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PROFILE An Interview with Janine Turner
Janine Turner is a mother, actor, director, and, as of this year, a best-selling author. Perhaps best known for her role as Maggie O’Connell in the CBS series Northern Exposure, in which she earned an Emmy nomination and three Golden Globe nominations, Turner is the author of Holding Her Head High, a look at the lives of 12 single mothers throughout history. The “life lessons” drawn from the example of these women are designed to inspire today’s single mothers. The book recounts the stories of women from the third to the 21st century, women like Rachel Lavein Fawcett, abandoned mother of Alexander Hamilton, and Harriet Jacobs, an unwed slave whose autobiography was published the year the Civil War began, and widowed Belva Lockwood, the first woman to officially run for president of the United States. Turner, a single mother herself, starred in the Lifetime series, Strong Medicine, as well as in movies such as Night of the White Pants and Primal Doubt. She also recently produced and directed the short film Trip in a Summer Dress, which featured her young daughter, Juliette. And she co-produced and starred in a yoga video, called Christoga, which combines yoga moves with Christian meditation. A native of Texas, Turner returned to the Lone Star State when her daughter was very young and started a ranch – Mockingbird Hill – where she raised Longhorn cattle. She still has the ranch, but has recently moved with her daughter to New York. MWLM: Your new book, Holding Her Head High, tells the story of 12 single mothers – from the third century to the present day – who have not only raised their children but also helped raise up their nations. These were women of faith whose lives may not be included in our history textbooks and whom many of us know nothing about. How did you come up with the idea for this book, and how did you go about writing it? JT: I am a single mother, and I also love history. As I was researching, I was flabbergasted by the number of women throughout history who raised their children alone – as single mothers. I feel comforted by the fact that I, as a single mother, am not alone. Single motherhood is not a modern-day phenomenon; neither are blended families for that matter. I thought it would be inspirational for modern-day single mothers to read about these amazing women who did it before us, and they had none of the luxuries we take for granted today, such as the right to vote, be educated and seek employment. JT: One of the responses I hear frequently to my book is "Why aren't these women in the textbooks?" I don't know, but hopefully they will be added to them now. The 12 women in Holding Her Head High were exceptional women who had character, faith, resiliency and compassion. They were brave and intelligent. I like to call them the "Go Girls" of their eras. Many of them were also the "firsts" – true ground breakers. All the women had three things in common: faith, determination, and they were stewards of their wounds. They were driven by their intrinsic sense of humanity to help others who were suffering from similar plights. I hope women who read the book will say to themselves, as I did, "If they can do it, I can do it too!" Holding Her Head High was originally the Life Lesson chapter title for Rachel Lavein Fawcett, Alexander Hamilton's mother. Wow. Her life was incredibly challenging, and she endured such hardships and unfairness, but she always held her head high. It summarized the image of the single mother. Single mothers and their children should hold their heads high! JT: I have been surprised at the mainstream media's reluctance to embrace the book. There seemed to be a lack of desire to promote an inspirational, faith-based book. As an example, my book – about truly amazing, heroic women – was not chosen to be on a certain morning talk show but Sex and the Single Mother was; guess that's just how the ball bounces. I trust that word of mouth will get the book in the hands of the mother that truly needs to hear its message. Holding Her Head High did make the Washington Post Best Seller List, and the people that really read the book have responded with great enthusiasm. JT: I read so many biographies, and the journals [that people keep] are a fantastic insight into people's lives, and [their] letters too. My advice for mothers who want to write is to find some quiet time, if possible, and write during those times. I wrote my book in a $100 storage room with no windows and a card table as my desk. Also, listen to your inner voice, and if you have a thought at four in the morning, WRITE IT DOWN. Those are the magic moments; moments when I believe God is guiding me. JT: I wanted Juliette to be raised near extended family and in Texas. Thus, I left the Strong Medicine series for Lifetime when she was four and home schooled her for a year, and did all of the things you mentioned above to remain creative. I wanted her to have a good foundation of faith, family and friends, as well as consistency and my undivided attention. I tried to stay afloat financially as I felt guilty being a working single mother. Yet, after finishing [my] book, I realized that the women in the book were working single mothers and they didn't think twice about it. They had to do it! And their children ended up being fantastic. Thus, I closed the book and said, "Juliette, let’s move to NYC [New York City]!" And we did. JT: God is everything to me, and I believe He guided me throughout the JT: Juliette loves to read, especially biographies, and she is quite the independent soul – like the women in the book. She also is stimulated by the creative process of writing. I constantly relay to her the importance of reading and that all the great thinkers were well-read. They read and read and read. JT: Longhorns epitomize Texas! Each one is unique in color. They are independent and curious and have gorgeous horns. We name them all with names such as Revolution, Prairie Blossom, etc! I am a horrible cattle woman – can't bear to part with any of them. JT: If a mother has a desire to write, she shouldn't let anyone or anything extinguish that flame. God has given it, and no one has the right to blow it out. And remember that God sees eternity in perspective. If things don't seem to be going as planned, just wait and see because something better is coming.
Jackie Papandrew is an award-winning writer and editor. Her humor column – Airing My Dirty Laundry – appears in several newspapers in the United States and Canada. Visit www.jackiepapandrew.com to read more of her work.
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whole process.
