For almost a month now, I've been giving sneak peeks into MY story in the novella collection releasing TOMORROW! But today, I'm passing the torch and letting Heather Greer post about her story and why winter is such an intrinsic part of it. Be sure to read to the end so you won't miss the next clue in our scavenger hunt!

Spring is too wet and the ground is a big muddy mess. Summer is too hot and not even the draw of a great glass of lemonade can make it less so. Autumn is perfect. Always. Winter is often cold and dark.
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Why, then, did I choose winter for my novella, Sugar and Spice? While the temperatures may leave something to be desired, I cannot deny the beauty of the season.

Despite the cold, there’s beauty in winter. When snow blankets the bare branches of trees and rests on the needles of evergreens set against a wintery blue sky, the result is breathtaking. When sunlight hits the snow-covered ground creating an ocean of sparkling diamonds out of the field behind my house, the two sights blend with the unique hush accompanying snow to evoke a sense of serenity. 

​The Love in Any Season Social Media Scavenger Hunt beings September 23rd! To celebrate the release of their new novella collection, Love in Any Season, the authors are hosting a fun social media scavenger hunt.

Here are the details: The Scavenger hunt opens September 23, 2022 and entries must be received by 11:59pm on October 4, 2022. One winner will be drawn from correct entries and announced on our social media pages on October 5, 2022. The winner will receive a $60 Amazon gift card. The contest is open to US only.
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Many of our clues are found on social media sources that aren't our own. Each author will keep a post like this one where links to new clues will be updated each day.  Here are the other places where you can connect with each of the authors:

So let's talk shop today. And by shop, I mean quilt shops. Why? Because my story, The Missing Piece, is set in one. One based off a few others I've been to.
I don't know if you've ever been in a quilt shop or not, but if you haven't, let me tell you. They're a lot of fun. You walk in and automatically your eyes are drawn to multiple things. Because fabric is fun. Full of colors and patterns and ideas of projects yet to happen.
And as far as I can tell, women who work in quilt shops are fun, too. Because they have a passion for the art of sewing/quilting. And that's definitely something that speaks to my soul.
So, my story is set in a quilt shop called The Missing Piece. It's in an old house that was redone into a store, but still has the character of different rooms and areas for fabric to be. There's a classroom in the back corner of the house (the former master bedroom), a room set up for people who need a place to sew, cutting tables here and there, and, of course, shelves of fabric.
Did I model this after a real shop? Yes and no.

Tommy England moved away from Sassafras, Arkansas right after high school. When he landed a job straight out of college, he stayed in Memphis, growing in the web design business. But when his mom passed away in the Spring, his world turned over.
Now, he's back to help his dad go through things ... and work with Marsha and Beth at The Missing Piece, to see if they can get the books back in order. Because his mom's notes are confusing everyone and bills are falling through the cracks.
Of course, other perks to being back in town are seeing his lifetime best friend Beth again, too. But she doesn't seem as happy about it.

You know I always love to introduce you to my characters before my story releases. Today, you get to know Beth a little bit.
Beth grew up with her best friend Tommy playing in their mothers' quilt shop, The Missing Piece. Now that she's all grown up, she's part-owner and still spends most of her time at the store. It's perfect except for one thing. Tommy moved away after high school and didn't come back ... until this summer. Now, she's struggling with years' of hurt and isn't sure how to handle him being back in town.

Have you ever played in a Weeping Willow? Yes, it's a tree. No, they're not usually for climbing. But when my family lived in Mississippi, a friend had a big willow in her front yard and the branches hung all the way to the ground. We could brush them aside and crawl under there and it was like a great big green canopy all around us. Just perfect for imaginations.
I didn't see many willows when we lived in Texas, but back in middle Tennessee, there are quite a few in the area. And every time I pass one, I'm tempted to crawl under.
What does all this have to do with summer?

Want to know a secret?
I don't like watermelon.
Okay, so maybe it's not a secret, but it does come in to play in my new novella releasing September 27. Because my character Beth doesn't like it, either.
So, why set my story in a little town during Watermelon Festival time?
​Good quesiton.

​Thanks so much for joining us this week. This is the final part of my birthday gift to you, a fun short story. I hope you loved it, or that it at least made your week a bit brighter.

If you need to catch up, the first day is here, Tuesday is here, Wednesday is here, and Thursday is here. Enjoy the end!

“And isn’t this year a big one?” Kathy lifted a brow.

Ginny narrowed her eyes. “I suppose you could say that.”

“The big 4-0.” Pete walked to the front door and opened it.

“What are you doing?” Ginny stepped that way, but froze as more friends piled into their house. Friends who weren’t simply parents of her son’s friends.

Balloons and flowers came in with several of them. As well as another cake, this one decorated for her.
Ginny’s mouth hung open. She had literally given up on a party or anything else for her birthday other than the card Pete had handed her that morning. And here was her wildest dream come true.
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“You did this?” She turned to her husband as he stepped next to her.

“Whoa, Mom! This is amazing!” Carter spun in a circle in the middle of the dining room.

The night before, Pete had hung the banner while Ginny placed all her candy Lego bricks on the store-bought cake. Honestly? It didn’t look that bad. Maybe even better than not bad, considering the boy’s reaction.

Balloons and streamers hung in other corners. Ginny had printed out a game online where the kids could challenge each other to build different structures or vehicles. And Michelle had helped her make a pinata that looked like a big Lego brick. It was enough to make any almost-seven-year-old boy happy.

Still, it would’ve been nice if the first words out of his mouth to her this morning were, “Happy Birthday.”

Just a single recognition. Was that too much to ask?
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