Leya here with another random update. Sometimes things just pop in my head, and they have to come out. So, while I’ve been churning out books already this year–You’ve Got Bookmail released in February and Shar’s Story in May–I started thinking about my first Hot Hallmark novel that came out last November. It was my first full-length novel, and only the second books released. Needless to say, I had little idea what I was doing. There were some editing and formatting issues, and a couple of plot holes that didn’t get filled before the book went live. Again, I didn’t know what I was doing, or how fast things happen when you press that publish button.
I love Carol and Jackson’s story. It actually came to me in a dream, and if you know me, I rarely dream or remember them. That morning, though, I woke with an entire plot in my head for a spicy retelling of A Christmas Carol, complete with the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future. Not everything worked out according to that original plan, as characters tend to do what they want, but the relationship is everything I wanted it to be. I also loved Carol’s chosen sister, Clarissa. She’s spunky and snarky, and I love her.
So, in May, as I was gearing up for the release of Shar’s Story, I decided to go back and clean up all of those issues with Carol’s Christmas Awakening. I even added a couple of bonus scenes at the end to show a little of what happens in Ardor Point with these characters. These scenes will be included in Clarissa’s story, which I’m hoping to have out for Valentine’s Day. I like the idea of hanging out in Ardor Point for a while, so don’t be surprised if you see a few more books set in this small town at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains.
Happy Reading!
