Shannon here: Inspirational romance author, Alexis A. Goring shares a romantic excerpt from her collection of short stories, Hope in My Heart. Comment on this post to enter the drawing for a copy of the collection. Deadline: July 19th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Alexis:
Falling in love is worth a thousand words by Alexis A. Goring
As a single lady who is creative and loves romantic stories, creating characters like Christina Caballero and Eric Hazelton was a pure delight! I see myself in Christina as a photographer because I have dreamed of being a professional wedding and lifestyle photographer since I fell in love with photography—and my Canon Rebel (camera) bought from B&H—as a college student. So to create a character (Christina Caballero) who gets to live a dream of my heart out on paper was so much fun! Watching her fall in love with a very handsome, respectable and enterprising eligible bachelor (Eric Hazelton) was even more delightful!
They say writing creative stories is more about showing than telling. So now I’d like to show you how Christina and Eric meet! Here’s an excerpt from Chapter 4 of “The Best Gift” which is the middle story in my three-story novella, Hope in My Heart: A Collection of Heartwarming Stories.
Excerpt:
Christina drove into the parking lot of the beautiful mansion overlooking the National Harbor in southern Maryland. She worked as a photojournalist for Style Mode Magazine, and today her assignment was to cover the wedding of an important political figure.
“Wow,” Christina said as she parked her car and the fairy-tale scenery began to sink in. “They must be rich.”
Christina lived off an average salary for a photojournalist, and she was sure that unless she married a rich man, she’d never be able to afford a lavish wedding. Quietly, she gathered her purse, camera equipment, and car keys. She shut the door and began to walk up the beautiful, flower-bush-bordered walkway toward the mansion.
Before Christina could ring the doorbell, the door swung open, and a man of average height and fine apparel greeted her. “Hello. You must be from the magazine.”
Christina smiled and extended her right hand. “I’m Christina Caballero, and I am the wedding photographer for the soon-to-be Mr. and Mrs. Roberts.”
A wide smile graced the man’s somewhat pudgy face.
“Greetings, Ms. Caballero!” He stepped aside. “I am Franz, the butler. Please, do come in.”
“Thank you,” Christina returned as she entered the marble-floored foyer.
“Now the future Mr. and Mrs. Roberts would be pleased to meet you, only they have not yet arrived.”
Christina followed him into what looked like a parlor room straight out of a Jane Austen book. Franz faced her. “Why don’t you have a seat while you wait?”
Grateful to have time to rest, Christina obliged.
“And would you fancy some green tea?”
Christina shook her head. “No, thank you, I just ate breakfast.”
“Very well,” Franz said as he handed her a tiny bell. “I will be in the kitchen. Ring if you need me.”
Christina smiled, loving the service. “Thank you.” After he left, she settled into the cushioned single chair and resisted the urge to kick off her shoes.
I’m so on assignment, Christina reminded herself silently. But I’d love to take a nap right now.
Christina, who had been on the road since four o’clock that morning, rested her head on the top of the chair and closed her eyes.
~*~
“Sleeping beauty,” a playful voice gently beckoned a sleepy Christina to open her eyes. “Wake up.”
As Christina’s eyes came into focus, she gasped. She’d fallen asleep on the job! How unprofessional. “What time is it?” she asked the handsome stranger.
The man smiled. “Eight o’clock. Franz tells me you’re the photojournalist from the magazine.”
“Yes, I am.” She gathered her camera equipment from the floor and stood. “I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep, but the parlor is so cozy and soothing, and after being on the road for hours, I guess I needed a nap. I just didn’t mean to take it until I returned home.”
The man laughed. “It’s no problem.” He extended his hand. “My name is Eric Hazelton.”
“Nice to meet you, Eric. I’m Christina,” she said as she returned the handshake. She tilted her head to the right. “You know, you look a lot like—”
“Erica?”
“Yes.”
“I’m the bride’s brother,” he said with a dazzling smile.
Christina blushed. Erica never told me her brother was so cute!
~*~
I hope you have enjoyed learning about my characters Christina and Eric and are ready to buy my book! Here’s to hoping for your own love story to come true (if it hasn’t already). Who knows (God knows), your true love story may be better than fiction, a beautiful and personal real-life motion picture worth a thousand words! God bless you!
Sincerely,
Alexis A. Goring
About Alexis: Alexis A. Goring is a college graduate with a degree in print journalism from Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Maryland. Writing is her passion. She hopes that her stories will touch hearts, bring smiles to faces, and inspire minds to seek God whose love for humanity is unfailing.
Learn more and connect: http://www.alexisagoring.com/, https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAlexisAGoring, Twitter: @pennedbyalex
About the book – Hope in my Heart: Hope in My Heart is a collection of short, heartwarming stories with characters in need of hope. In “Love Unexpected” a car crash brings commitment-wary Sebastian and career woman Chandra together. Neither is looking for romance, but those around them see the potential, and Sebastian and Chandra discover that sometimes love shows up unexpectedly. Christmastime is the setting for the middle story, “The Best Gift” Christina desires to lose ten pounds so she can fit into her dress for her sister’s wedding. Jordan wishes her mom would stop trying to marry her off. And Joshua hopes to be reunited with his ex-girlfriend but eventually learns that the best gift this Christmas will be the restoration of his relationship with God. In “Peace and Love” three characters living in a metropolitan area are desperately searching. Elle, a starving artist, aspires to become a paid professional. Eric, a divorce attorney, wants to resolve his issues concerning his parents’ divorce. Kristine anticipates finding her birth mom before she marries Derek. All characters pray their searches will conclude this holiday season and fill their hearts with peace and love.
Purchase Links:
http://amzn.to/1it3pxT
Come back July 14th for L.A. Ramsey!
The very first line of this excerpt makes me want to read this as I grew up in MD and love weddings. Going to add yet another author to my must read list!!
except just gets you wanting to read more!!Love to win it!
I would love to read your book!
melback at cebridge dot net
I have a winner! Melanie Backus won the drawing. I appreciate Alexis for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.