Monday, November 30, 2009

Booked for the Holidays


Meeting authors was the best part of the Christian Book Expo back in March. Of course, I loved meeting those who were already on my "must-read" list. But it was equally delightful discovering new ones as well!

Erynn Mangum is a darling new (and young!) author who released her first trilogy (Miss Match, ReMatch, and Match Point) in the last year. Although categorized as “chick-lit”, it’s certainly not meaningless. And since coffee plays a big part in her books, we hit it off immediately! (Her favorite coffee drink, after all, is mocha!) It was fun having a few minutes to chat with her.


Tell me a little bit about yourself and how you got started writing.

I've been writing since I was a little kid, but it was my senior year in high school that I decided that this was something I want to do for the rest of my life. My parents were really encouraging. So I joined the Christian Writers Guild and took their courses and I was just messing around one day and started writing Miss Match.

So did you send it in blind to publishers? And did you get immediately get the contract for all three books?

I had an agent – it was actually through one of the conferences that I met the contact that got me published. They signed a two-book contract and did an option for the third.

Tell me about this series. . .is it a romance?

Somewhat. When I started writing this book, I wasn’t married and wasn’t really in a relationship and the character in the story was a lot like that. But God used the things that came up in my life . . . in the book as well – the things I was learning in my devotions, and I ended up meeting my husband during the writing of this series. It was a fun series to write.

Do you have another series in the works?

Cool Beans, the first book of my next series, is coming out in April 2010 with the second book coming out in July 2010. It’s called the Maya Davis series.

So you're continuing with the coffee theme?!

Yes! Maya is a barista at her favorite coffeehouse who is enjoying life when her best friend starts unknowingly dating the high school sweetheart Maya almost married. Can Maya learn to trust God when it seems like only an endless bowl of fudge-covered ice cream will help?

So have you had any mentors in this writing process?

I had two different mentors with the guild – Terry White and Brandilyn Collins, and they were both amazing. The difference in my writing was astronomical. It was a fantastic experience. I can’t say enough about it.


Erynn has a fun website as well as a blog, where last week she announced that her upcoming series won't be the only new arrival at her house in 2010! Congratulations, Erynn!


Here's the blurb from the back cover of Miss Match:

Lauren Holbrook has found her life's calling: matchmaking for the romantically challenged. And with the eclectic cast of characters in her world, there's tons of potential to play "connect the friends." Inspired by the recent success of matching her sister and new husband, Lauren sets out to introduce Nick, her carefree singles' pastor, to Ruby, her neurotic coworker who plans every second of every day. What could possibly go wrong? Just about everything. When Lauren's foolproof plan begins to unravel, she learns that a simple introduction between friends can bring about complicated results. And as she reconsiders her new role as Cupid (as well as her vow to stay single forever), will Lauren finally decide that God's plan is always good enough?

I have read Miss Match and ReMatch, and Match Point is in my TBR stack. These are charming books that would be wonderful gifts for the young adult in your life. They portray single young adults in normal every-day settings -- at work, at home, at Bible Study -- encountering normal emotions, frustrations, and even misunderstandings in their friendships and relationships, all while learning to trust God with the details of their lives. After reading about Lauren Holbrook and her friends in this first trilogy, I am eagerly anticipating being introduced to Maya Davis in April!

I have an autographed copy of Miss Match for one of you. And of course, I just have to toss in a Starbucks gift card so you can grab a mocha (or your favorite drink) to enjoy or give with the book! To enter, just leave a comment on this post by Thursday, 12/3/09 at 8:00 pm CST. Remember: if you post my blog on your sidebar and let me know about it, you receive an additional entry! US Residents only, please.


Check back tomorrow for a bonus Booked for the Holidays giveaway!


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22 comments:

quilly said...

Oh! If I win this book I promise to start it with a Starbucks mocha in hand. That's my favorite coffee drink of all time!

Loved Ever said...

Nice book with good cover.

collettakay said...

This book is on my wish list. I'd love to read it.

pepsi324[at]yahoo[dot]com

collettakay said...

I forgot to mention that I have your badge on my sidebar.

sara said...

I'm with quilly...if I win, I will start it with a mocha!!! :)

of course, I already have you on my sidebar!!

Thena said...

Well I'm not a Starbucks fan, but my son LOVES them. So he would get the gift card, and my step-daughter would get the book. She loves to read.

I also have your button on my sidebar.

apple blossom said...

I'd love to win this book. Thanks

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

apple blossom said...

I put your icon in my sidebar. Thanks

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Skoots1moM said...

love it...mine might be a pumpkin spice latte...okay?
you've been sitting on my sidebar since b4 Thanksgiving (quite comfortably I might add...
sidebars sound uncomfortable don't they...I'll call it a 'margin' :)

CeeCee said...

Great interview. I have Mismatched in my TBR stack so don't enter me. Looking forward to Cool Beans!

Katherine said...

This book looks very good. Please enter me for the drawing.

kefarley89(@)gmail(.)com

Cathy said...

I would love to win this book and I have your button on my sidebar.

Anonymous said...

mg.sailor(@)hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

lavaholeinarizona.46@()gmail.com

Kirstie said...

Great contest!

yogalovenangel@yahoo.com

Jessie at Blog Schmog said...

Her books look adorable! :) Put me down please! p.s. were we supposed to include email addresses?
jessjokin@juno.com

Jessie at Blog Schmog said...

I have your cute button on my side bar too!

Abbie said...

Looks great! So cute too!

Andrea Schultz said...

Looks like a fun book! Plus Starbucks mocha - quite a bonus!

Thanks - Andrea

andrealschultz@gmail.com

Andrea Schultz said...

I have added your button to my (recently created!) blog sidebar

andrealschultz.blogspot.com

Lydia M. said...

I love this series and would love to win this book!

lindawn[at]hotmail[dot]com

Sophia said...

I would love to win!
Maddy
edil.ahmarand@gmail.com