Amid all the rush and tinsel of Christmas it can seem a little odd to be thinking about New Year’s. But for me, a lot of my attention this year has been focused on what’s happening at the end of the year. Why? Because next week sees the launch of my first independently published book, the first book of a brand new contemporary romance series, The Breakup Project. Hooray!
I’ve had nearly a dozen historical books published, and with the release of Reclaiming Hope earlier this month, I’ve now had three contemporaries released, but venturing into indie-land has been eye-opening in many ways. I’ve learned a lot, been stretched a huge amount, and been SO thankful for my fellow author friends who have encouraged me and shared their wisdom along the way. And now, to think we’re almost ready to release Bree and Mike’s story to the world, well, it’s a dream (literally) come true.
The Breakup Project came about because of an editor’s comment after reading my very first book (Love on Ice) which I wrote back in 2010. That book focused on an Aussie short track skater (Holly) and an ice hockey player (Brent) and the challenges of sustaining a long distance relationship on their way to the Winter Olympics (and it’s finally releasing next year – just in time for the Winter Olympics!). My editor suggested that Brent’s twin sister Breanna could have a story, which is where my ever-busy brain started imagining how she and Brent’s best friend could get together. Her New Year’s resolution not to date hockey players stems from wanting to be seen for herself, to not be passed over in preference for her sibling, which is something we all want, isn’t it? And I don’t know about you, but I’ll admit that I struggle with keeping my resolutions, so you can imagine how fun it was to create a story with a character who is challenged by this, too.
Part of the fun of a series is trying to think of how to link the different stories, which becomes more challenging when you can’t be based in one setting. The Original Six series is based on the locations for the NHL’s original six teams (Boston, Detroit, Chicago, Montreal, New York and Toronto) so I needed something to link each book. The first two books obviously had the siblings as a link, but beyond that I was stumped. Until in a moment of utter God-provision, I discovered that there is an online Bible study group for pro hockey players. Suddenly I had my answer, so we have 5+ Christian guys who play for famous hockey teams (don’t worry – there’s way more romance than sportiness!), each searching for their ideal woman. Hello, romance series!
I loved incorporating some of my travels into this story, so if you’ve lived in or been to Boston, then I hope you’ll enjoy seeing some references to places I’ve seen too. (If you’re really keen, you can check out the pictures on my website where I’ve got travel pics for all the places where the Original Six romance books are set. Website link in bio below.) I also enjoyed sprinkling some of my Regency love in this book too, so if you’re a fan of Mr Darcy, I hope you’ll appreciate spotting those references along the way, too.
But one of the best things about writing The Breakup Project was shining a spotlight on a real missions organization, Mission Possible for Future Generations. Good friends of mine began this Philippines-based ministry, and I wove a number of real-life experiences and miracles into the story, things that have happened on various ministry trips to my husband and others we know well. Being able to focus on such things really gives some deeper heart to this romance, which early readers have loved.
Want to know more? Okay then, here you go!
New Year. New Resolution. New Romance?
What happens when the best-laid plans break a friendship?
As the twin sister of hockey’s hottest forward, romance-loving Bree Karlsson is used to being ignored, leading to a New Year’s resolution to not date any athlete in her attempt to find Mr. Right. But what happens when the man who might prove to be her personal Mr. Darcy is her brother’s hockey-playing best friend?
Mike Vaughan might be happy playing in Boston, but he’d be even happier if Bree could one day see him as more than a good friend. He agrees to help Bree with a special project in the hope she’ll finally see him as something more. But when a misunderstanding ends in a Valentine’s Day disaster, Bree realizes that her breakup project may have broken her friendship with Mike in two. Can she ever redeem her mistake?
This friends-to-more romance has plenty of heart, humor, and swoon-worthy kisses in this first book of the Original Six, a sweet, slightly sporty Christian contemporary romance series.
Sounds fun, right? The special preorder price is available now on all retailers. Happy reading, and happy Christmas to you all!
Now over to you:
Have you been to Boston, or any of the other Original Six locations? Are you a New Year’s resolution-maker (and if so, do you keep them)? Have you gone on a missions trip that changed your perspective? Sharing is caring! Let’s chat!
Carolyn Miller lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. A longtime lover of romance, Carolyn loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. Her Regency and contemporary novels are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Koorong, etc
Congratulations on your upcoming releases! It’s so interesting to hear about how the inspiration for the story came up. I look forward to checking out The Breakup Project. I’ve not been to Boston or Detroit. And I can only count Chicago if I’m allowed to include a drive from the airport to Missouri.
I hope you enjoy your indie adventure!
I have never been to any of the 6 places, but hope to some day. I’m not good at New Year’s resolutions, and I’ve also never been on a Missions Trip.
Merry Christmas Carolyn! I have been to 4 places: Detroit, Chicago, New York and Toronto. As a German immigrant our ship passed through NYC, and in 2002 I attended a German American Partnership Seminar. My dad’s sister wasn’t able to immigrate to the US and lived in Toronto. I visited the city in 1968 and in 2001. Most of my life I have lived in SW Michigan – directly across Lake Michigan from the Windy City. As a child we had friends that lived in both Detroit and Chicago. I lived in Chicago during the 1980s. While I have not gone on mission trips,
I am familiar with mission fields around the world – Japan, Thailand, Romania, Philippines, Singapore, Cameron, and more. Our family has hosted missionaries from these countries, and I have visited Japan on a study trip.
As a teacher, I often set goals at the beginning of a school year, rather than making New Year’s Resolutions. Happy New Year and best wishes on your upcoming release.
Hi Carolyn, Congratulations on your upcoming release! I’m so excited that this book and series is finally being published! I loved reading an ARC of The Breakup Project and I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series. The only original six city I’ve visited is Chicago. Merry Christmas! 🎄😊
Born across the river in New Jersey so yes was to NYC as well as the State of New York several times. Been through Boston but never visited as well as chicago.
Congratulations! This sounds like an awesome series. I have had the chance to visit three of the original six cities: Chicago, New York, and Toronto. I would love to go back to New York someday.
This sounds really good!! I’ve never been to any of those cities, though I’d like to! I don’t really make New Year’s resolutions, that way, I can’t break them!
I’ve already pre-ordered all of this series that I can. I’m so excited to read these books, Carolyn. 😀
I have been to new York. sounds like a great series.i don’t really make new years resolutions.
Congratulations, no I have never been down there. I do not make New Years Resolutions, because I have never kept them. I would rather just decide to do something and do it, making resolutions are too hard to stick to, I’ve tried before. May you and your family have a Very Merry and Blessed Christmas.
Hi! Your series sounds so fun! I’ve been to Chicago because that’s where my family and some friends live, and I got to experience my first white Christmas while visiting them. :) I don’t set too many resolutions, only a two or three that I know I’ll be able to accomplish during the year (so, I guess mid/long-term).
Thanks so much, Milla! It IS fun to see how different stories come about in such diverse ways. I hope you enjoy reading The Breakup Project! (And yes, airport visits definitely count!)
Happy Christmas to you!
Ooh, well, maybe you could make a new year’s resolution to visit one of those six cities, and / or go on a mission trip!
Regardless, I hope your new year is filled with God’s blessing and good things.
Wow, Renate – your experiences are SO interesting! It’s so good when our lives are enriched by getting a taste for how others live, and hosting missionaries is such a great blessing – for us as well as them. And I like the part about setting goals – that sounds so much more achievable than a resolution (which can often be anything but resolute!).
Happy new year to you!
Ooh, Narelle, you know you’re basically the person responsible for the ‘writing in a series’ thing, so thank YOU for your kind words and encouragement along the journey. I’m praying this new year for you will be the best yet!
Hi Kim! NYC is on my bucket list to visit one day, so I couldn’t go into the details with my Big Apple Atonement book as much as the other ones (I should ask you for tips!). I hope you have a great Christmas and new year!
Hi Jessica! I do hope you’ll check it out – especially those books set in those cities (that’d be Checked Impressions which is set in Chicago, Big Apple Atonement set in New York, and Muskoka Blue which is my Toronto book). Because it is fun, isn’t it, to read books set in places we’ve visited, right?
Happy Christmas and new year to you – and I hope you enjoy the series!
Ha ha ha – yep, I don’t make New Year resolutions either any more. Less disappointment that way! And yes, I hope you’ll check these books out – they’re great for an in-book escape to a place you’d like to visit! Happy reading!
Nicole, you’re the best!!! I do hope you’ll enjoy (I think you will 😉). And all six are now up for preorder (except for GooglePlay which is tricky!)
Happy Christmas and new year to you – and happy reading!
Thanks so much Kendra! I hope you’ll check them out (especially when they’re on their preorder discount).
Happy reading!
Thanks so much Alicia!
I love how books can take us to locations we might not get the chance to visit in real life. And yes, I agree it’s sometimes better to break a goal into a definite plan rather than a vague resolution. Happy Christmas and new year to you too!
I haven’t been to Boston, in fact most places like that I’ve only visited in books :-) Your new contemporary series sounds really good Carolyn! I’m not a hockey fan, but I am most definitely a romance fan. And these ones sound like stories I’d enjoy reading.
I also don’t make resolutions because I know if they aren’t realistic & achievable goals, I will not fulfill them. And then I’d be left feeling bad about it. There have been years though that God has dropped a word in my heart for the year. Like one year it was “faith”, so I looked for ways that He’s shown me faith or had been faithful to me. It’s amazing how many ways & in how many circumstances He moved. I had a deeper understanding of faith at the end of the year.
I’ve never been on a missions trip. Our church supports many missionary families & they are sometimes able to visit our church to update us on all the happenings where they minister. It’s so encouraging & invigorating to hear how God has used them to reach out to the people. It also gives us specific ways in which to pray for them. So that would be amazing to me to go on a missions trip to see first hand how God can move! I know it would change me :-)
Carolyn, I wish you & your family a very blessed Christmas! And wish your husband a happy birthday from me too….I forgot to do that on Facebook. I’ll always treasure being able to meet you both in person about three years ago.
Oh, Priscila- how magical your Christmas in Chicago must’ve been! It’s honestly one of my favourite cities (love the architecture! The museums!) so I had to set a book (or two) there. I hope you’ll enjoy reading these books. Happy Christmas to you!
Thanks so much Trixi – that was a fun visit, wasn’t it? I do hope you get the chance to check out these books, especially as I know you’re something of a contemporary romance fan. :)
You’re so right – missions trips are so good at changing us and giving us a wider understanding and appreciation of our world.
I’ll pass on your greetings to Josh. And wish you and your hubby a blessed Christmas and new year, filled with lots of happy reading!
I have been to Toronto sure it was only around 5 hours or so. I went with Ice Hockey fans and we had to go to the Ice Hockey Hall of Fame. for this Aussie it was boring. Besides the Mighty Ducks I really am not into Ice Hockey. Besides Wayne Gretzky I know no other players. I did know what The Stanley Cup was and had a photo taken next to it and I did see the Aussie Guernsey but the rest wasn’t exciting. (I think it soured when we spent 2 hours there and I was given 10 mins to go up the CN tour and look around). I spent about 10 days in the area at a place called Brampton which isn’t that far from Toronto but didn’t get to really visit on my own. (Went for a wedding but the people I stayed with wouldn’t to where I could get the bus for a day trip her partner seemed to think I couldn’t go on my own when the other bridesmaid and daughter came we went). I would actually like to go and see more of the city on my own or with someone who wanted to see the sights.
Haven’t done a mission trip but we grew up having missionaries visit and getting to know them. Mum ran Junior Christian Endevour and we use to have missionaries speak. We adopted a lady in Japan who we use to write to and she always found time to write back often with a post card. She always visited when she was home on furlough often staying with us. We collected books for the school where the missionaries children went in English, we also had also raised money for Missions.
Yeah, I can imagine you might need another visit to dispel those memories! (I do feel the need for another trip one day…) I think we underestimate the value of our support and encouragement for missionaries, so it’s wonderful to see the legacy of such support you’ve offered over the years!
Happy Christmas Jenny!
I have not been to any of the locations.
Resolutions are made to be broken – that is why I don’t make them.
Ha! Yes, I’ve found resolutions don’t always hold much resolve. Happy Christmas and may you have a blessed new year!
I haven’t been to Boston, no on resolutions, was supposed to go on a missions trip and raised all my money only to throw my back out and couldn’t walk. I gave the money to another church friend who went in my place. Congratulations on your new release. Merry Christmas blessings 🎄🎁
people you are with really can change how you feel about a place. I Love Vancouver and some of the nearby areas, So I explored on my own other areas with friends. The problem with Toronto area was I went early as we were going to do so much and then it was oh I am not up to it or we cant afford it so in 12 days I did get half a day in Toronto and a day to Niagara falls. The rest was mostly doing very little, a little shopping but not much else. I actually broke down when the Bride was looking for yet another pair of boots but wouldn’t let me go to a different store on the other side of the mall while she was looking. I really wish I had only had 5 or 6 days there and maybe booked a few nights alone in Toronto. (Considering I came from Australia on my own had been in Hawaii on my own, in Vancouver on my own I could manage a day trip to Toronto on my own but I couldn’t get to the bus as I didn’t have the transport). But one day I want to go to other parts of Canada. Boston and New York would be interesting.
I hope you have a Blessed Christmas also.
Oh, that must’ve been disappointing to miss out on the missions trip – but what a blessing for the other person your gift would’ve been!
God bless you this Christmas!
Thank you, Carolyn, so much for sharing. I went to Boston for a conference. I did not have much time to sight see. The answers to your other two questions are no. Merry Christmas. God bless you.
Sounds like a great idea. I have some health issues to try to heal from first, but we are retired now, so it would be something we could really enjoy doing.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!!!
I’ve been to Toronto & Montreal. I’m close to both of them. I have made resolutions but have a hard time keeping them due to them not working but my medication doesn’t help.
I’ve been to both Canadian places due to being Canadian. I made one resolution & kept it & am very proud of myself but don’t usually make them.
Thanks so much Debra! I hope you have a great Christmas too.
Ooh, Amy, I’m curious now where you live! I’ve loved my visits to Canada. And yes, keeping a resolution can be a challenge, especially when other factors are involved. I hope your Christmas is filled with God’s blessings.
Congratulations, Sylvain! That’s an accomplishment worth being proud of. And you live in a beautiful country – I’m looking forward to my next visit there! (One day) Happy Christmas to you!
You’re very welcome and thank you. I’m looking forward to 2022. xo
No resolutions for me… didn’t work LOL