Rachelle J. Christensen

Romance, Suspense, Mystery Author

Monday Musings #34

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Monday Musings with Rachelle

I LOVE this inspirational quote! Half the battle is taking the initiative, that first step toward our goals and dreams. This inspiring thought is definitely worth pondering. What do you think? 

When a resolute young fellow steps up to the great bully, the world, and takes him boldly by the beard, he is often surprised to find it comes off in his hand, and that it was only tied on to scare away the timid adventurers. 

–Ralph Waldo Emerson

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An Interview with Me

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For Writers:

Here’s an interview that I did years ago with author Renae Weight Mackley. It was so much fun to stumbled across this again and think about my early years of writing. Enjoy!

I really enjoyed reading Wrong Number, a Whitney finalist, and thought I’d have a chat with Rachelle Christensen, award-winning author of “Wrong Number” and “Lost Children: Coping with Miscarriage”. I like to ask authors three critical fundamentals in writing. Let’s start with . . .
Plot—Your plot kicks off strongly from page one. Did you struggle to keep the momentum going? How much of the story was plotted out or outlined before you started writing?
Rachelle: My character, Aubree Stewart, sometimes had a mind of her own and that led to more tension. But I also went back through each chapter during revisions and looked for plot development, tension, etc. to make sure the pacing of the story would keep the reader turning pages.
Character—I liked how you showed character growth from a wife dependent on her husband to a woman who takes charge of her situation. Was this something you strengthened during revisions or did you plan her character arc from the beginning?
Rachelle: Thank you! It was fun to see Aubree’s character development. A lot of that happened naturally with the paths she took in the novel, but I also tried to refine that during revisions. Something I tried to keep in mind was that the character needs to have faults and flaws so they are progressing with the plot as well.
Renae: It was fun to discover who Aubree could or couldn’t trust. Any tips on keeping a secondary character mysterious while showing their development?
Rachelle: Red herrings are a wonderful tool to make anyone seem mysterious. I’ll admit I find it tricky to keep the bad guy a secret because obviously I know who he is while I’m writing 🙂 so I’m always double-checking my writing and asking myself, “Are they going to figure out the bad guy?” and then adding in subtle movements, red herrings, and foreshadowing to keep the reader guessing.
Conflict—There were lots of conflicts along the way culminating to the biggest one where there was no escape. Where do your ideas come from?
Rachelle: My ideas usually come from something that sparks my interest like a news story and then I start asking, “What if?” For example, we all get wrong numbers and I’ve had plenty where people just start talking (this especially happens on my voicemail) and I’ve had to correct them and tell them “I’m sorry you must have the wrong number.” So what if someone called the wrong number by accident and gave out information about a murder?
Renae: It always exciting to win awards. How different was the final product from what you submitted to contests?
Rachelle: Wrong Number won second place in the LDStorymakers contest in 2007 and I had another novel (one of my many work-in-progress) win first place in 2009. The first chapter didn’t change much, other than being tightened up a bit and some extra scrubbing and polishing. But the first draft of my novel was right around 50,000 words. By the time I finished re-writing and revising for several months, the final word count was nearly 72,000 words and that doesn’t account for all the words I cut during revising.
Renae: Did your marketing or publishing strategy change by going from a non-fiction book to suspense?
Rachelle: Definitely. I found it much easier to market my fiction book because it was for anyone. Whereas my nonfiction book was written for a specific niche of readers.
Renae: What else would you like to share about yourself?
Rachelle: I’m a stay-at-home mommy of four beautiful kids. I love to play the piano and sing. I enjoy anything creative, especially making cards, creating photobooks, sewing, and gardening. And right now I’m counting down the days until sunny weather when I can go running any time of day while listening to my iPod and thinking of ideas for my next novel.
Renae: What are you working on now?
Rachelle: I’m currently revising the spin-off from Wrong Number. The working title is Caller ID and I’m excited about the plot in this story. I came up with the idea by combining the elements of two different stories I saw on the news a few years ago. I think my readers will be excited to see who the main character is in Caller ID. I’ll give a hint, it’s not Aubree.
Renae: Do you have any advice for other authors?
Rachelle: If you’re serious about writing, attend writers conferences and classes, join a great critique group, read novels in your genre of interest, and write, write, write! Also, learn how to take criticism and know when to apply it to your writing and when to chuck it out the window.
Renae: Where can we find your books? (BTW, I can personally recommend Wrong Number!)
Rachelle: Anywhere books are sold. If you don’t see it, ask for it and they can order it in. Available wherever books are sold: SEE HERE.
If you’d like to get a sneak peek at Wrong Number, check out the book trailer—it’s awesome!  You can see it HERE. Stop by my website  to see what I’m up to. Thank you so much for this interview! Happy reading and writing.

Visit Rachelle’s For Writers Page to find more resources HERE

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New Releases for a Rainy Day

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Book Deals and Promos

It’s said that April showers bring May flowers, and sometimes those rainy days need to be spent curled up with a good book, especially a swoony, clean romance. Here are a few new releases that you might want to check out for one of those rainy days. These clean and wholesome romances are sure to give you a good escape with a variety from contemporary romance to Regency romance. Check them out!

This new Regency romance, with a fairy tale twist, is just 99 cents!

Spun of Gold (Once Upon a Regency Book 3) by [Johnson, Jen Geigle]

Spinning, spinning, straw to gold.

An unthinkable offer. A courageous miss. A determined Lord, and an evil duke.

Never. She vowed to never marry.

But Lord Harcourt was determined to unravel her secrets.

She’d never heard of a debutante in her first season trying to marry the least desirable man she could find, and yet, here she was. With the Duke after her to make a choice and her family’s happiness weighing in the balance, she pushed forward until the unthinkable happened: she fell in love.

When faced with a tempting but unthinkable offer, how can she accept, when a union with Lord Harcourt would steal from him what he most desired?

The power of a determined goodness and love conquer all in this Regency Fairytale. Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer fans alike will want to read a version of Rumpelstiltskin the likes of which they’ve never seen. Grab your copy HERE today.

Or does a sports romance, Christmas romance, or a celebrity romance fit your mood? This boxed set covers all three and is only $2.99!

No Match for Love Volume 3 Box Set: Match Me if You Can, Match Me by Christmas, Never Say Match by [Armstrong, Lindzee]

Match Me if You Can: Falling for the wrong girl has left his football career in shambles. Falling for the wrong guy has propelled her to reality TV star fame. Can their hearts heal from past hurts and trust in a future together? A 2018 Whitney Award finalist!

Match Me by Christmas: A reporter running from love. A cruise ship director longing for home. Can a Christmas miracle help them build a relationship before the ship docks for the last time?

Never Say Match: An actor researching a role. A cupcake cake shop owner with a broken heart. Can he convince her she’s more than a stand-in heroine?

Find your copy of this boxed set HERE.

If a tropical romance is more your style, check out this new release in The Royal Palm Resort romance series!

Catching Waves: A Sweet Beach Romance (The Royal Palm Resort Book 2) by [Krey, Kimberly]

When surf instructor Carly Bridger falls for Gage Craven, she discovers the love she’s always longed for. But will the painful parts of her past threaten to tear it away?

Gage Craven has finally gained his famous father’s approval by agreeing to star in a Hollywood film. And while he’s basking in the feels of being his old man’s pride and joy, Gage can’t help but worry over the many ways he could lose it. Topping Dad’s must-do list are two very simple words: Stay Single. After all, what other father and son team could claim to have taken the title of Hollywood’s Most Eligible Bachelor? But when Carly Bridger surfs in and takes Gage’s life by storm, he stands to lose the relationship he worked so hard to earn. No doubt Carly’s worth the risk, but will Gage’s Hollywood ties scare her away?

Second-grade teacher Carly Bridger is on the verge of breaking free from her past—namely, a cowboy poet named Jimmy who loves his broken heart more than her. Carly can only hope her summer job teaching surf at the Royal Palm will move her one step closer to the life she longs for. That hope comes to life when Hollywood hunk, Gage Craven, shows Carly she is able to feel something for another man after all. Yet just as hope for a future with Gage begins to flourish, the past she’s trying to forget comes back to haunt her.

Will these crashing tides destroy their budding relationship, or will their new love be strong enough to survive the storm?

Find your next Royal Palm resort romance HERE.


 

Book Review: Coloring Bunnies by Niya C. Sisk

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Book Thoughts by Rachelle

Today I’m excited to share a different kind of book review–a coloring book–just in time for Easter! And Coloring Bunnies is for adults who like to color as well as older kids who want more of a challenge.

Did you know that coloring is highly beneficial for all ages? It is, because it’s a creative, stress-reducing activity. I love art and anything creative and I still find the time to sit down and color with my kids occasionally. I just love that there are coloring books for big kids now!

Check out Niya Sisk’s delightful, whimsical, and incredible art–she’s a truly talented artist and you’ll feel like one too when you color your own bunnies in this adult coloring book!

Here’s more about the book:

JUST ADD COLOR: Coloring Bunnies offers a wide variety of bunny scenes for your unique taste and style. You can be a fine artist, floral artist or motif artist. Whether you love the details or the wide open scenes and landscapes, this coloring book offers itself to your imagination. The illustrations are not back to back. Each page includes a notes page for your thoughts and ideas. Niya C Sisk’s illustrations provide oodles of peace, calm, dignity and sweetness of rabbits. But you complete this magical book. This is the perfect Easter gift for yourself or a loved one.

Other books you may enjoy:

Po'Bird: A wingless bird determined to fly by [Sisk, Niya]   

Visit Rachelle’s Book Review Page to see all reviews HERE.

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*Affiliate links used in post. All reviews shared are Rachelle’s honest opinion.*

Monday Musings #33

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Monday Musings with Rachelle

I love this inspirational quote given by one of our former US presidents, Abraham Lincoln. How many times do we take offense at things said or done? How often do we give it? This inspirational thought gives each one of us a lot to think about.

We should be too big to take offense and too noble to give it.

—Abraham Lincoln

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The Soldier’s Bride is 99 Cents

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99 Cents Book Sale

The Soldier’s Bride, the first book in the Music Box series, is just 99 cents! You can get your copy between April 14, 2019 and April 21, 2019 HERE.

Read on to see what this inspirational women’s fiction story is all about.

As WWII ration cards and battle scars become commonplace across America, it seems to Evelyn that even love is rationed out. When she finds a message from her late husband tucked inside a music box, Jim’s words have the power to change her life: Don’t die with me.

Words written out of love, long-lost but never forgotten.

Grief stricken, Evelyn is unsure of how to honor his request, but she finds the courage to keep on living. Jim’s note urges her to give the music box away to unlock the secret within, and although it breaks her heart again, Evelyn trades the music box for a cradle to hold her infant son. Thus begins the decades-long journey of the music box, mending broken hearts, reuniting lost loves, and giving people the courage to heal themselves along the way. This romance crosses battlefields and time as the music box touches the lives of two soldiers, a broken father, a crippled child, a struggling farmer, and a woman once called the soldier’s bride.

Here’s what readers are saying about this sweet, historical novel:

“Romantic and full of tough decisions, life’s twists and turns, and above all the rest-hope. Like the magical music box, Rachelle Christensen weaves a melody into the pages that stays with you long after the last page.”-Lucy McConnell, author of the Billionaire Marriage Brokers Series.

“The Soldier’s Bride is a touching romance that captures the imagination-from the first hint on the breeze to the final twist at the end. The story will fill your heart with warmth and remind you of the first love in your life . . . and the last. Kudos to Rachelle Christensen for weaving a romantic tale that could only be carried on the wind.” -C. L. Beck, author of numerous stories in the Cup of Comfort series.

“Once each person gives the music box to someone else, a piece of their heart has healed in a way that they will never return to the person they once were.” -Karrie Glazner, Amazon reviewer

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