Jan Thompson's Blog, page 277

Two of Five

The Vacation Sweethearts collection tells the stories of Savannah residents who traveled somewhere, whether to stay or visit. The first two books are now available: book 1 for purchase, and book 2 for preorder. Books 3 and 4 are coming soon in 2017. Stay tuned!

SMILE FOR ME (Vacation Sweethearts Book 1)

Five books in all, Jan Thompson���s Vacation Sweethearts series begins with SMILE FOR ME, the romance between uptight Byron Moss and laid-back Tina MacFarland.

I���ve always wanted to write about the places I���ve been to, and the Bahamas is one of them. We went on a cruise a while ago and had so much fun. I would like to go back there again some day. This is where I put Byron and Tina in SMILE FOR ME. It���s a different novel from the previous series because the entire book is very laid back. No dead bodies, no hostages. Just idyllic sun and beaches on a lazy summer���s day.

I grew up on a tropical island with hibiscus, bougainvillea, and a type of flowering tree called the flame of the forest. Since the Bahamas is tropical, they also have similar flowers there. I wrote about the daily life in the Bahamas, laid back island life in the tropics, the mix of Britishisms and Americanisms in that old British colony. Byron speaks British English, and Tina speaks American English, and never the two shall connect? Read to find out!

Smile for Me Interview

Linda Rodante interviewed me today on her blog! Click to read more and to enter in the giveaway, valid only for today.

Here are some excerpts from the interview���

Can you tell us what
genre you write and a little of your writing journey?

Jan says: I write multiethnic Christian fiction that blends inspirational
women���s fiction with contemporary Christian romance and romantic suspense. I
also write historicals and middle grade fiction once upon a time, but those are
on the back burners for now. I have written a devotional for writers, and will
do more marketing for that book when I produce the paperback edition. For now,
I am focusing on a couple of genres as there are only so many hours in a day.

��

My current collections are:

Savannah Sweethearts: JanThompson.com/savannah

Vacation Sweethearts: JanThompson.con/vacation

Seaside Chapel: JanThompson.com/seaside

��

Re: Writing Journey - I���ve been writing since I was 8 years old
on an old Olivetti typewriter and also by hand. I would make picture flip books
and staple them together. I would write poetry, short stories, stuff like that.
However, in college I didn���t major in creative writing, but in Computer
Science. In 1996, I started writing thrillers with an eye toward publication. I
finished my first novel in 1999, but I became a mother the next year, and spent
the next dozen years being a stay-at-home homeschooling mom. My son is in high
school now and I still homeschool today, but my son is in a hybrid academy, so
they do all the teaching and grading for me. I proctor tests and supervise
independent studies, so that frees me up to write more books.

��

What book are you
featuring today and what story can you tell us that has something to do with
your book?

��

Jan says: SMILE FOR ME is book 1 in my new travel series,
Vacation Sweethearts, which is a spin-off of my Savannah Sweethearts series of
10 books set in the coastal town of Savannah, Georgia, and on the beaches of
Tybee Island by the Atlantic Ocean. SMILE FOR ME kicks off a 5-novel
collection, and my readers will recognize people from Savannah dropping in
every now and then.

��

This novel was in the Whispers of Love anthology back in the
summer, and we made #79 on the USA Today bestselling list. I thank God for that
because, to me, it was one more little affirmation that I���m supposed to be
writing books. That���s good for me because I have so many books I want to write.

��

I���ve always wanted to write about the places I���ve been to, and
the Bahamas is one of them. We went on a cruise a while ago and had so much
fun. I would like to go back there again some day. This is where I put Byron
and Tina in SMILE FOR ME. It���s a different novel from the previous series
because the entire book is very laid back. No dead bodies, no hostages. Just
idyllic sun and beaches on a lazy summer���s day.

��

I grew up on a tropical island with hibiscus, bougainvillea, and
a type of flowering tree called the flame of the forest. Since the Bahamas is
tropical, they also have similar flowers there. I wrote about the daily life in
the Bahamas, laid back island life in the tropics, the mix of Britishisms and
Americanisms in that old British colony. Byron speaks British English, and Tina
speaks American English, and never the two shall connect? Read to find out!

��

Can you give us a short
summary or back copy blurb about the book you are featuring today?

��

Jan says: SMILE FOR ME is set in both Nassau and Savannah, and
it���s about a Summer Day Camp where volunteers from American churches would go
help out the local Nassau church to run this day camp. Two years ago, Tina went
on her first mission trip to Nassau, and it went so badly for her that she was
in Byron���s bad books. He found her disorganized, scatterbrained, and that
didn���t sit well with him. Tina found him picky and meticulous and didn���t ever
want to see him again. But here comes the summer camp, and she can���t bail out
now. She���s stuck with him in charge of their team. What���s going on? What does
God have in store for them?

��

You can read the book description, the introduction page, and a
sneak preview the first couple of chapters on my website: http://www.janthompson.com/vacation/smile-for-me.html

��

Book 2 is coming soon, and it���s not set in the Caribbean. REACH
FOR ME is set in the mountains somewhere. Stay tuned...

��

What do you do when you
sit down to write?�� Do you listen to a
certain type of music or eat chocolate or exercise? Anything special?

��

Jan says: Total silence. I have to write without music and
noise. It gets hard in the Fall due to football season.

��

Since I am writing 3 sets collections concurrently, it requires
a concentrated focus to get all my books written. Prayerfully, it will all work
out, and I will try not to take ���working vacations��� and have some real
vacations instead!

��

What is something unique
or amusing about yourself or your life that we would like to know?

��

Jan says: I was going to say that my cat sits on my manuscripts
when I try to self-edit them before I send them to my editor, but then I found
out that every author with a cat inevitably has a similar experience. So it���s
not unique anymore.

��

So there���s nothing unique that I can think of for myself.
However, I want to say that I do serve a unique God! My life verse is John 3:16
and it informs everything I write. I am thankful to be an author, and I pray
that God will be glorified in all that I do. All successes can be attributed to
God, and all my mistakes are mine.

��

Give us a
short biography about yourself and tell us how we can contact you (fb, twitter,
website).

��

USA Today bestselling
author Jan Thompson writes multiethnic Christian fiction that blends
inspirational women's fiction with sweet and wholesome contemporary Christian
romance, romantic suspense, and international thrillers to celebrate the grace
of God and hope in Jesus Christ.��Jan���s books are for readers who love
inspiring stories of faith, family, friends, and yes, happy endings. Always.

��

Jan loves to hear from her
readers! Connect with Jan on social media, and join her mailing list to receive
book publication news, sales and specials, cover reveals, and exclusive details
and content.

��

Jan���s Mailing List:
JanThompson.com/newsletter

Jan���s Books: JanThompson.com/books

Jan���s Official Website:
JanThompson.com

��

*GIVEAWAY!*�� One free book (either paperback or ebook) of
this same title will be given to the winner of a drawing. Anyone who makes a
comment on this post on my blog (lindarodante.com)
will be put in for a drawing. On Monday, following this blog, a winner will be
drawn and their name will be given to the author who will contact them and
arrange for the book to be sent.

��

Jan says: I���m in the process of
formatting the paperback edition of SMILE FOR ME, so at the moment it���s only
available on Amazon (and also in Kindle Unlimited through this year).

��

Please
give us the first chapter of your book:

��

Here are the first FIVE chapters,
courtesy of Amazon previewer. You���ll have to click on the whole thing here (no
affiliate account included, just straight up link). It should be viewable on
any browser your readers have:

��

http://a.co/74teZwA

Thank you so much for inviting me to
the interview. I appreciate it, and enjoy talking with you today!

��

Happy reading!

In Christ,

Jan

99 Cents for Only 3 Days!

Three days only! Both SMILE FOR ME and REACH FOR ME are on sale for $0.99 for 3 days only starting today and ending on Saturday. Almost gone���

SMILE FOR ME (Vacation Sweethearts Book 1) tells the story of Byron Moss and Tina MacFarland, two teachers at a summer camp in the Bahamas.��

Are they able to break free from the old school ban on office romance?

Continue reading about SMILE FOR ME.

REACH FOR ME (Vacation Sweethearts Book 2) tells the story of Keenan O���Tierney and Phoebe Pace, neighbors at a retreat in the Great Smoky Mountains.��

Are they able to overcome the valleys of their lives?

Continue reading about REACH FOR ME.

The Vacation Sweethearts series is a spin-off of Jan Thompson���s Savannah Sweethearts collection, and fans will recognize familiar characters from the series set in Savannah, Georgia.��

In fact, we might even visit the beach town of Tybee Island from time to time to visit old friends and beloved families���

Continue reading about VACATION SWEETHEARTS.

Reach for Me: Preorder Now

REACH FOR ME is book 2 in USA Today bestselling author Jan Thompson���s Vacation Sweethearts collection of contemporary Christian romance novels celebrating the immeasurable grace and undeserved mercy of God.��

These Vacation Sweethearts novels are a spin-off of Jan���s inspirational Savannah Sweethearts series.

When Keenan O���Tierney first saw Phoebe Pace, she was dressed in black from head to toe, eating dinner silently at the bed-and-breakfast lodge, and not talking to anyone before she left hastily after dinner. She looked sad.��

Keenan determines that he would bring some light into that dark life. A new mission. Just what he needs: more work!

Continue reading on the REACH FOR ME book page���

REACH FOR ME is available for preorder at a special price of $0.99 to thank my avid readers. Don���t miss this sale!

Happy reading!

Joyfully,
Jan

#95 on the USA Today Bestselling List

Dear readers! Praise the Lord that the Candy Cane Kisses box set made it to the USA Today bestseller list, debuting at #95 today!��

Thank you for your support in getting the word out on clean & wholesome Christian fiction!

Read more about CANDY CANE KISSES...

If you haven't purchased it, it's now $4.99 on Amazon, BN, Kobo, and iTunes for 8 brand new Christian Christmas novellas!

AMAZON
APPLE iBOOKS
BARNES & NOBLE (NOOK)
KOBO

Happy reading!

Joyfully,
Jan

Wish You Joy: Available Now

Are you ready for Christmas? Cyrus Theroux is! Really, he���s ready for Christmas year round.��

Amy, not so much. She can���t believe her mom has sold 51% of the family business to a total stranger. Yes, that Christmas dude tugging at her heartstring right now. What is a girl to do?

Continue reading WISH YOU JOY...

WISH YOU JOY debuted in the��CANDY CANE KISSES boxed set��on September 27, 2016. Candy Cane Kisses made #95 on the USA Today bestselling list

Available now on Amazon. It will be available on other retailers soon. Sign up for Jan���s newsletter to be notified.

AMAZON
APPLE iBOOKS
BARNES & NOBLE (NOOK)
KOBO

#26 on the Chart!

Thank you, readers! This is fun to be #26 on Amazon���s Top 100��Most Popular Authors in Religion & Spirituality. Look at the companny!

Candy Cane Kisses

Eight bestselling Christian authors�����

Eight brand new Christmas romance novellas���

From RITA , Christy, and Carol Award-winning author Susan May Warren, and USA Today bestselling authors, including Margaret Daley, Kimberly Rae Jordan, Autumn Macarthur, Lesley Ann McDaniel, Jan Thompson, Marion Ueckermann, and Susette Williams, come eight never-before-published novellas in one box set.��

Ready for your early Christmas shopping list, this anthology is sure to please avid readers of contemporary Christian romance and Christian romantic suspense.

Available now at these popular online bookstores:

AMAZON
APPLE iBOOKS
BARNES & NOBLE (NOOK)
KOBO

* * *

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful��

by RITA, Christy, and Carol Award-winning Author Susan May Warren��

Deadly Night, Silent Night��

by USA Today Bestselling Author Margaret Daley��

The Wonder of His Love��

by USA Today Bestselling Author Kimberly Rae Jordan��

Calm and Bright��

by USA Today Bestselling Author Autumn Macarthur��

Heavenly Peace��

by USA Today Bestselling Author Lesley Ann McDaniel��

Wish You Joy��

by USA Today Bestselling Author Jan Thompson��

Christmas in September!

Ta-da! Tuesday, September 27, 2016, is the launch day of this 8-author all-new CANDY CANE KISSES box set, readers!

I know, I know. It���s only September! But tell you what��� Early shopping saves time, prevents stress, and promotes celebration!

If you purchase the anthology between now and October 2, 2016, the price is right at $0.99. On October 3, the prices goes up to $4.99. Seriously!

AMAZON
APPLE iBOOKS
BARNES & NOBLE (NOOK)
KOBO

Happy reading!

Joyfully,
Jan

We���ve Only Just Begun

A starter library! How cool is that? Check out this box set that my author friends and I have put together just for you.��

Filled with first-in-series novels to kick off your collection of new series to read, this box set is specially priced at $0.99 for a limited time only. Get a copy for yourself, and gift it to your reading friends for their birthdays and for the holidays!

AMAZON
APPLE iBOOKS
BARNES & NOBLE (NOOK)
KOBO

My contribution to this anthology is KNOW YOU MORE (Savannah Sweethearts Book 1). Briefly:

Diego Flores has been in love with his best friend���s sister for years, but he thinks she���ll get in the way of his divine calling to pastor a growing church. Will she? Won���t she? Heidi Wei suspects Diego is sweet on her, but she doesn���t want to push him one way or another. Yet every time they are together, something happens���

For the other first-in-series book descriptions, visit the��WE���VE ONLY JUST BEGUN��web page.

Happy reading!

Joyfully,
Jan