June McCrary Jacobs | Let’s Chat

Welcome to Let’s Chat, everyone. 

JUNE McCRARY JACOBS joins us on Let’s Chat this week. Please extend June a hearty welcome.

June’s original sewing, quilting, and stitchery designs have been published in over one hundred and forty books, magazines, and on sewing industry blogs in the past decade plus. In 2019, she began publishing her sewing designs in sewing pattern e-books. Fourteen pattern books for home décor, children’s stuffed toys, gifts, and other items are available in the Kindle Store.

When not writing, reading, blogging, designing, or sewing, June enjoys gardening, cooking, and walking in local parks. Also, she frequents art and history museums and tours historic homes and gardens.

June is offering a digital copy of Robin’s Reward and “Handmade Hearts” to one drawing winner. Open to US and International residents.

Robin’s Reward by June McCrary Jacobs

Bonita Creek’s librarian Robin Bennett is heartbroken after being abandoned by her husband, Thomas. The mysterious and handsome Jeff Clarke arrives unexpectedly and touches Robin’s life with his wit and warmth. Then, without warning, Jeff’s harsh words and abrasive actions scare her off, and Robin’s hope of finding true love withers again.

Just when it seems Robin and Jeff might have a future, Susan Stinson decides Jeff should be hers, not Robin’s. Susan’s cruel taunting has plagued Robin since they met as young teens. Then her anger and jealousy escalate dangerously. Her vindictiveness threatens the foundation of Jeff and Robin’s young relationship.

Robin’s life journey meanders along the twists and turns of new challenges. Is a relationship which began with both parties harboring secrets destined to survive? Can they move past their troubles and the obstacles in their path to find love and happiness together? When their pasts rear their ugly heads, Jeff and Robin must use their faith to remain strong and true. But will it be enough for them to embrace a life of love, trials, and blessings . . . together?

Journey from Idea to Publication, Robin’s Reward  

In January of 2013, my debut book, A Holiday Miracle in Apple Blossom, won Cedar Fort Publishing’s 2013 Holiday Tale Contest. It was scheduled to be published in October, 2013. After a flurry of edits and launching my first website, I began thinking about what I wanted to do next.

In 2011, I mentally transitioned from writing sewing columns and articles into fiction. I wrote a short story. The story featured the themes, characters, and settings of my first full-length contemporary Christian romance novel, Robin’s Reward.

I set the story in a fiction small town, Bonita Creek, in the coastal mountains of Mendocino County on the northern coast of California. This is one of my favorite places to visit, so I made Bonita Creek the heart of Robin’s story.

I finished the book after my Christmas novella was released. And I spent the next year-plus submitting the manuscript to literary agents and publishers. This was a time-consuming, frustrating, and fruitless journey for me.

June McCrary Jacobs: When I reached my self-imposed limit of rejections and/or ‘no responses’, I stopped submitting to agents and publishers.

After some deep soul-searching, I explored other ways to get the story in print. The book offered valuable messages about faith, love, forgiveness, and perseverance to share with readers.

My first step in getting Robin’s Reward published was to educate myself about self-publishing. I had learned the path to publication required a good editor, a spot-on cover design, and strong marketing.

I hired another hybrid author I met through Cedar Fort to be my editor/formatter. She recommended a talented, experienced cover designer. I had learned to coordinate and execute a blog tour to gain much-needed exposure. Plus, a modest number of readers followed my website, blog, and Facebook, Goodreads, and Amazon Author pages.

Finally, the big day came in April, 2015!

I held a paperback copy of Robin’s Reward in my hands for the first time. This was an emotional experience after all of the twists and turns in the path to publication.

I have learned a lot about self-publishing in the six years since the release of Robin’s Reward. Some have been very hard lessons. My projects include an historical Christian romance, “Handmade Hearts.” A middle-grade historical adventure novel, RES-Q Tyler Stop. Also, twelve sewing pattern books featuring my original sewing, quilting, and stitchery designs for teens and adults. And two Kids Love to Stitch sewing instruction books (with projects) for middle-graders.

Each book allows me to learn and grow as an author, sewing and cover designer, and formatter. (I still use an editor.) As a lifelong learner and creator, writing stories and designing and publishing sewing projects for others is a dream come true.

A Sampling of June’s Books

Buy Links for Robin’s Reward by June McCrary Jacobs

AMAZON   

BARNES & NOBLE

Social Media Links for June McCrary Jacobs

June McCrary Jacobs Facebook Page

Amazon Author Page

Goodreads Author Page

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/junemccraryjacobs/

“Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic” Author’s Blog:  https://authorjunemccraryjacobs.blogspot.com

Goodreads Author Blog:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7102562.June_McCrary_Jacobs/blog

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Dear Lord, please bless each word June writes for You.
~ For Jesus’ sake ~