What inspired you to write Christmas Bells?
I wanted to
strip the “excesses” from the holiday, and find out what it would be like if
everything screeched to a halt, and folks had to focus on the bare minimum
instead of the busy-ness. At first, the snowstorm seems like the worst thing
that could possibly happen, but when the main character, Grace, gets past the
shopping, fancy meals, and even the games and “fun,” she realizes what really
matters is simple and pure; relationships with others, and on Jesus’ birth. The
peace of the season reigned.
What else will readers find in Christmas Bells?
I sprinkle in
humor, faith, then mix in some unexpected, as well as poignant, scenes. Oh, and
lots of cooking. Grace is a baker, and she’s always making muffins.
While we’re on
that popular subject, between my books and my website, I share many yummy
recipes and links to other writers whose cooking I admire. One of my favorite
recent discoveries is Moonshine Butterscotch Pecan Pie, from Joanne Bischof,
who writes the Cadence of Grace series set in Appalachia.
(If you’re opposed to the “likker,” you can leave that out.)
Is there a real Cherryvale?
Only in my head!
Seriously, I believe there is a little of “the ‘Vale” in all of us. Cherryvale
is a little gentler, a little kinder, and perhaps a bit more quirky than our
own community. It’s a place where humans are real, but the problems are real. I
believe in telling stories that readers can relate to, enjoy a laugh or two,
and walk with someone through a personal journey of discovery. Each book has a
theme. In Christmas Bells, putting
others’ interests over one’s own comfort is the underlying theme.
I get emails
from readers who say they linger in Cherryvale and never want to leave. That
encourages me to keep writing more stories about the little town.
This is just one of the books in the
Seasons of Cherryvale, what are the others? Do they need to be read in order?
The books can be
read in any order without confusion. Fresh
Start Summer was the first one I wrote. When a movie unit arrives in
Cherryvale, the townies argue over whether or not it’s a good idea to allow
their “evil” Hollywood influence. That one’s
about how prejudice can swing both ways.
In Grace & Maggie Across the Pond, the
main characters travel to England
where they end up helping out a friend who needs an extreme makeover for
herself, and her entire outlook on life changes. The theme in that one is
starting over despite hardship.
In Autumn Changes, we return to Cherryvale
for some chaos surrounding the Autumn Festival, and Hearts Unlocked is a sweet Thanksgiving romance novella.
Cherryvale has an interesting feature you
call The CherryPath. How did you come up with the idea for The Path?
I wondered what
it would like to live in an old fashioned community where people actually knew
their neighbors. The CherryPath is an artery that loops through town, stitching
lives together. Where people wave to each other from squeaky porch swings
through swarms of fireflies while sipping large quantities of tangy-sweet
lemonade. Well, you get the picture; Norman Rockwell meets modern suburbia.
When I added the
challenge of living with humans “stitched together”, a colorful quilt of
characters, the roller coaster rides began! I recently had an illustrator paint
an aerial view of Cherryvale, and you can see The Path winding around the
locations described in the books. It’s been lots of fun sharing that on my
website.
Any parting words?
Bev: Thanks for having me, and I hope you and your readers
have a blessed, and very Merry Christmas. I’d love to connect with everyone on
my website, blog, and other social spots, and while you’re there, check out what Grace is cooking up next!
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