"Carolina Mercy" ~ by Regina Merrick ~ Behind the Story ~ #Giveaway

Hello, readers! Welcome to another 'behind the story' article. These seem to be quite popular these days, and I'm happy to introduce author Regina Merrick with hers. Sit back and enjoy!  

Oh, I suppose I should also mention Regina is offering to give away an eBook copy of this featured book. Details below. 

The Story Behind Carolina Mercy

by Regina Merrick

Carolina Mercy (Available TODAY!!!!) is book two in my Southern Breeze series. Book one was Carolina Dream, and it began as – you guessed it – a dream! How do you follow a direct signal from God like THAT?

Well, you realize that the story isn’t over.

As I wrote Carolina Dream, I realized that some of my characters were taking on a life of their own. You never want secondary characters to be one-dimensional, so I made Sarah and Jared’s (main characters from CD) friends, Lucy and Tom, characters you wanted to know more about.

Playing supportive roles, Lucy and Tom were easy to flesh out in book one. They were the voice of reason. They were the comedy. They said the right thing at the right time.  Making them the main characters in Carolina Mercy meant that I needed to show a few more dents and dings.

In writing Carolina Mercy, I learned that I not only needed to make sure I had continuity in my story, but also that I needed to “wound” my characters. Hmmm . . . That was tough, because who wants to hurt their friends? I certainly don’t, but when I brainstormed at last year’s writing retreat with my KenTen Writers Group, we came up with all kinds of ways of “wounding” my characters in book 2. Nothing was sacred (well, except the Scripture!), so as I plotted and wrote, I kept in mind, “What would keep these two apart?”

The obvious conclusion? A wedding! Oh, and a hurricane . . .

So, when you get stuck on how to injure, maim, depress, or anger your character, find a group of friends that will help you beat up on them a little bit. I have to say, it changed my way of looking at my back-story, and the way my characters interact.

Every person on earth, Christian or not, has a hurt, habit, or hang-up that keeps them from trusting God to the fullest, or at all. That’s what I write about. Overcoming those wounds, bringing characters to the end of themselves, to live the abundant life that God has promised us, through Jesus!

About the book:

She’s always gotten everything she’s wanted. He thinks he has to give up everything.

Her best friend’s wedding is foremost on Lucy Dixon’s radar. Her biggest concern is once again meeting Tom Livingston, who has ignored her since an idyllic date on the boardwalk of Myrtle Beach the previous summer.

At least, it is her biggest concern until tragedy strikes. Where is her loving, merciful God, now?

When Tom Livingston meets Lucy, the attraction is instant. Soon after, his mother is diagnosed with an untreatable illness and his personal life is pushed aside. His work with the sheriff’s department, his family – they are more important. He knows about the love of God, but circumstances make him feel as if God’s mercy is for everyone else, not him.

Can a wedding and a hurricane – blessing and tragedy – bring them together?

About Regina:

Regina Merrick is a writer, church musician, wife, mother, former librarian, and grateful follower of Jesus Christ. Having lived most of her life in Western Kentucky, she dreams of the sound of crashing waves and sandy beaches. Married to her husband of 30-plus years, she is the mother of two grown daughters, and the keeper of a 100-year-old house where she lives in the small town of Marion, KY. She is the author of two books, Carolina Dream (Apr. 2017) and Carolina Mercy (July 2018) in the Southern Breeze Series. Book 3 in the series releases in February 2019.

Where to find Regina:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Regina-R-Merrick-512257938964888/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

Twitter: https://twitter.com/trmerrick64

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reginamerrick/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/rmerrick/

Website: https://www.reginaruddmerrick.com

Publisher Website: https://mantlerockpublishing.com/

Where to buy Carolina Mercy:

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1945094532/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1530227728&sr=8-2&keywords=Carolina+Mercy

Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Carolina-Mercy-Southern-Breeze-Book-ebook/dp/B07DYXW1G2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1530227776&sr=8-1&keywords=Carolina+Mercy

Giveaway: 

Regina has graciously offered to give away one eBook copy of Carolina Mercy to one of this blog's readers. To enter, just leave a comment below with your name AND contact informatio, and answer Regina's question: What hurt, habit, or hang-up would you give a character to work out? Answering the question is optional, but it would be fun to hear your ideas.

Giveaway ends one week from today on July 17, at Midnight, CDT.