I thoroughly enjoyed Laurie Wood’s last book, Northern Deception. In fact, it made my list of Top Books of 2018. So, I am thrilled to have her back on my blog, and I can’t WAIT for her new book to debut Dec 6th. Very excited.
Northern Hearts: By Laurie Wood
Part of Anaiah’s Christmas Novella Collection
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense
Release Date: December 6th!
Synopsis:
Wealthy socialite Kali McIntyre dreams of opening her own dessert bar, Sassy Sweets, in downtown Winnipeg—until her father crushes that dream when he cuts her off financially. He’s determined to get her to use her law degree to join the family’s high-powered law firm. She’s determined to do anything but that. And when an unknown-to-her aunt dies in Churchill, Manitoba, leaving her an unbelievable inheritance, Kali’s on the next flight up north to make her dreams a reality.
Chef Jake Miller has lived in Churchill for the past ten years, working hard to keep The Great Northern Lodge afloat through some tough times. But then his business partner dies unexpectedly, without telling him that she’d changed her will or that she had a niece who is set to inherit everything. Now, Jake and Kali have thirty days to work together and decide–who will stay and who will go–before Christmas rolls around. Secrets, attempted murder, and a new menu all add up to a Christmas unlike any other.
Welcome back, Laurie!
What was different in your process this time when working on a Christmas novella v. A full length, non-Christmas novel?
I’d never written a) a novella before, or b) a Christmas book, so it was quite the adventure! As far as writing the novella, the story elements had to be “smaller” in terms of the suspense half of the “romantic suspense” part of the story, because of the shorter time frame of the book. I had to be able to wrap everything up quicker so the “mystery” couldn’t be as in depth or go on as long as in a full-length novel. That was the most challenging part for me – to come up with an idea that would be interesting, feasible, and suspenseful but still have a dash of danger to it.
And then adding the Christmas elements to the story was SO much fun! I can’t believe I’ve never written a Christmas book before now. I’ll definitely look to write more. This story is a bit more “Hallmark” then “edgy danger” but that’s okay. It was fun to try out something new. I got to play with some Christmas traditions and also put in some things I’ve only dreamed of doing myself at Christmas time. And also to show that Christmas “traditions” are different for everyone and that’s all right.
What is your favorite Christmas tradition?
My favourite Christmas tradition is going to our church’s candlelit Christmas Eve service which is at 6 p.m. so that our youngest children can come and enjoy it, too. It’s family-friendly and right on an hour so that parents can get their little ones home to bed in a reasonable time. I love singing the Christmas carols and then the last lighting of the Christ candle on the Advent wreath, and then we all light our candles one-from-another to demonstrate Christ’s light coming into the world. Our kiddos love it and that is Christmas to me.
What’s your favorite Christmas movie?
Absolutely, the first “Santa Clause” movie with Tim Allen. We watch it every year. When my kiddos were little, they decided Tim Allen was the “real” Santa Claus and believed that for awhile. I just love the single dad trying to make things work with his son, Charlie, and turning into Santa when he’s trying so hard to get his son to believe in him as a human. My husband’s favourite Christmas movie is “Christmas Vacation”, which I’d never seen till I met him, and we watch that every year as well. We never watched Christmas movies besides “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” and “A Charlie Brown’s Christmas” when I was a kid, but my husband had a whole raft of them to share with me.
Tell us about Northern Hearts?
My editor asked me to write a Christmas novella that takes place in the Christmas I cut out of NORTHERN DECEPTION. NORTHERN DECEPTION’s main story ends in the end of November. Then I jumped forward in time to the following March with an Epilogue, jumping right over Christmas. So, NORTHERN HEARTS takes place 1 week after the end of NORTHERN DECEPTION, but with a new couple falling in love, and has a brief appearance of Lukas, Kira, and little Sophie from NORTHERN DECEPTION.
The heroine in NORTHERN HEARTS has grown up extremely rich but she wants to go her own direction and prove herself. She’s trying to break free from her family. She’s contacted by a lawyer and discovers she’s the major beneficiary in the will of an aunt she never knew she had, and she goes up to Churchill, Manitoba on the edge of the arctic, to discover she’s inherited The Great Northern Lodge and Restaurant. It’s not her dream, and she mucks everything up, trying to prove herself to everyone. The hero was the business partner of the aunt, and he’s been there for ten years keeping the place afloat and building it into a thriving enterprise. They have 30 days, according to the will, to figure out the family secret, and decide who’s going to stay, who’s going to go, or if they’re going to do it together.
You don’t have to have read NORTHERN DECEPTION first, to read the novella. But there are also people mentioned in NORTHERN HEARTS who’re going to appear again in the next full-length book, which is NORTHERN PROTECTOR, coming out June 16, 2020.
YAAAY can’t wait for book 3? That’s exciting!
What has inspired you to pursue this crazy journey of being an author?
I’ve wanted to be a writer since high school and I did a lot of writing then and in college. But, life gets in the way and I had to make a living and support myself so it went on the back burner for many years. Now, I feel I have life experience to pour into my characters and I hope that my books will shed some light on what that means – to live in the real world as hurting and sometimes broken people who find hope and healing.
Where can readers find you online. All the links are welcome!
Thank you so much for having me here today! Readers can find me online at:
Website: https://www.lauriewoodauthor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauriewoodreadersgroup
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/LaurieJeanWood
