Amber Stockton – Real Life Romance & Excerpt – Part 1 of 3

Shannon here: Amber Stockton shares how she met her husband, how her characters meet in her contemporary romance, A Grand Design, and a chance to win a copy. Answer one or both of the questions at the end of any post dated August 11 – 15 to enter the drawing. Deadline: August 23rd, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Amber:

HOW TIFFANY MET STUART
At one point and time, my husband and I were considered the “darlings of ACFW” as that national organization (American Christian Fiction Writers) was responsible for us meeting at an annual conference in 2004 in Denver. I was working registration and up to that point, every attendee had been a female. Of course, that year was also the year the organization changed its name to ACFW. Before that, it had been ACRW, with the “R” standing for “Romance.” You can imagine my surprise when a man walked up to register for the conference. What man would want to come to a romance conference? Unless of course he was there to meet women.
But that wasn’t Stuart at all. In fact, that thought never entered his mind. At least not that he’d admit anyway. He was there because two of his critique partners for the book he was writing told him he needed to go. It was the best conference for fiction writing in the country. And they were right.
That year, though, I was so busy working at the conference, we didn’t have much time to talk. But we had met, and a few months later, we were in a chat room together, which led to instant messages and email afterward. From there, we developed an online friendship via IM and email which had us meeting each September at the annual conference, where we hung out together and got to know each other better.
Then, in 2006, I decided we were either going to move forward or the friendship we shared would have to change. My heart was invested too much, and if he didn’t reciprocate, I would have to distance myself. After a date following the conference, I thought it was over. But after I sold my first book, he was the first person available for me to tell, and he immediately said he’d have to fly out there for a few days so we could celebrate. Surprised, but not wanting to shut him down, I agreed.
We spent four days together, and when it was time for him to return home, he looked at me and said, “Do we have to talk about this?” I replied, “No, I don’t think so.” He said, “Good. Me either.” One week later, he called my father to ask for permission to marry me. We were engaged that day. Ten weeks later, I had the ring when I took a week to go visit him and meet his family. And ten weeks after that, we were married.
Obviously, that’s the “reader’s digest” version, and the hero and heroine of my latest novel didn’t have a three-year courtship, but I’ll let this excerpt tell their story.
HOW SCOTT AND ALYSSA MET
“Lys, can you believe it? We’re actually here!” Libby spun in a circle, her arms outstretched. When she stumbled over her own makeup case, Alyssa laughed.
“Well, we’re not there yet. We still have to cross part of the lake.” She pointed to where a lone motorboat sped toward them, the white-capped spray behind it diminishing as the boat drew closer to the dock. From what she could see, the name and logo for the Grand Hotel sparkled in pristine, bold colors on the side of the craft. “And it looks like our transportation is just arriving.”
Libby shielded her eyes with one hand and looked across the water. “Mmm, and what a welcome wagon it is!” She fluffed her wavy, blonde hair and reached into her designer handbag for her ever-present favorite shade of lipstick, deftly swiping the glossy blend across her lips and stashing the tube in one fluid motion.
Alyssa reached into her own functional purse for her colored lip gloss and did the same. Somehow, Libby gave the mundane action much more flair. After slipping her stick into the designated zippered compartment and clicking closed the faulty snap of her purse, Alyssa brushed her layered hair away from her face and looked up.
Two bronzed men in pressed khaki shorts and polo shirts with the hotel and island logos emblazoned on the front disembarked from the motorboat. The lead man immediately made a beeline in Libby’s direction. Alyssa sighed as the man offered his arm to Libby and flashed his pearly whites. Typical. Libby always got the attention and the men first.
“Now, this is what I call service with a smile!” Libby glanced back at Alyssa and tossed her a saucy grin, then focused again on her escort.
Alyssa chuckled and shook her head. She should be used to this by now. Being overlooked when she stood in Libby’s shadow had pretty much become a way of life. But accepting it didn’t make it hurt any less. She bent to pick up her small carry-on and head for the boat.
“Allow me,” a low voice said from right beside her.
Alyssa straightened so fast, she lost her balance. Her purse dropped, and several items escaped the confines of the bag. Her left leg flailed and her arms waved, but two strong hands grasped her waist and held her upright.
“Easy there,” the baritone soothed.
“Swooning already, Lys?” Libby called out from the boat. “We haven’t even gotten to the island yet.”
Heat rushed to her cheeks at Libby’s teasing assessment of her predicament. She didn’t dare look up at her rescuer. Instead, she regained her footing and stepped away. Perfect. The first day of vacation, and she was already off to a klutzy start.
Keeping her head ducked and her warm cheeks hidden, Alyssa freed herself from her rescuer’s hands and bent down to replace the spilled contents of her purse. Acute awareness of the man beside her made it almost impossible to think clearly. As she stepped onto the dock and walked toward the boat, the man grabbed an armload of luggage and hastened after her. They encountered the other escort who went to retrieve the rest of the luggage.
When they reached the edge of the dock, the man set down the bags he carried and extended his hand to assist Alyssa into the boat. She hesitated and caught Libby’s grin as amusement danced across her friend’s face. Alyssa swallowed her pride and accepted his assistance. She placed her left hand in the strong grip of her escort and held on to the side of the boat with her right. A tingle shot up her arm at the strength and assurance of his touch.
Careful to maintain her balance, she put one foot onto the block positioned to create steps to the floor of the boat. With both feet firmly planted, Alyssa tried to pull her hand free, but her escort held firm. Captive and with no other alternative, she looked up and met his dark gaze.
With a twinkle in his eye and a charming but lazy smile on his face, he spoke again. “Scott Whitman, at your service.”
Alyssa swallowed, unable to respond. This was foolish. She shouldn’t be tongue-tied at the first handsome man they met. The playboy where she worked presented a greater risk than this employee. The office Casanova was always stopping by her desk for one reason or another. Libby’s nudge from behind brought her back to her senses.
“Alyssa Denham. Pleased to meet you.”
The other man stood at the edge of dock. “And I’m the Pied Piper, and your friend here is Little Miss Tuffet.” He nodded toward Libby as he shifted his load and waited to stow the luggage on the boat. “Now that the introductions are out of the way, let’s get this show on the road!”
Libby laughed out loud, and the awkward moment was broken.
Scott released Alyssa’s hand. She expelled the breath she’d been holding and found her seat next to her friend.
“Aw, knock it off, Ben.” Scott hopped down into the boat with the agility of a mountain lion and reached up for the bags Ben handed down to him. “These ladies don’t need to be tortured by your self-proclaimed wit and humor.”
“Au contraire, mon ami, I believe my sense of humor will only add to our adventure.” He flashed a broad smile in Libby’s direction. “Don’t you agree?”
Libby’s expression danced with mischief. “Wholeheartedly.”
“And how about our little damsel in distress?” Ben jumped into the boat and shifted his gaze to Alyssa.
Her cheeks warmed again. Maybe she could help erase the first impression of her stumble moments ago. Here goes nothing. She grinned. “It all depends on if your jokes are good or not.”
Scott guffawed and thumped Ben on the back. “Busted.”
Seemingly unaffected, Ben winked at Alyssa. “Looks like the lady has a quick wit hidden beneath her shy exterior.”
Libby looped her arm through Alyssa’s and grinned. “Oh, you have no idea!”
About Amber: Tiffany Amber Stockton has been crafting and embellishing stories since childhood. Today, she is an award-winning author and speaker who has partnered with Nerium International (stutas07.theneriumlook.com) in the anti-aging industry, helping others look younger and live better. She lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, in Colorado. They have one girl and one boy, and an Aussie/retriever mix named Roxie. She has sold fourteen books so far and is represented by agent Sandra Bishop. You can also find her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorAmberStockton and Twitter: www.twitter.com/AmberStockton as well as her web site: www.amberstockton.com.
About the book – A Grand Design:
A fun getaway on a charming island may be just what Alyssa needs…if only she can let go of her past.
Fifteen years ago, Alyssa Denham stopped taking her annual summer trip to Mackinac Island, refusing to tell anyone the reason she avoided the island she loved as a child. Now here she is, unexpectedly on the island for two weeks with her best friend, Libby, trying to keep her secret buried.
Alyssa’s grandmother, who lives on the island, has asked Alyssa and Libby to help piece together a friendship quilt she had started years earlier. Their quest takes them to the homes of some of her grandmother’s long-lost friends, giving Alyssa amazing insight into her grandmother’s life…and attracting the attention of the handsome Scott Whitman.
Will memories of her past keep Alyssa from letting go? Or will she finally learn to trust and let God heal her fractured heart?
Answer one of both of these questions to enter the drawing:
1) What is the most romantic thing YOUR spouse or significant other has done for you?
2) What is the most romantic scene you’ve read in a book, and what was the book title/author?
Come back August 13th for the story of Amber’s proposal!