Montana Mistletoe Blog Tour

Today, I’m privileged to introduce a Christmas anthology called Montana Mistletoe. What makes this a special read for me is that one of the authors, Kim Vogel Sawyer, is one of my critique partners, and I got to critique her novella, All I Want for Christmas. . .Is You.

Tell us a bit about the collection, Montana Mistletoe.

LISA: This is a fun collection that centers around the quaint town of Mistletoe, Montana, a town that celebrates Christmas year round. The only problem is the town is beginning to lose its Christmas spirit. Add to that, four girlfriends make a New Year’s pact to find themselves true love by time they turn twenty-eight, and end up discovering that love often comes in very surprising ways. . .and not always with whom you were expecting.

Give us a brief blurb about your story.
LENA: Lori Compton is the youngest mayor ever elected in the year around Christmas town, Mistletoe, Montana. She plans a turnaround in the local sagging economy by finding ways to bring more tourists to Mistletoe. The only possible suitor she can find is the single pastor of Living Word Chapel, but deep in her heart, she wants real love, not just a convenient answer to the Mistletoe Pact.
DEBBY: When Deanna’s high school sweetheart Anthony returns to Mistletoe, in Return to Mistletoe, she’s not prepared for her own reaction. Fighting the urge to fall in love with him again, she works hard at adding sparks to a relationship with someone else. Anthony continues to show up at the most unexpected times—not only to see Deanna but to help the town he’s loved since childhood.

LISA: When Madison Graham leaves the quant town of Mistletoe, Colorado for New York City to buy products for her year-round Christmas store, Under the Mistletoe, she’s positive she’s met her man. Albert Kendall is everything she’s ever dreamed of. Successful, good looking, and well off. But is worldly success really what she’s looking for in a man, or have the bright lights of the city blinded her so that she’s forgotten the real meaning of Christmas?

KIM: In All I want for Christmas. . .Is You, Kathy Morgan has gotten caught up in the corporate world of writing advertising jingles at a San Francisco advertising company--a far cry from the simple world of Mistletoe. As Christmas approaches, an unexpected bonus gives her the opportunity to return to Mistletoe for a trip down "Memory Lane" where she can consider the marriage proposal of long-time co-worker Chad. But postman Erik Hoffman becomes a distraction that makes her wonder if she needs to evaluate more than Chad's proposal...perhaps more than romantic love, she needs the love of Jesus in her life.

Any advice in working together as a team/preparing a novella proposal?

LENA: Together is the operative word. Everyone’s story is equally important. I write the best story I can to help strengthen the finished product, and I encourage the other authors in their stories, too.

KIM: This was my first novella experience, and I really enjoyed it! Sharing ideas with four other writers takes things in directions beyond your own imagination, and you have fellowship and feedback while you're writing. The challenge is getting the stories to "mesh"--making sure they lead into one another with everyone's story balancing the others. But it was great fun working out the "kinks."

What was your favorite part of the collection?

LISA: I loved the fact that this collection has a Christmas theme. Christmas is one of my favorite holidays, and while I loved adding details like eggnog, decorations, and mistletoe to the storyline, the reminder of what Christmas is really all about was the most meaningful.

A peek into the fictional town of Mistletoe

One of the fun things about writing a collection is developing a fictional town. This collection is set in Mistletoe, Montana and comes complete with a town square, a clock tower, and Flossie’s awesome apple fritters.

*Flossie's has an ice cream/soda bar in addition to homemade goodies. Located on Main Street, facing the park, it's especially known for its awesome apple fritters.

*Mrs. Flanagan’s runs the Bed-and-Breakfast, a two-story Queen Anne house that’s located two blocks off Main Street.

*If you’re looking for Christian fellowship, the Living Word Chapel is right on the town square.

*Under the Mistletoe sells Christmas ornaments year round, including popular handmade train sets.
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If you want to learn more about the authors of Montana Mistletoe, check out Debby Mayne’s blog on September 24th at http://debbymayne.blogspot.com

Winners! Winners! Winners!

Want a chance to win a FREE copy of the book and a $30 gift certificate to ChristianBooks.com? For more information, visit our official Montana, Mistletoe blog at http://montanamistletoe.blogspot.com by October 1st!

www.lenanelsondooley.com
www.debbymayne.com
www.kimvogelsawyer.com
www.lisaharriswrites.com

If you’ve missed any part of the interview, here is the tour schedule:

August 26th - Lena Nelson Dooley http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/

September 3rd - Jackie Castle http://www.journeyintograce.blogspot.com/

September 5th - Ronie Kendig http://supernaturalcraving.blogspot.com/

September 7th - Lisa Harris http://myblotintheheartofafrica.blogspot.com/

September 10th - Lynette Sowell http://myslicesoflife.blogspot.com/

September 12th - Cecelia Dowdy http://www.ceceliadowdy.blogspot.com/

September 14th - Marjorie Vawter http://www.marjorievawter.blogspot.com/

September 24th - Debby Mayne http://debbymayne.blogspot.com/

September 26th - Rhonda Gibson http://www.rhondagibson.blogspot.com/

September 28th - Beth Goddard http://bethgoddard.blogspot.com/

October 1st - Draw winners! http://montanamistletoe.blogspot.com/


Thank you, Lena, Lisa, Debbie, and Kim, for joining me today on my blog.