The Perks of Collection Writing + Giveaway (Guest Post by Teresa Tysinger)

October 3, 2020 Jaycee Weaver40 Comments

Hey everybody! I’d like to introduce my dear friend and fellow author Teresa Tysinger. She’s got a great post for you today! As of now, she’s the only author in my collection team I’ve had the privilege to meet in person (though I’m praying that changes before long, because I LOVE these women).

Here’s us having coffee last month:

An author of Southern Contemporary Romance inspired by grace, Teresa writes on the fringes of being a wife, mom, and full-time communications and public relations professional. Her acclaimed debut novel, Someplace Familiar, released in 2017. Teresa is a member of ACFW, the Association for Women in Communications, and the Religion Communicators Council. She loves coffee, traveling, and prides herself in knowing and loving almost every genre of music. Born in Hawaii, raised in Florida, and educated in North Carolina, she now resides in Texas with her husband, daughter, and dog.

And now, without further ado:

Thank you, Jaycee! As a student I dreaded group projects. I would much rather be on my own and not be forced to share the responsibility of earning a good grade with other random classmates. Maybe it’s the introvert in me or the sort-of perfectionist? I also think it’s why writing suits me. Sitting at the computer is a quiet, solitary activity. I don’t have to debate with anyone else what to name my characters. I get to decide what happens. And, as an independently published author, it’s ultimately up to me what I “turn in” to readers.

Things changed when I was invited to contribute a novella for the Something Borrowed: Christmas Weddings Collection, releasing later this month. (See below for more details about this fun collection!) My initial excitement of being included in this amazing group of authors was quickly overshadowed by a little anxiety when the group decided to link the stories by making our heroines old friends. GULP. My story, while mine alone, suddenly felt much more like a group project. What if I didn’t agree with some of the details the others decided on? What if their stories somehow messed up the plans I had for mine? And [insert nail biting], what if they didn’t like my writing?

Spoiler Alert: I had nothing to worry about.

Instead of my “what if” worries coming true, I instead experienced some very real perks of writing as part of a collection.

Perk 1: Your voice matters. I went into this first collection experience worried that my opinions would get overshadowed by the others. Instead, every conversation in our private Facebook group was collaborative, open and inviting, and everyone had a voice. I really felt part of a true team. And, oh boy, if only you could see some of the message chains as we tossed ideas around—from the silly to the ridiculous, we had a blast!
Perk 2: Five heads are better than one. You’ve heard the saying that it takes a village to raise a child. Well, it takes as many other authors as you let in to “raise” a good book! In my case, five heads were better than one! The other authors on this collection has years more experience and collectively dozens of books under their belts. I gained instant writing mentors the minute I signed on for this project. Using Dropbox to share files, we tweaked synopses, edited manuscripts, helped fix plot issues, and even brainstormed cover design ideas together. My novella wouldn’t be the same without their input!
Perk 3: All for one, and one for all! My concern that these authors wouldn’t like my writing, of course, stems from my own insecurities. We all have them, and none of us are perfect. But I was not necessarily expecting to feel so championed by the kind, encouraging women I’ve met on this collection team. In the niche of Christian fiction, I think most authors would agree it’s a very encouraging and competition-free community. Add to that working toward the same goal of putting out a quality project and the support can’t be beat!
Perk 4: New friends. I’m extra lucky to say that a major perk for me of joining this collection is gaining new friends. This has not been just a simple business transaction. We’ve shared about life, prayed through hard times, celebrated individual victories, and enjoyed hanging out and laughing over Zoom calls. This perk is hard to beat and the one I’m most grateful for.

Man, this experience has been so fun! As is often the case, my worries were replaced by so many more blessings. I hope if you’ve ever been curious about how these collections come together, this sheds some light on it. Have other questions about it? Leave those in the comments and we’ll get a discussion going.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading! I invite you to also check out Suddenly Forever, my next novel and the second in the Laurel Cove Romance Series. Available on October 6, this poignant and tender story of grief and hope is near and dear to my heart. Learn more about it and my other books at https://teresatysinger.com/books/.

FALL BUNDLE GIVEAWAY!

To celebrate the release of Suddenly Forever I’m hosting a giveaway for a bundle of my fall favorites. I’d like to invite you to join in the fun! Enter HERE (https://forms.gle/764agVnAKjr4rsNd7). The winner will be announced on October 9 during my book launch “bonfire” event on Facebook. Details for that are on the giveaway form.

This giveaway is not sponsored by, affiliated with, or endorsed by Inspy Romance.

Excerpt · Giveaway · New Releases

Whatever Happens Next (not just a book title) + giveaway

May 12, 2020 Jaycee Weaver28 Comments

Well, it’s release day today for my fourth novel, Whatever Happens Next. Of the whole series, it’s easily my favorite. Not only because it’s my eighth book now, so I’ve learned more and write better. Nor is it the characters, who I absolutely love and were a joy to write. Those are part of why I love this book and am excited to share it with the world.

But the biggest reason? The title prompts me to think and to trust.

Finishing a series is a bittersweet thing. Both author and reader reflect on the books individually and as a unit. We say goodbye to characters we’ve grown to love.

Authors also reflect on our craft. What did we do well? What could we have done better? When should we turn it into a boxed set? And of course—what’s next? Christian authors have the honor and privilege to bring that question to God, trusting Him to guide our steps for the future. What are His plans? What story has He birthed in our hearts? What spiritual truths can we impart to our readers that will inspire, uplift, encourage? We have a lot of praying and trusting to do when it comes to what’s next.

And trust is hard, isn’t it?

In the novel, Air Force TSgt Dyson receives PCS orders that will send him clear across the country just as he’s beginning to care for Jenna. When should he tell her? Can he trust that God’s in control over their relationship the way he trusts God to order the rest of his life? Jenna has a hard time trusting, mostly herself, after a single bad decision left its mark. Change stirs up her life from every direction, forcing her to let go and realize that even if she doesn’t trust herself, she can trust the Lord. Letting go and allowing Him to order her out-of-control life isn’t easy, but it’ll be the most beautiful thing in the world if she can. And wow, does Dyson partner beside her the whole way (well, most of the way, because he’s not perfect and has a lot to figure out himself).

I find in this uncertain season and the utter insanity that has been 2020 so far, a lot of us are asking, “What’s next?” It’s been one thing after another this year, so what awful thing is awaiting us after COVID? Lots of questions. My anxious heart has been encouraged by remembering those three title words in prayer. I will trust the Lord with whatever happens next, because I know He holds me in the palm of His mighty hand.

Deuteronomy 31:8 reminds us, “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you, he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Isaiah 41:10 says, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

So in the midst of all the nuttiness and heartache that has been 2020, I hope these words will be a positive reminder to you. Trust Him with whatever happens next—whether it’s a pandemic, a health crisis, an election year, a job change, fiscal worries, or something else. Be blessed, my friends.

And now, to change the subject a little and celebrate together, how about a quick excerpt from the book?

I hope you enjoyed that little tidbit from Whatever Happens Next. Today’s the last day it will be available for the 99¢ pre-order price, so I do hope you’ll take a chance and give the book a try! It’s not necessary to read the previous three books in order to enjoy this one, though there will be some characters whose stories will be clearer if you have.

To celebrate the release, I’ll be giving away one eBook copy to a randomly selected commenter below who answers this question: when in your life did you feel uncertainty and have to trust blindly with whatever happened next? Did everything work out in the end? Winner will be selected by Friday evening, May 15th, 8pm MDT.

Covers · Roundup

It’s Complicated… (interesting characters usually are) + cover reveal

February 11, 2020 Jaycee Weaver19 Comments

If you’ve been on social media at any point in the last decade, you’ve probably noticed at least one of your “friends” with the relationship status It’s Complicated. The phrase has filtered its way into our culture in all sorts of ways—movie titles, song lyrics, book themes, mindsets.

It’s complicated isn’t always a response we’d like to accept, but it’s often the easiest response to most of those nosy questions we can’t completely answer without either revealing more than we’re comfortable with or shocking the inquisitor with an unavoidably long, drawn out response. It’s more polite than telling them none of your business, right? Ha ha!

But when it comes to characters, I have to admit, I LOVE complicated. The more complex their backstory, the more I want to read. Neat and tidy characters are fine on occasion, but let’s face it. Real people are pretty complicated. And as readers, we tend to be more fascinated by humanity than non-readers. I read an article a while back that frequent readers tend to be more empathetic. Perhaps this is why complicated characters are so interesting.

I’m a reader first. Becoming an author flowed naturally from that love, but always, first, a reader. I’ll list a few that stick out in my mind, then I’ll tell you about some I’ve written. After that, I’ll share with you the cover of my latest book and why I loved writing the characters in it. 🙂

From IR’s own Elizabeth Maddrey, comes Lydia Brown in Wisdom to Know. She’s a pastor’s daughter caught up in a binding chain of bad choices. I read this a few years ago, but she’s a heroine who has stuck with me. Another that stands out is Jen Andrews in A Handful of Hope. Her struggle with depression is thoroughly true-to-life and so well presented.

Toni Shiloh, another IR author, does complicated characters very well. Some of my favorites are Belle Peterson and Nikki Gordon from her Maple Run series. Evan Carter from Returning Home is also a wonderfully complex hero. Toni tackles characters who’ve suffered abuse, assault, missing limbs, parental abandonment, infidelity, and more with finesse and sensitivity.

Then there’s Janet Ferguson. Oh my goodness, I just love her characters. Raw emotion, depth, intensity, tragedy, internal struggles, wars against sin and pain and fear…and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. I’ve loved them all, but my favorite is still The Art of Rivers.

Oh! And while I’m thinking of other IR authors (and can I just say, there are a lot of amazing ladies in this bunch, so I’m only picking a couple real quickly) I have to include Valerie M. Bodden. The entire Hope Springs series is wonderful—with a plethora of complex characters—but none more complicated than bad girl Jade in Not Until Us.

Melissa Tagg also has a way with complicated characters. I’d have to say my favorite is Now and Then and Always. Marshall and Mara both have painful stories they’re working through as they build a relationship while restoring an old B&B.

No list would be complete without Lea Sim’s two highly emotional novels, Running From Monday and Waiting on Tuesday. Lea tackles some difficult topics, and her characters have endured severe abuse, infidelity, loss, and more. Readers are put a bit through the wringer on these, but it’s their richness and authenticity of emotion that make them such memorable reads.

T.I. Lowe’s Until I Do—and her whole backlist, actually—is another perfect example. A marriage in shambles, readers get an inside look at a couple’s struggle with becoming empty-nesters and their floundering relationship. Other books by TI Lowe feature characters running from dark, violent secrets, human trafficking, and other trauma.

Several friends I asked reminded me of Tammy L. Gray. I’ve read quite a few of her books, but Mercy’s Flight is definitely one that stands out. Violent pasts, betrayal, children in need, secrets, and a journey to trust and find courage barely scratch the surface of Matt and Grace’s story.

I absolutely HAVE to include one of my very favorites, Jennifer Rodewald. I need to take a break between her books because I can pretty much guarantee I’ll be gutted afterward. Her Grace Revealed trilogy is ripe with intense, complicated characters with highly charged emotions and very real issues, but my personal favorite is still The Carpenter’s Daughter.

Whew! That ended up being a rather long list, so I’ll cut myself off there. Hopefully I’ve introduced you to some new-to-you authors, titles, or characters you’ll enjoy as much as I have.

Since I’ve already gone on long enough, I’ll summarize what kind of complicated characters I enjoy writing. In Whatever Comes Our Way, the hero and heroine face traumatic pasts, grief, guilt, anxiety attacks, and the aftermath of loved ones’ drug use. In What Makes a Home, prickly Jobie’s colorful lifestyle catches up to her as we come to understand why she chooses to live the way she does (until she meets Jesus!). In Adrift, (which is always free) Erin still experiences grief after losing her husband too young. Now, not all of my characters are over-complicated. Some have it pretty easy, so I like to put them in challenging situations instead. My heart is to create realistic characters who are flawed and, yes, complicated but eventually figure out what it is God wants to work out in their lives.

So there you have it. Probably should have narrowed it down and maybe dug a little deeper into each character, but I’m a more-is-better kind of girl. Ha ha!

For the last part of my post, I’d like to reveal the cover to my newest book out this week, which just so happens to be FREE to all subscribers to my email newsletter. It’s a bit different from my usual contemporary Christian romance fare, as it’s a dual-POV in first person with two heroines. Each has her own story line with her own love interest/romance, but their friendship takes center stage in this novelette. Lauren’s a steady presence for Kimbrye, who just might be one of the most hurting of all the heroines I’ve written so far.

I can’t wait to read in your comments below any recommendations YOU have for favorite complicated characters. I’m always on the lookout for my newest book bestie! Take care and enjoy the rest of your week, especially with our upcoming BIRTHDAY BASH!!

New Releases · Romance Tropes

Retelling the (Fairy) Tale

October 12, 2019 Jaycee Weaver20 Comments

Ah, fairy tales. Like so much classic literature, fairy tales form the basis for many contemporary stories. In recent years, retellings have even become so popular they’ve become their own subgenre in fiction. And it makes sense. The originals are clean and usually end happily. Good triumphs over evil. The impossible becomes possible. Romance. Magic. Wonder. They’re inspirational and usually teach a lesson.

Best of all, they’re timeless.

So how do we take an old story and craft it into something new and unique without contorting it into just another twisted clone on the bookshelf?

Well, it’s not easy. I’ll tell you that. But with a little creativity and inspiration all around us, the task doesn’t seem so daunting. In fact, authors Andrea Boyd and Mikal Dawn teamed up with three Inspy Romance authors—myself (Jaycee Weaver), Toni Shiloh, and Angela Ruth Strong—to release a brand new anthology of such tales. Last week on October 1, Once Upon a Christmas: Contemporary Retellings of Timeless Tales hit the shelves, and the reviews so far affirm that we seem to have found success in remaking these classic old stories into something new, fun, and relevant to today’s contemporary romance readers. (Yay!)

Rather than blend into the background with straight modernizations or retelling the tale with simple nods or twists, we decided to give each story a Christmas spin. Andrea took Sleeping Beauty and gave her a real-life sleeping disorder with three fierce and funny aunts in a gorgeous old theater for a holiday production of the musical of the same title. Mikal brought Mulan out of China and into the boardroom with a fierce (but flirty) legal battle on her father’s behalf, the wicked Hun insisting on a Christmas victory. For an updated Snow White, Toni sent her sheltered heiress fleeing into a snowstorm and hiding from a wicked stepmother in an orchard owned by a handsome hero and his seven “uncles” over the holidays. Angela twisted the classic favorite Cinderella into a whole new story, giving her lumberjack-like prince the nutty stepfamily as a perfect obstacle standing between Ella and her happy (New Year) ever after. And lastly, it was my joy to take The Little Mermaid out of her Las Vegas aquarium and into the dry southwest, where she discovers the power of her own voice during the romantic holiday season.

We sure hope you’ll give this set of novellas a chance to live up to your fairy tale expectations…and I suppose your Christmas tale expectations, too. If you’ve already read our retellings of these timeless tales, be sure to comment with what you enjoyed most! We love your feedback. If you haven’t yet had the chance, we’d love to know—what’s your favorite fairy tale, retelling, or Christmas trope?

Devotional Thought · Giveaway · Writing Process

Inside a Writer’s Brain (reader beware)

September 19, 2019 Jaycee Weaver35 Comments

Have you ever read a book and wondered, what on earth must go on inside this author’s mind to come up with this stuff?

Spoiler alert: it’s chaos in there. Most of us aren’t even sure which way is up half the time. Between story ideas, editing, marketing, and obligations to our non-author lives, it can be a bit of a mess.

Before you scroll down to the helpful infographic below, be warned. What you are about to see might horrify you.

Still curious? Just remember what happened to the cat. I tried to warn you.

One more thing. A disclaimer. The inner thoughts you’ll soon be privy to are relevant to the mind of a clean contemporary romance writer (trust me, I’ve done the research). Writers of other genres may include such additions as obscure historical facts, life on other worlds, historically accurate costuming, and creative ways to dispose of bodies.

Did you just shiver? I did. Okay! Fine. If you’re still here, you’re prepared to handle it. Here goes:

The struggle is real, my friends.

It’s a wonder any of us churn out those stories coherently some days. I think it’s all the coffee and rabbit trails that save us most of the time. Or fantasizing all those kissing scenes.

Nah, what really keeps us going are the days we get a good review or a personal message from a reader who truly loved our work. And a whole lot of prayer. And coffee. Yeah, yeah. Don’t even try to tell me that coffee and prayer don’t make everything better. I know the truth.

So. Now that you know the inner workings of the clean romantic writer’s mind, you’re officially grafted into the twisted, gnarled web of insanity with us. What does that mean? It means we need you, dear reader. We need your support in so many forms. See, creative types are prone to rather extreme highs and lows emotionally (and often mentally). Our hearts and souls pour onto the page with every word we craft. We need your reviews–positive, of course, but also sometimes negative. Especially when they’re thoughtfully presented in a way we can learn from.

You can tag us and mention us on social media. Create graphics or post pics of our books out in the wild. We love personal notes and treasure your excitement over a new release. We’re over the moon when you join our reader groups and street teams and engage with our stories and treat our characters like real people.

And most of all, we need your prayers. Inspirational romance writers (well, all of us truly, right?) wouldn’t be able to do what we do if it weren’t for the calling placed upon our hearts by the most Creative One of all. Yes, that infographic is a comical look at the thoughts that flit through our heads. But there’s plenty of truth there, too. As you’re escaping your reality within our created worlds, please take just a moment to remember your favorite authors in prayer. And then send a virtual coffee. Or two.

You might as well just make it a triple and send a funny GIF. Yes!! Do that.

Be blessed, my friends! In honor of kissing scenes and glorious coffee, I’m giving away one eBook of Whatever Comes Our Way to a random commenter below. Thanks for stopping by today!

Devotional Thought · Giveaway · Real Life

Perfect Love in an Imperfect World

June 18, 2019 Jaycee Weaver13 Comments

You know that verse, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)? Man, it’s so easy to get stuck on those middle two words “fall short,” isn’t it? Especially if you’re a recovering perfectionist like me. Failing and falling short are hard to come to terms with when you’re striving to be the best version of yourself.

And when you consider that many translators have misinterpreted Matthew 5:48, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect,” well, it’s easy to see why so many Christians out there have resorted to a rather hypocritical version of faith, keeping their sins and struggles and shortcomings hidden behind closed doors and putting up walls that make talking about a lot of things taboo. Which, of course, leads to other people perceiving the Church as fake and insincere and self-righteous. And face it, too often, we are. It’s sad.

Now, why am I bringing all of this up on an Inspy Romance post? To put it succinctly, 1 John 4 repeatedly tells us “God is love.” And later, that “perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.”

So many Christians are trying to be perfect that we begin to fear failure. We fear being a bad example to the world. We fear being exposed, raw, vulnerable. And yet, that’s the ultimate display of love, isn’t it? “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). That’s not necessarily a literal meaning–we lay down our lives the minute we put self-preservation beneath connecting to others in love and in lovingkindness (intentionally one word, it’s a thing). When you “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31), you put others’ needs above your own. Make sense?

That’s what makes love perfect. When, like Christ, we don’t hesitate to show that we can be patient, kind, honoring, selfless, calm, forgiving, truthful, protecting, trusting, hopeful, and perseverant (1 Cor. 13:4-7 paraphrased). Those are the things that drive out fear. His love in action.

A lot of romance novels, including Christian and inspirational ones, feature characters who have to overcome their fear before finding love. That’s real life. And it goes beyond the meet-cute and dating. Marriage also requires us to step out of fear and into perfect love–selfless, 1 Cor. 13 love–continually. Yet, because we’re human and therefore imperfect, we’re going to fall short. Continually.

But in Christ, we only need to love and accept grace. Extend it to ourselves and to others. Quit nipping at each other when others fail or fall short or struggle. Because there’s no way anyone can measure up to a literal standard of Matthew 5:48 above. Perfection isn’t attainable this side of Heaven.

Most of my characters struggle with accepting some element of this post, as I think most of us do in real life. In What Could Be, Brynn has struggled with her own bit of perfectionism and fear of failure. In Whatever Comes Our Way, Gina falls for a youth pastor who shows her that love is bigger than fear or anxiety, bigger than the past. And in my latest, What Makes a Home, a lost young woman discovers what the Bible says about love and can’t help but fall in love first with God, then later, her neighbor. People who put her needs before their own inspire Jobie to do the same because if that’s love, then it’s revolutionary.

I’d like to live a revolutionary love. Wouldn’t you?

If God is love and we are made in His image, then it stands to reason, we should be love, too. So whether it’s in a romance, among friends or family, or to the stranger down the street, be love.

Love never fails. So says 1 Corinthians 13:8. So even if you fall short of His glory, in Him, with His love, you can’t possibly fail. Get up, shake off the mistakes you and others make, take courage, and just love some more.

Now, just to lighten up an otherwise heavy post, I’d like to give a copy of What Makes a Home to one reader this week. Simply comment below with one way you relate to this post, and someone will be chosen at random to win an eBook!

(All verses quoted here from the NIV.)

Giveaway · Real Life

Plan Your Summer Book-cation

May 22, 2019 Jaycee Weaver26 Comments

May is nearly over, people! Can you believe it? The second most jam-packed month of the year is almost done. School will be out soon, vacations are being planned, and the weather is finally warming up after the eternal winter we had this year. Can you tell I’m excited?!

I don’t know if you have kids at home or not, but I have three girls all in the throes of tween and teen hormonal chaos. Add in all the family birthdays and Mother’s Day, graduations, baby showers and weddings, field trips and finals…whew! It’s enough to make a girl long for her cozy corner, some coffee, and an invisibility cloak so she can just read until everything settles back down.

Even if that’s not likely to happen anytime soon, you’ve still got all summer to get in some quality reading time. Whether you’re staying home, playing hometown tourist, or gearing up for a big vacation, I have some suggestions for enjoying a nice summer bookcation. It’s the perfect time to change up your reading habits and discover something new.

I’d like to challenge you, dear Inspy Romance reader, to spend some time outside this summer–outside of your comfort zone, that is! There’s a whole bookish world out there, just waiting to be explored and enjoyed. Here’s my list of ideas to get you going:

Pick up a novella. Novellas are often overlooked by serious readers. I’ve heard all the reasons, believe me. But I have to tell you, novellas have come a long way. Most of our Inspy authors here and quite a number of other authors have put out some excellent titles with well-developed characters and storylines. Roughly 20-40,000 words or 75-140 pages, give or take, novellas are perfect for a summer afternoon when you want to finish a book in one sitting without taking all day (or all night!) to do it.
Try a new trope. What is a trope? It’s that basic story idea that sucks you in every time. Think friends-to-more, second chances, secret baby, or marriage-of-convenience for example. Whatever your reason for avoiding a specific kind (I get it, secret babies are so not my thing), give one a chance this summer! You might just enjoy the frivolity of that handsome undercover billionaire who falls for his old sweetheart again after she shows up in their small town with a kid he never knew about. (I’m totally winking here.)
Discover a new-to-you author. This should be a no-brainer, but it’s easy to get comfortable with the handful of favorites you usually reach for. And I get it. It’s a scary world out there with a whole lot of unfamiliar names–taking a chance when time and budgets are limited is a risk. But here at Inspy Romance, we’ve got over two dozen authors and I’m sure you haven’t read everyone just yet (we’ve had a lot of new faces come since April, including me!). To find some other good options, check out the many Inspirational or Christian Romance reader groups on social media (like ours HERE).
Explore a slightly different genre. Clearly, if you’re here, you enjoy contemporary romance. But did you know some of our authors also write historical? Or romantic suspense? Have you considered cozy mysteries? What about exploring young adult fiction? And with that one, if you find a clean, inspirational YA fiction you really enjoyed, please, PLEASE send me a message. I’ve got three readers with a long summer ahead of me and I’d love to recommend books that are *safe* and worthwhile.
Read in a different format. If you just LOVE paper, give an eBook a chance. If that’s your usual, pick up a paper copy! It’s a little odd at first, getting used to the nuances of a different format, but in doing so you might just re-discover why you fell in love with reading in the first place. Maybe the paper satisfies your nostalgia. Or you’ll find the e-reader makes packing books for your next trip a whole lot lighter (more room for souvenirs!).
Give Kindle Unlimited a free trial. No one here is officially endorsing KU or receiving a kickback for mentioning it. I discovered it a few years ago and haven’t looked back. Nearly all of my favorite authors have at least one book enrolled. With an internet connection and your device, getting books is easy (up to 10 at a time). It’s not for everyone, but it’s all the perks of a library card with even more choices. And free 30-day trial? Yes, please!
Revisit your local library. You might practically live there, but I, for one, have trouble getting over to the library during the school year. It’s always a special treat to take the kids and let them choose books or participate in summer activities there while I get to look around, too!
Make reading a social thing. Join a book club or start one with some girlfriends. Or go on social media and join some avid reader groups. Swap books with a friend, your teenager, or grown child. Even introverts enjoy talking books with other people sometimes.
Cozy up in a new spot. Yeah, I know. That chair you love is so snuggly and the light is just right. But what about those summer days as a kid, leaned up against a tree? Or next to the pool while the kiddies are watched by a lifeguard? And the backyard sounds pretty nice for a morning retreat, listening to the birdies, right? The world’s a great big place, which means the possibilities are endless. Ah, sigh. I can’t wait!

Have more ideas for enjoying your summer bookcation this year? Comment below! I’d love to hear them, and I’m sure our other readers would, too.

And to help you get started with a new-to-you author, I’d like to offer a free eBook of my latest novel, What Makes a Home. One winner will be chosen at random and announced during the next Sunday edition!

Getting to Know You · Story Inspiration

You did what, now?

April 18, 2019 Jaycee Weaver43 Comments

That’s what I ask myself all the time. My poor hubby might also ask me this…a lot. Yeah, I’m kind of impulsive and impetuous (and impertinent and all kinds of other im-words).

This time, though, it was a really good thing!

When they sent me the invitation to become a part of InspyRomance, I have to admit I did a pretty goofy happy dance around my office. (Craft room, whatever.) Thankfully, nobody was home or my kids would surely have laughed at me (they’re all tweens and teens, so I’m a constant source of their laughter and eye-rolling). I prayed and knew it was the right thing to do! My gut said to leap, so I did.

I won’t bore you with my bio since you can find it here or here. Or better yet, in the back of my books. Haha! Instead, I’d rather tell you about what I write and where I write about.

See, I’m a crazy avid reader, mostly contemporary romance. Of course, I enjoy a good historical a few times a year and plenty of romantic suspense, too. But it’s CCR that I’m truly a fan of so naturally, it’s also what I write. And since I live in the Land of Enchantment, it only makes sense to set my books here.

Albuquerque, New Mexico is a quirky little city. We have great food (especially if you like it a little spicy and heavy on the cheese). There are tons of great restaurants, wineries, and microbreweries. And the farm-to-table movement is thriving.

The area is rich with culture and tradition and hosts hundreds of festivals every year. Some of my favorites are the Expo New Mexico State Fair, the Albuquerque Folk Festival, Southwest Chocolate and Coffee Festival, and of course, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. There are hiking and biking trails galore, too. Plus if you like sports, we have a great baseball team and a brand-new professional soccer team! How could I write about anywhere else?! Think of all the great dates I can come up with. LOL!

The Everyday Love Series is definitely heavy on the Burque love. It’s evident in every book I write, how much I love this place. And on that note, I’m happy to announce that TODAY is the release day for the third book in the series, What Makes a Home! Every book can be read standalone, so feel free to jump in wherever. I absolutely love these characters and I hope you will, too. I’ve recently revisited the first two books in the series and made some improvements in their formatting and the flow. What Could Be was my first book, and therefore probably the roughest to read, but the story still holds a significant place in my heart. (It’s also my loudest love song to my hometown.)

I look forward to getting to know you here at InspyRomance, and elsewhere if you’re on social media (I’m everywhere). Be sure to comment for your entry into Inspy’s regular drawing! And since you’re here, I’m happy to announce to you FIRST that my eBook novella Adrift is now permanently FREE on all retailers. I hope you’ll check it out!

Also, if you’re on Facebook, be sure to stop by Inspy’s Christian Romance Reader Gathering group. I’m excited to do a takeover on April 24th from 7-9 Eastern. I hope you’ll join me for some fun! I’ll be sharing a bit about my latest book as well as hosting a GIVEAWAY!