Sunday Dinner is a traditional (noon) meal served after church on Sundays. Whole families, including extended family, would gather over a large meal to celebrate a day of rest. Multiple cultures enjoy this Sunday Dinner tradition. In my experience, I know it from both my Midwestern farm family as well as my Italian-American family. Now, I’d like to bring Sunday Dinner virtually to you. So, pull up a chair as we invite various guests to join us each week!

Lori DeJong is a contemporary Christian romance author who enjoys penning stories full of grace and the redemptive power of God’s love that inspire others to hope regardless of circumstance, find joy in the moment, and grow in their faith. She resides in Georgetown, Texas, with her husband and two fur-babies and is the mother of one grown daughter.

Lori's debut novel, "Love's True Calling", was the 2022 winner of the ACFW Genesis Award for Romance and was released in June 2023. "Love’s True Home" released in June 2024, and "Love’s True Measure" will release in June 2025. Lori's Christmas novella, "Jingle Bell Matchmakers", released as part of "A Match Made at Christmas" novella collection on October 1st.

Contemporary or Historical

Lots of Romance or No Romance

Lots of Danger or No Danger

Stand Alone or Series

Short Books or Long Books

What is something interesting readers would enjoy learning about you?

I just signed a new contract with my publisher for another series that I'm really excited about!

Can you tell us about your latest novel?

When country music star Aubrey Mayfield is lured home after years away, she’s bewildered when she and ex-fiance-now-widowed-dad Cody Lansdale keep finding themselves in the same place at the same time. As they become reacquainted, however, old feelings stir. Aubrey’s at a crossroads in her career and is contemplating a change. But when a chance at headlining her own tour takes her back to Nashville, Cody realizes her dreams may once again come between them. Unless God, with a little help from the Jingle Bell Committee, has a better plan.

In what city is your story set and why did you choose to set your novel there?

The story is set in Cantwell, Texas, about two hours outside of Dallas/Ft. Worth. I wanted it to be a smallish town but big enough to draw a large crowd for a concert.

Describe your setting. And, if it's a real place, have you visited?

Canwell is a fictional town that only exists between the pages of my novella. I wanted a small town feeling but still have it be a county seat. There are several small towns in my part of Texas that are county seats, so Cantwell is somewhat patterned after those.

What research was required to set a book there?

Very little research, to tell you the truth. I'm very familiar with Texas small towns and my daughter lives up in the Dallas area, so that part of Texas is familiar to me, as well.

What does a day in the life of one of your characters look like?

Aubrey's a country music star, so her days would vary depending on whether she's on tour, recording, or in her writing cave. If on tour, her days would primarily consist of traveling by bus to the next destination (probably writing songs along the way), sound check, concert, sleep, repeat. If recording, her days would be spent in studio. Cody's a worship pastor and is a widowed single dad to an 11-yo daughter. So his days are spent in a church office preparing for services, then spending evenings with his daughter, helping with homework, going to her extra-curricular activities, and so on. He also writes songs and helps with the high school music program.

Were resources easy or difficult to find on these topics? Do you have a favorite resource?

Very easy because most of it was in my head. Since this was a light-hearted holiday novella and much shorter than an actual novel, I didn't have any subplots or touch on any deep cultural issues like my novels usually do. I did research how a record label works, what makes a gold record, a platinum record, etc. But writing this novella was a fun departure from my longer novels.

What is one piece of your research that you couldn’t include in the book, but wish readers could know?

That it really is so much harder to get discovered than how it appears in my novella. Aubrey was discovered at an open mic night and offered a contract. In reality, artists can toil away for years before their big break. I definitely took dramatic license with that.

Do you have another book in the works? What can you tell us about that book?

I'm working right now on "Love's True Measure", the third and final book in my True Calling Series. It releases in June 2025. The overall theme of that book is defining how one should measure their lives, by the world's values or by God's. My characters both have to find their way to their true value in who God says they are.

Is there anything else you’d like readers to know?

I'm really excited about my next series, the first of which will release in October of 2025. It's still contemporary romance but each will have a suspense thread woven throughout. The common element of each one will be a bodyguard protagonist, one of which is female. Very excited to write her story!