Waiting for Gilbert with Tasha Hackett

When Tasha Hackett reached out to me about her new Christmas book, Waiting for Gilbert, I was eager to help her get the word out. I grew up with the Anne of Green Gables books, and I loved that they served as inspiration for Tasha’s story. So I invited her here to share about it with you. Take it away, Tasha . . .

Tasha Hackett here! A few years ago, I read and re-read all of Karen’s books and was in the middle of prom season with my sewing business, when my husband randomly dropped the question: “If you ever wrote a book, what would it be about?” Obviously I answered, “Historical romance.” He shrugged as if he expected that but was not impressed and replied, “I’d write a zombie apocalypse.” 

Too bad for him, I never wrote about zombies. Instead I now write with hope and humor specifically to encourage and entertain Christian women. My novels demonstrate an achievable vision of romance between flawed characters, who are loved by an unflawed God. 

I have to ask… did 2024 go the way you planned?Did you get angry about anything?If you’ve read my novels have you noticed that my characters get angry? 

Eloise… Hannah… Cordelia… they are all VERY different and yet, they all have their “I’m angry” scene. Hmm. 

You know what else these characters have? FRIENDS! 

When I’m writing I think about you, my readers, and I think about me, and I try to give my characters what I need and what you need. Hope. Oh, yes. I’m writing romance. They get the guy in the end, but he can’t fix everything. 

I give Eloise hope for her future, and I give her friends.I give Hannah hope, and I give her Eloise. I give Cordelia hope, and I give her Diana. 

But if 2024 hasn’t gone the way you planned, there are two things I want you to know: 

1. There is hope.  Jesus came so that we could have life and have it to the fullest (John 10:10).  I don’t know who first said this but if it’s not happily ever after, it’s not over. 

Psalm 91:1 “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” 

Friends, that’s a promise. 

2. You’re not alone. A LOT of women struggle with the same temptations you do, with the same fears, same anger, same sadness, same overwhelm. But just because it’s common doesn’t mean we get to shrug it off so easily. Instead, I invite you to open up and share that you’re feeling some hard feelings and invite others to be open with you. Then when they are… love them. 

I had a baby die in my womb when I was twenty-six. I had an eleven-month-old full of life and energy and I was a walking coffin for two weeks while I celebrated my first son’s birthday.

This was not something I could have done alone. This is not something I could have recovered from alone. I was swallowed in grief for years. That experience changed me. I still suffer after-shocks from it and limiting beliefs (lies) that it’s not safe for me to be happy. 

Years later with four kids now in the house I was dreadfully attacked by Satan in my home. I was seeing evil visions, I was not sleeping, I could hardly eat, I suffered migraines half of my days. I was having dreams where I planned my own suicide. 

This is something I tried to carry on my own because I wasn’t thinking clearly! I. Was. Not. Okay. And I didn’t get better until I told people. 

Once I was safe again, that’s when I was able to write Eloise’s hope in Bluebird on the Prairie–that first novel had been stuck for over a year. It’s almost like the devil didn’t want me to tell you the good news of Jesus.

I wasn’t planning to dump this on you. This isn’t a gimmick to get you to buy my books… But I honestly want you to understand that there is hope and you’re not alone. This is why I write. I write about realistic characters finding hope. Eloise needed to understand she could be happy again. Hannah needed love over fear. Cordelia needed to know that she was not broken, but chosen. 

My newest release, Waiting for Gilbert, is a small town holiday romance perfect for fans of Anne of Green Gables. It’s a first person love story of friendship growing into love. How beautiful is new love and finding out that person sees you as something extra special. It’s available wherever books are sold and on Audible. (Hop over to tashahackett.com for a signed copy.) 

Back cover copy:

“I’m just a girl, standing in front of her phone, asking her landlord to come for dinner.”

Cute and fun Cordelia is history. From now on, I’m serious and focused CJ Thompson. No more snappy one-liners. No more dance-parties-for-one in restaurant booths. Anne-girl is out. Marilla Cuthbert is in. It’s time to grow up! If only it were that easy. With less than two weeks until a massive work deadline, I signed a 12-month lease on a cottage sight-unseen because I couldn’t bear to stay in the city another day after my broken engagement. It’s all well and good until my landlord knocks on my door at two in the morning.

Who knew living next to a house-flipping, cello-playing, swooney-smiling, flesh-and-blood man named Gilbert would be so distracting?

17. Finish unpacking
18. Drink coffee
19. Ask Gilbert to marry me.“

Oh, what’s this? Contemporary romance isn’t your thing? Gotcha. Here’s a free copy of my historical novel Bluebird on the Prairie.

Giveaway

Tasha is graciously giving away an audio copy of Waiting for Gilbert to one person who leaves a comment.

How do your friends support you?
Do you have a special friendship that has been strong since childhood?