Don’t you just love Christmas stories? Do you get that little flutter in your chest when you walk through the book section of a store see the covers 
with snow and Christmas trees and lights and snowmen and beautiful wreaths? I’ve been known to scoop up any book that has a Christmas theme. This time I get to tell you about my Christmas book. Well, novella at any rate. Last year I was blessed to have a novella in a collection with three of my buddies from our writers group. This year it’s a slightly different group of writers. Be we are still telling stories set around Christmas.
Christmas Comes to Bethlehem, Maine takes place in a small New England town that presents a live nativity each year. The four stories, set in different years, will take you from the rocky start of the first event through the hard times, funny times and bring you to a joyous finale.
One of the best parts of participating in a novella collection is working with the other authors. Sandra Robbins, Elizabeth Ludwig, and Virginia (Ginger)Vaughan (from last year’s collection) are all talented, amazing and slightly crazy authors. They made this process so much fun.
Since Sandra (Tennessee) and Elizabeth aka Lisa (Texas) live a good distance from Ginger and I here in Mississippi, we had to do all the organization via email. Ginger had the kick off idea and I had come up with the closing story. That left the middle stories for Sandra and Lisa. Being ridiculously talented, they whipped up two ideas out of thin air and we were off and running. We had four stories that showed the growth and set back of our Bethlehem Live Nativity. Except one of those ‘set backs’ was a little too drastic. Way too drastic. So we had to sit one of our authors down and ask her to please rework that part of her story because Lisa needed an office in her story and I HAD to have a tree for my hero to lean against. So, being the sweet lady she is, she adjusted the event and we were all happy again. You’ll see what I mean when you read the book. I don’t want to spoil anything for you. We made a Pinterest board for the book, so stop by and see some of the places and things that inspired us as we worked. http://www.pinterest.com/lcbeatty/christmas-comes-to-bethlehem-maine-barbour-books-2/
I’m giving away two print copies of Christmas Comes to Bethlehem, Maine. Be sure and leave a comment to be eligible. Shipped to United States address only.
Back Cover copy for Christmas Comes to Bethlehem, Maine
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Spend Christmas in Bethlehem, Maine! As the town prepares for the annual living nativities, conflict, disrupts the lives of four couple in the season of peace…
A surprise pregnancy derails empty-nesters David and Kate Walters’ future plans. Stepping into the roles of Mary and Joseph may be just what they need to discover the joys of becoming parents again.
It is up to Michael Benson, a young pastor, and Emma Townsend, a pretty choir member, to save tradition and convince the town to be likes the three wise men of old when a devastating hurricane rips through Bethlehem.
Veterinarian Leesa McElroy isn’t so sure about recruiting the help of Logan Franks – an exotic animal farm owner who seems more at home with camels than Christians – for the live nativity.
When reporter and former flame Callen Grant arrives in town to do a feature on the nativity, singer Angie Monroe fears he’ll uncover the truth about her abandoned career… and rekindle old feelings.
Will Christmas renew joy to each heart in a town named for hope and peace?
Find us at:
http://www.lorrainebeatty.com/
http://www.virginiavaughanonline.com/index.html
Lorraine Beatty is a bestselling author of more than 15 Love Inspired books and several novellas. She was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, but has been blessed to live in Germany, Connecticut, and Louisiana. She now calls Mississippi home. She and husband Joe have two sons and five grandchildren. Lorraine started writing in Junior High and has written for trade books, newspapers and company newsletters. She is a member of RWA, ACFW and is a charter member, and past president of Magnolia State Romance Writers. In her spare time she likes to work in her garden, travel, and spend time with her family.
This sounds like a really fun collection! Congrats to all of you.
I think it is amazing that you all worked together and came up with this book. I always enjoy Christmas stories.