A First Time for Everything (& a giveaway!)

ByBecky Wade
82 Comments

Please welcome my friend Jill Lynn to the blog!! She’s generously offering a signed copy of her new release to one of you. So be sure to learn more about her book via this post, then enter to win it by commenting. Happy Friday! -Becky

It’s been a couple years since I’ve written a guest post for Becky’s blog, and it’s always such a welcoming experience. So, thank you for joining me and thanks to Becky for always being a gracious host. I’ve been a Becky Wade fan since a little book about a hockey player hit shelves. (Matt – le sigh.) And my fangirling has continued ever since. 🙂

Today, I’m here celebrating my new book, The Summer of Keeping Secrets, which just released this week. 

When I first started writing this book, I didn’t know where or if it would be published. I’d been writing sweet, Christian romances for Love Inspired for years, and I knew this story wasn’t a fit for that exact line and length of books.

I went back and forth over whether I should try something new. For me, I always write a little bit scared. I’m never confident when I start writing or even when I finish writing a book. As you can imagine, I’m quite fun to live with! But I’ve learned to write anyway—even if I’m nervous. And to give myself a deadline. Those help!

My husband encouraged me to try something new, so I decided to go for it.

And in one of those fun twists like God enjoys doing for us, The Summer of Keeping Secrets found a home with the very same editor of my previous books at the new Love Inspired Trade length publishing line. (The trade line focuses on longer books with a wider variety of story lines – everything from suspense to historical to romance.) 

Continuing in that same vein, I experienced numerous firsts with this book.

While I’ve been writing books set in Colorado for quite some time, this was my first time setting a story in a real Colorado city versus a fictional one.

Lake Dillon

Dillon, Colorado is in Summit County, which is an area known for some exceptional ski resorts like Breckenridge and Keystone. It’s also known for Lake Dillon (a.k.a. Dillon Reservoir) which provides most of Denver’s drinking water. You can boat on Lake Dillon. You can be in a kayak or on a paddle board. And you can wade in it. You like what I did with Becky’s name there? But since a person can’t survive very long in the frigid temps, they don’t allow swimming in the reservoir.

The Summer of Keeping Secrets is set on the cliffs above Lake Dillon. A couple years ago we were driving by those cliffs, and I thought, it would be fun to set a book in one of those amazing houses. And then I thought, ooh, and I should put a body in it! When I told my daughter, who is an avid reader, that I wanted to set a book in one of the houses on the cliff, she announced: you should put a body in it! LOL! I thought that was funny and also confirmation that I was headed in the right direction.

This is the first time I added a mystery element to a book. (Oof. I needed a lot of help with that!) And the first time that my three main characters range in age from 30 to 60.

The main focus of the book is about a widowed mother and her two grown children purging the grandparents’ cliffside home. When the adult daughter discovers an old newspaper clipping about a body found below the property 34 years earlier, pieces of the past begin to unfold.

This is also the first time I’ve veered from writing a traditional Christian romance novel to mainstream clean women’s fiction. (My definition of clean = no sex, no profanity, no explicit content.)

My characters might not have overt faith story lines in this book, but I think God is still “visible” in the themes of grace, forgiveness and hope. I honestly don’t think I’m capable of writing a story where He doesn’t show up. And since I’m a big fan of romance, I threaded in three romance story lines. I had a lot of fun writing those, because to me every book should have a little romance.

And in something that was not a first for this book, I am so grateful to God for taking this little idea and making into a published book. That is something that definitely hasn’t changed over the years!

If you pick up a copy of The Summer of Keeping Secrets, I hope you enjoy.

Thanks again to Becky for letting me visit!

Jill Lynn

I would love to hear about something that has happened in your life lately that is a first for you. I’m so thankful that when we do a new thing, God is with us.

Giveaway!

To celebrate the book’s release, I’m giving away a signed copy of The Summer of Keeping Secrets to one of Becky’s readers – US shipping only. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post. One winner will randomly be selected on Monday, July 1st.

p.s. I also have an additional giveaway for a book tote, signed book, and chocolates going on here.

Connect with Jill!

Jill’s web site | Amazon | Instagram | Facebook

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Becky makes her home in Dallas, Texas with her husband and three children. She absolutely loves writing funny, heartwarming, and inspirational contemporary Christian romance.

82 Comments

  1. Welcome Jill. I look forward to reading your book. I always enjoy Christian and/or clean fiction that leaves me glad I chose that book.

  2. After 18 years at the first & only school I’d been at since I started teaching, I’ll be at a new school this coming fall. I’m a little nervous, but also very excited!

  3. Your description of The Summer of Keeping Secrets has me intrigued in reading the book.

  4. Hmm, something new…having read the Bible through several times and looking for a new way to study, I came across a method called verse mapping. I’m just starting that process and my brain isn’t wired to that way of learning so I’m hoping to gain a lot of new insight (or a lot of frustration because my mind won’t cooperate). 😉

  6. I’ve been sharing some of my mom’s teachings to my Bible study group which is so not me to say much. Congratulations on your new book. Blessings

  7. My husband and I recently sold our house of 45 years and moved into an over-55 apartment community, which I’m loving. My sweet husband was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease a couple of years ago, and he was becoming overwhelmed with the upkeep of the house and yard, so this is ideal for him. All the yard work and maintenance of the apartments is done by other people. Many activities are planned for the residents, and I especially love the exercise classes. My husband loves going to the on-site gym. We both love to read and frequently visit the library on site. There are many other activities and amenities, and the people who live here are interesting and super nice!

    1. This sounds like such a good set up. I’m so glad you found a place that works. Bless you and your husband!

  8. I always love learning about new (to me) authors and look forward to reading Jill’s books!

  9. I love your encouragement to step out and try something new! I’m trying to be brave and do the same.

  10. Something “new” happened to me and never in a million years did I think it would. I volunteer in the church library and have for 45 years. The library is 80+ years old. At one time we were the largest church library in the southeast United States. We were told that the library was no longer needed as in never to be seen again. Our inventory of books, books on cd, and DVDs for all ages was 25,000. If something is “new” than it is exciting, believe you me, this was not.

  11. Sounds like a wonderful story! We moved to Kentucky from Colorado so I look forward to revisiting that beautiful state through your writing!

  12. I’m actually attending a wedding in Breckenridge in two weeks. I may have to make a point to see Lake Dillion while there.

    1. Oh, fun! I have on old blog post about free things to do in summit county if you’re interested! I hope you have the best trip. 🙂 My next book is set in Breck. 🙂

  13. Great post! I loved hearing how this book came about. So much fun! Congratulations! I wish I could think of something new…OH, I have been doing a new aspect of creativity-flower hammering and mixed media! I usually default to making rubber stamped cards, so this has been a neat experience.

    1. This sounds amazing! I’m not crafty, so I’m always impressed by something like this because it’s not something I can do.

  15. Hi Becky: I enjoy it when you have a guest writer. I am usually introduced to a new-to-me author. Jill’s book sounds fun and exciting. I would love to win a copy of it!

  16. Hi Jill, I can’t wait to read your newest book. It sounds so good. I am working on writing a novella right now, a first for me, I tend to be very wordy. 😛 I can’t wait to see how it turns out.

  17. Hi, Jill! I have read some of your love inspired books. So impressed you’re trying something new and being brave when you were already successful. I was intrigued when I saw this book a few weeks ago (I think in your newsletter?) and love the background of how it came about. My new life experience is focused on helping 2 of my children move on to adult life. Yikes!

    1. <3 Thank you so much and thanks for being a subscriber! Oh man, we are just entering this phase with our daughter. It is definitely an adjustment!

  18. Congrats Jill Lynn on this release, it honestly has been on my TBR list for quite sometime. Thanks for the chance to win!

  20. I just finished spending a week during the Day with my Dad in rehab. An eye-opening experience, for sure! Congrats on taking a new direction with your writing. I am very interested in reading it and will check with my local library to see if they have it also.

  22. I have been hearing a lot about your book and was excited to read your blog post. I will definitely be purchasing this book to read now.

  23. This sounds like a fun read! We just recently finished “purging” my mom’s house, so this story-line hits close to home for me. We did not (fortunately) find any dead bodies, though. 🙂 Since my dad built that house and we were present for many stages of the building though, I would have been more than shocked if we had. Sounds like a great setting and premise!

  25. Hi Jill! Your book sounds very interesting! I’ve never been to Colorado but it’s on my bucket list! Congratulations on your book!

  26. We went on a two month road trip with our trailer… and we are still married! Haha! We had a blast!

  27. So glad Becky posted about your book! I love her books and I am sure I would love yours, too!

  28. I loved the plot and location of this book.
    We spent several years in Breckinridge on weekends when we shared a condo there with friends. Great place!
    I have also kayaked on Lake Dillon several times and you are so right, it is beautiful and so cold!

  30. Sounds like a good book!

    I attended the Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference for the first time this year. Loved it!

  31. Hi Jill!
    I look forward to reading your new book. Congrats 🎉!! love Becky’s books as well. As for sharing something that is a first for me is hard to do. I haven’t really talked much about it to strangers but family and friends tell me I should. About a year ago, I cared for a dear friend, my husband’s best friend in his last few days of life. He requested me to be his hospice nurse. You see it was an honor and a privilege to do this for him but at the same time one of the hardest things I’ve ever done as well. My nursing background is to save people and care for them in their most critical moments. This friend was a strong believer in Jesus and he was ready to sit at HIS feet. Knowing this helped me as I sat down to talk with him and his hospice team. Caring for someone in this time period is precious and requires faith and endurance. I will cherish this time I had with my dear friend, his family and my precious husband. We miss him everyday but know he’s safe in the arms of Jesus. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to share this story.

    1. This brought tears to my eyes. What a gift that you gave him. <3 I am so amazed that you were able to serve them in this way. <3

  32. I’m excited for your book!
    My new is our oldest begins his year of last as he embarks on his Senior year. All new territory for me and it’s got all the feels.

    1. We just did that last year! I remember how big and “undone” it all felt. I hope it’s a great year filled with good!

  33. Congrats on your new book! I’ve added it to my to read pile. It sounds fantastic! My oldest graduated from college this spring. Lots of firsts as he is truly an adult now!

    1. Thank you! And wow, my daughter just finished her freshmen year. I can’t imagine being where you are, but I know it’s going to go quickly. I hope his launch into the world is amazing!!

  34. Can’t wait to read this one. I love living in Colorado. It’s so fun to read books set in places I know

  35. Hello, Colorado girl! I’m over in Utah, sort of close by. I love Breckenridge! Thanks for opportunity to win a copy of your book!

  36. This sounds like a great story. Enjoyed going to Pike’s Peak and the Royal Gorge.

  38. I live in Colorado and this storyline in that setting sounds like an excellent summer read! Excited to read this and discover a new a Christian fiction author! Thanks for the recommendation, Becky.

  39. Hi! Your book sounds awesome! Thanks for the chance!
    Something first happened to me last week: I’m still shocked about it, but grateful. A baby boy was born in the back seat of my car. It was my bff younger sister, and I was helping out taking her to the hospital. Thank God, all went well, but I’m still so amazed by the experience!

  40. Would love to win your giveaway! Thanks for being so generous to offer one. Will read it even if I don’t win 😉

  41. Congrats on your latest release!!

    I love discovering new authors!!! I can’t wait to read The Summer of Keeping Secrets!

  42. I always enjoy traveling to New places, even if it’s in my armchair. Good luck with this new release!

  43. Hi Jill! This book sounds like a perfect summer read. Looking forward to jumping in! Ha!

  44. This week we went sand-sledding/boarding at the Sand Dunes near Alamosa, CO. It was fun and definitely calorie-burning!!! I’ve lived in CO for most of my life and have seen lots of beauty here!!

  47. My most recent “first” is this past Christmas was the first one that I’ve been alone on Christmas morning. I became an empty nester last summer (which I’m enjoying) but it didn’t dawn on me that would result in some bittersweet “firsts”. Looking forward to reading your book. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.

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