Janet Dean’s heroine’s interview

» Posted on Jul 21, 2009 in Blog | Comments Off on Janet Dean’s heroine’s interview


This week I’m hosting Janet Dean with Courting the Doctor’s Daughter and Audrey Hebbert with Green Light Red Light. If you want to enter the drawing for the book, please leave a comment on one of the post during the week with your email address. I will not enter you without an email address (my way to contact you if you win). If you don’t want to leave an email address, another way you can enter is to email me at margaretdaley@gmail.com. The drawings end Sunday (July 26th) evening.

Interview with the heroine, Mary Graves from Courting the Doctor’s Daughter:

1. Mary, tell me the most interesting thing about you.

I want to be a doctor, not all that usual for a woman in 1998. It’s been a dream of mine for a long time, probably because I practically grew up in my father’s medical practice. I’ve been accepted at the Central College of Physicians and Surgeons. It’ll be a demanding four years with a forty-hour week and hours of study, but I’ll have summers off. As my father says, nothing worth while comes easy.

2. What do you do for fun?

I love to spend time with my sons, Michael, Philip and Ben. We enjoy picnics, fishing and playing ball. Between working in my father’s practice, teaching Sunday school at church and taking care of my home and children, I have little leisure time. Once I start medical school, I’ll get assistance with household chores and eliminate outside activities to protect time with my family.

3. What do you put off doing because you dread it?

For a long while I put off facing my past. I needed to deal with it and then help my sons do the same. Handling the hurt is not a once and done event, but our hearts are mending.

4. What are you afraid of most in life?

I’m most afraid of opening my heart again to a man, even to someone as handsome, caring and honorable as Luke Jacobs. My marriage was not a happy one. Not that I blame my deceased husband Sam. He had a horrific childhood and I realize now that he did the best he could. Still, I’m left with trust issues. But making decisions based on fear doesn’t glorify God. Luke would make a wonderful father…

5. What do you want out of life?

I want to give my sons a loving, secure home with God at the center. I want to contribute to mankind, to carry on my father’s legacy by becoming a doctor. I believe I can do both. Just between us, underneath I yearn to love and be loved in a happy marriage.

6. What is the most important thing to you?

The most important thing to me is my relationship with God. I love and want to obey him in every facet of my life. I’m also learning the importance of trusting Him as well. Not easy for someone like me.

7. Do you read? If so, what is your favorite type of book to read?

When I was young, I read lots of fiction. Now I read non-fiction—the Bible, medical journals and medical books. Adelaide, my dearest friend and sister-in-law, has a long list of favorites she wants me to read when I have the time.

8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I’d change my tendency to overdo, to fill my life with too much activity. God is showing me I’ve used doing good deeds as a way to hide from issues I need to face. I’m learning to say no.

9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?

We don’t have a pet, but my sons are asking for a dog. I think I’ll give in. A housebroken gentle stray is begging for handouts at the Whitehall Café. She’s an adorable shaggy mutt badly in need of a bath and a good home with a fenced backyard like ours. I’ll enjoy having another female around the house. ☺

10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?

I’d go back to the time when Jesus walked the earth in Jerusalem. I’d sit at His feet, soaking up His words and basking in His love. Doesn’t that sound heavenly? The wonderful thing—I don’t have to go further than my quiet spot in the living room.

Thanks for having me today, Margaret. Janet has wonderful things to say about your books. Mary