I’m celebrating the release of my second book, White Doves, to Heartsong Presents book club members by sharing my real-life romance. I’ll also be posting 5 days this week and giving away a copy of White Doves, which won’t be in stores until April. Comment on any post dated Oct 4 – 8 by Oct 9, 8:00 PM Central for a chance to win.
Still Romancing After Twenty-Six Years
Several months ago, I had my book launch party for White Roses at the Romance Waterfalls. It was too hot to actually have it at the falls, so owners, Buck & Brenda Weatherly graciously opened their home. My husband went with me, kept the coffee flowing, corralled our eight year old, and visited with our church members who came. It was an awesome day. I sold out within ten minutes and our church members ended up giving me their books back, so I could sell them to other people, and replace their copies later.
As the day came to a close and only a handful of friends and family milled about, I thought about how important the Romance Waterfalls is to my books. In the series, a proposal and a wedding takes place there, and a couple draws closer together at the falls. All of my characters have had romantic or important moments there. I decided that my husband and I should have a romantic moment at the falls too. I grabbed my friend, Linda and her camera, and then my hubby.
“Let’s go down to the falls and let Linda take our picture while we kiss.”
Hubby jumped up. “Sure.”
Wow he’s excited, I thought.
We took the long, humid walk to the falls. Me, in my white skirt and satin shoes, him in shorts and tennis shoes. We stopped on the balcony where couples get married. I snuggled up.
He wouldn’t even put his arms around me.
“Come on.” I snuggled closer.
He finally gave in and moved in for a kiss.
Linda cleared her throat. “Okay, guys. Let’s not get carried away.”
We moved down to another balcony overlooking the falls, kissed again and got a few more shots. We trekked back to the Weatherly’s house, visited a bit longer, loaded the car and left.
Later, when I got the pictures from Linda, I asked, “What was with the no hands thing?”
“I was so uncomfortable.”
“Why?”
“I’m not used to getting my picture taken while I kiss my wife. It wasn’t very spontaneous.”
“But you didn’t hesitate when I asked.”
“I didn’t want to make you feel bad.”
So, my PDA shy husband/pastor posed for the camera, even though it made him uncomfortable. Now, that’s true love.
Come back:
Oct 5 for a recipe for romance from White Doves.
Oct 6 for the scoop on mailing wedding invitations and Valentine cards from the Romance Post Office.
Oct 7 for a romantic Interview featuring the hero and heroine from White Doves.
Oct 8 for an exclusive romantic excerpt from White Doves.
You really picked the absolutely perfect place for a story setting. It looks absolutely beautiful. Someday, I’m going to come down & you can show me around. As for your PDA-shy husband, now that IS love.
Brenda,
That would be awesome.
The funny thing is, when I wrote the first book, I didn’t know about the waterfall. I’d already turned White Roses into my publisher and signed the contract, then visited the Romance Post Office to research for book 2. That’s when I learned about the Romance Waterfall and worked it in my edits and into the 2 and 3 book.
Hubby has been awesome. He spends a lot of his Saturdays carting me around and helping with events. Since he works a full time job and pastors, Saturday is usually the day he puts his sermons together. Lately, he’s been doing them on the fly.
You day at your book launch, then the waterfalls will always be a treasured day in your memory. Shannon, isn’t it wonderful that your church members were so in awe and supportive of your new book, “White Doves” that they bought you out, then returned them so you’d have books to sell to other guests. That’s love and consideration! The waterfall must be a romantic scene. Aren’t men just too logical sometimes?! We ladies are the romantics in the family. Perhaps he didn’t want to share kissing you with anyone else….just you privately….that’s respectful love! LOL. I love your book title. Did you have doves at your wedding? Thanks for the giveaway and the chance for one of us to win it. I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s posting about your romantic story.
Sharing Faith in Christ,
Barb
Hi Barbara,
My church members are always awesome and supportive. I felt so bad that day. They’d driven a good 45 minutes to buy my book and went home empty-handed. But by the next weekend, they had their books.
We didn’t have any doves at our wedding and I’ve never even actually seen it done, just heard about it. The theme in this book is peace, so naturally I thought of doves and luckily my editor liked the title. It’s rare for an author to get to keep their titles, but I have on all three books.
such a sweet story, love the part about ur hubby being willing to pose for the pics
Hi Elizabeth,
There’s usually nothing shy about him, so it was funny and sweet.
I guess I should have taken the picture with my eyes shut — maybe then he wouldn’t have been so shy, lol!
the little memories are what make every marriage special – and they make great stories to pass on to children and grandchildren!