Amy R. Anguish's Blog, page 21

Behind the Story: Bree

Are you ready to start meeting the characters for my next novel?
Roadtrip for Two releases in just over two weeks and that means it's time to give you more information.
In the first book in this series, Destination: Romance, Bree was more of a side character. She's Katie's best friend and was one of their roadtrip trio all through college. Now, however, she gets her own trip. Or does she?
At the end of the first book, Bree and Nathan have broken up, called off the wedding, and she's heartbroken. Her friends decide to convince her to take the non-refundable honeymoon cruise to start moving past her heartbreak.
She never expects to see Nathan at the airport, with the same plans ...
Needless to say, the trip is off to a rocky start. Having a hurricane cancel the cruise and then tornadoes ground their flights doesn't help matters. But Bree is an optimist. She decides to take advantage of being in a city she's never explored and turns it into a roadtrip. Dallas, here she comes.
She never expected her ex-fiancé to tag along.
This story might test her ability to look at the bright side and find joy in everything around her. But it also might help her figure out why Nathan broke her heart in the first place.
​Can you guess?
The ebook is now available for pre-order! Save a dollar by ordering before release day (Dec 13).

First Time at the Christy's

Do you ever feel in awe of your surroundings? Or at least the people who surround you?
Last week I had the opportunity to attend the Art of Writing Conference and Christy Award Gala in Nashville. If you read much in the Christian fiction industry, you know the Christy's are basically one of the highest awards you can get. I've never even entered the contest. Don't feel I have the right.
Needless to say, I went knowing I was going to be around a lot of AH-mazing authors. And I was.
Several were authors whose books I snatch up as soon as I can after they release. Seriously. I don't even read the back cover--just go in knowing I'm going to enjoy it. So I definitely embarrassed my friends by fan-girling a bit, but that's okay too.
I also got to hang out with my publisher and three other authors I already knew. We soaked up several of the sessions and then enjoyed each other's company as we took in the fancy dinner and events. And maybe it wasn't a black-tie formal thing, but there were some gorgeous dresses. I was pretty happy with the one I wore, too, except for how freezing cold it was outside afterward! Brr.
It was a great day. Just what my spirit needed after being a bit down about not doing Nanowrimo this month. That's right. I ended up not having enough time for that despite my desire. Maybe I can snatch a few minutes here and there over Christmas. Ha!
So, how would you react if you were able to meet some of your favorite authors? As you can see in the pictures, I was pretty thrilled. ;)

Author Interview: Micki Clark

Have you guys ever had someone you loved and admired even though you'd never met her? Well, today I'm sharing one of those people with you. Micki Clark and I have never met in person, but we've been at the same publisher for several years now, and I've followed her through publishing and cancer and life--she's awesome. So, I wanted you to meet her, too. Read on. Micki, I'm so glad to have you on here. I very much enjoyed your book Don't Ask Me to Leave You. What gave you the idea to loosely base your story on the book of Ruth?

My husband and I used the book of Ruth for our wedding vows, so those words are constantly in my head. One day, I started wondering what would happen to Ruth and Naomi in a modern world, and the story was born!
 
I know you incorporated quite a few places from your home area into the book. What are your favorites and why did you pick them?

I did—almost all of the locations in the book are real! I did change a few details here and there to make it fit the storyline, but you can go and tour all of the places mentioned yourself! I also have a YouTube video with photographs of some of the locations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooghJjgGnpQ. My absolute favorite, of course, is the Ruth Hunt Candy Company, because I have a killer sweet tooth and their cream candy is amazing. My children love to stop by there when we visit my family and get Ale-8 suckers (Ale-8 is a local beverage also featured in the book). The kids love Berryman’s Tasty Treat, which is a diner not too far down the street from the church where my husband and I were married.​

Did you always want to be a writer?

Oh, for sure! When I was little, I was constantly writing stories and forcing them upon unsuspecting friends, family members, and church members to read.
 
As a high school English teacher, how has being a published author helped or hurt with that? What are some ways you incorporate writing into your classes?

I teach English 101 (freshman comp) to my juniors, and I use this as an example to point out to them that I won’t ask them to do something I’m not willing to do myself. When I tell them to “show, don’t tell”, I have a reason behind it! I am also the sponsor of our school’s Young Writers Club, and the students really benefit from asking questions about the writing and publishing process. It’s opened a bunch of eyes!
 
It's been several years since you released this beautiful story, and I know you had a major fight against cancer in the meantime. Do you think you might write a story about that someday (I think it would be a great idea!)?

I think for the moment that I’m still a little too close to the cancer journey to write a novel about it—there’s a lot of emotion that’s still connected there. I will someday, though. What I’m hoping is to be able to get back to the story I had planned to write before cancer robbed me of all of my free time, haha.
 
Even if you don't write a story about it, is there anything about your cancer journey you'd like to pass on to the people reading this right now?

The most important thing, to me, was keeping my faith and a positive attitude. No amount of being upset about cancer was going to change anything. However, keeping a positive outlook throughout helped me move through everything—and my doctors generally agreed that my positive energy helped me heal faster. We learn from all of our experiences in life. Yes, cancer was miserable. 10/10 would not recommend. But. My husband and I became so much closer after my diagnosis. I learned a lot of things about myself and others. I’ve grown and I think I’m a better person now.
 
Do you have anything in the works we can look forward to reading in the near future?

I am hoping to get back to my project, The Soldier’s Wife. I think, though, that the time away from it has given me some really good ideas for plot lines and twists! The Soldier’s Wife is very loosely based on the story of David and Bathsheba, in the sense that one of the characters in the novel gets confused about reality, suspects my protagonist of Bathsheba-like behavior, and kidnaps her, hoping to show her the error of her ways. I’m hoping to do NaNoWriMo with this project along with my students in the Young Writer’s Club, so fingers crossed.

Yay! That sounds like a great idea!
Okay, last but not least. Can you leave us with one thing about yourself that very few people know about?

I love learning new things. I’m a really creative person and I’m always looking for new ways to challenge my mind. I just started teaching myself to crochet a few weeks ago and I’m loving it.


Aww, another yay. I love to crochet, too. :)
Thanks so much for joining me today, Micki. I look forward to hearing you have another book come out in the future. And for the readers, keep going, because the links for her book and website are below. 

Newlywed Rachel Miller has everything she could want from life—the perfect husband, her dream job, and a cute little house in the country—but the daydream is shattered when her husband is killed in a tragic accident. Her mother-in-law, Nadine, takes her in as she tries to pick up the pieces, and their handsome neighbor Beau is willing to help…if Rachel will let him. Does she dare open her heart for a second chance at love?
​
Find out more here.

Micki Clark (1980 - ) was born in Lexington, Kentucky. A graduate of the University of Kentucky, she has loved the written word since childhood (when she was often captured hiding in the closet reading instead of doing mundane things like cleaning her room). She now teaches high school English in Western Kentucky.

http://www.micki-clark.com/

Dressing Up Romance

Happy Halloween!
I love this time of year. The colors. The fun. I don't deal with the ultra scary or gory, but the fun stuff, I love. Including dressing up. My husband doesn't love it as much, but he goes along with it to make me happy. He's pretty great that way. ;) But we're not the only ones who like to dress up for Halloween.
In my first novel, which celebrates its FIFTH birthday tomorrow, they have a Trunk or Treat at the church. My characters, Chad and Jessica, are just getting to know each other and whether or not they want to explore more. Thought you might like a peek inside that scene. ;)
“So, this Trunk-or-treat thing tomorrow night, it’s a costume thing, right?” Chad pointed to the announcement about it in the bulletin.

“It’s optional, but quite a few people do dress up.” Jessica gave a little shrug.

“So are you and Courtney dressing up?”

Jessica shook her head. “Courtney’s not really a dress-up kind of girl.”

“I’m not a what?” Courtney asked from her conversation a couple feet away.

“You don’t like to wear costumes.” Chad pointed to his shirt.

“Oh,” Courtney said. “At least if you’re talking about me, you’re telling the truth.”

“What about you?” Chad turned back to Jessica. “Are you a dress-up kind of girl?”

Jessica looked up at him. “I do occasionally wear a costume for fun, if I know other people will be, too.” Who was she kidding? She loved dressing up, but for some reason, she was holding back tonight. “I think it’s fun to dress up fancy, but that’s not really the kind of event this is. It’s outside in the parking lot, and it’s supposed to be cool. Basically, you decorate the trunk of your car and then kids come by and get candy from you. There’s hot dogs and chips and caramel corn. You know, the usual.”

“We’re going to dress up as transformers.” Garrett leaned toward them.

Amber rolled her eyes. “How are you going to do that?”

“We found some boxes and spray-painted them silver and then drew the faces and stuff on them.” Kyle did a few moves of the robot dance. “It’s going to be great.”

“You could join the boys and be a transformer.” Jessica cocked her head to the side. “Doesn’t every boy want to be a robot?”

“They’re not robots, they’re aliens.” Garrett shook his head, his voice laced with incredulity.

Everyone laughed and then started gathering their things to head home.

“We could get some red yarn and be Raggedy Ann and Andy.” Chad walked Jessica out to her car.

“I didn’t realize you were a dress-up kind of guy.” Jessica poked him in the arm.

“I guess this is really the first Halloween I’ve had a girlfriend, and I thought it would be fun if we dressed up as a famous couple. I mean, Romeo and Juliet are too depressing, and they were the only other option for a famous couple I could think of.” Chad opened the door for Jessica.

“I’m amazed you could think of Raggedy Ann and Andy.”

“Oh?”

“Not a couple you’d expect a guy to know much about.”

Chad stuck his hands in his pockets and ducked his head. “My Grandma made us all one when we were kids. And I figured it would be easy to find some red yarn and paint our cheeks ... you know last-minute costume stuff.”

Courtney got in on the driver’s side. “You coming, Jess?”

“Yeah.” Jessica turned back to Chad, her hand on the door. “I don’t think I’m going to dress up this year, Chad. But it’s sweet that you wanted to.”

“It’s okay.” He nodded. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow night. Save me a hotdog if I get off work late.”

“Sure,” she said.

He squeezed her hand before she got in the car. She waved at him as they drove away.

“You okay?” Courtney lightly elbowed Jessica as they stopped at a red light.

“I guess.”

“What’s up? Because the normal you would have loved to be Raggedy Ann with him as Andy.”

“I wish I knew.” Jessica fiddled with the ribbon on her Bible. “I told you that things were feeling weird. Maybe if I can get a hold of my mom tonight I can work through some of this mess.”

Courtney nodded. “I hope so, too, because Chad seems like a really great guy, and it would be a shame if you let him go just because your aunt is weird.”
Want to read more? Check out An Unexpected Legacy, free on KU or available in ebook or paperback. An Unexpected Legacy

Smoothies brought them together, but would the past tear them apart?

​When Chad Manning introduces himself to Jessica Garcia at her favorite smoothie shop, it's like he stepped out of one of her romance novels. But as she tentatively walks into a relationship with this man of her dreams, secrets from their past threaten to shatter their already fragile bond.  Chad and Jessica must struggle to figure out if their relationship has a chance or if there is nothing between them but a love of smoothies.

Will She or Won't She?

Nanowrimo is next month.
It starts next week, actually.
Just a few days away.
And I wasn't going to do it.
Didn't/don't have time.
​And yet ...
My muse says, "Hey, here's an idea for a scene for that book you've been meaning to write all year."
Yeah, thanks, Muse. But I don't have time.
"Ooh! Or what if they did this?"
That's a great idea! And then they could ...
Oh, wait. I can't think about this right now. I don't have time.
"But you've written a book in 18 days before. Surely, you can find 18 days in November to finish this story. Your characters need you."
No. I'm not listening.
Although ... tax season IS over. And I'll still have the evenings.
And I need to be getting ready to launch Roadtrip for Two in December.
But how much time will that really take?

Needless to say, I'm itching to do Nano again. But we'll see what happens. Because if I attempt it, I need to go in with the understanding that I might not win. Am I okay with that? I'm just not sure.
What do you think? 
​Will she or won't she do Nanowrimo?

A Much-needed Retreat

At the end of last week, I headed up to southern Illinois for the third annual Once Upon a Page retreat. As you can see from our picture, we were missing quite a few who came the year before. We had half as many this year, actually, and our dear friend Erin Howard, one of the founders of our group, couldn't come, either. But we had a good few days.
Since the three of us weren't all there, we didn't spend nearly as much time making YouTube videos like we have in the past. I think we did about five or six total, just to have a few, but we'll make up for it using Zoom over the next few weeks since we won't be able to get together again until probably next year. Still, a lot of other good was gleaned.
For one thing, I actually got some writing done! I had been putting off writing a short story for months, and this weekend I finally got it down. And since Heather was working on hers, too, we were able to swap and do a quick edit for each other before leaving. Both are fun and will be available in the Scrivenings Press Christmas giveaway for newsletter subscribers at the end of the year. I'll be sure to let you know how to snag that when it's closer.
I also got a bit of editing done on something I wrote last year or the year before. Another project on my "meaning to do" list.
We played some games, did some writing exercises together, ate so much good food, like s'mores made with Peeps, and had a great time uplifting one another.
I knew I'd been under quite a bit of stress lately and had lost some of my love of this part, but after this weekend, I'm back up and ready to go once more. At least for now. ;)
Hey, I even made a short detour and got to see Superman. Therefore, it must have been a good weekend!
What have you done lately to refresh yourself? Do you like to use Peeps marshmallows to make s'mores?

Behind the Story: Why Quilts

What is it about a quilt that is so special?
And why did I choose to make it the center of my novella, The Missing Piece?
I've talked about quilt shops already, but why quilts in particular? Why not any other part of sewing?
Well, let me tell you about someone really special to me. My Grandma Reeve. She was one of the most amazing women I ever knew. And she taught me a love for quilts fairly early on. First, with a twin-sized quilt, each block appliqued with various women in different jobs. Then, when I graduated high school, with a queen-sized quilt made in the colors I requested.
And she didn't only make quilts for me. No. There were thirteen of us grandchildren and every single one received two Grandma-made quilts.
So, those quilts are obviously special because of who made them.
But think about what goes into a quilt. Lots of cutting--every single piece has to be cut out to be sewn together again. Certain patterns can't be pieced together on a sewing machine. Instead, they have to be stitched by hand (like a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt I started years ago and never finished). Then, once the top is pieced, the various layers have to be stitched together, which often means going back over seams you've already stitched before again.
We're talking hours and hours of work.
Then, once you get the edges all bound neatly and the finished blanket washed, you get the joy of snuggling underneath it. And there is nothing comfier than a quilt on a cold evening. Comforting and warm.
And what does any of that have to do with romance? Well, you might have to read the story to find out. ;)
But seriously, I grew up watching Grandma and Mom make quilts. Literally played under a quilt frame some church ladies sat around and worked when we lived in Mississippi. How could I not include something so special in one of my stories? And The Missing Piece was born.
​So, do you love quilts? Has anyone in your life spent hours creating one for you? Have you ever tried your hand at all those tiny stitches?

Author Interview: Lisa Schnedler

Do you like books that send characters through time? I have to admit, they're not always my favorite (time travel gives me a headache), but the idea behind fellow Scrivenings author, Lisa Schnedler's, new book sounds interesting. I'm interviewing her today on how she came up with such a story as well as a few other things. I think you're going to enjoy getting to know her, too.

Lisa, congrats on your first book. I know it's set in two different time periods. What inspired you to write a story that crossed time?

I chose to have the book set in two different time periods as I was trying to flesh out what someone from Bentonsport in the 1870s would think of the town today. In the 1870s, the town was growing and prosperous—with railroad and steamboat traffic. Many people moved to Bentonsport. But, time was not kind to Bentonsport—the river traffic dried up and highways replaced the railroad. Likely, the former residents would have envisioned a booming future town…but instead, today, there are just 40 residents. Those residents have created an artist community—and tourist destination—so many people do still come, visit, and a few stay. At our largest festivals, we have over a thousand visitors over four days. The town would not be what past residents had envisioned—but I hope they would see that the residents have the same hopes, dreams, and sense of community that they did. I used time travel to create contrast and similarity.

​Writing what you know is always a great idea and your story is set in a town you've lived in for 25 years. What are some of your favorite parts of your town that you've incorporated in your story?

My favorite part of the town is the people. When I was dating my husband, and we visited Bentonsport—where he had once lived—he said, “People usually visit towns for the sites and attractions. While there are points of interest in the town, when people visit Bentonsport, they enjoy getting to know the people who live there.”

It is a slower pace. People have more time to visit. And, the artists who live there—a potter, blacksmith, weaver, writer, etc. – are interesting and a lot of fun!
This is a Christmas story, which is always fun. Is Christmas your favorite time of year? If not, what is and why?

Christmas and Easter are my favorite times of the year. I love Christmas because of its religious significance. It is a time of family coming together. I also love the “sparkle” of Christmas! It is the holiday of light in a time of darkness—and really does mirror Christ’s entry into the world, if you can get past the commercialization of the event.  Easter has come to mean more to me each year. It truly is the holiest day of the year. A few years back, I started to actively take part in Lent, not only giving up something I enjoy, but really reflecting on my own sins, failings, and selfish tendencies. When Easter comes, it really feels like the doors of heaven have opened, and the light streams in!

With this being your first novel, of course, we're interested in knowing what inspired you to become a writer. How did you get here?

I have always enjoyed writing! I wrote Bentonsport several years back. During the pandemic, I dusted it off and edited it many times. It was therapeutic as I work in a hospital—and the pandemic took its toll on health care workers! Writing allows me to enter new worlds, meet new people, and demonstrate how faith in Jesus makes life so much better in all ways! Bentonsport:  A Christmas Story is a cozy romance that brings the magic of Christmas and the hope of our faith to life.

Can you give us a sneak peek into some of the fun stories you're working on next?

This is the first in a three-book series, so I am working on book two—and dreaming about book three! I also have published a Christian Life Planning guide and journal—and I am working on a new, revised version of the guide.

Do you consider any of your characters to have traits similar to you? If yes, which ones?

I have several traits in common with Sarah Peterson, one of the main characters. We both are pretty independent. We both love Jesus. And, we both dream and hope—but are pretty realistic in our approach to life.

​And one last question I ask everyone: can you please tell us one thing about yourself that very few people might know?

I’m fairly transparent—but few people know that I have a passion for pickles. Sweet, dill, butter pickles –pickled beets, pickled mushrooms—I love them all. In fact, I have been known to steal them from family members’ plates.

That's a lot of pickles! :)
​Thanks to Lisa for stopping by to chat with us. I hope you'll keep reading to find out about her new book, releasing this month. 
​What if you found the love of your life right in your hometown—in another century?

For Bentonsport Academy Headmaster Thomas Barton, Christmas emphasizes his loneliness. He
has given up hope of discovering a woman to share his heart and life and plans to return to his
hometown for the holidays. But when his friend’s preposterous prophecy comes true, he finds himself
having traveled not by train, but through time, from 1869, to Bentonsport today! Now he must navigate a modern world for the two weeks before Christmas and discover what he was sent to find.

​Baker Sarah Peterson has everything she wants in the small historic town of modern-day
Bentonsport—everything but a man with whom to share her dreams and future. And, in a town of under fifty residents, where’s she going to encounter a soulmate? But when Thomas walks into her bakery, seemingly odd and out of place, but handsome and charming, she finds herself hoping something special might happen this Christmas. Lisa Schnedler writes cozy romances set in small towns you will want to visit—with characters who fast become friends!
She has lived in Bentonsport, Iowa, the setting of her latest series, for more than 25 years.
A certified Christian Life Coach, Lisa and her husband established Infusing Faith Ministries, the goal of which is to infuse all aspect of life with the beauty of faith. The ministry includes retreats, classes, a website, blog, and podcast.
Lisa is the founder of Branch Living, a Christian Life Planning ministry that helps Christians live balanced faith-based lives.
She is president of a health system in Wisconsin, a pastor’s wife, mother of three, and grandmother of six.

Follow her here.

Guest Behind the Story: Spring

For almost a month now, I've been giving sneak peeks into MY story in the novella collection that released on the 27th. But today, I'm passing the torch and letting Regina Rudd Merrick post about her story and why spring is such an intrinsic part of it. Be sure to read to the end so you won't miss the next clue in our scavenger hunt! Spring has sprung,
The grass is riz,
Wonder where the flowers is?
They are nowhere to be found,
‘Cause they’re underground.
 
I’ve always had an affinity for springtime in Kentucky, being born in March, so it was no stretch for me to write a story based on the season!
I could also say that, like my character Maia Pascal, I have a love/hate relationship with the season.
In the LOVE category are the feelings of refreshing, new birth, plus the colorful flowers and budding trees after a somber late winter! It brings hope every year.
On the flip side (I can’t use the word HATE, unlike Maia!), there are the following issues:
I have curly hair (as does Maia), and damp windy conditions do not play well with naturally curly hair. You leave the house feeling like you’re having a pretty good hair day, and you look in the mirror when you arrive at your destination, and WHAM! Humidity strikes again. Sigh. No amount of hairspray can fix that.For many in the Southeast/Midwest, allergies do crop up as soon as the pollen hits the air. Maia suffers greatly—my allergies wait until fall!Spring weather in my part of the world can be quite unpredictable. Maia deals with fluctuating temperatures (what to wear??), snow (are you KIDDING me? It’s March!), and flooding (the most serious issue). Throw in a tornado, and you’ve got spring in Kentucky—although some of our worst tornados have been in Winter, lately!You know the old joke that everyone, in every town repeats? If you don’t like the weather today, just wait for tomorrow!
​This can be an issue if you’re trying to organize a festival around the name of your town, which, in this story, is the fictional small town of Spring, Kentucky. Maia knows it’s going to be tough. For one thing, she doesn’t feel well. For another, her personality does not mesh with the “all Spring, all the time” mentality of her hometown. Maybe something happened in Spring that colors her opinion?
 Dr. Owen Roswell, who grew up in the southwest and is new in town, can’t imagine anyone feeling less than love for the season, and is very enthusiastic about it. For him, the opportunity to experience all four distinct seasons trumps any obstacle that can come his way. His goal? To nudge Maia to love the changing seasons as much as he.
I live near the town of Paducah, Kentucky, in the far western part of the state. It’s considered a small town by many standards, but here? Here, it’s “town.” One of the things Paducah is known for is its connection to the American Quilters Society and the annual AQS QuiltWeek-Paducah. It happens every spring, and during that time the spring flowers and dogwoods are showing out big-time. There’s even a “Dogwood Trail” driving tour around the residential areas in town.
Unlike my fictional festival, all the AQS activities take place indoors, so no weather issues there. The possibility of flooding is always lurking, though, because the venue is directly on the Ohio River near its widest point.
In my REALLY small town of Marion, about 40 miles from Paducah, we have in the past hosted the “Backroads Tours” in the Amish community, with guided tours and maps to all the Amish businesses where you can find everything from donuts to leather goods. For a few years we had a festival on the court square. After being cancelled due to weather a few years in a row, the Chamber of Commerce gave up on it and put their efforts into the “Pumpkin Festival” in October.
We have small rivers in our area that flood regularly, sometimes cutting rural residents off for days. In 1937, there was a devastating flood in Paducah and the surrounding areas. Since then, there is a flood wall that has kept the Ohio River at bay ever since.
 There you have it. Spring, after what feels like a long winter, brings life to me, and to my characters, eventually. The shade of green on newly budding trees is my favorite. The yellow of the daffodils makes it look like sunshine on the ground. Every warm day feels like a gift, and snowy days an additional chance for a snow day!
The pollen? Eh. That beautiful green isn’t as pretty when it’s clinging to your car and front porch!
Welcome to spring in Kentucky!
​Sugar and Spice by Regina Merrick
 
Spring has sprung, the grass is riz…
City administrator Maia Pascal is tasked with organizing the Dogwood Festival, and she’s not happy. An allergy sufferer all her life, she dreads the season. When Dr. Owen Roswell volunteers to help, she finds him an expert—not only is he an allergist by trade, but a lover of all things Spring.
What does Owen want more—for Maia to fall in love with his favorite season? Or him?
​Regina Rudd Merrick is a multi-published writer, church musician, wife, mother, former librarian, lover of all things beachy and chocolate, and grateful follower of Jesus Christ. Married to her husband of 35-plus years, she has two beautiful daughters and a delightful son-in-law, and lives in the small town of Marion, KY. Her books include the Southern Breeze Series set in South Carolina, her favorite beachy state, and the RenoVations series set in Kentucky. Find her books on Amazon or other retailers, and connect with Regina on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or on her website at https://www.reginaruddmerrick.com .
Join the Love in Any Season Social Media Scavenger Hunt. Collect all 15 clues to complete the phrase. Submit the phrase to enter the drawing. Clue # 8 is PERFECT. If you’ve missed a clue, check out my website at abitofanguish.weebly.com where an updated list of clue links and the link to entry submission can be found. Contest ends 11:59pm on October 4th. Open to US Only.

Guest Behind the Story: Winter

For almost a month now, I've been giving sneak peeks into MY story in the novella collection releasing TOMORROW! But today, I'm passing the torch and letting Heather Greer post about her story and why winter is such an intrinsic part of it. Be sure to read to the end so you won't miss the next clue in our scavenger hunt! Spring is too wet and the ground is a big muddy mess. Summer is too hot and not even the draw of a great glass of lemonade can make it less so. Autumn is perfect. Always. Winter is often cold and dark.
​
Why, then, did I choose winter for my novella, Sugar and Spice? While the temperatures may leave something to be desired, I cannot deny the beauty of the season.

Despite the cold, there’s beauty in winter. When snow blankets the bare branches of trees and rests on the needles of evergreens set against a wintery blue sky, the result is breathtaking. When sunlight hits the snow-covered ground creating an ocean of sparkling diamonds out of the field behind my house, the two sights blend with the unique hush accompanying snow to evoke a sense of serenity. 
The peacefulness ushers in a spirit of fellowship with God and the desire to create my own beautiful work. And when I can enjoy God’s presence in the stillness of His creation from behind the window of my office while enjoying a mug of rich hot chocolate, that’s even better!

As beautiful it is, there’s something even more inspiring than snow in winter.

 Christmas.

The spiritual meaning behind “God with us” that starts in the manger and ends at the cross is the reason I write faith-filled stories. Re-reading the story I’ve heard since I was born and finding new depth and meaning with each reading amazes me. Listening to those gifted with music praise God’s provision in song each year helps lead me straight into God’s presence and settle His message of love and hope into my heart. It’s beautiful and wonderful and completely beyond my understanding how God constantly causes His story to come alive in new ways each year.

Even looking beyond the spiritual aspects I find wonder and joy. The visual comfort food of enjoying the same Christmas movies each year adds to the experience. Colorful lights twinkling from porches and around windows bring a smile as I drive through festive neighborhoods. Exercising my love of baking and gift giving at the same time by creating cookie trays to give away lifts my spirits. Traditions enjoyed each December tie me to those who came before me and convince me that I’ll be connected to my loved ones long after I’m gone.

Christmas is the highlight of a season already full of beauty on its own. The time of God’s greatest gift is the perfect season for Emmie and Ryker’s story of forgiving hurts and finding hope. And I can easily imagine the warmth of Emmie’s ovens chasing away the cold as the sweet scent of sugar and the earth scents of ginger and cinnamon mingle together in the air. I don’t think a warm oven would as welcome during the heat of summer.
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With the beauty, serenity, and love captured in the season of winter, I can’t think of a time of year I’d rather write about. Unless, of course, it’s autumn. Maybe next time.   
​Sugar and Spice by Heather Greer
 
Emeline Becker, owner of Sugar and Spice Bakery, loves New Kuchenbrünn, except for the Gingerbread Festival. As the only bakery, she supplies the one treat she can’t stand. It’s gingerbread everywhere. Emmie’s cookie threatens to crumble completely when Ryker Lehmann returns to town to photograph the festival. Her secret teen crush and witness to her worst humiliation. His leaving broke her heart. Now he’s back and determined to fix their friendship before the festival ends. With gingerbread and Ryker together, how will Emmie survive the festival with her mind and heart intact?
​Heather Greer is a preacher’s kid and pastor’s wife who loves using her passion for reading and writing to encourage others in their faith. She has been a finalist for the Selah awards twice. In addition to all things book related, Heather loves baking. Christmas baking is her favorite, and each year, she makes dozens of treats to pass on to her family and friends in southern Illinois. And while it isn’t her favorite, she’s even been known to add gingerbread people to her cookie trays.

Follow her here.
Join the Love in Any Season Social Media Scavenger Hunt. Collect all 15 clues to complete the phrase. Submit the phrase to enter the drawing. Clue # 5 is ROMANCE. If you’ve missed a clue, check out my website at abitofanguish.weebly.com where an updated list of clue links and the link to entry submission can be found. Contest ends 11:59pm on October 4th. Open to US Only.