Author Interview with Janine Rosche & a Giveaway
I’m thrilled to share my interview with Janine Rosche about her new release, The Road before Us. For a chance to win a copy, comment below by May 28! (Paperback or ebook for a US winner, or ebook for an international winner)
Welcome to my blog, Janine! I’m happy to have you here. Let’s start out with learning how and when you started writing.
Everyone engages in pretend play when they are young. I just never stopped. Looking back, I’ve always used my gift of writing to help me deal with the world around me. Publication has turned that gift into an offering so that others might thrive through their own struggles and feel less alone in the process. In addition to novels, I’ve written blogs, scripts, plays, skits, ministry talks, and educational materials.
I love how you see your writing as an offering to help others. Who was your favorite book character as a child and why?
Karana from Scott O’Dell’s Island of the Blue Dolphins because she was strong, brave, capable, caring, and independent—all traits that I hoped to be! Honestly, she’s probably why I value solo travel so much! I even named my dog after her!
I think I missed out by not reading that as a child! Do you have any hobbies? Have you incorporated any of them into your books?
I love traveling throughout the United States. My dream is to visit all the national parks one day. I’m simply awestruck at the beauty that exists in creation, and I aim to imbue this sense of wonder into all my novels. And the research trips are amazing! For instance, in The Road before Us, I got to see the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest National Park, and the Mohave Desert. I even got to dip my toes in the Pacific Ocean!
That’s my kind of research! How do you incorporate Christ and hope into your writing?
All of my books center around a question I have in my own relationship with Jesus. In The Road before Us, that question is this: when everything seems stacked against you, how do you move forward without losing faith? I don’t promise to give any definitive answers to these questions necessarily, but my goal is to let others with similar questions feel less alone.
What an important question for us all. What is the setting of your current novel? Is it a real location or fictional? Tell us about it.
Route 66 is magical—a beautiful haunt, as I describe it in my book where my characters travel west from Chicago in three different eras of the “highway of dreams.” I was fortunate to be able to travel it myself in 2022. I’ve never learned so much or felt so much on a trip I’ve taken. Every town and every state presents something new and binds your heart a bit more to the historic road. It should be on everyone’s bucket list!
When I saw your book cover, I decided I wanted to take a trip on Route 66. What do you hope your readers take away from The Road before Us?
I hope readers find the hope to carry on, even when forces in this world do all they can to break you. I saw that time and time again in the businesses along the Mother Road. I heard it thrumming in my characters’ words and thoughts. It’s what I learned from writing this book!
Hope to carry on-I love that. What was the hardest scene for you to write?
The hardest scenes for me to write were the ones dealing with racism. There are two specific ones in this book that wrecked me. The first is where Bridger, who was born in Samoa, taken from his parents, and brought to the U.S. through a criminal adoption ruse, experiences a racially motivated hate crime.
We were victims of an adoption scandal in 2012—though others were hurt far, far worse. And my daily fear is that my transracially adopted daughter will experience this kind of racism.
In the second scene that tore me up, my White couple enters a Black-owned restaurant in 1956 Tulsa. When I showed my first draft to a friend who lived in this region at the time and experienced blatant Jim Crow racism, I learned how naïve I really am. Thankfully, with her help, the scene is much more realistic now.
I applaud you for incorporating such an important topic in your novel. I can’t wait to read it! What’s next from you?
While I wait to hear about future novel contracts, I have some projects that have been kept on the back burner for far too long—projects that employ my expertise and knowledge as a certified family life educator. I’m excited to help individuals and families flourish in relationships and faith!
By signing up for my Confidentially Yours newsletter, you’ll be the first to know about what’s next! You can learn more at janinerosche.com.
I’m glad to hear you have some proposals out there for future books and that you’re staying busy helping others flourish in the meantime. I’m looking forward to your next book! Thanks so much for sharing on my blog, Janine.
Comment on @JanineRosche’s author interview by 5/28 for a chance to win her new release, #TheRoadbeforeUs. #giveaway #WomensFiction
TweetJoin the Conversation. Have you traveled Route 66? Does Janine’s book pique your interest? What aspects of her interview resonate with you most? Do you have any questions or comments for Janine?
Leave a comment below by May 28 for a chance to win a copy of Janine’s book! US resident can choose paperback or ebook, and if the winner is international, they will receive an ebook.
The Road before Us by Janine Rosche
Click the book cover for purchase link
How far would you go to fix the mistakes you’ve made and regain the trust you lost?
For Jade Jessup, the answer is 2,448 miles. Once one of Chicago’s significant financial advisors, Jade lost her credibility when her fiancé (and coworker) stole millions of dollars from their clients in a Ponzi scheme. Now she’s agreed to help one of them–an aging 1960s Hollywood starlet named Berenice “Benny” Alderidge–seek financial restoration.
Jade sets off along Route 66 with Benny and her handsome adult foster son, Bridger, who is filming a documentary retracing the 1956 trip that started the love story between Benny and her recently deceased husband, Paul. Listening to Benny recount her story draws Jade into memories of her own darker association with Route 66, when she was kidnapped as a child by a man the media labeled a monster–but she remembers only as daddy.
Together, all three of these pilgrims will learn about family, forgiveness, and what it means to live free of the past. But not before Jade faces a second staggering betrayal that changes everything.
Prone to wander, Janine Rosche finds as much comfort on the open road as she does at home. This longing to chase adventure, behold splendor, and experience redemption is woven into each of her women’s fiction and romance novels including The Road before Us, With Every Memory, and the Madison River Romance series.
When she isn’t writing or traveling, she teaches family life education courses to college students, takes too many pictures of her sleeping dogs, and embarrasses her four children and husband with boy band serenades.
Connect with Janine on her website.
Please share Janine’s interview on social media to help spread the word about her new release!
If you missed Donna Jo Stone’s spotlight on Joann: Apron Strings Book Five last week, find it here.
Deena Adams
As a Jesus girl for more than thirty years, Deena Adams understands how important hope is to daily life, which fuels her passion to inspire others through hope-filled fiction based on true to life stories. She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency and is a multi-award-winning writer, an active ACFW member, and ACFW Virginia president. Connect with Deena through her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
35 Comments
Deena Adams
Congratulations to Priscilla Bettis, the winner of Janine’s book! Thanks to everyone who read her interview and joined the conversation!
Vickie
I’ve always wanted to travel on Route 66. I don’t live too far from part of it. I love that you have talked about racism in your book. Unfortunately, even after many decades of passing laws that were to “eliminate” racism it still rears its ugly head.
Deena Adams
Hi, Vickie. I’d love to travel Route 66 one of these days too. And I applaud Janine for tackling tough topics, like racism. We need to keep addressing these issues and pray God will work miracles in people’s hearts!
Gretchen Garrison
I bought this book because I love travel and redemption stories. I just still wanted to comment because I love Janine’s books! More people need to find out about her stories and read them!
Deena Adams
Hi, Gretchen. I hope more people learn about Janine and her books too! She’s amazing. Thanks for commenting.
Lynn Moore
Janine….I love that you use your gift of writing to to “deal with the world around you” so we readers can read your books to “escape” the world around us for a moment! Blessings as you head down whatever road is before you!
Deena Adams
Thanks for your encouraging words for Janine, Lynn!
Donna Jo Stone
I love that cover and the book sounds like a fascinating read. This one is in my TBR.
Deena Adams
Ditto, Donna! Thanks for reading Janine’s interview and joining the conversation. 🙂
Kerri Norrod
Beautiful cover! Sounds like a great read!
Deena Adams
I agree, Kerri!
Traci Winget
I pre-ordered a copy and it is sitting on the top of my TBR list! (I won’t be needing a copy, so please don’t enter me in the drawing😉) I’m really anticipating this book. I know my dad traveled Route 66 in his life time, so I’d like to emulate his travels!
Janine Rosche
That’s why I wrote this! To honor my dad’s trip in 1961! Thanks for supporting me! I hope you enjoy it!
Deena Adams
Hi, Traci. I’m sure thinking of your dad while you read Janine’s book will help you feel close to him. Just think about the road he’s traveling now … streets of gold!!
Teresa Warner
I’ve never traveled it but would love to get a copy!
Deena Adams
Best of luck in the giveaway, Teresa!
Kim Rosso
I love the cover of this book! I’d enjoy reading this because it’s set in one of my favorite eras to read about. I’ve not traveled on Route 66, but would love to.
Deena Adams
Hi, Kim. I love the cover too! It draws you right in and makes you want to open it and read what’s inside!
Aubrey Taylor
This DEFINITELY piqued my interest, in fact, there was talk about taking this trip with my aunt and uncle this summer–something that didn’t pan out but it has been on my bucket list for years. I love that you incorporated the difficult topic of racism as well–these things give books such great depth. Looking forward to reading it!
Priscilla Bettis
Great interview! I love the idea of Janine addressing one of her real-life theological questions she’s had in her fiction.
Deena Adams
Thanks, Priscilla. So glad you enjoyed Janine’s interview. Thanks for reading!
Linda Kish
If I was ever on Route 66, it was way back in the 50s when I was very young and traveling with my parents. Other than then, no.
Deena Adams
Thanks for chiming in, Linda!
Martha
I have travelled a portion of Route 66 in Illinois in Missouri. I would like to travel and explore more of The Mother Road. This sounds like a fascinating book !
Deena Adams
Hi, Martha. I hope you get the chance to travel more of Route 66 and that you get to read Janine’s book! Thanks so much for joining the conversation!
Perrianne Askew
I have never been on Route 66, but I know that my Daddy thoroughly enjoyed driving it, or more than likely rode his motorcycle. It really needs to be on my bucket list! I thought I had read one of her books, but it appears that I have not had that pleasure yet. In her interview, it sounds like she does not shy away from writing about the tough things that life tosses our way. I’m quite sure that I would reading it and learn a few things along the way.
Deena Adams
Hi, Perrianne. I’ve read many of Janine’s books and enjoyed them all. You’re right, she’s not afraid to tackle hard topics, which I love. If you’re a member of the Avid Readers of Christian Fiction group on Facebook, look up the interview about The Road before Us that Tricia Goyer did with Janine a couple of days ago. It’s very informative!
Jeanette Davis
This book sounds absolutely wonderful.
Sometimes life is so hard and things are hard to read, think about, even believe that people can be so horrific to one another. I live with that ‘fear’ for another reason, I have a grandson with a disability and I am in fear of two things 1) his future when his mom is no longer here or able to care for him; and 2) that he will be the brunt of someone else’s hatred, insecurities, etc. I give it to God but it still haunts me at times.
I have never been on Route 66 but I always think of the song ‘get your kicks on route 66’!
Thank you for this oppotunity to win
Deena Adams
I understand your fears for your grandson, Jeanette. I try not to think too far into the future and tell myself to leave the uncertainties to God. He alone can protect our sweet babies, anyway. Easier said than done. Best of luck in the giveaway for Janine’s book!
Trudy
I’ve never read one of Janine’s books, though I’ve heard a lot of great things about them!
Deena Adams
I hope you’ll get a chance to read one of Janine’s books soon, Trudy. She’s a wonderful author and an even greater person!
Penny McGinnis
Janine’s book sounds wonderful. I love the theme of the hope to carry on. We all need that. Thanks for sharing this lovely book, Deena.
Deena Adams
My pleasure, Penny. Thanks for reading and commenting!
Dana
I have never traveled Route 66 but would love to. This looks like an interesting book. The cover is amazing.
Deena Adams
I love the book cover too, Dana. I’m so looking forward to reading it. I hope you’ll get a chance to read it too!