Hi, reader friends! Today, we welcome author friend Heidi McCahan for a few q&a’s in honor of her new release Sweet Melody and a Prism Book Tours giveaway!
about the author
Heidi secretly dreamed of writing a book for most of her childhood, but a particularly painful rejection letter in middle school convinced her to tuck that dream away. Instead, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Medicine from Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington and a Master’s Degree in Athletic Training from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
After a brief career as a Certified Athletic Trainer, Heidi married her husband Steve, then she dusted off her big dream of becoming a published author and launched her first contemporary romance into the world in 2014. A huge fan of coffee, dark chocolate, and happily ever after, Heidi currently lives in North Carolina with Steve, three active boys and one amazing Goldendoodle.
Visit her website or connect with Heidi on goodreads, facebook, twitter, or instagram!
q&a
What is your favorite activity or hobby not related to books?
H: When I choose to make the time, I love to scrapbook our family’s adventures and experiences. I also really like to cross-stitch, although I’m still working on our third son’s birth announcement and he is almost ten! I’ll finish it, though. Someday.
B: I admire your patience! I’ve been crocheting a blanket for about ten years now so I can relate, lol!
Share your inspiration behind Sweet Melody.
H: My family and I visited Seabrook over ten years ago and I was instantly smitten. I think it is a wonderful setting for a novel or possibly a whole series. As the book was launching, we were at Seabrook celebrating my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary, which was a lovely full-circle moment.
B: How sweet! Congratulations to your parents!
Do you have any writing quirks?
H: I sit in the same chair at my kitchen table when I write and there are a lot of post-it notes involved. I also drink quite a bit of coffee and eat chocolate. Many writers have advised me to set up an office or a dedicated writing space that is separate from our family life, so I’m brainstorming about how that would work in our home.
B: I’ve considered setting up a dedicated workspace but I’m afraid I’d completely lose track of time!
What did you learn or discover about yourself while writing Sweet Melody?
H: It took me a long time to write and revise Sweet Melody. I believe I started writing the first draft in 2015 or 2016, then it went through many rounds of revisions before I published it this year. Dealing with failure and disappointments both personally and professionally is a theme in Sweet Melody and reflects what we were experiencing as a family while I was writing the novel.
God taught us a lot about how much He loves us, which … spoiler alert … isn’t based on our achievements or our failures. He carried us through some difficult seasons and I believe I took all of that experience and poured it into Lindsay and Rhett’s character development. In my opinion, Sweet Melody is a better novel because of the life I lived while writing it.
B: That’s right! God always uses those rough patches to teach us something, doesn’t He?!
H: While we were on vacation at Seabrook, we discovered the bookstore and Susan Meissner’s As Bright As Heaven
B: I’ve heard wonderful things about Susan Meissner’s stories, I hope to read one someday soon!
What is your reading style?
H: I have a Kindle and read a lot of ARC’s and e-Books in the digital format. I always read before bed and the Kindle is my preferred method. Paperback and hardcover books are delightful so I often read those, usually to give my eyes a break from screens and because I love the tactile sensation of holding a book. My favorite place to read is in bed. Because multi-tasking is a necessary part of my life, I enjoy listening to audiobooks while I’m walking the dog.
B: That’s the way to be… all the books, all the time! Thanks so much for taking the time to visit with us today, Heidi!
about the book
Sweet Melody by Heidi McCahan
(Seabrook Romance #1)
Christian Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 242 Pages
August 1st 2019When a struggling bakery owner is rescued by a wannabe songwriter with hidden culinary talents, they discover they can make sweet harmony … if they can only learn to work together.
Rhett Foster longs to change the world with his music, yet he can’t even finish writing one song. Battered by a string of failures and disillusioned, he returns home to Portland, Oregon. While he desperately wants to create a chart-topping hit, his dad mandates a new mission: move to coastal vacation hotspot Seabrook, Washington and expand the family’s successful restaurant chain.
In danger of destroying her late parents’ legacy if she doesn’t diversify her menu, Lindsay Carmichael will try anything to save her bakery. But with a tiny budget and an injured employee who can’t work, she has no choice but to sink the last of her savings into buying a dilapidated food truck and hiring Rhett as a part-time barista. What she doesn’t know is that the handsome songwriter has a secret … one that could destroy her business and her heart.
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tour giveaway
One winner will receive a signed paperback with bookmark, $10 Amazon gift card, Sticky Fingers Strawberry Scone mix and a Seabrook Sea, Salt and Surf 100% soy wax candle from Hometown candle company.
US Only | ends September 18, 2019
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Say hello to Heidi and join in our little chat!
I am adding Sweet Melody to my tbr, are you?!
Visit other stops on the tour to learn more about this book!
Faithfully Bookish 
I enjoy reading books about food, especially when a baker is the main character. I enjoy way to many cookies myself and love to make chocolate cheesecake.
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Mmmm, you are making me hungry!
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Oh, my. I’d love a slice of chocolate cheesecake right about now. Thanks for visiting today, Danielle.
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Enjoyed reading the Q&A with Heidi McCahan. Really makes me want to explore the pages of this fabulous book after reading her comments about what she learned while writing the book. I think it’s the rough times in life that reminds us that we aren’t in this alone and it’s those times that round our who we are too.
Can’t wait for the opportunity to read “Sweet Melody”. Appreciate the chance to win a copy along with a fabulous prize pack.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
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Forgot to tell you my favorite sweet snack. I’d have to say anything with white or milk chocolate, throw in some nuts, caramel and/or dried cranberries and I’m all over it. 🙂
2clowns at arkansas dot net
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Hi, Kay! Thank you for visiting with us today. I definitely learned a lot while writing Sweet Melody. Your favorite snack sounds scrumptious. I’m always a fan of anything chocolate.
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Thank you for being a part of this tour, Beth! I appreciate all you do to help readers connect with authors and our novels. Blessings!
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Love the cover 🙂
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