Ever had a random stranger tell you they love you? I’m not talking about when you step aside in the grocery line so someone with less items can go first. Although, I have heard that. I have said that.
I mean a stranger that says, “I love you.” And means it.
Never happened? Really? Well, here you go: From me to you, I love you.
Like I really do. I mean, not romantically, that’s creepy. I don’t plan to stalk you. But then I never plan my stalkings. *wink wink*
I write because I love it. I do. I feel compelled. But I also write because I love readers. I love you. If you’re not a reader, I still love you but you’ll never know because you’re not reading this. Point is, I do love you. I love you enough to spend hours penning stories that will entertain you, take you on a wild ride, open up doors of mystery, adventure, romance, new places, new foods, and most of all a chance to encourage you with real hope.
I’m a fan of hope. I’m a fan of Jesus. And I’m a fan of writing broken and flawed people into the people I know God knows they can be. Not every character chooses hope. Not every character chooses change. Every person struggles. With fear. Doubt. Confusion. Helplessness. Bitterness. Rejection. Loss. Finances. Anxiety. (Insert anything here)
So yeah, I do all of this because I love it. And I love you.
And to prove how much I love you, I want to give you something for FREE! A story. You can’t buy it online. You won’t find it in bookstores.
But you will find it here on my website.
Simply subscribe to my newsletter and it’s yours (top right hand corner of the website). A Christmas story about fictional characters with real struggles. Real questions. Real doubts. Real fears. They wrestle. They win some. They lose some. And in the end, Hope wins out.
I’d love to share this Christmas novella with you! After you subscribe, it will immediately come straight to your inbox!
Here’s a peek:
A
rowdy bar owner. A widowed pastor’s wife. And Christmas Hope that brings them
together.
rowdy bar owner. A widowed pastor’s wife. And Christmas Hope that brings them
together.
After widower Eden
Snow’s church almost burns to the ground, she’s compelled to find a temporary
place to hold services and Christmas cantata practices.
Snow’s church almost burns to the ground, she’s compelled to find a temporary
place to hold services and Christmas cantata practices.
Has-been hockey player,
Knox Everhart, has a reputation for being fast on the ice and with women.
Except Eden. She’s always been a fascinating mystery to him, which is why he
agrees to let her use the back room of his bar—with one rule: No converting his
customers.
Knox Everhart, has a reputation for being fast on the ice and with women.
Except Eden. She’s always been a fascinating mystery to him, which is why he
agrees to let her use the back room of his bar—with one rule: No converting his
customers.
But when Eden brings
the church to the bar, it offers something the bottle can’t. Hope. And he finds
himself falling in love with a woman and a Savior he feels unworthy to pursue.
the church to the bar, it offers something the bottle can’t. Hope. And he finds
himself falling in love with a woman and a Savior he feels unworthy to pursue.
One other thing I’d love to share is my Hope Under Mistetoe story board! Meet the cast, and take a sneak peek around the fictional town.
Do you like Christmas stories? What’s your favorite holiday and why?
And to go one step further, if you share the news about the Patched In (newsletter) and the free gift, you’ll be entered to win a $20 Amazon card! Tis the season for shopping, right?
I can't wait to read your book, Jessica!!!!
Thanks, Dawn! Hope you enjoy it!
Oh man my favorite holiday movie! I'm not sure I have one! Last year we didn't watch any unless Thomas & Friends Christmas movie counts! Haha! 🙂 However I do like reading a few Christmas novels every year! Planning to read The Christmas Cat by Melody Carlson soon! 🙂
My son (now 10) LOVED Thomas the Train. In fact, he never went anywhere without a train in one hand and his sippy cup in the other. When Thomas came to Nashville, we took him to ride the real train and they had tons of Thomas activities. I'm not sure I've ever seen a little boy so excited! I read a Melody Carlson last year, but I think it was about a dog! 🙂
I sooooo can't wait to read this story. Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait. Oh and as for my favorite Christmas stories, I'm all about classic Christmas movies. It's a Wonderful Life is hands-down the best. I dare ANYONE to argue with me on that. LOL!
And I love you too. 🙂
Yay! I hope you're still this excited AFTER you read it! hahaha! I do agree with you there. Although, I do love so many Christmas movies, but that one is for sure one of my top picks. This might seem odd, but every year we watch the claymation The Little Drummer Boy. And every year, I sob like a baby!
Oh I wish I could read today! Sadly, paying work calls! But I'm off to share :).
Paying work always comes first for sure! I know about that too. Thanks so much for sharing, Carol, and supporting!
LOVE Christmas stories. Itching to write one myself:) And Christmas is my favorite holiday, though Easter is a pretty close second!
As well you should! I wouldn't have this Christmas story if not for brainstorming with you! I love Easter too! 🙂
Nothing says Christmas like a heartwarming romantic tale. 🙂 Can't wait to dig in!
No it doesn't! I do love Christmas movies. Cheesy, musicals, deep. Don't matter, I love them all!
Well, I love you, too. There have been mornings when your smile, and your faith, have given me the courage to keep going. I'm not kidding; you make a difference.
Here's an "I love you" story that you may feel free to use; I don't know how to write it. Maybe you, or someone else reading this, does.
Many years ago I was teaching at a college…and one day a young woman came up to me, and said, "It's you!"
I had never seen her before, but there was a light around her – no, around both of us, in that moment. The words that came into my head to say were, "And it's YOU. And I love you, and I don't even know you."
But I was a hard soul-ed ex-mercenary, a professional killer, and I let the moment pass. The light faded, and I left with a polite comment.
And no, she wasn't gorgeous, or anything like that. I could paint her portrait today; she was a redhead, a bit plump, and plain.
And I had seen her before, though it took time to recall; I had met her in a dream, a year previous. I know because I journaled it, it was so vivid.
Unlikely that I was lonely, and it was wish-fulfillment, for I turned her away. Unlikely that I was a New-Age nitwit looking for a soulmate, for I held that stuff in contempt.
By Ockham's razor…I'm left with the conclusion that it was a God-thing.
Life is full of might-have-beens, but this one's in a special category. It caught me out of place, and out of character. I failed in courage.
But what if had had not?
You want the story, it's yours. I just don't have the heart for it.
Thank you so much, Andrew. Your are always so kind. What a super intriguing story. Wow! That could be a Christmas Miracle story in the making right there. 🙂
My favorite Christmas movie has to be White Christmas. Yep, I'm one of those. I do also love Elf and Charlie Brown and 34th Street, but I love love love White Christmas. The songs, the dancing, the romance, it's my fave. 🙂 Stories, well aside from the one about a certain hot bar owner and the pastor's widow, I've always had a soft spot for "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever." I think I'll read that to Trevor this year!
Love you, girl! So excited for you!!
Ha! I'm partial to that story too. 😉 We watch White Christmas every single Christmas Eve. Since 1995. Tim had always watched it with his Pa and was partial to the movie. I had never watched it until with Tim. Now our kids watch it too. Or fall asleep during it! ha!
Hi, Jessica! I LOVE the cover of Hope Under Mistletoe and I'm excited to read it. Thanks for the gift of a free novella and I hope your subscriber list grows like crazy.
Thanks, Heidi! Hope you enjoy the story and thanks for coming by! 🙂
My favorite Christmas movie is "It's a Wonderful Life". Thanks for the chance to win!
Excellent choice in Christmas movies, Trixi! I appreicate you coming by and entering! And thanks for sharing.
Forgot to add I shared this on Facebook
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