I’m not sure who kicked off the tradition of celebrating Christmas in July—was it the Hallmark Channel, rolling out heartwarming holiday movies to break up the summer scorch? Or was it authors like me, bringing out our festive book promotions to sprinkle a little snow on the season? Either way, I’m all in. Even if I’m sipping iced tea instead of hot cocoa and swapping fuzzy socks for flip-flops, there’s something irresistibly cozy about diving into stories filled with twinkling lights, sweet romance, and the magic of Christmas—no matter the month.
Drum roll, please!This month I’m celebrating two new Christmas themed book launches. The first is a sweet romance entitled, Falling In Love Despite Christmas Miscalculations. Here are some details… Natalie Baynton Is a working class American trying to climb up the ladder of success as a fashion buyer.
Alexander Davies-White is a British aristocrat and soon to be CFO of the high fashion resort town store where she's employed. Only Natalie doesn't know that. She thinks he's just a personal shopper. When they meet, there’s an instant attraction. But Alexander chooses to keep his identity a secret.
If you love sweet romance with secret identities, workplace sparks, and a heart-melting friends-to-lovers twist—let this enchanting love story sweep you away.
My second book launch is for a children's picture book. It's called The Innkeeper Son: Witness to a Miracle. Is told through the eyes of a young boy who thinks nothing ever happens in Bethlehem. But on that one special night, his life will be changed and will affect him for the rest of his life.
You’ve now
written multiple books, but what inspired you to write that first novel?
Sometimes we
have a dream we keep on the shelf, a “someday I’ll….”. I’ve always loved writing, taken classes, and belonged
to writing groups. One day, at a writing retreat I wrote a piece and I said, “This is it. This
wants to become a book.” It was a memoir piece about a family Christmas
tradition. I realized if I kept waiting for someday, it would never happen. And
I dove in. That piece became Christmas Cake Day. What is the
hardest part of writing for you? Starting? Creating a scene? Dialog? Tension,
etc.? Getting
through the middle of the story. I tend to be more of a pantser than a plotter
even though I know where the story is heading. I let the characters come alive
and help direct the writing.
What’s the
best encouragement you’ve had in your writing? When I get
feedback that someone enjoys or has found meaning in one of my stories, it’s
quite gratifying.
Marketing is
the biggest key to getting sales. What is the best marketing source you've used
that has produced more sales rather than just clicks? I find promo
sites like The Fussy Librarian to be useful. And Facebook ads have helped.
What do you
know now about writing you wished you had known sooner? Support found
through other writers, courses, coaching, and more is essential. We don’t do
this in a vacuum. And get ready to juggle, because there are a lot of moving
parts to this endeavor. What is the
best writing advice you’ve received or could give? There is a
lot of help out there for people who want to hone their writing craft and
become an author. Online classes, books, audiobooks, coaching. Keep learning.
Keep writing. Keep reading. You can do it. Just write. As they say, you can’t
revise a blank page. Get words down and clean it up later.
Are there any
other points about writing you would like to add? If you have
an idea for the story and really know the characters, the book will practically
write itself. But getting to know the characters is huge. I use the Enneagram
to help me craft characters. It’s a deep dive into psychology, archetypes,
wounds, motivations and goals.
What is the
next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis? Welcome to
Pine Crossing is the title of the next book, planned for an August release.
It’s a romance with suspense. Sarah’s husband is in jail and she’s dealing with
the fallout from his financial crimes. She takes her young daughter, leaves her
privileged life, and moves across the country to a small town to help run her
mother’s business. Despite obstacles, she discovers inner resources and a
possibility for a better life with a good man. This fade-to-black romance
introduces the world of Pine Crossing and opens a month before the first book
in the Pine Crossing Cowboys series. I plan three series set in the world of
Pine Crossing.
Are there any additional notes you'd like to add? I believe there’s a creative impulse inside
all of us that wants, that needs, to be expressed. Find your thing, sharpen
your skills, and you’ll be amazed at what you can do.
That's all for today's interview. Hope it encouraged you to learn more about Juliet's writing. And here's a quick way to do it. Sign up for her newsletter and get a free -eBook. Here's the newsletter
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This month I’m celebrating two new Christmas themed book launches. The first is a sweet romance entitled, Falling In Love Despite Christmas Miscalculations. Here are some details… Natalie Baynton Is a working class American trying to climb up the ladder of success as a fashion buyer.
