The Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction: Interview and Giveaway with Melony Teague, Author of A Promise to Keep!

Hi, guys! V. Joy Palmer here! Since we are all friends here, you guys can call me Joy. ;-) And one of my favorite things to do is talk with my friends at coffee shops then head to the bookstores. Yes, plural. Books and yummy drinks are the perfect combination, after all. So consider this our virtual coffee shop. I'll wait a second for you to get your warm drink and a fuzzy blanket before we chat with today's guest. <3

Today we're going to pry into the private life chat with Melony Teague, author of A Promise to Keep! I had the honor of reading A Promise to Keep for endorsement, and you can read my review HERE! I am so excited to chat with Melony today!

Melony Teague writes contemporary romance with a dash of humor, she loves to inspire and motivate others through her written words, and she believes everyone has a story to tell. Melony is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, and she is the co-author of As the Ink Flows, a devotional for authors. Her fiction debut, A Promise to Keep released, Jan 21, 2020. Melony was born in South Africa and now lives in Toronto with her handsome husband, their two teenagers, and does the bidding of her two adorable cats.

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A PROMISE TO KEEP BOOK CLUB

Interview ~

This may be the most important question I ask -- no pressure or anything, LOL! *drum roll* What are you drinking in our virtual coffee house? Coffee? Tea? Hot chocolate? Something else altogether?

All of them. Coffee first thing in the morning, tea in the afternoon and in winter, hot chocolate at night.

That's a good -- and yummy -- beverage system! If you could order anything in the world to eat at our virtual coffee shop (we can dream, can't we?), what would it be?

Chicken Pad Thai. I love it!

YUM!!! Where is your favorite place to write, and why is that your favorite place?

I love to write anywhere except at my desk it seems. It might sound strange, but my desk is for client work and editing. To me, I need a change of scenery for my creative side of writing. So I’ll move to another room, the dining room, or somewhere else, or if I can’t concentrate because I’m getting distracted by housework, I will go to the nearest Starbucks.

I'm very similar when it comes to creative space. Do you have an odd habit that is only explained by your bookish, writer tendencies? Safe space. ;-)

Oh goodness, I asked my husband and he said I have too many odd habits, but he’s not sure any of them can be explained. He did not want to elaborate for some odd reason. I think my curiosity is probably part of being a writer. Asking people questions about things in the name of research is a wonderful perk.

LOL! I bet that's the safe answer for any spouse of a writer! ;-) What inspired you to write A Promise to Keep?

I wanted to write a story beginning with a high school reunion, with the focus on second chances and promises kept. I love quirky characters and Savannah is certainly quirky. Michael quickly became a loveable character, although complex and—dare I say—swoony. He has such a good heart. The story developed from there. But my goal was to write a book that would be fun to read, as well as meaningful. I don’t see why these two goals can’t co-exist.

Yes! I could see all of those elements when I read A Promise to Keep! What led you to write in this genre?

As much as I love reading historical fiction, I’m not smart enough to write it, so that rules out that genre. (I mean, the research! I admire historical fiction writers so much!) I am a romantic at heart, so it had to include romance—and contemporary romance lends plenty of room for that romantic side of me to come out.

You and your voice are such a wonderful addition to the contemporary romance world! What message do you hope to convey to your readers?

Good question! Even though life is hard, and messy, there is always hope and there is always time for second chances. There are some promises we can count on, no matter what life brings our way. God Keeps His promises (Ps. 145:13). Also, it’s okay to laugh at yourself. I’d want readers to come away being inspired to live in the moment, be present, and make choices that will bring quality to their relationships and lives.

So much YESSS!!! Can you tell us a little about your next project(s)?

I have a few project possibilities and am still deciding which one I should tackle first. Stay tuned.

You had better believe I will! Do you have a favorite Bible verse or story that inspires you on a soul level?

1 Peter 4:10 (NIV) Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

This inspires me because it reminds me we all have gifts which were given for us to serve others and reminds me to stay faithful in what I am called to do. And not everyone’s gift is the same, so we shouldn’t compare our journey to someone else’s.

Yes! This verse is so powerful! What are you currently reading? Inquiring minds -- mine -- want to know!

Actually, lately I have been listening to audio books while I knit scarves for the family. It gets cold in winter here in Canada! And we have had lots of snow. The last audio book I listened too was Christmas in Evergreen with Nancy Naigle since it was around Christmas time. Before that I listened to The Defenders of Justice series by Nancy Mehl.

Such great books! Glad you're still getting in some "reading" time while you knit!

Thank you so much for hanging out with us and for answering all of my prying questions, Melony!

A Promise to Keep ~

A Promise. A High School Reunion. And a pact that proves harder to keep.

Research librarian Savannah Sanderson wants nothing more than to escape into her happily-ever-after novels with their larger-than-life fictional heroes. But a promise to her late husband has her attending her dreaded twenty-year high school reunion, drinking ghastly punch, and taking desperate measures just to keep her vow, even if she has to hide behind the décor to do it.

Once a reckless troublemaker, Michael McCann fled town after graduation. Now a professional technical rescuer, he’s back for the reunion, but on his trip down memory lane, he soon comes face to face with unresolved issues, namely Savannah.

Before the night is over, a pact between these two old friends will lead them on an adventure into uncharted emotional territory where Michael must confront his past regrets and find the courage to reveal the truth. But can Savannah fly from her sheltered nest and risk her heart on a real-life hero?

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Giveaway ~

Melony Teague has generously offered a $10 Amazon.com or Amazon.ca gift card to one randomly chosen individual!

Rules, Info, and Such ~

The author is giving away a $10 Amazon.com or Amazon.ca gift card!

This giveaway is open to the US and Canada!

This giveaway will close on March 19th, 2020, at 12:00 A.M. for all the night owls.

A winner will be drawn within four days of close of giveaway. If the winner does not respond to our e-mails within one week of notification, then a new winner will be drawn in their place. Void where prohibited by law.

May the odds be ever in your favor. ;-)

Enter using the handy Rafflecopter here ~

a Rafflecopter giveaway
See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and an avid blogger. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and take flowery photos for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable little girl. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!