FEATURED AUTHOR: JUNE MCCRARY JACOBS

ABOUT THE BOOK

Tragedy brings heartache to the community of Apple Blossom when a car takes the life of Mary Noel Simmons's best friend—her dog. The loss nearly destroys Mary Noel's spirit. As the injured six year old lies in the hospital, traumatized and silent, the medical bills are piling up quickly with no way for her parents to pay them.
 
Filled with kindness and romance, this story of hope and faith will warm your heart.

INTERVIEW WITH JUNE MCCRARY JACOBS

June, is your book based on real events?
Without spoiling the plot of A Holiday Miracle in Apple Blossom, the Christmas Eve church scenes come directly from my special memories of the candlelight service at my childhood church. Also, the trauma sustained by little Mary Noel really happened on my street to a younger sister of my playmate when she was around four years old (I was around eight). The main character of the book, Amber Kellen, is a brand new first grade teacher, and some of her classroom experiences are the same as mine when I was starting out as a first grade teacher.

What’s your favorite memory?
My wedding day.



What’s the most valuable thing you’ve learned?
Not to have regrets in life. Do the best you can, and then let it go. You can't fix everything that's wrong with world, but you can make a positive contribution in your small corner of the world whenever possible.

What makes you nervous?
Being in congested traffic where other people are cutting me off, making dangerous lane mergers, and/or following my car too closely, etc. All of that stress is compounded if I see someone talking or texting on their cell phone when they are supposed to be driving. Yikes!


What makes you happy?
Spending time visiting historic homes, museums, gardens, and parks. Viewing other creative people's quilts, sewing projects, and art at galleries, quilt shows, and the California State Fair. Working with my quilting group to make 'comfort quilts' for individuals who are ill, traumatized, or grieving. A good writing session where the words and dialog really flow. Reading a really touching book where I can relate to the characters and/or their situation.

Do you have another job outside of writing?
I was blessed to have a twenty-year career as a primary teacher. I wanted to be a teacher from the time I was about four years old. Contributing to the lives of children in a positive way was a very satisfying and worthwhile career for me. I still enjoy reading children's books from picture books to middle grade fiction.

What brings you sheer delight?
Walking in a botanical garden, park, forest or near the ocean with my best friend.

What’s one of your favorite quotes?
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart."  -Helen Keller
 
With what five real people would you most like to be stuck in a bookstore?
Author Debbie Macomber, Author Lisa Scottoline, Author Lauren Wolk, Author Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Quilt Designer and Author Blair Stocker. They all represent different genres, and I feel they would open new doors of great literature and non-fiction books to me.

Who are your favorite authors?
How much space do you have? I have so many genres I love to read. I have been a voracious reader since I was a young child, so I have a lot of favorite authors. Here's a short list:  Lisa Scottoline, Debbie Macomber, Lauren Wolk, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Louisa May Alcott, Amy Tan, John Grisham, Beatrix Potter, Sue Grafton, Shelley Sheppard Gray, Jan Brett, Ree Drummond (cookbooks), Emma Hardy, Blair Stocker, Jennifer Beckstrand, Dr. Suess (for the rhyme and artwork), and oh, so many more.


Do you have any reading quirks?
I'm not sure it's a pet peeve, but I like to end my reading sessions at the end of a chapter. Oh, and I always read the Acknowledgments page and author bio at the end of the book before I start reading the text.

Do you have a routine for writing?
I find I am at my most creative in the mornings. I get out my story map, research notes, and character descriptions (all written on paper) and lay them on the table next to me. Nearby I have my dictionary, thesaurus, and Bible for quick reference. I open my Word doc and scroll down to where I stopped the previous writing session, pause to gather my thoughts, and begin typing new material. Sometimes my goal for the day is to edit what I wrote in my previous session.

What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received about your writing?
I think a reader enjoying the story is the best compliment I could receive about my work.

Several of my friends and many reviewers told me they loved how the Apple Blossom community came together to help a family in need. They said the story (and the book's cover art) reminded them of a Hallmark movie.  Having watched some of those movies myself, I was honored to have my novella compared to Hallmark's high standards for their screenplays.

Another author posted that she loved the story because it made her think of others at a time of year when most people are focused on their own Christmas 'to do' lists, buying gifts and creating the perfect holiday experience for their families. Anytime someone contacts me on by email or on my Author's Facebook page to tell me how much they enjoyed the book or how it touched them deeply, I feel grateful that I had the opportunity to share the story with readers.

How did you find your publisher and how long did your query process take?
A Holiday Miracle in Apple Blossom was published by Cedar Fort Inc. as the result of my winning their 2013 Holiday Tale Contest. I found the Call for Submissions for the contest online in November, 2012. The submission was due in the third week of January, 2013. When I read about the contest, I immediately thought, 'I can do this!'  I had already thought of the main characters and the basic premise of the plot because I have an overly active imagination and I am fortunate to be a creative thinker. I was ecstatic when I found out in February, 2013, that I was the winner. One of the prizes was the publication of this hardcover gift book.

What are you working on now?
I am working on finishing and polishing Book Two in my Bonita Creek Trilogy. It is the continuation of Robin's Reward, and is the story of Robin's cousin, Penny Ralston, and her search for love and happiness amidst many challenges in her life—past and present. This contemporary inspirational romance series is set in the majestic coastal mountains of the Northern Coast of California in a small, tight-knit community I named Bonita Creek.

Read an excerpt from A Holiday Miracle in Apple Blossom.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning author, June McCrary Jacobs, was the winner of Cedar Fort Publishing’s 2013 Holiday Tale Contest for her debut novella, A Holiday Miracle in Apple Blossom.

Robin’s Reward, released in April, 2015, was her first full-length novel. This inspirational contemporary romance is the first installment of the ‘Bonita Creek Trilogy’. The series is set in June's favorite location in California—the Mendocino coastal region.

June’s original sewing, quilting, and stitchery designs have been published in over one hundred books, magazines, and sewing industry blogs in the past few years. She wrote a recurring column for a sewing magazine published in Great Britain and contributed several other articles to sewing and craft magazines published in the United States.

When she’s not writing, reading, or sewing, June enjoys cooking, walking, photography, and visiting art and history museums, parks, and botanical gardens. She also enjoys touring historic homes (especially when they're decorated for Christmas!) and strolling around the many historic Gold Rush towns in the Sierra Nevada foothills. In the summertime you can find June at a variety of county fairs and the California State Fair admiring the sewing projects, quilts, and handiwork other inspired seamstresses, quilters, craftspeople, and artists have created.

Connect with June:
Facebook  |  Goodreads 
           
Buy the book:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Books & Things 
**Note: The ebook for A Holiday Miracle in Apple Blossom is on sale for half-price at $2.99 on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Books & Things through December 20th, 2017.

Goodreads Giveaway!

Cedar Fort Inc. will be giving away ten hardcover gift book copies of A Holiday Miracle in Apple Blossom on Goodreads. The contest runs through December 1st, 2017, and is open to US residents only.

Featured Author: Caitriona Leslie

I'm excited to have Irish author Caitriona Leslie here today to talk about her contemporary romance novel, Alice-Rose.

About the book:

The year is 2011 and the place is Ireland. Libby Finn is still shadowed by grief after the death of her husband Max. The era of the ‘Celtic Tiger’ has come to an end and the young widow has managed to survive the economic downturn better than most. However, despite seeming to possess every obvious advantage, Libby is resigned to a somewhat-less-than-rosy future, and one destined, in her opinion, to be without a great romantic love.

While many, including her best friend Jules Mahon, may think that they know what’s best for the gorgeous and talented Libby, the girl herself has other plans, and they don’t include a love story!  These plans are for a place, a childhood dream, a country estate called Alice-Rose. Nevertheless, love has a way of finding those destined to have it, especially in a place where two evenly-matched hearts find the opportunity to know each other well. Libby’s dream estate becomes more than she has bargained for when it introduces her to a passionate love interest who himself has been ‘burnt by the fire of love,’ and a match played out with earthly concerns follows a difficult path to romantic paradise. 

Interview with Caitriona Leslie

Caitriona, Alice-Rose is your first book. How long have you been writing and when did you start?
I initially thought (absentmindedly) about the possibility of writing women’s fiction about ten years ago – I love a good old-fashioned love story, but there has to be more to the story than a gallop to the end. I want to enjoy the journey along the way, and I want a book where every sentence is worth reading.

I eventually started writing about five years ago with little success, I found the demands of three young children incompatible with the task - I could never get a good run at it! When our youngest child started school in September 2010, I was then able to apply myself. I discovered that the more I wrote, the more I enjoyed it – escapism is a wonderful practise! It became less a case of “I should really sit down and try to write something” and much more a case of having to pry myself away from the laptop to make a meal before the children arrived home from school.

It's irritating how they always want to be fed, isn't it? Just kidding, of course. How did you come up with the title Alice-Rose?
I called the house and farm estate in the book ‘Alice-Rose’ – inspired by a quaint village in Ireland called Rosenallis.  The house is so central to the plot of the book that I felt I had no choice but to call it by the same name. I also liked the idea that people would presume that Alice-Rose was the name of the main character. In hindsight, I might have been trying to be too clever.

Do you have another job outside writing?
I do. I’m a medical scientist (laboratory technician), and I work two days a week in Dublin in the field of solid-organ transplantation. My colleagues and I work towards getting patients who are on the waiting list for any type of solid organ (i.e. kidney, pancreas, heart, lung or liver), transplanted.

Wow. From that, I hate to go to this inane question, but here goes: How would you describe your book in an elevator pitch?
It’s a heart-warming Irish tale that celebrates family, friendship and ultimately romantic love. The characters draw the reader into their world. ‘Alice-Rose’ delivers ‘feel-good’, includes a twist in the tale, has wide appeal, and ties up every loose end!

How did you create the plot for this book?
I followed the advice that you should write about what you know. I love old houses, cooking, gardening and DIY. I admire strong women, fair-minded men and people who make things happen. I value family, friendship and think that true love should be an attainable prize for all who seek it. Lastly, I’m Irish and I think this book has an essential ‘Irish-ness’ to it!

Do you outline, write by the seat of your pants or let your characters tell you what to write?
All of the above. Firstly, I play around with the plot in my head. It doesn’t have to be set in stone, but it must give me options in terms of developing the central story and drawing in some parallel story lines in order to add some interest to the tale. Secondly, I develop a very clear image of the central characters in my head. I have to know them intimately, know exactly how they think, before I begin. Then I write by the seat of my pants, even allowing the characters to dictate the story’s development on occasion.

Did you have any say in your cover art? 
Yes, I had total control of my cover art. I am happy enough with the result. However, in hindsight, I think it is a little too dark and quite difficult to pick out of a row of novels. Also, I now think that it suggests an old-world story instead of the contemporary romance that ‘Alice-Rose’ actually is. I’m learning as I go.

What books have you read more than once and want to read again?
Silas Marner by George Eliot.

What would your main character say about you?
I hope that Libby Finn would say that she really liked the way I ‘drew’ her and that she was proud of every aspect of her character.

Are any of your characters inspired by real people? 
Yes. Emily O’Rourke was directly inspired by my husband’s aunt, Aunt Olive. Olive is a wonderful person–warm and engaging. There are many scenes that were inspired by true life events also. For example, Libby’s run-in with her late grandaunt, a woman who ultimately does right by Libby, was inspired by an event in my own childhood…

Are you like any of your characters?
There are elements of my personality in all my characters...even the less likeable ones!

I like writing characters who do and say things I never would, as well as characters who do and say things I wish I could.  Do you have characters who fit into one of those categories?  Who, and in what category do they fall?
I’m afraid I have a terrible tendency to say exactly what I think, so I don’t really need to express myself through my characters. However, it’s wonderful to live out certain fantasies through them. For example, Libby Finn is independently wealthy and her wealth affords her wonderful options in terms of her choice of career and how she lives.

If you could be one of your characters, which one would you choose?
Libby Finn, definitely! Her mother, Sarah, comes in a close second. However, I’m probably most like Nora, Felicity Mahon’s housekeeper – frugal!  I spend money on the children, house and garden before I think of spending any on myself.

With which one of your characters would you most like to be stuck in a bookstore?
Felicity Mahon, as long as there was an endless supply of bourbon! I would supply the bourbon to Felicity, and she would supply the anecdotes!

With what five real people would you most like to be stuck in a bookstore?
My husband, our three children and the family cat … a person in her own right!

Tell us about your favourite scene in the book.
My favourite scene in the book is in Chapter 40, entitled ‘A Long Night at the Opera’.  Libby Finn (the main character) has gone on a date to the opera with a suitor when she bumps into another character and his mother. I actually can’t say too much as it would ruin the story for those who haven’t read it, but suffice it to say that Libby has a moment of realisation. I think her inner turmoil is vividly relayed with a “dry wit” that peppers the narrative throughout.

What song would you pick to go with your book?
I don’t even have to think about this question, I already know the answer!
"Beneath you’re Beautiful" - a song by British singers Labrinth and Emeli Sandé.

Who are your favourite authors?
Stephen King probably tops the list - I couldn’t get enough of his earlier writing!
Cormac McCarthy, Barbara Kingsolver, Alice Sebold, to name but a few.

You get to decide who would read your audiobook.  Who would you choose?
The book is told from two prospectives - that of Libby Finn and that of her would-be suitor, Dan Bryant. The story is set in Ireland so it would have to be Reese Witherspoon (with an Irish accent, of course!) and Pierce Brosnan as Dan, the older man…

Which author would you most like to invite to dinner and what would you fix me? I mean, him. Or her. In the event that you couldn’t make it Amy, I would invite David Walliams (children’s author). I know we (the entire family) would have a wonderful time - he always strikes me as being genuinely warm and very witty! I would cook Irish stew with mashed potatoes for the main course, followed by rhubarb crumble, custard and whipped cream - comfort food at its best!

Oh man, I'm sorry I can't make it! Where’s home for you?
I live, love, and write in rural County Longford, Ireland.

Name one thing you couldn’t live without.
My family - boring and predictable, but true! I am not attached to material things. I am somewhat of a technophobe and am a very low-maintenance woman.

If you could only keep one book, what would it be?
The Royal Horticultural Society’s Encyclopaedia of Gardening.

Would you rather work in a library or a bookstore?
Bookstore with teashop attached!

You’re given the day off, and you can do anything but write. What would you do?
Take a daytrip to Rockland, Maine.

Where would your dream office be?
Rockland, Maine!

Mine too! What’s one of your favorite quotes?
“A little help is worth a lot of pity.” (Heard from my late father-in-law, as well as many, many others! Some of which feature in Alice-Rose.)

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Hang out with my family.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Longford, Ireland (home)…but with better weather!

If you could take a trip anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Sutton, Massachusetts, to visit my eighty-six-year-old aunt.

What are you working on now?
My second novel - the story runs a few years behind, but in parallel to that of ‘Alice-Rose’. The main character is called Hildegarde Mahon (German mother, Irish father), and she is a young vet who joins the veterinary practice featured in my first novel.

Hildegarde is a wonderful character!  She is logical, musical, calm, capable and kind, and not necessarily in that order. She meets Oliver Herdsman, a young widower and father to two young boys, and she is motivated to help them…

It sounds great! Come back when it's finished and tell us about it!

About the author:

Caitriona Leslie grew up in County Westmeath, Ireland. She has a Master’s Degree in Biomedical Sciences and works part-time in the field of Solid Organ Transplantation. She lives on a farm in County Longford with her husband and their three children. Alice-Rose is her first novel.



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