Shannon here: Help me congratulate my friend, Regina Rudd Merrick. Her dream of publication recently came true with her debut title, Carolina Dream. All comments will go in the drawing for my latest title, Winning Over the Cowboy. Deadline April 27th, 11:59 pm central time.
Back in May 2010, I launched my website and blog. One of my first guests was Regina Merrick. At that time, she was an aspiring author. We’d gotten acquainted through one of my critique partners. Though we hadn’t met and only knew each other online, we ended up together on a group blog – Inkspirational Messages for several years.
In September of that year, I met Regina in person at the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference in Indianapolis. Along with several other inkspers, L to R back row: Brenda S. Anderson, me, Lorna Seilstad, Linda Fulkerson. Front row, L to R: Dawn Ford, and Kimberly Payne. That’s Regina on the right in front.
Her charming husband, Todd was with her – cutest couple ever
with his genteel Kentucky accent. After meeting her, I had the honor of critiquing her book Carolina Dream.
Fast forward seven years and Regina is now a debut author. Carolina Dream released in March. I hope you’ll give it a read and I plan to have Regina as a guest soon. But in the meantime, I wanted to spotlight her book.
Carolina Dream: A Southern Breeze Series
Sarah Crawford wants more from life than to attend the wedding of her ex-fiancée. An unexpected inheritance in South Carolina comes at the perfect time, just as Sarah is willing to use any excuse to get out of town. When she meets potential business partner Jared Benton and discovers that a house is part of the inheritance, she is sure that God has been preparing her for this time through a recurring dream. But will a dream about an antebellum mansion, many rooms to be explored, and a man with dark brown eyes give her the confidence to take a leap of faith, leaving friends, family, and her job behind?
About Regina: Regina is Christian, wife, mother, musician, librarian, writer . . . still trying to connect the dots and constantly in wonder at how they all fit together.” A follower of Jesus since age 8, Regina has been a wife to the love of her life since age 19, a mother since age 25, and a college graduate since age 35. The rest is just “extra!” She was a school librarian for five years, and is currently the director of the Crittenden County Public Library. As a result of becoming a public librarian, she was introduced to the growing genre, Christian Fiction, and was inspired to try her hand at writing.
Besides writing, Regina’s time is spent keeping up with an educator husband, two adult daughters, and many church activities, including instrumental and vocal music.
Question for Readers: What’s the first book you remember reading from a library or bookstore? Tell us about it.
If you’d like to read about Regina’s real life romance she shared here back in 2010, here are the links:
Regina Merrick Real Life Romance – part 1
Regina Merrick Real Life Romance – part 2
Regina Merrick Real Life Romance part 3
Come back April 25th for Kelly Irvin!
Thanks for the spotlight, Shannon! I feel like we’ve been on this journey together for a long time!
Me too, Regina. It’s been an honor to be on the journey with you. And I’m so happy for you!
The first book I remember is Green Eggs and Ham. It kind of turned my stomach, but I read all of the other Dr. Seuss books anyway. My mom took me to the library every week.
CONGRATULATIONS, REGINA!!! Snoopy Dancing with you. 😀
congratulations Regina! first book I remember is Little House on the Praire by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Since I’ve been reading since sometime in the early ’60’s, remembering the first book I read from a library or bookstore is difficult. I remember reading from the library, The Bobsey twins series, Oz books, a western series that had gauchos in it, etc. In 6th grade, I’d use a shopping cart to take my borrowed books back and forth. I’d rather read than play during that year.
I’ve read a lot of books in the last 50 years but I don’t know what would have been my first one. I know I read almost all of the Nancy Drew, Bobsey Twins, and Hardy Boys books as a youngster but they were all used or passed down to me. We didn’t live in town, so were unable to have a library card.
This drawing went in with my blog tour drawing. The winners are announced on my April 27th post.