12 Days of Christmas Joy: A Kiss Under the Mistletoe by June Foster

Interview with June Foster about her book,

A Kiss Under the Mistletoe:

Alexis: What inspired you to write this Christmas holiday story?

June: I love writing stories about twins and small towns.

Alexis: Paint a picture with words of this story’s setting. What makes it special to your characters?

June: Homedale, California is nestled close to the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The small town boasts of a grocery store, a small hospital, several safe and secure neighborhoods, and downright nice people. Residents can expect a white Christmas most every year. My characters, Carson and Noel, enjoy the local parks and small-town values.

Alexis: Describe the hero of your story, Carson Shumate. What does he look like? Sound like? Act like? What are his greatest strengths and weaknesses as a man?

June: Carson is five feet eleven inches and wears his light brown hair a bit long for a guy. Noel describes his eyes as midnight blue and electrifying. His handsome face makes her heart pound. As youth pastor at Homedale Fellowship, he enjoys speaking to his group of teens in his quiet, calm voice. Carson must always give the impression he’s in control to demonstrate to others – especially the church staff – that he’s mature and responsible, not like his alcoholic twin brother. Carson is available to his mom and dad anytime they need something. Especially when they ask him to rescue his brother Colin and keeps him from getting a DUI. He's a good Bible teacher and loves serving his church. His primary weakness is when he holds the truth about his brother from the pastor, staff, and the woman he loves.

Alexis: Describe the heroine of your story, Noel Kendrick. What does she look like? Sound like? Act like? What are her greatest hopes, dreams and disappointments?

June: Noel has hazel eyes and blond, highlighted shoulder-length hair. She’s very attractive, but Noel doesn't like her overweight body. Noel tends to sound off to others, but must calm herself and act like a professional when she’s caring for her patients. Because she doesn't trust men, Noel is aloof toward Carson. She enjoys having "girl talk" with her friend, Kathleen. Noel would love to be able to trust men again, but when she believes Carson has betrayed her, she hardens her heart. This is possibly the greatest disappointment she's experienced.

Alexis: Why have the men in Noel’s life always lied to her? How did this lifelong deception start?

June: Noel’s first love, a youth pastor in the town where she went to college, dated another girl at the same time as Noel. When she discovered the truth, she figured he was like her father—not to be trusted. The deception began when her father left her and her mother when Noel was twelve. Once when she was a little girl, he told her he’d always be there for her. Now she can't dismiss his lie.

Alexis: Who is Noel’s pastor and what role does she or he play in this story?

June: Pastor Fernandez is a godly, Hispanic man who pastors her church. He is instrumental in asking Noel to head the nativity scene. He sits on the hiring board and supports Carson when the youth pastor goes for an interview. Pastor is a great comfort to Carson in helping him find his way after his regrettable failure.

Alexis: What impact does your characters’ faith in God have in the story of their fictional lives?

June: For Carson, his faith enables him to repent of his failure and at the same time, minister to his teenagers and the congregation. For Noel, she holds on to the Lord when everything in her life seems to turn against her.

Alexis: How does working on the Christmas nativity scene project bring Carson and Noel together?

June: No one else in the congregation has volunteered, so Carson and Noel must complete the project together.

Alexis: What or who threatens to drive a wedge between Noel and Carson?

June: Lies, deception, and pride all come between Carson and Noel.

Alexis: What is it about Carson that makes Noel fall in love with him?

June: She believes him to be sincere, wanting to help the church teens. He's a godly contrast to the non-Christian doctor Noel dates.

Alexis: Why is Carson keeping secrets and hiding those secrets from Noel?

June: He fears rejection from both her and the church staff. He might lose his job.

Alexis: What do you want readers to remember most about this story?

June: Even holding a small amount of truth from the one you love is akin to lying.

Alexis: Did you play Christmas music while writing this story?

June: No, I'm sorry to say I didn't. I tend to have a one-track mind and become distracted. Though I didn’t play holiday music, my favorite is “Carol of the Bells.”

Alexis: What is your favorite Christmas holiday treat? Did it help you while writing this story?

June: I love sugar cookies with red and green icing. However, I try my best not to snack while writing.

Alexis: If you could give one of your characters a Christmas gift, what would it be?

June: I’d give Noel a brand-new wardrobe.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, June. Merry Christmas!

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Author Bio:

An award-winning author, June Foster is also a retired teacher with a BA in Education and a MA in counseling. She is the mother of two and grandmother of ten. 

June began writing Christian romance in 2010. She penned her first novel on her Toshiba laptop as she and her husband traveled the US in their RV. Her adventures provide a rich source of information for her novels. She brags about visiting a location before it becomes the setting in her next book.

To date, June has written twenty-two contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels and novellas. She loves to compose stories about characters who overcome the circumstances in their lives by the power of God and His Word.

June uses her training in counseling and her Christian beliefs in creating characters who find freedom to live godly lives. She's published with Winged Publications. Visit June at www.junefoster.com to see a complete list of her books.

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Blurb for June's book, A Kiss Under the Mistletoe: 

The men in Noel Kendrick's life have always lied to her. 

When she accepts her pastor's plea to head the Christmas nativity scene project, she doesn't realize the job requires her to work with Carson Shumate, the handsome youth pastor with midnight blue eyes. 

Despite her efforts to keep her emotional distance, she falls hard after a kiss under the mistletoe.

But Carson has a secret of his own. If he reveals the truth about his identical twin to his church, he fears they will fire him, and he could lose Noel.

A Kiss Under the Mistletoe is the sequel to An Unexpected Family.

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Buy June's book on Amazon

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Connect with June:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjunefoster
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/June-Foster/e/B007ISUMPK
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vjifoster/

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