Dance Like a Chicken Day by Merrillee Whren

These quirky holidays are fun to talk about. Who knew there was a special day to celebrate this crazy dance, which is often part of the dancing at a wedding reception?

I love to include weddings in my books. In my latest book, HOMECOMING BLESSINGS, there are two weddings. The heroine's father, who has been a widower for years, gets married. This book was originally published over 10 years ago by Steeple Hill Books, which is now known as Harlequin Love Inspired. As I updated the book for reissue, I decided to add an epilogue to the story that included the wedding of the hero and heroine, since this is the last book in the Dalton Brothers series.

I also added a connection to my previous series about the little fictional town of Kellersburg, located in southwest Ohio. The new connection is Caroline Keller, the sister of Nathan Keller, the hero of Hometown Dad, the third book in the Kellersburg series. I'll be adding to the Kellersburg series with Caroline's story. How is Caroline connected to Homecoming Blessings? She is a friend of Ashley Hiatt, the heroine of Homecoming Blessings.

Here's where you can preorder HOMECOMING BLESSINGS. 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R81Z5N1

B&N: http://bit.ly/2Llx7PD
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1462683094
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2DXFkDK

Have you ever done the chicken dance at a wedding? Do you like to have two different book series connected in some way?

I will give away an ebook copy of the first book in the Kellersburg series, Hometown Promise, to one person who leaves a comment. I will draw the winning name on May 16 at 9 PM MST.

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.

Saying Goodbye to Characters by Merrillee Whren

On July 25, the fifth book in my Front Porch Promises series, A BABY TO CALL OURS, will release. It is available for pre-order now at a discounted price. The price goes up on release day, so reserve your copy now. Here are the buy links. Amazon. Barnes & Noble.

For months I have lived with Jimmy and Kelsey. I've been in their heads and inside their skin in order to write their story. Sometimes they make me laugh and other times they make me cry. I hope my readers will have the same reaction. When a book is finished, it's time to move on to a new set of characters, but I often find it hard to let go of these imaginary people I've had in my mind for so long.

All of my Front Porch Promises books have front porches on the covers. No people. I know readers love to see what the characters look like, but many times I can't find photos that represent the people in my head. These two photos come close to capturing Jimmy and Kelsey.

Jimmy and Kelsey's story came alive to me just as I was finishing the previous book in the series, A SONG TO CALL OURS. In that book, Jimmy and Kelsey are secondary characters. I knew they were going to be the hero and heroine of the next book, but I had no idea how they would fall in love. The marriage of convenience storyline trickled into my mind and wouldn't let go, even though I wasn't sure that's what I wanted to write. But the idea camped out in my thoughts and wouldn't go away. We were traveling in Australia and New Zealand at the time, and while I looked at spectacular scenery, their story slowly came to life.

So in saying goodbye to Jimmy and Kelsey, I'm saying hello to my next hero and heroine, Jeremy and Whitney, again secondary characters, who get their own story. Right now I'm trying to figure out how to redeem Whitney, who isn't a very likable character in A BABY TO CALL OURS. I'm sure she'll find her redemption just as Jimmy and Kelsey did.

Do you like characters who are deeply flawed? Why or why not?

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  thirty-five plus years, and has two grown daughters. Connect with her on her Facebook page and sign up for her newsletter.