Praying with Jane Blog Tour: Author Interview + Giveaway

Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for Praying with Jane by Rachel Dodge, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Title: Praying with Jane
Author: Rachel Dodge
Genre: Devotional
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Release Date: October 2, 2018

Daily Encouragement for Your Soul through the Prayers of Jane Austen

For more than two hundred years, Jane Austen and her novels have charmed readers from around the world. While much has been written about her fascinating life, less is known about Jane's spiritual side. In this beautiful 31-day devotional, Miss Austen's faith comes to life through her exquisite prayers, touching biographical anecdotes, and illuminating scenes from her novels. Each reading also includes a thematically appropriate Scripture and a prayer inspired by Jane's petitions.

May this journey into Jane Austen's life of faith and prayer ignite and deepen your own relationship with the Father who loves you.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Christianbook

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Rachel Dodge teaches college English and Jane Austen classes, gives talks at libraries, teas, and Jane Austen groups, and is a writer for the popular Jane Austen's World blog. She makes her home in California with her husband, Robert, and their two young children. A true kindred spirit at heart, Rachel loves books, bonnets, and ball gowns. When she’s not reading or writing, you’ll find her hanging out with her husband and kids, serving at her church, or watching period dramas and food documentaries

CONNECT WITH RACHEL: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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Tell us 5 random facts about yourself that we WON’T find in your bio!

1.      My first job was working at my grandfather’s dairy. I fed the calves.

2.      I play the piano and the flute. Growing up, I played in the hand bell choir at my church and played flute and piccolo in several state and national honor bands.

3.      I love Mr. Knightley even more than Mr. Darcy (*gasp*).

4.      I eat a cup of homemade maple ice cream almost every night.

5.      Gilmore Girls is my favorite TV show.

I would say it’s pretty obvious that you are a big Jane Austen fan! What first made you fall in love with her words? Is there a particular work that you love more than the rest? 

My dad introduced me to Jane Austen. He had all of her books on the bookshelves behind our piano. I would practice piano and then turn around on the piano bench and search for books to read. I started with Northanger Abbey and Pride and Prejudice. Our family always watched all the Jane Austen movies over and over, and the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice was our favorite rainy-day movie. My dad loves to quote Mr. Bennet in funny social situations. Pride and Prejudice is still my favorite Austen novel.

What inspired you to turn your love of Jane Austen into this unique devotional based upon her life? What do you hope that readers will take away from it?

I’ve always been intrigued by Austen’s private life and Christian faith. Her prayers have been published and studied before, but I was longing for something more personal. I started by journaling through them and praying my own prayers alongside them. Her religious life struck a chord with me. My vision and prayer for this book is to encourage both Christian readers and Jane Austen fans (and everyone in between) to draw closer to God in fervent, daily prayer.

Though the work of Jane Austen is very well-known, some might not be as familiar with her. Do you feel that this is a devotional that ANYONE will enjoy- regardless of their Jane Austen knowledge?

If you’ve seen the movies or are familiar with her work, this book will mean even more to you, but I’ve heard from many readers who didn’t know much about Austen and found her prayers very touching. I especially think most Christian readers will enjoy this devotional because Austen was a Christian woman who made a huge impact on the literary world and led a life of faith that is incredibly inspiring. Her prayers make me want to pray more!

Praying with Jane is your first book! Congratulations! Can you share how it felt hearing that it was to be published and seeing your words in print for the first time?

Hearing that my book was going to be published made me cry. My reaction was all over the place: I went from jumping up and down in excitement to falling on my knees in thanksgiving to texting all my friends and family the good news. That one little email changed everything.

Seeing my words in print felt so right and so strange all at once. I poured everything I had into writing this book, and I saw God move in incredible ways to bring it about, so in that way, it seems very, very real. But I still marvel when I see it sitting on my desk, posted online, or on my kids’ bedside tables. It’s definitely surreal!

I have found that writers are so often some of the best readers. Clearly you’re a fan of classic literature, but aside from Jane Austen, what might we find if we were to take a look at your ‘to read’ pile?

Well, my answer to this question could go on for days. I’ll start by saying that I’m a reader and a re-reader. I also tend to read several books at the same time!

·         Rereads: In 2019, I reread most of L.M. Montgomery’s books (Anne of Green Gables, Emily of New Moon, Jane of Lantern Hill, and so on). It was a blast! I also revisited Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard.

·         Just finished: A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews and Finale (Caraval #3) by Stephanie Garber.

·         Currently reading: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, The Five Little Peppers by Margaret Sidney, and Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis.

·         TBR: I received an Advance Readers’ copy of The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner (it releases in May). I can’t wait to start it! Also, I loved Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier, so I’m hoping to read her recent release, A Single Thread, over Christmas.

·         On my Christmas wish list: Two more of the annotated editions of Jane Austen’s novels for my collection.

Before we go, what can we expect next from you? Any upcoming projects that you are able to share?

Yes! I recently signed a contract with Barbour Publishing for a new devotional book based on Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. It’s one of my favorite books, so this is another project that’s very close to my heart. The book focuses on themes of adoption and belonging in Christ. It’s set to release in Fall 2020!

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(1) winner will receive 2 gift sets that include a copy of Praying With Jane as well as a matching journal & stickers (1 for you, 1 for a friend!)!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule shown below. Giveaway will begin at midnight December 4, 2019 and last through 11:59 PM EST on December 11, 2019. US only. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

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