Hello, reader friends! Ruth Logan Herne is chatting with us today as part of a JustRead Publicity Tours blog tour celebrating her newest release, Finding Peace in Wishing Bridge!
about the author
USA TODAY Bestselling Author Ruth Logan Herne is living her dream of writing sweet stories, full of unforgettable characters in pastoral small towns and the occasional big city. With over 50 books published to date, and more to come, Ruthy loves to pen stories in the middle of the night when it bothers no one… and, in return, they don’t bother her! 🙂
Married with six children and a daughter of her heart, Ruthy has fourteen grandkids who all love her and think she’s the coolest thing on the planet. Except for Star Wars & Harry Potter, puppies, baseball, Nerd ropes…. Okay, you get the picture.
She loves chatting with readers. Email Ruthy at loganherne@gmail.com, ask to be put on her newsletter list or visit her website ruthloganherne.com.
Visit her website or connect with Ruth on facebook, twitter, or instagram!
q&a
What is your favorite activity or hobby not related to books?
R: Gardening and raising kids. I love both! There is something so amazingly delightful about raising up children, teaching them, laughing with them, guiding them along their paths. It’s such an amazing blessing and I’m sure that God absolutely intended me to get a whole bunch of experience doing that because he put so many wonderful opportunities in my path… as an aide in a special ed classroom for Very Naughty Children. Ya’ wanna talk anger issues??? Oh Mylanta, we had them in spades, and it taught me how easy it is for children to find the wrong path… and how tough it is to re-center them on a more righteous one. But then, running my own in-home daycare, I was blessed to make sure that the parents and I were on the same page and what a different experience that was. I’ve used both in my works and I’m like 100% certain that those 30 years of experience gave me the ability to write very believable children across a wide spectrum.
But the gardening… now there’s my self-therapy! And the only cost is the plants and the potting soil and the mulch.
I love gardening, I love getting dirty, I love a pretty garden that either makes a flash statement, or peeks out, unexpectedly, when you least anticipate it!
Flowers don’t talk back.
And they come back annually.
BONUS!!!!!
B: You are superwoman, that is all.
Describe Finding Peace in Wishing Bridge in five words.
R: True Strength Lies Beneath Appearances.
B: Wisdom!
Share a bit of your inspiration behind Finding Peace in Wishing Bridge.
R: I’ve wanted to write Jazz’s story, the story of a struggle with an eating disorder, when the odds are on such a huge scale: An international supermodel, a rich, savvy woman whose beauty stops people in their tracks, but whose inner self is so fragile that she can’t see beyond the emotional struggles that tie her in knots. So the image is one thing: And absolutely false.
And her summons to Wishing Bridge, NY in book one, Welcome to Wishing Bridge, to help her friend Kelsey is what opens a door on a path to wellness.
But it’s an unexpected and uncharted path and how is she to navigate these new waters, a woman with tons of money and no self-esteem? A woman whose inner fears lie deeply rooted in the losses she dealt with eighteen years before?
Jazz’s story isn’t a Phoenix, rising from the ashes.
It’s a butterfly, finding her wings, and then realizing she can go wherever she wants because she’s been set free.
I’ve already received notes and messages from women touched by this story, and it just came out, so that’s the mark of success to me. Not sales numbers, although I know we need to sell books!
But that instant empathy with women for various reasons, when a book touches not just their hearts, but their souls.
I am so amazingly psyched and blessed to do what I do!
B: Story blesses lives, there is no doubt about that! You and Jazz are blessing hearts, God is always working!
What are some of the challenges you faced while writing Finding Peace in Wishing Bridge?
R: Well, I knew the story, but midway through writing book 2 At Home in Wishing Bridge the publisher closed its inspirational line. Now, in the old days, that would be it. Done. Finis. Over. Zap. And no one would hear Jazz’s story. But it’s not the old days, these days authors have the option of self-publishing stories, and it has opened up a huge market for authors of all genres… so I hired the talented Beth Jamison of Jamison Editing to design a cover that would fit with the first two books, (and next year’s book 4, too!) and to edit the story. I hired a formatter (my lame attempts are not beautiful and I’m wise enough to know where my talents lie… and I’m okay with that.) and that gave us beautiful editions…. And soon there will be an audible edition as well… narrated by ME!
I have set up a home recording closet (literally!!!) and I’ll be recording all of my indie books and putting them up on Audible. Who better than a story-telling author to narrate their own beautiful stories? So once I’m over the flu…
We’ll begin the chapter by chapter production. So that’s an exciting new venture here on the pumpkin farm!
B: A book four?! Oh, happy news!!! I’ve been told that I should narrate but at least half my pronunciations would be atrocious.
What book(s) are you reading right now?
R: I’d love to say there’s time to read right now, but there isn’t… and that’s all right. I’m running small businesses, and in my spare time, I’m going to grandkids’ games, meets, concerts, etc. First things first, here at the farm!
B: I completely understand! Some seasons of life are just not conducive to reading time!
What is your next release and/or what are you working on now?
R: I have an April Love Inspired release Learning to Trust
B: You are a force to be reckoned with, Ruthy!
What’s your writing style?
R: I’m a plantser, I write from the mental notes I have in my head, and then I layer… but I also have to present a synopsis for traditionally published books, so sometimes I have to (come closer… shh… don’t share this, please…. PRETEND I know what’s going to happen! EEK!) 🙂
But using both methods seems to work for me. I take the heart of the story, the heart of the characters and work outward from there.
B: Your secret is safe with us, lol!
Do you have any writing quirks?
R: Diet Mt. Dew, sister!!!!! And coffee. 🙂
B: Pardon my gagging but whatever it takes to fuel a powerhouse like you must be effective! Thanks so much for visiting with us today, Ruthy! I can’t wait to revisit Wishing Bridge and catch up with the girls!
about the book
Finding Peace in Wishing Bridge by Ruth Logan Herne (Wishing Bridge book 3)
Release Date: March 2, 2020
Genre: Contemporary RomanceBeing a supermodel isn’t just hard.
It can be a killer, so when international sensation Jazz Monroe answered a friend’s call for help, she’d just taken a hiatus from the job that made her a very rich woman and almost took her life. Outwardly Jazz was everything anyone would want to be. Beautiful, confident, rich and famous, and often seen on the arm of some of the world’s most eligible bachelors, Jazz knows the truth she hides. Her self-confidence is an act and the eating disorder that plagues her refuses to let her rest.
But then she and her old friend Thea are called to help a friend and fulfill a pledge they’d made a dozen years before as high school seniors. If any one of the three ever needed help, the others would come running. Last December, Kelsey made that call and her two old friends, the other members of the “Soul Sisterhood”, responded. They’re here now. Thea is practicing medicine, Kelsey has married the hero deputy that saved her life and Jazz is finding the hints of peace that have eluded her for nearly two decades. She settles into the little town, helping out at a local diner, waiting for the sky to fall.
It doesn’t. Instead, the sun begins to shine, winter fades to spring, and surrounded by new and old friends, Jazz begins to believe in herself. She loves the small town, the kindness of the locals, the warmth of the family diner and the special attention from two very different and distinct men makes her think new thoughts. Thoughts of family and picket fences and settling down.
But an unexpected attack on a wood-edged path reignites her fears and insecurities. Now she’s looking in shadows again, doubting herself and others. In Manhattan, locked elevators and a staffed entrance desk kept her safe from intruders.
Wishing Bridge has nothing like that. Here, she lives life at ground level, with no bodyguards watching out for her. But when a local contingent makes it their job to keep her safe, Jazz learns not to sell the small town short. Folks here mean what they say because that’s the kind of town Wishing Bridge is.
As Jazz rediscovers the most important things in life, she realizes that happiness isn’t about where you are: it’s about who you’re with. And who you love.
Join Jazz, Kelsey, Thea and the rest of the Wishing Bridge cast as they band together to help the town and one another because together– in Wishing Bridge– they can make anything happen.
tour giveaway
(1) winner will receive a print copy of Finding Peace in Wishing Bridge and an assortment of candies!
Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule shown below. Giveaway will begin at midnight March 16, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on March 23, 2020. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US mailing addresses only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
enter giveaway here
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Join the chat in the comments!
Let me know if you’ve read it or plan to read this story, reader friends!
Follow along at the link above to learn more about Finding Peace in Wishing Bridge by Ruth Logan Herne!
Faithfully Bookish 
I can’t imagine facing the challenges you did when writing this book.
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I loved the first two Wishing Bridge books and am looking forward to reading the third one featuring Jazz. After reading your blog, I now know that there will be a fourth book as well. Yippee!
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Thank you for being part of the book tour for “Finding Peace in Wishing Bridge” with Ruth Logan Herne. Enjoyed reading the Q&A and loved the five word description of the book.
Always enjoy this author’s books and can’t wait for the opportunity to dive into this one which is on my TBR list.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
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Sounds like a great read.
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I also love gardening, Ruth. Thank you for sharing. I look forward to reading.
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Thanks for the fun spotlight, Beth and Ruthy! I’ve just started reading this book and loving it!
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Thank you so much for sharing! – JustRead Tours
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Loved this, ladies!!!!! And I absolutely love Jazz’s story & all the books set in Wishing Bridge.
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I listened to the other two on audio. I can’t wait to listen to Ruthy read her own book!!!
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Sounds good!
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