REKINDLED FOR CHRISTMAS EVE BY JANETTA FUDGE MESSMER
THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY
(Almost twenty years in the making)
Today, I’m going to tell you about my latest novella, Rekindled for Christmas Eve. It is a Contemporary Christian Romance set in Annapolis, Maryland. And with any book – it has to have a back story.
However, the backstory in this one doesn’t have anything to do with the plot of Rekindled for Christmas Eve and all to do with my siblings and their help on this particular project.
Let me explain.
THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Years ago (2004), I spent a few weeks with my two sisters. We sat down for a couple of nights together and started brainstorming this particular story.
My oldest sister, Debbie, shared some great ideas to get me started on the plot. But my other sister, Linda, aimed for the stars when she said, “When Hollywood makes this into a movie, Tom Selleck will be perfect for the part of Reese.”
I laughed at her optimism for my not-yet-written book and about the said story making it to the big screen. However, for whatever reason, when I returned home – I put the story away and worked on many other projects.
In 2022, I glanced through my idea folder and found the notes from my sisters and our brainstorming session from 2004. So I decided it was time to sit down and write Reese and Madison’s story.
When I typed THE END, this is where I brought my brother Stan into the picture because he’s retired Navy. And since the Naval Academy is part of the story, I sought his expertise on all things Navy. I am forever in his debt for helping me get the Naval ranks correct.
After my brother and I finished discussing what I needed to fix, I said, “Stan, you can now check off your Bucket List that you’ve read a Christian Contemporary Romance.” He laughed and said, “I enjoyed reading it. Then he added, “It’d make a great Hallmark movie.”
Concerning Rekindled for Christmas Eve becoming a movie – Mr. Selleck won’t play the main character, but he would make a perfect Captain Pointer. For Reese, I’m voting for Bradley Cooper. Just saying…
We’ve all heard the saying that “It takes a village.” In my case, my family helped me accomplish a task that I’m not sure I’d have finished on my own.
Here is the short blurb for Rekindled for Christmas Eve:
Reese Solomon returns to Annapolis—the place where Madison broke his heart. He’s not back in Maryland a week and learns he has a twenty-five-year-old daughter named Kimberly.
The two meet and agree it is a God thing. They spend time together, and Reese finds out Madison (Kim’s mom) is a widow. He hopes they can rekindle their romance, but Madison wants nothing to do with him.
Where was he when she needed him? Why believe him now? And the so-called miracles Reese and her family talk about are driving Madison nuts. Will she continue to believe the lies others have told her, or will she allow the past to convince her of the truth and to trust in Reese and the Lord again?
And to celebrate Christmas in July, I’ve lowered the price for Rekindled for Christmas Eve to .99 cents for the e-book until July 30th. Hurry and get your copy before it’s too late.
Janetta Fudge Messmer
“Turning Life Into Comedy”
Author of Christian Comedies (with a touch of Romance).
My books are available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01DWHA1EW
E-mail: janettafudgemessmer@gmail.com
Website: http://janettafudgemessmer.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janetta.fudge.messmer
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nettiefudge