I love a
good romantic comedy and knowing the story behind the story makes it so much more
fun. I can’t wait to read this one.
The Story
Behind the Story of The Wedding Promise
by Melinda
Curtis
In June, I was asked to participate in a holiday anthology
with 13 other sweet romance writers. Last year, I would have jumped up and down
for joy. This year, I have 6 writing projects on the table and had deadlines
that couldn’t be adjusted. Call me Crazy…I
agreed. Only one problem besides squeezing it in the schedule: I needed an idea.
At the time, my friend, Kim, was in Ecuador researching a
new cocoa product (translation: she wanted to create a new chocolate snack
organically). Kim was in a very remote part of Ecuador and her weekly updates
to friends fascinated me. All the things
we take for granted – a bug-free home, air conditioning, internet – she didn’t have
any of that. One week, she reported the humongous size of bugs that landed on
her, a snake sighting, and a trip from the cocoa fields uphill in the rain with
a flat tire on her wheelbarrow. For a
romantic comedy writer, it was nirvana! A fish out of water story was born! Add
a wounded warrior, three matchmaking nuns, and I had myself a story. It turned
out kind of like a cross between Runaway Bride and Romancing the Stone.
Here’s part of the opening scene with my socialite heroine:
It was raining. Again.
Tiffany Bonander tried humming a few bars of White
Christmas. It was, after all, December
23. Cheer was called for.
But the incessant beat of fat raindrops on the tangled
foliage of the Ecuadorian rainforest and on her pink rain slicker, drowned out
her cheer.
Or maybe she was just drowning under the pressure of heavy
responsibilities.
Ankle-deep water rushed down the steep, muddy road toward
Tiff and her precious cargo–thirty pounds of cocoa beans. She couldn’t lose the beans. They were the answer to all her
troubles.
Thunder boomed. And
boomed again. The downpour increased to
a deluge.
Tightening her grip on the wheelbarrow handles, Tiff tried
to find purchase with her rain boots, tried to make it to the next rise before
the road turned into a river. Tried…and
failed. Somewhere above her the river
had risen high enough to crest a bank.
Water surged toward her.
Tiff’s father claimed they’d abandoned this cocoa plantation
years ago for drainage reasons. He
should have used the F-word: flood.
Tiff stumbled to her knees, and water rushed into her
boots–cute, pink-flowered plastic ones which quickly filled with water and felt
as heavy as cement shoes. If not for her
grip on the wheelbarrow, she might have been swept downhill. Just last week, she’d heard about a woman
who’d been carried away by the cresting river and smashed into a tree. Smashed as in: to pieces. Dead.
That would be worse than being broke and the laughing-stock
of the civilized world.
This was karma, plain and simple. She shouldn’t have jilted Chad at their
engagement party or left Malcolm at the altar.
Bio/Release Info:
Melinda Curtis writes the Harmony Valley series of sweet and
emotional romances for the Harlequin Heartwarming line (book 4 coming 3/2015).
Brenda Novak says: “Season of Change has
found a place on my keeper shelf”.
Melinda also writes independently published, hotter romances as Mel
Curtis. Jayne Ann Krentz says of Blue Rules: “Sharp, sassy, modern version of a screwball
comedy from Hollywood's Golden Age except a lot hotter.”
The Wedding Promise kicks off the Bridesmaid series. This story was included in the Sweet
Christmas Kisses anthology (retitled The Christmas Promise).
Buy Links for The Wedding Promise:
B&N:
will go live 10/15
Special
Offers/Freebies:
Readers of this
blog will be emailed a FREE sweet, fun novella set within the Hollywood Rules
world by signing up for Melinda’s book release email newsletter. Link: http://www.melindacurtis.net/join-melinda-s-mailing-list
Check out Melinda’s Facebook page this week for your chance to win a
book bag and autographed books by several great authors. https://www.facebook.com/MelindaCurtisAuthor
Website: www.MelindaCurtis.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelindaCurtisAuthor
Twitter: @MelCurtisAuthor
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