Happy Saturday, Friends:)
This has been a semi-productive week. I'm starting to feel better and finally able to do a few things. On the plus side, I've done some reading this week and that's always enjoyable. :)
In the past couple of weeks, I've had several very nice people write me to tell me that they've just read my first Christmas story, Got Mistletoe?, and how much they've fallen in love with the characters Ryan and Blake. This will be the third Christmas that Got Mistletoe? has been released and it really warms my heart that readers still love that story enough to take the time to write me and tell me that.
One of the questions that I've been asked about it is if there will be another story continuing Ryan and Blake's story. To be honest, when I finished the it several years ago I had intentions of writing more about this couple, but I just haven't gotten around to it yet. I've decided as soon as I finish edits on my January release, No Greater Love, and completing on my current WIP, I will start the sequel to it. I'm actually pretty excited about revisiting these characters and seeing where they take me this time.
Here are a few facts about Got Mistletoe?:
I started writing Got Mistletoe on September 11, 2009 and
submitted it September 15, 2009. To this day, it's the fastest book I've wrote, next to The
Sweet One, which I also started and finished in five days.
I received the acceptance letter and contract from
Dreamspinner Press on September 18, 2009.
To this day, one of my favorite characters that I've created
is Ryan Jolly. His sweet disposition and
zest for life was something I thought was different about some of the heroes
that are portrayed today. At the time, I
had an Internet friend that was always upbeat and happy and he made everyone
that was around him feel happy too.
Although I have never met him, I've pictured him being the type of
person that was not only cute and adorable on the outside, but on the inside as
well. So it's because of him that Ryan was born and Got Mistletoe? was
written. To this day, I still believe
that Ryan’s sweetness and zest for life made him very suitable for a Christmas
story.
When I started Got Mistletoe? I was constantly in contact
with my mother and sister. I don't know how many times I practically blew up
the phone lines calling them to see what their thoughts were about what I had
just finished writing. If it wasn't for them, I don't think I would have had
the courage to finish and submit it. So in many ways, I owe my writing career
to both of them and I will always be extremely grateful that I had their
support and encouragement during the entire process.
I want to thank all of my readers and wish them a very happy
weekend and week ahead.
For those who might not have read it...here is the blurb and
excerpt of Got Mistletoe?:
Blurb:
Blake Roberts just wants to buy some wrapping paper and go
home. That changes when he's surprised by a super center employee keeping the
Christmas spirit alive by singing and doing some impromptu dance moves. Ryan
Jolly is bouncy and a little flamboyant... and Blake is immediately smitten
with him. Despite being total opposites, Blake's heart is captured by Ryan’s
bubbly personality and sweet smile, and when attraction flares between them,
Blake starts to hope his new Christmas wish--to spend more than the holiday
with Ryan--might come true.
Excerpt:
“OHHH… the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is
sooooo delightful, and since we’ve no place to go… let it snow, let it snow,
let it snooooow….” Ryan sang as he grabbed the last of the small boxes of
twinkling lights and started stacking them neatly on the shelf.
“Ryan! Spare me, please!”
Ryan laughed as he slowly spun around to face his best
friend, carrying yet another huge box of lights to be stocked on the already
overcrowded shelves.
Angela was always a sight for sore eyes, even if she was
being grouchy. Her long brown hair was put up haphazardly with a sparkling red
clip. Her sweet, round face always had a rosy flush to her cheeks, and her dark
eyes glittered with mischief.
Ryan took the box from her arms, set it down, and grinned at
her as she put her hands on her ample hips. “Angel babe, you know you love my
singing,” he said as he puckered his lips and made kissing noises at her. She
laughed and shook her finger at him.
"Honey, just because you like Dean Martin doesn’t mean you
can sing like him! Besides, I’ve never seen Dean Martin wear reindeer antlers
while he crooned “Let it Snow” on any of his Christmas specials he used to have
every year.” Angela reached up and flicked one of the antlers on top of his
head, causing the bells to start jingling.
“And, he’s the lesser man for it,” Ryan teased as he wrapped
Angela up in his arms and dipped her backwards, causing her to laugh, just like
he intended for her to do.
He heard someone behind him clear their throat.
“Excuse me, I hate to interrupt the newest solid gold dance
moves, but could you tell me where the wrapping paper is?”
The smooth and slightly tense masculine voice washed over
Ryan from behind. Angela immediately disassembled herself from Ryan’s arms and
stood there looking over Ryan’s shoulder with a slightly embarrassed smile on
her sweet face.
Ryan slowly turned around, and had to stop himself from
gasping with pleasure.
Standing a couple of feet from him was the most beautiful
man Ryan had ever seen. At five foot seven inches, Ryan was used to men
towering over him, but not like this man. Tall, dark and handsome definitely
fit the bill for describing the stunningly beautiful man before him. Beneath a
wealth of gorgeous black hair shone the bluest eyes Ryan had ever laid eyes on.
They seemed to twinkle from within. His smooth olive skin, tousled hair and
five o’clock shadow gave him that sexy, just-got-out-of-bed look that Ryan
always found so adorable. He was dressed casually in a worn brown leather
bomber jacket, red T-shirt and jeans that were so old and tight, they hugged
his muscular thighs and encased a prominent bulge at his crotch that made Ryan
want to fall to his knees and worship the ground he walked on. He was gorgeous,
and Ryan knew he was totally and utterly in love.
The man’s full lips formed a half-smile and he cocked his
head to the side as he looked expectantly at Ryan, as if waiting for something.
Ryan felt himself cringe as he felt the unwanted heat of a
flush come over his face and body. Damn! Being a natural redhead definitely had
its drawbacks. Ryan knew his face was probably as red as Rudolph’s red nose,
which caused him to blush even more.
The man’s crooked smile turned into a full one, causing his
blue eyes to light up and small wrinkles to appear beside each, proving that
this gorgeous hunk of a man smiled often. Between his brilliant white smile and
ocean blue eyes, Ryan found himself immediately captivated with him.
“Can we help you?” Angela asked, apparently not having any
trouble finding her own voice.
The man looked slowly from Ryan to Angela, and his smile
dimmed a little.
“Could you point me in the right direction of the wrapping
paper?”
God, even the man’s voice was amazing, deep and smooth, with
a slight Southern accent. Ryan would bet his measly year’s worth of salary that
the sexy man standing before him could sing “Let it Snow” and women as well as
men would be throwing themselves at his feet to hear more.
“Um, well, I’m not exactly sure where it’s located at, but
my associate Ryan would be more than happy to show you where you need to go,”
Angela said sweetly as she indiscreetly shoved Ryan in the right direction,
bringing him out of his trance.
Feeling totally off balance, Ryan felt himself flush even
more as he stumbled toward the man. God, even his feet weren’t working right!
The man reached out and grabbed Ryan lightly by the arms,
keeping him from stumbling further into the man himself. Through the warmth of
the handsome stranger’s hands, Ryan felt a tingling sensation from the top of
his red hair to the tips of his toes. “Are you all right?” that deliciously
deep voice asked softly, causing Ryan look up into those concerned blue eyes.
Ryan could feel the warmth of the man’s hands through his long sleeved T-shirt
as he started rubbing his hands up and down Ryan’s arms, as if to soothe any
pain away.
He’s talking to you! Say something, idiot!
Ryan cleared his throat and attempted to smile at the man.
The man smiled back and slowly let go of Ryan’s arms as he
took one small step back as if to put some space in between them.
“Ooops! Sorry about that! I must’ve had too much eggnog
during break,” Ryan joked, as he shrugged his shoulders and smoothed down his
“Got Mistletoe?” T-shirt.
The man laughed.
Oh my God, he’s got a gorgeous laugh too!
“That eggnog will get you every time!” the man said, almost
reaching out to touch Ryan’s shoulder but stopping himself midway.
At the sound of the stranger’s joyful laughter, Ryan felt
happiness flow through him and a genuine smile come across his face.
