Main Character Monday: Interview with O.D. Billings

Welcome to another Main Character Monday and my interview with O.D. Billings. O.D. is from Hope Takes the Reins by Jenny Carlisle. Hope Takes the Reins is book one in the Crossroads series published by Scrivenings Press.  Let’s welcome O.D. Billings to Main Character Monday. O.D. why don’t we start with you telling us a bit about yourself.

I’m the second of three boys in our family. My dad owns a pretty successful car/truck dealership in Crossroads, Arkansas. I work full time as a delivery truck driver, but I’d rather be riding my horse in tie-down (calf roping) competitions at our local rodeo.

Wow. Well, I guess you probably need one to pay the bills and one for the love of it. Tell me something about you that readers may find surprising?

The only sport I’ve ever been good at is rodeo. My brothers did all the things, football, baseball, wrestling. I just didn’t get into those things. Also didn’t care much for bull-riding like my little brother. Far too dangerous.

Focus on one thing you love isn’t a bad thing. And I’m with you. Bull riding is dangerous, but those riders seem to love it. If you could solve one world problem, which one would you solve?

Making sure everyone has a family that loves them. I’ve been so blessed as far as this goes.  Nothing is sadder than hearing about a teenager who has run away or been a victim of trafficking.

It’s great you recognize the blessing of your family. The New Testament tells of Mary and Martha. Two sisters who react to a visit from Jesus in very different ways. Mary chooses to spend time with Him, while Martha chooses to take care of the physical needs. Are you more Mary or Martha?

Funny you should bring up this story. I probably remember David and Goliath, Jonah and the Whale, but didn’t give much thought to Mary and Martha since they are girls. But, my mom told me once I was too much like Martha. She said I should stop trying to fix everyone and everything and just enjoy life a little bit. I read up on it, and she was probably right. My little brother, Cody is more of a Mary, and my older brother John K. is like their brother Lazurus, the hero who came back from the dead.

Sounds like your whole family is covered. ”Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27 – Do you think living out this verse would make a difference in your life? How?

I guess this is how I always live. Trying to do what’s right. I may not always be successful at staying unspotted, though. I do enjoy the attention I get when I win a tie-down competition, and it might be easy to be tempted a little bit by the glitz and glamour. We have a new casino in town, and I confess the bright lights and big talk of the owner are kind of attractive.

Is there a verse of scripture that holds great meaning in your life?

You know, I haven’t paid attention enough at church, even though Mom made sure we all wore a clean shirt, polished our boots and showed up each Sunday. These days, though, the one that rings in my head is when God says “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” I just Googled it, and found it is actually in the Bible twice. Deuteronomy 31:6-8 and also Hebrews 13: 5-6. That encourages me. I think I’m still a work in progress, and I hope God continues to have patience with me.

I am sure He will. God has to have patience with us considering how often we mess things up. If you could leave readers with one message, what would that message be?

Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. I guess I need to practice what I preach. At the rodeo, I give everybody the impression that nothing bothers me, but I worry about my brothers, my mom, even the neighbors. I really need to calm down. 

Don’t we all. Now, we’re going to move on to some fun questions. No pressure, just your quick and honest answers. If you could buy one thing, without worrying about the cost, what would you buy?

A vintage truck like my older brother has. I’d soup mine up so that it would win if we ever raced our trucks.

What one hobby would you keep if you had to give up all other hobbies?

Definitely riding. That seems more like part of my life than a hobby. I might never go pro with tie-down, but I couldn’t get along without my horse, Buck. A side note: the girl I’m interested in, Hope Caldwell, feels the same about horses, so that’s a good thing.

Apples or Pears? Apples. Pears are often too mushy.

Indoors or Outside? Outside. That’s why I like driving a delivery truck.

Reading or Writing? Neither? If I have to pick, I guess I’d pick reading. I’m starting to enjoy searching the scriptures for inspiration.

And one final question to give our readers insight into Jenny Carlisle, the woman who gave you your story. If you described Jenny in three words, what would they be?

From what I can tell about Ms. Jenny, she seems compassionate, insightful, and helpful.

Those are some great descriptions. Thank you for being with us today. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you a bit more. For now, we’re going to let readers get to know Jenny Carlisle and then tell them a bit more about your story, Hope Takes the Reins.

More About Jenny Carlisle

Jenny has been writing stories since she learned to hold a pencil. She retired from a career in Human
Resources for the State of Arkansas in 2020. A long-time columnist for Ouachita Life magazine, two
collections of her inspirational articles have been self-published. She is past president of American
Christian Fiction Writers – Arkansas Chapter, where she improved her craft and made lifelong friends.
Her Crossroads series, Hope Takes the Reins, Faith Moves Mountains and Love Never Fails are published
by Scrivenings Press, along with a Christmas novella included in the collection, A gift for All Time. She
and her husband, James live in Benton, Arkansas where they worship with a community service oriented
congregation of the Church of Christ. They are the parents of three married children and eight
grandchildren. She is a Journey Partner with Women Equipped, a Christian Women’s Job Corps.

Where to connect with Jenny

Jenny McLeod Carlisle – Seeking, Waiting, Walking (jennycarlisle.com)
Jenny McLeod Carlisle | Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/jennycarlisleauthor
Amazon link for Jenny’s books

More About Hope Takes the Rein

O.D. Billings has lived in the shadow of his brothers all his life. Even his name brings him down, so he has used only initials for years. Now, his older brother has returned home from the army, rejecting the role his family expects him to assume in their pickup truck dealership, and the younger brother is intent on risking his life on the back of a bucking bull. O.D.’s fans at the rodeo love his confident swagger during tie-down roping competitions, but every trail he heads down on his own seems to wind up going nowhere.

Hope Caldwell’s world is still reeling after her mom’s recent death from cancer. She thrives on keeping the family’s rodeo business going. Getting back to normal seems impossible when she overhears her uncle’s plans to sell out. How can she continue without the only way of life she has known for all of her nineteen years? Can she rely on the help of a big-talking cowboy?  Or does he have too many problems of his own?

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