Monday, December 9, 2019

Inspiration: the Hero in All of Us by D. K. Deters #inspiration #Christmas


MUSE MONDAY

Recently, in my Arizona community, a tragedy has been unfolding. Within that tragedy is a cast of everyday people performing heroic efforts. My guest today, D. K. Deters, has a magical tale inspired by just such people. Read about her inspiration.

Brenda, thanks for hosting me on Muse Monday.

A magical painting and time travel are the perfect elements for a holiday romance. But you might be surprised to know that Christmas Once Again was inspired by a news broadcast about ordinary people pitching together to save a stranger’s life after a snowstorm. We’ve all heard about them, nameless folks who carry out acts of kindness and ask for nothing in return.

After the broadcast, I thought about themes for Christmas Once Again, and I knew I had to include heroism. Without giving away too much, you’ll see there’s a little bit of a hero in all the characters. Their small and almost forgettable actions will have you wondering how they all connect.

Christmas Once Again is a quick read, but you won’t find its twists and turns predictable. Unraveling the past delivers an ending sure to brighten your holidays.


For that little matchmaker in all of us, the characters in Christmas Once Again will touch your heart and brighten your holidays.

Blurb:
She's dead broke. And eviction looms. On Christmas Eve antique consultant Madison Knight takes a phone call from local rancher Zach Murdock. Through a mix-up at an estate sale, Madison's company purchased his grandmother's beloved painting. He offers double the money for its return.
Madison risks her job to track down the artwork, but success falls short when she's stuck in a blizzard. Stranded, she seeks help from a frontier family. Are they living off the grid, or did she somehow travel through time?

Zach's the only person who knows her plan. He also knows a secret about his gran's painting. It's up to him to rescue Madison, but maybe he's not cut out to be a hero.

Excerpt:
“My grandmother had an estate sale last week, and she didn’t want it sold, unfortu—”
“Oh?” She should’ve kept quiet. Run-ins with greedy family members happened in the antique business, and a judging attitude didn’t increase revenues.
“It wasn’t on purpose,” he said. “The day was chaotic, and someone had shuffled around the artwork. We didn’t realize it was missing until a couple of days ago, and it took this long to sort out the mix-up and discover your shop bought it.”
She felt guilty for jumping to the wrong conclusion. “I see how that could happen. It’s obvious the piece is treasured by your grandmother. If it becomes necessary, we have the resources to find a similar style. Is there a specific artist or significance?”
Held hostage by the slow computer response and trying not to rush him, she picked up one of the hand weights, intending to fit in a few curls.
“Keep in mind Gran’s ninety-two, and she thinks…”
“Uh-huh.” With her free hand, she grabbed the latte and took a sip.
“Gran thinks it holds a special power.”
Madison chose that moment to swallow, and the creamy espresso went down the wrong pipe. A dry, hacking cough followed, and she dropped her hand weight, which thudded on the carpet. For heaven’s sake, he didn’t hear her, did he?

Buy Links for Christmas Once Again:

Author Bio for D. K. Deters:
D. K. Deters is a fantasy and historical romance author. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Business, D. K. followed a profession in the telecommunications industry before turning to a writing career. When she's not writing, she enjoys spending time with her adult children and their families. She's also an antique enthusiast. Her hobbies include restoring old dollhouses and second-hand furniture. ​​Christmas is her favorite time of the year.

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