Book Review of An Aussie Summer Christmas

By Jenny Blake

An Aussie Summer Christmas 

Blurb

Melbourne Memories by USA Today bestselling author Marion Ueckermann 
Escaping his dangerous past, former British rock star Justin “The Phoenix” Taylor flees to Australia. Intrigued by the bearded stranger visiting her coffee shop, Ella Anderson decides to discover his secrets. But when Justin’s past collides with their future, Ella must decide whether they have a future at all. 

Next Door Santa by USA Today bestselling author Lacy Williams 
Will Harris is proud of his no-complications life. So why is he drawn to his upstairs neighbor, who seems obsessed with Christmas? Can Bridie soften Will-the-Scrooge’s heart in time for Christmas? 

Seaside Christmas by Narelle Atkins 
Political advisor and former bad boy Gus Donovan is intrigued by Chelsea Somers, the girl he didn’t call after their one and only date, six years ago. Chelsea is impressed by the new Gus, but can she trust him with her family secrets ... and with her heart? 

A Christmas Resolution by Rose Dee 
Breeah has avoided returning to her Australian coastal hometown of Kiisay Point for ten years—avoided the mistake that changed her life, ruined her friendships, and soured her first love. She’s never returned to Resolution, the island where it all happened. But now she’s back, and having to face up to the childhood she loved, the man she can’t forget, and the future that won’t start until she lets it all go. 

All is Bright by Andrea Grigg 
Amy’s always been a good Christian girl…except for being in love with her brother-in-law. Josh is looking for love again, surprised to find it with his late wife’s sister. But will a mountain of guilt and an unexpected letter stop them from making it to the altar? 

Falling for Maddie Grace by Meredith Resce 
Australia’s first professional female football umpire, Maddie Grace, gets knocked out in an on-field accident, crushed beneath the weight of an athletic sports star. What is it about the visual images that has the media making up stories of a secret love affair? Escaping the paparazzi is one thing, but escaping each other is quite another.

My Review

I really enjoyed this box set. Each story is different but has the Aussie connection and a beach connection.

Melbourne Memories by USA Today bestselling author Marion Ueckermann 

This is the first book and I have to say I wasn't sure how I would like this book as Justin was a rock star and its not my sort of hero but I actually really liked the story. It shows how a chance meeting when someone has hit rock bottom can help change a life. Justin ends up in Australia where he comes in contact with Ella who wants to learn his secrets not knowing how it may affect her. I really loved the way it showed how Justin turns his life around and his wanting to make amends for his past. 

Next Door Santa by USA Today bestselling author Lacy Williams 

I love Bridie, I think I like her cos shes has a job I would love. She is full of life although she has had plenty of heartache in her life. Will on the other hand seems to be more focused on working and not doing much else. We see an incident happen in which the two will be brought together and then need to work together. I enjoyed the story and learning both stories of why they are how they are. It also teaches not to judge by appearances as there is often more to a story than one thinks. 

Seaside Christmas by Narelle Atkins 
In this book we see Chelsea and Gus meet up again after 6 years. Chelsea wonders if Gus really has changed or if its just an act. She is also still grieving the passing of her sister. She has also told her father she will never reveal some of the details to her sisters death. She also wonders if she can handle someone who is in the political arena. I enjoyed their story and seeing how it unfolded. 

A Christmas Resolution by Rose Dee 
Breeah has returned home after the passing of her uncle. She hasn't been back for 10 years and wants to avoid some people. She made a mistake 10 years ago and still feels guilty. This story deals a lot with forgiveness and not just of others but of yourself. In many ways I felt like Breeah found herself in this book along with reconnecting with a former friend.


All is Bright by Andrea Grigg 
Amy feels she is bad because she loves her brother in law, she has loved him for a long time but knew he was off limits and never acted on the feelings or told anyone, she would never to that to her sister. Even with her sister gone for many years she still hasn't told anyone. Josh gets a letter from his late wife which changes everything between them. I actually found this book refreshingly in the way it showed Amy and her feelings and how she struggled with them. 

Falling for Maddie Grace by Meredith Resce 
Now here is a story I can appreciate. While I love cricket more I am an AFL fan. Maddie Grace is a umpire who has the misfortune of being knocked out by a star Zac. The media have a field day with this as Zac is also referred to as the Rev due to studying ministry and being squeaky clean. They know each other from years back when her father was the coach of Zac's team but nothing more. Seeing this story play out was interesting. Once again another good read.

Introducing An Aussie Summer Christmas

A guest post from Meredith Resce

The Christmas season—as we call it in Australia—is always a favourite time of year for me. As a kid we would have the various school graduation services, Christmas parties, and end-of-year breakup parties all at one time. December was crazy. Living on the farm, it was also harvest time, and though it was getting hot, we would struggle to find someone to take us to the next town, where the district swimming pool was located. December is beach weather, but there was less chance of making it to the coast, an hour’s drive away.

Instead, we would spend that week before Christmas decorating the house, putting fake frost on the windows, watching Christmas movies that featured snow and sleds, and hanging Christmas lights that we couldn’t switch on until late because of the long summer days. I had no idea what Christmas in the cold must be like, with long dark nights, snow, fires and hot drinks. We had those images on our Christmas cards, and joined in with Bing as he sang ‘White Christmas’.

It was all part of the season.

The best part was Christmas Eve. We would go into town to the little church and sing those precious old carols, accompanied by my grandmother on the old pump organ. Then we’d go to the main street where the locals would gather to sing carols out the front of the shop. Santa would arrive on the back of a ute (that’s Aussie for truck), we’d all get an ice-block and lollies (candy/sweets), and then tie ourselves in knots of excitement waiting for Santa to come visit. Of course he would visit us in Australia first, as we are a good ten to fourteen hours ahead of other countries. (He’d drop into New Zealand first, of course.)

So when I was asked to be part of this Christmas box set that had an Aussie theme, I was excited to have the opportunity. Just as I’m not familiar with the white Christmas, I’m guessing there are a number of readers out there who would not be familiar with our warm, summer Christmas.

We also have a beach theme. 

Luckily, I have had some experience with the beach since my childhood, so I’ve chosen one of the world’s most popular surf beaches—Torquay, Victoria.

In this set we have four Australian authors, and you will get a great mix. Two of the authors, Rose and Andrea, are from Queensland, a tropical region that is always warm and humid. One of the authors is from Canberra, the nation’s capital city. Canberra is nowhere near the coast, but Narelle has set her story in Sydney. I’m from the region known as the Flinders Ranges in South Australia, but I’ve set my story in Victoria.

Then, as part of the set, we have international authors, Lacy Williams and Marion Ueckermann. Lacy lives in Oklahoma (that’s a mile or two away from the Australian coast), and Marion lives in South Africa. I’ve read their Aussie stories, and felt they did a good job of representing those of us from Down Under.

During the proofing process I got to read each of the stories included in this set, and you are in for a treat: some engaging characters and great plot lines, with that added element of visiting Australia during the Christmas season. We don’t say ‘holiday season’ because we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving and Halloween. But we sure do celebrate Christmas and New Year. Barbeque, back-yard cricket, trips to the beach, and the odd case of sunburn.

Join us this holiday season, and take a trip Down Under.

About Meredith Resce

Meredith Resce is a popular Australian Christian fiction author, who has had novels in the Australian Christian market since 1997. She is proud of her Australian rural heritage, and is looking forward to sharing with readers from the international Christian Fiction community.

Her story, Falling for Maddie Grace, is set against the back drop of Australia’s number one spectator sport, Aussie Rules football. Maddie Grace, Australia’s first professional female umpire, gets caught up in an on field incident that sees her clash with a player, Zac Beecham. The accidental tangle brings about more than a trip to the hospital. The over-imaginative press decide there is a secret love affair between the two – a situation that, if true, compromises Maddie’s position and Zac’s reputation.

The other stories in the collection are:

Melbourne Memories by USA Today bestselling author Marion Ueckermann

Escaping his dangerous past, former British rock star Justin “The Phoenix” Taylor flees to Australia. Intrigued by the bearded stranger visiting her coffee shop, Ella Anderson decides to discover his secrets. But when Justin’s past collides with their future, Ella must decide whether they have a future at all.

Next Door Santa by USA Today bestselling author Lacy Williams

Will Harris is proud of his no-complications life. So why is he drawn to his upstairs neighbor, who seems obsessed with Christmas? Can Bridie soften Will-the-Scrooge’s heart in time for Christmas?

Seaside Christmas by Narelle Atkins

Political advisor and former bad boy Gus Donovan is intrigued by Chelsea Somers, the girl he didn’t call after their one and only date, six years ago. Chelsea is impressed by the new Gus, but can she trust him with her family secrets ... and with her heart?

A Christmas Resolution by Rose Dee

Breeah has avoided returning to her Australian coastal hometown of Kiisay Point for ten years—avoided the mistake that changed her life, ruined her friendships, and soured her first love. She’s never returned to Resolution, the island where it all happened. But now she’s back, and having to face up to the childhood she loved, the man she can’t forget, and the future that won’t start until she lets it all go.

All is Bright by Andrea Grigg

Amy’s always been a good Christian girl…except for being in love with her brother-in-law. Josh is looking for love again, surprised to find it with his late wife’s sister. But will a mountain of guilt and an unexpected letter stop them from making it to the altar?

Preorder An Aussie Summer Christmas from Amazon.com

Guest Post - Andrea Grigg & Melissa Dalley: Peeking Under the Covers

By Ian Acheson

We all know how important a cover is in attracting readers. After all, it’s the first thing they see on the shelf, be it online or in real life. Covers also happen to be a topic we all have an opinion on. But what makes a cover good? And not just good, but great?  

A few weeks ago on Australasian Christian Writers (ACW), author and friend, Andrea Grigg shared two posts on the subject. Interestingly, she interviewed her daughter, Melissa Dalley, who happens to be a Creative Design Manager, and the producer of a number of book covers including Andrea’s two novels.

The covers of Andrea's 2 novels

The response to the two posts was so positive I thought it would be great to share Melissa’s insights with the ICFW community. I’ve condensed the two posts into one. It’s a longer post than normal but I think it’s one we’ll be very interested in especially those of us who are moving in the self-publishing space

So please welcome mother and daughter, Andrea and Melissa to ICFW.

Andrea: Personal preferences aside, there are two basic principles with which I’m sure we would all agree: First, the image used needs to reflect the genre and relate to the story. Second, the title and author’s name must be easy to read (including the spine if the book is going to print)

But there’s obviously far more to it than that. What are the essentials for cover design?

Mel: I’m sure most people think the essentials are the image and the font(s) you choose, the colours and balance of the artwork. But there’s something even more important, and that is knowing your primary target audience. Having this established sets the stage for everything else. I can’t emphasize it enough. It directly affects all further choices.

Andrea: You’re right, that wasn’t the answer I was expecting but it makes a lot of sense. And because it wasn't something I'd thought of myself, it made me realise there's a lot I don't know about the world of design. Which brings me to the next question. 

What other reasons are there for me to employ a graphic designer rather than attempt to create a cover myself?

Mel: There are many reasons, but for now I’ll give you three. 

The biggest one is time. What a designer can do in an hour would probably take you three to four hours. Wouldn’t it be wiser to use your time writing?  A designer has years of training behind them and have acquired a unique skill-set, just like a writer has a unique ability to write. I know people design their own covers to save money, but why not view the employment of a graphic designer as an investment in the lifespan of your book? Even to the untrained eye it can be obvious when covers are designed by someone without training. You want your book to stand out for the right reasons, not the wrong ones.

Another reason is a very practical one, to do with the printing process.

In the design world, Microsoft Publisher and Word are equivalent to swear words! (Something I was told over and over during my training). Those programs are very limiting. They’re not pre-prepped (when you need to get everything set up for a professional printer). Some printers I work with won’t accept work unless done by a graphic designer. This is because errors can occur when working with Publisher and other programs not intended for professional printing and design. They’re not accurate enough and can become file corrupted. 

Thirdly, I'll address some excellent questions raised by an ACW member. She wanted to know if it was possible to have covers that wouldn't become outdated, and what to avoid in pictures and fonts to make them stay relevant and attractive. 

This all comes back to the designer you use and their knowledge of trends, having a well-communicated brief, and what you envision for a shelf life. For a designer to keep their job, they need to be up to date and know the latest trends. If you're not in the game then it's very hard to know these things.

Other covers Melissa has worked on

Andrea: Fair enough. So what can I do to get the best result from my graphic designer?

Mel: First, find one who’s not afraid to give you an honest opinion. 

Second, write the best brief you possibly can, explaining what you’re after. The content and research that goes into this is very important.

Third, send the top three images you’ve seen of other books in your genre that match your ideas and thoughts for your own. It will save you time and money with your designer. It will also stop you from looking like everyone else.

Andrea: Which rookie errors stand out the most?

Mel: That’s an easy answer. Fonts and their colour choices, and balance.

Andrea: Okay, so could you please expand on those?

Mel: Sure. As far as fonts are concerned, don’t use what’s automatically on your computer. It’s quite limiting and it shows.

Second, make sure you know which style fits with your genre. Swirly and flirty is great for romance. There are many modern styles available for non-fiction and Young Adult (again, depending on the genre), and some great creepy styles for mysteries etc.

Third, be aware that some fonts come with copyright issues. However, you can purchase fonts for use, often between $5-$500, (similar to images), and this gives you the legal right to use them.

I mostly use myfonts.com for purchase but there are Royalty Free and free fonts all over the internet. (Be aware the free types aren’t always that great – they can be cheap-looking). The most important thing is to read all the licensing and understand what the fine print means.

As far as balance goes, the text shouldn’t be too heavily positioned on one side, nor should the imagery. Balance is also about the reader not having to turn their head to see something. Sometimes it can be an automatic reaction and we want to avoid that!

  

Andrea: Great advice. Now, what can you tell us about images?

Mel: Obviously, the image you use must fit your genre. I generally buy images from Shutterstock and iStock. Their imagery is licensed for use on book covers. Again, the fine print must be read.

In my opinion, Photoshop is the best software for editing imagery and Adobe Suite is the best program for designing and editing for book cover design and imagery editing. It gives you more control and helps make sure your work is up to speed for printing specs. Someone asked about Gimp, but I’m afraid I don’t know anything about it.

If you intend using a photographer for a custom photo, you need to brief him/her as you would if a designer was creating your cover. Remember to ask about their rights for reproducing and marketing their shots.

A logo is another form of imagery used on a cover. I recommend a designer to create one of these as they can be tricky, especially when used on a spine. Again, give the designer a well thought out brief, and include examples of logos you’ve seen and liked.

There’s a stack of good counsel in Melissa’s comments. Please thank Andrea and Melissa for such an informative post and we look forward to receiving any comments and questions you may have.

Andrea Grigg was born in Auckland, New Zealand, but moved to Australia when she was in her mid-twenties, which now seems like an awfully long time ago. Andrea didn’t begin writing until the year she turned fifty and is glad she took so long to get started because now she has lots and lots of story fodder from all the people she has met. She has written two contemporary Christian romance novels, ‘A Simple Mistake’ and ‘Too Pretty’ and is currently working on a Christmas novella as part of a box set to be released as an e-book later this year. The best way to contact Andrea is by email: andreagrigg(at)live(dot)com.

Melissa Dalley has a degree in Marketing and eCommerce, and a diploma in Graphic Design and PrePress. She works as a Creative Design Manager for a well-known shopping centre group, is on the board for a charity as their marketing and creative adviser, and freelances designs for authors and small businesses. Not only that, she is a wife to Robb and privileged caretaker of two cats, Jimi and Scout. You can reach her at: melissadalley(at)live(dot)com

Introducing Andrea Grigg - a new Aussie author

About three years ago, I received an email from Andrea Grigg. After introducing herself. She wrote, “I've had a dream about writing a Christian romance novel for years and finally got around to starting it back in March of this year.”
Our contact since then was spasmodic until twelve months ago when I met her at last year’s Word Writers Fair in Queensland and discovered she is a truly beautiful woman inside and out! I have been privileged to read her manuscript, A Simple Mistake, she has been working hard on and am thrilled she has now signed a contract for it to be published. I have discovered that besides writing, Andrea is a woman of several talents and I have asked her to share with us a little about herself and especially her writing journey so far.

So, do tell us what keeps you the busiest these days, Andrea.

I wish I could say it was writing, but it’s not! I teach part-time, and when not in the classroom, preparation and marking take up a good portion of my week. Great job though!

What is the accomplishment you are most proud of?

My three children – all grown-up now. Two girls and a boy. They are wonderful people, and my husband and I love spending time with them.

Tell us the range of the kind of books you enjoy reading.

Women’s fiction, various genres, but they all need to have an element of romance to keep my interest.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

When I was at primary school. I would write stories at home, just for the fun of it and ask my teacher to read them – it must have driven her mad! I can remember having an awful lot of ‘and then’ in them.

What is the problem with writing that has so far been your greatest roadblock, and how did you – or are you - overcoming it?

Apart from having enough time you mean?
I’m a ‘plotter’, not a ‘pantser’. If I was a ‘pantser’ (someone who flies by the seat of their pants) I could just sit down and write and write. Because I’m a plotter, I like to have it all sorted in my head before I start typing. I have to tell myself that I can’t go back and edit a blank page, so just get on with it. I’m getting there.

What advice would you give to an author just starting out?

Read lots of books in the genre you’d like to write in.
Have fun creating your characters and getting to know them.
Write about something you’re familiar with (my first protagonist is a teacher, like me).
Get in contact with a writers’ group and/or have some book buddies to read your work and encourage you.
Just start writing!

How do you choose your settings for each book?

 I like to use what I’m familiar with, so I can get the atmosphere right. I tend to use Sydney, or Auckland (where I’m from originally) and the Gold Coast (where I’ve lived for 26 yrs).The details are the creative part, like what type of house my characters live in etc. That often comes from junk mail, glossy magazines, places I’ve visited, or images off the internet.

Do you have another story waiting to be told?

Too many! My major problem is I keep thinking of new plots and characters. I’ve got about nine folders on my computer, complete with character profiles, a story plan, and several thousand words each. My husband tells me I’m doing what I used to do with my knitting – I’d get bored with a project and start another. But guess what? I always finished them eventually. I’ve got enough to keep me going until I’m ninety but I’m worried I’ll think of some more!

What would you like to tell folk about the manuscript you once sent to me?

It was my ‘baby’ and I was sending it to a very qualified someone for inspection! Scary yet thrilling. I knew it was too big, (originally it was huge!) and it was wonderful having someone help me to hone and shape it into something I’m now very proud of.


I understand how you felt about a published author reading your manuscript, Andrea, as I have experienced that many times over the years and still do when I know one is reading one of my books! I am thrilled to have been able to help you a little on your road to being published.

And to tease readers, here is more about A Simple Mistake, an inspirational romance which has been contracted by Even Before Publishing and for release next year.

Nick broke Lainey’s teenage heart when he left to embark on his music career – despite his promises to keep in touch, she never heard from him again.
 When she runs into him while playing her violin at a wedding and Nick asks to see her again, Lainey is wary but thrilled. And when they discover the truth about why their relationship ended, everything changes.
 What’s a girl to do? Nick is an international celebrity, and she’s just a school teacher; his faith in God is minimal while she’s a dedicated Christ-follower. Not only that – now they’ve met up again, she must tell him her secret, the one that could rip them apart, the one Nick has every right to know…
Lainey can feel her life spinning out of control.
Andrea is on Facebook and you can find her on my Friend's list there - or the photo above of course!. With the help of a clever daughter, she is working hard on getting a blog up and running. Stay tuned. We are going to hear a great deal more from this very capable new Australian author!

And I already want to read the sequel to A Simple Mistake, Andrea, so get writing - in between church, family and teaching responsibilities of course!
I know she will be encouraged by any comments you'd like to share.

Mary Hawkins is a best-selling inspirational romance author. A Queensland farmer’s daughter, she became a registered nurse before going to Bible College. She and her minister husband have three adult children and five grandchildren, enjoyed over 46 years of ministry including church planting in Australia, two years in England, three short term mission trips to Africa and now live in Tasmania, Australia's island state. Her 19th title, Justice at Baragula, was released May, 2011

Read more about Mary's writing journey, her husband Ray and his devotional books on their blog from the website: http://www.mary-hawkins.com/