A Heartfelt Tale Full of Realistic Emotion | Review of The Innkeeper's Wife

About the Book (from Dragonpen Press)

On the edge of a secluded forest, the Timeless Bed and Breakfast greets its guests with promises of home-cooked meals, warm fires, and great service. Caleb and Ginny put everything they have into their little inn, keeping their own pains hidden from their guests. But when a poor young couple gets stranded at their inn on Christmas Eve in the middle of a blizzard, Ginny knows they can’t turn them away, even though they are completely booked for the holiday. However, letting them stay will push her strength to the limits and churn the deep wells of sadness inside her.

This heart-warming but wrenching novelette explores the events of the Nativity story, while simultaneously delving deep into the painful world of infertility.

Available Now!

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My Rating

Spring

My Review

This story is not a light and cheery Christmas rom-com, but rather a heartfelt tale full of realistic emotion mixed with an unfading tinge of hope.

The heroine, Ginny, is rather difficult to befriend. We see her in one of her most painful moments, upset with her responses to the situation but ultimately willing to rise to the occasion, especially with the tender support of her husband. I would have loved to see just a bit more of her sweeter side, which makes itself known now and then. Still, her hurts and heartaches stir up empathy, and it's easy to understand her struggles with jealousy and sorrow.

The story mostly takes place on a fierce winter night. Quick glimpses of the inn make it seem like a lovely vacation destination, but it's in a tucked-away room in the garage where the external and internal battles—the heart of the story—are fought. The descriptions feel authentic, and the characters have a way of winning over the reader in their flaws, fears, and hope for the future. And Caleb, Ginny's husband, is such a sweetheart!

The Innkeeper's Wife is a very focused story about infertility and birth, years of someone's waiting meeting the arrival of new life. It's heavy, but still infused with light. If you're looking for a short read to make you think, encourage your compassion, inspire selfless acts of emotional bravery, and remind you of hope in the hard times, this one has a lot to offer during the holidays and beyond.

*With thanks to the author for providing me with a complimentary e-copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.*

The Christmas Book Shoppe | Book Blitz + Review + Giveaway

It's so fun to see dear blogger friends like Miranda Atchley (A Real Writer's Life) publishing new books! Today, as we celebrate the start of the Christmas season, we also celebrate the release of The Christmas Book Shoppe. Gather round to hear more about this sweet novella (and a chance to win an e-copy)!

About the Book

Keeping her book store might take a Christmas miracle…

Trudy Gallagher is quite content with her simple life. For the past five years, she has lived and worked at The Christmas Book Shoppe, a new and used book store formerly owned and operated by her great-aunt. She loves nothing more than spending her days in the Victorian house filled with books, surrounded by her cat and loved ones. As Christmas, her favorite day of the year, approaches, she begins the season with her usual verve and excitement.

Yet when her landlord threatens to sell The Christmas Book Shoppe, she is devastated. She cannot imagine life without the book store she calls home. As she struggles to create a plan to keep the book store open, it seems as if her whole word is turned upside down and her every attempt to save the store fails.

Can she find a way to keep the store she loves?

Purchase in the Kindle store for 99 cents! 
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My Review

The Christmas Book Shoppe is a light, quick, and sweet novella. Trudy's plight to save the bookshop she loves is reminiscent to that of Kathleen Kelly in the beloved movie You've Got Mail, but this little story is populated with its own endearing characters and set in a charming small town in Arkansas.

I enjoyed this glimpse into Trudy's world. It's a very gentle read, especially in the beginning. Tension arises as the bookshop's existence is threatened, but the main draw of the story is in Trudy herself and her friends and family (and her lovely cat!).

Some details don't quite seem to add up, some scenes don't really add much to the plot, and the writing feels somewhat unpolished, but all in all, The Christmas Book Shoppe is simply sweet in its Christmas cheer and hope. This is a "day in the life" sort of story about a bookshop owner with kind parents and good friends—and it includes plenty of nods to the life of a modern reader. For those who share Trudy's love of books, independent bookstores, and the Christmas season, this would make a cozy little addition to a holiday collection!

*With thanks to the author for providing me with a complimentary e-copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.*

About the Author

MIRANDA ATCHLEY has written several novels, both historical and contemporary, one of which was a finalist for an indie writing award. When she isn’t writing, Miranda loves getting lost in a good book and watching period dramas. She lives in a small town in Arkansas. Visit her blog and subscribe to her mailing list at arealwriterslife.blogspot.com

Connect with Miranda on social media:

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Enjoy an Excerpt from 
The Christmas Book Shoppe...

As she placed the last ornament on the Christmas tree, Trudy Gallagher stood back and looked at her handiwork with a gratified smile. It was the Monday after Thanksgiving, and she had spent the majority of the day decorating The Christmas Book Shoppe for the holiday. Like every other year, she and her assistant Marge had placed the eight foot artificial Christmas tree before the front window in the foyer, and Trudy had happily wrapped it in lights and tinsel, placing book themed ornaments along the branches.

“A little early to be putting up a Christmas tree, don’t you think?” Mr. Scranton, a regular patron at the book store—and the town’s resident curmudgeon—asked when he came to donate yet another stack of used books.

“Well, Thanksgiving was last Thursday,” Trudy replied in the kindest tone she could muster. It was tradition at The Christmas Book Shoppe to decorate for the holidays the Monday after Thanksgiving. After all, they were The Christmas Book Shoppe, a store that carried a mix of new and used books and was housed in the historic district of a small town called Christmas, Arkansas—which was named for the town’s settler as opposed to the holiday, as most out of towners understandably believed. They had to embrace the spirit of Christmas, just like most other businesses in town did. Yet there was always someone who accused them of decorating too early. Trudy couldn’t help but wonder; what would Mr. Scranton say if he knew that she had decorated her apartment on November first?

Scoffing at her, Mr. Scranton turned and went on his way, his pace slow as his cane assisted him. Trudy could have sworn she’d heard him mutter “bah humbug” under his breath as he exited through the front door, his harsh tone clashing with the twinkling bell above the door. Though that could have simply been her imagination, which, given all the novels she read, was usually quite overactive. 

Trudy shrugged as she placed the two heavy plastic bags full of moldy paperbacks on the desk and began to sort through them.

Really, who could blame her for embracing the Christmas spirit as fully as she did? After enduring long humid Arkansas summers that often started as early as April and boasted weeks of temperatures in the high nineties and low hundreds, it was a relief to have cooler weather. When the heat of summer was too much to bear, she often daydreamed about the Christmas season just to distract herself from the reality of living in such a humid climate.

But it wasn’t just the cold weather she enjoyed. She loved everything about Christmas. Watching classic Christmas movies, drinking hot cocoa while reading a light and cheery Christmas novella, and listening to Christmas songs all December were some of her favorite things. And there was just something about all the pretty decorations and lights that made the whole town of Christmas, Arkansas, look like the inside of a snow globe…minus all the snow. It was simply a magical time of year.

“I’m glad you enjoy decorating the tree so much,” said Marge when Trudy made her way back to the front desk. With a deep sigh, she added, “Putting that tree up just wears me out.”

Looking up from the copy of Thoreau’s Walden she’d been inspecting, Trudy offered a smile and said, “Well, I’m happy to do it.” 

With raised eyebrows, Marge shook her head. “I can certainly tell.”

Marge was a middle aged woman who had been working at The Christmas Book Shoppe for the last few years. While she was a good employee, she didn’t share Trudy’s excitement about literature and holidays and found her boss’s enthusiasm rather tiring. It was amazing that the two got along as well as they did.

Trudy once again smiled and then took the newly arrived books and began to shelve them. It was a little curious that Mr. Scranton had donated so much as of late. Counting what he’d brought in today, he’d donated a total of ten bags full of books in two weeks. Trudy wondered how many books he had in that old, somewhat off-putting house he lived in on the edge of town.

After Mr. Scranton’s donations were situated on the shelves, Trudy took to straightening the book cases, and in the process she found herself somewhat distracted, reading the synopsis scrawled on the back covers of titles that caught her attention. She often found herself similarly distracted while working here at the shop and realized that this was one reason why her to-be-read pile was growing entirely out of control.

When she found a particularly interesting novel set in the Edwardian era, she flipped open the cover and read the first few pages. Soon her mind was thousands of miles and a hundred years away, caught up in a world of lords and ladies.

“That a good book?”

With a gasp, she slammed the book shut. Looking up, she saw her friend, Reed Thornton. A roguish smile twisted his mouth, making him look more like Downton Abbey’s Tom Branson than ever.

“You scared me to death,” she said, taking a deep breath in an attempt to steady her heart rate. “And yes, it is a good book. I think I’ll keep it for myself.”

In his hands, she saw a stack of books, all bearing familiar titles. The Great Gatsby, Wuthering Heights, Persuasion. In Trudy’s world, it was unusual for most guys to even like reading. But for a guy to pass up science fiction and thrillers for classic romance? That was just unheard of.

“Looking for a good romance, are we?” she asked as they made their way back to the front desk.

He gave her the same exasperated expression he offered each time she made a wise crack about his reading habits. “It’s required reading for my classic lit class.”

Trudy smiled skeptically. She knew Reed had in fact enrolled in a classic lit class at the university after recently going back to college in order to earn a master’s degree in literature. Yet she also knew that Reed had always been a sucker for classic literature, just like her. They’d taken literature classes in high school together and their mutual love of the classics was one reason why they’d been such good friends for most of their lives.

“You know there isn’t any shame in guys reading romance novels, right?” With a snort she added, “I mean, look at Nicholas Sparks. His novels have been giving women false hopes for years now. And Fitzgerald was a guy, and he wrote The Great Gatsby. Besides, haven’t you already read that?” 

“When we were seniors in high school,” he said with a half frown. “But that was a long time ago. I’ve read too many books since then to remember all I need to know about it for this class.”

“Well, it is a pretty good one to revisit,” she said as she rounded the corner of the front desk.

As she scanned the barcode on Persuasion, she cocked an eyebrow at Reed.

He sighed as he dug his wallet out of his back pocket. “It’s the only Austen I haven’t read yet.”

She chuckled as she placed the stack of books in a bag bearing the store’s emblem.

“Do you give all your customers this hard of a time?” he asked as he accepted the bag.

She simply laughed in reply.

“You know, I could just buy my books on Amazon. I’d get a lot less cheek if I did.”

“Yeah, but you’d pay a lot more. Plus, you wouldn’t get this sparkling customer service that brings in customers from miles around.”

Chuckling, he rolled his eyes, took his bag and left.

Giveaway!

One winner will receive a Kindle download of The Christmas Book Shoppe. The giveaway begins December 4 and ends December 7. Open internationally to anyone who can receive a Kindle download via email. Must be 18 or older to participate.

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A Time for Adventure | Blog Tour + Author Interview + Giveaway

I have the pleasure of participating in the tour for my friend Miranda Atchley's new historical novel, A Time for Adventure! In this post, you can read the fun description for this book, join me for an enjoyable chat with the author, enter an ebook giveaway, and find out how to snag a free e-copy of another historical novel by the author. It all starts here...

About the Book

The year is 1921, and after years of dreaming, Abi Hensley has set out to travel through Europe. Along with her friend Meg Clery, Abi travels from the rich historical sites in England to the gorgeous green landscapes of Ireland, visits an abandoned castle in Scotland, and roams through the chic streets of Paris. Along the way, they meet a myriad of interesting people, encounter familiar faces, and see things they’ve only ever dreamed of.

Yet their time in Europe isn’t without its challenges. While in Ireland, Abi joins Meg in spending time at her family’s farm. There, they find that the Clerys are overwhelmed by the demands of their farm. In light of this, the family must make some hard decisions; choices that could change the course of their lives forever.

One thing is for certain: Abi’s tour of Europe will most definitely be a time for adventure.

Pre-order for $.99! (Releases June 26th)

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About the Author

Miranda Atchley loves books of all sorts, but she has always had a special place in her heart for historical fiction. Writing is her favorite thing to do, and she has published four historical novels and three contemporary young adult novels. Her novel A Castle in the Sky was a finalist for Read Free.ly’s The 50 Best Indie Books of 2016. She also writes the blog A Real Writer's Life. When she isn't writing, you can usually find Miranda with her head in a book, taking a walk, or watching Downton Abbey at her home in Arkansas. Read Miranda’s blog and subscribe to her mailing list at: arealwriterslife.blogspot.com

Goodreads | Amazon | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

Author Interview

Amber: Welcome to Seasons of Humility, Miranda, and congratulations on your new release! :) If you could travel to any of the places Abi visits in Europe, where would you most want to go? What would you do while you were there?

Miranda: All the countries Abi visits in Europe (England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Italy, and Switzerland) are on my list of countries I’d like to visit someday. But there is one place in particular that I knew nothing about before I wrote this book that really stands out to me: Bern, Switzerland. It sounds like a really interesting city and the pictures I looked at during the writing process are beautiful. (If you’d like to see some of those photos, you can visit my pin board at: https://www.pinterest.com/mirandaatchley/a-time-for-adventure/) I would love to visit this storybook city and see the medieval architecture and the Swiss Alps during the winter.

Amber: What a lovely board! Bern looks like a great place to visit.

What have you enjoyed most in writing about Abi’s adventures over the years in this four-book series? Has Abi’s journey mirrored your own as a writer or otherwise?

Miranda: There are many things I enjoy about writing Abi’s stories. For one thing, I admire her because she’s a very brave and interesting heroine. She wasn’t afraid to chase after her dreams and do things that weren’t expected of women in the late 1910s/early 1920s. She drove a car, moved across the country on her own, and marched with the suffragettes. Her journey as an author has been different from mine in many ways, mainly because she went the traditional route, whereas I self-publish. Yet I can relate to her because we’ve both struggled with writer’s block, yet we both love writing deeply and have a great appreciation for the written word.

Amber: You’ve written both contemporary and historical novels. What is the hardest part about switching to a historical genre? What is the most rewarding part of the process?

Miranda: The hardest part is definitely the research end of things. There is a lot more fact checking involved in writing historical fiction than I had ever considered before I started writing this series. The most rewarding part is that I get to write in a genre that I love and have enjoyed reading for a long time. There’s just something about historical fiction that I love so much; the style of the writing, reading about the way things were in the past, and, of course, those outfits!

Amber: I totally hear ya! I enjoy reading and writing historical fiction, but the research can be daunting. Speaking of reading... What are your favorite classic novels and why?

Miranda: That’s a tough one! It’s hard to choose, but I think I have it narrowed down to five:

1. Anne of Green Gables–This book will always have a special place in my heart.
2. Jane Eyre–There are so many lines that jump out at me in this book ("I am no bird; no net ensnares me") and I admire Jane greatly. She was a brave and noble heroine. 
3. The Blue Castle–Valancy Stirling is one of the best heroines ever, and no one could spin a line like L.M. Montgomery. 
4. Daddy-Long-Legs–It was one of those books that I couldn’t put down and has really stuck with me. Jean Webster was another author who was full of wit and wisdom! 
5. Sense and Sensibility–I love Pride and Prejudice, but there’s just something about Elinor and Marianne Dashwood’s sister relationship that stands out to me and causes this book to nestle a special place in my heart. 

Amber: Love your choices and explanations! You picked some of my favorites too, like Anne of Green Gables and Daddy-Long-Legs. All such great stories!

How about your series? Will Abi’s journey continue? If so, can you give a hint at what she’ll be facing next?

Miranda: It certainly will! I have begun the fifth, and at this time final, book in The Abi Hensley Series. In this book, Lily House Press will be developing into a full-fledged publishing company as Abi and her business partner, Mr. Sanders, begin accepting manuscripts from potential authors. Also, the family of Abi’s former maid, now secretary and dear friend, Meg Clery, will play a big role in this book. I’m particularly excited for readers to meet Meg’s sister, Fiona. I think you’ll like her. ;)

Amber: Sounds like a grand finale for the series! Thank you so much for visiting today. :) It's been a pleasure to host you!

eBook Giveaway

To celebrate the release of A Time For Adventure, Miranda Atchley will be giving away three Kindle editions of the book! The giveaway is open internationally. Must be 18 or older to participate. Ends at 12:00 a.m. on June 26th.

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Free eBook!

Also in celebration of this release, the Kindle edition of Of Things To Come (The Abi Hensley Series, Book 3) will be free to download June 22-26. Grab your FREE copy HERE!

A Heartfelt Story of Resilience | Review of Amongst the Roses

About the Book

The War Between the States shakes Margaret Bryant out of her comfortable upper-class life when her father enlists in the Army of the Potomac. Despite being safely ensconced above the Mason-Dixon Line in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, Margaret finds her strength tested by opposition from familiar faces and Confederate threats. Will she let a young man from a lesser station into her heart even as war rages ever nearer to the home front?

Restless Connor Doyle sees the war as a way to escape from his family’s farm and his identity as a poor Irishman’s son. His brother, Adam, torn between duty to country and his family, enlists alongside Connor. Adam dares to hope in a future with Margaret when he begins a courtship correspondence from the war front. The two brothers make a vow to protect one another at all costs, but when faced with death and destruction from all sides—will they be able to uphold it?

The three bloodiest days in America’s history bring these three together at Gettysburg, and tragedy’s cruelty threatens to tear two hearts apart—and bring two unlikely allies together.

Available April 12, 2018!

Pre-order on Amazon | Add to Goodreads

My Rating

Spring

My Review

One thing I appreciate the most about Meghan's books (even if it can also be a frustration!) is the authenticity of her characters. They have flaws. They have selfish tendencies and often struggle with their circumstances or the people closest to them. And yet, while it's not always fun to read their thoughts or see how they react, it also makes them human and their stories more tangible.

Amongst the Roses is not a happy-go-lucky story, but it is a heartfelt one. Vivid descriptions highlight dramatic moments and the uncertainties of a war that hit home.

I confess the book felt rather long. While tension grips the story, not every scene seems noticeably unique or memorable. The drawn-out waiting periods and continued emotional trauma definitely feel real and true to the era, but they don't always make for exciting reading... However, like I previously noted, the characters and their bumpy roads to growth are authentic, and perhaps fans of Civil War fiction (more than historical romance) will appreciate this style. :)

Regarding the premise, I will say that I didn't completely understand certain characters' motives. I don't know why so many men in one family decided to focus on the path of one adult son while neglecting the well-being of the wife and other children. But however the characters got to where they are, it leads to an emotionally layered journey.

On the romance side, it's sweet and subtle. A lot of it is indirectly expressed through thoughts and reactions to letters, as well as the growing connection those letters provide. The next installment in the series (as this is the start of a series and not a complete story in itself) seems likely to bring more drama and possibly a different sort of romance.

Amongst the Roses is a story of resilience and the beginning of an epic series of redemption. With flawed yet endearing characters, the pain and suffering of war are explored with honesty, heart, and hope yearning to bloom.

*With thanks to the author for providing me with an e-ARC of the book. I was not required to post a positive review, and these opinions are my own.*

My reviews of other books by Meghan M. Gorecki...
God's Will | Wrapped in Red

New Historical Fiction from Miranda Atchley | Tour + Giveaway

Have you met Miranda Atchley of A Real Writer's Life?  She's a fellow indie author and an awesome friend, and I'm excited to join her in celebrating the release of the third book in her Abi Hensley series, which comes out in a week! Keep reading to learn more about the book and a fun giveaway. And please do leave Miranda a comment! :)

About The Book 

After enduring the first World War, most of the world is hoping to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives and move forward in the year 1919. Yet for Abi Hensley, the happiness she felt upon the end of the war has been short lived. Grief stricken from the passing of a dear friend, she cannot seem to overcome the loss. Amidst her grief, she is also struggling with her writing, something that has always been a comfort to her. In light of these circumstances, she finds herself questioning many things in her life for the first time.

Can Abi get back to all that she loves and look forward to things to come?

Releasing October 27, 2017!

About The Author 

Miranda Atchley loves books of all sorts, but has always had a special place in her heart for historical fiction. Writing is her favorite thing to do, and she has published three historical novels and three contemporary young adult novels. Her novel A Castle in the Sky was a finalist for Read Free.ly’s The 50 Best Indie Books of 2016. She also writes the blog A Real Writer’s Life. When she isn’t writing, you can usually find Miranda with her head in a book, taking a walk, or watching Downton Abbey at her home in Arkansas.

Blog / Goodreads / Amazon / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest 

Giveaway!

Three winners will each receive a Kindle download of the book Of Things To Come. The giveaway begins October 20 and ends October 28. The giveaway is open internationally. Must be 18 or older to enter.

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The Abi Hensley Series 

Catch up on the series by checking out the first two books!

Book 1: A Castle in the Sky

Book 2: All the Future Holds

Blog Tour Dates 

10/20 Amber at Seasons of Humility → You are here! :)
10/21 Julie at My Favorite Pastime
10/22 Grace at She Hearts Fiction
10/23 Amada at ASC Book Reviews

Thank you for checking out the tour!

Will Kennedy Survive This Deadly Obsession? (Indie Author Interview + Giveaway!)

Purchase on Amazon.com: Paperback | Kindle ebook

Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to a blogging friend (Just Your Average Reviews) and fellow indie author, Caitlyn Santi! She recently released a brand-new novella. :) Learn all about it in this fun interview, and enter for a chance to win an ebook copy at the end of the post!

* * *

Amber: Welcome to Seasons of Humility, Caitlyn! Your new release is a young-adult Christian suspense novella titled Deadly Obsession. Could you share a little about the star character, Kennedy? What makes her shine—and what are some of the challenges she faces?

Caitlyn: Thank you so much for having me, Amber! :)

Well, Kennedy is a 17-year-old girl and an FBI agent, and I think she may be the most fascinating and complex character I've written so far. She was a lot of fun to write because she is definitely a teenager personality-wise, but there are also many times when she displays a maturity beyond her years.

Kennedy is very passionate and determined in her mission to do whatever she can to get predators who target teens off the streets. When the book opens Kennedy has just set up a sting operation to catch an online predator, and she appears a bit cocky and overly sure of herself, but we soon discover that because of a tragedy in her past, Kennedy has a large amount of anger simmering beneath the surface. That anger has led her to become an FBI agent and turn her back on God. Kennedy also struggles to balance life as a teenager with that of an FBI agent, and things only get more complicated when someone begins stalking her.

Amber: One of the big themes of this story has to do with the love between siblings. What made you decide to focus on this sort of relationship? What makes such a relationship truly special?

Caitlyn: My brother and I have a bond that I truly treasure, and I've always wanted to write a story about siblings. But honestly, the fact that it became a part of this book was a total God thing because when I started writing this story I had no idea that it would be about siblings until all of a sudden Kennedy's older brother, Wyatt, appeared on the page, and just like that the story changed for the better.

Kennedy and Wyatt are best friends, they are always there for each other, and truly love and respect each other, but of course no sibling relationship would be complete without a lot of back-and-forth banter and good-natured teasing, which was an absolute joy to write. Wyatt is also intensely overprotective of his baby sis and Kennedy tends to be quite independent, so that makes for a super fun dynamic.

I also want to let readers know that this is not a romance, and neither Kennedy nor Wyatt has a love interest. I personally find Wyatt to be a very dashing and swoon-worthy character and I hope to write two romance stories in the future featuring Kennedy's and Wyatt's love stories.

Amber: That's really neat to know you also share a close relationship with your brother, as your heroine does! And I think that's a neat take on a young adult story, to focus on a familial relationship over a romantic relationship.

Now, this isn’t the first story you’ve published. :) Was there something different or unique about the writing and publishing process for Deadly Obsession, as compared to your earlier releases?

Purchase Surrender Falls: Paperback | Kindle ebook

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Caitlyn: I published my previous books just a few months after writing them, so probably the biggest difference is the fact that it took me nearly three years to publish Deadly Obsession after I finished the initial writing process. I was able to glean a lot of insights from the constructive criticism that was mentioned by several readers of my previous stories, so I spent a lot of extra time editing, revising, and rewriting Deadly Obsession, trying to make use of those suggestions. Self-doubt is something I struggle with every day as a writer, and while working on Deadly Obsession the fear of never being "Good Enough" rose to the point that it nearly stopped me from proceeding.

It definitely wasn't easy but I guess eventually it just got to the point where I had to accept that even though I'm always trying to improve, my writing will never be perfect and I had to trust that it was good enough to put out there for people to read. I have to say that even though there were many times where I really started to wonder if this story would ever be ready for publication (and I don't doubt that there are probably still things I have missed that could have been done better or differently), Deadly Obsession is a story that not only strengthened me as a writer but also drew me closer to God. I wouldn't change a thing, except if I had it to do over I would turn my fear over to God way earlier, before it could paralyze me!

Amber: It sounds like you've been learning some really meaningful lessons! What do you enjoy most about being an indie author, and what are some dreams/goals you have as a writer?

Caitlyn: I truly love everything about being an indie author. I love that I have total control of my stories, and that being an indie author has led me to learn skills such as editing, formatting, et cetera, that I probably wouldn't have ever learned otherwise. But, by far my favorite part is getting to share my stories with the world and having the opportunity to support all my fellow indie authors!

I know it sounds cliche but I really just want to keep writing stories that honor God. If just one person is brought closer to God through my stories, that makes it all worth it!

As far as dreams go, I would love to someday have the opportunity to write a book with one of my favorite authors, such as Dani Pettrey or Lynette Eason.

Amber: That's great, Caitlyn! Before we end the interview, do you have a fun behind-the-scenes story you can share with us?

Caitlyn: I mentioned earlier that Wyatt's entry into the story was totally God's idea, not mine. Well, God did the same thing when it came to Kennedy's faith story.

In the original draft Kennedy was very strong in her faith and not much could shake her, but I kind of got the feeling that she was just going through the motions, that her faith had never been tested—in other words, she was a bit too perfect and the story was boring! So I began trying to come up with some way to really send her on a faith journey, but all my efforts amounted to nothing...until one night I was on my way home not even thinking about the story and the name Brooklyn popped into my mind followed by the knowledge that she was Kennedy's sister who had passed away tragically prior to the start of the story. From that point on everything fell into place, and I feel like the story is now a hundred times stronger than my original version. I truly believe that God gave me this story to write and I am so glad I listened to his nudges of my soul!

And a fun tidbit that I learned while researching this story was that there have supposedly been scientific experiments that have led to the discovery that when certain chemicals (I think boron was one of them) are applied to a fabric such as cotton they can combine to create a bulletproof fabric. This knowledge really came in handy when I put Kennedy in a situation where there was a good chance she could get shot but yet it would be too conspicuous for her to wear a typical Kevlar vest.

Amber: Thanks so much for sharing with us about your writing journey and new novella! It's been a pleasure to have you as a guest. :)

* * *

Friends, Caitlyn has generously offered to give away an ebook copy of Deadly Obsession to one of you! You can enter for a chance to win using the form below. The giveaway is open internationally and ends at midnight on September 13, 2016. The winner can choose their preferred ebook format (PDF, .mobi for Kindle, or .epub).

[Giveaway Has Ended]

What's Your Ideal Deal for Black Friday? (Survey)

When I was told about the opportunity to join with fellow Christian indie authors to create an epic group Black Friday sale, I couldn't resist! And the cool part? You get to help us decide what sorts of deals/offers to share at the end of this month!

Fill out the form below (or at this link) to let us know what would make this Black Friday a book-buyer's Technicolor dream. ;)

P.S. Bloggers, there's a spot on the form where you can sign up to share about all the upcoming deals...and score some free books in the process! (Woot!)