Making Decisions ~ by Joanne Jaytanie

Perseverance doesn’t always pay off, but sometimes it does.

I count myself fortunate that the last 30 days have been filled with firsts – in the best of ways. This story began three months ago. And, I thought long and hard over the decisions I faced and realized that if I were to accept the opportunities I was invited to partake in, it would mean sticking to a rigorous schedule, with little to no wiggle room. 

In late August, I was invited to write in a collection with nine other authors. I’ve mentioned this collection in my two latest posts, Never Say Never and An author’s life and as with most collections, that meant writing a story to a theme that was chosen by the group. I didn’t commit to the collection immediately. Instead, I mulled it over for a few days. I really wanted to take part, but I’m not a fast writer, and my process can often make for many a re-write. What if I couldn’t come up with an idea? What if I couldn’t get the book done by the deadline? I drug my feet for days trying to decide what to do. In the meantime, the group was tossing around different Christmas themes. Among the mix was an idea of having all the stories take place around an inn or a lodge. This type of theme gave us considerable latitude with our stories, and the decision was made to name the collection: Christmas at Mistletoe Lodge. 

I started to think about my Christmas collection Forever Christmas in Glenville. If I was going to write a Christmas story, I wanted it to also work as a book three in this collection for two reasons: First, we all agreed that after January 2020, Christmas at Mistletoe Lodge would be taken down. Each of us would then be able to publish our individual stories. When this time comes, I don’t want a standalone Christmas novella. I want a novella that I can incorporate into my existing collection. Secondly, I wouldn’t have to start from scratch. Writing the new novella as book three of Forever Christmas in Glenville would provide me with a setting, backstory, and characters. It couldn’t have been more perfect. I’d wanted to write Gina’s story, and this theme was tailor-made for her. So, I committed to the collection.

Now I just had to come up with a plotline for this new novella, which I titled Christmas Chemistry. Two thoughts kept tugging at me: First, Gina, a character in Forever Christmas in Glenville, manages the main house that is the heart of the Christmas tree farm at Forever Christmas. The second was the antique reception desk at the main house at Forever Christmas. I can’t go into any more details without giving away too much of the story. I do find it peculiar that I tend to leave a few threads in nearly every story I write that I can later pick up and sew into an entirely new sequel.

Over the next two months, I wrote and promoted Christmas at Mistletoe Lodge. We promoted the collection in every way we could think of; a free cookbook - Christmas at Mistletoe Lodge Cookbook, media kits, blog tours, Facebook groups and parties, tons of book sites, teasers on all our social media sites, and postcards we handed out. Previously scheduled book signings and events featured our collection. We even had a book trailer. Within days of the collection’s release it became an Amazon bestseller. We dedicated a great deal of time and work to this collection, and in doing so, we achieved the goal that brought us all together to begin with – USA Today Best Selling Author!

Taking part in Christmas at Mistletoe Lodge has been an exhilarating ride and I’m thankful and honored to have been invited to be a part of this adventure. If you'd like to read more about the collection, including excerpts from all ten stories, click here.

Sabrina York – Cooped Up For Christmas — It was supposed to be an easy gig—working as a concierge at a luxury lodge for the super-rich over Christmas—but then he had to show up. The boy who broke my heart all those years ago. But former Navy SEAL Cameron Cooper isn't exactly a boy anymore.

Tamara Ferguson – A Kiss Under A Blue Christmas Moon — Blue Moon’s bandleader, Noah’s been crazy about Mia since the moment they met at a magical beach concert, but Mia’s father sabotages their romance before Noah goes to war. Six years after escaping her controlling father, Mia’s returned to Crystal Rock to find Lieutenant Noah Erikson’s never stopped loving her.

Jen Talty – Alaskan Christmas – Flynn Wagner sets off to the frozen tundra and the Mistletoe Lodge, prepared for endless stories about her mother. However, nothing can prepare her for coming face to face with the one man she couldn’t get out from under her skin. At the lodge, Colton Granger never expected to find the woman who had changed his life forever in high-heeled boots, a winter coat that wouldn’t keep a person warm, and a killer smile that would soon melt his heart.

Natalie Ann – Christmas Love – Former model, Noelle Bennett has decided she wants to be behind the camera instead of in front of it. Just her and the woods around her little home, snapping pictures of the winter landscape and historic Inns. Then how did sexy veterinarian Dr. Chase Martin talk her into adopting a puppy and wondering if the peaceful life wasn't what she wanted all along?

Pam Binder – Christmas Makeover — Mistaken as a wedding and events planner, the out-of-work dog walker, is hired to transform a rundown inn into a Medieval themed-wedding destination. But the owner’s handsome son, Owen, has other plans for the Inn.

Tammy L. Grace – Christmas in Snow Valley — Fifteen years ago, he broke her heart. She never moved on. Will a little Christmas magic bring them back together?

Jacki Delecki – Mission: Impossible to Wed — A wedding designer and a Special Ops soldier are thrown together for a country wedding that has them both thinking they’ll never get married.

Joanne Jaytanie – Christmas Chemistry — It's nothing but an old tavern. But to the Jamersons and Brocks, it's a treasured history, a precious legacy. Can Gina Jamerson and Owen Brock meet in the middle or will their families ruin any chance of compromise?

Kim Hornsby – The Christmas Challenge A hermit blogger attends a destination wedding as part of a Christmas challenge and meets someone who gets her heart racing again only to discover he has a game-changing secret—about her.

Lauren Gayle – A Southern Lights Christmas When a rare winter storm covers their Christmas getaway with bone-chilling snow and ice, two strangers are challenged with the reality of winter in a southern town.

Chemistry and Christmas draw them together, but family loyalty could keep them on opposing sides.

After the loss of Gina’s dad, her mom and siblings needed her more than ever. So Gina uprooted a life she loved and moved to Glenville, Washington. She’s become immersed in the charming town and its heartwarming people who accept and love her. Gina never imagined she’d find her forever career managing the main house at Forever Christmas tree farm. Now a popular overnight destination, the main house needs a proper name. Searching for the perfect name, Gina discovers that generations ago her family was quite prominent in Glenville.

Owen Brock has built a thriving law practice in Phoenix, where the weather is always perfect. Phoenix is also as far away as possible from the frigid winters of Glenville—and his overbearing family. His mother’s health is declining, so Owen decides to return home only long enough to assess mom’s condition and to help his family reclaim their history lost in a card game decades ago.

He never dreamed he’d be battling with Gina Jamerson over an old tavern worth nothing to anyone except the Jamersons and Brocks. 

To learn more about Joanne and read her past blog posts click here.

Until next time...

Joanne