THE WORDS WE LOST - Nicole Deese - One Free Book

Bio: Nicole Deese's humorous, heartfelt, and hope-filled novels include her award-winning Love in Lenox series and her bestselling standalone novels published by Bethany House Publishers. When she's not working on her next contemporary romance, she can usually be found reading one by a window overlooking the inspiring beauty of the Inland Northwest. She lives in small-town Idaho with her happily-ever-after hubby, two towering-over-her teen sons, and one princess daughter with the heart of a warrior.

The acclaimed author of Before I Called You Mine and the Carol Award-winning All That Really Matters, Nicole Deese has penned numerous contemporary romances filled with humor and hope that tug on the heartstrings. Kicking off a string of standalones set in scenic San Francisco with literary themes, Deese delivers a poignant and intriguing contemporary tale of friendship, forgiveness, and a love that goes beyond the page in The Words We Lost.

About the story: As a senior acquisitions editor for Fog Harbor Books in San Francisco, Ingrid Erikson has rejected many a manuscript for lack of defined conflict and dramatic irony—two elements her current life possesses in spades.

In the months following the death of her childhood best friend and international bestselling author Cece Campbell, Ingrid has not only lost her ability to escape into fiction due to a rare trauma response, but she’s also desperate to find the closure she is convinced will come with Cece’s missing final manuscript.

After an editorial meeting jeopardizes Ingrid’s career, she fears her future will remain irrevocably broken. But when Joel Campbell—who shattered her belief in happily-ever-afters—offers her a sealed envelope from Cece, his late cousin, asking them to put their differences aside and retrieve a package in their coastal Washington hometown, Ingrid must confront a past riddled with secrets before she can discover the true healing she’s been searching for.

Welcome to my blog, Nicole. Can you please tell us a little bit about your new novel, The Words We Lost?

At its core, The Words We Lost is an intimate journey which follows the special bond of three 

best friends and the significant impact their memories play even after their trio is broken by a

tragic loss. Through a unique narrative which features a literature-loving protagonist, the

firstborn heir to a family legacy, and the surfacing of a mysterious manuscript, the two friends

who remain must push past their own raw history in order to honor the last wish of a friend who

loved the written word almost as much as she loved them.

The Words We Lost is the first novel in a collection of stories which features the publishing

industry as a connecting series theme. Will you share a bit more about how that theme ties

the series together?

Each book in the Fog Harbor Romance series will features a fictional publishing house based

out of San Francisco, California called Fog Harbor Books. Each standalone romance will

highlight either an editor, author, or audiobook narrator from Fog Harbor Books and reference

past characters who will be reoccurring throughout the series.

Your protagonist, Ingrid Erikson, has a unique occupation as a senior acquisitions editor

at Fog Harbor Books. What inspired you to choose this particular job for her?

Even before I plotted the details of The Words We Lost, I knew Ingrid would need a career that

would place her in close proximity to books. As a child who grew up in hardship, books were a

welcome escape to Ingrid, and as she aged, books became the bond she shared with her two

dearest friends. It made sense that she would stick close to what she knew and loved most, and

ultimately, her career path helped launch her best-friend-turned-famous author, Cecelia

Campbell.

The Words We Lost centers on themes such as friendship and forgiveness, but also deals with the impact grief can have on relationships. Can you tell us a bit more about how those ideas are portrayed in this novel and what led you to choose those topics?

When the premise for this book first came to me, I loved the idea of writing about such close-knit friends, but I also knew the plot would require me to tap into my own personal experience with grief in a raw and honest way. After losing my youngest sister in a car accident when she was only twenty-six, I’ve felt the impact grief can have on a family and close relationships.

Though challenging to write at times, my own journey and reflections about loss and hope played a huge role in the drafting phase of this novel. My goal was to offer an empathetic  perspective into the wants, needs, and overall responses of each individual character as they traveled their own road to healing.

What do your readers have to look forward to in this collection of novels?

In addition to the behind-the-scenes peek into the publishing industry, I think readers will be

pleased with the predominant, page-turning romances inside each story world. There’s a

second-chance romance with high angst, drama, and chemistry, a forced-proximity romance

with flirtatious banter and plenty of heart-melting confessions, and a slow-burn, friends-to-

lovers romance filled with toe-curling delight and loyal devotion.

Was there anything that you found particularly interesting about the publishing industry

in your research or in your own experience as a published author that you included in the

book?

I had a lot of fun inside this story world and made sure to pack Cecelia Campbell’s narrative full

of author-y statements and thinking. I chuckled to myself more than once at her dramatic antics

and the lengths she’d go for her fictional works. As for Ingrid, there’s a scene toward the end of

the book where she’s reflecting on the different aspects of her job and noting which editorial

tasks bring her the most joy. I interviewed a handful of editors and was able to write this scene

with them in mind. I hope it’s as meaningful to my readers as it was to me—I’m so incredibly

grateful for my editors!

What do you hope readers will take way from this story?

Ultimately, I hope my readers close this book feeling like no matter how lost, broken, hurt,

rejected, or estranged they might feel in their own story, there’s always a next step if they’re

willing to take it.

Can you share what you’re working on next?

I’m currently working on the second book in the Fog Harbor Romance series and enjoying the

refreshing, humorous personalities of my two main characters immensely!

How can readers connect with you?

I’m most active on my Instagram: @nicoledeeseauthor. I’d also encourage my readers to sign-

up for my occasional newsletter at nicoledeese.com.

Thank you for sharing this book with us. I love novels about authors.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+Words+We+Lost&i=stripbooks&crid=1FB3NSC39MBY7&sprefix=the+words+we+lost+%2Cstripbooks%2C114&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

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. (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 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, 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 SEASON TO LOVE - Nicole Deese - One Free Book

Dear Readers, here’s  another book in the A Love In Lenox series. Sorry this is so late posting. We’ve had a fast-moving storm system that produced high winds, a few tornadoes, and lots of rain and lightning. I turn off my electronics when there’s lightning. Even though I have a high-powered setup for protection from electrical surges, I don’t take any chances with lots of lightning around.

Bio: Nicole Deese is a full time lover of humorous, heartfelt, and hope-filled fiction. When she's not writing a sweet romance, she can usually be found reading one near a window while drinking La Croix. She lives in small-town Idaho with her handsome hubby and two sons.

Welcome, Nicole. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
It’s usually not until after I finish writing a book that I glimpse aspects of myself in the characters. And that’s usually not until a friend calls and says, “Oh my goodness, when I read what so-and-so said in chapter five I could so hear you saying that!” Haha! It always makes me laugh when I get that kind of feedback from the people who know me best.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?
Writing became a passion of mine in high school after reading every single Patricia Rushford and Robin Jones Gunn book on the shelf. But I didn’t really explore writing until I was closer to thirty. I’m grateful for parents who encouraged my early love for reading and storytelling…and even more thankful they paid all my overdue library fees. Thanks, guys!

Tell us the range of books you enjoy reading.
My favorite genres are often contemporary reads, although sometimes I’m in the mood for a good fantasy or historical, as long as the characters are well developed and there’s a love story brewing. My favorite genres are women’s fiction, young-adult, and of course, contemporary romance.

How do you choose your characters’ names?
I don’t really have one way to choose character names. A couple of my characters came from street signs (like Weston James from A Cliché Christmas) and a few others came from polling readers on my author FB page (Willa Hart from A Season To Love). Names are a huge deal to me so I usually take my time before landing on one.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
Writing my very first novel to completion is probably the accomplishment I’m most proud of. There is such fulfillment in taking a dream swirling around in your head and bringing it to life on paper. That’s what my debut novel, All For Anna, was for me. The start of a new dream journey.

What is your favorite writing snack food?
Hmm…this pretty much changes week to week. Haha! Right now I’m a big fan of multi-grain chips and homemade guacamole. Yummy!

I have to eat homemade guacamole, because I’m allergic to raw onions. It’s either make my own or get one of those made at your table guacamoles where I can tell them to leave out the onions. What is your greatest roadblock in writing, and how do you overcome it?
I’m not a “finisher” by nature. I LOVE starting a book (or brainstorming a new idea), but finishing? Finishing is so hard for me! I despise being locked-in or confined to an ending, which makes closing-out a storyline my greatest challenge. And if I were REALLY honest, I’d tell you I usually have to write those last chapters about ten times before they are reader-ready.

Tell us about the featured book.

Description of A Season To Love:
At this point in her life, bravery is not a trait Willa Hart would readily claim. She believes her seven-year-old daughter, Savannah, who never knew her father and successfully tackled chemotherapy, is truly the courageous one. Yet after Willa has a fateful encounter with handsome young doctor Patrick McCade, her outlook—and her view of herself—begins to change.

Patrick, a thrill-seeking world traveler and temporary resident of Lenox, Oregon, sets out to show Willa the value of adventure, even within her tiny town. But just when their friendship shows signs of turning into something more, Patrick’s life as a traveling doctor calls him back. Will his last days in town signal the end of their journey, or will Patrick and Willa find the courage to transform a single season into a lifetime?

Please give us the first page of the book.
I could have promised my daughter anything—a pony, a princess, a rainbow in a bottle—but instead, I’d promised her something equally unattainable: my bravery.
           

Today my cancer-free seven-year-old was putting that promise to the test.
           

“Come on, Mommy!” Savannah tugged my hand, but my legs were stiff and sluggish.
           

“We have plenty of time. Slow down.”
           

Slow down. Two words that had been on continuous repeat since she’d woken me, bouncing on my bed in her new sparkly red shoes—Uncle Weston’s gift to feed her obsession for all things glitter.
           

She led our way through the parking lot, her energetic stride forcing her backpack into a bounce and me into a near jog. Pockets of people waited near the electronic signboard, with the scrolling First Day of School, but I knew better than to ask Savannah to stop for a picture. She had a goal, the same goal that had kept me awake at night for nearly a week.
           

The freshly painted double doors at the front of Lenox Elementary School were propped open to welcome the new year. Only this pressure building inside my chest didn’t exactly feel festive. We entered the lobby together, her thin fingers still curled around mine, my heart two strides slower than my feet. I willed it to catch up, to remember Savannah’s countdown to this very moment—the scattering of purple Xs on the bedroom calendar.
           

The smell of boxed crayons and pencil shavings filled the air, nostalgia painting a landscape from a lifetime ago—of a life that no longer felt like mine. The screech of sneakers against tired linoleum floors sang the anthem of reunited friends and faculty.

But it wasn’t my memories of attending this school as a child or even of teaching at this school as an adult that caused my spine to prickle with déjà vu.
           

Three turns and two hallways later, Savannah dropped my hand and studied the class list outside Mrs. Hudson’s door.

“Alyssa’s in my class!”
           

“That’s great, honey.” My words sounded as frozen as my smile.
           

Her dark-chocolate eyes took in the clusters of students, the maze of desks, the shelves upon endless shelves of books, puzzles, and crafts. Once inside the classroom, she found her laminated nametag quickly and waved me over. My fingers itched to reach into my purse and grab a handful of disinfectant wipes to saturate each and every surface of this room.
           

“Mommy—look, my very own desk.” Savannah smoothed her hand over the top of the chipping varnish, her eyes alight, her voice the sound of childlike faith.
           

“Savannah!” Alyssa, Savannah’s athletic redheaded friend, raced across the room.

A soft touch on my shoulder shifted my attention away from the giddy reunion. “She’ll do great, Willa. I can see how excited she is to be in school. Oh, and I’ll make sure to e-mail you the slots I have open for classroom volunteers.”
           

Megan Hudson, Savannah’s second-grade teacher, stood at my side. Since high school, our lives had paralleled each other: we both married our senior prom dates, we both graduated with honors, we both earned our master’s in education.

Only, the sudden loss of my husband seven years ago had put an end to our shared life experiences.
           

“Thank you, Megan.”
           

With a last gentle pat, Megan walked to the front of her classroom and pointed to the instructions on the whiteboard, reminding parents of pickup time and location. The clock at the back of the room chimed a high-pitched ping, ping, ping, and a slow-snaking panic crept into my chest.
           

“Savannah—” My well-planned words were cut short. She sprang toward me and wrapped her arms around my waist. Her enthusiasm rocked me off center. “I love this day, but I love you most.” Savannah tightened her arms above my hips, swaying us both as if in a dance.
           

I kissed the top of her head, her short, baby-fine hair a whisper of hope that tickled my lips. “Not possible.”
           

Because it wasn’t possible. She wasn’t a mother. She hadn’t counted the weeks of pregnancy, hadn’t borne the pain of childbirth, hadn’t felt the anguish of the six-letter word that could drown a parent in a pool of their own tears. Cancer.
           

She hopped away and waved. “See you after school.”
           

With blurry, stinging eyes, I turned and exited her classroom, just like I had two years ago when I’d dropped my seemingly healthy daughter off for kindergarten only to admit her to the oncology floor at Children’s Hospital a week later.
           

She’s fine. I’m fine. Everything is going to be fine. The rapid fire of my pulse disagreed.
           

Pushing my way past a throng of happy families, I darted through the parking lot and shut myself inside my car. With my overactive imagination fully engaged, I fought against the quick, shallow breaths and answered the siren’s call in my glove box.
           

A stashed package of red-and-white pinwheel mints.
           

Most people saw these candies as a way to freshen their breath; I saw them as a way to focus my mind. A method of coping I’d picked up in therapy years ago. Of course, not during one of my hour-long counseling sessions, but rather from my time sitting in the waiting room. Ironic how a little basket of mints had helped me more than my grief counselor.
           

I reached inside the bag, unwrapped the familiar, crinkly plastic, and popped a small disc into my mouth. Immediately, the smooth texture and taste of menthol worked its magic, knocking me down a few ladder rungs on my climb to an attack.

How can readers find you on the Internet?
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/nicoledeeseauthor/
Newsletter: https://www.nicoledeese.com/newsletter/
Website: www.nicoledeese.com
Instagram: nicoledeeseauthor
Twitter: @nicoledeeseauthor

Thank you, Nicole, for sharing this new book with us. I'm as eager as my blog readers to read it. I hope my copy arrives soon.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.

A Season to Love (Love in Lenox) - paperback
A Season to Love (Love in Lenox) - Kindle

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. (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 Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, 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 CLICHE CHRISTMAS - Nicole Deese - One Free Book or Ebook

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

Maybe I should ask my husband this question? I never intentionally write myself into a character, but I’ll often have close friends and family say, “I totally heard your voice when so and so said this or did that, Nicole!” Haha! That always makes me laugh.

What is the quirkiest thing you’ve ever done?

I’m pretty quirky so this is a hard one for me to narrow down. The most recent quirky thing I’ve done is pretend to be an expert in the art of Mod Podge—which I’m not. Not even close. But as I stood in the aisle of Hobby Lobby next to a seasoned craftsperson (the kind who actually does those things I pin on Pinterest) I felt the need to play along. When the woman glanced down at my sorry-looking mess of supplies and asked what my plans were, I quickly swiped a nearby jar of Mod Podge and began spew out a list of random artsy-sounding stuff.

Shockingly, I think she believed me. Or maybe she was just really nice and took pity on me. I’ll never know for sure.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I loved stories from the time I was a young girl—telling them, reading them, and acting them out. I think somewhere inside me I always knew I was destined to be a writer, but it wasn’t until I turned thirty that I put pen to page and wrote my first full-length novel.

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

I’ll pretty much read anything if it has the promise of romance in it! Yes, I’m really that much of a sap. My favorite genre is Contemporary Romance, but Young Adult is a close runner-up. I also enjoy Women’s Fiction and some Fantasy (as long as the love story is strong!)

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

Not sure if I keep my sanity most days, but if I do, it has everything to do with prioritizing. I’m not so good at that yet, but I’m learning. Slowly.

Starting my day off with prayer and a good walk and a big dose of laughter (by texting with my crazy author friends) usually makes for a pretty great day.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Choosing names is usually a completely random process. Sometimes I have a name in mind, sometimes I ask my readers on my author page, and sometimes I peruse the ever-knowing Google database for inspiration.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Saying “I do” nearly eleven years ago. My husband has taught me so much about love through his selflessness and sacrifice. There’s blessing to be found in commitment.  

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?
A bird. Wouldn’t flying be the greatest thing ever? And the worms. Such a good source of protein. Mmm.

What is your favorite food?
Coconut. Yep. I’d eat it with every meal if I could.

What has been your greatest roadblock in writing, and how did you overcome it? 
My greatest roadblock in writing came during a family tragedy. Writing during a season of grief can be very difficult and challenging, but I’m grateful for what I’ve been able to learn and accomplish within that time. Writing can be so healing for the soul.  

Tell us about A Cliché Christmas.
Writing happy endings is easy. Living one is the hard part.

Georgia Cole—known in Hollywood as the “Holiday Goddess”—has made a name for herself writing heartwarming screenplays chock-full of Christmas clichés, but she has yet to experience the true magic of the season. So, when her eccentric grandmother volunteers her to direct a pageant at Georgia’s hometown community theater, she is less than thrilled. To make matters worse, she’ll be working alongside Weston James, her childhood crush and the one man she has tried desperately to forget.

Now, facing memories of a lonely childhood and the humiliation of her last onstage performance, seven years earlier, Georgia is on the verge of a complete mistletoe meltdown. As Weston attempts to thaw the frozen walls around her heart, Georgia endeavors to let go of her fears and give love a second chance. If she does, will she finally believe that Christmas can be more than a cliché?

Please give us the first page of the book.
I glared at the incessant blinking of my cursor and groaned.

Eleven months of the year, I lived in a perpetual state of holly-jolly fanfare. But by the time the first of November rolled around, I was completely Christmased out. I know I sound like a Scrooge to admit such a travesty, but believe me, when you build a career on Christmas cheer and holiday hype, the warm fuzzies of nostalgia fade faster than Hollywood’s latest scandal.

When I wrote my first Christmas pageant at nineteen, I had no idea I was actually sealing my fate. But seven years, a few dozen screenplays, and three Hallmark movies later, Christmas had become exactly that. My destiny.

Ironically, December was my only month off. And I took full advantage of those blessed four weeks, which magically buoyed me for another year of fa-la-la-la-la-ing.

Since I moved to LA seven years ago, my Nan—short for both Nancy and Nana—and I traveled to a new tropical destination each year, enjoying sunshine instead of snow, and hulas instead of caroling. Last Christmas it was a two-week Caribbean cruise, but this year our nontraditional holiday extravaganza would be a remote getaway in the Hawaiian Islands.

Clicking out of my latest work in progress entitled Noelle’s First Noel, I navigated through my newest temptation to procrastinate, a travel website that flung me into a cyclone of palm trees, sandy beaches, fruity drinks, and—

My phone did the cha-cha across my desk.

Nan.

Today was Tuesday—volunteer day at the senior center. She never called on Tuesdays.

An alarming icy-hot sensation crawled up my throat. I grabbed my cell. “Nan?”

“Georgia! I’m so glad you answered.”

The balloon of air I was holding inside my chest released. “Hey, are you okay?”

“Oh, I’m fine, darlin’. But I did just hear some distressing news.”

“Is it Mom?” The muscles across my shoulders tightened.

“No, I just spoke to her yesterday. She, Brad, and the twins are all doing fine.” In true Nan fashion, she threw an extra dollop of happy onto her last phrase, as if that were all it took to rewrite the past. “You know my little piano student I brag to you about all the time—Savannah?”

“Yeah, sure.” My mini panic attack subsided. I clicked on another picture of a Hawaiian bungalow wrapped in the warm glow of a setting sun.

“She was just diagnosed with leukemia.”

I stopped clicking. “Oh, Nan. That’s awful. How old is she again?”

“Only five. And her mother is a widow—I’ve grown very close to them.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

“Well, yes, actually . . . I was hoping you’d ask.” Her voice climbed twelve stories. “I need you to come home for the holidays.”

And I fell twelve stories. An image hit my mental screen. Me, in my Hello-Kitty jammies, splayed on a busy sidewalk, broken and bloody.

“What? What are you talking about, Nan? I’ve already booked our vacation.”

“I’m coordinating a holiday fundraiser for Savannah’s medical bills.”

I pinched my eyes shut and tried to ignore the tantalizing sound of crashing waves that seemed to lap against my eardrums in perfect time with my pulse. A part of me wanted to throw a tantrum—as fading images of tiki torches and spit-roasted pigs danced across my vision—but who could dismiss a child with cancer?

Scrooge, maybe. But not me.

I can’t wait until my book comes, so I can finish reading it. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Facebook Author Page: www.facebook.com/nicoledeeseauthor

Website: www.nicoledeese.com

Twitter: @nicoledeese

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/nicoledeese

Buy Link On Amazon.com for A Cliché Christmas:

http://www.amazon.com/Clich%C3%A9-Christmas-Nicole-Deese-ebook/dp/B00KQ1LYJE/

Thank you, Nicole, for sharing this Christmas book with us.

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book--print or ebook, winner's choice. 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 Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, 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