My Guest On The G-ZONE April 14th- Jeanette Levellie Author of "Two Scoops of Grace With Chuckles on Top"

You: How did you get started writing for publication, Jeanette?

Jen: When my son was a baby, I wrote several poems for La Leche League, which they published in their international calendars.  I was thrilled to see my work in print, delighted that people all over the globe were reading it. LLL offered me a job editing the newsletter for our local region, but I turned them down, since I had two small children at the time, and wanted to devote all my time to them. When they were a bit older, I started writing for a large church’s daily devotional, and then my first article, Felines: Friend or Foe? was published by an educational magazine. Since then I’ve had hundreds of columns, articles, and stories published. Several of the columns I wrote for our local newspaper are included in my book, Two Scoops of Grace with Chuckles on Top.

You: Please tell us a little about the book.

Jen: It is a light-hearted look at God’s enormous heart. I’ve taken 72 stories of everyday battles, brouhahas, & bliss, and added a touch of humor. My goal is to make you laugh, help you like yourself, and enable you to receive God’s love. I’ve aimed it primarily at Christians, but it has some “salt” sprinkled in it as well, to make pre-believers thirsty to know Jesus.

You: You use a lot of humor in your writing. Is that hard, or does it come naturally?

Jen: Mostly it slips out when I’m not paying attention. I grew up in a sarcastic family, so I have to temper my humor a bit to make it funny, not snarky. But I love to make people laugh, myself included. I laugh harder at my own jokes than anyone else does. So, even if no one thinks I’m funny, I’m entertaining myself. I especially think it’s hilarious when I do something dumb.

You: Why is that?

Jen: Because it humbles me, knowing that God uses me, ditzy doings and all. I know His grace is flowing through me, because I’m just not bright enough to pull off all the things that I’ve accomplished in my life. That feeling of God working in you in spite of you, is so delightful.

You:  What part does prayer play in your writing career?

Jen: A big part. I can do nothing without Jesus. I know that. So I ask Him to open doors for me, and lead me to people that can help me, direct my steps, and give me words that will touch lives. With all the completion out there, I can’t expect that my little pea brain or my personality alone will get me where I need to be. It has to be God. I’ve asked Him repeatedly to help me achieve more than I am capable of on my own, and He’s not let me down.

You: You love to laugh, but what makes you cry?

Jen: You don’t have time for the long list. But the top ones are: kids who suffer, teenage prisoners, broken lives, needless hate, and my own rebellion.