Meet and Greet Monday: Cynthia Ruchti

Book Giveaway Drawing!

Read details later in this post.

Cynthia Ruchti writes and produces THE HEARTBEAT OF THE HOME radio broadcast and served American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) for the past two years as president. Her debut novel--THEY ALMOST ALWAYS COME HOME (spring 2010 from Abingdon Press)--was nominated for an RT Book Reviewers' Choice Best Inspirational Novel award in suspense. A DOOR COUNTY CHRISTMAS, a novella collection from Barbour Publishing, with her novella "The Heart's Harbor" released in September of 2010.

Dear Reader,


I finally figured out what I want to be when I grow up. An innkeeper! And an author. How can I do both? Make one of my characters an innkeeper for a Victorian bed and breakfast in a charming, artsy, nature-rich village along the shores of the Green Bay part of Lake Michigan in Door County, Wisconsin.

Actually, two characters in my novella The Heart’s Harbor in the collection A DOOR COUNTY CHRISTMAS (Barbour Books) are innkeepers. Lola Peterson owns the inn. Amanda Brooks is drafted to run it in Lola’s absence. That would work okay if Amanda knew anything about innkeeping and if Lola’s budget-conscious son could keep his adorable nose out of it.

The Heart’s Harbor started out as one of those projects abandoned to a computer file. When the opportunity arose to work on a novella collection with author-friends Eileen Key, Rachael Phillips, and Becky Melby, I took it out of storage. But what I thought would require a few adjustments to fit the category and focus of the novella turned into a much larger project as the comedic aspect begged for a voice and Amanda, Jordan, Lola, and all the other characters in The Heart’s Harbor tugged at my sleeve for a chance to tell their stories.

I discovered that even lighthearted romantic comedy can offer layers of deeper meaning for readers, including myself. As I worked on the story, I discovered a defining thread I didn’t know was there, an important stabilizing principle for successful relationships. It’s spelled out on page—

Glad I caught myself! Wouldn’t want to give it away before you’ve had a chance to read it for yourself and watch the drama (and comedy) build to that moment.

A novella length doesn’t offer much “time” to spend on complicated plots. But life is naturally complicated sometimes, isn’t it? Amanda’s disappointments, Jordan’s regrets, and Lola’s matchmaking converge in a “what are we going to do?” situation that challenges their creativity,
their patience, and their relationship skills. As readers watch Jordan and Amanda figure out when a love is worth pursuing and Who authors that kind of love, they may catch a glimpse of answers for their own relationships. And share a laugh along the way.

When I choose a book from the shelf and settle into my cushy chair with a cup of strong black tea (or an exotic flavor), I find myself drawn to intriguing-but-real characters living through extraordinary-but-believable circumstances, usually in the women’s fiction genre. Living through…and triumphing. I’m working on a couple of projects that are just shy of ready to talk about. Soon! Heart-tugging, soul-stirring life lessons will no doubt catch me by surprise in those pages, too.

You can purchase A DOOR COUNTY CHRISTMAS through most Christian bookstores, at many Sam’s Clubs and Wal-marts across the country, and online sources like www.amazon.com. It is sold out in many markets, which is another reason to get excited about the giveaway Janalyn is conducting.

Stop by my website for information about other books I’ve written and other projects that keep me from being idle. www.hopethatglowsinthedark.com or www.cynthiaruchti.com.

Thanks, Janalyn, for the opportunity to chat with your readers.

It's always a pleasure to host you, Cynthia.



©2010 Janalyn Voigt, author of novel books

Share |


Book Giveaway Drawing: Cynthia Ruchti will give away a free copy of  A Door County Christmas to three readers of this blog. To enter, leave a comment to this post. If you are a follower of Book Readers Central and tell me so in your comment, I'll give you an extra chance to win. 

Please include a valid email address in an anti-spam format (example: youremailhandle[at]gmail[dot]com]) or your entry will become invalid. Entries will be accepted until this Thursday at midnight (Pacific Time/US). 

I'll announce the winner on Book Readers Central on Friday. The winner must respond within two weeks of notification. Detailed rules of giveaways on Book Reader's Central are located in the footer of this blog.