Jann Franklin: Small Towns, Perspective, a Giveaway and More

I’m excited to host another new-to-me author this week. I hope you’ll enjoy meeting Jann Franklin and hearing about her books and writing. Jann is offering an ebook of her novel Trading Bright Lights for Lightning Bugs as a giveaway (US winner only). I love the title, don’t you?

For your chance to win, simply scroll down to the comments section and chime in by Tuesday, May 23.

Hi, Jann. I’m glad to have you here! Tell us a little about yourself and your family. 

I’m married to a retired teacher turned cattle rancher. We have three young men who are in various stages of discovering what God is calling them to do. Our oldest just graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University and serves in the Texas National Guard in Abilene. Our middle is graduating this month from Texas State University and getting married. He and his future wife are raising support to be missionaries through CRU and will work with Texas State students. Our youngest lives in Austin and is a security guard. He is still struggling with what God wants from him.

So, you’re the lone female among four men. I bet that was fun while the boys were growing up. How and when did you start writing?

I retired at age 55, but I didn’t want to join a bunch of clubs or sit on the couch all day. I’d heard the local paper was looking for columnists, so I applied. I enjoyed writing a weekly column, but often had ideas that were fiction. 

For instance, we had a string of car break-ins last year, and the mayor quizzed a deputy while we were all in the coffee shop. He told her they were working on finding the culprits and were going to set up some bait cars. Someone asked what had been stolen. The deputy mentioned tablets, a laptop, charging cords, and a teapot. My first thought was, will they put a teapot in the bait car, to lure the thieves? What if the thieves broke into the bait car? I wrote all my crazy thoughts down, and my husband suggested I write a book.

The wonderful mind of a novelist. Love it. Do you have a favorite drink or snack you indulge in while writing? 

After spilling a glass of iced tea all over my desk, I stick to water with a LID. My favorite snack is blackberries or blueberries. BTW, I’m trying to lose 30 pounds for my son’s wedding so I’m pretty boring food wise right now.

Oh, no! I always have a lid on my cup too. How do you balance writing with your other life and family obligations? 

I’m very blessed. My kids are out on their own and I’ve retired from my CPA life. I can spend my day writing! That can be problematic, though, because I sometimes watch Murder She Wrote for several hours, in the interest of research and development. Then I have to scramble to get my writing in. Too much time can be a bad thing.

I understand getting sucked into a hole when we start to research for our books. Let’s talk about how you incorporate Christ and hope into your writing.

Each book in the Small-Town Girl series has a recurring theme. The first one focuses on remembering that God puts you where you’re needed. The second one focuses on God’s promises. And the third is about forgiveness and reconciliation. The cozies include a woman who is a Christian and her friend and PI who is not a Christian, and how she interacts with him and witnesses to him. In the second book, she deals with trying to forgive the man who killed her husband.

I like your themes. Forgiving a man who killed your spouse would be hard, and I love that you highlight that in your book. Is your most recent novel Trading Bright Lights for Lightning Bugs inspired by true events or personal history?

I lived in Dallas/Ft. Worth and had to move to Longview, TX for my husband’s job. That was a major culture shock. Then we moved to a town of 298 in Louisiana. So that part of the book is based on my life. But the crazy mayor and quirky townspeople are not.

Wow, 298 people is certainly a small town! What did God teach you through the writing of Trading Bright Lights for Lightning Bugs?

Well, He tried to teach me patience. But I’m not sure I listened very well. Writing is a creative process, and I had to let go so the characters could come to life. He reminded me through the story that He also has a plan for me, and it is in a small town.

What do you hope your readers take away from the book?

That our lives will take some unwanted twists and turns, but they are all very much part of God’s plan. Instead of focusing on what we’ve lost, we need to focus on what we’ve gained.

Great lesson. Which character in Trading Bright Lights for Lightning Bugs was easiest for you to write and why? Which character presented the biggest challenge?

Jen was the easiest, because she’s me when I had young children. Her husband Mike was the hardest, because honestly, I don’t understand how men work. Predicting his actions and thoughts proved challenging.

It’s definitely challenging trying to figure out how a man thinks. What is one of your favorite quotes from Trading Bright Lights for Lightning Bugs?

I’ll take you over an alligator any day!

LOL. That’s awesome. Who is your favorite fiction author? Favorite novel?

Jan Karon. At Home in Mitford. I love her set up and intro to all the characters. 

What‘s next from you?

Boudin and Bloodshed comes out in July.

It’s been fun meeting you through this written interview and learning about your books, Jann. I pray God will continue to bless you as you write and publish stories that point to Him.

Join the conversation. What intrigues you most about Jann’s books? Could you use a reminder about focusing on what you’ve gained rather than what you’ve lost? Do you live in a big city or a small town? What kind of setting do you prefer in the novels you read?

Be sure to comment below by May 23 for a chance to win an ebook of Trading Bright Lights for Lightning Bugs! (US winner only)

Please share Jann’s interview on social media to help spread the word about her books!

Check out these past interviews with Mesu Andrews, Carol Ashby, and Barbara Britton.