Before we get to my questions for Leslie, don't forget to check the end of the blog for Leslie's question to you. (There is a giveaway!)
Meet Leslie Lynch
Leslie lives near Louisville, Kentucky,
with her husband and a feral-turned-sweetheart rescue
cat. While not engaged in wrestling the beautiful and prolific
greenery of her yard into submission, she flies small
airplanes, loves the exuberant creativity and color of quilting and
pottery…and, of course, writes.
Fascinating--right? And she flied for the Civil Air Patrol. How cool is that?
Let's talk about your latest anthology ROMANCING CHRISTMAS Volume II!
THE STORY BLURB
From sweet to spicy, friends to lovers, from
cowboys to babies and puppies, this holiday anthology from 7 of today’s hottest
romance authors has something for everyone. Toss in some unconventional
romances and fairy godmothers—and, of course, some hunky military heroes—and
you’ve got a Christmas collection that will warm the heart on even the coldest
night.
Here’s a link to Leslie's blog, which has blurbs for all
seven of the stories included in Romancing Christmas II:
READ A LITTLE, BUY THE BOOK
And here’s an excerpt from my offering in this
set, CHRISTMAS GRACE the Christmas no one wanted to celebrate. With an
unconventional romance and a pair of disasters that threaten to derail the
holiday, three generations of mothers and daughters come together to remember
what matters most.
“Skydiving?”
Ella McKendrick stared at the hands-free phone on the worktable,
the clay between her
“Mom, you’re seventy-four!” She winced at the way it sounded,
and knew she was in for an earful. Glad to be the sole occupant of the co-op
studio so no one would witness the tongue-lashing, she braced herself.
“And you’re fifty!” Gertie’s voice rose, sounding both garbled
and shrill through the speakerphone. “What does that have to do with anything?”
She punctuated the question with a harrumph. “They say it’s no different than
stepping off your couch. Besides, I don’t have to ask your permission. I’m just
informing you.” Her tone landed just shy of belligerent.
Ella let the wheel decelerate and lifted her hands from the
rotating cylinder of malleable clay, her focus broken. She scratched her nose
where an itch had decided to settle just after she’d begun centering, and left
a smear of the cool, smooth mud. At least it would soothe the itch.
“I know that, Mom. I’m just concerned.” She inhaled, the earthy
scent of the studio bringing its singular calmness to her heart. “Is it a buddy
jump, where you’re tandem with an instructor?”
She could only hope. Visions of her mother plummeting to earth
while tugging on the wrong cord sent a shudder through her.
Gertie sighed. “Yes, though I’d rather jump solo.”
I’m
sure you would, Mom.
Ella cleared her throat, searching for a diplomatic and
supportive response. It wasn’t forthcoming, so she forced a bright tone into
her voice and made up some words that sounded good.
“Well, if that was good enough for the first President Bush,
it’s good enough for you.”
“He was an old man when he did it!” On a scale of one to ten, the
affront in her mother’s voice was at least fifteen.
“That’s not what I meant. You’re not old. And you’re very
active, which is excellent.”
“Active, schmactive. I’ve got a lot of living left to do, and
I’m not about to do it from the sidelines.” A hint of desperation lurked
beneath her words.
“Of course, Mom. I would never suggest otherwise.”
Memories of her dad’s unexpected death six months ago swamped
Ella, and a lump rose in her throat. If the ache of his loss still sent a shaft
of pain into her heart, how much harder was it for her mother? The woman had
lost her life companion.
Ella’s parents had been devoted to each other, high school
sweethearts who had kept their love vibrant for over fifty years. Unlike her
own marriage, which seemed to be on its way to a death spiral of apathy.
She swallowed past the sadness, and then filled the brief
silence. “It’s not quite time for you to embark on a bucket list. I just don’t
want you to get hurt.”
“Well, I’ll be just fine.”
The chipper note in Gertie’s voice sounded a bit artificial, but
Ella wasn’t going to press the issue. “So, would you like to come over for
dinner?”
She glanced at the clock and made a quick calculation. She had
planned to spend another hour throwing shapes that would eventually be mugs,
but family trumped the co-op’s annual holiday sale. Never mind that she would
have to find another block of hours to catch up with her production quota.
Muffling her sigh, she recalculated dinner. Instead of grilled
chicken breasts, she could cut them up and make a stir-fry . .
Title:
Romancing Christmas, Volume 2 – a holiday anthology, 2016
*Amazon: http://amzn.to/2dJBxh8 *Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2e9GpMU
*iBooks: http://apple.co/2e9IUPa
*Kobo: http://bit.ly/2dwiq74
Series & book #: Romancing Christmas
This book follows Romancing Christmas (2014)
A LIGHTING ROUND OF Q&A WITH LESLIE LYNCH
NAN: How often to you get lost in a story?
LESLIE: When am I not lost in a story? I’m having even
more fun with that question lately! I’m in the midst of a Master of Fine Arts
in Writing program, and have been exposed to many books I would not otherwise
have picked up. At this very moment, believe it or not, I’m reading Hamlet –
and enjoying it. I would not have predicted that in a thousand years! Reading
it, yes. Enjoying it? I’m not the only person surprised at that outcome!
Seriously, over the past year I’ve read some awesome fiction from around the
world along with some inspiring creative nonfiction (true stuff told using
techniques of fiction: think Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes, Tori Murden
McClure’s A Pearl in the Storm, or Piper Kerman’s Orange is the New Black.) The
bonus? I can tell my husband I’m not slacking; it’s required reading!
Nan: So much fun--but so much work. Congratulations on the writing program!
NAN: Fairy
Tale or Action Adventure?
LESLIE: Ha! Action adventure,
any day! Though it seems that the more contemporary fairy tales have lots of
action and adventure…
NAN: What sound or noise do you love?
LESLIE: I
love the sounds of nature, especially wind. It feels like anything is possible,
unless, of course, the wind is at gale force or otherwise threatening. But at
normal levels, it’s exciting, and fresh, bringing new beginnings.
Nan: Lovely.
Nan: Lovely.
NAN: What was the first story you remember writing?
Nan: Now I'm going to call you Victoria!
NAN: What’s it like to work with
other authors in an anthology?
LESLIE: It’s great fun. Since
most of us have “known” each other for a couple of years, it’s an easy group,
very cohesive, very talented. We each have strengths, and the rest of us pitch
in to help in ways that we are able, whether it be formatting or setting up a
blog tour. Truly, there is something for everyone in this anthology; give it a
try. At only 99c (for now), it’s a bargain, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy the
stories. Who knows? You might discover a new favorite author in the process!
NAN'S GOTTA ASK: What
motivated you to write this story?
LESLIE'S GOTTA ANSWER: I
drew on a number of life experiences. My mother’s widowhood, and watching her
navigate her way to the new, post-marriage woman she was forced to become; my
own experience as the sandwich generation (though my husband would never have
tried to push me into the situation with which Ella had to deal!); my
daughter-in-law’s high risk pregnancy… So while none of this is
autobiographical, it is based on situations with which many women can identify.
FIND LESLIE LYNCH:
Twitter: @Leslie_Lynch_
Previous GLIAS Interview
UP NEXT
CHRISTMAS PEACE – in the works, but thanks to the
workload of the MFA, is on the back burner for the moment. Next time I visit
Get Lost in a Story, I hope to have it done for you!
Thanks so much for joining the crew for the day!
Thanks so much for joining the crew for the day!
LESLIE LYNCH WANTS TO KNOW: Since Thanksgiving is
less than a week away, what are your favorite traditions or foods that only
come out during the holidays? I absolutely adore whole-cranberry sauce, but
nobody else in my family does. One can will last me more than a week because I
don’t have to share! DRAWING WILL BE OPEN THROUGH SUNDAY!
Commenters - is giving away a code for an audiobook of Christmas Hope (Audible.com)
