Inspy Romance

Inspy Romance—Fall in Love With a Good Book

Write Me a Letter, Send It By Mail

by

I love getting mail.

Real, honest-to-goodness letters that the postman brings to my house.

When I was little, our mailbox was mounted on the outside of the house right next to the kitchen door. We lived in half of a duplex, and the kitchen door to our house was right next to the kitchen door of our neighbors. And both of our mailboxes were right there. So the mailman, who walked his route every day I can ever remember seeing him, would go from porch to porch, dropping mail into the boxes on the sides of our houses.

Now, we have a mailbox out at the curb, and our mailman drives around, pausing at every house to put handfuls of goodness into the boxes as he goes.

And today, just as much as when I was younger, I love running out to see what’s in the box today, and am inordinately disappointed when it’s empty. (I don’t even mind if it’s just flyers and ads in there – I still sort through it with anticipation. Because you never know, there might be an actual letter in there, hiding behind a great deal on whole roasting chickens.)

This time of year is the best time for mail. I still have a few friends who send physical Christmas-time greetings. I cherish those friends. My favorites are the ones who send a newsy letter along with a family photo so I can get a glimpse into their lives that probably goes a little deeper than the highlight reel that I see on Facebook. At least, that’s what I try to do in the Christmas letters I send.

I also love when friends travel and think to drop a postcard in the mail. Even if they know they might beat that card home. Because there’s something magical to me about glossy photos of far away places and the teeny tiny captions telling me what the picture is and then the cramped handwriting of my friend telling me a highlight of the trip and why they chose the postcard to send.

I love email, too. And text messages. And instant messaging. (And, between you and me? I actually really like talking on the phone with my friends. I know introverts aren’t supposed to enjoy that, but there we have it.)(I don’t like calling strangers though, that’s terrifying.)

What does any of this have to do with writing Christian romance, you ask? Well, it turns out that it’s part of the never-ending “what if” that lurks in the back of a writer’s mind, spinning a story where no story used to be. And, in this case in particular, it’s part of the “what if” that seeded my January release.

What if you got a phone call from your best friend? Your best friend who also happened to be your sister? And what if she told you something in that call that knocked you sideways? And then, without listening to your very good explanations of why her decisions were wrong, she told you she was cancelling her cellphone and going on a trip but she didn’t know where she’d end up?

But she’d send you some postcards?

Well. As a writer, it feels like there’s a good story there to explore. And so I did.

I’m so pleased with this story. It’s a bit of a departure in a lot of ways. It’s a standalone. Ish. The Operation Romance gang showed up while I was writing, so it’s not as much of a standalone as I’d thought it would be when I started. But it’s also probably not tightly coupled enough that I’d call it book 5 in the series.

It’s longer than I’ve been writing. (Although I am hoping to continue writing longer going forward.)

And it’s first person, single point of view.

I know I just lost some of you. It’s okay. We all have our preferences. (Although honestly, I really hope if you’ve enjoyed my books in the past that you’ll give this one a try. Much like my billionaires are still me, so is Postcards.)

Postcards will release January 17, 2022. You can pre-order it. It’ll also be in KindleUnlimited once it’s out.

Here’s the back cover:

Turns out, my sister was serious about everything she said in that phone call.

The cancer.
The leaving.
The postcards.

So I was already struggling to figure out just what God thought He was doing. And then my boss introduced me to the guy who would be taking over the new project.

My project.

Sure, Owen’s hot. And so what if he has the world’s most impressive resume? He’s not getting my job without a fight.
And my job isn’t the only thing I’m not going to surrender.

I’m also not going to let Owen take over my heart.

Since we’re in December now, I’d love to talk Christmas cards/letters. Do you send them? Love getting them? Not like them? Prefer to just get an email?

(p.s. I’ve got all my Christmas books on a rolling free schedule through December! Here’s the dates: Operation Mistletoe 12/2 – 6, A Heart Reconsidered 12/8 – 12, Hope for Christmas 12/15-19, and Pathway to Peace 12/21-25. Mark your calendars or make sure to check my Facebook or Instagram to keep up with the freebie dates!)

Elizabeth Maddrey (292 Posts)

Elizabeth Maddrey is a semi-reformed computer geek and homeschooling mother of two who lives in the suburbs of Washington D.C. When she isn’t writing, Elizabeth is a voracious consumer of books. She loves to write about Christians who struggle through their lives, dealing with sin and receiving God’s grace on their way to their own romantic happily ever after.


Comments

  2. I love getting mail not that I get much. I do send cards at this time of year. I have sent the ones overseas and had hoped to have the local ones sent by the end of the week it will now be by Monday. I enjoy the cards with some news also. I get frustrated with the ones that are only signed by the person sending but no to Jenny or anything else.

  3. Hi Elizabeth! I enjoy sending cards to family and friends for birthdays and holidays, not just at Christmas. I always write a personal note and sometimes enclose photos. For special occasions I enjoy making personalized photo greeting cards. My Christmas card always includes a short letter with our family highlights. I agree with Ausjenny that I dislike receiving cards that just are signed. Since two of my sons and my 4 year old granddaughter live out of town, I send biweekly notes and small packages. Keeping the Post Office in business. Our granddaughter loves getting mail from her beloved OMA with cards, coloring pages, stickers, photos, books and more. Making a trip to the post office this morning. Need stamps so I can mail my Christmas cards. I definitely enjoy receiving unexpected cards in the mail. Best wishes. Preordered your book. Happy Advent.

  7. I love getting cards and letters but it is a rarity now. I send some Christmas cards but not as many as I used to. Merry Christmas.🎄🎁

  9. I send Christmas cards to all of my insurance clients, and some of my friends and family. I make (usually) all of my cards, so I have to start early! I’ve already mailed all of my client cards, now I just need to do the others!

  11. I don’t send out but my mom does with our family picture out to our family and friends .I love getting Christmas cards.I come of a family of 13 so always get lots of Christmas cards .

  13. I’ve loved “real” mail since I was a little girl and my grandma would write to me and stick in a piece of gum, and draw pictures to go with the letter. I send lots of birthday cards, and I do send a Christmas letter. Most of the Christmas letters go via email, but there’s about a hundred that I mail out. I haven’t even started writing this year’s Christmas letter! Yikes!! If I had your address, I’d write you a letter :-)

  14. I love them! Sadly, in my part of the world cards are not part of our culture, thus the reason why I loved getting introduced to them during my brief time in the US (a couple of ladies from church gifted me a Christmas card each). It’s also why I love it (and am definitely thankful) when authors offer to send a Christmas card to anyone who wants them (even if their readers are outside the US). Getting mail is definitely fun, but it’s also extra special this time of the year. :)

  15. Because I live on the Oregon coast & my family lives in Illinois, I used to send Christmas cards to my relatives years ago. Then it just became too much, so I haven’t for a long time. I do like getting them, but understand the hassle of addressing them, writing a personal note and paying for all the stamps necessary to send them. So even if I just get an email, text message or even a Facebook message, that still counts to me :-)

    The only person I really send anything snail mail too is my mom who lives in New Zealand! I like to send pictures or cute little cards to say I’m thinking of her & sending her my love. Of course, I can call her, but I think personal mail is extra special, something she can read over and over again. :-)

    I discovered I already own Operation Mistletoe, so I’ve added it to my Christmas reading pile! I’m working my way through a ton of Christmas stories now (and loving it!) :-)

  18. It definitely can get to be a hassle and an expense when you end up with a lot of people. There’s time involved for sure. I will admit I cheat and print labels for the envelopes 🙂

  19. I send Christmas cards to family and friends from around the country that we don’t get to see. I like to get cards, and I love the Christmas letters that update us on your year, and you can brag all you want about your family.

  21. I always send out Christmas cards, in fact I got done with them yesterday, I send them to family and friends . Have a great rest of the week and stay safe.

  23. I am finding it takes longer right now for mail to arrive I sent my friend an Aussie mask (has a Koala on it) and card and it took 3 and a half weeks. If you have already sent it it will probably make it in time.
    I also like to get what we call junk mail at times to see what’s on special and sometimes just to get something in the letterbox. I was like you running out to get the mail. I liked to beat others to get it and found it so exciting to find anything in the mail box (except a spider).

  24. Thank you so much for the freebies, Elizabeth. With the price of everything going up it really helps. I put all the upcoming freebies on my Amazon wish and then sort it by price from low to high. The sort function is not great.

    Christmas at the Inn by Ashley Clark is free now by the way. (US)

    I send Only a few Christmas cards if any now.

  25. Definitely except spiders!

    We have birds trying to nest under our mailbox, which I try to discourage because I don’t want them to get territorial if there should be eggs.

  27. I love getting Christmas cards and reading the letters, if they are included, but I send very few cards myself.

  29. I’m terrible about keeping in touch. When I do reach out, it’s usually by e-mail. I can’t remember the last time I received a letter. And it’s been at least 30 years since I wrote one. I gave up sending Christmas cards about 5 years ago. I still get a few. From a diligent aunt who lives down the road and a cousin in another state. I wish I was more diligent.

  30. Thank you so much for sharing. Yes, we send Christmas cards. I enjoy receiving them also. God bless you.

  38. I still send, and enjoy receiving, Christmas cards in the mail. There’s just something special about knowing someone took the time and effort to write a card out to you. Its quite lovely.

  39. Hi, Elizabeth! Early in our marriage I wrote a Christmas letter or two but it got to be too much. Cards fell by the wayside somewhere after that. There are a few friends and family who still send an annual letter at Christmas and one in particular that always adds a note.

    Our church has a tradition of setting up a card exchange to encourage people to save the postage and donate it to missions.

    P. S. I don’t think printing address labels is cheating any more than using pre-printed return address labels! :-)

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