Mandi: Hello, and welcome to The Newlywed Game with Asher and Haley Harding.
I’ll start by introducing this sweet couple. Asher is a Wyoming cowboy who will melt your heart with a song or a smile. Haley is his spitfire wife who sealed the deal with a kiss before he even knew her name!
Wow, Haley, that sounds bold. What made you do that?
Haley: Well, long story short, I thought he was his brother! I laid a big, wet one on the wrong cowboy.
Mandi: Judging from the heart eyes you’re giving your husband, I’d say you kissed the right one.
Haley: That’s true. It was the best mistake I ever made.
Asher: You won’t catch me complaining. I thought I was dreaming when this gorgeous redhead knocked me off my feet.
Mandi: What a cute story. You two seem like a happy newlywed couple. When did you get married?
Haley: We got married a few weeks ago.
Mandi: Oh, you’re very newlywed! Well, let’s get started. We asked Haley some questions about you, Asher. Your job is to predict how she would have answered the question. Ready?
Asher: I was born ready.
Mandi: Let’s begin. If your spouse had a superpower, what would it be?
Asher: She’d be able to see in the dark.
Haley’s answer: Night vision.
Mandi: Looks like that’s correct. Great start. Do you have a song? If so, what is it?
Asher: Blue Clear Sky. The ol’ George Strait classic.
Haley’s answer: Blue Clear Sky.
Mandi: Right again! Next question. Who is the better kisser?
Asher: Definitely her. (Asher fans his face.)
Haley’s answer: Asher
Asher: What? No way.
(Haley shrugs.)
Mandi: Sorry, you didn’t get points for that one, but it’s cute that you picked each other.
Next question. What is your spouse’s best personality trait?
Asher: She would say it’s my charm. (Asher winks at his bride.)
Haley’s answer: His selflessness.
(Asher shakes his head and grins.)
Mandi: Looks like that one didn’t get you any points in the game, but she probably won some points in your relationship.
Asher: I’m the winner here. I get to spend the rest of my life with her.
Audience: Aww.
Mandi: You two are the sweetest. Let’s move on to the last question for you.
When did you know that she was ‘the one’?
Asher: I think I always knew. But the first time I let myself think she’d give me a shot was when we sat on the porch one night and I played her a song.
Haley’s answer: When he played me a song on the porch.
Mandi: Looks like you got that one! Now, we’ve asked Asher questions, and Haley has to guess the answers.
First question. How many kids does your spouse want?
Haley: Oh, I want four.
Asher’s answer: four.
Mandi: Good answer.
Next question. Which of you finishes your meals first?
Haley: Definitely Asher. He’s always eating like someone might try to take his food away. (Haley looks at Asher.) You’re an animal.
Asher’s answer: Me!
Mandi: Who would play your spouse in a movie?
Haley: He would say Amy Adams.
Asher’s answer: Amy Adams.
Mandi: You’re on a roll!
Next question. What is your silliest fear?
Haley: Asher’s silliest fear is spiders.
Asher’s answer: Spiders. Yikes!
Mandi: Wow. Haley knows you really well. One last question.
If money were no object, where would you live together?
Haley: (Haley looks at Asher.) I’d live on the ranch. Blackwater is my home, and my future is there with Asher.
Asher’s answer: Blackwater Ranch.
Mandi: Wow. What a winning couple! Thanks for joining us today on The Newlywed Game. If you want to know more about Asher and Haley, check out Mistaking the Cowboy.
Creating characters is one of my favorite parts of writing fiction. Their personalities are unique, and it’s always fun to see how a character will develop throughout the story or series.
How well do you know your favorite characters?
Mandi Blake was born and raised in Alabama where she lives with her husband and daughter, but her southern heart loves to travel. Reading has been her favorite hobby for as long as she can remember, but writing is her passion. She loves a good happily ever after in her sweet Christian romance books, and loves to see her characters' relationships grow closer to God and each other.
This was fun. As a reader I would always love to know more about favorites.
Thank you for sharing. Favorite characters can become like family. Blessings
This was fun!! I LOVED Asher and Haley’s story!!! Waiting for the next one!!
That was so fun to read! I think a book is a true winner when I fall in love with the characters so much that I feel bad knowing the book is ending. I know I would love this book just by the way you described this couple today. Thank you for such a descriptive post!
I love creating characters when I write and learning about them when I read! I’m glad you enjoyed the fun today.
I often wonder what characters would be doing after the stories are over. That’s one reason why reading is so fun to me!
I’m so glad you liked it! I can’t wait for the next story to release too.
I’m glad you enjoyed it! These characters were so fun to write because they were both so friendly and expressive. It’s fun writing more reserved characters too, but it’s hard to get them to talk haha!
So many interesting characters out there in storyland. I often imagine that each character is probably someone the author knows quite well, and often a combination of more than one character, sometimes even the author herself or himself.
Blessings and be safe.
That was fun! I don’t know how many characters I would know that well. Probably the ones in my favorite books that I have re-read over and over since I was a teenager, like Pride & Prejudice, Anne of Green Gables, and Love Comes Softly.
I think authors do put a bit of themselves into characters, but there are SO many ways to make people different.
Those are good books to re-read!
Fun post! When I read, I tend to be like a fish. I’m immersed in the story. I set my objectivity aside. A fish doesn’t know he is wet, he’s just there in his world. So, how well do I know the characters? The reader-fish me says, “As much as they’ll let me.” The back-to-reality me at the end of the book usually says, “Not enough!”
Characters like Asher and Haley are the ones that I hope would accept me as a friend, be part of my Bible study group, invite me out to the ranch for Sunday lunch. They are the kind of people you *want* to know. I understand that they are wrapped up in their newlywed world right now, but I would love to see that love shine beyond their home to the community around them.
Fishy thoughts done. Would somebody please sprinkle some more good stories on the top of my bowl? :)
This is so awesome and so much fun,I loved this Newlywed Game! I have alot of favorite book characters. Have a great rest of the week and stay safe.
So much fun! Thank you!!!
Fun Q&A!
I’d like to think by the end of a book that I know the characters well.
I love getting to know characters through books! I also love series books where we get to re-visit those characters & find out how they are doing. If the author can make me connect with them, I feel like they are my best friends! :-)