All five of us who co-authored the novella anthology of Christmas Kisses: An Echo Ridge Anthology are THRILLED to officially launch November 3rd!
Because of that, each day I’ll share goodies for you to celebrate with us! Today, you get the fun untold backstory of how this book came to be, and the life principle I re-learned that continues to help me today.
Several months ago I was asked to speak at the wonderful Indie Author Hub Conference. And, I was also invited to the conference dinner the night before. For me, this was a quandary! Because I limit my speaking to about twice a month to balance family life, I debated whether or not to go to the optional dinner. Honestly, in fifteen years of speaking, I rarely do. With seven kids and up until recently, my policy has had to be, I come, I speak, I leave.
However, this time I felt a slight and different pull inside to attend the dinner. After checking with the family that this was a go, I headed to the Marriott. When I entered the hotel lobby I saw my good friend, Rachelle Christensen, talking with a gal I didn’t know (whom I would soon come to know and adore, Christina Dymock).
All three of us ended up at the Speaker’s Table and fell into fast conversation. A few months before, Rachelle and I had co-authored a nonfiction book, What Every 6th Grader Needs to Know. We had also talked about someday doing an anthology, and wouldn’t that be fun and a great idea (happening, of course, when we cloned ourselves…)
Back to the dinner. It turned out that lovely Christina not only thought anthologies were fabulous, but that she had successfully co-authored two as well. In deep discussion about possibilities, suddenly Rachelle says to her, “So, do you want to do one?” And without missing a beat, Christina says, “Sure”!
Within minutes we brainstormed setting and initial storyline…a city tucked in the mountains, maybe patterned after Park City. Rachelle had written a very short story with a Christmas idea based on an old-time department store. One idea led to another and like a good writer, I started jotting notes on the Marriott notepad (which I still have!) By dessert, we had a solid idea, co-author possibilities, and lots of mojo.
I can’t describe both the synergy and energy that came from that conference dinner. And now, just over four months later we are now releasing that book that was merely an idea. And the process has been an absolute joy.
The life principle I re-learned, one of several, was to go with your gut. Even though I typically didn’t attend those extra events, or often insert myself into a conversation another friend was having, or jump into a writing style that is so not my usual, I did all of those things because my gut said to (or, I felt a prompting–I’ve heard it both ways…)
In life, we need to assess opportunities and make reasonable decisions. And, we need to listen for that X factor, that gut feeling that says, I need to do this one differently. And then, go with it. Take that ride and follow those promptings and find out just where it will lead. If it’s a good thing, it will bear good fruit.
And let me tell you, this experience has been juicy goodness from day one.
Enjoy Christmas Kisses: An Echo Ridge Anthology!
Hugs,
Connie
P.S. And ENTER TO WIN $200 holiday cash with our Rafflecopter giveaway–a holiday gift to you for supporting clean romance!
