Fictional Character and Real Life by Merrillee Whren

Back in December of last year, I did a blog post about Montana Memories when I announced the pre-order for my book, A MATCH TO CALL OURS, the first book in my Front Porch Promises series. This book's original title under the Love Inspired imprint was Montana Match because, as you might guess, the book is set in Montana. Notice the photo at the top of the blog. This photo is a real life shot taken by a friend who lives in Montana. The photos of the characters are what I imagined Brittany and Parker look like. It's not always easy to find photos that match the images in my head.

In this book I used some incidents from my own life. When Brittany first meets Parker, he gives her ski lessons. On her first ride on a ski lift, she nearly falls on her face when she gets off. That actually happened to me the first time I rode a ski lift. There is a blizzard in the story, and I have lived through a few Montana blizzards. The little girls in the story talk about watching a calf being born, an experience from my own childhood.

I have used things that have happened to my family or friends in numerous books. My husband crashed an airplane, and I used that in Hometown Dad. When I was in college in Tennessee, a bunch of us drove over to Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina to the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. My hero and heroine in A Song to Call Ours go to the Highland Games. In A Place to Find Love, I take my characters on a trip to Germany, Belgium, and The Netherlands as I relived some of the things we did on a trip to Europe several years ago. When I wrote Four Little Blessings, I gave the reader a taste of my former home, Amelia Island, Florida, showing everything from the beach to historic Ft. Clinch.

I could name a dozen more incidents I have plucked from real life and put in my books. I find it fun to put some real life into my fictional characters. What is something from your life that you might like to see in a book?

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Merrillee Whren is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award presented by Romance Writers of American. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of forty-plus years, and has two grown daughters. Connect with her on her Facebook page and sign up for her newsletter.

 

Readers Never had it so Good by Pat Simmons

 Readers never had it so good.

Ahhh. The carefree life of a reader is exciting. Rain or shine, you can travel to Jamaica and not worry about flight delays. You can snatch the heroine out of a book and have the handsome, buffed, and flawed hero all to yourself. Sipping on a cup of coffee, you can sniff out a new release before the first page turns. Your radar is set to zero in on free or bargain eBooks. As if that wasn’t fun enough, you take road trips near and far to meet your favorite authors for selfies, swag, and more books. 

As an author, I miss those days where I could easily consume the pages of two or more books a week. Now, deadlines have me on a strict book diet. If I can start and finish two books a month, I’m a winner. In lieu of reading, I enjoy mingling with readers at events. 

This year alone, I’m participating in three events sponsored by local and state libraries for readers. Last weekend, I attended the annual Romance Slam Jam conference in Kansas City, Missouri.

In May, readers spotted me in Reno, Nevada, at the final RT BookLovers Convention. Next year, readers and authors will mingle at the newly formed Book Lovers Con in New Orleans, Louisiana.

 











I’ve even started a local reader appreciation gathering in St. Louis: Winter Warm Up’s Author Meet & Greet. In January, it will be the third year. Guests have to top off their attire with an ugly gray wig. LOL

In May, readers spotted me in Reno, Nevada, at the final RT BookLovers Convention. Next year, readers and authors will mingle at the newly formed Book Lovers Con in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Here are some conferences I’ll miss. This weekend, a book club kicked off its inaugural reader’s appreciation shindig Maniac Book Extravaganza.

AC Arthur's On The Road Reader Appreciation Event will connect with readers in August (Houston) and Vegas (November). Wow.

Coming up in October, Lissa Woodson’s annual Cavalcade of Authors will mingle with readers in the Bahamas. I’ll wiggle my toes Stateside in the sand at Myrtle Beach in South Carolina for the annual Christian Book Lovers Retreat. This is just a tip of the many other events to celebrate readers. 

 

Yep! Readers reign and we love you! Without your support and encouragement, we would have shut down the laptop years ago. So, what events are going on in your city?

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Pat Simmons has penned more than thirty-five titles. She is a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth who is passionate about researching her ancestors, then casting them in starring roles in her novels. She is a three-time recipient of the Romance Slam Jam Emma Rodgers Award for Best Inspirational Romance. Pat describes the evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost as a life-altering experience. She has been a featured speaker and workshop presenter at various venues across the country. Pat has converted her sofa-strapped sports fanatic husband into an amateur travel agent, untrained bodyguard, GPS-guided chauffeur, and administrative assistant who is constantly on probation. They have a son and a daughter. Pat holds a B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. Visit her at www.patsimmons.net.

Her newest release is MY ROCK, Book 1 of the Caregivers series. Download today.

Every Caregiver needs a Caregiver...Three sisters living in three different cities (Baltimore, St. Louis, and Nashville) make a pact to share responsibilities for their aging relative after authorities find Aunt Tweet across state lines. Her destination had been a neighborhood grocery store. The siblings soon learn the definition of caregiver includes a cup full of patience, a slight sense of humor, and when to cry out for help.

****REVIEWS****

--Pat Simmons has done an outstanding job in penning this page turner. This story really hit home because I have family members who are caring for someone with dementia.--the Book Diva via Amazon

--My Rock is like a breath of fresh air. Speaking from personal experience, it was truly refreshing to read a book that accurately represents the intense struggles that caregivers endure and the sacrifices they make. As usual, Pat Simmons manages to incorporate God into the situations in the book without it feeling forced. This book is AWESOME!! I--Joyce N. via Amazon

Write your own review by downloading your copy today. 

Character Driven Stories

Not only am I an author, trust me, I’m definitely a character. The most popular one is Grandma BB. Mrs. Beatrice Tilley Beacon a.k.a. Grandma BB steals the show every time she struts into a scene. Her wit, sassy unapologetic mouth, and outrageous antics will challenge anyone’s sanity.  Despite her flawed character, Grandma BB has made the Jamieson Legacy one of my oldest, ongoing series in my ten year career. Plus, it’s my favorite storyline to write. Actually, I do the research and the characters tell their own stories. With a background in news, my passion is to tackle real issues, such as abortion, witchcraft, adoption, African American vs. African misperceptions, family roots, and redemption from past regrets. Of course, I can’t leave out romance.

Although I have drama in my books, there is no church drama. I believe most go to church or read Christian fiction/romance for inspiration, deliverance, and salvation, which is why at least one character in my stories has a heart after God.

Readers can’t get enough of the Jamiesons, so I’m in the process of writing a Special Edition Jamieson Family Night, along with a game book that will test your knowledge about the characters. If you’ve never read Kidd, Cameron, Parke, Ace, Grandma BB and the others, I have just the stories to warm your heart from the winter blast. Reach out to me at authorpatsimmons@gmail.com to purchase an autograph copy today and see why the Jamiesons will soon become your favorite.

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Pat Simmons has penned more than thirty-five titles. She is a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth who is passionate about researching her ancestors, then casting them in starring roles in her novels. She is a three-time recipient of the Romance Slam Jam Emma Rodgers Award for Best Inspirational Romance. Pat describes the evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost as a life-altering experience. She has been a featured speaker and workshop presenter at various venues across the country.

Pat holds a B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts.