Tuesday, October 25, 2016

An interview with Ginny Baird, author of THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE SHOP


The Christmas Cookie Shop (Christmas Town, #1)
by: Ginny Baird
Series: Christmas Town
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: October 25, 2016
Publisher: Winter Wedding Press
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Goodreads

Come home this Christmas to…

CHRISTMAS TOWN, TENNESSEE


Where everyday dreams come true!

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Ginny Baird brings you the start of a brand new holiday series…


Hannah Winchester is down on her luck and disillusioned with love, but her fortunes are about to change. When Hannah inherits a defunct bakery in East Tennessee, her first thought is to sell it and settle her substantial debt. Then the townsfolk welcome her warmly and she’s taken with the joyful spirit of the place, where stores employ holiday themes and residents have surnames like Christmas and Claus. After a handsome lawman comes to her aid dressed as Santa, Hannah learns he’s more than a hot guy in a red suit and shiny black boots. Sheriff Carter Livingston has joined in the cause of rejuvenating the town, and he’s encouraging her to do her part. Hannah’s great-grandmother, Lena, sold special holiday cookies that brought hope and renewal to the people of Christmas Town. Yet Hannah has plans elsewhere and isn’t looking to stay. Can she possibly reopen the shop known for kindling romance—without sacrificing her heart?


Hi Ginny. Welcome to Read Your Writes Book Reviews. How are you?
Hi, Kim! I’m doing really well today, thank you! Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog. It’s a pleasure to be here.

You’re very welcome. I’m super excited you agreed to appear. The Christmas Cookie Shop is the first book in your Christmas Town series. What can readers expect from the book and the series itself?
Book 1 is about a heroine (Hannah Winchester) who inherits a defunct cookie shop in a small town in East Tennessee. The place used to belong to Hannah’s late great-grandmother, who sold special holiday cookies rumored to inspire true love. Hannah arrives in Christmas Town with plans to sell the shop. Yet, once she gets there, she falls in love with the town and its people, and becomes taken with its very handsome sheriff.

The Christmas Town series follows the people of Christmas Town through eight consecutive Christmas seasons, so we get to keep up with favorite characters (see them marry, start families, etc.) while also meeting new ones. Each book in the Christmas Town series focuses on a new couple and their romance. Book 2 (due out on Christmas Day) is Sandy and Ben’s story.

I love being able to immerse myself with a series and its characters. Thus, I can’t wait for the next book. Tell me about Hannah Winchester and Carter Livingston.
Hannah Winchester (age 27) is a pretty brunette with a fair complexion and a sassy chin-length haircut. Since graduating from college with a degree in psychology, Hannah’s been scraping by on low-paying jobs, but she wants to do better. Hannah’s also motivated to help people, so she decides to apply to graduate school in order to get a masters degree in social work. She’s at the point of completing graduate school applications when she arrives in Christmas Town and her life suddenly turns on a dime. Particularly as she’s had recent romantic disasters, and has temporarily sworn off men…

Carter Livingston (age 32) is the strong silent type with medium brown hair and dark green eyes. He went through Villanova ROTC then joined the 10th Mountain Division (Infantry Light). After a scarring incident during one of his deployments, Carter left active duty and trained for the police force in Richmond, Virginia. He’s recruited to run for Christmas Town sheriff by his godmother, Louise Christmas, who is also the town mayor. When Carter meets Hannah, he’s been sheriff for a little under a year.

I’ve read a couple of excerpts from the book and I have to say, I’m liking what I’m reading. What do you love about these two?
I love their chemistry! For a basically sweet book, it burns pretty hot—particularly during one scene, after Hannah finds the recipe for those special cookies…

Oh. That scene! That was definitely a c-r-a-z-y scene. What’s your favorite part of a romance book to write and why? 
The HEA because it always…**always**…makes me cry. I am such a big sap in that way. You’d think that I’d get over it, since I know that it’s coming, but I always find myself blubbering and reaching for tissues anyway.

Are any of your books destined for Hollywood?
Let’s hope all of them!

I personally would love to see this book on Hallmark. You’ve written over 20 books, I think 23 to be exact. Do you ever feel pressure to top the previous one?
I guess I’m either fortunate—or oddly delusional—because I generally tend to believe that my current work-in-progress is my best book ever!

That’s good. Do you have a favorite scene from The Christmas Cookie Shop and if so, can you please tell me about it?
I really like the way it opens with Hannah lost, while driving in a snowstorm, and Sheriff Carter Livingston coming her rescue wearing a Santa Suit. That scene was very vivid to me when I wrote it and I still see it that way. Hopefully, readers will like this start to the story, too.

I definitely liked that scene. It really had a Christmasy feel to it, at least for me. I’m going to assume you didn’t write The Christmas Cookie Shop during the Christmas season. How did you get into the Christmas frame of mind, in say Spring or Summer?
I play Christmas music and drink my coffee out of holiday mugs. I have a favorite one and the design is nearly worn off by now, because I’ve written so many Christmas books. LOL.

Ginny, thank you sooo much for taking the time to talk with me today.
Thank you again for inviting me, Kim, and for your thoughtful questions. I’ve really enjoyed answering them!

Purchase The Christmas Cookie Shop from:

The Christmas Town Series:

You can read an excerpt of The Christmas Cookie Shop here

Click here for my 5 Star review of The Christmas Cookie Shop

Romance writer Ginny Baird has published novels in print and online and received screenplay options from Hollywood for her family and romantic comedy scripts. Whether writing light hearted romantic comedy or spine-tingling romantic suspense, she delights in delivering heartwarming stories.

She is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a Top 10 Best Seller on Kindle, NOOK and iBooks, and a #1 Best Seller in several Romance and Women's Fiction categories. When she's not writing, Ginny enjoys cooking, biking and spending time with her family in Virginia. Ginny loves hearing from her readers! She invites you to visit her website and connect with her on social media.

Places to find Ginny Baird: 

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4 comments:

  1. Thank you for hosting me on your blog today! I loved getting to answer your great interview questions!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're very welcome. Thank you again for the interview.

      Delete
  2. I enjoyed the interview and look forward to reading this book

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Janine.

      I seriously LOVED this book. But I recommend you have cookies handy.

      Delete

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