We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Janice Lynn. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Janice below.

Janice, appreciate you joining us today. Is there a heartwarming story from your career that you look back on?

I’ve worked as a nurse practitioner for over 20 years and have written romance novels for about the same time frame, with the first being published back in 2005. Those two professions have intersected many times over the years, but in 2023 I had a veterans organization contact me regarding a medical volunteer position to accompany World War II veterans to Normandy, France for the 79th anniversary of D-Day. Someone who was familiar with my sweet romance novels that feature the Quilts of Valor Foundation recommended me when they needed someone short notice when another volunteer had to cancel rather last minute. My youngest son is in the military, so I couldn’t say no, nor did I want to. The truth of the matter, though, was that I only knew basics about WWII. I went on a WWII educational binge in the 2 months prior to the trip, reading, watching movies such as Band of Brothers, etc. For the trip, I’d be accompanying 4 WWII veterans, along with other volunteers, one of which was a nurse. I wanted to be able to understand the things they said and the significance of the places we visited.

These veterans and the others I met in Normandy quickly stole my heart. They truly define the American spirit and what it is to be a hero. They were the men who I’d been fashioning my romance heroes after for years, without even knowing it. They’re called the greatest generation and after spending time with these veterans, I’m a believer.
We flew to Paris, were transported to Normandy, then stayed with the French people. Phenomenal experience. The love and appreciation shown to the American soldier in Normandy was unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed. They were so grateful for their freedom. Each of the veterans, volunteers, and French families had different stories to tell of their history in regard to WWII. The emotions, the pride, the resiliency, the rich history, and the shared bond was such a testament to the human spirit.

I was asked to return in 2024 for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. 80 years, folks. Think about what that means regarding the ages of the veterans. For the 80th, I volunteered with 7 WWII veterans. My youngest was 97 years old and my oldest was 100 years old. There were some several years older who had traveled with other groups. These veterans were all smiles and living life to the fullest. Age was just a number, not a definer.

One such veteran was a 99 year old veteran who had been a pilot in WWII. His dream was to go back up in a plane and fly over the beaches of Normandy. The group, Veterans Back to Normandy, was able to make this happen, not just for the pilot, but all of our groups veterans who wanted to go up and several of the volunteers. What an absolute honor it was for me to travel with them and to see the beaches from this perspective.

Volunteering with these trips was life-changing. I’m so much more cognizant of veterans and of community activities honoring them. I was speaking with a veteran at my local VFW and asked what message it would be she would want me to share when I was given the opportunity. Her hope was that I would be able to spread the message for everyone to get involved in these activities, to attend parades and ceremonies, to go to those fundraiser breakfasts, and to thank those proudly wearing their caps proclaiming their service.

I’ve been asked and have already agreed to volunteer in 2025. I’ll continue to say yes for however long a veteran needs me to accompany them. Unfortunately, with each passing year, the number of veterans alive and able to make the trip declines. With each one gone, we lose a treasure who gave so much to provide freedom to so many.

As I continue to write my Wrapped Up in Christmas series featuring Quilts of Valor that is something I hope my stories help achieve, a sense of community and love amongst all people for each other and our country.

Janice, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Janice Lynn is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author. She strives to write characters who evoke strong emotions and make readers want to go along on their journeys.

Her first sweet romance, Wrapped Up in Christmas, was a bestseller on Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Amazon, and Apple. Wrapped Up in Christmas was Hallmark Publishing’s first release to hit the USA TODAY and Wall Street Journal’s bestseller lists; and was a finalist in the Bookseller’s Best Award. Janice also writes contemporary Medical Romances for Harlequin, and her books have won numerous awards, including the National Readers’ Choice Award, the Golden Quill for Best Short contemporary Romance and for Best First Book, Romantic Times Magazine’s American Title, and the Holt Medallion Award of Merit.

She lives in Tennessee with her Prince Charming, her vivid imagination, an adorable Maltese named Halo who’s the true princess of the house and a bunch of unnamed dust bunnies who took up permanent residence after Janice started her writing career.

Janice is excited about her heartwarming sweet romance stories featuring the Quilts of Valor Foundation. As a Blue Star Mom, the organization is dear to her heart, as are the groups, Honoring Veteran Legacies and Veterans Back to Normandy.

In addition to writing romance, Janice has a Master’s degree in nursing from Vanderbilt University and works at a family practice clinic as a nurse practitioner. She’s a quilter, a military mama, a medical volunteer, and a member of and supporter of the Quilts of Valor Foundation.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

I’m a caregiver by nature. I want to help others and to give back, so nursing is a great fit for me. I have no regrets on choosing it as my profession. Being a nurse practitioner has allowed me to form bonds with my patients over the years, to be involved in their lives and healthcare journey. It has allowed me to interact in my community through volunteer events and to step outside my community to volunteer such as with the WWII trips to Normandy. Being a nurse practitioner allows me the freedom to incorporate other passions into my life and to, hopefully, enrich the lives of those around me.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Other than the educational process itself, caring about others is what I feel has made the most impact on my career. Every patient I see is a person who is someone’s family member and is important. They aren’t just a visit I’m hurrying through so that I can rush to the next exam room. They are real, vital, and someone who matters. I care about them. Many of my patients have been with me for over 20 years. I know them. I can tell you about their lives, who they really are beyond their ailments. I know their families and when I diagnose something, the ramifications of how that diagnosis is going to impact that family is heartfelt by me.
That caring carries over into my writing in many ways. One of my goals with writing a book is to make the reader feel. If my story does evoke strong emotions, a caring for the characters and what’s happening in their lives, I’ve failed. I try to use my author platform to bring awareness to causes I believe in such as with Quilts of Valor Foundation. They are very dear to my heart as their mission is to wrap veterans in quilts of comfort and healing.
For someone interested in the nursing field, I’d advise them to nurse with their mind and their heart. Have the knowledge but administer that knowledge with your heart.
For someone interested in the publishing field, my advise is pretty much the same. Write with knowledge and with your heart. If your passion isn’t there, it really doesn’t matter so much on the knowledge because your reader is less likely to feel your words and connect with them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.janicelynn.com
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