People often ask me if I ever base a character on someone I know in real life. While my characters are seldom exactly like people I actually know, I often use personality traits and quirks I observe to create believable, three-dimensional characters. My mom and dad share many traits with Anna and Felty Helmuth, the tenacious, adorable grandparents in Huckleberry Hill and Huckleberry Summer. And how many of us know a spoiled, bratty girl like Rachel Shetler in Huckleberry Hill?
One of the most lovable characters in Huckleberry Summer is Pilot, the incorrigible goldendoodle who is also featured on the cover. Pilot also exists in real life. He is a playful, long-legged dog who belongs to my neighbor Julie.
Like the fictional Pilot, the real-life Pilot loves to collect socks. He gathers them like squirrels gather acorns and leaves them in little piles all over his house. Julie has younger children so her Pilot manages to find a lot of abandoned socks to add to his collection.
Both Pilots love to be scratched behind the ears, and although big and clumsy, they are very gentle around children. In Huckleberry Summer, Pilot frolics in the yard with an itty-bitty toddler and doesn’t knock her down once. In spite of his playful spirit, Pilot senses when there is an emergency. He uses his teeth and his sense of smell to do something truly heroic for a little girl in trouble.
The real Pilot is much more obedient than the fictional Pilot. Fictional Pilot likes to jump on people and knock them over. This is especially frustrating to Lily Eicher, who doesn’t like dogs in the least. Lily carries a bottle of hand sanitizer everywhere she goes just in case Pilot’s floppy wet tongue comes in contact with her face.
Lily is equally wary of Pilot’s master, Aden Helmuth. To a girl as obedient and cautious as Lily, Aden and Pilot spell nothing but trouble.
Aden’s mammi is set on getting Aden and Lily together. Will Pilot and Aden be able to win Lily over?
Thanks so much for stopping by Jennifer. Pilot is adorable and looks so soft! I am excited to announce that Jennifer is giving one lucky reader the chance to win a copy of Huckleberry Summer which is due out on June 3rd.
To enter leave a comment below. If you would like an Extra chance share this link on Facebook or Twitter. Remember to leave another comment if you did.
**Contest starts today Monday, May 12th and ends on Monday, May 19th.**
Visit with Jennifer!
71 thoughts on “Guest post by Jennifer Beckstrand plus giveaway!”
The book sounds wonderful & I love the dog he is so cute
I can’t wait to read this book.I love the cover and the the dog is so precious.Thanks for sharing.
Is this the most precious looking dog ever….looks like I could just use him as a fluffy pillow. I can’t wait to read your book, so glad you were introduced to me.
Love the cover of this book and can’t wait to read it. Thank you for a chance to win a copy!That’s neat that you used your neighbors dog as a dog for the book. I also shared on fb. ~ Blessings ~
Love the cover of the book. Pilot is so cute. Can’t wait to read the book.
Love the cover. Love the series. Cannot wait to read them all.
I shared on facebook.
I would love to win this book. Very nice looking dog.
I would love to have Huckleberry Summer! I have Huckleberry Hill but haven’t had a chance to read it yet and we just got a puppy, so this sounds like a book I ‘need’, lol. Thank you for the chance to win it.
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
Love reading Amish books. Would to win Huckleberry Summer to read and shar with someone else.
I have the 1st one, and I am waiting for this book to come out so that I can read them as a series. Pilot is so pretty
Shared
Aww how precious is that sweet dog. 🙂 The story sounds wonderful.
Shared on Twitter! @xbrookeb28x
Shared to Facebook http://facebook.com/xbrookeannex
Would like to read it! And your covers are beautiful.
shared this link on Facebook .
I am looking forward to reading Huckleberry Summer. Thank you for the opportunity to win.I enjoy reading your books.Have a wonderful week.
The dog is adorable. Thank you for the opportunity to win. Can wait to read these books.
That dog makes the book cover! Can’t wait to read this book!
I read Huckleberry Hill it was one of the best books I have read in a long time, would love to have Huckleberry Summer. The characters were so fun and genuine..
Excited!!! Can’t wait to read the book. Thanks
Sounds wonderful love to read.
Blessings
Diana
joeym11(at)frontier(dot)com
Pets definitely become part of a family , with personalities all their own. Looks like a fun book to read and review everywhere!! Going to like this on Facebook too
Liked Jennifer on Fab too and shared this link.
Hello! Thanks for having Jennifer here. I would sure love to win Jennifer’s new book. It’s a very interesting series. Love the cover. Please add my name to the give-away. Thanks so much.
Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com
Hello again. I have shared this give-away on my Facebook page asking my family and friends to give it a chance. Please give me a second chance to win. Maxie mac262(at)me(dot0com
This looks and sounds like a fun book, by a fun author. I would love the opportunity to win this book.
Vicki
I shared this Giveaway on my FB page, Victory’s Memories – VM
Vicki
This looks like such a cute and happy twist for a book and I would very much love to win it for my summer reading. This way an excellent, fun blog post that I very much enjoyed reading. Thanks for the great giveaway!
I may have found myself another wonderful author. I come come a line of the people, and my love of them is deep.can’t wait to read your book
Love the cover and can’t wait to read. Thanks so much for offering a giveaway
I love this cover! Pilot is just adorable! Thanks for sharing this opportunity Jennifer & Michelle!
Shared on Facebook.
I love Amish books. I have yet to read any of Jennifer’s books; I’ll be sure to look up this series.
shared on facebook
Would love to read this book!
I love that you used Pilot, your goldendoodle, in the book. He’s adorable!!
Thanks for the chance to win a copy of your latest book.
I shared on Facebook 🙂
Thank you so much for this opportunity to win your book. I love that you are recognizing how families make their fur pets a big part of their families these days. Keep up the good work. Hope I win this one!
I so enjoyed your first book & the characters, looking forward to the next one!!!!!
These books sound absolutely adorable.. I haven’t read them yet, so I would really appreciate it if I won.. Perhaps it would be another favorite of mine. Keep writing for all of us to share.. God Bless!..
We have your books in the church library. I would love to win, “Huckleberry Summer” to add to our collection.
Thanks for the opportunity to do so.
I would so love to win this book! It sounds so very interesting and I love the cover too! Thanks for this contest! Sincerely, Mary Lou
[email protected]
Lovely book cover. Looking forward to reading this book — would be thrilled to win a copy.
Previous comment did not take my email address — sorry. Shared on facebook.
Adorable dog:) Thanks for a chance to win 🙂
Love the dog ! I have not read your books yet but they have been on my TBR list. I love your covers and your characters sound wonderful .
Thank you & Blessings.
mcnuttjem0(at)gmail(dot)com
This would be my first book by Jennifer. I would love to win. Thank you for the opportunity
The cover is so inviting and the dog is phenomenal. Can’t wait to read this one.
Shared on FB
Thanks for the chance to win this great book! When I saw the Amish lady on the front cover with a dog, I just knew I had to have it. Thanks for having this contest. Judy F
I shared on FB. Please enter me again to win this great book!! Judy F
Sounds like a delightful read!
I shared on FB I can’t wait to read this book I read Huckleberry Hill and loved it
I can’t wait to read this! Also, love the cover.
I shared on twitter.
https://twitter.com/tina9157/status/466670963598172160
Looks like a fun book to read. That dog is so cute.
Thanks for the chance to win this book.
I enjoyed this delightful post and look forward to Huckleberry Summer! Thank you so much for the chance to win!!
texaggs2000 at gmail dot com
I am glad I found your books and you, Jennifer. Furry animals play such an important role in real life, I’m glad you included Pilot in your book!
I would so love to win this book so I could get to know you as a new Christian author and I also put this on Facebook! Hope to win! Mary Lou K
I have never read any of your books and would love the opportunity to do so in winning this contest.
I am looking forward to reading about this interesting dog! Glad to know the real one is more obedient than the fictional one. Dogs with good manners win my favor.
The picture on the cover with the dog reminds me of a picture we have with my son when he was 8 and a dog that looks like pilot on the bountiful temple ground during the building of it. We felt like the dog had a special purpose to watch over. Can’t wait to read it;-)
i would love to win this. i lovestories with dogs
I would love to win a copy of Huckleberry Summer. Thanks for writing such inspirational Christian literature.
Pilot looks like a big poodle. He is so cute.
I’d love to win this book! Great post.
[email protected]
The winner of Huckleberry Summer is Robin in NC! Thank you so much everyone for entering and a big thanks to Jennifer for stopping by 🙂
Liked & shared on Facebook.
Shared on Twitter as well.
This is a great opportunity to win a great giveaway. Keep up the good work.
Hope I am the winner of this addition to my library/ book shelves.
I would be so grateful to read your newest book, thank you for sharing of yourself in your new book.