Interviewing E. & B. Spredemann! {Day 5 of the J.E.B. Spredemann Week!}

Welcome to J.E.B. Spredemann Week! We here at BFCG will be reviewing the first four books in the “Amish Girls” series, interviewing all three authors, and having a surprise on Saturday! This will be a crazy fun week! :D

 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Welcome to Day 5 of the J.E.B. Spredemann week! Today we’ll be interviewing the ‘E’ & 'B' in J.E.B. Spredemann… Emily & Brandi Spredemann!

 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Here’s something y’all might not know about the author of the “Amish Girls” series, J.E.B. Spredemann; It’s actually three authors! A Mother, Jennifer, and her Teen daughters, Emily (age 17) & Brandi (age 14)! How cool is that?! We reviewed Book #1 in their “Amish Girls” series on Sunday {Click Here! to see it}, book #2 on Tuesday {Review Here!} and book #3 on Wednesday {Right Here!}! And we interviewed Miss Jennifer Here! on Monday! This is just part of the J.E.B. Spredemann week!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Let’s talk to the ‘E’ & ‘B’ in J.E.B. Spredemann…Emily & Brandi Spredemann!

BCFG-  Welcome, Emily & Brandi! Thank you for letting Books for Christian Girls Interview you! Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Emily S.- Hiya, everyone! I’m Emily Danielle Spredemann and I’m seventeen though most people say I look a few years younger (whatever). I have two sisters, three brothers, and two great parents. (B.G. wrote about where we were born and grew up.) My favorite book, aside from the Bible, would probably be A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett. And I love eating PBJ sandwiches (call me a kid if you want ;)).

Brandi S.- Hello, BCFG! My name is Brandi Gabrielle Spredemann, normally called B.G., my initials. (Why I’ve been called that for as long as I remember, I have no idea.) I am fourteen years old. I have five siblings: two sisters and three brothers. I was born and raised in much-too-sunny California. Moving to Indiana was the most adventurous thing I’ve ever done. I love to read and I have to admit that, while I do enjoy Amish fiction, my favorite is Christian western romance. Mary Connealy and Karen Whitemeyer. I also enjoy writing, as you can most likely tell. ;)

BFCG-   When did you know you wanted to be an author?

Emily S.- I used to go to a small Christian church-school competition in California once a year. When I was ten, I wrote my first short story, The Little Missionary, and sent it in (it won first place). It was after that when I discovered how much I enjoyed writing, and how I could weave my own emotions into the characters and escape into their world for a little while.

Brandi S.- I have no idea. Probably after our first book, Joanna’s Struggle, was written. I realized how much fun it was to write. To invent worlds, and characters, and problems. It’s such a wonder to create lives with a bit of imagination.

BFCG-   Whose idea was it to write all together?

Emily S.- I have no idea. It was tons of fun to write together, but honestly I don’t remember who came up with that notion. (And ditto to what B.G. said about Mom.)

Brandi S.- Hmm… I don’t think I can answer that question. I think we just helped with the creation of the story and we just decided to write together. It was all due to Mom though. Em and I would’ve likely given up without her support.

BFCG-   Do y’all ever have different thoughts on how the plot should go? Has there ever been a three-way-tie?

Emily S.- I know we must’ve had situations like that, but I can’t remember any definite scenes. I do remember when B.G. made a huge deal about changing Joanna’s name from Abigail to Joanna. She says she’s over it now though. (I’m not so sure, she still sounds mad when we bring it up and talk about it.)

Brandi S.- I can’t seem to recall any struggle about the plot. Scenes definitely. Once, we had to each write our own version of a scene then try to fit them together. I do remember one time when something arose that caused a bit of a conflict. Joanna, the main character in Joanna’s Struggle, was originally named Abigail. About halfway through the writing of the book, Mom suddenly decided to change her name to Joanna. Emily agreed without a fuss. I wasn’t so easily persuaded. I liked the name Abigail and I was sticking to it! But, as you can see, Abigail did indeed end up with the name Joanna. Unfortunately. Oh well. I’m over it now.

Emily S.- See?

BFCG-   What’s your favorite thing about writing with your Mom and sister?

Emily S.- I enjoyed not being the only one writing. It’s hard to write a book all the way to the end, and it’s even harder to stick with just one when you have nearly a hundred book/series ideas. Aaah! Where do you start?

Brandi S.- The support. You can’t give up. If you get writer’s block, you could just hand it over to one of the others and let them write.

BFCG-   What is your favorite memory from writing the “Amish Girls” series?

Emily S.- Jonathan Fisher and his stunts. Most of his “brilliant” ideas we got from stories of our dad, and some of the things Jonathan said when he was little, we got from our little brother Jonah. I loved discussing JF with B.G. and Mom and wonder, what in the world will he do next?

Brandi S.- Jonathan Fisher. He really added adventure. I loved inventing his latest pranks and escapades. And writing about them, and others’ reactions to them, was the best.

BFCG-   Who was your favorite {girl} character to write about? I think I enjoyed reading about Susanna the most!

Emily S.- I think I related most to Danika, but of the four I think I like Chloe’s story the best, sad as it is. Susanna’s story was fun to write, especially since it was about twins (I used to wish I had a twin).

Brandi S.- Yikes. I’m not sure. I liked Joanna for her sincerity and innocence. Danika for her spunk and loyalty. Chloe for her love and sorrow. Susanna for her sass and sweetness.

BFCG- Why did y’all choose to write about the Amish? {Not that I’m complaining! I adore reading about the Amish!}

Emily S.- Ask her.

Brandi S.- It was all my fault. Mom would always make us kids narrate her current read when we went shopping with her. Anyway, it was my turn to go shopping and she handed me an Amish book. After I read for a while, I stopped and asked her why there weren’t any Amish books for girls my age (I was eleven at the time). The Amish Girls Series was born soon after.

BFCG-   Is there an author who writes Amish Fiction you look up to?

Emily S.- Not really. I kinda liked some of Beverly Lewis’ books.

Brandi S.- Though I haven’t read very many different Amish authors, I would have to say I enjoyed Cindy Woodsmall’s writing best. Her Sisters of the Quilt Trilogy was so amazing and touched my heart in so many ways. She puts her heart and soul into her writing. I wanted to write like that.

BFCG-   Do you have a favorite Scripture?

Emily S.- I’m not sure, there are so many verses to choose from. I memorized John 3:16 and Psalm 23 a few years ago and I’ve always loved them. I also like Psalm 27:1. And the whole book of Ecclesiastes. And Proverbs. And Psalms. And Esther. And I love the stories in there, particularly from the Old Testament.

Brandi S.- Quick answer: no. It’s impossible for me to have a favorite Scripture verse. The entire Bible is so breathlessly amazing. I couldn’t even begin to choose a favorite part.

BFCG-   What do you like to do in your free time?

Emily S.- Favorite things to do: reading (not sure I have a favorite genre, though I’m leaning towards Christian Fantasy, and poetry), writing, listening to music and Adventures In Odyssey, playing the piano, and singing.

I also like swimming, horseback riding, and acting things out with my friends, though I’m not very good at any of them.

Brandi S.- Read. And read. And read. And read. And read. And read. And read some more.

Seriously though, I do enjoy reading. Perhaps a bit too much. I also like to write, and draw (though I’m terrible at it), and swim, and gaze at the moon, and sing, and act, and ride rollercoasters. Stuff like that.

BFCG-   Have you ever been out of the country? If not, where would you go if you could?

Emily S.- Before moving, I had flown from San Francisco to France, then from France to Germany. Daddy was helping some missionaries there build/add on something in their house. We were in Germany for two weeks, and France for five hours – just waiting in the stupid airport for five hours playing Uno. Not taking pictures or looking to find the Eiffel Tower, just sitting and playing Uno for five hours. As an energetic, loved-to-be-moving twelve-year-old at the time, it’s a miracle I survived.

I would like to travel the world, someday…

Brandi S.- I have never been out of the United States of America. Before this trip cross country to Indiana, I’d never been out of California. But that’s another story. Where would I go? Hmm… Does Heaven count? I would like to go to New Zealand, or perhaps Scotland, or Australia. I don’t know. I’m satisfied with staying in the States though.

BFCG-   Can you give us a hint about anything new y’all on working on?

Emily S.- I’m currently working on quite a few books right now. When I can make myself sit down and finish one of them, I’ll be in business.

Brandi S.- Mom has her third book in the Amish Secrets series coming out this Fall. That series is geared towards adults though. (I said “Mom” not “us” because Emily and I have retired, in a sense. We still plan on writing. We just aren’t as interested in the Amish genre as Mom is. She kept the name J.E.B. Spredemann because it was already out there, despite the fact that the Amish Girls Series are the only books written by all three of us.) We also plan on writing a Christmas Amish Girls book this year.

A few This, That or Neither questions-

Pink, Purple or Blue?

Emily S.- Pink. But just barely. Purple’s next.

Brandi S.- Purple.

Cats, Dogs or Other?

Emily S.- Cats. I also love horses, and I think I’d like to own and ride a dragon (How To Train Your Dragon has ruined me for life!).

Brandi S.- My favorite animal is a horse, but cats come in second.

Snow, Beach, or the country?

Emily S.- Eesh! That’s tough. I’d probably have to say the ocean, though I love the country dearly. What can compare with the ocean?

Brandi S.- Well, being from California, I don’t really have much experience with snow. I’ve lived in the country pretty much all my life, and I’ve seen the beach a few times. I’d have to say beach. There’s just nothing quite as beautiful as the ocean.

Call, Text or E-mail?

Emily S.- I don’t have E-mail. I’d definitely say text. I hate talking on the phone. It’s awkward.

Brandi S.- Text. I’m uncomfortable with talking on the phone (I’d much rather talk in person). And I don’t have much experience with Email either.

Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest?

Emily S.- Never been on Twitter. Facebook or Pinterest? Uh…not sure.

Brandi S.- Ohh, that’s hard. Not Twitter. I know nearly nothing about Twitter. Facebook, on the other hand, is super fun, but so is Pinterest. I think I’m leaning towards Pinterest.

Chocolate, Vanilla or Strawberry Ice Cream?

Emily S.- Not sure, none are really my favorite. But I love Rocky Road. And Coffee.

Brandi S.- Strawberry. Then vanilla. Then chocolate. But the best is Mint ‘n Chip.

Thank you so much Emily & Brandi for letting us interview you! Our Readers can follow y’all on: Your Website, Goodreads, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr, YouTube, Google +, and LinkedIn. 

So far we’ve reviewed book #1 in the “Amish Girls” series, “Joanna’s Struggle”, book #2, “Danika’s Journey”, and #3, “Chloe’s Revelation” and we’ll see y’all tomorrow with a review of book #4, “Susanna’s Surprise”! :)