Write to the Point with Jordyn Redwood

Congratulations to Karen who won last week’s giveaway.

This week we get write to the point with Jordyn Redwood. Jordyn Redwood has served patients and their families for nearly 20 years and currently works as a pediatric ER nurse. As a self professed medical nerd and trauma junkie, she was drawn to the controlled chaotic environments of critical care and emergency nursing. Her love of teaching developed early and she was among the youngest CPR instructors for the American Red Cross at the age of seventeen. Since then, she has continued to teach advanced resuscitation classes to participants ranging from first responders to MD’s.

When she discovered she also had a fondness for answering medical questions for authors, this led to the creation of Redwood’s Medical Edge. This blog is devoted to helping contemporary and historical authors write medically accurate fiction.

Jordyn lives in Colorado with her husband, two daughters and one crazy hound dog. In her spare time she also enjoys reading her favorite authors, quilting and cross stitching. You can learn more about Jordyn by visiting her website at www.jordynredwood.net.

Tell us about yourself, family, where are you from, how long have you been writing?

Jordyn: I’m a wife and mother of two beautiful girls age 7 and 9. I was born in Torrington, WY and have lived in Wyoming and Kansas but was pretty much raised in Colorado. Returned toWyomingfor college. Currently, my “real job” is working as a pediatric ER nurse and I consider kids the best patient population to work with.

I’ve been writing as long as I could form sentences. When I was in elementary school, I remember writing a story about a bunny that had to go to the “hoppyistal” because I couldn’t spell the word “hospital”. I guess I was born to do both nursing and writing from a young age.

How did you come to know Jesus as your Savior?

Jordyn: My relationship with Christ has evolved over the years. I don’t have an exact “time and date” for my salvation. I was raised in the Missouri Synod Lutheran church and confirmed and do believe I was saved at that time. During high school, I was involved in Campus Life/Youth for Christ and that’s where my understanding of God changed from the intellectual aspects to the personal aspect of Christ wanting to have relationship with us. However, my family did not attend church faithfully after my brother’s confirmation and it wasn’t until after college I took personal responsibility for my faith and growth in Christ. Now, I love to learn about the Lord and am currently reading Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. There is a reason this book is a classic.

I just purchased that book, can’t wait to read it!

Tell us about your latest book(s). What do want your readers to take away after the last page?

Proof deals with the real life possibility of DNA testing setting a guilty criminal free. Lilly Reeves is the fifth victim of a serial rapist and though she correctly identifies her assailant to the police, DNA testing sets him free. In order to reclaim her life, Lilly endeavors on her own search to unravel the mystery of his DNA.

What I hope readers take away is the nature of Christ’s sacrificial love for us. The Bible is really historical documentation of His constant pursuit of His people. It amazes me.

Amazon Blurb: Dr. Lilly Reeves is a young, accomplished ER physician with her whole life ahead of her. But that life instantly changes when she becomes the fifth victim of a serial rapist. Believing it’s the only way to recover her reputation and secure peace for herself, Lilly sets out to find–and punish–her assailant. Sporting a mysterious tattoo and unusually colored eyes, the rapist should be easy to identify. He even leaves what police would consider solid evidence. But when Lilly believes she has found him, DNA testing clears him as a suspect. How can she prove he is guilty, if science says he is not?

How often do you blog and what do you cover in your blog?

I have two blogs. The first is Redwood’s Medical Edge. That blog started in October, 2010 and is designed to help contemporary and historical authors write medically accurate fiction. I blog there Monday, Wednesday and Friday and host medical questions, have experts blogging in their area of expertise, blog about common mistakes seen in published works (though the book and author are never named), and host novels that have a medical angle.

The second blog is called Redwood’s Ramblings and I blog there 4-8 times a month. This blog is more personal and about my journey as an author.

Can you share with us a favorite book you have read?

Jordyn: I’m a suspense girl at heart and Dean Koontz is one of my favorite authors. My most loved book from him is Life Expectancy. Right now, I’m reading Lisa Gardner’s Love You More which is very entertaining. I’m also reading C.S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity—let me say there is a reason this is a classic.

Can you share with us a Genesis 5020 in your life?

Jordyn: My own will. This may seem weird but I think the enemy feeds us this lie that we don’t really need God. That whatever we choose is fine. For me, my pursuing a job that wasn’t God’s Will took me down a stray path for over 10 years. I don’t consider any part of my nursing career a waste but I was adamant about obtaining this “one” type of position. That never happened and for most of those years I put writing aside. I think this is a question to ask—if doors are obviously closing on what you consider the desire of your heart—perhaps it’s not God’s Will.

Once I got back to what God’s Will for my life was—doors opened so much more easily. It’s not that I didn’t have to do the work—but I got more positive affirmation with my pursuit of publication than I ever got trying to pursue a flight nursing position. And when you write novels from a Christian Worldview—I can now see how the enemy would have fed my desire for the other thing I wanted—to keep these stories in my own mind and not available for public consumption.

I think many people could relate to your struggle with their will. I know I have, you are not alone.

Do you have a life and/or a ministry verse?

Jordyn: “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

Where can we find you on the web?

Jordyn: I have a medical blog for historical and contemporary authors to help them write medically accurate fiction called Redwood’s Medical Edge. And my website at www.jordynredwood.net.

Is there anything I didn’t ask that you would like to add?

Jordyn: Melissa, thanks so much for having me. It’s been an honor getting to know you and your readers.

Thank you Jordyn for visiting. It has been great getting to know you.

Readers, Jordyn is giving away a copy of her book Proof to one commentator. Show Jordyn some comment love by June 12 at 5:00 PM to be entered to win.