Bio: Valerie
Comer's life on a small farm in western Canada provides the seed for
stories of contemporary inspirational romance. She only hopes her creations
enjoy their happily-ever-afters as much as she does hers, shared with her
husband, adult kids, and adorable granddaughters. Valerie is a USA Today bestselling author and a
two-time Word Award winner.
Welcome back, Valerie. Why did you become an author?
Because the thought of writing out my hallucinations and
getting paid to share them with the world was too great to resist! Seriously,
though, there are so many stories floating around in my brain, and they need a
way out. I’m thankful that God has given me this opportunity.
I know what you mean.
If you weren’t an author, what would be your dream job?
I once thought I’d like to be an architect and design
eco-friendly houses. I now design houses and turn (imaginary) people loose in
them without spending a fortune on the college degree … and with no worries
about the structures holding up under the snow load or gale-force winds.
If you could have
lived at another time in history, what would it be and why?
Honestly? I’d take right now. I’m grateful to live in a time
period where glasses and computers have been invented. Command-plus is my
friend. Not that many years ago, someone with my vision problems would have
been functionally blind. I have so much to be thankful for.
What place in the United States
have you not visited that you would like to?
I’m a Canadian, so I’m not sure how to answer this question!
Have you seen that meme going around Facebook where it asks Americans how many
states they have visited and says the average is eight? Personally, I’ve
visited 23 US
states. I’d like to experience the New England states someday, as well as their
Canadian neighbors, the Atlantic
provinces .
At least, I’m above
average with 17, and I’d love to visit Canada , too. How about a foreign
country you hope to visit?
My husband and I are planning a month-long trip to the United Kingdom
in 3-4 years. I believe those of us who live in western North America tend not
to have a deep feeling of history, as everything happened quite recently in the
grand scheme of things. I want to experience the depth of that history in England and Wales .
My ancestors came
from Norway , Sweden , Ireland ,
and Germany , so I’d love to
visit Europe, but my strongest desire is to visit Australia . What lesson has the Lord
taught you recently?
My human mind keeps lapsing back into, “Look at this fun
story that I wrote! God is blessing it.” And God keeps reminding that I don’t
write ‘for’ Him and hope He will bless it, like some heavenly Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.
Instead, writing is an act of worship and dependence on Him, and I need to ask
Him daily to tell His stories through my fingertips … the stories He knows the
readers He’s brought me need to hear.
I learned to look at
my books that way, too. That’s why when a publisher doesn’t contract my
proposal, I know it’s because it wouldn’t reach the readers He wants it to. Tell
us about the featured book.
When is a box set not a box set? When it’s the gateway to a
shared world where six authors are launching brand new contemporary romance
series! Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley takes place in a fictional Idaho community where a
foodie culture and romance grow hand-in-hand. It’s a collection of six
novellas, one each by Mary Jane Hathaway, Elizabeth Maddrey, Lee Tobin McClain,
Danica Favorite, Annalisa Daughety, and me (Valerie Comer). Each novella is the
prequel to a three-book series. An Arcadia Valley Romance will release each
month for the next year and a half!
That’s great. I’d
love to feature each of them. Please give us the first page of the book.
My novella in Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley, Sow in Love, kicks off my Garden
Grown Romance series. Here is its description:
Real estate consultant Joanna Kraus’s ideas for fulfilling a living trust
are shot down by the elderly man’s grandson. In fact, it seems like sending her
back to the drawing board is his primary joy. How can a vintage 1960s house and
two greenhouses generate income for the church in receipt of the trust?The more Grady Akers gets to know Joanna, the more he finds himself hoping it takes a long time to find a solution, but his charm may be no match for the armor wrapped around Joanna’s heart. Will the perfect solution for the property be perfect to grow a love that’s just been sown?
Here’s the first page:
“No, I don’t think so.”
Joanna Kraus pressed both hands on the boardroom table and
stared at the infuriating man at the other end. “No? And why not?”
“I don’t think that’s what my grandfather has in mind.”
Why didn’t the elderly Mr. Akers come and speak to the
committee himself? He was only old, not dead. He didn’t always make sense, they
said, but the message had to be clearer than coming through a third party.
Warning bells rang. Hadn’t Pierce used his dad’s name to stall the deal she’d
put together for him?
She lifted her chin and met Grady Akers’ dazzling blue eyes.
“Why don’t you explain what your grandfather wants instead of making me guess?”
This proposal wasn’t going to fall through like this. Not on her watch. Not
again.
Early spring sunshine angled in through the tall, narrow
windows of the Grace Fellowship board room. Flames flickered in the gas
fireplace. The other three committee members’ heads swung back and forth as
though watching a tennis match.
“Ms. Kraus.” Grady flashed a winsome smile. “As I mentioned
in my initial request, he wants the property to be used for something that
benefits the church and the community. While bulldozing the structures and
building a row of townhomes for low-income housing would definitely assist
those who live in them, Granddad would prefer an option that is of lower cost
and wider benefit.”
Of course, the Akers family dangled the carrot of additional
funding in front of Grace Fellowship. No one could blame Joanna for thinking
big. All she needed was one or two
solid, completed deals in her CV to set her consulting company on the right
track again. This deal for her brother’s church — and hers, since she’d moved —
should have been a slam-dunk.
I’m eager to see what
happens next. How can readers find you on the Internet?
Thank you, Valerie,
for introducing us to your book and the boxed set.
Readers, here’s a link to the ebook. By
using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley (Arcadia Valley Romance Book 0) - A link to pre-order the ebook
Leave
a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these
instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least
the state or territory or country if outside North America .
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Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the
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The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on
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12 comments:
I'd love to win this book!
Colletta in PA
Thanks for inviting me over, Lena! Arcadia Valley Romance is SUCH a fun project. The first two novels (releasing in February and March) are already on pre-order. You'll find them if you look for Arcadia Valley Romance on Amazon.
I always reading novellas. This looks like a wonderful collection!
Beth from Iowa
I'd love to read it! Thanks for the opportunity!
Thanks for your interest! If anyone has any questions for me, I'll pop back from time to time to answer them! Would love to visit. :)
Thanks for sharing this first page. I would love to read the rest of Sow in Love!
Blessings,
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Connie, the rest of the first chapter is here: http://valeriecomer.com/books/romance-grows-arcadia-valley/ (just scroll down to View Book Sample). Enjoy!
Sounds like a great collection! Thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful week!
Beth in Montana
Sounds good, love the cover. north platte nebraska.
I love Comer's stories and have read several. I would be thrilled to win this collection, but I only read on Kindle.
Bonnie in AZ
Thanks for stopping by Beth, Kim, and Bonnie. Glad you love the cover, Kim! And thanks for the good word, Bonnie. :)
I'm from TN and this sounds like a good story in a good series.
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