Christmas Release 2013 Series: Christmas in Shades of Gray by Tina Pinson

Tina Pinson

Hey everyone, Annette here. I hope you're finding time to read this holiday season. After all, writers are readers, right? Question for you: if a book came out containing similar words to your title, long after you'd titled your work (but before its release), would you change your title? Read on to learn about this author's decision on that very topic. Please welcome, Tina Pinson. 

An interview 

with Tina Pinson

How did this project take shape?

I call Christmas in Shades of Gray my off beat Christmas Carol. It mirrors several places of my father-in-law's life. (Of course I took some writer's liberties as well.) He had cancer and checked himself out of the hospital unbeknownst to the doctors. Plus many other things, but when he started telling about seeing cowboy fights in the hallway, and later told how he had accepted God after 73 years, I began to think of the battle it was for him to trust God and perhaps the spiritual battle behind it as well. For years he ran from God, told people he didn't need to be saved, he knew where he was going. He was hard man until he finally turned to God. When he went back to the hospital, he just wanted to talk to his family, tell them he loved them and God loved them too. 

Please share some themes of your story.

Spiritual warfare, salvation, redemption, forgiveness, and family are all a part of the story. 

What makes your project stand out from other Christmas titles?

Well, as I said, it's an offbeat Christmas Carol, or perhaps I should say an “onbeat” one because it shows the real meaning behind Christmas. The main character, David, is lying in a VA hospital, dying at Christmastime. Before he dies, he wants the opportunity to talk to his children and tell them about the Lord so they don't waste years like he did running from God. So he can see them again in eternity. And if he should die before he has the chance, he prays God will reach his children. A being arrives and asks, "What have you done in your life that merits God answering your prayer?" and begins to take David on a journey of his life and that of his children for the answer. 

Tell us one interesting fact about your book.

This is written about my father-in-law’s life. Some of it, as I already said, I took liberties with, but many aspects come from his life. For example he was a moonshine runner and then a lawman and at the time, he found the moonshiners were more honest than the cops. As they say, sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.

What’s next for you as an author?

Right now, I am editing the fourth book in the Shadow Series, This Shadowed Land. I have a few other projects I'm working on, including two titles based during the Civil War. Finding Middle C is a look at finding the music in life while in the midst of tragedy, and From Hell to Eternity is a look at Andersonville. I released Black Rain, a novella and prequel about a family who works and lives in the coal fields during the Civil War. I hope to get the continuing story, Winds Across the Rockies, which takes the family to the silver mines of Colorado, published as well. I am working on a speculative fiction complete with clones, gene mutation, and time travel, plus several other things.

What else would you like to share about this project?  

I wrote Christmas in Shades of Gray after my father-in-law died of cancer back in 2004 and was pushing to get it edited and released. When 50 Shades of Grey appeared on the market, I at first cringed and considered changing the name of my story. But as you can see, I didn't.

Thanks for addressing that as I’m sure SW readers might be curious. Thanks for visiting, Tina! 

~~~~~

Christmas in Shades of Gray released from Desert Breeze Publishing, November 29, 2013.

It's Christmastime. David Pareman lies in his hospital bed, dying. The staff visits him, as does a drug induced cowboy and yellow-eyed monster—so he believes. But not his children. He fears he'll die

Christmas in Shades of Gray

alone without a chance to share his heart.

When Arion, a stranger with vast knowledge of David's life and a shroud of mystery over his own, comes to visit, David thinks he's from the newspaper. He learns otherwise. Soon David is tripping through his past in search of the answer to a soul-searing question. "What in your life merits God answering your prayer?"

Through his past and those of his children he hopes to reach, David finds little to balance the scales against him. He believes he's no good, with nothing of merit that would make God want to help in him. Then he remembers the truth of Christmas and the love the Father sent to earth.

~~~~~

Tina Pinson resides in Mesa, Arizona with her husband of thirty-plus years, Danny. They have three sons, and seven grandchildren. She has been writing poetry, songs, and stories for over thirty years. She loves to doodle and garden, and she prays her stories will transport you to worlds beyond, touching your spirit and giving you insight into yourself and God. 

Connect with Tina here:

Tina's Blog

Twitter:@Tina_Pinson

Facebook-- https://www.facebook.com/TinaEPinsonAuthor

Pinterest http://pinterest.com/tinapinson/

Christmas Series 2013: A Pioneer Christmas Collection

A Pioneer Christmas Collection

Happy December writers! Annette here. Today we have Michelle Ule as our guest. She represents an author who contributed to the compilation, A Pioneer Christmas Collection, released by Barbour, September 1, 2013. 

An Interivew with 

Michelle Ule

How did this project take shape?

Barbour asked for submissions—and received nearly sixty—for a new Christmas collection. Our stories were chosen, though we did not "meet" as a group of authors until this summer when we began working on marketing collaboration efforts.

Share some themes of your compilation. What ties the novellas together?

We were tasked to tell a story set between 1700-1900 that included romance, Christmas, and an unusual setting. The authors certainly found different places to conduct their Christmas romances! Hardship, of course, was a central element to these stories and the weather caused problems as well. The pioneer pluck of the heroines served as a common thread through the stories along with their novel ways of celebrating Christ's birth.

What makes your project stand out from other Christmas titles?

I wrote a personal blog post about how this collection differs from others. You can see it here: http://michelleule.com/2013/08/27/12-days-of-pioneer-christmas-uncommon-romance/

Fully a third of these romance stories began with a married couple—I'd not encountered that before in romance novels and certainly not a third of the stories coming at romance from that angle. The situations were unique and they all had happy endings, but took us to places you don't often encounter in traditional romance stories.

Tell us one interesting fact about your novella.

My novella, The Gold Rush Christmas, features a fantastic and true tale of what happened to the prostitutes of Skagway, Alaska when a young missionary preached a funeral sermon inviting them to change their lives. 80 percent left town the next day thanks to the generosity of a steamship captain and a miner who had already found his gold.

What’s next for you as an author? Or for your team? Will you write together as a team?

I'm working on a World War I novel featuring Oswald Chambers. We do not anticipate writing together again as a team, though we've enjoyed getting to know each other as we've marked our book.

What else would you like to share about this project?

These are good stories, easy to read in an hour, which grapple with some hard truths even as a couple fall in love. Several feature unusual truths and they all end up celebrating Christmas in an unusual fashion--whether in a cave, a tipi, an abandoned Pony Express station or even a Tlingit long house--these stories provide new angle on the reason for love and the season remembering Jesus' birth.

I wrote another blog post about what makes this collection (and the other one: A Log Cabin Christmas Collection) inspirational: http://michelleule.com/2013/08/31/12-days-of-christmas-whats-inspirational-about-these-collections/

A Pioneer Christmas Collection

Christmas and Romance Follow Pioneers into Untamed Lands: The wild and untamed lands of America called to the brave and determined pioneers who desired a new way of life. Faced with primitive lodgings—a cave, a dugout, a sod house, a barn—settlers encounter their first Christmas in a new land with both trepidation and hope. From the mountains of North Carolina to the woods of Michigan, across the plains of Oklahoma and deserts of Arizona, these settlers soon learned that wherever the heart dwells, Christmas and romance can find a place to call home.

In this exclusive collection of nine Christmas romances, readers will relive a pioneer Christmas with all its challenges and delights as penned by some of Christian fiction's beloved authors, including bestselling authors Margaret Brownley and Lauraine Snelling.

Christmas Release 2013 Series: A Hero for Christmas by Jo Ann Brown

Jo Ann Brown

Hey, everyone! Annette here. We're getting closer to Thanksgiving, and continuing to feature Christmas titles here on Seriously Write Mondays. (We start early so we can fit more in. *smile*) Here's an interview with Jo Ann Brown to discuss her holiday title, A Hero for Christmas, which releases next week. Enjoy!

An Interview 

with Jo Ann Brown

Welcome, Jo Ann!

How did this project take shape?

It is a sequel to my first Sanctuary Bay book (The Dutiful Daughter), and the hero and heroine of this book were secondary characters in the first book. Because of my own experiences in the military, I have long been interested in how warriors return to civilian life. The three heroes in this trilogy are all making that transition.  

Share some themes of your novel:

The main theme is that we all fight battles–some on a battlefield, some with our faith, some with our hearts...and some with ourselves.  

What makes your project stand out from other Christmas titles?

It is set in Regency England, but not in London. The setting is in North Yorkshire.  

Please share an interesting fact about your book.

Sanctuary Bay is based on the real Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire, a fascinating village set on a steep cliff down to the North Sea. Nobody knows why it was named for Robin Hood, and it was once a hotbed for smugglers.  

What’s next for you as an author?

My next book is the third book in the Sanctuary Bay series–A Bride for the Baron, which is scheduled for March, 2014.  

What else would you like to share about this project?

Christmas in Regency England was celebrated with medieval traditions rather than the Victorian ones we are familiar with now. I had a tough time finding carols to include in the book, because most of the ones we sing were either not written yet or not yet put to music. Again, I had to turn to medieval sources to find the songs known in the early 19th century.

~~~~

A Hero for Christmas

Releasing December 3, 2013 from Harlequin Love Inspired Historical: A Hero for Christmas.

Jonathan Bradby would gladly return to fighting the French if it meant avoiding his new title: war hero. Only he knows the reputation isn't deserved. Then a visit to Sanctuary Bay brings renewed acquaintance with the lovely Lady Catherine Meriweather. He's drawn to her, yet Cat surely deserves a real hero. 

Overwhelmed with organizing a Yuletide celebration and her sister's wedding, Cat gladly accepts Jonathan's help. Soon she sees the gentle heart he conceals beneath his wit. But Jonathan's need to prove himself could drive them apart—unless they're bold enough to seize the unexpected gift of love.  

Sanctuary Bay—where three war heroes find the healing power of love.

~~~~

Jo Ann Brown has been creating characters and stories for as long as she can remember. She wrote her first novel in high school, and it happily resides in the very back of her file cabinet. Fast forward through college, serving in the US Army as a quartermaster officer, getting married, and increasing her blessings with three children...and Jo Ann sold her first book (a western historical romance) in 1987. Since it was published in 1988, she has sold over 100 titles and has become a best-selling and award-winning author. Romantic Times called her "a truly talented author." She writes romance, mystery, and paranormal under a variety of pen names. Her books have been translated into nearly a dozen languages and are sold on every continent except Antarctica. She has always lived on the east coast, but now resides in Nevada with her husband, who is her first reader, and a chubby tiger cat.

Christmas Release 2013 series: Starlight, Star Bright by JoAnn Durgin

JoAnn Durgin

Happy Veteran's Day, everyone! Sincere thanks for everyone who has served our country. You are all heroes! Today, I'm excited to continue our Christmas Release 2013 series here on Seriously Write. Join us for an interview with author JoAnn Durgin, who visited last Christmas with her previous Christmas novella release. Sounds like a new tradition! Enjoy! ~ Annette

An Interview with JoAnn Durgin

Welcome, JoAnn!

How did this project take shape?

I had such fun writing Meet Me Under the Mistletoe last year that I decided I wanted to try writing another Christmas novella. When I began this one, I wasn’t thinking about writing a sequel, but to my surprise and great delight, many of my readers asked if I was going to write about Starlight, Iowa and its fun, quirky residents again. So, the idea was conceived—and the title, Starlight, Star Bright, came to me rather effortlessly. Truly, this novella was a joy to write and I hope the blessing of the Christmas spirit shows in these characters and their story.

Please share some themes of your story. 

Trusting in the Lord’s plan for our lives is one of the main themes of Starlight, Star Bright. It’s about being true to yourself but also how the things of this earth are temporal as opposed to the things of the Lord being eternal. It’s based on scripture from James 4:13-15: ¹³ Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” ¹⁴ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ¹⁵ Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”(NIV) 

What makes your project stand out from other Christmas titles?

The fact that it’s a sequel makes this novella unique, which isn’t something I see often with Christmas-themed books (although there are some). Also, Starlight, Star Bright features an ending that’s a little different (don’t worry, I’m a queen of happy endings!), but it’s completely fitting, endearing, and perfect for my hero and heroine, Dante Moretti and Amanda Marston. Also, this novella features a very special holiday wedding…but that’s all I’m saying.

Tell us one interesting fact about your novella.

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe featured a hero who’s the Fire Captain in tiny Starlight, Iowa. In that book, Jake Marston didn’t fight any fires apart from a small kitchen fire at Barney’s Diner. However, in Starlight, Star Bright, Jake and his team do fight a fire, and it’s wonderful to see how the town residents pull together to help the family who has lost their home.

What’s next for you as an author?

I’ve just released a standalone novel called Catching Serenity, set in the fictional town of Croisette Shores, South Carolina. It’s about a woman who lost almost everyone she held dear five years ago. After living in Atlanta for five years, she receives a mysterious note urging her to come home to find her answers. Child psychologist, Jackson Ross, hires Serenity to decorate his new office in Croisette Shores and begins to suspect one of his patients may hold the key to unlocking her secrets. But how can he tell the woman he’s grown to love what he knows without compromising his personal and professional ethics? And when Serenity eventually discovers the truth, will he lose her forever?

I’m currently working on Moonbeams, Book #5 in The Lewis Legacy Series. It will most likely release in the early spring 2014 (I’m aiming for Valentine’s Day, but we’ll see).

What else would you like to share about this project?

This will probably be my last visit to Starlight, Iowa (never say never, right?). I’ve started pondering ideas for yet another Christmas novella. As an author, I’d personally love to make this an annual tradition and introduce readers to many more fun small (but fictional) towns across our great nation.

It was great having you here today, JoAnn! We wish you the best!
 

~~~~~

Starlight, Star Bright

Texas-born goalie and World Cup champion, Dante Moretti, only expected tiny Starlight,

Starlight, Star Bright

Iowa to be a blip on the radar of his life. Stopping at Barney’s Diner for a meal two weeks before Christmas, Dante meets two women who quickly capture his heart in very different ways. Then his rental car won’t start, stranding him overnight. Could the Lord have a plan for bringing him to Starlight?  

Amanda Marston is excited to be home in Starlight for her big brother Jake’s wedding. When she drops in for a cup of Caroline Picasso’s coffee at Barney’s, who is that handsome, Italian-spouting cowboy? Before she knows it, Dante’s staying with Ben and Caroline and helping out with projects all over Starlight. Does God have a plan for Dante in Starlight, one that might include Amanda?

~~~~~

Starlight, Star Bright is the sequel to the popular Meet Me Under the Mistletoe, part of Pelican Book Group's 2012 Holiday Extravaganza. The author of seven books, JoAnn Durgin is an estate administration paralegal in a Louisville, Kentucky law firm and lives in southern Indiana. Visit her at www.joanndurgin.com or via her Author JoAnn Durgin page on Facebook.