Jennifer L. Wright grew up wanting to work for Dateline and become the next Jane Pauley, but it took only a few short months of working as a reporter in both print and radio journalism for her to abandon those aspirations for the greener pasture of fiction writing. She loves to reimagine and explore forgotten eras in history, showcasing God’s light amidst humanity’s darkest days. Her books, which include If It Rains, Come Down Somewhere, and The Girl from the Papers, have been nominated for both a Carol Award and a Golden Scroll Award.
She currently lives in New Mexico with her husband, two children, and an ever-growing collection of pets. While she enjoys writing, her true dream is to one day own and operate a guinea pig farm. If you want to connect with her (and can handle a barrage of pictures of her animals), you can find her on Facebook at @JenniferWrightLit, on Instagram at @jennwright82, or by visiting her website, jenniferlwright.com.
In this interview, Jennifer talks about the inspiration for this book, as well as how her favorite character is based on her daughter.
FF: What inspired this story?
Last Light over Galveston fell into my lap quite by accident. I was on hold for another book at my local library and stumbled across Erik Larson’s book Isaac’s Storm as I was perusing the stacks, looking for something else to read in the meantime. As a weather nerd, the back cover piqued my interest. It only took a few pages for me to know I wanted to write a book centered around the storm.
FF: What messages or themes do you focus on in this book?
The theme of foundations is central to the story. So much of what we place our trust in—whether that be people, places, money, or status—is fragile. When the storms of life come, whether literally or figuratively, we must have something more solid—something not of this world—on which to anchor ourselves.
FF: How does faith play a role in this story?
I think, like many of us, the characters in this book are searching for something greater. They are searching for that one thing that will define their lives, give them purpose, meaning, and security. But they are searching for it among temporal things and fallible people. When that fails or is taken away, what is left? Hopefully, faith.
FF: What do you hope that readers learn from Last Light over Galveston?
I hope readers come away from the story examining the foundations on which their own lives are built. God willing, I hope none of us ever have to endure a storm like the 1900 Galveston hurricane, but that doesn’t mean we won’t have trials and tribulations. My prayer is that readers will be strengthened by the reminder of God’s steadfastness in the midst of the world’s never-ending uncertainty and strife.
FF: Who is your favorite character in the book and why?
I love Maggie Sherwood, the orphan Kathleen befriends at St. Mary’s. Not only is her spunk and tenacity adorable, but there’s a special kind of vulnerability in her that brings out a side of Kathleen we don’t often see. Plus, she’s modeled after my own daughter, so I’m a bit biased.
FF: What do you find to be the most challenging part of the writing process? What advice would you offer young writers?
Writing the first draft is by far the most challenging part of the writing process. There is nothing more intimidating than a notebook full of ideas and a blank Word document. My advice to young writers is to just write. Write even when you don’t feel like it, even when it’s not good, even when you know you’re going to end up changing it later. Just get it all out, no matter what. Making it good comes later; for now, just get it done.
FF: Which books and authors have shaped you most as a writer?
I studied English in college so my formative years were shaped by the classics—The Scarlet Letter, The Great Gatsby, Jane Eyre, The Lord of the Rings. All these books made fall in love with language and the nuances that transform a good story into a great one. More currently, I love the work of authors such as Anthony Doerr and Amor Towles, who inspire me to continually strive to be better.
FF: Do you have any future writing projects planned?
I just finished another book, but I can’t share any details quite yet. It was a project that
definitely stretched me out of my comfort zone, and I’m excited to see where it goes. I’m
hoping to have more news about it soon!
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