New Release!

Merrillee Whren here. I'm excited to announce the release of the second book in my Front Porch Promises series, A LOVE TO CALL MINE. The hero of this book, Max Reynolds, has a lot to deal with in this story. Here's how I think he'd answer some questions put to him at the beginning of the story. You can find links to buy here.

1. What is your current state of mind? Worried. I’ve just been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, so the future is very uncertain?

2. What is your most deplorable trait? I tend to look at things with a half-glass-full point of view. I’m trying to have a more positive attitude, but too many things have gone wrong in my life, so I let negative thoughts take over.

3. When and where were you happiest? I was most happy when Brittany was in my life and I was playing college football. I lost Brittany, and an injury ended my football career.

4. Do you own a pet? No pets. I just moved from Montana to Massachusetts for a new job. I can’t have pets in my studio apartment.

5. What’s your favorite food? Pizza. I probably eat it too often, but I don’t like to cook.

6. What do you put off because you dread it? Talking to my mom about my health. She worries more than I do about what lies ahead for me.

7. What is your greatest regret? I regret not giving my former girlfriend, Brittany, the attention she deserved. Her friend Heather is my oncology nurse, and she thinks I was neglectful. She doesn’t have a very good opinion of me, but she’s doing her best to help me fight this disease.

8. Who are your real life heroes? My mom Beth and adopted father Clay. My mom fought to keep me when she was a unwed teenage mother. Clay adopted me after he married my mom when I was a teenager, and he steered me in the right direction and saved me from making some bad decisions.

9. How do you express your anger? Most of the time, I don’t. I usually suffer in silence, but when it finally gets to be too much to bear, I let it all out. Then I wish I could take it all back.

10. What do you want out of life? Right now I just want to conquer my cancer. I also want to find the other half of who I am. My father died before I was born, and I’m non-existent on his side of my family tree. I want to find them and let them know that my existence is a good thing. At the same time, I’m afraid of their rejection.

11. What do you value most? My family, even the family that doesn't know me yet.

12. What does God mean to you? I believe in God, but a lot of times I don't understand why all this rotten stuff has happened in my life. Many times I ask, "Why me, God?" I have to admit that too many times my faith is weak, and I have trouble praying. But I have a host of friends and family who are bringing me along one step at a time.

What do you like best about books that are in a series?

I'll be giving away the first book in the Front Porch Promises series to one person who leaves a comment. I will draw the winner's name, on October 16, 2016 at 9PM PDT.

 

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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.

 

Love Songs by Merrillee Whren

When it's my day to blog, I always have to figure out what I'm going to talk about. Will the things that interest me interest people who stop by the blog? That is the ultimate question. I hope today's post will be something that piques your interest.

I've been working on a story about Max Reynolds, a guy who has a lot of bad things going on his life. I've written a scene in which he's at an open mic event where he's listening to different acts including his step-cousin who is singing. A lot of the performers are singing love songs, many of them reminding him of the demise of his love life. Here's one that his step-cousin sings.

 You see how that song would make him think of a lost love. He also has to listen to this song.

My hero find no comfort in the fact that these songs show others suffering because of love, as well. He also takes no solace in a lively song about love gone right.

I'm not always familiar with the latest pop tunes, but I can thank my daughter for introducing the following song to me. The video is a fun compilation of some movie dance scenes.

The line from the song that says, "I don't know how it happened," represents the hero's thoughts about his new romantic feelings for the heroine, whom he blames for the break-up with his long-time girlfriend.

This book, A LOVE TO CALL MINE, is a sequel to A PLACE TO CALL HOME, which is available now. You can click on the link to learn more about it.

Do you have a favorite love song? Do you and your significant other have a special song?

Merrillee Whren is the winner of the 2003Golden 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. Her latest book, Second Chance Reunion, is available at all major book retailers. You can find the buy links at her website. Connect with her on her Facebook page.

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