Welcome Krista Phillips to the blog today! She's the author of A (kinda) Country Christmas and she wants to give away one paperback copy of it and also an audio book of her non-holiday related book, Sandwich with A Side of Romance.
Do you want a chance to win a book by Krista? You can enter the book giveaway contest by filling out the Rafflecopter widget below:
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Keep reading for Krista's author interview. Questions from Alexis are in bold and answers from Krista are not in bold...~*~
Alexis: I must say that “A (kinda) Country Christmas” is a unique and intriguing title for your holiday story! How did you create that title?
Krista: I'm weird about titles. I start with something simple as a filler and as I write, hope for some stroke of genius for a better title! I originally was going to title it the "name" of the store, but it just never felt right. And so I decided "A Country Christmas" since it was set in Gatlinburg, a VERY country tourist town. But my heroine isn't as country as she thinks she is, and I write with a bit of humor, so the (kinda) just added that just-right bit of extra fun!
Why did you choose Gatlinburg, TN as the setting for your story? Is it a real town or fictional? Describe the setting.
That is a funny story! My husband and I went for a quick weekend getaway (KID FREE! WAHOO!) to Gatlinburg this past summer. I was needing to write this Christmas novella and inspiration was FAR away from me. But that cute little town with its adorable little shops sparked my imagination, and I knew I'd found my local!
Sadie Jenkins is your leading lady in this story. Why do you say she’s a “kinda” country girl? Explain.
She's lived in the epitompe of "country" in a very country tourist town since she was 17. She owns a little country Christmas shop. But at her heart, she has a flair for modern that has been suppressed for many years. She doesn't realize it though as her whole life has revolved around raising her daughter and putting her own needs and wants on the backburner.
What’s Sadie’s backstory? Why is it that she “lives and breathes Christmas every single day of the year”?
Sadie has lived Christmas literally since birth. She was a late-in-life surprise baby, and her parents at the time worked as Mr. and Mrs. Clause in Santa Claus, Indiana. When she was sixteen, they moved to Gatliburg and opened The Bethlehem Boutique, a touristy Christmas shop. So she literally has been surrounded by Christmas her whole life!
How many years has Sadie owned and operated her store, “Bethlehem’s Boutique”? Tell us about it. What does it look like? Feel like when a customer walks in? What products are sold there? What makes it special?
It is a typical country Christmas boutique shop! They sell all sorts of Christmas decor including handmade items from local crafters. Every year they have a "centerpiece" tree that stands 10-foot tall in the middle of the store that has some WOW factor. Unfortunately, their tree this year has a mishap. But you'll have to read the book to find out how!
Maribelle is a beautiful name! She’s Sadie’s daughter. Tell us about Maribelle. Where is her dad? What happened to him?
Well, her name is explained at the end of the book, so I'll keep the WHY for her name a secret for now. Her dad was Phin, her mom's boyfriend who was not-a-great guy. Sadie found out she was pregnant when she was 16, and Phin didn't stick around. But that was 18 years ago...
What happened to Sadie to make her realize she has no time for the “bad boys of her past”?
Ah, see Phin's story above! After she gave birth to Maribelle, she vowed to devote her life to her daughter and never get mixed up with "bad" boys again.
Nate Myers is your leading man in this story. Tell us about his love for traveling the world. What is his career exactly?
Nate works as a Corporate Consultant who travels the globe, helping struggling companies find out where they are failing and assisting them in getting out of the "red"--- or helping them dismantle the company as painlessly as possible when that isn't possible. He doesn't really "love" traveling per say, but has a desire to "fix" things so his job fits him perfectly.
What draws Nate to Sadie and what draws Sadie to Nate?
Definitely a bit of an opposites attract! But then again, what draws them to each other is a big part of the story, so you'll have to read to find out more!!! :-)
What’s the moral of this story?
Nate lived life to please himself, and Sadie lived her life to please others. They both have to realize that both extremes are wrong, that true joy and contentment will happen when they live life to please God.
Complete this sentence: What I want readers to feel when they read this story is _________________ because ___________________!
What I want readers to feel when they read this story is joy because smiles make everyday a little bit better!
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Author bio:
She enjoys life with her husband and their four beautiful daughters in Tennessee.
She is an advocate for congenital heart defect and organ donation awareness and blogs at www.kristaphillips.com.
Will these two (sorta) opposites be able to find a happily-ever-after together?
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Blurb for A (kinda) Country Christmas:
Sadie Jenkins lives and breathes Christmas every, single day of the year. Owner of Bethlehem's Boutique in the tourist mountain town of Gatlinburg, TN, she has no room for the bad boys of her past and devotes her whole life to the struggling boutique and her teenage daughter, Maribelle. She's perfectly happy with her country-living life until he walks into her store.
Nate Myers travels the globe for his job and has the bank account to prove his success. The former "bad" boy is in town for a short visit with his sister and is determined to not get caught up in all the Christmas hype. But then he falls for the beautiful shopkeeper—quite literally.
Blurb for A (kinda) Country Christmas:
Sadie Jenkins lives and breathes Christmas every, single day of the year. Owner of Bethlehem's Boutique in the tourist mountain town of Gatlinburg, TN, she has no room for the bad boys of her past and devotes her whole life to the struggling boutique and her teenage daughter, Maribelle. She's perfectly happy with her country-living life until he walks into her store.
Nate Myers travels the globe for his job and has the bank account to prove his success. The former "bad" boy is in town for a short visit with his sister and is determined to not get caught up in all the Christmas hype. But then he falls for the beautiful shopkeeper—quite literally.
Will these two (sorta) opposites be able to find a happily-ever-after together?
Buy Krista's book:
Amazon.com e-book - http://amzn.to/1lNVJzn
Amazon.com paperback - http://amzn.to/1NSoDsn
Boxed Set (it is included in the Love's Gift box set) - http://amzn.to/1P6xxDu
Boxed Set (it is included in the Love's Gift box set) - http://amzn.to/1P6xxDu
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Connect with Krista:
Website - www.kristaphillips.com
Facebook - www.facebook.com/authorkristaphillips
Twitter - www.twitter.com/kristaphillips
Connect with Krista:
Website - www.kristaphillips.com
Facebook - www.facebook.com/authorkristaphillips
Twitter - www.twitter.com/kristaphillips
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