:59 p.m. EST November 30, 2011.
• Entries with the most correct tokens will submitted into a random drawing, using www.randomizer.org. One winner will receive a $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble e-gift card.
• Odds of winning depend on the number of participants.
Share your favorite lakeside photo
• Submit your favorite lake photo by 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, October 31, 2011.
• All submitted photos will run on a slideshow on my site and be posted on my Facebook author page.
• Readers may vote for their favorite photo.
• The winner will receive a $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble e-gift card.
• Photos must be original, taken by the person who submits it.
• No private information about entrant’s identity will be shared.
Blog Hop
• All blog commenters will be entered into a drawing for the following prizes:
* Grand Prize: Breakfast Basket Giveaway—pancake mix, syrup, blueberry muffin mix, Starbucks coffee, assorted teas, mug, and an autographed copy of Lakeside Reunion.
* Second Prize: Love Inspired Authors basket—autographed copy of Lakeside Reunion & 4 December Love Inspired novels along with a mug of assorted teas, coffees, and hot chocolates.
* Third-Tenth Prizes—one autographed copy of Lakeside Reunion.
Contest Rules
• With the exception of the lakeside photo contest, all winners will be selected using the number generator at www.randomizer.org.
• All contests begin at 12:01 a.m. EST on October 18, 2011 and end at 11:59 p.m. EST on November 30, 2011.
• Contests participants must be at least 18 years old by October 18, 2011.
• Contest participation is limited to U.S. residents only.
• No purchase necessary to participate.
• The odds of winning are dependent on the number of participants.
• Winners will be contacted via email by Sunday, December 4. Winners have one week to respond to prize notification. If a winner has not contacted me by 11:59 p.m. EST on December 11, 2011, another winner will be chosen. Prizes that need to be mailed will be mailed via USPS within one week of contest closing.
• Winners will be posted on my blog on Monday, December 5.
Your token for Keli’s blog is a maple leaf.
Learn About Lakeside Reunion
Bed-and-breakfast owner Lindsey Porter prays she won’t run into Stephen Chase when she returns to Shelby Lake.
Five years ago, the cop jilted her to marry another woman, and Lindsey fled town. But no sooner does she hit city limits than Stephen pulls her over for a broken taillight. Despite the past, he’s still able to stir up Lindsey’s old feelings for him. Now a widower and single dad, Stephen recognizes a second chance when he sees one. And he’ll do anything to make Lindsey trust in God and take a risk for love—again.
Read an excerpt of Lakeside Reunion.
To learn more about Lisa and her writing, visit her website at www.lisajordanbooks.com.
Keli Gwyn's Blog 
I’m late getting to the blog hop so I have to hop quickly to catch up! I first moved away from my hometown when I graduated college. I was away almost 10 years before moving back to get married. Then we stay for 13 years before moving away again. I’ve learned that things only remain the same when you remain the same. That moving gives you new perspective. That it takes more than unpacking the boxes, it takes time, for somewhere new to feel like home, but that you can come to feel at home almost anywhere if surrounded by people you love.