Meet Meghann Whistler
Join me in welcoming author Meghann Whistler to the blog/newsletter! We fell upon each other through social media (it’s not always bad!), and I’m sure glad we did. Her new book, Their Unlikely Protector, published by Harlequin Love Inspired, launches July 23. See the synopsis at the end of the interview.
Meghann Whistler writes sweet Christian romance novels that won’t make your grandmother blush. A hopeless romantic who met her husband on a blind date, Meghann has a passion for writing inspirational stories that demonstrate the power of love and grace. Before settling down with her husband and raising three rambunctious boys, she earned an M.F.A. in creative writing from Emerson College. She loves to hear from her readers, who can reach her at www.MeghannWhistler.com.
Q: In one sentence, how would you describe Their Unlikely Protector?
I’m going to quote one of my early reviewers here (thank you, Kay!) and say, “Their Unlikely Protector is a story of family, responsibilities, struggles, forgiveness, second chances, and romance all wrapped in a glorious thread of faith that makes the story shine brightly from the first page to the last.”
The book launches on July 23, but you can preorder a copy now from your favorite online store!
Q: In Their Unlikely Protector, which character are you most like?
I’m definitely most like the heroine, Valerie. She had some personal struggles during her childhood that made her feel like an outsider in high school, and although my story isn’t the same as hers, as an introvert, I can really relate to that feeling.
Q: Your first book, published by Harlequin Love Inspired, was Falling for the Innkeeper. How did you get started with this book? Had you been working on anything else before then?
Falling for the Innkeeper wasn’t the first book I wrote, but it was my first romance novel.
Back in the early 2000s, I wrote a women’s fiction novel while I was in graduate school. I pursued publication, but it didn’t happen. Instead, I became a marketing communications manager at a software company, and for the next fifteen years, I wrote a lot about technology trends and best practices.
After I had my third baby, I decided to stay home with my kids. I’d started reading a lot of Love Inspired novels, which are quick, uplifting, and easy to read even when you spend most of your time running after toddlers and preschoolers. When my middle son started going to preschool, I had a little bit of time in my day, and I decided to try my hand at writing a Christian romance!
I finished the first draft of Falling for the Innkeeper toward the end of 2018 and sold it to Love Inspired at the end of 2019. Getting that phone call was a dream come true!
Q: The Billionaire’s Secret has won several awards, including a Selah award in the Contemporary Romance category. (And we all love a “stranded” story!) What’s it feel like to be an award winner?
It was a big surprise! I was watching the webcast after dinner while my kids were playing in the living room. When the announcer called out the name of my book, I was floored! What a huge honor!
My oldest son came running over and was super excited for me, so getting to share that moment with him was special.
Q: If you can talk about it, what writing are you working on now?
I’m working on the edits for my next book from Love Inspired, The Pastor’s Hope, which will come out at the end of March 2025.
This book is set in the same small town as Their Unlikely Protector, so readers will get a glimpse of what life’s like for Brett and Valerie in the not-so-distant future. 😊
Q: What is the easiest part of writing? The hardest?
I’m one of those weird writers who really enjoys the editing process. I sometimes have a hard time getting the first draft down on paper, but I love going through a completed manuscript with a fine-tooth comb and making sure the story truly shines.
Fun Q: If you had the time and skill to add another totally different occupation to your life, what would you like to do?
I think it would be fun to run a summer camp! I’d love to design the camp curriculum for the kids and share in their joy in trying new things!
Q: Anything else you want to add?
Thank you for hosting me on your blog! It’s been fun!
Q: What is your favorite grammar—or general writing—pet peeve?
Ha ha ha—I love this question! It really, really bothers me when people leave the punctuation for dialogue outside the quotation marks! (For example, “I hate it when people don’t punctuate properly”, she wrote unironically, as her editor clutched her heart in horror.)
Follow Meghann on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20039853.Meghann_Whistler
Follow Meghann on BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/meghann-whistler
To give two little boys a home …
She must take a chance on forgiveness.
The last person Valerie Williams expects to rescue her and her toddler twin brothers from a fiery blaze is Brett Richardson, her high school nemesis. But with her house burned down, Valerie is forced to stay at the same inn as Brett and work together on the town festival. Now Brett has the chance to make things right, but can Valerie let go of the past to make way for a future together?