Erica Vetsch's Blog, page 146
July 3, 2017
The Gardener's Daughter by Anne Love
Anne here.
I have to say it's a tad surreal to be posting about my debut short story that has been published the week with the Of Rags and Riches Romance Collection. A huge shout out to all those who have encouraged me, and a humble thanks is due!
This story sprung from years of driving through Bay View, Michigan, to visit my grandparents. My grandfather was a carpenter from a nearby town, who would open and close many of the Victorian style old cottages in spring and fall. When Gabrielle invited me to write a story that reflected the disparities of the Gilded Age, Bay View floated to my mind first.
The theme of our novella collection is the Gilded Age, which was thick with a wide disparity of wealth among the social classes in America. The Gilded Age is a term coined by Mark Twain to describe the thin covering of gold that glossed over the differences, shiny on the surface while corrupt beneath.
The unique setting of this story is that Bay View community is a "Chautauqua"--a learning community that sprung from a turn-of-the-century craze that swept the nation starting in the Methodist church camps. The trend started at Lake Chautauqua, New York, and spread to Bay View and many other communities where many city dwellers sought a place for summer tent meetings. Soon the week long meetings grew to include the summer months and tents were replaced by summer cottages, while the meetings grew to a community learning style that resembled a broad array of liberal arts education.
In The Gardener's Daughter, the nephew of a prestigious Chautauqua resort founder sets his eye on the new library assistant believing her an academy student, but it soon takes more than reciting poetry for love to bloom when he learns she’s the humble gardener’s daughter.
In our culture today, uniqueness is important to see and preserve. Yet it remains a challenge to bring unity and healing where differences exist. In my story, my heroine struggles not to deny her identity as the daughter of a humble gardener, while not letting it keep her from opportunity, even love.
My hope is that the sweetness of love that God designs for His people will shine through this story and even though it's fictional, may your hope for redemption of real love grow brighter.
Stop by each day these next two weeks to hear from each author in our collection.
Readers:
I'd love to hear stories of how fiction stories about love have shaped your faith and your hope for love.
God writes the best stories and the most unlikely matches, I'd love to hear examples from you about the unlikely.
-------------Blog post by Anne Love-
Writer of Historical Romance inspired by her family roots.
Nurse Practitioner by day.
Wife, mother, writer by night.
Coffee drinker--any time.
Find me at: www.anneloveauthor.com
Find me on:FacebookFind me on: PinterestFind me on: GoodreadsFind me on: TwitterFind me on: Instagram
I have to say it's a tad surreal to be posting about my debut short story that has been published the week with the Of Rags and Riches Romance Collection. A huge shout out to all those who have encouraged me, and a humble thanks is due!
This story sprung from years of driving through Bay View, Michigan, to visit my grandparents. My grandfather was a carpenter from a nearby town, who would open and close many of the Victorian style old cottages in spring and fall. When Gabrielle invited me to write a story that reflected the disparities of the Gilded Age, Bay View floated to my mind first.The theme of our novella collection is the Gilded Age, which was thick with a wide disparity of wealth among the social classes in America. The Gilded Age is a term coined by Mark Twain to describe the thin covering of gold that glossed over the differences, shiny on the surface while corrupt beneath.
The unique setting of this story is that Bay View community is a "Chautauqua"--a learning community that sprung from a turn-of-the-century craze that swept the nation starting in the Methodist church camps. The trend started at Lake Chautauqua, New York, and spread to Bay View and many other communities where many city dwellers sought a place for summer tent meetings. Soon the week long meetings grew to include the summer months and tents were replaced by summer cottages, while the meetings grew to a community learning style that resembled a broad array of liberal arts education.
In The Gardener's Daughter, the nephew of a prestigious Chautauqua resort founder sets his eye on the new library assistant believing her an academy student, but it soon takes more than reciting poetry for love to bloom when he learns she’s the humble gardener’s daughter.
In our culture today, uniqueness is important to see and preserve. Yet it remains a challenge to bring unity and healing where differences exist. In my story, my heroine struggles not to deny her identity as the daughter of a humble gardener, while not letting it keep her from opportunity, even love.
My hope is that the sweetness of love that God designs for His people will shine through this story and even though it's fictional, may your hope for redemption of real love grow brighter.
Stop by each day these next two weeks to hear from each author in our collection.
Readers:
I'd love to hear stories of how fiction stories about love have shaped your faith and your hope for love.
God writes the best stories and the most unlikely matches, I'd love to hear examples from you about the unlikely.
-------------Blog post by Anne Love-
Writer of Historical Romance inspired by her family roots.
Nurse Practitioner by day.
Wife, mother, writer by night.
Coffee drinker--any time.
Find me at: www.anneloveauthor.com
Find me on:FacebookFind me on: PinterestFind me on: GoodreadsFind me on: TwitterFind me on: Instagram
June 30, 2017
Interview & Giveaway with Carrie Fancett Pagels
Carrie, thank you so much for visiting us today here at the CCC blog! You’ve had a new release! Can you share a little bit about it and how you first hatched the idea for this story?
The idea was sparked by a visit to the island with my friend, Rosemary Wellington. I’d worked and lived on the island but getting to see the island through her eyes was magical – because her family was from the island. Her cousin later became the mayor of the island.
What special research did you need to do for this novel and did you enjoy it or find it laborious?
First of all I love Mackinac Island and I see this as my legacy book – if I could have a story set anywhere and in any time period and have it published, this is it! But the actual writing of the manuscript was difficult. I call this my Problem Child Manuscript. But she’s become a well-behaving beauty will all the help I received in bringing her into line.
What is the primary spiritual theme of your book, and if that’s not applicable, what do you hope readers take away from reading your novel?
The Pauper and the Prince – wherein God is our true King and knows our true nature. I want readers to recognize the only identity they need to have is in Christ our King!
How did you determine what names to give your characters?
Maude was named after my paternal grandmother. Welling was shortened for my friend Rosemary Wellington. I had a great-uncle Fred who I loved and I turned the name into Friedrich. König means King in German. Reverend McWithey was named for our friend and neighbor and I “gave him back” his wife in this story (his wife passed away soon after their second child’s birth.) Myra is named for my lovely friend and neighbor. Ben was chosen for the inspiration lookalike, a former pro football player who’d I’d seen on the cover of Neurology Today magazine and I thought – that looks just like my hero. Steffans was one of my husband’s family names.
Which sub-character is your favorite and why?
Jack. I love Sadie, too, and am sympathetic to her (she’s in her own story, a novella, releasing in “His Anchor” in the First Loves Collection from Barbour.) But Jack became so real to me. He’s got a lot of my son’s spunk and personality but this boy really took on a life of his own in my head. I was a psychologist for 25 years and I worked with a lot of Jacks. I’d say it’s a tribute to them all.
Moving on from your story, tell us a little about yourself. We’ll help! What literary character is most like you and why?
Jo from Little Women morphed with Anne of Green Gables. When I first read about Jo, I was – wow, that girl is just like me! And Anne has my dreamer and imaginative and crazy nature and grew up in a beautiful area like I did (I’m from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, a gorgeous place.)
What hobby do you enjoy in your “free” time (‘cause we know you have tons of free time!)
Beading. I make earrings to go with most of my books, for my promo teams. Sadly, between my Rheumatoid Arthritis and poor vision I don’t do as much as I’d like.
Tell us about your pets (if you have some)!
No pets at present, but we’ve had many dogs. And I have the best Grand Dog in the world! Dar Dar is 110+ lb. Black Lab full of love. He’s super smart and sweet. He loves chasing balls. He craves attention of the whole family and is happiest when he has all of us! It’s kind of funny but if he only has one human available to him he’s not so thrilled!
We talk a lot about faith and how it weaves throughout our fiction, here at the blog. How has your faith affected/or not affected your writing?
I wouldn’t be writing Christian fiction at all if it were not for the Lord. I am disabled from Rheumatoid Arthritis and some other arthritic conditions. I couldn’t do this without the Lord and those He puts around me. I write to bring God glory. It’s all for Him. Those in the industry understand well that there may be little earthly reward for these endeavors but we’ll receive our reward in Heaven.
Because Jaime has some darker elements to her split-time historical and contemporary romantic suspense coming out this year, she likes to ask weird questions. So, if you were to find yourself stranded in a creepy old house at night, who would you want with you to keep you company?
My husband, Jeffrey D. Pagels. He’s my rock. I thank the Lord for him constantly. This November will be our 30th anniversary!
Anne, Erica, and Gabrielle both write sweet historical romances. How does romance influence your own writing?
I “came out of the closet” as a romance author some years ago after thinking I was a historical fiction author. I don’t enjoy reading a fiction unless it has some romance in it or is a romance. So once I’d accepted that about myself, I had to own it and I wear a lot of pink to express my love of romance! That’s what I write!
And for some extra fun . . .
If you could pick one superhero to save you from impending doom, who would it be and why?
None. I’d only trust in the Lord to take me Home.
Thank you so much for visiting today! It was a blast!
Bio – Carrie Fancett Pagels, Ph.D.ECPA-bestselling author Carrie Fancett Pagels, Ph.D., is the award-winning author of a dozen Christian historical romances. Twenty-five years as a psychologist didn't "cure" her overactive imagination! A self-professed “history geek,” she resides with her family in the Historic Triangle of Virginia but grew up as a “Yooper.” Carrie loves to read, bake, bead, and travel – but not all at the same time!
You can connect with her at her on social media links:
Website:www.carriefancettpagels.com
Blogs: Overcoming With God and Colonial Quills
Facebook Author Page: www.facebook.com/cfpagels/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/cfpagels
Links to purchase:
Barbour Publishing: www.barbourbooks.com
Barnes & Noble: www.barnesandnoble.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com
CBD: www.christianbook.com
Target:www.target.com
a Rafflecopter giveaway
-------------Blog post by Anne Love-
Writer of Historical Romance inspired by her family roots.
Nurse Practitioner by day.
Wife, mother, writer by night.
Coffee drinker--any time.
Find me at: www.anneloveauthor.com
Find me on:FacebookFind me on: PinterestFind me on: GoodreadsFind me on: TwitterFind me on: Instagram
June 28, 2017
Release Day is Coming!
Erica here:
In just a few days, the Of Rags and Richest Romance Collection releases! We're super-excited around here because all FOUR of the Coffee Cups girls are represented in this collection. With the book releasing on July 1st, we're packing the month of July here on the blog with lots of fun posts and a spectacular giveaway. (More news on this later.)
In addition to celebrating the release here on the blog, we're also hosting a Facebook Release Party!
Mark your calendars for July 18th at 6 pm Central Time. Each author will be talking about her story, maybe having some games, and definitely giving away some prizes. Come help us celebrate this collection and the debut of our own Anne Love.
We would love to see you there! Be sure to share the news with your friends. The more the merrier when it comes to parties!
If you'd like to learn more about the collection and/or order your own copy, you can find that information by clicking on this link:
https://smile.amazon.com/Rags-Riches-Romance-Collection-Opulence-ebook/dp/B072KM4ZND/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498619972&sr=8-1&keywords=of+rags+and+riches+romance+collection
SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER
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In just a few days, the Of Rags and Richest Romance Collection releases! We're super-excited around here because all FOUR of the Coffee Cups girls are represented in this collection. With the book releasing on July 1st, we're packing the month of July here on the blog with lots of fun posts and a spectacular giveaway. (More news on this later.)
In addition to celebrating the release here on the blog, we're also hosting a Facebook Release Party!
Mark your calendars for July 18th at 6 pm Central Time. Each author will be talking about her story, maybe having some games, and definitely giving away some prizes. Come help us celebrate this collection and the debut of our own Anne Love.
We would love to see you there! Be sure to share the news with your friends. The more the merrier when it comes to parties!
If you'd like to learn more about the collection and/or order your own copy, you can find that information by clicking on this link:
https://smile.amazon.com/Rags-Riches-Romance-Collection-Opulence-ebook/dp/B072KM4ZND/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498619972&sr=8-1&keywords=of+rags+and+riches+romance+collection
SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER
Find me on AMAZON.COM
Find me on FACEBOOK
June 26, 2017
Interview & Giveaway with Hillary Manton Lodge
Hillary, thank you so much for visiting us today here at the CCC blog!
You’ve had a new release! Can you share a little bit about it and how you first hatched the idea for this story?
It started with my editor – she came up with the title (which was inspired by a misspelling) and asked if it was something I’d be interested in. I’ve loved Jane Austen stories since I was young, so I was excited to play around with it.
What special research did you need to do for this novel and did you enjoy it or find it laborious?
I did a lot of research on Jane Austen in general, Sense & Sensibility in particular. I re-familiarized myself with the original novel, read commentaries and criticisms. I also read Emma Thompson’s diaries that were published with her screenplay – they didn’t shine much light on the original material, but it was fun to read about the film’s production.
What is the primary spiritual theme of your book, and if that’s not applicable, what do you hope readers take away from reading your novel?
I’m not usually a takeaway writer – I don’t write stories because I’m teaching, I’m writing stories because I think the characters have things to do and say and learn. And I wrote this book for a cross-over market, so the spiritual themes are pretty subtle. The themes of Jane of Jane of Austin is written from two perspectives, Jane’s and Callum’s. Jane is wrestling with her relationship with her sister, Celia, since their move and Celia’s breakup from her boyfriend. Jane handles it…badly. And so does Celia. A lot of their story deals with the intricacies of sisterhood.
Callum’s story is about him healing from his adolescence, his time in the war, and his new reality as an amputee. A lot of his story deals with his physical and emotional journey, his feelings of worthiness both as a person as well as a suitor for Jane.
How did you determine what names to give your characters?
I’m a name nerd, so I spent a lot of time on the names! I knew my main character had to be Jane, because of the title. For Celia, I went with a name that was kind of a nod to Elinor, but also a nod to Cassandra, Austen’s own sister.
For Callum Beckett, I went through a couple different iterations (there are some old synopses floating around on the internet, so if you see him listed as Ben Fredrickson, that’s why!). Austen never actually shares Colonel Brandon’s first name. But I opted for a hard C name, and went with Callum because a.) I like it, and b.) I wanted to avoid an -an ending.
For a lot of the names I went with more current-feeling names with phonetic similarities to the original – Lyndsay for Lucy, Margot for Margaret, Phoebe for Fanny. But the Johns were the biggest challenge - there are a lot of Johns in S&S – John Dashwood, John Middleton, John Middleton’s oldest son, and of course, John Willoughby. I researched different versions of John in different languages and cultures – Jonathan, Ian, Ivor, and Sean.
In the book, Lady Middleton’s first name is Maria – which would have been pronounced Mariah, so I gave Mariah Vandermeide that spelling. And the Vandermeide’s surname is a play on the Dutch word for “middle.”
Even Dash, Callum’s dog, gets to have an Austen-inspired name – it’s a nod to the sisters’ original surname, Dashwood!
Like I said – I’m a name nerd. So getting to work with an Austen novel was a fun challenge!
Which sub-character is your favorite and why?
Most of my novels are ensemble novels, so it’s hard to choose! I love Margot a lot. She wasn’t in the early versions – I had intended to streamline the Woodward sisters. But it didn’t feel quite right, and when I added Margot, it shifted the stakes of the sisters’ plight in a really necessary way. Suddenly they weren’t just supporting themselves, they were supporting their kid sister. Their work, their romantic relationships – everything connects back to Margot in some way. And frankly, some of the funniest bits are thanks to Margot. A lot of scenes benefitted from having an irreverent teenager in the room. I’m really glad I was able to work her in and I’m thankful for the editors who helped make sure it was a seamless addition.
Moving on from your story, tell us a little about yourself. We’ll help! What literary character is most like you and why?
I’m basically Anne of Green Gables minus the tragic backstory and gigantic family. We’re both deeply creative, have rich (and sometimes nonsensical) inner lives, feel everything deeply, and have a sturdy grasp of the English language. I also renamed myself throughout my childhood.
What hobby do you enjoy in your “free” time (‘cause we know you have tons of free time!)
Right now, it’s physical therapy and moving in, haha! Back in January, we moved from a suburb north of Portland, Oregon, to a suburb south of Memphis, Tennessee. After six months, we’re in our new house and settling, but there are still boxes and sorting and a bit of painting left. I love finding new places to go and explore, but I also love visiting the familiar spot – after such a big move, I’ve become a big believer in the importance of familiarity. The Dixon Gallery and Gardens and the Memphis Botanic Gardens – which, handily, are across the street from each other – are two of my very favorite places.
When I’m home and relaxing, I read a lot. I make graphics for work and for pleasure. And I like to knit, so I need to find a good summer yarn that I can reach for during the scorching summer months!
Tell us about your pets (if you have some)!
I have two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Shiloh and Sylvie. If you watch Victoria, or have seen The Young Victoria, it’s the same breed as Dash; Shiloh has the same coloring. He likes to chase squirrel, take naps, and generally have his way in all things. Sylvie has the Bleinheim coloring – white and ginger. She’s also small for the breed, at just a little over 11 pounds, and is still a puppy at heart. She loves to play and chase, follow me around, and generally be adored.
When I work, I’ve found the best method to getting them to settle is to put a dog bed on my desk – they’ll curl up there are go to sleep while I type!
Readers can find pictures of them on my Instagram, www.instagram.com/hillarylodge, and on my newsletter (http://www.hillarymantonlodge.com/p/newsletter.html).
We talk a lot about faith and how it weaves throughout our fiction, here at the blog. How has your faith affected/or not affected your writing?
Threads about God’s faithfulness and the necessity of trust are often woven into my stories. Some of those threads are more prominent than others, but they’re there.
Because Jaime has some darker elements to her split-time historical and contemporary romantic suspense coming out this year, she likes to ask weird questions. So, if you were to find yourself stranded in a creepy old house at night, who would you want with you to keep you company?
I have so many questions. Why am I at the house? Why can’t I leave on foot? But if I’m truly stranded because reasons, I’d like my husband close by. He’s my person. And he’d either tell me to chill out about whatever’s creeping, or help me defeat it, depending on the level of impending doom.
Anne, Erica, and Gabrielle both write sweet historical romances. How does romance influence your own writing?
Well, my novels always have a romantic arc. I like reading romances, smart ones, so I write romantic element into my books. I will say that learning to write romance was hard – I was never a flirt, growing up, and I kept my romantic feelings tucked out of sight. So getting my characters to express romantic feelings was really hard! I will say that Jane of Austin might have one of the most romantic scenes I’ve written. I think the source material helped!
And for some extra fun . . .
If you could pick one superhero to save you from impending doom, who would it be and why?
Wonder Woman, obvs. And then we’d go and get ice cream after. Living so far from Themyscira, I’m sure she’d appreciate making new female friends.
If you could guest star in one TV show, what would it be and what would your ideal role be?
Doctor Who, and I have no idea who. I’d be fully wigged out about being on camera, that’s not my thing. Is it too cheesy to say Jane Austen? Yes? Then I’m going to say it anyway. They haven’t done Austen on the show (though they’ve done Agatha Christie), and other than a throwaway line, I think that’s a missed opportunity. It’s not like the BBC doesn’t have a closet of empire-waisted gowns in their costume collection. And I’m here for any storyline involving Austen and aliens. It might solve the Tom LeFroy quandary.
Name one significant heirloom or keepsake you have and why it’s important to you:
I come from a long line, on both sides, of people who are somewhat sentimental collectors – my house is full of keepsakes. My maternal grandparents were artists, so I have a lot of my grandmother’s paintings and one of my grandfather’s paintings. Those are pretty precious to me. We’d love you have you share a snippet from your novel to entice us and hook us! J Please share something below:
I don’t have text I can copy and paste, because there was so much editing that happened with that book, right until the end. But readers can download a sample and take a peak here - http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/sneak-peek-jane-of-austin-by-hillary-manton-lodge/.
Sneak Peak and Buying Link - http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/sneak-peek-jane-of-austin-by-hillary-manton-lodge/
Hillary Manton Lodge is the author of the critically acclaimed Two Blue Doors series and the Plain and Simple duet. Jane of Austin is her sixth novel. A storyteller at heart, in her free time she enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, graphic design, and finding new walking trails. She resides outside of Memphis, Tennessee with her husband and two pups.
Website: www.hillarymantonlodge.comeFacebook: www.facebook.com/hmlfictionTwitter: www.twitter.com/hillarylodge Instagram: www.instagram.com/hillarylodge/
Readers: For a chance to win a copy, name your favorite Jane Austen story and why you love it.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
-------------Blog post by Anne Love-
Writer of Historical Romance inspired by her family roots.
Nurse Practitioner by day.
Wife, mother, writer by night.
Coffee drinker--any time.
Find me at: www.anneloveauthor.com
Find me on:FacebookFind me on: PinterestFind me on: GoodreadsFind me on: TwitterFind me on: Instagram
June 23, 2017
Interview & Giveaway with Tricia Goyer
Tricia, thank you so much for visiting us today here at the CCC blog! Can you tell us about your latest release and what inspired you to write the story?
My novel A Secret Courage is inspired by female photo investigators during World War II. Women from the United Kingdom and the United States joined together to closely examine the reconnaissance photos taken behind enemy lines. At first I wanted to write about the American and British codebreakers in Bletchley Park during World War II. Even though this has been written about a number of times I still thought I could come up with an interesting story. Yet as I researched more about female roles in World War II I came upon a group of women who were just as interesting but had very little written about them. These photo investigators worked at Danesfield House in Medmenham during World War II, about an hour away from London. They greatly impacted the war efforts. They studied millions of photos and helped to discover secret weapons that Hitler had tried to hide. Without their efforts the war could have taken a different turn.
Of all your characters in this story, which one did you enjoy writing the most and why?
Oh, do I have to pick between Emma and Will? I loved them both but Emma was special because as an American she traveled to England with the intention of volunteering for the war effort, even before the United States was involved. It was exciting to realize what these women experienced. I can’t imagine the excitement when figuring out that a shoe factory in Germany was actually producing arms, all due to clues from photos and investigative work. At the same time, these women also were the first to witness the destruction brought on by American bombs to targeted areas that were also close to civilizations. Emma became real to me as she struggled through the highs and lows of her emotions brought on by her service.
If you could cast your characters in a Hollywood adaptation of your book, who would play them?I’d pick Natalie Portman to play Emma and Nicholas Hoult to be Will, complete with British accent.
How did you decide on the setting/location for this novel?
That’s easy! The main location of the photo recon unit was at a grand estate called Danesfield House in the village of Medmenham, on the Thames River. It was a beautiful location to write about.
Is there one subject you would never write about as an author? What is it and why?
I’m sort of scared to say “never” but I don’t think I could write a novel about children being abused. As a mom of ten children—seven adopted—that hits too close to home.
Moving on from your story, tell us a little about yourself. We’ll help! What literary character is most like you and why?
Does the old woman in the shoe count as a literary figure? Other than that maybe Ma Ingalls. We have a houseful of children that I homeschool. Maybe that’s why those characters came to mind!
What strange writing habits do you have? Like standing on your head while you write with a pen between your teeth?
Well, nothing like standing on my head … but I’ve gotten into the habit of waking up at 3:00-4:00 a.m. and writing for an hour or two and then going back to sleep for another hour or so. I don’t mean to wake up but I do. Maybe that’s because my mind has figured out that’s the one time I’ll have a completely quiet house!
Do you have a writing mentor, or another author who has inspired/encouraged you in some way?
Robin Jones Gunn was my first writing mentor. I met her at the Mt. Hermon Christian Writer’s conference in 1994. I was only 22-years-old, and she was so encouraging. Since that time she’s become a dear friend.
We talk a lot about faith and how it weaves throughout our fiction, here at the blog. How has your faith affected/or not affected your writing?
My faith impacts every part of my writing. There is a spiritual story arc in every one of my novels. I often tell people that the relationship between my characters and God is just as important as my characters relationship with each other. God impacts every part of my lives and that’s true of my characters too.
Because Jaime has some darker elements to her split-time historical and contemporary romantic suspense coming out this year, she likes to ask weird questions. So, if you were responsible to write your own epitaph for your tombstone, what would it say?
She read God’s Word and then did what it said.
Anne is an insatiable romantic with a serious vintage aura in all she writes. Do you have fabulous love story in your family history that you could share with us in a few words? If not, what about your own?
My love story is most fabulous. When I was an abandoned 17-year-old pregnant teen I dedicated my life to God and started praying for a future husband who would love me and love my child. After I had my son Cory, a friendship started with my pastor’s son and it soon blossomed into more. We were married when Cory was 9 months old and have been married for 27 years.
Erica and Gabrielle both write sweet historical romances. How does romance influence your own writing?
All of my novels have romance—some more than others. I would say my novels have romantic elements but they are not completely romance novels. My characters get one kiss, maybe two … but the reader is ready for them by the time they happen!
And for some extra fun . . .
If you could pick one superhero to save you from impending doom, who would it be and why?Who wouldn’t want to be carried through the atmosphere by Superman?!
If you could guest star in one TV show, what would be and what would your ideal role be?
I’d LOVE to join the cast of the Great British Baking Show as a judge. Yum!
Name one significant heirloom or keepsake you have and why it’s important to you:
I have my grandmother’s baby t-shirt from 1929 in a shadowbox on my wall. My 87-year-old grandma lives with me, too. Can I call her a keepsake? :)
We’d love you have you share a snippet from your novel to entice us and hook us! JPlease share something below:
Click the link to my first two chapters: A Secret Courage
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/TriciaGoyerPinterest: www.Pinterest.com/TriciaGoyerFacebook: www.Facebook.com/AuthorTriciaGoyerNewsletter: Click to Register
Readers: Please comment to enter the free give-away.Have you ever heard of English lady recon in WWII?Did your grandmother's have any war effort roles or stories?If your grandparents are living, I challenge you to interview them about the war effort!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
-------------Blog post by Anne Love-
Writer of Historical Romance inspired by her family roots.
Nurse Practitioner by day.
Wife, mother, writer by night.
Coffee drinker--any time.
Find me at: www.anneloveauthor.com
Find me on:FacebookFind me on: PinterestFind me on: GoodreadsFind me on: TwitterFind me on: Instagram
June 22, 2017
The Fine Art of...Waiting
Gabrielle Here:
Like many parents today, my husband and I struggle with teaching our children patience. We've become addicted to instant gratification. We've lost the fine art of waiting. We want it, we get it.
Remember the old days when you'd have to use a whole roll of 24 exposures on your camera, then bring the roll to the store, fill out that envelope, and then wait a week for the pictures to come back? Remember when a picture you were waiting for ended up being blurry or someone blinked? And there was no re-dos? You were stuck with what you had.
Now, we take a picture (or ten), look at them quickly on our phone, and if we don't like how they look, we all pose again and take another, then we upload it to social media and share it with the world. Instant gratification.
What about a research project? Remember getting dropped off at the library (or driving your bike), going to the index files, looking up titles that would pertain to your project, finding them on the shelf, and then pouring over them until you found what you wanted? Sometimes, you'd write notes on your spiral bound notebook, other times you'd take it to the Xerox machine and pay five or ten cents for a copy.
Now, we go to Google, type in some keywords, and voila! all we need to know is literally at the tip of our fingers. Instant gratification.
We live in a different world today than the one we grew up in, so how do we teach children the art of waiting? (How do we recall it ourselves...?)
One way we've found is through seeds.
Our son is crazy about plants. He loves flowers, vegetables, fruit--pretty much anything that grows. Because of this, we've chosen to cultivate that love (no pun intended!) and have encouraged him to plant as much as his little heart desires.
This is just one of the plants he has growing
in our yard. I'm not even sure what it is.This has been a wonderful way to teach him the art of waiting. He loves to look at the packet of seeds and see how long he has to wait before he'll see the sprout appear. Sometimes, he makes a chart and checks each day off the calendar.
He's diligent to water his seeds, checking in on them every day, waiting to see that first little green leaf.
When it does, there is always great rejoicing in our home.
Your Turn: Are you a patient person? What are you willing to be patient for? Have you struggled with the instant gratification in our culture? What ways have you found to teach the next generation patience?
Gabrielle Meyer
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Like many parents today, my husband and I struggle with teaching our children patience. We've become addicted to instant gratification. We've lost the fine art of waiting. We want it, we get it.
Remember the old days when you'd have to use a whole roll of 24 exposures on your camera, then bring the roll to the store, fill out that envelope, and then wait a week for the pictures to come back? Remember when a picture you were waiting for ended up being blurry or someone blinked? And there was no re-dos? You were stuck with what you had.
Now, we take a picture (or ten), look at them quickly on our phone, and if we don't like how they look, we all pose again and take another, then we upload it to social media and share it with the world. Instant gratification.
What about a research project? Remember getting dropped off at the library (or driving your bike), going to the index files, looking up titles that would pertain to your project, finding them on the shelf, and then pouring over them until you found what you wanted? Sometimes, you'd write notes on your spiral bound notebook, other times you'd take it to the Xerox machine and pay five or ten cents for a copy.
Now, we go to Google, type in some keywords, and voila! all we need to know is literally at the tip of our fingers. Instant gratification.
We live in a different world today than the one we grew up in, so how do we teach children the art of waiting? (How do we recall it ourselves...?)
One way we've found is through seeds.
Our son is crazy about plants. He loves flowers, vegetables, fruit--pretty much anything that grows. Because of this, we've chosen to cultivate that love (no pun intended!) and have encouraged him to plant as much as his little heart desires.
This is just one of the plants he has growing in our yard. I'm not even sure what it is.This has been a wonderful way to teach him the art of waiting. He loves to look at the packet of seeds and see how long he has to wait before he'll see the sprout appear. Sometimes, he makes a chart and checks each day off the calendar.
He's diligent to water his seeds, checking in on them every day, waiting to see that first little green leaf.
When it does, there is always great rejoicing in our home.
Your Turn: Are you a patient person? What are you willing to be patient for? Have you struggled with the instant gratification in our culture? What ways have you found to teach the next generation patience?
Gabrielle Meyer
Find me on Facebook
Find me on Amazon
Find me on Goodreads
Find me on My Website
Sign up for My Newsletter
June 21, 2017
Erica here:This is a super-crammed week for me, arriving ...
Erica here:
This is a super-crammed week for me, arriving home from Florida in the early hours of Wednesday and heading out Friday morning for Gabe's house.
It seems as if this summer has filled up rapidly with all kinds of things, from trips to meetings to deadlines to...Jury Duty.
Yep. I got summoned for Jury Duty in July. I don't know how I feel about this, because I find the whole process of jurisprudence interesting, and I love watching people...but...jury duty? Ugh!
Have you ever served on a jury?
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This is a super-crammed week for me, arriving home from Florida in the early hours of Wednesday and heading out Friday morning for Gabe's house.
It seems as if this summer has filled up rapidly with all kinds of things, from trips to meetings to deadlines to...Jury Duty.
Yep. I got summoned for Jury Duty in July. I don't know how I feel about this, because I find the whole process of jurisprudence interesting, and I love watching people...but...jury duty? Ugh!
Have you ever served on a jury?
SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER
Find me on AMAZON.COM
Find me on FACEBOOK
June 20, 2017
When Your Life Flips Upside Down
Hey all!! Guest blogger and author, Mikal Dawn is here today! If you haven't met her, she is a load of laughs, has a marvelous streak of sarcasm, is a woman of faith, and has a heart far larger than her cup of coffee. Mikal Dawn is an inspirational romance author, wedding enthusiast, and proud military wife. By day, she works as an administrative assistant for an international ministry, serves in her church’s library, runs her kids to all their sports, and drinks lots of coffee. By night, she talks to figments of her imagination as she attempts to write while dinner is burning. And drinks lots of coffee. When she isn’t writing about faith, fun, and forever, she is obsessively scouring Pinterest (with coffee in hand, of course!) for wedding ideas for her characters.
Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Mikal now lives in Nebraska with her husband, their three children, and one ferocious feline. Connect with Mikal on mikaldawn.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.So grab your cuppa-whatever and enjoy ...
__________________________
Now this is a story all about how my life got flipped—turned upside down. And I’d like to take a minute, just sit right there. I’ll tell you how I became the prince of a town called…oh. Whoops.Wrong audience. But the song is in your head now, isn’t it? If you’re a 90s child like me, at least. Ha!
But I do have a story to tell you about how my life got flipped, turned upside down. (Seriously. The lyrics are really stuck in my head now.) But rather than my mum sending me to live with my wealthy aunt and uncle, God sent me my husband.
I made some bad choices as a younger adult, and I ended up with a lot of bitterness that I needed to let go of. I used to joke that I was Captain of the USS Bitterboat, but in all reality, it wasn’t that funny. Or a joke. I struggled with anger and letting the past go.
Over one summer, however, the Lord worked on my heart, and it all became so clear to me what I’d been doing: holding on to unforgiveness. Holding on to my own bad choices and holding another’s wrongdoings against them. And more importantly, not asking Jesus to forgive me.
When I was finally able to work through some things and ask for forgiveness—and give forgiveness—let me tell you, it was like the dam broke and peace rushed out. It was amazing. Truly amazing.
A couple of weeks later, I decided to give an online Christian dating site a try when they had a one-week free promotion. A few days into that free week, I met my now-husband (for the record, he’d just paid for a six-month membership; I just remind him that I was worth the money…HA!). We met online that September (this is also when I started my love affair with coffee, because my husband was stationed on the other side of the world, so we’d often talk in the middle of my night), in person in December, and married in April; it was the third time we’d spent time together in person as he was stationed overseas and my oldest and I were living in Canada. I know, I know. Whirlwind! But when you know, you know. Three months after we married, my son and I left Vancouver and moved to—are you ready?—Middle Georgia. Oh, the culture shock!! About as shocking as the Fresh Prince’s move from Philadelphia to Bel Air.
In my debut novel, Count Me In, the main character, Allegra, has her world flipped upside down (she may or may not be loosely—or tightly—based on me). What I learned in writing this story (well, relearned because I’m thick-headed and God often has to teach me something multiple times before I can really soak it in) is that when we step out of our comfort zones and put our faith completely in the Lord, He is always ready to flip our lives for His good and glory. That’s a flip I’m totally okay with taking.
As long as I have coffee.*”Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (Theme Song)” lyrics by Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff
_____________________________________
Count Me InAllegra Spencer has been living a careful life. Her safe job as an accountant is bookended by going to church and the gym. Okay, sometimes the gym. Fine. She goes to church. And the coffee shop. She avoids risk at all cost, preferring to stay safe in her cozy condo. Until her accounting firm goes belly up and she's out of a job.
Tyler Hawk had a glorious career as a star NFL tight end. He retired on a high note and now lives a second dream of owning his own business and leading others on extreme outdoor adventures. But he needs help with his books—and his heart. When Allegra takes the job, sparks fly.
It’s a case of safety zone versus danger zone, and in their minds, never the two shall meet.
Buy it on Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/Count-Emerald-City-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B0713RQHQ7/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Mikal now lives in Nebraska with her husband, their three children, and one ferocious feline. Connect with Mikal on mikaldawn.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.So grab your cuppa-whatever and enjoy ...
__________________________
Now this is a story all about how my life got flipped—turned upside down. And I’d like to take a minute, just sit right there. I’ll tell you how I became the prince of a town called…oh. Whoops.Wrong audience. But the song is in your head now, isn’t it? If you’re a 90s child like me, at least. Ha!But I do have a story to tell you about how my life got flipped, turned upside down. (Seriously. The lyrics are really stuck in my head now.) But rather than my mum sending me to live with my wealthy aunt and uncle, God sent me my husband.
I made some bad choices as a younger adult, and I ended up with a lot of bitterness that I needed to let go of. I used to joke that I was Captain of the USS Bitterboat, but in all reality, it wasn’t that funny. Or a joke. I struggled with anger and letting the past go.
Over one summer, however, the Lord worked on my heart, and it all became so clear to me what I’d been doing: holding on to unforgiveness. Holding on to my own bad choices and holding another’s wrongdoings against them. And more importantly, not asking Jesus to forgive me.
When I was finally able to work through some things and ask for forgiveness—and give forgiveness—let me tell you, it was like the dam broke and peace rushed out. It was amazing. Truly amazing.
A couple of weeks later, I decided to give an online Christian dating site a try when they had a one-week free promotion. A few days into that free week, I met my now-husband (for the record, he’d just paid for a six-month membership; I just remind him that I was worth the money…HA!). We met online that September (this is also when I started my love affair with coffee, because my husband was stationed on the other side of the world, so we’d often talk in the middle of my night), in person in December, and married in April; it was the third time we’d spent time together in person as he was stationed overseas and my oldest and I were living in Canada. I know, I know. Whirlwind! But when you know, you know. Three months after we married, my son and I left Vancouver and moved to—are you ready?—Middle Georgia. Oh, the culture shock!! About as shocking as the Fresh Prince’s move from Philadelphia to Bel Air. 
In my debut novel, Count Me In, the main character, Allegra, has her world flipped upside down (she may or may not be loosely—or tightly—based on me). What I learned in writing this story (well, relearned because I’m thick-headed and God often has to teach me something multiple times before I can really soak it in) is that when we step out of our comfort zones and put our faith completely in the Lord, He is always ready to flip our lives for His good and glory. That’s a flip I’m totally okay with taking.As long as I have coffee.*”Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (Theme Song)” lyrics by Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff
_____________________________________
Count Me InAllegra Spencer has been living a careful life. Her safe job as an accountant is bookended by going to church and the gym. Okay, sometimes the gym. Fine. She goes to church. And the coffee shop. She avoids risk at all cost, preferring to stay safe in her cozy condo. Until her accounting firm goes belly up and she's out of a job.
Tyler Hawk had a glorious career as a star NFL tight end. He retired on a high note and now lives a second dream of owning his own business and leading others on extreme outdoor adventures. But he needs help with his books—and his heart. When Allegra takes the job, sparks fly.
It’s a case of safety zone versus danger zone, and in their minds, never the two shall meet.
Buy it on Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/Count-Emerald-City-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B0713RQHQ7/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
June 19, 2017
You Only Debut Once!
Anne here.
I have to admit it makes me grin ear to ear thinking about the fun of debuting my first published story. This week I received a huge box of author copies from the mail man. It came the same day my daughter's visa was delivered by the Fed Ex man. I'm still glowing with glee to watch it all unfold.
I believe Gabrielle, Erica, and Jaime when they say opening the box of your books never gets old, but the first time is pretty special and will forever be tied to launching my first-born across the Atlantic for her year in Ireland. Seeing your words on a black and white printed page is surreal--and very cool! I can't wait for readers to get a chance to read this great collection coming out in a few short weeks.
I'm unlocking my Pinterest board where I've pinned all my research while writing this story. I hope it gives you a flavor of the setting and the times. We have some very fun things planned over the next several weeks, so stay tuned! Click to browse the board: The Gardener's Daughter Pinterest BoardHere are just a few pins:
Get ready to jump back to 1895 to Bay View, Michigan, into the story of The Gardener's Daughter.When the nephew of a prestigious Chautauqua resort founder sets his eye on the new library assistant, believing her an academy student, it will take more than reciting poetry for love to bloom when he learns she's the humble gardener's daughter.
-------------Blog post by Anne Love-
Writer of Historical Romance inspired by her family roots.
Nurse Practitioner by day.
Wife, mother, writer by night.
Coffee drinker--any time.
Find me at: www.anneloveauthor.com
Find me on:FacebookFind me on: PinterestFind me on: GoodreadsFind me on: TwitterFind me on: Instagram
I have to admit it makes me grin ear to ear thinking about the fun of debuting my first published story. This week I received a huge box of author copies from the mail man. It came the same day my daughter's visa was delivered by the Fed Ex man. I'm still glowing with glee to watch it all unfold.
I believe Gabrielle, Erica, and Jaime when they say opening the box of your books never gets old, but the first time is pretty special and will forever be tied to launching my first-born across the Atlantic for her year in Ireland. Seeing your words on a black and white printed page is surreal--and very cool! I can't wait for readers to get a chance to read this great collection coming out in a few short weeks.
I'm unlocking my Pinterest board where I've pinned all my research while writing this story. I hope it gives you a flavor of the setting and the times. We have some very fun things planned over the next several weeks, so stay tuned! Click to browse the board: The Gardener's Daughter Pinterest BoardHere are just a few pins:
Get ready to jump back to 1895 to Bay View, Michigan, into the story of The Gardener's Daughter.When the nephew of a prestigious Chautauqua resort founder sets his eye on the new library assistant, believing her an academy student, it will take more than reciting poetry for love to bloom when he learns she's the humble gardener's daughter.
-------------Blog post by Anne Love-
Writer of Historical Romance inspired by her family roots.
Nurse Practitioner by day.
Wife, mother, writer by night.
Coffee drinker--any time.
Find me at: www.anneloveauthor.com
Find me on:FacebookFind me on: PinterestFind me on: GoodreadsFind me on: TwitterFind me on: Instagram
June 16, 2017
Interview & #Giveaway with Author Karen Barnett
We're super excited to have Karen Barnett here with us today, celebrating the release of her latest novel and a shared love of National Parks!!
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Thank you so much for visiting us today here at the CCC
blog! Can you tell us about your latest release and what inspired you to write the story?
The Road to Paradise is the first of my Vintage National Parks series, and it’s set in one of my favorite places in the world—Mount Rainier National Park. I grew up in Washington, so I fell in love with the mountain at an early age. I even had the joy of working there as a park ranger for two years. I can’t imagine a more romantic and exciting place to set a story.
An ideal sanctuary and a dream come true–that’s what Margaret Lane feels as she takes in God’s gorgeous handiwork in Mount Rainer National Park. It’s 1927 and the National Park Service is in its youth when Margie, an avid naturalist, lands a coveted position alongside the park rangers living and working in the unrivaled splendor of Mount Rainier’s long shadow.
But Chief Ranger Ford Brayden knows too well how awe-inspiring nature can quickly turn deadly. Ford is still haunted by his father’s death on the mountain, and the ranger takes his work managing the park and its growing crowd of visitors seriously. The job of watching over an idealistic Senator’s daughter with few practical survival skills seems a waste of resources.
When Margie’s former fiancé sets his mind on developing the Paradise Inn and its surroundings into a tourist playground, the plans might put more than the park’s pristine beauty in danger. What will Margie and Ford sacrifice to preserve the splendor and simplicity of the wilderness they both love?
Tell us about the setting of the story and why you chose that particular spot/area/region:
Obviously the setting is critical in this new series. The more I talk to people about the parks, the more I realize what a huge responsibility I’ve taken on. Readers have strong emotions connected with these places, and I hope it will help them to connect deeply with the stories.
I chose to begin the series with Mount Rainier because that’s where I first became fascinated with the National Parks system and the people who work to protect them. In many ways, that mountain is where my heart lives. For another reader, Glacier or Grand Canyon might elicit a similar sense of devotion. It’s this shared passion for these majestic places I want to represent in each of these stories, and hopefully each book will take you on a little armchair adventure. The next two books in the series will feature Yosemite and Yellowstone, two more parks with rich histories.
What is the primary spiritual theme of your book, and if that’s not applicable, what do you hope readers take away from reading your novel?
My deepest hope for this series is that readers come away with a deeper appreciation for God’s incredible handiwork. Our world is beautiful, complex, and infinitely wild—a reflection of the Creator, himself. I firmly believe that studying nature will give you a deeper appreciation for God’s unlimited power and majesty.
How did you determine what names to give your characters?
All of my previous heroes have been white-collar types, so when I decided to write a park ranger character who had been raised in the mountains, I wanted a name with a rural flavor. The image that jumped to my mind was that of a sturdy Ford pickup truck. Ford seemed like an unusual name for the 1920s, but just outside the main entrance to Mount Rainier is a small community named Ashford. I could picture his parents naming their son “Ashford” after the homesteading family who settled the area, but shortening it to “Ford” for convenience sake. So Ford Brayden was born.
The name Margaret has always been a favorite of mine and was a popular choice for the time period. It has a touch of royalty about it, yet it can be shortened in many fun ways. Since she comes from a political family, I imagined her upper-crust mother drawing out the syllables as she spoke, “Mahr-gahr-et.” But the character is much more down to earth, so she prefers to be called Margie. That minor change also made her more approachable and helps her ease into Ford’s world.
Which sub-character is your favorite and why?
I have many favorites, and to be honest—not all of them are people. But I’ll let you wonder about that. One of the most fun characters to write was Ranger Carson. I wanted to add some splashes of 1920s lingo into the story, but because of Margie’s upbringing and Ford’s position, slang seemed inappropriate for their dialogue. That left plenty of great lines for a more outspoken secondary character. Carson could refer to Margie as a “tomato,” a “gal with nice gams,” or “a bird out to nick their jobs,” and it all seemed perfectly natural in his voice.
Moving on from your story, tell us a little about yourself. We’ll help! What literary character is most like you and why?
I was just talking to some friends about this the other day. I’ve always wanted to be someone like Jo March, Elizabeth Bennet, or Anne Shirley—a natural leader, beautiful, impulsive, and endlessly clever. In reality though, I’m much more like their counterparts, Meg, Jane, and Diana. I’m mild-tempered, gentle, and steady, but living in constant admiration and envy of the extroverts in my life. Maybe I’m just cut out to be a literary sidekick.
What hobby do you enjoy in your “free” time (‘cause we know you have tons of free time!)
I find music to be the ultimate stress-reliever. I’m fairly decent at the guitar, and I also like to play around with the Irish tin whistle, hammered dulcimer, and mandolin. I used to lead worship on occasion, but now I primarily play for the pets. They’re a captive audience.
Tell us about your pets (if you have some)!
I’m a complete and utter softie when it comes to animals. We have one elderly tabby cat and three mischievous dachshunds. I had never thought of myself as a dog person until we decided to foster a friend’s puppy. We’re what the rescue folks call a “failed foster” because we never gave her back. Eventually we decided she needed a dog buddy, so I started stalking the humane society websites looking for the perfect companion. We found two adorable dachshund brothers and didn’t have the heart to split them up, so now we have a pack. It’s a little insane at walk time, but still a lot of fun. Don’t tell anyone, but lately I’ve been looking at kitten websites. Do you think five pets would be too many?
We talk a lot about faith and how it weaves throughout our fiction, here at the blog. How has your faith affected/or not affected your writing?
I thought writing Christian fiction would be a subtle way to share my faith, but what I didn’t realize was God planned to use writing to re-shape my faith. Each spiritual thread in one of my books has been an active case of me wrestling with Him over something. Just like sitting down with a human counselor and talking things through, I feel like Jesus lets me spill out my fears and doubts in writing. Then in His wisdom and timing, He gently guides me to a better understanding of the issue. If that helps others along the way, all the glory has to go to Him!
Because Jaime has some darker elements to her split-time historical and contemporary romantic suspense coming out this year, she likes to ask weird questions. So, if you were to find yourself stranded in a creepy old house at night, who would you want with you to keep you company?
It might sound like too easy of an answer, but I’d have to say my husband. The thing I admire most about him is his generous self-sacrificing spirit. He’s always quick to put others’ needs—mine included—before his own. So in a creepy-old-house type of situation, I’d definitely want him by my side.
Anne, Erica, and Gabrielle both write sweet historical romances. How does romance influence your own writing?
I like stories that wrestle with deep emotions and struggles, but always with an element of romance. Romance is like the cream and sugar in your coffee—it sweetens the bitter moments. As a reader, I’ve found I can walk beside a character as they endure great suffering if I’m confident that they’ll find love and redemption in the end. That’s one of the reasons I love Christian romance.
And for some extra fun . . .
If you could pick one superhero to save you from impending doom, who would it be and why?
Oh, man. Ummmm… Back during the whole Team Ironman vs. Team Cap business, I had to admit to the world that I find Ironman much more entertaining to watch, but in real life, I’d rather have Captain America on my side because of his strong moral code. The rest of them I’m pretty ambivalent about. I’d probably prefer to have the Doctor show up with his TARDIS.
If you could guest star in one TV show, what would be and what would your ideal role be?
As I hinted on the last question, I’m a big Doctor Who fan so that’s probably what I would choose. I’ve always been fascinated with the idea of time travel. It would be fun to dress up in the full Victorian garb before getting killed off by some scary alien monster or swept away into another dimension.
Name one significant heirloom or keepsake you have and why it’s important to you:
I tend to be sentimental, so I have plenty of things that I’ve hung onto. I still have the first gift my husband ever gave me when we were dating—a pink mouse he won from one of those claw machines. I also treasure my wedding ring, not just because of what it stands for, but because it was an heirloom passed down from his family. It’s 1920s-era art deco style ring, so it’s quite unique.
We’d love you have you share a snippet from your novel to entice us and hook us! J Please share something below:
This snippet comes from the beginning of the second chapter where Chief Ranger Ford Brayden is reluctantly escorting the overly-enthusiastic Margie Lane to her new employee quarters:
Miss Lane blinked at him with deep brown eyes. With the hat framing her pale face, the woman resembled a cornered barn owl. “I wasn’t sure what I would need, so I erred on the side of caution. Likely as not, I overpacked. I usually do, I’m afraid.”
He reached around the box with both arms, grasping the leather handles before heaving it to his shoulder, smearing his uniform with mud. “I didn’t know dresses weighed so much.”
The woman laughed, her lips forming an impish smile. “Not dresses. Books. I brought Forests of Mount Rainier National Park, The Glacier Playfields of the Mount Rainier National Park, Features of the Flora of—”
“I see. Well, there’s only so much you can learn from books.” Ford turned and plodded down the path. She may be well read, but he guessed she couldn’t tell the difference between a raccoon and a spotted skunk. Might be fun to find out.
She caught up a moment later, her short legs matching his stride. “That’s why I was so eager to come and study with you.”
“Study…with me? I’m no teacher.”
“Not with you, exactly. But someone like you. One who speaks the language of creation—who can hear the whispers of the waterfalls, see the secrets hidden in the soulful eyes of the black bear…” she lifted her hand to gesture to the surrounding forest. “To sit at the feet of a master.”
What kind of fairy world had Margaret Lane dropped out of? He looked her up and down. Clearly, she’d never been in close quarters with a bear. Ford turned away, the weight of the box crushing against his shoulder.
Ford’s mother had passed when he was just a boy, and he’d spent precious little time with women since. He vaguely remembered her bedtime stories of forest sprites, but this was the first time he’d met anyone meeting their description.
The woman’s skirt swished as she trotted at his side. “I’m determined not to waste a minute of this opportunity. I shall soak in the timeless wisdom of the forest primeval.” She beamed. “And I shall endeavor to live up to your expectations, just like any other ranger.”
Ford halted a few feet from the cabin door. “You are not a ranger. Is that what Harry told you?” The twinge in his spine grew talons.
She took a step back. “Not in so many words. But Superintendent Brown said I’d be working for you, so I assumed—”
“You assumed wrong. A person—a man—has to earn the right to that title. We don’t just hand out…” Ford caught himself, Harry’s warnings still ringing in his ears. “You’re not a ranger. Just a—a naturalist. And here on trial, at that.” Ford tromped up the cabin steps and dropped the box at the door. The sharp sound echoed through the stillness.
_____________________________________________
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________________________
Thank you so much for visiting us today here at the CCC
blog! Can you tell us about your latest release and what inspired you to write the story?
The Road to Paradise is the first of my Vintage National Parks series, and it’s set in one of my favorite places in the world—Mount Rainier National Park. I grew up in Washington, so I fell in love with the mountain at an early age. I even had the joy of working there as a park ranger for two years. I can’t imagine a more romantic and exciting place to set a story.
An ideal sanctuary and a dream come true–that’s what Margaret Lane feels as she takes in God’s gorgeous handiwork in Mount Rainer National Park. It’s 1927 and the National Park Service is in its youth when Margie, an avid naturalist, lands a coveted position alongside the park rangers living and working in the unrivaled splendor of Mount Rainier’s long shadow.
But Chief Ranger Ford Brayden knows too well how awe-inspiring nature can quickly turn deadly. Ford is still haunted by his father’s death on the mountain, and the ranger takes his work managing the park and its growing crowd of visitors seriously. The job of watching over an idealistic Senator’s daughter with few practical survival skills seems a waste of resources.
When Margie’s former fiancé sets his mind on developing the Paradise Inn and its surroundings into a tourist playground, the plans might put more than the park’s pristine beauty in danger. What will Margie and Ford sacrifice to preserve the splendor and simplicity of the wilderness they both love?
Tell us about the setting of the story and why you chose that particular spot/area/region:
Obviously the setting is critical in this new series. The more I talk to people about the parks, the more I realize what a huge responsibility I’ve taken on. Readers have strong emotions connected with these places, and I hope it will help them to connect deeply with the stories.
I chose to begin the series with Mount Rainier because that’s where I first became fascinated with the National Parks system and the people who work to protect them. In many ways, that mountain is where my heart lives. For another reader, Glacier or Grand Canyon might elicit a similar sense of devotion. It’s this shared passion for these majestic places I want to represent in each of these stories, and hopefully each book will take you on a little armchair adventure. The next two books in the series will feature Yosemite and Yellowstone, two more parks with rich histories.
What is the primary spiritual theme of your book, and if that’s not applicable, what do you hope readers take away from reading your novel?
My deepest hope for this series is that readers come away with a deeper appreciation for God’s incredible handiwork. Our world is beautiful, complex, and infinitely wild—a reflection of the Creator, himself. I firmly believe that studying nature will give you a deeper appreciation for God’s unlimited power and majesty.
How did you determine what names to give your characters?
All of my previous heroes have been white-collar types, so when I decided to write a park ranger character who had been raised in the mountains, I wanted a name with a rural flavor. The image that jumped to my mind was that of a sturdy Ford pickup truck. Ford seemed like an unusual name for the 1920s, but just outside the main entrance to Mount Rainier is a small community named Ashford. I could picture his parents naming their son “Ashford” after the homesteading family who settled the area, but shortening it to “Ford” for convenience sake. So Ford Brayden was born.
The name Margaret has always been a favorite of mine and was a popular choice for the time period. It has a touch of royalty about it, yet it can be shortened in many fun ways. Since she comes from a political family, I imagined her upper-crust mother drawing out the syllables as she spoke, “Mahr-gahr-et.” But the character is much more down to earth, so she prefers to be called Margie. That minor change also made her more approachable and helps her ease into Ford’s world.
Which sub-character is your favorite and why?
I have many favorites, and to be honest—not all of them are people. But I’ll let you wonder about that. One of the most fun characters to write was Ranger Carson. I wanted to add some splashes of 1920s lingo into the story, but because of Margie’s upbringing and Ford’s position, slang seemed inappropriate for their dialogue. That left plenty of great lines for a more outspoken secondary character. Carson could refer to Margie as a “tomato,” a “gal with nice gams,” or “a bird out to nick their jobs,” and it all seemed perfectly natural in his voice.
Moving on from your story, tell us a little about yourself. We’ll help! What literary character is most like you and why?
I was just talking to some friends about this the other day. I’ve always wanted to be someone like Jo March, Elizabeth Bennet, or Anne Shirley—a natural leader, beautiful, impulsive, and endlessly clever. In reality though, I’m much more like their counterparts, Meg, Jane, and Diana. I’m mild-tempered, gentle, and steady, but living in constant admiration and envy of the extroverts in my life. Maybe I’m just cut out to be a literary sidekick. What hobby do you enjoy in your “free” time (‘cause we know you have tons of free time!)
I find music to be the ultimate stress-reliever. I’m fairly decent at the guitar, and I also like to play around with the Irish tin whistle, hammered dulcimer, and mandolin. I used to lead worship on occasion, but now I primarily play for the pets. They’re a captive audience.
Tell us about your pets (if you have some)!
I’m a complete and utter softie when it comes to animals. We have one elderly tabby cat and three mischievous dachshunds. I had never thought of myself as a dog person until we decided to foster a friend’s puppy. We’re what the rescue folks call a “failed foster” because we never gave her back. Eventually we decided she needed a dog buddy, so I started stalking the humane society websites looking for the perfect companion. We found two adorable dachshund brothers and didn’t have the heart to split them up, so now we have a pack. It’s a little insane at walk time, but still a lot of fun. Don’t tell anyone, but lately I’ve been looking at kitten websites. Do you think five pets would be too many?
We talk a lot about faith and how it weaves throughout our fiction, here at the blog. How has your faith affected/or not affected your writing?
I thought writing Christian fiction would be a subtle way to share my faith, but what I didn’t realize was God planned to use writing to re-shape my faith. Each spiritual thread in one of my books has been an active case of me wrestling with Him over something. Just like sitting down with a human counselor and talking things through, I feel like Jesus lets me spill out my fears and doubts in writing. Then in His wisdom and timing, He gently guides me to a better understanding of the issue. If that helps others along the way, all the glory has to go to Him!
Because Jaime has some darker elements to her split-time historical and contemporary romantic suspense coming out this year, she likes to ask weird questions. So, if you were to find yourself stranded in a creepy old house at night, who would you want with you to keep you company?
It might sound like too easy of an answer, but I’d have to say my husband. The thing I admire most about him is his generous self-sacrificing spirit. He’s always quick to put others’ needs—mine included—before his own. So in a creepy-old-house type of situation, I’d definitely want him by my side.
Anne, Erica, and Gabrielle both write sweet historical romances. How does romance influence your own writing?
I like stories that wrestle with deep emotions and struggles, but always with an element of romance. Romance is like the cream and sugar in your coffee—it sweetens the bitter moments. As a reader, I’ve found I can walk beside a character as they endure great suffering if I’m confident that they’ll find love and redemption in the end. That’s one of the reasons I love Christian romance.
And for some extra fun . . .
If you could pick one superhero to save you from impending doom, who would it be and why?
Oh, man. Ummmm… Back during the whole Team Ironman vs. Team Cap business, I had to admit to the world that I find Ironman much more entertaining to watch, but in real life, I’d rather have Captain America on my side because of his strong moral code. The rest of them I’m pretty ambivalent about. I’d probably prefer to have the Doctor show up with his TARDIS.
If you could guest star in one TV show, what would be and what would your ideal role be?
As I hinted on the last question, I’m a big Doctor Who fan so that’s probably what I would choose. I’ve always been fascinated with the idea of time travel. It would be fun to dress up in the full Victorian garb before getting killed off by some scary alien monster or swept away into another dimension.
Name one significant heirloom or keepsake you have and why it’s important to you:
I tend to be sentimental, so I have plenty of things that I’ve hung onto. I still have the first gift my husband ever gave me when we were dating—a pink mouse he won from one of those claw machines. I also treasure my wedding ring, not just because of what it stands for, but because it was an heirloom passed down from his family. It’s 1920s-era art deco style ring, so it’s quite unique.
We’d love you have you share a snippet from your novel to entice us and hook us! J Please share something below:
This snippet comes from the beginning of the second chapter where Chief Ranger Ford Brayden is reluctantly escorting the overly-enthusiastic Margie Lane to her new employee quarters:
Miss Lane blinked at him with deep brown eyes. With the hat framing her pale face, the woman resembled a cornered barn owl. “I wasn’t sure what I would need, so I erred on the side of caution. Likely as not, I overpacked. I usually do, I’m afraid.”
He reached around the box with both arms, grasping the leather handles before heaving it to his shoulder, smearing his uniform with mud. “I didn’t know dresses weighed so much.”
The woman laughed, her lips forming an impish smile. “Not dresses. Books. I brought Forests of Mount Rainier National Park, The Glacier Playfields of the Mount Rainier National Park, Features of the Flora of—”
“I see. Well, there’s only so much you can learn from books.” Ford turned and plodded down the path. She may be well read, but he guessed she couldn’t tell the difference between a raccoon and a spotted skunk. Might be fun to find out.
She caught up a moment later, her short legs matching his stride. “That’s why I was so eager to come and study with you.”
“Study…with me? I’m no teacher.”
“Not with you, exactly. But someone like you. One who speaks the language of creation—who can hear the whispers of the waterfalls, see the secrets hidden in the soulful eyes of the black bear…” she lifted her hand to gesture to the surrounding forest. “To sit at the feet of a master.”
What kind of fairy world had Margaret Lane dropped out of? He looked her up and down. Clearly, she’d never been in close quarters with a bear. Ford turned away, the weight of the box crushing against his shoulder.
Ford’s mother had passed when he was just a boy, and he’d spent precious little time with women since. He vaguely remembered her bedtime stories of forest sprites, but this was the first time he’d met anyone meeting their description.
The woman’s skirt swished as she trotted at his side. “I’m determined not to waste a minute of this opportunity. I shall soak in the timeless wisdom of the forest primeval.” She beamed. “And I shall endeavor to live up to your expectations, just like any other ranger.”
Ford halted a few feet from the cabin door. “You are not a ranger. Is that what Harry told you?” The twinge in his spine grew talons.
She took a step back. “Not in so many words. But Superintendent Brown said I’d be working for you, so I assumed—”
“You assumed wrong. A person—a man—has to earn the right to that title. We don’t just hand out…” Ford caught himself, Harry’s warnings still ringing in his ears. “You’re not a ranger. Just a—a naturalist. And here on trial, at that.” Ford tromped up the cabin steps and dropped the box at the door. The sharp sound echoed through the stillness.
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