Melody Carlson and Free Books!

A young woman, an elderly woman, an old motor-home, and a cross-country Christmas trip down Route 66—what could possibly go wrong?

Before we meet today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the e-copy of Island Christmas, by Kimberly Rose Johnson, is:

vherlock@ . . .

Congratulations! We'll get your e-book to you right away.

I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways! Subscribers are entered a second time when they comment.

And now let's revisit with novelist Melody Carlson, author of the feel-good Christmas novella, The Christmas Joy Ride (Revell, September 2015).

One of the most prolific authors of our time, Melody Carlson published more than 200 books for teens and adults--with total sales of over 6.5 million. Several of her books have been finalists for, and winners of, various writing awards, including the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award.

Melody and her husband have two grown sons and one granddaughter. They live in Oregon, splitting their time between the mountains and the coast.

Please tell us three random things we might not know about you.

-- I would love to be a house-flipper . . . maybe someday.

-- I love to travel and ‘camp’ in our motor-home, which looks a lot like the one on this book-cover.

-- I plan to keep writing books into my old age (and many people in my family lived to nearly 100).

I think the cover of this book looks so fun. I can see the pleasure of touring the country in one of those.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of The Christmas Joy Ride.

Elderly Joy Jorgenson loves Christmas so much that she’s hosted a website called Christmas Joy for several years. But when it’s time to relocate to a retirement home, she decides to make a cross-country trek down Route 66 shortly before Christmas. Her plan is to spread Christmas Joy to some deserving people along the way.

Joy entices her young neighbor Miranda, who is disenchanted with life, to join her. Together they plan to drive an old motor-home, gaudily decorated for the holidays, from Chicago to Phoenix. Spreading Christmas cheer in some unexpected places, the two women encounter numerous surprises and some life-changing moments along the way.

What is it about Joy and Miranda that will make your readers care about them?

Joy Jorgenson is a perennial optimist—her greatest joy comes from helping others. Miranda Fortner has been beat up by life—recovering from a bad divorce, she’s about to lose her home to foreclosure.

If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?

Well, I was just talking to a producer about this and she suggested Carol Burnett for Joy Jorgenson, which would be a hoot.

What a great image for that character!

What is something in your writing-industry experience that made you laugh or at least smile?

The nearly daily letters that I get from teen girls who’ve read TrueColors or Diary of a Teenage Girl series almost always brings a big smile to my heart. And sometimes they make me laugh too.

There's nothing like reader mail to remind you that you're doing the right thing.

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

The Senator's Choice by Noel Nash (a pen name for a friend of mine) but I just read this to endorse it and it’s really good! My husband liked it too. It releases soon.

What are you working on now?

I’m just finishing my final Dear Daphne book (book 4) titled A Will, a Way, and a Wedding.

The third book releases in a couple of weeks (Home, Hearth, and the Holidays). My Dear Daphne readers have been waiting patiently for these books.

Where else can readers find you online?

I’m on facebook and my website is www.melodycarlson.com

The book can be purchased online via the following button:



     CBD


Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

I’m always curious as to where readers get their books, and if they prefer eBooks or print.

Thanks, Melody, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel.

Readers, Melody has offered to give signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Monday, November 30. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Melody's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. 

Also, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post.

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer HERE.