Amy R. Anguish's Blog, page 8

How did 2024 Go?

Another year draws to a close. Are you like me, looking back and wondering how everything didn't get done? Or wondering how you got so many things done?
I've got to admit, this year went a bit different than planned, not always in a bad way. I had two books release, which is the personal goal I have set myself for now (after almost killing myself doing four a few years ago). And I have contracts for two more to release next year. But ...
Are you hard on yourself? I am so hard on myself.
I really wanted to finish writing Fairest Inn All, my Snow White retelling. But it has not happened. I'm still hoping to finish it in time to snag a contract for it to release in 2026, but we'll see. Life has lots of interruptions. Especially with kids 10 and 8. And other jobs. And all the things I think I need to be involved in.
That being said, let's celebrate what was accomplished this year.I finished writing my novella early in the year, which released in October. For Better or For Granted released back in March, and is being touted as my best book yet. Makes me feel pretty good. ;)I snagged a contract for Rendersella to release July 2025.I was blessed to be asked to participate in another novella collection to release in February 2025, and was able to write a fun story involving a hamster, a kindergarten classroom, and Valentine's day. The collection is Pets Amore' and I'll reveal the cover very soon.Our Christmas novella collection, A Match Made at Christmas , released in October and has only good reviews.I was blessed to see so many writing friends at ScrivCon in November. And was surprised to be one of the two editors awarded Editor of the Year for 2023. And in the midst of all of that, I edited quite a few really good books by other authors (more on that in Thursday's post).Did I accomplish everything I set out to do this year? No. But that doesn't mean it was bad. It was full of blessings, and I count my readers as a huge blessing. Thank you for being a part of this crazy journey. I pray it will continue for years to come. And, if all the story ideas in my head are an indication, it will.
I hope your 2024 was blessed too. The good part about not finishing everything this year is that we have something to start 2025 with, right?
Did you accomplish all you set out to do in 2024? What's one of the best things to happen to you this year?

A Bookish Christmas

If you've followed me for long at all, you know I love all things bookish. Socks, T-shirts, mugs, etc. Therefore, it probably doesn't surprise you that I own a shirt and earrings that look like a Christmas tree made of books. I just can't help myself. They're too cute.
So, when my publishing company family decided to participate in our own version of Jolabokaflod, I was intrigued.
What is Jolabokaflod, you ask. Great question. It's a tradition in Iceland and means "book flood." Basically, on Christmas Eve, people gift each other books and then spend the rest of the evening snuggled up reading. Sounds wonderful, right?
Well, I probably won't get to snuggle up and just read on Christmas Eve evening, but I did participate in the book exchange we did. We all signed up and then were given a name. The rules were that we had to gift a book from our shelf--no buying anything new. I always have a few I've read but don't necessarily want to keep forever so that was fine. We mail the book (wrapped) and then on Christmas Eve, we'll all post pictures or videos of what books we got so we can all be excited with each other.
Fun, right?
For a couple weeks now, I've had a wrapped book under my tree from my good friend Mary Pat Johns. I can't wait to see what she sent me. And I'm hoping my friend Beth in New York will enjoy the one I sent her way. Considering how many of us read various genres, this could be interesting. But I expect I'll love whatever it is.
Just one more sleep until I can find out!
Have you ever participated in something like this? Would you ever want to? I think exchanging books is much more fun than exchanging ornaments, like a lot of people do. How about you?

Sadness at Christmas

I was addressing Christmas cards a few weeks ago and had to stop. It was the first year I would address an envelope to one person but not his spouse. The first time that name wouldn't be on my list. And it hurt. I stopped and teared up for a few minutes, praying for the family that would be without their Marmie at Christmas for the first time. For the man who would do Christmas without his wife.
I had a friend lose her dad a few weeks ago. Another has her dad on hospice. Several friends have received cancer diagnoses or news that wasn't what they wished. Another friend suffered a traumatic brain injury over Thanksgiving break.
But it's Christmas. That means we have to be happy, right? Here's the thing. Joy doesn't mean we're always happy. It doesn't mean we can't have moments of sadness and grief. It doesn't mean every single minute of the holidays will be all jingle bells and sugar cookies.
Because this is the real world. So, please, by all means, enjoy the happy moments. Sing the songs and laugh when you can. But know it's okay to be sad too.
In my book, Mama Dated Santa, my character Trudy is dealing with this. Her dad was her source of happiness at Christmas and when he passed away, it stole the joy of the season from her. She forgot that you can have joy and grief at the same time. 
Let's be honest, do we ever only feel one emotion at a time? I rarely do. Instead, we run the gamut of a range of emotions. It's the way God made us. And He understands. He's had joy and grief mixed together at the same time too.
What about you? Do you struggle at the holidays? How do you still hold on to the joy?

Children at Christmas

All three of my Christmas stories have children in them. Want to know why? I can't imagine Christmas without kids.
Don't get me wrong. We had ten Christmases without children, while we waited on God's perfect timing. And I enjoyed those Christmases. But they lacked something.
There is something magical about seeing the holidays through a child's eyes. They still believe in magic and see it in every piece of the holidays. Why not join them?
The child in my first Christmas story, "Mistletoe Make-Believe," is Haley, a ten-year-old girl who is starting to grow up, but not quite ready to do it all the way. She says she's too old for Santa (so sad considering I have a ten-year-old still holding on this year), but is all about decorating driftwood on the beach, ice skating, and riding a trolley to look at lights. All things I could see me doing with my own children.
My second Christmas story, Mama Dated Santa, has Mark, my heroine's four-year-old nephew. Not only is he absolutely certain Santa will bring him his dreamed-of firetruck, he's sure Santa can help his Aunt Trudy not be so sad anymore. And he's all in when it comes to decorating cookies and singing Christmas songs at the top of his lungs.
And the story that came out this year, "A-parent-ly Christmas," has Andy. He's a precocious eight-year-old who is set on getting his parents back together, no matter what. Because Christmas together is definitely better than Christmas with only one parent. And having snow on Christmas? Icing on the cake, so to speak. Not to mention all the icing for the cookies.

Little pieces of my own children are woven into these fictional kids in my stories. Because they definitely make Christmas more magical for me too. They want to do all the things, watch all the specials, put up all the lights and decorations, and wear all the jingle bells. And I know that as exasperating as it sometimes in during the middle of it, someday I'll miss the chaos. 
Now, to figure out a child to weave into my next Christmas story, which I'm aiming to release fall of 2026. ;)
What about you? Do you find Christmas better when celebrated with children? Do you think they add something special to Christmas stories too? Got a favorite?

Book Spotlight: The Case of the Stolen Memories

Can fictional murders lead to real-life ones? I'd like to hope not, but just listen to this funny story from my good friend Deborah Sprinkles. She writes mystery and suspense and this new series of hers is sure to pique your interest. When I decided to write my Mac and Sam mystery series, starring Mackenzie Love and Samantha Majors, the first thing I had to do was choose a location. Would their private investigation firm be in an imaginary town like my first series or a real one? There were advantages to both.
 
I liked the idea of a small town close to a big city. It offered the best of both worlds. And, being from St. Louis, I knew the perfect location. Washington, Missouri, a small town on the Missouri River about forty-five minutes southwest of St. Louis. I’d been there a number of times and loved it. 
​Now came the difficult, but fun, part. I hadn’t been to Washington for a number of years, and then I’d visited for fun, not for research. My husband, Les, and I planned our first trip around a visit to family in St. Louis. We spent two and a half days taking photos and talking to people.
 
I’d come with what I thought was an extensive list of things to do, people to look up, and questions to ask. One of those people was the Police Chief. I just knew he’d welcome me with open arms. So, one of our first stops was to the Public Safety Building which is where the police department is housed on the second floor.
 
The receptionist listened to my spiel about being a novelist and how I was writing a mystery series set in Washington, and would like to establish a contact person in the police department for a reference.
 
“The Chief’s in a meeting. I’ll have him call you.”
 
I left a little deflated, but not ready to give up. I figured if he didn’t call within a reasonable amount of time, I’d go back. You have to be persistent. Right?
 
We went to lunch at Cowan’s, a local restaurant that was on my list to visit. By now, my engine was working on all cylinders. I was soaking in the atmosphere, taking photos, and making notes. In the middle of the meal, my phone rings. It’s the police chief. Fist pump.
 
“Chief, thanks for calling me back.”
 
“I understand you’re a writer.” A gruff voice sounded in my ear.
 
“I am. I’m doing a series of murder mysteries set in Washington and I’d like a contact with someone in your department to help me get my facts straight.”
 
“We don’t have murders in our town.”
 
I pictured him eating rocks for breakfast. I began to sweat. “Well, you will now.” A nervous chuckle from me. “At least three.”
 
“I guess I better give you a detective then.”
 
“I’d appreciate it. If he’s able to do it. I mean, if he has the time.”
 
“He’ll do it if I tell him to.”
 
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”
 
Click.
 
I returned to the table and my husband looked at me.
 
“Well?”
 
“He’s assigning a detective as my contact.”
 
“That’s great. Who is he?”
 
“I don’t know. He didn’t say.”
 
My husband and I went home, and I started the first book, The Case of the Innocent Husband. As I wrote, I jotted questions for my detective contact—who I still hadn’t heard from. One day, I decided to call the police department. Boy, was I nervous. Had the Chief kept his word? When I explained who I was, they put me through to Detective Steve Sitzes. It turned out he was waiting for me to call him!
 
We hit it off right away, and he was able to help me with any question I asked him. I still made mistakes, but that was entirely me.
 
Three years, and two more books, The Case of Mistaken Identity and The Case of the Stolen Memories, later Les and I were back in Washington for the Missouri Book Festival and our third research trip. We made an appointment with now Lieutenant Sitzes to meet him at the police station to chat and I had a signed copy of Stolen Memories, my latest book, for him.
 
“You know, I’m not saying you had anything to do with this or anything, but …” Lt. Sitzes smirked at me. “Ever since you started writing your books we’ve had four homicides in three years. We hadn’t had one in ten years before that.” 
 
What could I say? I warned them before I started. 
The Case of the Stolen Memories

It’s the beginning of a new year and Private Investigator Mackenzie Love resolves to get in better shape. But after only one week of walking before work she interrupts a burglary in progress and ends up in the middle of a murder case. 
Detective Jake Sanders, the man Mac’s dating, is assigned to the murder, and Mac along with her partners Samantha Majors and Ms. Prudence Freebody are hired to find the memorabilia stolen from the time capsule in Rennick Park. The two cases intertwine and Mac finds herself once more on the wrong end of a gun! 
Can Mac and Jake find the killer and the stolen property before the killer finds them? Deborah Sprinkle is a retired chemistry teacher turned award-winning author with seven books to her name and more on the way. All romantic suspense and mysteries. She lives in Memphis with her wonderful husband, her greatest fan.  Connect with Deborah at https://authordeborahsprinkle.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/deborah.sprinkle.5/

Special Ornaments

The Christmas trees decorated by theme are beautiful. Their big fluffy bows and color-coordinated ornaments are stunning. But that's not the kind of Christmas tree I want.
Granted, I also don't want one like I described in the first chapter of Mama Dated Santa, where all the ornaments are falling apart, tinsel is here and there, and some of the branches are in the wrong slot. Yeah, no. Thanks.
There's something special about the tree we put up each year--and not because it's twenty years old (the one we bought our very first Christmas when we barely had any room to put a tree up). No, it's because the ornaments hold so many memories and reminisces. We have THREE first Christmas ornaments. My mom forgot she had already purchased one for us and so she picked up a second. They're pictured above. And then the little snowman made of sand dollars is from our honeymoon on St. Simon's Island. Talk about sweet memories.
The First Christmas ornament plays a roll in my story in A Match Made at Christmas. When she finds the ornament on the floor, it leads to the discovery of what Andy left behind when he flew to spend Christmas with his dad. But it also reminds her of what she's missing by them being apart.
We have ornaments for when our children were born. When we bought our first house. Different places we've lived. And we can't forget all the handmade ornaments, proudly displayed by my children.
Over the last few years, we've also added several bookish ornaments. So much fun. Because books play a huge role in our lives too. How can we leave them out of Christmas?
Which ornaments are extra-special for you? Do you have a First Christmas Ornament or bookish ornament you're extra fond of?

Author Interview: Linda Dindzans

Today, I'm thrilled to introduce you to an author I've grown close to over the last year. First, by editing her first novel, a gorgeous Biblical fiction woven around the Samaritan woman and the Good Samaritan. Second, when we got to meet in person last month at ScrivCon. You guys! She's so much fun and I know you're going to love her too. Without further ado, let's chat with Linda Dindzans. Linda, what inspired you to give up your scalpel and take up a pen?

Since childhood I have been an avid reader of all genres, but particularly drawn to historical and biblical fiction. I’ve also been fascinated with the study of the Bible and facilitated and taught Bible studies. Prior to my retirement I had a story coming to me that would not let go. I found myself writing chapters in my head. That story grew, became a trilogy and got out of control. I set it aside but one day will pick it up again.
 
At first, I planned to take a sabbatical to write, but after a couple of months I realized that this was retirement–– a new calling, a new direction.
 If you had asked me at the beginning how long it would take me to write a book, I would have guessed about two years. I was either very naive or a little bit arrogant. Probably both.
Before I felt I had mastered the level of writing I was willing to submit, my writing journey was twelve years to publication and involved many writer’s conferences, online courses, critique groups and coaching. 
How does a doctor become an author of Biblical fiction?

Many people ask me if I miss medicine. I can honestly say that I loved it when I was practicing, but when I stopped I felt the “anointing had lifted” and shockingly, I did not miss medicine at all. Though when we are traveling and someone  has a medical emergency, my husband and I both click into “doctor mode.”
 
When deciding what genre to write, what made you choose Biblical fiction?
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Biblical fiction was what was coming to me. As I was learning the craft of writing, I had several people say that I was a good writer, but perhaps I should try to break in with a genre that was more in demand. For now, this is the genre I believe I am called to write. For instance, I admire romance writers but am convinced I don’t have a romance in me. You never know though. God has a sense of humor. He may one day call me to write a romance… beats and all.
 
What is the hardest thing you've discovered in writing your stories?
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Trying to make sure I have dug deep to the character’s truth. I am a plot-driven writer, but adding depth of character makes the story ring true!
Also, Biblical fiction requires research, and I make every effort to research carefully and thoroughly––but there will always be the fact that “you don’t know what you don’t know”.  This is where critique partners and beta readers are invaluable and may catch things. Let me give you an example. Writing this next book, I have a character that is threatened with stoning. Mesu Andrews was critiquing a chapter for me during a fiction intensive she taught at Florida Christian Writers Conference 2023. She wrote in the margin research methods of stoning. Huh?! Didn’t people just take the victim outside the city walls and throw rocks? Turns out there were two methods. Fortunately, I was warned before a mistake got incorporated into a book.
So, this is the moment when I pray for grace and hope my “mistakes” don’t take the reader out of the story.
 
What is one of the most interesting facts you've discovered when doing research?

The phrase “there was a certain man” was like “once upon a time” to the first century listener. But also, many scholars believe it was an indication to the audience that Jesus was about to tell a real story based on a real person.
 
Now that you've released your first book, what is one thing you're most surprised about in being an author?
 
#1 Several personal stories from friends of how my book has impacted readers they know. It is so encouraging to get this feedback!
#2 How much work a book launch entails. How much the continued promotion on social media matters. How much learning and time  is involved in the non-writing aspects of being an author.
 
Does your medical history ever show up in your writing?

Yes. I’ve always been fascinated with the history of medicine and there are a couple of  scenes in A Certain Man where medical emergencies are involved.
 
Can you give us a sneak peek into what you're working on next?
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I am working on Book 2 of  A Certain Future series. This book is entitled A Certain Mercy. While there are new main characters, certainly characters from the first book will be present, and some of their loose ends resolved. A peek into my Google search––were there arenas in ancient Jerusalem? Hippodromes? Were Jews ever gladiators?
You just never know what rabbit holes research will take you down.
 
Last but not least, what is one interesting fact about you that very few people know?

I was a violinist through college. While at Harvard I played with both the small student-conducted  Bach Society orchestra and the large Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra. Leonard Bernstein was Norton Professor of Poetry  and gave lectures at Harvard. Yo-yo Ma, concert cellist, was a member of my class. I had the privilege of performing as an orchestra member with them both.
 
I was also a cox’n for crew for two years. Think Boys in the Boat. LOL

Okay, that is too cool! I hope if you ever quit Biblical fiction, you'll write a story about a violin-playing cox'n. ;)
Readers, keep reading for more information about her beautiful novel and how to keep in touch with Linda. She's obviously got great things coming down the road!
A Certain Man

Mara is a young Samaritan beginning to discover her love for Samuel—and his for her. Soon she will be deemed mature enough to marry. Her hopes are dashed when her greedy father brokers a match with the cruel son of the wealthy High Priest of Shechem. When her loathsome betrothed is killed, her beloved Samuel must run for his life. Mara and Samuel struggle to survive and reunite during the treacherous and scandalous times of the Bible under the merciless rule of Rome.
Along the way, they are entangled within the snares of such notable figures as King Herod, Herodias, Pontius Pilate, Caiaphas, and Salome.
The heartrending tales of Mara and Samuel are interwoven with their desperate love story. Before either meets Yeshua the Nazarene face to face. Before He sets the political, religious, and spiritual landscape on fire. And before either Mara or Samuel are immortalized in the gospels.

 Linda Dindzans, M.D. is a writer with the heart of a healer. She offers readers stories of redemption and restoration. And her compelling characters inhabit the treacherous times of the Bible. But Linda believes there is nothing new under the sun. The hopes and struggles of her cast of characters still speak to hearts today. Yet only a profound encounter with the Son transforms her characters from victims to victors.
 
Linda is a retired ENT surgeon with a longstanding fascination with God’s Word and commitment to in-depth Bible study. She has been a guest speaker at medical conferences, national and regional Christian conferences, and a facilitator for church and home Bible studies.
 She is grateful for this time to lay down her scalpel and pick up her pen as she follows a call to write.
 
During her free time, Linda can be found on the pickleball court. She has no aspirations to win a trophy but remains content to supply the comic relief.
 
Linda and her husband, a fellow physician, have been blessed with three adult children, a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren. Wisconsin is home, but they travel across the world  enjoying photography, birdwatching, and singing in choirs.

FB: Linda Dindzans,Author
X: @lindadindzans
Website: lindadindzans.com

The Faces Behind the Writing

Have you ever wondered what it's really like to go to a Writers' Conference? Well, let me tell you.
It's a blast! Especially if you're like me and love to be around people. I LOVE to be around people. Especially people who I love.
And a room full of authors is definitely full of people I love.
But a lot of these people were extra special to me because we've worked together either as collaborators in a collection or as editor/author. And quite a few of them I had never met in real life.
So, let me tell you. Hugs abounded. Even my friend Heather Greer, who claims to not like hugs, gave me at least six while we were together over three days. Bliss!
That's right. I'm a people person and a hugger too. 
Of course, I had my favorite people around me too. Heather Greer, Erin Howard, Regina Merrick, Sarah Anne Crouch, Rachel Herod, Jennifer Burrows, and Linda Fulkerson. I'd met all of those in real life and they're some of my best friends.
This trip, I got to see Tonya Ashley (her books are so sweet, y'all!) for the first time in years. I also met in real life for the first time too many to count, but of the ones I have edited, Jenny Carlisle, Linda Dindzans, Terri Wangard, Donna Wichelman, Christina Rost, and Lori DeJong. Y'all! My heart is so full.
I'd seen them on screen at zoom meetings. We'd talked quite a bit through editing and emails. But to be in the same room was just a sneak of what heaven will be. We're too spread out right now!
So, if you've ever wondered what it's like when a bunch of authors get together. Let's just say, those like me are going around hugging and chatting. Others are chatting a bit with those nearest them because they're more introverted. And we all make fun comments about books and reading and take selfies together.
These are some of the faces behind the books. And I couldn't be more delighted to call them friends.
Have you ever hung out with a bunch of authors before? Did any of this surprise you?

Not What I Expected

Last weekend, I went to ScrivCon, the Writers' conference my publisher puts on each year. It was amazing, and I got to hug so many people I'd only met online before now. So, that was pure bliss for me. I love hugs. Quite a few of those people were authors I had edited for over the past few years. And that was really fun too. Because even though we'd worked together, we'd never met in person.
Fast forward to Saturday evening, and there was a gala and award banquet. Well, I didn't expect to win anything despite having three books up for awards and being in the list of finalists for Editor of the Year. There were just too many other great authors and books and editors. But I bought a fancy dress and planned to enjoy myself anyway. Sure enough, the winners were announced for the Book of the Year for 2020, 2021, and 2022, and my books were finalists, but not the top winner. The ones chosen were great books and I was fine with that. These were chosen by readers, after all. (We went that far back because we'd never done these awards before and were catching up from when the company started).
Well, moving on to 2023 and my book Window of the Heart was up for Best Contemporary novel. And my heart said, maybe. It was wrong, but that's okay. The book that won was one I had edited. ;)
Then, we moved on to the Editor of the Year finalists. I knew I was one, but let's be honest. So were almost every other editor in the company. Apparently, we all voted for our own editors. So, when they announced there was a tie between the top two ... and then said my name ... well, I was floored. Really?
I've been editing a couple of years now, and it's a lot of fun, despite being work. After all, I get to read all these other stories before they release. And help the author polish them up. But for some reason, I'd never considered that they might enjoy working with me as much as I enjoyed working with them. Apparently, they did.
So, I brought home a cute little award to set on my shelf. See it up there in the picture, next to my pile of edited books? There are actually a couple more I haven't received yet. And a few more that have yet to release. But it's a nice pile, isn't it? And I look forward to many more to come.
Strangely, I think I'm almost more proud of that award than I would've been if my book had placed (though that would've thrilled me too). But this is an award for me sharing the knowledge I've gained from my own writing experiences and passing it on to help other authors. And that's amazing.
What about you? Have you ever been surprised in a good way? Or won recognition for something you didn't even think about?

Book Spotlight: Books With Ratings?

This time of year, it's easy to get caught up in cheesy holiday movies on TV, but do you pay attention to the ratings? My friend and fellow author, Regina Rudd Merrick is here today to tell us how those ratings inspired a scene in her newest book. Christmas books are fun to write. Christmas Rewired is book 4 of my RenoVations, Inc. series, but, like last year’s Christmas story, 12 Days of Mandy Reno, it’s not a mystery—it’s just a little romance, a little fun, and a lot of Renos.
 
A few years ago, after years of avoiding them, my oldest daughter introduced me to the mindless joy of watching Hallmark movies. They come in all genres, and some are better than others. My favorites are the Rom-Coms.
 
I realized, then, that these movies are exactly the kinds of stories I like to read as well as watch!
After seeing a few in a row during Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks, I began to pay attention to the rating system television uses these days and applied them to Hallmark movies. The most risqué films I’ve seen are Rated PG-13, so I think we’re safe.
 
As I wrote, I found Trace, my male main character, at loose ends and lounging in the living room, watching a Hallmark movie with his grandparents on a cold December evening. Grandma’s crocheting, Grandpa’s asleep, and when he wakes, they tease him about agreeing to watch these movies because they’re less than ninety minutes long.
 
Here’s Grandpa waking up and then Trace (and me!) explaining his idea of what to expect in a Christmas movie:
 
“Is it bedtime yet?”
“Sweetheart, it’s seven-thirty.”
“Hate this time change. What’d I miss?”
He’d (Grandpa) fallen asleep an hour ago, about twenty minutes into the movie they’d picked.
“Too much to explain.” Grandma shook her head at her husband.
“You didn’t miss much, Grandpa. Small-town guy in danger of losing the family peach orchard. Big-city girl comes to town to buy them out and realizes she’s always wanted to live in the boonies and work an orchard with the man of her dreams.” Trace held out a hand and nodded toward the television. “And, finally, there’s the kiss.”
“Sounds like you’ve watched your share of these.” Grandpa laughed.
Trace growled in disgust. “Guilty. Have you met my sister?”
“Now and again.”
“Eddie Clarence Reno, you know good and well the only reason you only agreed to this one is because it lasted exactly eighty-four minutes.” Grandma blustered with good humor.
“I’ll admit, the length of those movies is a draw, plus the lack of objectionable activity—”
“And bad language,” Grandma interrupted.
“I know. But would it hurt them to blow up something every once in a while?” Grandpa winked at Trace when Grandma shook her head.
“Since I have almost no social life, Sis and I came up with an informal breakdown according to the television rating.”
“Did you, now?” Grandma was getting tickled.
“Yep. Rated G, you’re lucky to get one very chaste kiss at the very end. Same with ‘seven plus.’ PG and ‘thirteen plus,’ maybe two or three, and they’ll be a little steamy, but not too much.”
“What about ‘PG-13’ movies?”
Trace shook his head solemnly. “Grandma, you watch those, you’re in danger for your soul."

---
Yes, I got the idea from my husband. He loves short movies, and he also loves to fall asleep watching them, knowing I’ll begrudgingly tell him what he missed.
 
I hope you’ll check out Christmas Rewired, and give grumpy Trace Reno a chance to be a hero for once!
 
Many twinkling lights and blessings to you as we enter this holiday season!!
 
Christmas Rewired

In electricity, as in love, opposites attract.

When electrical engineer Trace Reno loses his job during the holidays, he decides it’s time for a change. He hires on with the family contracting firm, RenoVations Inc., as assistant to the licensed electrician, Hannah Buckner.
Hannah is known for her sunny disposition, but lately, she has decided God must have forgotten her as her friends all around her find “the one,” and she hasn’t. When the only man in her life who shows an interest is the grouchy Trace Reno, she tries to be patient, but in her opinion, he’s bossy. And even worse, he knows nothing about construction. She’d rather be single.
Love at first sight for him—pure irritation for her.
A mishap on a last-minute Christmas Eve job gives them the time together Trace craves, and Hannah makes the best of it. Could it be possible that Trace has a gooey center beneath his crusty exterior?
 
​Multi-published author Regina Rudd Merrick writes Southern stories of faith and romance. Beyond writing, Regina is a church musician, wife, mother, former librarian, lover of all things fun, beachy, and chocolate, and a grateful follower of Jesus Christ. Married to her husband of 40-plus years, she is the mother of two grown daughters and lives in the small town of Marion, KY. Connect with Regina on Facebook, Instagram, or her website at https://www.reginaruddmerrick.com .

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Regina-R-Merrick-512257938964888/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
Instagram:
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/rmerrick/
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