Get ready to fall in love with a heartwarming romance set against the vibrant backdrop of New Orleans! This week on Jen’s Jewels, I’m chatting with Rebekah Millet about her latest novel, KATE LANDRY HAS A PLAN. From a fiercely independent café owner juggling life’s unexpected twists to a charming “hunky librarian” who just might rewrite her plans, Rebekah’s story is packed with humor, heart, and the magic of second chances. Join us as we dive into the inspiration behind Kate and Micah’s romance, the rich culture of the Big Easy, and what’s next for this rising star in Christian fiction!
Jennifer Vido: What was your inspiration for Kate and Micah’s story? Did you start with the setting, a character, or a specific scene that sparked the idea?
Rebekah Millet: After finishing my first book, JULIA MONROE BEGINS AGAIN, I knew right away I wanted to write two more books based off of secondary characters from it. Kate (the best friend of the heroine in that first book), was who I felt the most led to write first. I also wanted her love interest to be a new character to readers, and to be the total opposite of Kate’s Type A personality, hence Micah and his laid-back charm.
Jen: Kate is juggling a lot—her café, her niece, and her emotions. How did you develop her character to balance resilience and vulnerability?
Rebekah: Goodness, that is such a great question. With each character I write, I complete a detailed profile on them. From physical things (like how they dress), to big moments in their lives (good and bad), that help shape who they are. Kate has been through a lot, and thinks she can (and has to), handle everything on her own. But once Micah reenters her life, he opens her eyes, and heart, to leaning on others for help.
Jen: Micah Guidry, the “hunky librarian,” sounds like the perfect bookish hero! What drew you to make him a librarian, and did you base him on anyone in particular?
Rebekah: I have to give total props to my critique partner and fellow-author, Rachel Scott McDaniel. She kickstarted Micah’s character. We were brainstorming what kind of job Kate’s love interest should have, when she came up with the idea of a hunky librarian. It was such a perfect spin on the stereotypical librarian most people imagine.
Jen: New Orleans and Mardi Gras add such a vibrant backdrop to the story. How did you capture the essence of the city, and do you have any personal ties to it?
Rebekah: Thank you for that compliment! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the New Orleans setting. With being born and raised down here it was easy to write the culture and what I’ve grown up with. From small things (like how we use our old Christmas trees to fortify the bayous and coast), to bigger, annual traditions like Mardi Gras, it’s been a delight sharing unique aspects about this area with readers.
Jen: Your writing perfectly blends romance, humor, and heart. What’s your process for crafting a story that hits all those emotional notes?
Rebekah: Oh my. That is so kind of you to say. Thank you. But honestly, all the credit goes to God. I never set out with the purpose of writing with that balance, I just write where He leads my heart.
Jen: Do you have any writing habits or rituals that help you stay creative and productive? (For example, a favorite writing snack, playlist, or workspace setup?)
Rebekah: I sure do! First, every time I sit down to write, I pray. I ask Jesus into that time, and for Him to lead the way, because I can’t do it on my own. I also have to be in a quiet space so my mind can zone out into the world and characters I’m writing.
Jen: What can readers expect next from you? Are you working on another book, and will we see more from these characters?
Rebekah: I am working on another book! Yay! Back in your first question I’d mentioned how I knew right away I wanted to write two more novels based off of secondary characters from Julia Monroe Begins Again. Making that decision easier to move forward with were readers excitedly asking for books on both of those characters as well. Kate was one of them, and so with Kate Landry Has a Plan now complete, I’m writing Wyatt Reed’s story. He was Samuel’s quiet and mysterious brother you met in the first book, and caught another glimpse of in Kate’s story.
Jen: Connecting with readers is such a big part of being an author. How do you engage with your audience, and what’s been the most rewarding interaction you’ve had?
Rebekah: I love chatting and getting to know reader-friends through Instagram and Facebook. There’s such a sweet comradery when it comes to Christian fiction and talking about faith and bookish things. But narrowing down the most rewarding interaction is hard. Especially with keeping confidences and how readers have reached out to share personal ways my books have impacted them. It’s amazing to learn how very directly God used my books to encourage and uplift someone else. And it’s a full-circle moment, because that’s what reading Christian fiction has done repeatedly for me.
Jen: Your book is now in readers’ hands—what’s on your own TBR stack? Are there any upcoming releases you’re especially excited about?
Rebekah: My poor TBR. I’m a slow reader, and so my stack has grown and grown. I’ve been super excited about Rachel Scott McDaniel’s latest release The Dreams We Knew, as well as Becky Wade’s latest series wrapping up with Uneasy Street. Even though I’m a slow reader, I devour both of these talented ladies’ books in days.
Jen: What’s something interesting about you that readers might not know? A fun fact, an unexpected hobby, or something surprising about your writing journey?
Rebekah: An unexpected thing readers may be surprised to discover is that I enjoy target shooting. I’ve also hatched a baby alligator (they’re so cute), marched in about twenty Mardi Gras parades, and eaten my weight in fresh beignets.
Jen: Thank you so much for stopping by! It’s been a pleasure learning more about you and your book. Where can readers follow you to stay updated on your latest projects?
Rebekah: Thank you, Jen, and your readers, for spending time with me! The best way to stay updated on my latest projects is through my quarterly newsletter (they’re short and fun and include lots of giveaways). You can sign up for it through my website. There, you’ll also find the links to my Instagram and Facebook accounts. I can’t wait to hear from y’all!
Beignets for Two #2
I turned to him, and he winked at me. Winked! We needed clear lines in place between us. We would not be flirty friends. We'd be friends, period. The sooner I made that distinction, the better.
Forty-year-old Kate Landry's carefully planned life has become as messy as the powdered sugar on her famous beignets. Juggling the responsibilities of running her café, raising her teenage niece, and the emotional baggage from her breakup, Kate finds her world once again turned upside down when her first-ever crush, Micah Guidry, returns to town as the hunky local librarian.
As Kate struggles to implement her plans to expand her café amid the New Orleans Mardi Gras madness and the meddling of her conniving ex-fiancé, Micah becomes the unwitting hero of her misadventures, stirring up feelings she thought she'd long buried. How can falling in love in the Big Easy be this hard?
Romance Contemporary [Bethany House Publishers, On Sale: March 18, 2025, Paperback / e-Book , ISBN: 9780764240966 / ]
I grew up on beignets and cafe au lait, and love infusing my colorful New Orleans culture into my stories. My husband is an answer to prayer who puts up with me rearranging furniture and being a serial plant killer. My two sons keep me laughing and share in my love for strawberry Pop-Tarts. Extra time is spent target shooting, reading, and fangirling over my favorite authors on social media. As a reader I enjoy inspirational romances, mysteries, classics, and biographies on people from King Henry VIII to Andre Agassi.
Jennifer Vido writes sweet romances set in the Lowcountry, earning acclaim as the award-winning author of the Gull Island series. Her debut novel, "Serendipity by the Sea," secured the prestigious Best First Book award from the New Jersey Romance Writers Golden Leaf Contest. In 2024, Vido's talent garnered further accolades, with Baltimore Magazine readers naming her Best Local Author in their annual Best of Baltimore poll, while the Baltimore Sun acknowledged her with an Honorable Mention in their Best of 2024 Author category. When not writing fiction, she interviews authors for her weekly Jen’s Jewels column, leads water exercise classes, and directs a legal nonprofit. Currently residing in Maryland, she and her husband are proud parents to two grown sons and a rescue dog named Fripp.
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