| by Winter Lawrence |
As I’m sure you’ve all surmised, my real name isn’t Winter, but it is a pen name I chose after very heavy consideration. I know what you’re thinking, but, believe it or not, I didn’t pick it because I love winter. The truth is, winter is my least favorite season of the year. I hate the cold, and I hate the gray. I’m a summer-kind-of-gal. 100 degrees. Not a cloud in the sky. With just a touch of a breeze. Those are good days.
So, what’s with the name?
Well, I may not like winter, but I DO love Christmas. Or more like, my family does. My daughter and my mother start decorating right after Halloween. So, while I’m not a fan of the leaves changing colors as the cold weather settles in, I’m a sucker for Christmas, and I especially love holiday-themed books. Which is why I reached out to Caroline Akervik, author of the recently released sweet holiday-themed romance entitled “Christmas Comeback (To Me).” Here’s what she had to say…
(Q) Tell us about your current project. What was the inspiration behind it and how long did it take you to complete?
(A) If you have ever seen the movie Auntie Mame, you are familiar with the song, “We All Need a Little Christmas.” Two years ago, in the fall, my younger brother passed suddenly and unexpectedly. My family and I were struggling with getting into the holiday spirit. I was working on a science fiction writing project, and I set it aside because I found I needed a little Christmas joy. Christmas Comeback (To Me) was the easiest thing that I have ever written because the act of writing it helped me find joy again. The novel is dedicated to my brother.
Christmas Comeback (To Me) is set in a snowy Wisconsin winter in the town of Noelle. It’s a story about two people who left town to pursue careers and ambitions, but they find themselves drawn back together during a special holiday season. It’s a joyful, gingerbready confection of a story that warms the heart.
(Q) How many hours a day do you put into writing and learning about your craft? Do you have any books or movies that you’d recommend to aspiring writers?
(A) I try to write for at least an hour a day, but I also work full time, so this can prove challenging at times. I find the discipline of writing every day helps a story grow in my mind.
The very best book I have ever read on the craft of writing is Stephen King’s On Writing. That said, I am a chicken and I cannot read his other work.
(Q) Do you write based on particular themes, or does the story come to you first and then you incorporate important issues as you go?
(A) A story comes to me as an idea, a teasing thought that I want to pursue or untangle like a knot. I feel dissatisfied until I can worry or work at that knot until it is resolved.
(Q) When you were growing up, which authors inspired you and what was your favorite book?
I have always been a reader. The first book that really moved me when I was a child was C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. Then, I became a huge fan of horse stories, including those by Marguerite Henry and Walter Farley. But it was Victoria Holt’s novels that got me hooked on the romance genre. As an early teen, I had to sneak them away from my mother and grandmother in order to read them. I loved the gothic drama of those stories.
(Q) Do you have an addiction to reading as well as writing? If so, what are you currently reading?
(A) I am a voracious reader. I read anything and everything. But, during the holiday season, I do like a good holiday romance.
(Q) Caroline, thanks so much for sharing the inspiration behind Christmas Comeback (To Me). It’s a beautiful, touching story and I’m glad you found a way for you and your family to enjoy the holidays again! Also, congratulations again on the November 3, 2020 release of the book! Folks, you can grab your copy on Amazon here!
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Caroline Akervik has always been a voracious reader of most any genre, with the exception of horror, because it's scary. Blessed with a wonderful husband and three amazing grown children, Caroline has worked as a horse trainer and as a school librarian. She remains an animal lover and believes that libraries are among the most magical of places. Her writings reflect the eclectic nature of her life and reading taste, and her books include sweet romances, horse stories, and even science fiction. Caroline seeks to write from the heart, to transport her readers, and to give wings to their imaginations.
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Friends, you can keep up with Caroline at the follow places…
Website:
Facebook:
Twitter:
@CAkervik
Instagram:
c_akervik
Pinterest:
Amazon:
Goodreads:
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