Rachel Hauck {Writer Wednesday}

A little bit about Rachel...

Rachel Hauck is a USA Today Best Selling, and award-winning author of critically acclaimed novels such as The Wedding Dress, Love Starts with Elle, and Once Upon A Prince.

She also penned the Songbird Novels with multi-platinum recording artist, Sara Evans. Booklist named their novel, Softly and Tenderly, one of 2011 Top Ten Inspirationals.

A graduate of Ohio State University with a degree in Journalism, Rachel worked in the corporate software world before planting her backside in an uncomfortable chair to write full-time in 2004.

She serves on the Executive Board for American Christian Fiction Writers and leads worship at their annual conference. She is a mentor and book therapist at My Book Therapy, and conference speaker.

Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband and pets, and writes from her two-story tower in an exceedingly more comfy chair. She is a huge Buckeyes football fan.


How to connect with Rachel...

Website: www.rachelhauck.com
Blog:www.southernbelleview.com
Goodreads: Rachel Hauck 
Facebook: facebook.com/rachelhauck 
Twitter: twitter.com/rachelhauck
Purchase: The Wedding Chapel 

Author Interview | Rachel Hauck

You and Writing

Tell us a little bit about yourself: How did you start writing? What has kept you writing?
...I started writing as a kid. I wrote my first “novel” in a pale blue, spiral bound notebook when I was ten. I studied journalism in college, and dreamed of writing books but wasn’t sure how to go about getting published. When the Christian market started growing, I found my way in.

...I keep writing because I love it. I love having written. I love the power of story. There are hard days when I don’t like it and I feel uninspired, like a hack, but there nothing else I’d rather do. Nothing else I feel called to do.

Do you have a favorite book or work that you’ve written? If so, why?
...For some reason, I’m not sure why, I’m partial to a book I wrote with Sara Evans, Softly and Tenderly. There’s a touching scene in with the protagonist and her mother that still makes me cry.

What was the hardest thing about publishing? The easiest?
...Hardest part about being published is the business side. How do you grow your readership, improve your craft, and try not to write the same thing over and over. The easiest is having the relationship with the industry, knowing people, editors and agents, and other authors. It helps to have a list of published books on your resume too.

Your Writing

Tell us a little bit about your book. Why did you write it?
...The Wedding Chapel is about a 60 year old chapel in which there have been no weddings. So it’s the story of how the chapel came about and asks the question, “Is it ever too late for true love?”

...I wrote it because, well, here’s an unromantic answer, I had a deadline and needed an idea. I was on vacation in Tennessee and drove past a small wedding chapel. Bing! Idea!

Do you have a favorite character in this work? If so, why?
...I do! Jimmy. I love this character. He’s so genuine and honest.

What is one take-away from your book that you hope readers identify with?
...Stay near to the heart beat of God. 

Writing

Where do you find inspiration for your story/characters? Are they based on real life or pure imagination or both?
...Inspiration is everywhere. I hear it in conversations, reading, watching a movie, hearing the news. Also, I do research to get a feel for what my characters might be like during a certain era or if they work in a specific field. The more authentic you can be with setting and story world, the more real the characters will feel. Even when they do wild, over the top things.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors for writing and/or publishing? 
...Do not give up. You’ll never be published if you quit. Study the craft, read a lot and don’t be impatient. Plus, in today’s publishing world you have options such as independent publishing. Don’t get stuck in one mind set about how to get your work out there. Explore your options. Above all, write a great book.

You

What will you/did you do for Thanksgiving?
...Eat! Ha! I’m not sure yet. I have two deadlines this fall so I think I’ll be butt-in-chair.s

What is your favorite food of the Thanksgiving dinner?
...A family yeast roll recipe! Add gravy or a bit of black raspberry jam and I’m add pounds to the hips!

What are three things you’re thankful for?
...Jesus! My husband and my new Sleep Number bed!

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Thanks so much for being my guest Rachel! Readers, I have been a long time fan of Rachel's writing and it wasn't until last years ACFW conference that I got to meet her in person. It was surreal meeting someone I'd gotten to "know" through her books first. When she agreed to be on my blog I was overjoyed :D

I personally really enjoyed The Wedding Chapel and am so excited for it to come out in just a few days. I'm also excited to offer an eBook copy here as a giveaway - because you all should read this sweet story. If you don't win, make sure you head over and order this lovely book. See my review of The Wedding Chapel here.

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I've been gone on vacation and I realize I'm behind on announcing my giveaway winners :/ I'll get to that hopefully tomorrow and add a little update of my own. Plus, I've got some posts to make up so be on the look out :D

The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck | RE:View

A multi-generational story of healing and restoration. 

The intricate tapestry of The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck creates a complex picture of interwoven lives. Each character thread is specifically placed. No one thread can shape the image by itself, but together they weave a tale that speaks of the power of healing and restoration.

The story of Taylor Branson and her new husband Jack is juxtaposed to an older tale of aging high school football coach, Jimmy Westbrook and his estranged love, Collette Greer. Battling miscommunication and the damaging toll that keeping secrets can take, these four lives are forever changed through the course of the story and their encounter with the wedding chapel Jimmy built for his true love.

I enjoyed this dual-time story set in past and present day New York and Hearts Bend Tennessee. Of course, the fact that Taylor was a photographer appealed to me as well, seeing as how I am also one. As I've come to expect with Rachel's books, her descriptions painted a vivid image for me and the depth of each character was strong. Emotions came off the page, affecting me in a personal way. I also enjoyed the ending and the strong themes that were wrapped together cementing the importance of restoration.

One thing I did want to see more of was Taylor and Jack's story. I felt like--at a certain point which I won't say so as not to spoil anything--I wanted to see more of why they changed not just how, but maybe I'm being nitpicky ;)

I'd definitely recommend this to fans of Rachel Hauck as well as those who enjoy romance, historical romance, and dual-time novels.

Rating: 4*
Purchase: The Wedding Chapel

Book Description
(from Rachel's website)

For sixty years, a wedding chapel sat silent, waiting for love. But times have changed and the hour has come when it just might be too late.

Retired hall-of-fame football coach Jimmy “Coach” Westbrook never imagined anything would come of his labor of love—the wedding chapel he built for Collette Greer, the woman he fell for back in ‘49. But now an offer has come to turn the chapel into what it was meant to be—a place for love—and Jimmy sees no reason to hang onto his dream any longer.

Photographer Taylor Branson is trying to make a life for herself in New York. Leaving her hometown of Heart’s Bend, Tennessee, she put a lot of things behind her, including her family’s abysmal marriage rate. But love surprises her when she falls head-over-heels for Jack Forester, a top ad man. Their whirlwind romance results in an elopement, and a mountain of doubt. Jack, while genuine in his love for Taylor, can never seem to overcome his own demons to find the words of his heart.

When Taylor takes an assignment in Heart’s Bend, the job does more than send her back to her hometown, but into a world of family secrets buried beneath the sands of time.

When Taylor’s journey intersects with Coach’s, they rediscover the heartbeat of their dreams and that the love they long to hold is right in front of them. And worth every waiting moment.

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I received a free copy of this book for review purposes, but was under no obligation to read the book or post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own.