The Nick Before Christmas

                                           The Nick Before Christmas

by K.L. Brady

 

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GENRE:   Romance

 

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BLURB:

 

Will an angel's dire warning, a quest to discover a second act by Christmas Eve, and a touch of Christmas Magic lead Nickie Wright back to the one that got away?

Nickie Wright is ready to celebrate the big 5-0 for Christmas in July, but a hot flash leads her to a sobering revelation: her life has hit rock bottom. Her successes--the home and the car--feel empty. Her vision board has been a waste of time, her job is unfulfilling, and she's mulling over a proposal from Smith, who she's not sure she likes. The best day of her life spirals into the worst. During a near-death experience, a meeting with her guardian angel presents Nickie with an ultimatum - either go to heaven or return to Earth and find her second act by Christmas Eve. If she fails, her future's bleak -- her life will be filled with days no better than her worst.

Her second act sets her on a collision path with Evan Goodman, the man who makes her content, and Jordan Devlin, the first love who drives her crazy. She's torn between two worlds--contentment and safety, passion and excitement.

Time is running out for Nickie.

She only has from Christmas in July until Christmas Eve to find her calling, follow her dreams, and figure out which romantic interest will help Nickie embrace the best of herself.

The Nick Before Christmas is the perfect romantic comedy to help you find your calling and renew your faith. It delivers unforgettable moments of self-discovery and romance. It's an enchanting story to fill your heart with joy this Christmas.

 

 

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EXCERPT:

 

The voice and the name paralyzed her.

 

One person (in this world or any other) referred to her by that name.

 

It couldn’t be her.

 

“Nickie Boo?”

 

Her body stiffened. She was more shocked than afraid. Uncontrollable streams of tears flushed from her eyes. She glanced from side to side. No one. Nothing, but the faint hope of seeing her mother again after fate stole her only chance for goodbye. Nickie found out about her mother’s illness only six weeks before her death and thought she had more time.

 

“Mommy?”

 

Almost as soon as she called out to Nickie Boo once more, an angelic form descended from the sky in a dramatic drop; her arms were folded across her chest. Upon first look Nickie couldn’t discern the face, but her voice was exactly the same as she remembered. 

 

The more the form came into view, the more visible the feathery wings appeared. But the face, she knew the face like her own. Same auburn skin, same bright eyes, same natural thick hair. Her mother’s eyes smiled but her lips didn’t, at least not at first.

 

“It’s me, Cupcake. Merry Birthday.”

 

An inexplicable calm washed over her…on the outside. Inside she was scared crapless. Nickie reached for the angel’s arm and pinched her, gently. “Are you real, or am I crazy?”

 

“Yes,” her mother replied, “and yes.”

 

Mom angel?

 

Nickie laughed. No one else could make her chuckle in the middle of paralyzing panic and fear.

A Word With the Author

 1.Did you always want to be an author?

 

Sort of. When we’re young and impressionable, I think we believe we can be anything. As we get older, we want to be what we think we can be. At least this is how it worked in my life. So, When I was young, I wanted to be either an author or an actress. Both of those vocations required the signing of autographs, and I used to practice my autograph all the time. In fact, the autograph I use to sign books today is not far from the one I practiced when I was a kid. But eventually, I began to believe that becoming an author was too big of a reach for me. Authors, for me, were like the gods on Mt. Olympus. I didn’t believe I had the talent  or the gift to be an author. I’ve always been a reader and kept journals. In fact, my mother (may she be resting in peace) told me that at the age of three, she’d be reading to me, and I’d snatch books out of her hand and read them myself. I remember loving books and stories from a very early age, but I never thought I could write one myself. Now, I’m twenty-something books into my writing career…and I realize now that writing novels, being a published author, was without question is my calling. It’s the one thing I can do all day long and never feel like I’m working. I love every minute. And the fact that I tripped and fell into publishing…well, that was just God’s way of confirming that I was meant to be an author. 

 

2.Tell us about the publication of your first book.

My first book. This is a funny story—and a long story. I will condense it for this interview. So, in 2008, I was a part-time real estate agent. I’d fallen for a guy (stupidly) who was separating from his wife and buying a new home—I was his agent. As it turned out, he wasn’t ready for the relationship he thought he was ready for (of course) so we split up. (Yes, he did buy a house but with another agent.) Anyway, I was a bit heart broken and didn’t know what to do with myself except write in my journals. In the midst of this heartache, and following a string of stupid relationships, I watched Oprah (as many people do) and I caught an episode or two of her “Live Your Best Life” shows. I realized I was not living my best life…and my best life meant writing. So, I decided to craft a novel. I toiled day and night for four months until I wrote “the end” at the bottom of my first tome. I decided to call it, The Bum Magnet – as a reflection of who I used to be. I told my friends that I’d written a book called The Bum Magnet, and they asked, “Is it an autobiography???” I’d have been hurt if it weren’t so true. 

 

I then saw an advertisement for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards. I was sure my book was a best seller headed for Oprah. Why not begin with the Amazon award? So, I entered.  

 

My book got skewered. Holy moly. Readers said it was funny, but it needed a lot of work. The thing is, once I got over myself and my hurt feelings, I realized a lot of the criticism was right. So, after I was eliminated from the first or second round, I focused on making changes and rewrites, submitting it to agents, and trying to sell it to a publishing house. After nearly a year of revisions and a pile of rejections, I had a “come to Jesus” moment. I had to ask myself what was I really writing for – is it glory? Money?  A publishing deal? And my answer was no on all counts – in my heart, what I truly wanted, was for people to laugh (for it truly is the best medicine) maybe learn from the story, apply lessons learned to their own lives, and I said that if my work helped just one person, it would be worth the trouble of writing it. Eventually, I gave up on traditional publishing and self-published it. It took off in a way I did not expect. Maybe four months after self-publishing, I received a call from an editor at a major house. From that call, I got an agent. A couple of months later, I had 2-book deal with Simon & Schuster. What I have since come to learn is that deal was not the point of take-off for my career – it was confirmation that I was meant to be a writer, an author. I love being in my own lane, and I cheer for my writer friends who have become bestselling authors. I try very hard not to compare my journey to others—so, in truth, I don’t at all feel like a failure or a success. I just feel like I still have a lot of writing to do, and I approach every story the same exact way—if I believe one person could find joy in my story or healing and laughter in it, then I publish it and leave the rest to God. 

 

3.Besides yourself, who is your favorite author in the genre you write in?

 

I have too many favorites to name. Honestly. My bookshelf is such an eclectic mix of books, no one who looked at it could ever figure out what I truly loved to read. The truth is, I just love really good stories and biogrpahies. Reading Terry McMillan helped me embrace my voice. She will forever be one of my favorites. I love Brenda Jackson and Beverly Jenkins. Mrs. Jenkins writes historical romance. If you’ve never read historical romance fiction and resisted reading them, read hers. I also love Farrah Rochon. There are a few up and coming writers that I have tried but nothing beats stories from the authors that I have followed forever and who have matured their styles and stories as I’ve grown with them.

 

4.What's the best part of being an author? The worst?

 

The best part of writing is the creative process. Actually, feeling as if you’re merely a vessel for a new story and it pours through you. I love it when I’m so obsessed with a story that I can’t stop writing it. It feels like the words are raining down from heaven. I’m obsessed. Those end up being my best and favorite stories. 

 

The worst part of being an author is not writing – whether it be because life is “lifing” and you can find the time or because you’re suffering from a bout of writer’s block or whatever. When you’re not writing, all you want to do is write. I never want to write more than when I can’t. 

 

5.What are you working on now? 

 

I’m wrapping up a story called Sincerely, Santa. It’s a Christmas romance about the power of charity and forgiveness at the core. For me, grace and charity sum up the spirit of the Christmas season. In this story, Julia is a former marine combat engineer who honorably discharged and is now working for the post office. She is a gift to her small town in Ohio and uses her home renovation skills to give to the town children each year during Operation Santa; she has no family except her Aunt Charlie. But she’s haunted by ghosts from her past and feels like she can’t be forgiven for a major mistake she’s made. Down the street and around the corner, Ben, a single father, and his son Justin have moved into a home he inherited. It's a money pit in every single sense of the word. He needs major help in renovating his home, but he refuses to ask for help and he’s wallowing in the pain from a personal setback. Thankfully, his son is not afraid to ask for help. A twist of fortunes—along with their own spirits of charity and grace—bring Julia and Ben to a place where they have to choose what kind of lives they truly want to live…with whom they want to live it.

Author Links:  

Website: www.klbradyauthor.com

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/KLBRADY

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/klbrady_author/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/k-l-brady

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/K.-L.-Brady/author/B002O15D78?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2975069.K_L_Brady

 

The book will be on sale for $0.99.

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

K.L. Brady will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC o a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway