Debby Mayne is our guest this week. She wrote a book called High Cotton. The story explores the unique bonds of family, relationships, secrets, and Southern hospitality. Sweet tea, anyone?
Some families are filled with so much love they can’t help but drive each other crazy
Shay Henke has mixed feelings about going to her family’s next reunion. On the one hand, she’ll get to see everyone in her mama’s family—folks she loves unconditionally. On the other hand, she knows there’ll be more drama than you can shake a stick at. The days leading up to the event bring one surprise after another. First Shay must deal with her sister-in-law’s deep, dark secret. Then she has to contend with the childish ways of her business-mogul twin cousins. And when her high school crush wants to be her date
The days leading up to the event bring one surprise after another. First Shay must deal with her sister-in-law’s deep, dark secret. Then she has to contend with the childish ways of her business-mogul twin cousins. And when her high school crush wants to be her date to the reunion . . . well, it may have been a dream come true for Shay’s teen self, but the woman she’s become doesn’t know what to make of this. Shay’s contentment is challenged, and she’s determined to shake things up a bit. But will she find the excitement she’s looking for, or will Shay realize she prefers her quiet and predictable life? One thing is certain: Life in the Bucklin family is never boring.
Shay’s contentment is challenged, and she’s determined to shake things up a bit. But will she find the excitement she’s looking for, or will Shay realize she prefers her quiet and predictable life? One thing is certain: Life in the Bucklin family is never boring.
Learn more and purchase a copy.
What inspired you to write this story, Debby?
My family is very southern, and we had family reunions at least a couple times a year, plus any time someone had a new baby, got married, and passed on to be with Jesus. Folks would come from all over Mississippi and beyond to see what everyone else was up to—and to show off something new in their lives. As crazy as things may have gotten, we were all family, and we loved each other no matter what. That’s something I realized as a small child, and it has stayed with me.
I love people, food, and relationships, so writing this series was a no-brainer. I get to play with my characters every time I open the document to write. In each of my books, I’m able to share some of my favorite foods and relive some moments I (sort of) remember. And it’s nice to fix some things that are broken and play with some of the what-ifs that pop into my head.
Although these characters aren’t based on any specific people in my family, the basic atmosphere and feelings are there. And some of the traits of people I know have been chopped, diced, and put back together in new ways in this series.
While writing these books, I decided it would be important to show all the generations and relationships the characters are in so people can see how they relate to each other and fit into the family. There are four generations of Bucklins, starting with Granny Marge and Grandpa Jay. Their children are middle-aged and senior citizens, and their grandchildren are learning to be adults. They even have a passel of great-grandchildren you’ll get to know before and during the family reunion. What pulls them together is their powerful sense of family . . . and of course some seriously good eatin’.
Sounds wonderful! Thanks for joining us, Debby!
Debby Mayne writes family and faith-based romances, cozy mysteries, and women’s fiction and is the author of more than 60 novels and novellas-plus more than 1,000 short stories, articles, and devotions for busy women. Debby is currently an etiquette writer for The Spruce.
Debby grew up in a military family, which meant moving every few years throughout her childhood. She was born in Alaska, and she has lived in Mississippi, Tennessee, Oregon, Florida, South Carolina, Hawaii, and Japan.
Her parents were both from the Deep South, so Debby enjoys featuring characters with Southern drawls, plenty of down-home cooking, and folks with quirky mannerisms. High Cotton is the first book in the Bucklin Family Reunion series.
Find out more about Debby at https://debbymayne.net/
Debby is giving away a copy of High Cotton. Follow the directions below to enter.
Thanks for joining us!
I like reading about different “cultures!” (I grew up in Minnesota & had never heard of beans & corn bread until I met my Ohio inlaws…)
I’d like to read the book because my hubby was in the Navy and we moved a lot, too. I like books with a southern flavor to them.
I would love to read one of Debby’s books. This one sounds like a great read. Thank you for the chance to win one of Debby’s books.
Debby Mayne is a new-to-me author and I am curious about her books. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Debby is a new author to me and the storyline sounds like one I would enjoy reading.
I would love to read because I’m a beans and cornbread, sweet tea drinking gal.
A new to me author. Her book sounds like a good one.
First off, I’d love to read this book because, sweet tea! 🙂 I enjoy reading stories about messy families and messy families in the south sounds intriguing. The cover yells summer and heat and good times and memories.
I enjoy reading Southern fiction! I can imagine myself enjoying some sweet tea while reading High Cotton. 😉
I just enjoy reading your books, it makes me feel good
I really want to read this book! I have not read any of Debby’s books yet, but I must fix that soon. It looks good and is a gorgeous cover!
I’d like to read this book because it’s based on Family and sounds so interesting. And Debby is a new author to me. And it’s Southern Fiction!
Sounds like a great book!!
Sounds like a great story! I love everything southern such as great food shared with friends and family, family reunions and rocking chairs on the front porch 🙂
High Cotton sounds like a book I would love to read. You are a new author to me. I am enjoying meeting new authors. Thank you for the chance to win the book.
Drama. Every family has drama, and mine is no different. I’d love to read about Shay’s family drama and escape my extended family’s.
Thanks for the blog and giveaway, Liz. You find the most interesting, non-highly publicized books that are awesome!!
I have read and loved Liz’s books so if she is recommending it, I am all in.
Looks like a great story. Can’t wait to read this novel.
I would love to read this book because honestly the picture of the iced tea is quite captivating! 🙂 It is a very southern thing to have sweet/unsweet iced tea and to enjoy it in a mason jar is cute! Therefore, the book must be just as sweet! 🙂