THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS - Ginger Solomon, and others - One Free Ebook

Welcome back, Ginger. Tell us about your salvation experience.

When I was twelve, my family and I went to a denominational church. I remember going forward to profess my faith and was baptized in a cold, dirty baptismal. But I was so excited that I went to school the next day to share with my friends. They didn’t care. And life for me didn’t change.

When I went to college, at eighteen, I was already disillusioned with religion. My mom and I had changed churches, to a different denominational church. I heard the words but didn’t really have a relationship. Though I wanted one. I just didn’t know how.

I met my husband, and he showed me what it truly meant to lean into Jesus and make Him my best friend, to study the Word, and learn more. ’Cuz when you have a relationship with someone, you always want to learn more about them, have fellowship with them, and spend time together.

That is so true. You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?

Oh, goodness. So many great authors that I would love to meet and hang with. But I’d have to say, if I could only have four that I would pull together some of the authors from the team I’ve worked with at InspyRomance—Valerie Comer, Elizabeth Maddrey, and Narelle Atkins. I think the fourth author would be ... oh, so many to choose from ... Ronie Kendig.

I’d love to be at that retreat. I love all five of you authors. Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.

No. As of yet, God has not called me to take that step.

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?

Oh, goodness. When my husband and I were dating, I had an “accident” and made a VERY large mess of my pants. I had to borrow a pair from his much smaller sister. All she had was a pair of sweats. Not fun. I’m pretty sure he took me home after that. I don’t remember.

People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?

Write it. The words don’t appear on paper by themselves. If you have a story to tell, tell it. No one else can say it like you can.

Tell us about the featured book.

The Heart of Christmas is a novella collection born out of a random conversation at our local writers’ meeting. I mentioned how fun it would be if several of us got together and did a boxed set for Christmas. We played around with ideas, and here it is. We have taken a slightly irreverent look at The Nativity. Each of us, Bonita McCoy, Darcy Fornier, Leah Fornier, Janie Winsell and myself, chose an element–from the angels to the wise men–and wrote a story. Because we have one member who writes nonfiction, she wrote poems for each of the stories and one for the whole set.

That sounds like fun. Please give us the first page of the book.

The first page ... well, that would be a poem.

Our Savior is Born

There is a stillness in the night

A star above the midnight sky

Shone bright and steady over a manger

Joseph and Mary looked upon

A babe wrapped in swaddling clothes

Suddenly angels appeared out of nowhere

To give glory to our newborn Savior

Out of the east came magi from foreign lands

To pay Him homage

Gold, frankincense, and myrrh were bestowed

For the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords,

Jesus, the ultimate gift to the world.

~~ Betty Boyd

And then, the first story is mine, so this is what comes next.

Chapter One

Nothing seemed right.

Every song on the radio fell flat.

The twinkling Christmas lights she hung around her bakery lightened the room but darkened her mood.

Alone was not how anyone should spend Thanksgiving. But alone she was. Orphaned at twenty-three with no living relatives that she knew about. Every invitation she'd received for the holiday seemed as if they'd been given grudgingly. She'd rather be alone than pitied.

A knock sounded at the door.

"We're not open." Her yell bounced around the inside of the bakery.

"I know. Open the door, Jenna."

Thomas Hayes. The last person she wanted to see.

She stepped down from the ladder, leaving the last string of lights dangling from the hook, and opened the door. He looked good. Too good. He’d trimmed his strawberry-blond beard and mustache, and it made him looked distinguished and sexy. Her increased heart rate because of his appearance made her even more surly. "What do you need?"

"Mom sent me to get you for dinner. I was supposed to invite you but forgot."

"I've made other arrangements." She didn't lie. Her other

I know my blog readers are as eager to see what comes next as I am. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website

Inspy Romance Blog

Facebook Author Page

Twitter @GingerS219

Pinterest

Amazon Author Page

Thank you, Ginger, for sharing this Christmas collection with us. So many readers love having novella collections to read in this busy season, and I’m one of them.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

The Heart of Christmas: A Romantic Christmas Novella Collection

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