ABOUT THE AUTHOR
SHANNON VANNATTER is a stay-at-home mom/pastor’s wife/writer. When not writing, she runs circles in the care and feeding of her husband Grant, their eight-year-old son, and their church congregation. Home is a central Arkansas zoo with two charcoal gray cats, a chocolate lab, a dragonfish, and three dachshunds in weenie dog heaven. If given the chance to clean house or write, she’d rather write. Her goal is to hire Alice from the Brady Bunch.Her series with Heartsong Presents launched in May with White Roses. White Doves follows in October, and White Pearls in January. Each book ships to a 10,000 member bookclub, then to stores six months later. All three books are set in Romance and Rose Bud, Arkansas. Brides and lovebirds take advantage of the re-mailing program to have wedding invitations and Valentines cards mailed from Romance with a unique postmark. Romance also hosts several annual weddings with Valentine’s Day the most popular.
Order White Roses at http://www.heartsongpresents.com/book/detail/9781602607552/. Learn more about Shannon and her books at http://shannonvannatter.com. Her new blog, The Inkslinger, features true love stories, inspirational author’s real-life romances, insight into the love lives of their fictional characters, book excerpts, romantic destinations, and weekly book giveaways at http://www.shannonvannatter.com/blog.
WHITE ROSESby Shannon Vannatter
Published by Barbour Publishing's Heartsong Presents
ABOUT THE BOOK
Pastor Grayson Sterling loves his wife. The problem is, Sara was killed by a hit-and-run driver two years ago. Grayson knows he needs to move on, that the continuing depth of his grief is not healthy for him or his young son. Desperate, he convinces his church to hire Mark Welch as associate pastor to relieve him of some of his load. When Adrea Welch arrives at his church with her brother, Grayson cannot deny his attraction to her.
For years, florist Adrea Welch has been artfully arranging white roses for Sara Sterling. Now those flowers are carried to the cemetery by a faithful, grieving husband. How can Adrea be so attracted to a man still devoted to his dead wife? When secrets from Adrea’s past collide with their budding relationship, both she and Grayson must learn to lean on God’s abiding wisdom.
Readers, buy your copy of White Roses today!
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?
My dad always sends me flowers or balloons on Valentine's Day. As he's gotten older, I've wondered how I'll feel the first time no gift comes. Then I turned it around, and wondered would happen if I die first. I decided he'd take them to the cemetery. It became a widowed pastor and the florist who did his wife's flowers and grew from there. I still have my dad. He's seventy and still works part-time as a ranch foreman.
2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that were theirs and theirs alone?
Adrea is tempted to bite her nails when she's nervous, a habit I had as a kid. Grayson has panic attacks if anyone he loves is in danger or when an ambulance goes by. I lost a cousin in a car accident several years ago. For a long time afterward, I worried that someone I loved was in every ambulance I heard.
3. If your hero/heroine were an ice cream flavor, what would he/she be and why?
Adrea is Death by Chocolate, her choice when she's feeling down. Grayson is Chocolate Chip. Just because he's yummy handsome and that's my favorite flavor. So far, all my heroes have dark hair and green eyes like my hubby.
4. Are there any themes in White Roses that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?The theme is letting go of your fears and letting God handle life for you. A side theme that readers might not notice: Wade was a thorn in Adrea and Grayson's side.
5. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?
The black moment was the most difficult because I hate being mean to my characters. My favorite was the happily-ever-after.
6. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?
The next book in the series is White Doves and releases to the book club in October and stores in April. It's set in the Romance, AR post office. The heroine is the postmaster and the hero is the mail carrier.
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Thank you, Shannon, for being in the spotlight with us.
NEW!! Readers, answer the question associated with the spotlight in the comments, then leave your email address for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of White Roses. If you do not answer the question, you will not be entered.
Question: Since it's close to Father's Day:
1. What do you think I should do for my dad in return for all those gifts?
2. What's your favorite memory about your dad?
Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net). You won't be entered in the drawing without it. If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post.
This week, the contest is open to anyone worldwide.
