Welcome, Carol! I’ve been happily reading all of the Deerbourne Inn series and I am currently halfway through Ciara’s Homecoming Christmas.
What inspired this (specific) story?
When I raised my hand and offered to write for the Deerbourne Inn series, I was in the middle of finishing my third Lobster Cove story, which was part of another Wild Rose Press series by several authors. I enjoyed the camaraderie of working with several authors for that series and wanted to experience that again. It was around Christmas time, and I love to write Christmas themed stories—my favorite time of year, so that’s what I focused on. Seeing that Willow Springs had an assisted living facility, and I had just come off of a holiday book signing at a local event where one of my elderly friends came to the big Christmas Craft event just to play the piano (as she does at many events, church socials, etc, free of charge), I was inspired to use her as one of my characters living in the New Haven Assisted living facility. I told her of my intentions and she loved the idea.
I also had a great-aunt who was my role model, but not to become a military nurse, like Ciara. Although I didn’t have a close relationship with my great-aunt on a daily basis, we did have frequent visits while I was growing up, and I was always in awe of how a single woman, regardless of her ups and down, immigration status and daily strife, back in the day, worked hard, lived life fully, healthy, and helped others, even in her elderly years (delivering meals-on-wheels while in her eighties). So it wasn’t hard to combine these two real-life characters to create Ciara’s role model, and another key matchmaker character—Great Aunt Noelle.
Plus the fact that my hero just happened to have 4-year old twin girls that loved to play ‘family’, which was inspired by my 4-year old great-granddaughter, my love of family, and everything Christmas. Poor Ciara didn’t have a chance with all these matchmakers.
Will matchmaking elves help reunite sweethearts?
Coming home for Christmas is bittersweet for Ciara Miller. At a crossroads in her military career, she returns to Willow Springs, Vermont, to find her parents have moved to Florida, her great aunt resides at New Eden Assisted Living, and her high school sweetheart married with adorable twin daughters.
Eight years ago Tad Brownley, a lowly mechanic at his father’s garage, with nothing to offer the love of his life, let her go to chase her dream to serve as a military nurse. But Ciara is back in town on leave. Now, a widower raising his daughters, and owner of the garage, Tad still doesn’t have much to offer, or have time for a relationship no matter how fleeting.
Despite Tad’s mother and Ciara’s great aunt’s matchmaking efforts, can their renewed romance sustain a long-term relationship? Or will Ciara’s call to duty split them apart again?
Find Ciara’s Homecoming Christmas: Amazon, GooglePlay, Indigo.CA, Indiebound, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble
When did your writing journey begin? What drew you to writing?
I’m goal oriented, so, it’s not surprising, or maybe it is, that my love of writing led me to become a writer for several local papers. I started out writing human interest features, then history pieces for my home town, interviewing, photographing, and eventually taking writing classes, attending conferences, and joining/starting writing groups to learn the trade. As an international traveler, I turned to writing international travel features for major publications and national magazines. Having been an avid reader from an early age, I decided to pen my own novels, using many of the adventures I experience in my life and travels. With a romantic suspense adventure series (Indiana Jones meets Romancing the Stone); contemporary romances, and a #1 Best Selling Amazon Holiday Romance, I’m proud to say that I actually have a few fans that keep hounding me for that next novel.
My advice for any writer is: ‘don’t give up,’ and make it your own.
Now for an excerpt…
“How long is your leave before you’re off on your next assignment?” Tad asked.
“Actually, I have until the day after Christmas. I wanted to spend time with her and decided to use my entire leave here. Willow Springs is one of my favorite places. Some of my greatest memories of growing up are here. Especially, Christmas.”
“Yes, I remember some of those Christmases—fondly. We made some lasting memories together, you and me.”
“Let’s not go there, Tad.”
“Sorry. You might not need to have closure over our disagreement eight years ago, but I do. It wasn’t easy watching you walk away.” He stopped and placed his hand on her shoulder drawing her close to him. She looked up, her cheeks a deep rose from the cold, her startled expression ripped at his heart strings.
“It didn’t have to be a goodbye, and you know it. You were the one who wasn’t willing to become a military husband.”
Her accusing tone hurt. He removed his hand, hung his head, then changed his tone, hoping she would be more understanding.
“It wasn’t that. I had no problem with you joining the military. In fact, I was thinking of enlisting, as well. But my father wasn’t well, and he was about to lose the garage—and his life. Cancer affects more than the person who is suffering from this horrible disease. I had to be strong for the family—pick up the pieces. Letting you walk away was the hardest thing I ever had to do.”
