DO YOU KNOW WHAT I KNOW? - Becky Melby - A Book Giveaway, Print in US, Ebook Foreign

Welcome, Becky. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

My husband claims all of my heroines are part me and friends have said they can “hear” me in my character’s dialogue. I certainly use my own experiences, hopes, joys, and struggles to create characters, but I don’t intentionally shape them to be like me. Usually, I end up wanting to be more like them.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Maybe starting a writing career on a whim. My friend Cathy Wienke called one morning back in the early nineties and said she’d just literally thrown a book at the wall because of its unrealistic dialogue and predictable plot. “We should write our own,” she said. And so we did. We started plotting that very moment and nine months later gave birth to Beauty for Ashes.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

When I was seven, my dad used to bring small pads of paper home from work, and I would turn them sideways and pretend they were my books. One of the first stories I wrote was “How Valentine’s Day Started.” I remember drawing stick figures with hearts around them—I was a romance writer way back then! In high school, I wrote angst-filled poetry and then moved on to short stories for Sunday School take-home papers. My dream was to publish my first book by the time I was twenty-five. I missed it by about seventeen years. Beauty for Ashes came out the year I found out I was going to be a grandmother.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

Ninety percent of the fiction I read is Romance or Women’s Fiction. I love dual-time novels—I’ve always enjoyed comparing life in the past to how we live today. I like humor—whatever happened to chick lit? At the moment, I’m in the middle of four books—an audio dual-time novel I listen to in the car, a Christmas novella on Kindle, and another dual-time in print, plus an inspirational nonfiction book. I love biographies but haven’t carved out time to read one lately. 

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I’ve had to say no to some really wonderful opportunities to serve. Years ago, I thought I could do it all—lots of volunteering while homeschooling four sons and writing. The pace was exhausting. To this day, I wonder if my kids look back at their childhoods and all they remember is Mom yelling, “Hurry up!” It took seeing writing as a ministry to allow myself to step back. And I’ve also come to realize that time with my grandchildren is doing the thing God put in front of me in this season. I can’t do it all, but I pray I can bring some Truth to light for my readers and my grandkids.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I chose the first name of the hero in the story I’m working on right now from my Facebook Friends list. That’s a great source. And then I had fun telling my friend I was naming a character after him. Most often, I use baby name sites. I look up names according to birth year or ethnicity. Cemetery records are great for finding surnames in a specific locale and era.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

My four sons. My boys are amazing husbands and dads. I love watching them interact with their kids and nothing warms my heart like seeing how tender each one is with his wife. They are all extremely creative in unique ways—art, business, home projects. I give God all the glory for their character, but I’ll take a bit of cred for the creativity. Moms, let your kids make messes—it’s how they learn. Then teach them how to clean up!

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

I’d probably be my favorite dog, a golden retriever. I like the simple things in life—good food, a walk, napping in the sun. I see myself as a faithful, loyal friend who’s pretty easy-going (though my hubby would disagree at times, especially if I’m on a deadline). I want people to feel comfortable and at home in my “territory,” but insult or threaten my people in any way and I’ll bare my teeth!

What is your favorite food?

Cheesecake Factory Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake. Not on a daily basis, of course. Then again . . . I’m gluten intolerant, and this decadent dessert with layers of flourless chocolate cake, ganache, and mousse is gluten free. If only they could make it guilt free, but at 860 calories per slice, that’s not going to happen!

When I had a slice of that, I took ¾ of it home, then had dessert for almost a week. There is no way I could eat the whole slice. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

I still struggle with being too nice to my characters. That’s the gift of mercy gone awry. One of the best pieces of writing advice I ever received was, “Love your readers enough to make your characters hurt.” Readers want reality, and real life is messy and painful. Sometimes I have to go back and add more pain and conflict because, in the end, the dénouement is sweeter when we have cried and wrung our hands right along with the characters.

I’m a lot like that, too, but this year, I’ve really poured on the terrible external conflict for my heroines. Tell us about the featured book.

A week before Christmas, a phone call from the obstetrician’s office goes to the wrong person, igniting a yule-log-size blaze of misunderstandings for two couples. Elizabeth Schmidt is hurt, Bethany Schmidt is confused, and Pastor Jay Davidson is wondering if God is asking him to play the part of Joseph in real life and not just in the church Christmas program.  

The spark for this story came from a real life event. When I found out I was pregnant with our first child, the bill from the clinic went to my husband’s aunt and uncle, whose daughter was also Becky Melby. The poor girl was only fifteen at the time! We’ve had a lot of laughs about it over the years and when I asked my husband to brainstorm with me for a Christmas novella, he brought this up and we took off with “what ifs” that resulted in Do You Know What I Know? It’s a light read with touches of humor, but it also deals with some serious subjects like adoption, infertility, and learning to trust God with your future.

Please give us the first page of the book.

“I can’t go to rehearsal. I can’t look at him.” Crumpled letter clutched to her chest, Bethany Schmidt paced from the bottlebrush Christmas tree in one corner of the church office to the door and back. Worn oak boards creaked beneath her striped-stockinged feet. Misty, her pink-haired friend, sat on the floor, painting her toenails and doing a fairly good job of stifling laughter.

Bethany waved the letter. “How can I be Mary to his Joseph with this on my mind? He’ll see it in my eyes. My deceit, my betrayal. I feel like a prisoner.” Forearm pressed to forehead, she sighed. “A prisoner of the heart.”

“Wow.” Misty Kowalski stopped stifling. “This is rare, even for you. Forgive me if I’m not as empathetic as you’d like. You know I love you, but as a pathetically single midwife living at a maternity home with a leaky roof and linoleum floors, it’s hard for me to feel bad that you have to choose between the career of your dreams and a guy who’s crazy about you.” She picked at a smudge of purple. “If it’s advice you want, knock down those prison bars, girlfriend! Ditch the job and go with the guy. How many men are going to look twice at a thirty-something single mom church secretary? This might be your last chance.”

Bethany crumpled the letter and threw it at Misty. “But what if it’s not a chance at all? We’ve only had two dates.”

“Pastor Jay’s been swooning over you since the day you moved back. And I have never used swooning in a sentence before, I promise. That’s how sure I am he’s nuts over you.” Misty tightened the cap on the bottle of polish. “Why not just lay it all out? ‘Hey, dude, I’ve got this great job offer in the Show Me State, so show me you love me or I’m outa here.’ See? Easy peasy.”

“Are you kidding?” She pictured the man with the thick dark hair that curled above his ears, the brown eyes that made her melt like butter on pancakes. “You know him. He’ll say he wants me to chase my dreams, follow my calling. But what if he’s my calling?”

I like this already. Actually, I received my copy over the weekend, and I’m starting to read it today. How can readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.beckymelby.com/ -- Please sign up to join my Second Chance Circle and receive a free short story.

https://www.facebook.com/Becky-Melby-Author-Page-147542291976020/?ref=bookmarks

https://www.facebook.com/becky.f.melby

https://www.instagram.com/beckymelbybooks/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/beckymelby/?hl=en

https://twitter.com/BeckyMelby

https://www.pinterest.com/beckymelby/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/680309.Becky_Melby

Thank you, Lena. It’s a great honor to spend time with your readers.

I’m thrilled to have you, Becky, and I know my readers will enjoy your book as much as I will.

Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.
Do You Know What I Know?

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book - print in US, ebook foreign. 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. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

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CEDAR CREEK SEASONS - Eileen Key, Becky Melby, Rachael Phillips, Cynthia Ruchti - 3 Free Books

Today, we're meeting with the novella team that gave us the A Door County Christmas novella collection. Now they're bringing us a new novella collection. I will surely be wonderful.

First we're welcoming Eileen Key. How did your story for the collection come about?

Since I’m retired, I chose to write about a couple in their …ahem…later season in life! And since I’ve never been in snow, I selected the summer months and traveled to WI in June! (It was cold!)

What are you reading right now?

A Heart Made New by Kelly Irvin. Excellent Amish story!

What other books have you had published?

I’ve published two mysteries and 2 novellas. One more novella will follow this spring.

What is the hardest thing about writing a part of a novella collection?

Since we wrote about a real city, with real events, the research, keeping it all true to the city was a stretch.  And we wanted to spiral off some people and events in each other’s stories. No one wanted to overstep bounds on the historical/beautiful sights of Cedarburg either! Believe me, there are enough there to share.

How did collaborating with this team impact you?

They are such women of prayer and excellence. I loved getting to know them better and feel our friendships deepen. We had some “adventures” along the way, since I flew up there and we traveled together. 

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Claire because I think it’s a lovely name. Eli…the area is German and I liked it. Strong sounding.

What did you want the reader to take away from your story?

My story is about loss and forgiveness. The Lord has worked in my life in these areas and I wanted to show how He is able to do that when we focus on Him. Even as “seasoned” folks, we have lessons to learn.

Are you a member of American Christian Fiction Writers? If so, why?

Yes. ACFW is the premiere Christian writing group and I’m proud to be a member. It’s where I really learned to write and made life-long connections with other authors.

What is the best piece of advice you received as an author?

Don’t give up. I quit writing regularly for years … seems like every other Wednesday or so, but I kept on trying! Write, read, write, go to conferences and have a teachable spirit.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

www.Eileenkey.com

Thanks so much Lena! I always look forward to a visit with you, my friend. 

My pleasure, Eileen. Now we're going to visit with Becky Melby.

How did your story for the collection come about?

After the fun and success of A Door County Christmas, Cynthia and I, both Wisconsinites, started brainstorming other possible locations for a novella collection. We’d both been to Cedarburg and fallen in love with the historic charm of this picturesque, tourist-welcoming town. We couldn’t wait to share the idea with Eileen and Rachael and were thrilled when they agreed to be part of another compilation. The idea for a book that would encompass all four seasons came as the four of us brainstormed together. 

What are you reading right now?

And the Shofar Blew by Francine Rivers and Beautiful Outlaw by John Eldredge.

What other books have you had published?

I co-authored nine Heartsong Presents titles with my long-time friend Cathy Wienke. This year, my first full length series is releasing. Tomorrow’s Sun and Yesterday’s Stardust, the first two books in the Lost Sanctuary series are already out. Today’s Shadows releases in December. Each contemporary story contains “faded letters and forgotten rooms” dating back to another era. These parallel historical stories go back to 1852, 1912, and the Roaring Twenties.

The sound interesting. What is the hardest thing about writing a part of a novella collection?

Not writing the same thing! The four of us think uncannily alike and it’s almost eerie how often we create characters with the same occupation, past, or hair and eye color. We worked closely together, exchanging chapters as they were finished, so these coincidences got resolved quickly.

How did collaborating with this team impact you?

I hadn’t even met Rachael and Eileen before we decided to work together on A Door County Christmas. Now I consider them sisters. We’ve shared so many laughs and a lot of prayer for each other’s families. I had to back out of the research trip to Cedarburg for Cedar Creek Seasons because my 93-year-old mom went home to be with the Lord that same week. It was so hard to not be part of that wonderful bonding experience, but so comforting to know these sweet friends were lifting my family up before the throne of God in the midst of their fun and information-gathering.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I’m not really sure! I think the names came after the title, A Contest of Wills. The idea of a play on “Wills” came to mind and that’s how Willow and Wilson came to be.

What did you want the reader to take away from your story?

Wilson’s favorite Bible verse is Psalm 46:10 – “Be still and know that I am God,” while Willow’s is Psalm 118:24 – “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Together, they both move toward a more balanced life. Willow encourages Wilson to enjoy life and be a bit more adventurous and, in turn, gets a peek at what a more serene, relaxed life can look like. I hope readers see that need for balance in this story.

Are you a member of American Christian Fiction Writers? If so, why?

Yes. I joined about eight years ago and I’ve met so many wonderfully encouraging people and learned so much about the craft and business of writing.

What is the best piece of advice you received as an author?

Find your voice and write your heart. It’s easy to get caught up in market trends and lose sight of the story God has put in your soul, the one that needs to be told.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

 www.beckymelby.com and

on facebook http://www.facebook.com/becky.f.melby

and Twitter: @BeckyMelby.

I’m also a contributor on www.novelPASTimes and www.thebarndoor.net.

Thank you for this opportunity to share with your readers, Lena!

So glad to visit with you again. Next I will talk to Rachael Phillips.

How did your story for the collection come about?

We four authors each selected a season in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, as our setting. Spring was a natural for me, as I love Easter. Though no longer a choir director (I led church choirs for twenty years), I often view holidays through their eyes.  My heroine, twenty-something Chesca Appel, a choir director with a passion to worship God through her music, encounters many of the complications I did when I directed Easter cantatas—although her romantic interest, Seth, is tone-deaf. (Thank the Lord, my husband Steve, my personal romantic interest, possesses a great voice and musical ear!)    

What are you reading right now?

I just finished Yesterday’s Stardust, by my novella partner Becky Melby (what an flawless blend of contemporary and historical fiction), Sarah Sundin’s awesome WWII romance With Every Letter, and I giggled through Karen O’Connor’s 365 Senior Moments You’d Rather Forget. I often switch books the way other people change channels, depending on my mood.

What other books have you had published?

Frederick Douglass: Abolitionist and Reformer (Barbour 2000)

Billy Sunday: Evangelist on the Sawdust Trail (Barbour 2001)

Saint Augustine: Early Church Father (Barbour 2002)

Well with My Soul: Four Dramatic Stories of Great Hymn Writers (2003)

Ride with Me into Christmas in A Door County Christmas, with this same wonderful author team. (Barbour 2010)

Pirate of My Heart, in A Quaker Christmas (Barbour 2011, co-wrote with Lauralee Bliss, Ramona Cecil, and Claire Sanders)

Women of the Bible (Barbour 2011, co-wrote with Carol Smith and Ellyn Sanna)

The Greatest Show on Earth (Heartsong 2012)

The Return of Miss Blueberry (Heartsong November 2012)

Kissing Bridges (Heartsong 2013)

Recipe for Deception (DRG Publishing 2013)

What is the hardest thing about writing a part of a novella collection?

For me, condensing a full story into 20,000 words is always difficult. Probably a great writing exercise, as I belong to the Wordy Club. Another challenge: as a Christian romance writer, I don’t want my characters to rush into marriage without a solid foundation. I don’t want to add to the shallow, unstable marriages that already exist in books and in reality. So I must develop my heroine and hero and their relationship sufficiently in a short format. Never easy.

How did collaborating with this team impact you?

Some authors find it difficult to collaborate, but that’s not at all the case with this group.  With both Cedar Creek Seasons and A Door County Christmas, we’ve met in our setting—loved staying in those bed and breakfasts together!--brainstormed, compared notes, even distributed points of interest and businesses among our characters to visit so we wouldn’t double up in our stories. Great communication and critiques on-line, too. Cynthia, who headed up our group, kept us on track, bless her.

I especially appreciate God’s love evidenced among us, freeing us to write and critique in a positive, productive way. Joining together in prayer for each other, our book, and our readers makes all the difference in the world!  (When in need of creativity, what better person to consult than the Creator?)  

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I often consult “most popular name” lists and telephone directories, but sometimes my characters seem to choose their own.

In my heroine Chesca’s case, her full name is Francesca—a unique name a friend chose for her baby girl. Plus, I’m a fan of singer Francesca Battistelli. Plus, Chesca claims an actual Polish princess, Franciszka Urszula Radiziwill, as her ancestor and namesake, a musical aristocrat who, in the reader’s mind, probably reinforces Chesca’s somewhat elitist style as a choir director.

Seth, my hero, though a lover of the theater, is also an elementary teacher and football coach. I thought his simple, down-to-earth name worked for him.

Both characters sport German surnames (Appel and Amundsen, respectively), which fit well with Cedarburg’s history of German settlers.  

What did you want the reader to take away from your story?

Probably the lesson God is trying to teach me: When He tosses our careful plans into His shredder, He has only begun to show us what He can do. “Man plans—God laughs.” Hopefully, as we grow up, we learn to laugh with Him.   

Are you a member of American Christian Fiction Writers? If so, why?

Yes, I am. Whoa, I owe much of my career to ACFW. I met my agent there and received my first fiction contract at the 2009 conference.

What is the best piece of advice you received as an author?

Apply butt to chair and fingers to keyboard. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat . . . .

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

Website: www.rachaelwrites.com

Facebook

Twitter.com/rachaelmphillip

Thank you, Rachael. Now, last but not least, Cynthia Ruchti.

How did your story for the collection come about?

The writer’s imagination never stops, no matter what she’s doing. I remember driving through Cedarburg, Wisconsin, on my way to a speaking engagement many years ago. One little glimpse at the downtown area planted the seed of an idea in my writer brain. Someday…

Imagine how thrilling it was to hear, years later, that Becky Melby—with whom I’d worked along with Eileen Key and Rachael Phillips on A Door County Christmas novella collection—also had a soft spot in her heart for Cedarburg! Before long, we were emailing Rachael and Eileen with the idea to collaborate again and set our collection of four lighthearted romances in this unique spot that not only boasts an active artists community, a recognized cultural center, a charming historic district to match its “storied” history, and the only remaining original covered bridge in the state.

What are you reading right now?

Right now, I’m guiltily reading too many books at once. This morning when I made the bed, I looked at my night stand and felt a little wash of shame. I counted 20 books that I’ve started for various reasons—assignments, endorsements, study, enjoyment—and have yet to finish. I latched onto a series of poetry books this summer and have used them as my nighttime reading. These are soul-stirring poems that both grip my heart but somehow help lull me to sleep. But I WILL systematically get through the partially started books so I can move on to my Mt. McKinley sized stack of never-been-started to-be-reads.

What other books have you had published?

In addition to a couple of compilation books in which I had entries published, my debut novel released in 2010—They Almost Always Come Home. It was a Carol Award finalist, a RT Book Reviewers Choice finalist, and a Retailers Choice finalist. I mentioned the novella collection with this same crew of authors—Becky, Rachael, and Eileen—A Door County Christmas, which is now sold out, but still available in digital form. In 2011, a devotional collection called His Grace is Sufficient…Decaf is Not released from Summerside/Guideposts. I have another full length novel releasing in April of 2013 and a nonfiction full-length in July of 2013, plus another full-length novel in the spring of 2014.

What is the hardest thing about writing a part of a novella collection?

This team of authors worked very hard to make our stories unique but also compatible. Characters would pop in for a cameo appearance in other stories. But we didn’t want to duplicate a plot, character traits, or other factors that would make the novellas duplications. It was a unique but wonderful challenge for each of us to take the same town through one of four different seasons. I was privileged to be given the autumn season, which is so beautiful in Wisconsin, and which encourages couples to snuggle up by the fire—instant romance!—and which allowed me to incorporate the Christmas season, too. Readers can consider the collection a great Christmas gift because of the full life-cycle of the year’s seasons and the Christmas ending.

How did collaborating with this team impact you?

Each of these authors is a dear friend. Writing any book entails hard work, but when you’re surrounded by encouraging people with a similar heart, the work turns to joy. We critiqued each other’s chapters as we wrote. That always makes me a better writer. It’s a commitment, to be sure, but one with great friendship and storytelling rewards.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I never give a villain a friend’s name, because you know…

But I do like to name delightful characters after people I love, sometimes with a little twist. A niece and a nephew of mine have their names show up in “Maybe Us,” but the plot depends on tweaks of their names.

When searching for just the right name, I try to match the character’s personality and to avoid names that draw readers away from the story to wonder about the name…unless that works into the story itself.

What did you want the reader to take away from your story?

Beth wrestles with letting go as her grandfather nears the end of his life. Who of us hasn’t been there? She struggles to taste the sweetness in that precious, season-ending time. Early readers have talked about finding a new perspective about a love that lasts forever.

Are you a member of American Christian Fiction Writers? If so, why?

I’ve been a member of American Christian Fiction Writers since 2002 and attended the first ever national conference in Kansas City. From my first contacts with ACFW, I knew I would find a rich education on the craft of writing fiction, the support of others eager to write stories that honor God, and connections with people in the publishing world who would help me move forward in my journey as a writer. I found all that and more. It’s a privilege to have served as president of ACFW for two years and to now serve as part of the leadership team.

What is the best piece of advice you received as an author?

You can claim research trips as a tax deduction!

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

My website is www.cynthiaruchti.com which can also be reached through www.hopethatglowsinthedark.com since I write stories of Hope-that-glows-in-the-dark. I love to connect with readers at www.facebook.com/cynthiaruchtireaderpage or www.twitter.com/cynthiaruchti.

Thank you, Cynthia.

Readers, I hope you've enjoyed visiting with these ladies as much as I have. Here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Cedar Creek Seasons (Romancing America) - paperback
Cedar Creek Seasons (Romancing America) - Kindle


Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

A DOOR COUNTY CHRISTMAS - Eileen Key, Becky Melby, Rachael Phillips, Cynthia Ruchti - 3 Free Books

Here comes another wonderful Christmas novella collection from Barbour. We'll talk to Eileen Key first. How did your story for the collection come about?


I was invited by Cynthia Ruchti to join the novella group. Me, a Texan!

Texans are good writers, too. I'm a Texan. What are you reading right now?

I’m reading Ronie Kendig’s book, Nightshade.

I love Ronie's book. What other books have you written, whether published or not?

My first book was a cozy mystery: Dog Gone. The novella came second. My next cozy is with Avalon and doesn’t have a scheduled release date.

Don't forget to let me know when you get that pub date. We'll feature it here. What is the hardest thing about writing a part of a novella collection?

The timing! Moon phases, snow depths, landscapes.

How did collaborating with this team impact you?

What a fun group! We’ve formed friendship though this endeavor. Through strife and stress, the group pressed on, praying for one another daily.

That's the best way. How do you choose your characters’ names?

I try them on my tongue first. I like them to resonate with me. Graduation programs are great for that!

What did you want the reader to take away from your story?

Love can happen in the twinkle of an eye when the Lord sends someone your way.

Are you a member of American Christian Fiction Writers? If so, why?

Yes. ACFW is my support group of choice! I’ve formed lifelong friends there and learned most all I know about the craft through them.

What is the best piece of advice you received as an author?

In 2003, Tracy Peterson told me to keep writing. I did.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

http://www.eileenkey.com/ and of course on Facebook! Thanks, Lena! I appreciate what you do for all of us.

My pleasure, Eileen. Now we're going to talk to Becky Melby. How did your story for the collection come about?

One of the things Door County, Wisconsin, is famous for is theater, so my first thought was to create a comedy dinner theater staffed by some fun, oddball characters. I had to invent some conflict for this troupe, so I stirred things up with a little betrayal and a destructive thunderstorm. Now I needed someone to save the day. Enter Jillian Galloway, niece of the theater’s owner, who thinks she’s come to Door County to savor the fall colors, heal from her broken heart, and use her advertising degree to promote Door Buster’s Comedy Theater. Of course, she finds out otherwise. And, since this is, after all, a romance, the most delightful part was creating my hero. I wanted someone who seemed out of place in the colorful landscape soon to be covered with snow. So into this peninsula first inhabited by Scandinavians, I brought Ricky Jimenez...dark, mysterious, with a knee-weakening Brazilian accent. Ricky holds the only key to Door Buster’s future, but Jillian is warned not to trust him. And that’s when the fun begins!

Sounds like my kind of story. What are you reading right now?

Books on the Underground Railroad for research, The Testament by John Grisham, and John Piper’s What Jesus Demands from the World. Oh, and I love starting the day with Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest.

I loved, loved, loved The Testament. What other books have you written, whether published or not?

I’ve co-authored nine Heartsong Presents titles with my long-time friend Cathy Wienke. The most recent release is a 3-in-1 titled Minnesota Moonlight. We also wrote a novella, Over the Wall, in a collection titled Race to the Altar. I’m currently working on the first in a three-book series for Barbour. Tomorrow’s Sun is a contemporary story with a historical thread dating back to 1852 in a small town in Wisconsin. And then there’s Treasuring Kate, the full-length women’s fiction Cathy and I wrote that’s “curing” in a file waiting for an extensive rewrite, Dragons Never Sleep, a YA novel languishing in a drawer somewhere, and a children’s story called Little Lizard. (Any editors out there desperate for a talking dragon story?)

What is the hardest thing about writing a part of a novella collection?

With four stories set in the same county, we had to divvy up all the fabulous things to see, do, and taste! There was such amazing teamwork with these ladies—anytime it appeared two of us had scene elements that were too similar we easily worked out the details.

How did collaborating with this team impact you?

Number one: I made new friends! God miraculously worked out the details for the four of us to meet in Door County, Wisconsin, to plot out our stories while experiencing the sun setting in Peninsula State Park, the quaint lighthouse pictured on our cover, a beautiful Bed & Breakfast, and local delicacies like stuffed French toast and a (warm cherry and hot fudge) Door County Sundae. Laughing, praying together when the power went out, and sketching out stories with these women was a precious gift. Can’t wait to see all three beautiful faces at the ACFW conference in September.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I’ve had my main character’s first name tucked away in a mental file since I saw Ann Jillian in a movie—maybe twenty years ago. I needed a Latin name for my gorgeous Brazilian and Ricky Ricardo came to mind! For my secondary characters, who are truly characters, I brainstormed names that would fit their personalities...Buster, Mort, Wilma, Huey, and Ardis. Baby name books and Web sites are great helps.

What did you want the reader to take away from your story?

The takeaway I hope readers grasp in every story I write is that God is the granter of second chances. In Christmas Crazy, Jillian is licking her wounds and pride after a break-up, Ricky is running from a life that pulled him away from God, and Uncle Buster is on the verge of losing his business and his miniscule shred of faith. I hope their stories will infuse readers with a desire to persevere and trust in God’s perfect timing.

Are you a member of American Christian Fiction Writers? If so, why?

Yes. The writing life can be lonely. Through ACFW, I have made dear friends who speak the same “language.” At the first conference I attended, I connected with two other writers in the first hour at the hotel. By the end of the conference, we’d formed a critique group. Their help has been invaluable. I’ve learned so much in the online loops and I can tap into this bottomless well of knowledge for information on any topic under the sun. I love feeling connected, rooting for other writers, celebrating victories, exchanging encouragement in times that feel like defeat, and knowing there’s an extended family always available to offer advice and prayer.

What is the best piece of advice you received as an author?

As I began pondering this question, my gaze shifted two inches to the right of my computer. A white mug sits on a Texas Bluebonnet coaster. Both are gifts from my Door County Christmas sisters. The side of the mug facing me reads “Write Anyway.” That pretty well sums up the best advice I’ve ever received! I love those tingly muse-moments when a bit of dialogue or a story line wakes me in the middle of the night demanding to be written. But if I were to write only in those glorious moments, I’d be cranking out about eighteen words a week! At that rate I may produce one full-length novel before I succumb to senility. Instead of waiting for the muse, five days a week I plunk my backside first in my prayer chair (“Start with prayer” may actually be the best advice!) and then glue that part of my anatomy onto my desk chair. Often, the first few sentences seem flat and uninspired, but as I reacquaint with my characters and God honors my plea for fresh ideas, the story comes alive in my head all over again.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

beckymelby.blogspot.com/   or http://www.melby-wienke.com/
Thank you so much for this opportunity, Lena.

My pleasure. Here comes Rachael. How did your story for the collection come about?

Many romances include conflicts that involve parental resistance. I thought an interesting twist in a Christmas romance might involve opposition from Grinch-y grown children who would not want their widowed parents’ romance to bloom. My female and male lead characters in Ride with Me into Christmas share an interest in cycling, as my husband and I do, which worked well in Door County’s beautiful vacation setting. I also placed them on a tandem bicycle for the first time, and like us, they learned lack of communication and cooperation can mean a crash!


What are you reading right now?

I’m reading DiAnn Mills’ Breach of Trust. What an addictive book! It’s a good thing I can classify reading as “research,” because I can hardly quit reading it to work. In my Bible study, I’m reading the book of Nehemiah. What practical, yet deeply spiritual wisdom I’m learning from its pages! Nehemiah, a man of prayer and action, knew how to follow God.

I love that series of DiAnn's What other books have you written, whether published or not?

I’ve published four Heroes of the Faith biographies with Barbour: Frederick Douglass, Billy Sunday, St. Augustine, and It Is Well with My Soul, a collection of hymn writer mini-biographies. I co-authored Women of the Bible (Barbour) with Carol Smith and Ellyn Sanna, which will release in February 2011. Unpublished: I’ve finished writing a women’s fiction, Kneady Women, a book about an off-beat group of bread bakers called the Loafers, that I just sent to my agent. I’ve also written a YA historical, Song of the Orphan Train, that won the Genesis YA in 2007. I wrote The Refuge, a suspense, a few years ago.

I'd love to feature your Women of the Bible on my blog. What is the hardest thing about writing a part of a novella collection?

Becky, Cynthia, and Eileen are such team players that even the more difficult aspects went well. With all our stories set in Door County, WI, we made a special effort to ensure our characters, plots, settings, calendars, clocks, and weather didn’t overlap or sabotage those of our partners—e.g., when one author needed major snowfall the week before Thanksgiving, another didn’t have her protagonist running around in shirtsleeves. We met for a few days in a Door County, WI, bed and breakfast to get to know each other and work out the details, as well as the main points of our plots.

How did collaborating with this team impact you?

I wish every first fiction author could work with such a fun, knowledgeable, creative group. I knew Cynthia before we became novella-writing partners (it was she who approached me), but I did not know Becky or Eileen. Not only have they become good friends, but all of them have taught me so much about writing fiction and working with editors and publishers. The only negative aspect? We all like Door County Hot Fudge and Cherry Sundaes way, way too much.

Now you're making my mouth water. Wish I could taste one. How did you choose your characters’ names?

 Joanna and Paul, like many of my characters, appeared in my imagination already named. I did take note of the era in which they were born (1940s) and checked websites such as the Social Security page of baby names http://bit.ly/92jLUZ ). Cynthia suggested Joanna’s last name, and I chose Paul’s Scandanavian-sounding name, Sorensen, because the action takes place in Wisconsin. I often check phone books for names. Originally, Joanna’s son in the novella was named David. But after I finished the book, I wasn’t sure my son—also named David—would appreciate it. So I changed him to Andrew. Thank the Lord for the “search” button on the toolbar!

What did you want the reader to take away from your story?

The lesson my main characters, both grieving the loss of their spouses, learn: God can help them recover from their hurts, overcome obstacles, and experience joy again. Isaiah 61:2-3 summarizes the fact God desires “to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” NIV_

Are you a member of American Christian Fiction Writers? If so, why?

Absolutely. In this organization, a fiction writer finds career opportunities, endless educational, spiritual, emotional support—and just plain fun! An author also learns how to serve and share the good things God has given us writers.

 What is the best piece of advice you received as an author?

God is loving and good—but He usually follows His own timetable. (Sometimes that means a thousand years is as a day.)

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

My Web site is http://www.rachaelwrites.com/ . I’m on Facebook and also have another Facebook page, Rachael M. Phillips, Author (http://bit.ly/cbJQ01 ). I’m on Twitter (http://twitter.com/rachaelmphillip ).

Aren't we having fun? The only one left to visit with is the president of ACFW, Cynthia Ruchti. Welcome, Cynthia. How did your story for the collection come about?


Years ago, shortly after I joined ACFW in 2002, I wrote a novella about a woman who escaped to Door County, Wisconsin, (one of my favorite places to visit) to heal from a painful relationship. Original, huh? The novella served as good practice for me and yet it wouldn’t stay put in the file where I’d stuffed it. The location is charming. The characters charmed me, too. My thoughts kept returning to that story.

In 2008, shortly before the ACFW conference, a Wisconsin author friend—Becky Melby—who also appreciates the unique appeal of both the rugged natural beauty and the quaint shops and artisans of Door County brainstormed with me about a project we could collaborate on. A Christmas novella collection! With an endearing balance of romance and comedy, two things in which Becky excels. Ideas began to hum, but we needed two more voices for our quartet. Two other ACFW authors came to mind: Eileen Key, a Texas author with little experience with snow and cold (Oh, would it be fun to thrust her into that environment!), and Rachael Phillips (an Erma Bombeck award winner), a Midwest author familiar with snow as well as non-fiction author working toward a fiction contract.

Our quick brainstorming sessions via email produced four distinct yet related storylines. I’d hoped to resurrect my original Door County story. How easy would that be? All I had to do was make it funny. And better. I didn’t know whether to be surprised or grateful that I’d grown so much as a writer since 2002 that The Heart’s Harbor in A Door County Christmas (Barbour Publishing) bears little resemblance to the original.

What are you reading right now?

Right now I’m reading middle grade historical stories written by my agent, Wendy Lawton. I admire her attention to research details and the wealth of literary information she carries in her brilliant mind.

What other books have you written, whether published or not?

Like many writers, I have complete novels collecting dust. I have others pounding the pavement, looking for employment. My debut novel—They Almost Always Come Home—released in May from Abingdon Press. It’s been gratifying watching it find its way into the hearts of readers.

What is the hardest thing about writing a part of a novella collection?

The four of us authors found ourselves thinking so in sync that during the critiquing portion of our collaboration, we’d discover we’d chosen a similar way to describe eye or hair color, or we’d used a clever phrase we’d thought was our own. It made us laugh and thumb wrestle for the privilege of using the phrase.

How did collaborating with this team impact you?

Some novella collections are written with little interaction between the team members. We decided early on that we wanted to be engaged with one another and each others’ stories. We worked hard to keep threads of continuity without stepping on each others’ plot lines or character quirks. We wrote and critiqued chapter by chapter and kept each other to deadlines but applied grace where needed. We prayed for and with one another, and bonded on a research trip to Door County to make sure we got the details right. The level of comfort we felt with one another strengthened our stories and us.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I consider age of the characters, a mood I’d like to convey, nationality, and often the meaning (whether subtle or obvious) in the name. I especially enjoy choosing names for sidekicks and neurotic dogs.

What did you want the reader to take away from your story?

Even though The Heart’s Harbor is a Christmas story and a love story and a humorous story, my prayer is that readers will also catch the underlying concept that sometimes healing comes through serving… and that Ernine is a mighty fine name for a camel.

Are you a member of American Christian Fiction Writers? If so, why?

I’m a member of ACFW because they wouldn’t let me be president if I wasn’t! That, and the fact that ACFW is THE place to be if you want to learn how to write Christian fiction and produce novels that are both God-honoring and skillfully crafted. ACFW has provided training I needed (and still do) and camaraderie I craved (and still do). I had a desperate need to grow in my understanding of the industry and credit ACFW with pointing me in the right direction. The networking and friendships I’ve gained bless me every day.

That is so true. What is the best piece of advice you received as an author?

Before I knew how important it would be, I was told not to believe the best things said about my writing, nor the worst. Great counsel.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

I write stories of Hope-that-glows-in-the-dark, a tagline that has proven itself fitting in everything I’ve written to date, whether the subject matter is heavier, as in They Almost Always Come Home, or more lighthearted, as in The Heart’s Harbor in A Door County Christmas. So readers can find me at http://www.hopethatglowsinthedark.com/ or http://www.cynthiaruchti.com/. I love to connect with readers and writers on Twitter and Facebook, too.

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