Bright New Paperback Edition! (How a Star Falls)

Back in 2015, I revealed the new cover for How a Star Falls. (You can check out the story behind the updated cover HERE!) The ebook and audiobook editions of the book each got a makeover as a result, but because of the extra effort required to update a paperback, that edition remained unchanged for years. I just never made it a priority to pursue that update...until this year!

And truly, all the credit goes to my wonderful friend and designer, Lena Goldfinch. She's the one who did the work and took the time to make this happen, not only updating the front cover, back cover, and spine, but also freshening up the interior formatting for the paperback and ebook with shooting-star dividers and a classy look. :)

What do you think?

Each book I've published is special to me for different reasons, but this project was just so much fun! Every stage has been a blast, from dreaming and writing to working with the designer (Lena!) and the audiobook narrator...and seeing Derrick and Brielle's story come alive in new ways. :) I loved including things that mean so much to me and bring back dear memories, from my home county to the dancing to the music references to the ocean. And I enjoyed writing from Derrick's perspective!

* * *

Purchase your own copy today on Amazon!

* * *

So far, four of my six books are available in paperback format, and Lena did an absolutely lovely job on all of them. Here are the other three...

Forget Me Not (Amazon)

Bleeding Heart (Amazon)

Where Trains Collide (Amazon)

For those who prefer to hold a book in your hands—and have covers match in style, as How a Star Falls and Where Trains Collide now do—I hope you'll enjoy adding this latest update to your shelf!

P.S. I'm currently running a giveaway on Instagram for a chance to win one of two copies of this refreshed paperback, along with a cross bookmark! Check it out HERE.

Looking for Audiobook Reviewers for a Short but Sweet Romance (How a Star Falls)

Hi, friends!

You might already know that How a Star Falls is available in audiobook format. :) I once had a list of audiobook promo codes that I had started to share but then lost track of in an old email inbox... But now Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX) has provided an easier way to share and keep track of new promo codes, and I'd love to offer them to any readers who would like to listen and review!

Title: How a Star Falls

Genre: sweet contemporary romance

Length: approximately 2 hours

Narrator: Patrick Wilson Mahaney
(He does such a great job of conveying Derrick's character!)

How does a star fall? 
Quickly. Completely. Unexpectedly. 

Derrick Knolane escapes to Trinidad Head most evenings, avoiding his apartment and planning for the day he'll break free of Humboldt County. Working in a music store might be fine for a while, but it's far from the goal he had in mind when he got his college degree. Not to mention the fact that his roommate is a jerk and his family won't stop trying to run his life.

Then Brielle falls into his world.

She claims to be a star. Not from Hollywood, but from heaven. He thinks she's crazy. Certainly delusional. Yet, he can't just leave her alone on the cliffs. So he takes her home.

And his whole world falls apart.

A heartfelt and fanciful contemporary romance novella, How a Star Falls explores the uncertain season of new adulthood and shows that sometimes the worst inconveniences make for the best miracles of all.

Listen to a sample:

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If you're looking for a sweet little story to listen to on your next drive or while working around the house, I'd love to share How a Star Falls with you! Even if you've read it before as an ebook or paperback, it's a lot of fun to hear Patrick give voice to Derrick. :)

Interested? Send me an email (amberstokes@corban.edu) or leave a comment with your email address, and I'll send you a promo code so you can download a FREE digital copy of the audiobook and then leave your honest review on Audible. Thank you so much for considering!

Epic Black Friday Sale on Christian Indie Books + Audiobook Giveaway!

 

Happy Black Friday, friends!

I'm thrilled to be participating in an exciting sale lasting today (November 27th) through November 30th with a bunch of other Christian indie authors! (You can check out the site with all the deals HERE.) We're offering everything from package deals on paperbacks, free shipping on paperbacks, $.99 ebook deals, and FREE ebooks. Pretty sweet, right?? 

You'll find my books on the eBooks Only page. My two historical novels are on sale for $.99, and my shorter stories (historical short stories and contemporary novellas) are FREE. So...you could get all my ebooks for less than $2! Would love for you to be able to pick up any you're missing - or to give the free ebooks a try if you haven't read any of mine yet. :)

And of course, I hope you'll browse all the other fab deals on the site! 

If you can't decide where to start your browsing, check out this fun tool:

Book Finder

(Which Indie Christian Books Should You Read?)

It's so awesome to see deals from friends like...

• Jaye L. Knight (Ilyon Chronicles - fantasy series)
• Emily Ann Putzke (Historical novellas)
• Shantelle Mary Hannu (Cinderella story)
• Faith Blum (Hymns of the West - Western series)

And there are many other books in various genres to check out!

To recap, here's the official word on the deal from our wonderful event organizer Leah E. Good:

In honor of Thanksgiving and Black Friday, a group of independent Christian authors banded together to offer over seventy discounted books on Nov 27-30. There's literally something for everyone. Every single book listed on Indie Christian Books is on sale in one or more ways. Find discounted paperbacks, dozens of books offered with free shipping, $0.99 ebooks, package deals and more. Even if you have a budget of $0, new reading material awaits you. Don't know what to pick? The fearless Indie Christian Books team created a quiz that will generate a book list perfect for you! Check it out! 

One last thing: I'm also giving away 5 promo codes for the How a Star Falls audiobook! This is a one-day only giveaway that's open to everyone and anyone with access to Audible.com. The audiobook is narrated by Patrick Wilson Mahaney (@patrick_mahaney) - and I think Patrick did a fantastic job of capturing Derrick's voice. :)

Want to learn more about the audiobook/story and listen to a sample? Click HERE. And enter to win a FREE copy through the form below...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A note on the Ebooks Only page: All books are listed as "Sold Out." This only refers to paperback copies of these titles. Please click through to the product pages to find descriptions and links to discounted or free ebooks.

Acknowledgements: Thanks to Leah E. Good for her fabulous work organizing this sale! Gloria Repp for completing the time-consuming job of uploading book info to the sale website, and Hannah Mills for her fantastic design work on the website graphics. Hannah can be contacted at hmills(at)omorecollege(dot)edu for more information about her design services.

For the Love of Pinterest (A Storyboard Party)

When I heard that author friend Elisabeth Grace Foley was planning a Pinterest Storyboard Party, I was all on board that train - no looking back!

You see, Pinterest has played such a large role in my story brainstorming process. At first, it was more of a way to try to convey visually what I had already created, but now the process has evolved to the point where I'm pinning visual inspiration before and during the writing process. It's a combination research and motivation tool, from pinning helpful articles and reference pictures to beautiful quotes and character look-alikes.

Today's event is sort of a "show-and-tell," as Elisabeth put it. :) Below you'll find glimpses of my projects that are already out there and ones that are to come. (Be sure to click the top/title of the widgets to see all the pins.) I'd absolutely love to hear if a certain board or pin intrigues you!

And if you're a writer with a storyboard(s) of your own, I hope you'll link to it/them in the comments section, so we can hop over to Pinterest and take a peek!

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Amber's Storyboards (in Alphabetical Order)

Bellflower | Short Story

A retelling of Beauty and the Beast in an 1880 mining town

Highlights: Really love these actor picks for Annabelle and Jacob (Robin Wright and Randall Batinkoff). Also, some of the Beauty and the Beast images are so fitting!

Follow Amber Stokes's board Bellflower | Short Story on Pinterest.
Bleeding Heart | Novel

An inspirational Western romance about five bleeding hearts on a profound journey

Highlights: Lots of personal photos mixed into this board for my debut novel. And there are some absolutely perfect (and poignant) quotes that fit the theme of the story. (Bonus: You'll find a personality quiz tucked in there, too!)

Follow Amber Stokes's board Bleeding Heart | Novel on Pinterest.
Fairy Slippers | Short Story

A retelling of Cinderella in an 1888 redwood lumber town

Highlights: Lovely fairy-tale-esque pictures and some cool pins of the fairy slipper orchid.

Follow Amber Stokes's board Fairy Slippers | Short Story on Pinterest.
Forget Me Not | Novel

An inspirational Western romance about remembering the good amid heartbreak

Highlights: Gorgeous scenery shots - and a pic of a young John Cusack as Harry in The Journey of Natty Gann (that's definitely a highlight!).

Follow Amber Stokes's board Forget Me Not | Novel on Pinterest.
How a Star Falls | Novella

A new adult contemporary romance about a girl who claims to be a star (not the Hollywood kind!)

Highlights: Beach, stars, and romance - need I say more? I think the mood of this board really worked its way into the story.

Follow Amber Stokes's board How a Star Falls | Novella on Pinterest.
Morning Glory | WIP

An inspirational Western romance set in Oregon and featuring Myghal from previous books in the series

Highlights: This board feels like a reflection of different points in the brainstorming/writing process. It's a little all-over-the-place, showing the spurts of direction and the aimless wandering through inspiration. Hopefully this will all come together at some point!

Follow Amber Stokes's board Morning Glory | WIP on Pinterest.
When Frozen Days Melt | WIP

A young adult contemporary romance featuring younger sister Chloe (from How a Star Falls)

Highlights: The overall tone of the board - it's just so happy, dontcha think? I like the fashion pics, the yummy ice cream images, and the glimpses of home.

Follow Amber Stokes's board When Frozen Days Melt | WIP on Pinterest.
Where Trains Collide | WIP

A new adult contemporary romance featuring middle sister Trisha (from How a Star Falls)

Highlights: Autumn and trains - two of my favorite things! I want to hug this board. ;) Also, the scene from The Office (for some reason, it makes me happy every time I glance through the board) and the cool GIF pin at the bottom.

Follow Amber Stokes's board Where Trains Collide | WIP on Pinterest.
While You're Awake | Novelette

A contemporary re-imagining of Sleeping Beauty with a barista and a freelance editor

Highlights: Cute German shepherd pics and interesting facts about honey bees.

Follow Amber Stokes's board While You're Awake | Novelette on Pinterest.

Bonus!

I'm deeply inspired by music. To discover some of the musical inspiration behind these stories, check out the "soundtrack" boards:

• Bleeding Heart
• Forget Me Not
• How a Star Falls
• Morning Glory
• Where Trains Collide
• While You're Awake

(Note: The other stories have some music pins mixed in with the other pins on the main boards.)

How a Star Falls...Once Again (New-Cover Reveal and Anniversary Party!)

It's Derrick and Brielle's one-year anniversary! (Well, OK, that might not be the case in the timing of the follow-up novella, but we're talking about non-fiction years vs. fiction years. ;)) And I'm so excited to celebrate the occasion with a fun giveaway (see end of the post) and the reveal of the book's new cover...

Don't they make such a sweet couple??

The Many Faces of Derrick and Brielle

My wonderful designer and friend, Lena Goldfinch, was the one who suggested that the cover for How a Star Falls might need an update, so it could better match my other contemporary covers. While I truly loved the original - a case of the egg before the chicken; that is, the cover coming before the story - I could see how branding my books by design would be a very good idea. Not to mention, I'm all for a cute couple cover!

See how nice they all look together?

The first two are available now; Where Trains Collide is up next!

Brielle and Derrick, Ava and Keegan, and Trisha and Paul. I love these models that represent them! (By the way, each of these stories is a standalone, although the characters in How a Star Falls and Where Trains Collide are connected. Confused yet? You're welcome. ;) *insert a bit of author sass*)

Anyway, the model photo we landed on for How a Star Falls was not the first one we tried on for size. Here's a peek at some of the cover comps Lena put together for me (with watermarks, since these are just examples of what we could do after purchasing the desired image):

(Click image to enlarge.)

Lena and I discovered a lot of really sweet couple photos that seemed like they could fit these characters! Before finding the photo for the cover on the right, I really liked the comp in the middle. It had the right "feel" to me - the scene and the mood and even the general appearance of the characters. But then Lena stumbled upon a cover "twin" that was much too close in appearance, so we bid that couple farewell.

I found that fourth comp quite darling, but it just wasn't quite right for the story. It sure is a pretty picture, though!

The couple on the left came very close to gracing the final cover. The general appearance was right, and the night scene with the added star was the perfect touch. But I felt a little unsure about the guy... I just didn't picture Derrick in an outfit like that, and he looked a little too young for Derrick's 24 years. The couple just felt more YA (young adult) than NA (new adult), getting ready for prom instead of life during/after college. ;)

So I kept looking...and then we found them.

Derrick and Brielle.

I was afraid the lack of a nighttime background would create a disconnect, but Lena reminded me that the sun is a star. ;) And really, it's not about the straightforward imagery in this case. This couple, this scene, created the right mood and portrayed the characters and their personalities brilliantly. 

Brielle looks so sweet and lighthearted and innocent.

Derrick looks so quiet and caring and enchanted by Brielle.

Lena described the atmosphere perfectly with the word "ethereal." 

And hey, Brielle even bears a slight resemblance to her previous counterpart, dontcha think?

About Derrick and Brielle's Story

Sweet New Adult Contemporary Romance Novella 

How does a star fall? 

Quickly. Completely. Unexpectedly. 

Derrick Knolane escapes to Trinidad Head most evenings, avoiding his apartment and planning for the day he'll break free of Humboldt County. Working in a music store might be fine for a while, but it's far from the goal he had in mind when he got his college degree. Not to mention the fact that his roommate is a jerk and his family won't stop trying to run his life. 

Then Brielle falls into his world. 

She claims to be a star. Not from Hollywood, but from heaven. He thinks she's crazy. Certainly delusional. Yet, he can't just leave her alone on the cliffs. So he takes her home. 

And his whole world falls apart. 

A heartfelt and fanciful contemporary romance novella, How a Star Falls explores the uncertain season of new adulthood and shows that sometimes the worst inconveniences make for the best miracles of all.

This novella is available in the following formats: 

2-hour unabridged audiobook ($6.95)

Paperback ($6.99)

Kindle ebook ($.99)

Note: As of right now, the audiobook and Kindle formats of the book have been updated with the new cover. The paperback will maintain the previous cover for the time being.

Giveaway Time!

Fill out the form below to enter to win one of three prizes from some of my favorite Etsy shops! The prizes are…

• Sparkle Green and Red Christmas Earrings from Baubles, Beads and Stuff
• Silver Compass Crystal Charm Necklace from Jaye L. Knight
• Santa Bunyan Note Cards (Set of 3) from Cindy Lindgren

Why these prizes? The earrings include stars, which fit this occasion for obvious reasons. ;) The compass is a reference to a song mentioned in the story: “If My Heart Was a House” by Owl City (you can listen HERE). And the cards are a little teaser for my next contemporary romance, Where Trains Collide. (Let’s just say the hero’s nickname is Paul Bunyan. Can you guess the heroine’s nickname?)

Note: Giveaway is open to US residents only due to shipping costs. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal Participants

As always, I'm so very grateful to my "Gems" for spreading the word about my bookish news!

If you'd like to join my street team, Amber's Gems, you can sign up HERE. And feel free to send me an email at amberstokes@corban.edu if you'd like to review an e-copy or audiobook copy of How a Star Falls!

Here's a list of the lovely gems participating in the anniversary party:

• A Northern Belle
• A Writer's Heart
• Carissa's Bookshelf
• Dreaming Under the Same Moon
• Flowers of Quiet Happiness
• Inklings and Notions
• Jaye L Knight
• Labor Not in Vain
• MHDeanCollectibles Book Blog
• My Favorite Pastime
• The Green Mockingbird
• The Wonderings of One Person
• Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections

P.S. My designer is gearing up to release a sweet new historical romance novel next month! You can learn more and pre-order The Bartered Bride HERE. (And if you're a blogger, you can sign up to participate in the blog tour HERE.)

Thank you for helping me celebrate this occasion! I'd love to hear your thoughts on the new cover or anything else about this post/story!

Plenty o’ Pretties (and Some Fun to Come)

I've been getting a few things in place for a bookiversary celebration on November 18th - the one-year anniversary of the release of How a Star Falls! Woot!

Let's start with a teaser of the giveaway. :) I've been in contact with a few of my favorite Etsy shops, and I'm so excited to partner with them and feature an item from each store for the prizes! I won't tell you what the items are yet (gotta have some surprises, right?), but here's a look at the stores the prizes are from:

Baubles, Beads and Stuff is a brand-new Etsy shop run by blogger extraordinaire Rissi (Dreaming Under the Same Moon) and her mom, and the pieces are so classy! You can find a lovely variety of necklaces and earrings there - big, bold, and colorful. Allow me to show off the necklace I recently received from their store...

You can browse the pretties at: Etsy.com/shop/BaublesBeadsandStuff

Cindy Lindgren is always a pleasure to work with, and her designs are so sweet and whimsical! You can find cards, prints, fabric, and posters at her shop. Aren't you gonna have fun guessing which card design I'm offering for the giveaway? ;) Check out Cindy's store at: Etsy.com/shop/CindyLindgren

Jaye L. Knight is someone many of you already know and love. She's the author of the new-adult Christian fantasy series called the Ilyon Chronicles. But she also runs this Etsy shop on the side and offers a wide array of lovely and clever jewelry pieces and bookmarks. See what's available at: Etsy.com/shop/JayeLKnight

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Goodness, there's so much awesomeness to explore on Etsy, am I right? Feel free to send a shout-out to your favorite shops in the comments section. :)

As for what else is in store for the anniversary celebration, I'm very excited to announce that we'll be unveiling a new cover for How a Star Falls! While I still very much love the original, my contemporary romances will now be branded with couple covers. Who else is psyched to have Derrick join Brielle on the cover of the novella?? This couple holds a special place in my heart. ♥

I also thought of something tonight...

You see, I really want to draw attention to the audiobook version of How a Star Falls. It's my first audiobook, and I really, really loved how the narrator interpreted Derrick's voice and brought the story to life. :) It would tickle me pink (like the shirt I'm wearing in the pics above!) to see the audiobook get a little extra love during the anniversary celebration.

To that end, I wondered if any of you would be interested in doing a listen-along? Kinda like a read-along, but with an audiobook? Since the book is only two hours long when read aloud, I imagine a week of less than 20 minutes of listening per day would do the trick. You could listen on the way to work/school, while eating a meal, right before bed...pretty quick and hopefully fun. :) We could chat about the little snippet of story each day, our thoughts on the narration, our own dreams and memories the scenes bring to mind, whether or not we agree with Derrick's taste in music, what we like/don't like about the beach, etc.

And here's the thing: I have extra promo codes for downloading a free copy of the audiobook, so if you're interested in joining a listen-along, I'll be happy to send you a code! (Email me at amberstokes@corban.edu to request a code.) I'd just ask for a quick and honest review on Audible and Amazon when you're done listening. :)

What do you guys think? I could see this starting around the 15th or 16th maybe, and lasting for a week?

Looking forward to celebrating the bookiversary with you in a couple of weeks!

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P.S. Fellow bloggers, have you heard about the new Book Blogger's Planner? It's available for pre-order now, and it sounds just fab! (I've already got my copy secured. ;)) Learn more about the planner HERE and about Jamie's new Shoppe opening in December HERE. It sounds like such an awesome endeavor!

The Prettiest Paperback: The Novella Arrives!

Happy December and a very merry Christmas season, friends! I hope you all are doing well and enjoying some heartwarming Christmas movies and catchy Christmas songs. :)

I feel like I'm playing one massive game of catch-up during my free time...and shiny new books keep distracting me. Now I need to make time to actually read some of the new stories on my Kindle! This quote definitely seems to apply:

Buying books would be a good thing if one could also buy the time to read them...

~ Arthur Schopenhauer

And this one:

When I have a little money, I buy books; and if I have any left, I buy food and clothes.

~ Desiderius Erasmus

I might also add, "And Christmas decorations!"

But that's a different post. Not that my apartment is bursting at the seams with trimmings, but I'm quite happy with my tinsel, candles, etc.

Back to books...

I got a very exciting package today!

 Behold the beauty! :)

I ordered a few copies of How a Star Falls, and since I never ordered a proof copy, this is my first time seeing the novella in person. And oh my! I couldn't be happier with Lena Goldfinch's design and formatting.

The epic front cover...

The stunning back cover...

And the colorful spine, which I adore!

It's so strange to think that around this time last year, I was psyched about the cover but had no clue that the story within would turn out the way it did. How much can change in a year, and how wonderful the twists and turns in our tales can ultimately be. It's a tremendous blessing to sit in my own sweet little apartment, staring at a copy of a book that came about after experiencing uncertainty, moving away, and looking back on God's bounty and faithfulness.

Well, to wrap up for now, here's a reminder that you still have 12-ish days to enter the How a Star Falls book blast giveaway (prize = $50 Amazon.com gift card or PayPal cash). And if you read the novella for the blog tour, I'd so appreciate any reviews on Amazon!

Hopefully talk more soon about bookish and Christmas-y things!

Conclusion of the How a Star Falls Blog Tour!

I'm always blessed by the friends and bloggers I get to work with for blog tours. And I'm doubly blessed to have the people who supported my historicals so kindly assist me in spreading the word about my first contemporary! No fallen star has ever received a warmer welcome in the blogosphere, to my way of thinking. ;)

Just as a reminder, How a Star Falls is now available in both Kindle ($1.99) and paperback ($6.64) formats! Read on for more end-of-tour news...
  
(I'm including some quote cards for How a Star Falls throughout the post, which were created in the pre-order phase using PicMonkey. If you've read my new novella, do feel free to share a favorite quote in the comments section! I'd love to hear what lines stood out to you.)

Winners!

We have three winners for this blog tour, and I'm very excited about the prizes. Hope the winners are, too! You can read/see more about the prizes in the initial tour post and in my updates post. Now, drumroll please...

The winner of Remember Sunday (DVD) and a signed copy of my novella is...

Amber M.!

The winner of An Airplane Carried Me to Bed (CD) and a signed copy of my novella is...

Hannah B.!

The winner of the seaside necklace, star earrings, and a signed copy of my novella is...

Maxie A.!

Congratulations to all of the winners, and thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway and commented on the tour posts! Winners, be sure to check your inboxes and respond to my email in order to claim your prizes. :)

P.S. If you would like another opportunity to win a paperback or Kindle copy of How a Star Falls, Rissi's giveaway is open for a few more days!

Writing Update

There really isn't a whole lot to report this time around on my other writing projects, as work and the promotion for this book have been keeping me busy! But keep your eyes on my Pinterest boards for my Secret Future Writing Project and Secret Future Writing Project 2, if you'd like to see what ideas are currently swirling around in my mind for upcoming stories. 

And don't forget to sign up for the quarterly Seasons of a Story newsletter to stay in the loop via email!

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Shantelle, Jaye, Serena, Julie, Meghan, Laura, Amber, Britney, Faye, Meagan, Miranda, Kara, Rachelle, Courtney, Carissa, Rissi, Jansina, and Brooke. I'm so grateful to each one of your for your time, enthusiasm, and encouragement as you've helped me promote How a Star Falls. ♥

A very happy and joyful Thanksgiving to each one of you! May you be surrounded by hope, loved ones, and yummy food. :) 

Quick Blog Tour Updates

Hello, friends! I just wanted to let you know that I now have images for the missing How a Star Falls blog tour giveaway prizes. Here's the full cover for the paperback version of the book (available now on Amazon for $6.64!):

Designed by Stone Lily Design

And for the jewelry prize pack, in addition to the star earrings pictured in the original post, the winner will receive this lovely seaside necklace:

Designed by Belle on a Budget

(The three starfish are perfect!)

Want to enter to win these prizes and more? Visit the blog tour announcement post HERE!

Also worth nothing:

• Find direct links to the blog tour posts (once they're live) on the blog tour page.
• Check out the How a Star Falls "soundtrack."
• Discover a little fun fact about the cover design on my author blog.

Thank you all for celebrating this release with me! Hope you're enjoying the tour so far, and have a bright and shiny weekend. :)

3...2...1... How a Star Falls Has Launched!

I'm so excited to introduce Derrick and Brielle to the world—the stars of my first new-adult contemporary romance novella! (Pun intended, naturally!) This project represents several firsts for me, actually: first published contemporary story, first book I offered for pre-order, and first time I hired another blogger to help with the marketing. While I'm still hosting my own blog tour, I wanted to try out a book blast with Kathy of I Am a Reader. So feel free to hop on over to her site to enter the $50 gift card giveaway! (But please do come back, as we'll be having lots of fun here, too. :))

Have I told you all how much fun I had writing this story? Seasons really are so important with my writing, and How a Star Falls fully came together this fall, after a lot of transitions in my life. It was such a blessing to look back at the home I love and the places God saw me through. And it was a blast to pen something more whimsical and modern in nature while touching on some of the deep questions new adults tend to ask. (Well, at least this new adult did!)

Here's the official blurb, in case you haven't seen it yet:

How does a star fall? 
Quickly. Completely. Unexpectedly. 

Derrick Knolane escapes to Trinidad Head most evenings, avoiding his apartment and planning for the day he'll break free of Humboldt County. Working in a music store might be fine for a while, but it's far from the goal he had in mind when he got his college degree. Not to mention the fact that his roommate is a jerk and his family won't stop trying to run his life.

Then Brielle falls into his world.

She claims to be a star. Not from Hollywood, but from heaven. He thinks she's crazy. Certainly delusional. Yet, he can't just leave her alone on the cliffs. So he takes her home.

And his whole world falls apart.

A heartfelt and fanciful contemporary romance novella, How a Star Falls explores the uncertain season of new adulthood and shows that sometimes the worst inconveniences make for the best miracles of all.

Purchase on Amazon 

The story is currently only available for Kindle, BUT a paperback version is in the works and is very close to completion! And let me tell you, it's going to be a cutie. :) A little novella with a gorgeous cover, wouldn't you agree? (S/O to Lena Goldfinch for another amazing design!)

Speaking of the paperback, would you like to win a copy? Well, let's get on to the details about the tour then!

Schedule

Tuesday, November 18th

• Interview at A Writer's Heart
• Review at Jaye L. Knight

Wednesday, November 19th

• Review at My Favorite Pastime
• Spotlight at A Northern Belle

Thursday, November 20th

• Interview at Crafty Booksheeps
• Review at The Wonderings of One Person

Friday, November 21st

• Interview at Buzzing about Books
• Review at Labor Not in Vain

Saturday, November 22nd

• Interview at The Curried Nut
• Review at To Be A Person

Sunday, November 23rd

• Review at Flowers of Quiet Happiness
• Review at Rachelle Rea

Monday, November 24th

• Interview & review at The Green Mockingbird
• Review at Carissa's Bookshelf
• Review at Dreaming Under the Same Moon

Tuesday, November 25th

• Interview at Thilly Little Nothings
• Review at i blog 4 books

Wednesday, November 26th

•  Winners announced at Seasons of Humility

During the tour, you'll also find fun behind-the-scenes posts at The Heart's Spring.

A Special Starry Giveaway!

I'm really happy with how this giveaway came together. :) Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of all the prizes just yet, as one of them is still being crafted (a seaside-themed necklace) and the other is still in production (the paperbacks, which are simply awaiting the cover design and approval before they can be ordered). However, here's a glimpse of most of the prizes:

The signed books are pretty self-explanatory. Although I will add that they'll be a darling 5x8 size!

The DVD is Remember Sunday, which has become one of my favorite movies. Why that movie for this giveaway, though? Let's just say shooting stars and comets play a large thematic role in the story, and they even mention Orion—Brielle's constellation! Plus, the heroine (played by the girl from Tuck Everlasting) is a new adult, feeling at a standstill in life. The choices she makes and the questions she and Zachary Levi's character ask all tie in really well with How a Star Falls.

The CD is An Airplane Carried Me to Bed by Sky Sailing. Derrick mentions this band (Owl City's alter ego) in the first chapter of the book, and he listens to a song from the CD titled "Brielle." That song and the sound of the whole CD fit beautifully with How a Star Falls.

The lovely jewelry is crafted by Christy of Belle on a Budget. The star earrings are pictured, but there will also be a beach-themed necklace as part of that prize package. I'll hopefully be sharing a picture of that later this week!

The prizes are divided into 3 packages, as shown on the Rafflecopter form. Please note that this giveaway is limited to U.S. residents only due to shipping costs. Good luck to everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
P.S. Now is the perfect time to get caught up on my other books, if you're missing any! Bellflower (the short-story collection) is FREE for Kindle through Friday, and Forget Me Not is on a Kindle Countdown Deal through next Monday. Happy reading, friends, and thank you so much for helping me celebrate this occasion!

Happy Days!

I've got some reviews to catch up on, and it feels like I'm forever playing catch-up with sleep! As I said on Twitter:

It's not that I can't fall asleep, but simply that I too often choose not to go to bed at a decent hour. I do like sleep (very much!)... I'd just like more hours in the day so that I could do other things, too! I suppose maybe I could prioritize my time better, but that's beside the point. ;)

My point in this post is that yes, I do have other posts I should share soon. But right now, I'm simply going to say I'm so grateful for blessings big and small...

For pumpkin-patch visits with friends (and scrumptious apple cider doughnuts).

For times at work that remind me of a greater goal, the good of the team, and that it's really not all about me.

For times at work where I feel incredibly encouraged and welcomed.

For recommendations and a shiny new indulgence in HD and popping colors.

For the opportunity to offer a book for pre-order.

For the fabulous successes of fellow author friends.

For the relief and joy of knowing a new story and its characters have reached the hearts of family and friends.

For great feedback to help make a story better.

For another story idea to daydream about and pursue.

For dear friends who support me in so many ways.

For a patient God and an abundant life.

"It's Always a Good Time"

Taking a cue from blogging friend Kara (Flowers of Quiet Happiness), I wanted to share some of the things that I'm grateful for in this new season of my life... 

Music. To quote the song "Down in New Orleans" from The Princess and the Frog: "They got music, it's always playin'. Start in the daytime, go all through the night..." Singing in the shower, in the car, while I'm cooking and cleaning, before I go to bed - the music makes me smile, laugh, and feel, inspiring my written stories and the story of my life. I recently bought Owl City's The Midsummer Station, and I've been listening to it a lot in the car and in my apartment. Here's one song from the CD that's just so catchy and joyful:



Writing. I'm chipping away at How a Star Falls bit by bit, and I'm having a lot of fun with the story! Certain plot elements are starting to firm up more in my mind, although I don't have a set outline or anything. Sometimes I'll work on the story during lunch at work, scribbling away in my journal...

(Please forgive the mistakes and sloppy handwriting.) I've found it really refreshing and freeing to get the words down on paper first, then type up the scenes later. I'm grateful to Lena Goldfinch for the recommendation to switch things up with my writing!

P.S. The new blog header (which I tweaked via PicMonkey) features the view from one of the lookout points at Trinidad Head, a setting in How a Star Falls. 

Food. I don't think a long explanation is necessary here. ;) I will say that when I went grocery shopping yesterday, I bought a muffin tin and some muffin mixes. I tried one this morning, and it was SO good!

I sprayed the tin with cooking spray instead of using cupcake liners, and they came out perfectly! And the triple-chocolate goodness, fresh from the oven? Oh, yeah, I'm a happy girl!

Shows. I've been watching the first few seasons of The Office, which I borrowed from a coworker. I'd seen a little of the show before, but it's even more entertaining when you actually work in an office, LOL. And I've been loving When Calls the Heart (less than $20 for the whole season via Amazon Instant Video!). I should write up a post just for this series alone - so much sweetness!

 

Books. So...I haven't entirely stopped browsing books or thinking about books, but that's not really the goal of Mission: Contentment. The goal is to foster a better attitude and to let go of the obsessiveness - something I certainly haven't mastered since I posted about it. I've picked up a few new books since then, and I've had my moments of giving in to the urge to browse and dwell on new reading opportunities instead of...well, you know, actually reading. However, I'm continuing to read The Art of Creativity by Thomas Kinkade during most of my breakfasts, which has been thought-provoking! I'm also reading a fabulous book on singleness, which I imagine you'll be hearing more about in the coming months. And I'm really excited about fellow authors' upcoming releases and other books that are on my TBR. I'm grateful for this passion for books. Through God's grace, if I can keep it in a healthy balance, it does make my job, my downtime, and my outside projects that much more enjoyable. :) I mean, it would be silly to work in publishing or be an author if I didn't appreciate books!

These are just a few of the tangible things I'm grateful for. Greater than these, of course, are God's love and presence, the hope He gives, my family, my friends and coworkers, a wonderful place to live, precious memories, and more. It's bittersweet to move into a new season of life, as there are things I miss dearly about the previous seasons. And yet, I'm so thankful for all that I've been given, and I'm excited about what this season holds. I'm happy to sing, "It's always a good time!"

What are some things you're grateful for in this season of your life, dear friends?

The Winner and the Lighthouse

Thank you all so much for your enthusiasm for my latest cover reveal! I'm so excited by the feedback for both the cover and the premise/blurb of How a Star Falls. I'm having a grand time writing the beginning by hand here and there, and I'm looking forward to completing the story and sharing it with you all in this next season.

Now, to wrap up the cover reveal:

Chickie B!

Congratulations, Chickie, on winning the $10 Amazon.com gift card! I've sent you an email, so be sure to check your inbox. And thank you again to everyone who posted about the cover and entered the giveaway! *group hug*

* * *

Since these winner posts are kind of short and only really exciting to the actual winner(s), I thought I'd take the time to add a few pics from my recent on-a-whim, afternoon outing to the coast.

How a Star Falls takes place on the coast - but back in my home county of Northern California instead of Oregon. Here in this pic, though, you can see part of Highway 101 (at least, I believe that bridge I drove over is part of it...). So if you followed that highway south a while, you'd eventually wind up passing the towns featured in my WIP. ;)

To clarify, these pictures were taken at Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint. It's a gorgeous spot, and this past weekend was my first time visiting the place. 

 

And here's the lighthouse itself! I spent several minutes sitting on a bench nearby, writing a few lines for How a Star Falls. They didn't have to do with a lighthouse...but just being near the sea is inspiring, and a reminder of home. :)

Here's a parting shot of the lighthouse. Can you see it on the bluff there? The location is incredible, and I enjoyed the brief hike. Beautiful day, beautiful memory.

What are you currently working on? Where do you find inspiration?