Author Christine Columbus is joining me today for an interview. Her latest novel, Chance Meeting, features a woman in her forties balancing family obligations, work, and romance.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Title: Chance Meeting
Author: Christine Columbus
Genre: Romance, contemporary, clean and wholesome
BLURB:
Melody is fostering her niece while her sister, Captain Opal Erickson, is deployed to Kuwait. A chance meeting at work with Clayton, a construction manager, awakens feelings of love and romance. Everything is perfect until Opal reveals a family truth and swears Melody to secrecy. To honor her sisterly pledge, Mel attempts to reject any advances from Clayton until he guesses the truth. Torn between loyalty to Opal and love for Clayton, she pours herself into work, making a mess of everything. When the dust settles, Mel wonders if she can put the pieces of her life back together.
INTERVIEW:
Welcome! It is my pleasure to feature your novel.
What was the inspiration behind your latest release?
I wrote the story from Melody’s perspective with humor and heartfelt emotion: she is a civilian with a sister deployed to Kuwait. Melody is the caretaker for her sister’s daughter. The story is about the struggle of balancing family, work, and a budding new romance when you are over forty and wanting to do what’s best for everyone, even when you’re not exactly sure what that looks like.
Where do you get your ideas?
Chance Meeting began percolating many years ago when I overheard a construction worker discussing his frustrations with a job because the person making the decisions had been tossed into the job and knew nothing about construction, building maintenance, or remodeling.
What has been your biggest challenge?
I took a twelve-year break from writing, and I am trying to catch up. The marketing and publishing world has changed, and while traveling with my husband in a fifth-wheel camper and volunteering at state and national parks, I lost touch with the writing community.
What writing tips or marketing advice would you like to share?
The biggest thing I’ve learned is that if you want to be published, you must write and submit your manuscript. Over fifty years ago, I was at a party listening to a man repeating the same story about how someday he would write a book. Right then and there, I decided I wouldn’t be the woman repeating the same story about someday wanting to write a novel. I’d rather have a hundred rejection notices than be the person with nothing but an idea.
What project are you currently working on?
I am working on edits with The Wild Rose Press for a sweet, clean, and wholesome novel. I’d Rather Kiss You Goodnight. Sally is forty-seven, and Ty is forty-five. Their feelings simmer beneath the surface. During the day, they repair Mabel’s house, and they spend evenings at a nearby campground, enjoying sunsets and contemplating a summer romance.
AUTHOR BIO:
I am thrilled to be back writing with Chance Meeting available now, and I’d Rather Kiss You Goodnight coming out soon. These novels culminate my passion for storytelling, and I can’t wait to share them with you.
Eighteen years ago, while living in Minneapolis, Minnesota, I published children’s stories, creative non-fiction, poetry, and flash fiction, then stumbled into romance, writing several short stories and a novel with The Wild Rose Press.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Jill Piscitello 