This week, I’m delighted to introduce a brand new inspirational romance writer to you!
Kristin Wallace writes stories filled with love, laughter and a leap of faith. When she’s not writing her next novel, she works as an advertising copywriter for clients that have included the Miami Marlins, Discovery Networks, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, The Peabody Hotel and Sea World. She also enjoys singing in the church choir and worship team and playing flute in a community orchestra.
Her debut novel, Marry Me, represents a 17-year journey toward publication.
Growing up Kristin devoured books like bags of Dove Dark Chocolate. Her first Golden Book led to Laura Ingalls Wilder, Nancy Drew, Encyclopedia Brown, C.S. Lewis and the Sweet Valley High series.
Later, she discovered romance novels and fell in love all over again. So it’s no surprise that Kristin would one day try her hand at writing them.
Marry Me is a contemporary inspirational romance set in the fictional, Southern town of Covington Falls, Georgia.
Here’s the blurb:
She’d vowed never to fall in love…
Julia Richardson is no fan of weddings. A lifetime of watching her parents treat relationships like the flavor of the month has taught her that love is for fools. Then she learns her former stepsister is having a crisis with her pregnancy. The crisis has Julia returning to the small Southern town – and the family – she’s been avoiding for years. Before she knows it, Julia’s been pressed into service running her stepsister’s wedding planning business.
Julia doesn’t know a garter from a garden hose, but now she must navigate couples along the bumpy path down the aisle – despite wardrobe malfunctions, killer bees, and plenty of near disasters. In the midst of it all, Julia makes the most unexpected discovery of all…Love, with Seth Graham, the widowed local minister! Julia’s been running from love and everything spiritual for most of her life. It’s not until she finds the courage to stop running that she finds her own “I Do” moment.
Marry Me is available as an ebook at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and www.AstraeaPress.com
Your Turn: Any questions for Kristin?
Hi Kristin,
Welcome to my blog. I’d like to get the questions started with a question that will be of interest to aspiring writers. What can you tell us about Astraea Press? Are they actively seeking inspirational romance? Do you need an agent to submit? Will the book eventually come out in paperback or did they only publish in Eformat? Thanks so much!
This book sounds fabulous! Love the cover, love the story premise…I must read it. 🙂
Thanks Melissa…hope you enjoy it. I really loved writing this book. It’s taken a looonnnggg time for anyone other than me to read it so glad people will now get a chance to meet Julia and Seth.
Hi Sandra and thanks for having me on! Very happy to be here and to talk about my book, MARRY ME. Astraea Press (www.astraeapress.com) publishes romance/fiction and inspirational romance/fiction. All genres from YA to contemporary to historical. They only publish *clean* books meaning no erotica or erotic romance. You don’t need an agent to submit. They publish in ebook first and then you have to sell a certain $$ amount and they will do the print version. My experience with them has been good so far. I have a great editor and I’m thrilled with the cover art.
I’m fascinated by the idea that she has to take over her sister’s business. That is a great premise, ripe for all sorts of conflict. How did you come up with that idea?
Alison, at first all I knew about the book was that my heroine would be this cynical woman who doesn’t believe in love and who hates weddings, but has to take over a wedding planning business. I just thought it was a funny premise. Then I had to figure out all the questions. Who she was and why or how she would be compelled to run this business. It wasn’t until I came up with my hero Seth and decided he would be a minister that the rest of the story came together. After that I figured out who Julia really was and her connection to everyone.
I do love the cover. The book sounds good. I will definitely pick it out next Amazon stop.
Thanks Loree…hope you enjoy the read!
Sounds like great fun, Kristin. I love the concept. I’m putting it on my TBR list!!
Thanks Lisa…hope you enjoy!
Awww, this blurb totally had me smiling. This looks adorable and a very good read 🙂
Thanks Sarah (you know the stepsister is named Sarah so you should like her). Hope the book makes you smile, too. 🙂
Congrats on your book, Kristin.
Hey thanks Deb…
How much research did you have to do into the wedding planning business? That’s a big industry today!
Nancy, I have a friend who does wedding planning. Most of the wedding disasters were all from my imagination though, lol
Sounds like a neat book. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Janet. Hope you enjoy it!
Oooh, this book is right up my alley!
Thanks Jennifer. Hope you enjoy!
Hi Kristin! I’m a few days “behind” on here, but wanted to say your book sounds great. 🙂 Anything set in Georgia always catches my eye (I’m a GA native and life-long resident) so I plan on reading your book!
I’m curious…are you from Georgia?
Congratulations on this book, and blessings on your writing. 🙂
Patti Jo
Hi Patti. As long as you made it. I’m not from Georgia. I do have relatives there, lol. I just liked the idea of a Southern town. The manners and the traditions. Everything about Covington Falls is entirely from my imagination, though.