Children’s author Emily Sinclair was supposed to be the next J.K. Rowling…Until her second book flopped and her imagination went on the fritz. So Emily sets out on an epic adventure to find inspiration again. Till a dead car lands her in Covington Falls, Georgia. Soon Emily is taking up her quest, looking for inspiration driving a mobile library van, as a companion to a crotchety old woman and her insomniac dog, and as a very ungraceful baker’s assistant.  Of course, what really sparks her romantic fantasies is a valiant hero, though he yields a paint roller instead of a sword.

Rugged, blue-collar Nate Cooper has spent most of his life avoiding the printed page. These days he doesn’t have much use for fancy words and certainly not for a slightly off-center writer on the lam. Not when his mother is battling cancer, his little brother has morphed into a teenaged ogre, and God seems to have taken a vacation.

On paper, these two would seem the least likely pairing, and a happily ever after nothing but fantasy. But with faith and imagination Emily and Nate are about to write a new chapter that will lead to unexpected love.

Welcome to what’s known as a rolling blog hop…or tag blog hop I suppose. Basically, every Monday an author blogs about his/her writing process answering the same 4 questions. This hop has seen all genres of authors from mystery to paranormal to historical to YA. Today my genre, inspirational romance, is added to the mix. Thanks to Alyssa Maxwell for tagging me. So here goes!

What am I working on?

I am currently working on the 4^th book in my Covington Falls Chronicles series. Covington Falls is a fictional Southern town filled with so many quirky, wonderful characters. The first book MARRY ME (which was also my debut novel) released in October 2013. The second ACTING UP comes out April 22^nd and the third in the series IMAGINE THAT will hit a Kindle (or Nook etc.) near you on July 1^st.

The current work in progress is set at Christmas time. It’s a little strange to still be stuck in holiday mode, but I’m enjoying it. My heroine actually made her first appearance in MARRY ME as a jilted bride. Noelle Robinson finally gets her true romance, with the brother of the man who jilted her, Michael Campbell. Talk about complications. On top of that she has to run her parents’ Christmas store and organize all the town’s holiday festivities after a family health crisis. Of course, there is plenty of chaos and fun. This book is a little different in that Noelle and Michael have known each other all their lives, but are just now discovering a spark. It’s very unsettling for them to suddenly see each other in a new light. Not to mention that Michael is her ex-fiancé’s brother. AWKWARD.

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I write inspirational romance, but I’ve never seen it as typical inspirational. I don’t ever want to make my books sound preachy or overly saccharine. I want anyone to feel comfortable reading my books, even if they’re not religious. Actually, just today I attended a book club meeting after a friend suggested MARRY ME to her group. One of the ladies said she wasn’t sure about reading a Christian book because she isn’t religious but she ended up loving it. I always have plenty of humor, which I think also makes my book stand out. I can’t do 300+ pages of pure angst.

Why do I write what I write?

I blame Seth Graham for that. I didn’t set out to write inspirational romance. I hadn’t read much of it because it seemed like all that was out there were historicals with covers featuring what I called “Little House on the Prairie” girls.  Basically, a young woman in a bonnet staring off into the distance with a placid expression on her face. Now, there’s nothing wrong with those book, but that just wasn’t the kind of book I wanted to write. My heroines were snarky and funny. Then came MARRY ME. It’s about a cynical, wedding-hating heroine (Julia Richardson) who winds up running a wedding planning business. When I was trying to figure out who the love interest would be I hit upon a minister. Seth Graham was born. The minute I found Seth the rest of the story came together. I created an entire fictional town. I had a backstory for my heroine Julia, and I realized I could write a story that also included a faith journey as well as a romantic one. Julia is cynical about everything, including religion. A big arc in MARRY ME is Julia finding faith. That book led to the creation of two more Covington Falls stories.

I write inspirational romance because faith is vital to my life and now I’ve found a way to introduce readers to God in a non-threatening and entertaining way. I think it’s what I was born to write.

How does my writing process work?

I generally have an initial idea for a situation. Then I have to stir it around in my head and try to figure out “the rest of the story” as Paul Harvey used to say. Like with my second book ACTING UP. All I knew about the book was that I would have a famous Hollywood actress (Addison Covington) directing a high school musical. From there I had to figure out everything else. Eventually, I decided to have her leave Hollywood in disgrace after losing her husband and her job. She escapes to Covington Falls where she once lived as a teenager, but once there she is asked to direct the spring musical. The love interest is another local boy, Ethan Thomas. He lived next door to Addison, and now he’s the principal of the high school.

Once I have the basic story in my head I like to just write a couple chapters blind. It helps me get to know the characters. What they sound like, their personality, their quirks, etc. I can’t jump right in to plotting or I will get bogged down in details and lose interest. Only after I’ve written those opening chapters will I go back and start plotting. I will usually make a list of “conflicts” or “things that can go wrong”. Then I make an outline, with each scene and a short description of what happens. I’m not a fanatical plotter. I don’t really have the patience for a long, drawn-out process. If it gets too complicated I will lose my enthusiasm. I also tend not to be slavish to the outline. If something doesn’t seem to be working or I decide a scene might be better later in the story I will move things around.

So there you have it. Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to check out Victoria Pinder who is also blogging to today and next week (March 31) visit Christi Corbett author of Along The Way Home.

Are you ready for more Covington Falls stories?

I hope so...because I sold the next TWO BOOKS in the series to Astraea Press: ACTING UP (Book 2) and IMAGINE THAT (Book 3). Expect Book 2 to be out some time in spring 2014. These books will introduce you to two more amazing couples. You'll also get to follow Julia and Seth's ongoing relationship. 

Book 2

If you read Marry Me you'll remember Ethan Thomas, Seth's friend and basketball buddy, who also lost his wife. In ACTING UP Ethan gets his second chance at love with disgraced Hollywood actress, Addison Covington (yes, she stole the name from the town).

ACTING UP...

Addison Covington is the reigning Ice Queen of television. Until her producer husband falls in love with her on-screen daughter and a well-placed punch on national television casts her as the wicked ex-wife. Fired and disgraced, she escapes to Covington Falls, the idyllic Southern town where she found comfort in a time of turmoil as a teenager.

Life for widower Ethan Thomas is constantly on the brink of chaos. Trying to raise twin sons alone is just one challenge. As a high school principal, he has to deal with hundreds of students, not to mention their interfering parents. Now, he’s short one drama teacher, and if he doesn’t find a replacement to direct the spring musical he'll have a riot on his hands. His childhood neighbor, Addison Covington, could be an answer to prayer. Or one more complication he can’t afford.

Before Addison can say "Casting Call" she's been drafted for the job. Now, she's out to become the star in her own comeback story, despite some off-key caterwauling, a bitter ex-stepson showing up on her doorstep, and the boy-next-door turned sexiest high school principal she's ever met. One thing Addison and Ethan agree on is that there’s no room in their lives for romance. He’s got too much at stake, and she needs to reclaim her former glory in Hollywood. In the end, these two lost souls will choreograph a happy ending with the help of Grace, Love and a Curtain Call.

And here they are...Addison, Ethan and Double Trouble...

Book 3

IMAGINE THAT is definitely a story of opposites attract when simple, blue collar Nate Cooper meets charming Emily Sinclair, a best selling children’s book author on the hunt to revive her dormant imagination.

IMAGINE THAT…

Children’s author Emily Sinclair was supposed to be the next J.K. Rowling…Until her second book flopped and her imagination went on the fritz. Like the storybook heroes of her childhood, Emily sets out on an epic adventure to find inspiration again. Till a dead car lands her in Covington Falls, a small, Southern town with a healing power of its own. Soon Emily is taking up her quest, looking for inspiration driving a mobile library van, as a companion to a crotchety old woman and her narcoleptic dachshund, and as a very ungraceful baker’s assistant.  Of course, what really sparks some romantic fantasies is a valiant hero, though he yields a paint roller instead of a sword.

Rugged, blue-collar Nate Cooper has spent most of his life avoiding the printed page. These days he doesn’t have much use for fancy words and certainly not for a slightly off-center writer on the lam. Not when his mother is battling cancer, his kid brother has morphed into a teenaged ogre, and God seems to have taken a vacation.

On paper, these two would seem the least likely pairing, and a happily ever after nothing but fantasy. But with faith and a little imagination, Emily and Nate are about to write a new chapter that will lead to unexpected love.

Introducing Emily, Nate...