This week, something rather special occurred—the release of the Fab Four Christmas anthology, I’ll Be Home, a compilation of four novellas of faith, hope, love… and trains.
This collection is the birth of an idea, tossed out last spring during one of our road trips, now released into the world. It is a combined work of creativity, comradery, and companionship, and a physical reminder that we don’t do life alone, that we are better together, both with other creatives and with our Creator.
Four Contemporary Christmas Novellas of Faith, Hope, Love (and Trains).
Who are the Fab Four? We are four authors who were thrown together by what some may call “chance” but who we call God. As the description appears at the front of our anthology, “We jokingly refer to ourselves as the Fab Four, a group of authors God has beautifully knit together. We have become so much more than writers; we’ve become dear friends.”
Prior to this group of ladies, writing had been a rather solitary venture for me. I had attended a few Write Canada conferences, but, for many years, had been plodding, or “plotting” away on my own. It wasn’t until three other writers (three of the Fab Four—thus why I’ve labeled myself the “four” in our group) invited me to a writer’s retreat in Niagara that things came together. These ladies encouraged me to come with them to a couple of writers’ conferences in the States (Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference in St. Louis), and the rest, as they say, is history.
Almost two years later, here we are launching, I’ll Be Home.
You never know what a singular choice to step out of your comfort zone might lead to. This was preempted by choosing “fearless” as my word of the year in 2019. After that, I kept going. Whenever I could, I pressed the override button on fear. Ever since, when an opportunity that scares me comes across my path, be it something as simple as complimenting a stranger, trying something new or outside my comfort zone, and, yes, going to a writer’s event, I embrace it. That shift has had a significant impact on my life and because of it, I’m telling you about a book collaboration with these excellent female writers and friends, that released this week.
Our writing reflects our unique differences. Helen wrote a historical, Sara a romance, Darlene a cozy mystery, and I wrote a rom-com. There’s something for everyone, and all are feel-good Christmas stories written to spread a little warmth, joy, and even a few smiles this Christmas.
by Melanie Stevenson
“Where My Heart Belongs is a joyous, heart-stirring, mug-of-hot-chocolate-with-whipped-cream-and-marshmallows of a story, and a definite highlight of this wonderful Christmas collection. The fact that it’s set in Quebec is even more special, reviving fond memories for this Canada-loving author and reader. I loved it.”
– Carolyn Miller, award-winning author of the Original Six and Muskoka Romance Series
My novella is a fun rom com entitled, “Where My Heart Belongs”. Here is the back cover copy:
When dreams take a detour, love finds its way.
Having given up the better part of her twenties climbing the corporate ladder and crushing on her dashing boss, Porsha jumps on the opportunity to impress him by giving a keynote speech, even if it is in a language she hasn’t spoken since high school. One obstacle after another to getting a promotion (not to mention gaining her boss’s affection) stacks up, and her Christmas plans quickly unravel. When she bumps into a handsome, bell-ringing street Santa, not only her plans but her entire life just might change.
We’ve had some excellent reviews from readers and are so excited about this collection. We hope you will love the first book from the Fab Four!
Keep doing what scares you. You never know where it will lead!
To grab your copy of I’ll Be Home Click HERE https://www.amazon.com/Home-contemporary-Christmas-story-collection/dp/1069016209/ref=pd_ci_mcx_mh_mcx_views_1_image?pd_rd_w=Ya7Eg&content-id=amzn1.sym.bb21fc54-1dd8-448e-92bb-2ddce187f4ac%3Aamzn1.symc.40e6a10e-cbc4-4fa5-81e3-4435ff64d03b&pf_rd_p=bb21fc54-1dd8-448e-92bb-2ddce187f4ac&pf_rd_r=04M4GWPSX22DJH9R6K5W&pd_rd_wg=JlhsC&pd_rd_r=c6183993-3d67-4e1b-bb40-5d9a10f4b89f&pd_rd_i=1069016209
