
Have you ever been up against a deadline and the words won’t come? Yep, welcome to my world.
I have a holiday novella due by the end of September and it’s kicking my butt. Some people thrive under stress- I’m NOT one of them, lol.
I’ve been staring my climatic moment in the eye for weeks now and it just won’t cooperate. My vision for this story is a sort of cross between Beauty and the Beast (not the Disney® version but the 1987-1990 television series) with a sensitive, lonely ‘Beast’ and the beautiful kind-hearted woman who draws him out of his shell.
And the Hallmark® Christmas movie, The Mistletoe Inn featuring an aspiring writer 🙂 who signs up for a writing retreat after being dumped by her novelist boyfriend.
I took these two concepts and came up with my hero, Noah Kincaid, a scarred, lonely man (though he thinks he’s fine) in need of a new publicity partner after the recent death of his aunt, and the young and pretty single mother who takes the job.
Molly McCarty is used to tough challenges. Divorced and raising a five-year-old boy is no easy task, especially when she’s surrounded by her ex’s friends and family who all want to help get them back together again.
Desperate for some breathing room, Molly searches the web for opportunities and comes across the position of innkeeper in Christmas, Michigan. Her curiosity about the town named after a famous holiday leads her down a road filled with possibilities.
If only she can break through her partner’s tough shell.

Here’s a short exclusive excerpt
Molly hurried to keep up as Leo wove in and out of the evergreens on display, the air tinted with the scent of pine and balsam. His childish laughter warmed her heart. He’d was unhappy leaving Alberta and his family behind. She couldn’t blame him, she’d been feeling down herself. Ever since her divorce from Jason, she’d been coasting, searching for… well, she wasn’t really sure. She just knew it wasn’t in Edmonton. That was her past, Christmas was her future.
Or, so she hoped.
“Leo, where are you?” she called, half laughing, half worried. The fairy lights strung in graceful arcs across the large gazebo-type structure were pretty, but they didn’t make finding a little boy in a dark jacket easy. Nearby couples glanced in her direction, then joined in the search. It wasn’t that big an area, but there were a lot of hiding places a mischievous little boy might discover.
“I’ve got him.” Noah strode out from between two thick conifers with Leo in his arms. He looked like an outdoor magazine model with his lived-in face and burly shoulders. Molly heard the appreciative sighs from the women around her and her heart stuttered. He really was a handsome man.
She thanked the searchers and shook her head as Noah reached her side. “He was there one minute and then he was gone. You seem to be making a habit out of coming to our rescue.”
He gazed at her with those dark eyes, his hair ruffled by the chilly breeze, and she had the strongest urge to reach up and kiss those uncompromising lips. He’d probably think she was crazy. She’d have to be to try, he hadn’t given any sign of a mutual attraction, and besides, they barely knew each other.
“He was just chasing after a puppy. I’m sure he’s sorry he worried you.” He nodded to Leo. “Better apologize to your mother, now.”
Leo looked at her, excitement sparkling in his eyes. “Mommy, you gotta come see. The puppy is so cute. He’s as white as snow and has blue eyes. Can I have him, Mommy. Please.” He kicked his booted feet, narrowly missing Noah’s groin. Noah winced and set him down.
Molly gave him an apologetic glance, then crouched beside her son. “Honey, you need to calm down. First, Noah is right. You should say sorry for disappearing the way you did. That’s a dangerous thing to do, and I don’t expect you to do it again. Capisce?”
Chastened, Leo scuffed his feet in the snow. “Capease.”
I’m close. I just have to rip out their hearts so I can hand them back again.
Easy, right?
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Everything seems to be in order, the scene is beautifully set, with just enough promise of more meaty stuff to come. You still have ten days, lock yourself in and finish it!
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Lol, thanks! Time to buckle down!
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Easier said than done…
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So true!
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I loved the poster for the Christmas books, but how on earth did you link it to Books2Read ?
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Not sure I understand? The poster, or the set?
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I clicked on the poster and it took me to Books2Read… very clever…
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I made the poster, then added the link in the top section of the WordPress work area. I love Books2Read. It’s easy to use and gives links to all venues in one handy place.
They recently updated their site, too, and now the book links are attractively laid out 🙂
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Pardon my ignorance, but where did you make the poster? I didn’t think you could do it on WP…
(told you I was daft!)
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No! Happy to help. I did this one on http://CoversSellBooks.com I have the paid account, but you can also go free and make three memes (posters) a month.
There’s also Canva.com They have a nice site, but none of the book templates like you see here or the badges like books2read
Check them out, they’re fun to play with and a great promotional tool!
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I make posters on Picmonkey, but don’t know how to add a link to them…
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I just add the link right on WordPress. Have you done that? It’s a chain link in the editor.
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I will definitely give that a try. I wonder why the solution to many of my problems is usually an easy one? I feel a message there, somewhere…
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Lol, I’m the same way. DH always gives me heck for making things harder than they need to be 🙂
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Lets face it, we don’t have to try too hard, do we?
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I can so sympathize with the deadline anxieties. You’ve got a great excerpt there. I like how you describe what you still have to do with ripping out their hearts and getting them back together again, LOL.
BTW, I adored the show Beauty and the Beast.
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I was sad when they pulled it off the air. Ron Perlman was phenomenal in the part!
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He was!
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Okay, can I just tell you that I LOVED that version of Beauty and the Beast. I even bought the soundtrack (on cassette, go ahead and laugh). And I’m a sucker for Hallmark movies. So I’m your audience for this one.
And I love your excerpt!
Deadlines are brutal. I’m under one myself. I know you’ll get it. And I can’t wait to read it.
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Thanks, Staci. Every time I get one deadline done, I think I’m not going to do that again and then I throw myself into another one, lol.
Hope yours goes better, I hate the last minute stress.
I love that you bought the soundtrack-so cute! They did a fantastic job of portraying an impossible love in that series.
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So that’s how it work Jacquie? Rip their heart out and hand them back???? LOL I hope you’ll make it !
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Lol, a little too visual? 😊
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I love a Christmas story, Jacquie. Nice extract.
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Thank you, Robbie. I like the heartwarming feeling you get from a holiday romance 😊
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Deadlines are brutal! I usually procrastinate until the last minute and then kick myself for waiting..lol I love Christmas stories!
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Lol, that’s my story, too!
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Yet we always get it done…lol
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