Celebrating Christmas Books Featuring Jill Kemerer

Today's featured author is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author of heartwarming, emotional, small-town romance novels often featuring cowboys. She is a multi-published author of Christian romance novels with Harlequin Love Inspired with over half a million of her books have sold worldwide. Now, let's get some more details about her books.

How did you come up with the idea for your Christmas book? 
I was taking a walk one day and the Bible story about the prodigal son popped into my head. I started wondering what this story would look like in today’s world. Before long, I had a hero who was orphaned at a critical time in his life and who then lost his inheritance through unhappy circumstances.

Once I had Sawyer figured out, I turned to the heroine. I realized Tess was a single mom taking care of her terminally ill father, and she’s struggling when the story opens. These two hurt people are forced to overcome their trust issues, and what better time to do that than at Christmas?

Sounds like a good basis for a storyline. Could you give a short synopsis on the book for my readers?
Here is the back blurb of The Prodigal’s Holiday Hope.

When Sawyer Roth is hired to work on his childhood ranch, he knows he has a damaged reputation to repair. Tess Malone, the new ranch owner’s daughter, is the hardest to win over. But as Christmas approaches, Tess and her toddler son find a way into Sawyer’s heart. He lost everything the last time he put his trust in love. Can he risk it all again?

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?
I love going to church on Christmas Eve with my husband and kids. After the service, we go home and have special snacks while we play games. Sometimes, we attempt a family photo, too! Later in the week, we’ll celebrate Christmas with both extended families. It’s always great to see everyone.

What’s next in books for you?
Book two in the Wyoming Ranchers series, A Cowboy to Rely On, releases on December 28, 2021. I’m excited about this series! The second book follows Jet Mayer as he’s confronted with some shocking secrets his youngest brother hid from him before he died.

What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given you’d like to share?
Always address the emotional side of the story. An exciting plot can fall flat if there isn’t any emotion behind it. It’s not enough for a house to burn down. We need to convey how the house burning down affects the characters.

What do you know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner?
Everything? Haha! No, seriously, I think the mental game can be really tough. It’s difficult to wait to hear from agents and editors. Rejections are always depressing. Or if you decide to self-publish, it’s hard to get your book to stand out and get sales. I doubt myself often, and I struggle with envy at times. But I’m doing what I love, and I am thankful every day for the blessing of this career.

Any last words or tips?
Yes, I want to encourage all the aspiring writers out there. Your journey might be easy or it might be excruciating, but it’s worth the effort. Write your stories! If you don’t, who will?

Are there any other books that you’d like to tell my readers about?
If you’re interested in my backlist, please go to my website. I write a Christmas story every year, so there are several Christmas romance novels in my backlist. 

Thanks for that info. I love reading Christmas stories and I know I'm not alone. So, if you'd like to learn more about Jill's books, here are some links to get you started

Website: https://jillkemerer.com/books/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jill.kemerer

Amazon: https://jillkemerer.com/books/