With This Kiss: Two Collections of Romantic Novellas

Author Winnie Griggs returns to share the latest news for May in this month's New and Inspired column. Welcome, Winnie!

Hi. Winnie Griggs here, back with more on what’s new and intriguing on the Inspirational Romance front. The fabulous authors over at Seekerville have collaborated on a series of novellas that they have packaged as collections. Two of these collections, With This Kiss Historical and With This Kiss Contemporary are out this spring. I asked the authors involved to share a bit about their experience in writing these stories and I think you’ll enjoy reading their responses.

How did this collection come about?

-Ruth Logan Herne: We wanted to share readers! A collection gives readers the chance to see multiple works for a great low price, and if they like what they read, you might gain a reader for life. What better way to find new readers, than by touching their hearts?

-Pam Hillman: Ruth was the project manager for the With This Kiss Collections and did an amazing job keeping us all informed of deadlines.

-Mary Connealy: Honestly, we just finally gave in to Ruthy’s nagging. We all wrote novellas just to get her off our backs. And then, once we did it, she just wanted us to do it AGAIN. So because we are dealing with a will stronger than our own, I suppose we’ll keep doing these novella’s forever.

What's the connecting thread?

-Sandra Leesmith: Sometimes love needs a second chance. In this collection, readers will find touching stories that show sometimes true love only needs a second chance to blossom.

-Ruth Logan Herne: The theme for both the contemporary and historical collections is second chances, because doesn't everyone deserve a second chance?

How much interaction did you have in pulling it all together?

-Julie Lessman: Quite a bit, actually. We all offered input on themes and covers, then voted for our faves.

-Ruth Logan Herne: We pick a theme together, then we communally decide on cover art and the collection name, other than that everyone wrote their story, their way so the reader gets a clear idea of that author's style and voice.

-Mary Connealy: No one can stop us from continual interaction, no matter how hard they try.

What do you hope readers will get out of it?

-Missy Tippens: We'd like readers to take away a renewed sense of hope. Hope that comes from second chances. Hope of love and joy and all the good things God wants for us.

-Julie Lessman: Well, over and above the obvious of drawing readers to the spiritual aspects, we hope readers will be entertained and inspired by our wide range of author styles.

Is there anything else you'd like readers to know?

-Pam Hillman: Collaborating on novella collections has been on our bucket list for a while now, and we targeted this year to make this dream a reality. We’re all very excited to share these collections with readers who are hungry for good, clean historical and contemporary romances written from a Christian worldview.

-Ruth Logan Herne: Yeah, what took us so long, LOL? I can't imagine we didn't think of this before, the Seekers have been working together as a group for nearly ten years.... and now we get to write together! And with 13 of us, we never know who's going to have time to pop into each collection, but that's all right... Because it's fun to mix it up!

-Julie Lessman: That each story is a unique glimpse into the hearts and souls of the Seekers, women who are passionate about romance—especially romance with God.

-Mary Connealy: The Seekers have been friends for over ten years, since before the first one of us was published. Our blog http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com has been a labor of love. Our attempt to share all we’ve learned and our journey to publication as we try to give back as generously as has been given to us…by other authors, great friends, and by a loving God.

About the books

With This Kiss Historical By Ruth Logan Herne, Pam Hillman, Cara Lynn James, Julie Lessman, and Mary Connealy

If you love history— and romance— you’re going to love this delightful novella collection! Join in as these multi-published, award-winning and best-selling Christian authors transport you to yesteryear, when times were tough and life was far more simple… in some ways! In each one of these lovely stories, you’ll see the hope and grace of new beginnings and second chances because who among us doesn’t deserve a second chance? Four delightful romance novellas, and this collection has a special Bonus Feature! Written by Mary Connealy "Closer Than Brothers" will transport the reader into Andersonville Prison, where this prequel sets the stage for Mary's "Trouble in Texas" heroes.

With This Kiss Contemporary By Mary Connealy, Ruth Logan Herne, Sandra Leesmith, Tina Radcliffe and Missy Tippens

Romance… Inspiration… a little suspense… a whole lotta love! What happens when a fun mix of best-selling, multi-published, award-winning authors decide they have time on their hands? They write sweet novellas for their beloved readers! Jump into this delightful group of second-chance stories, tales of new beginnings, new starts and second chances for one incredibly low price! Because doesn’t everyone deserve a second chance?

About Winnie Griggs

Winnie Griggs grew up in south Louisiana in an undeveloped area her friends thought of as the back of beyond. She and her two younger siblings spent many an hour exploring the overgrown land around her home, cutting jungle trails, building forts and frontier camps, and looking for pirate ships on the nearby bayou. Once she ‘grew up' she found other outlets for dealing with all those wonderful, adventurous imaginary friends by filling notebooks with their stories.

Eventually she found her own Prince Charming, a rancher whose white steed takes the form of a tractor and whose kingdom is situated in a small rural community that she loves to call home, and together they've built their own storybook happily–ever–after that includes four now grown children, two of whom are twins.

Now a multi–published, award winning author, Winnie feels blessed to be able to share her stories with readers through her writings for Love Inspired Historical books.