Please join me in welcoming Melony Teague to the blog this week. She’s here to tell us what inspired her to write A Promise to Keep. Before we hear about that, let’s find out a little about the story.

Research librarian Savannah Sanderson wants nothing more than to escape into her happily-ever-after novels with their larger-than-life fictional heroes. But a promise to her late husband has her attending her dreaded twenty-year high school reunion, drinking ghastly punch, and taking desperate measures just to keep her vow, even if she has to hide behind the décor to do it.

Once a reckless troublemaker, Michael McCann fled town after graduation. Now a professional technical rescuer, he’s back for the reunion, but on his trip down memory lane, he soon comes face to face with unresolved issues, namely Savannah.

Before the night is over, a pact between these two old friends will lead them on an adventure into uncharted emotional territory where Michael must confront his past regrets and find the courage to reveal the truth. But can Savannah fly from her sheltered nest and risk her heart on a real-life hero?

That sounds like such a good book, Melony. What inspired you to write it?

Savannah and Michael’s story first started with the idea of a 20-year high school reunion, and what would happen there. The idea that one promise could change the course of someone’s life led to the promise Savannah had to keep that brought her to the dreaded reunion. I wondered, what if Michael and Savannah had history that needed to be dealt with. I thought about what kind of “opposites attract” scenarios I could come up with and Savannah and Michael soon began to tell me their stories. Savannah is a research librarian who likes to be with her books and novels, and Michael is a technical rescuer and outdoors kind of guy. 

I was also inspired by true events I saw in the news while I was writing. A fascination and healthy fear of cave rescues began to develop as a result of being glued to my screen watching you tube videos about rescues and mishaps that happen in caves and in the mountains. I watched the movie about Alex Honnald, called Free Solo, and it got me thinking about risk and calculated risk. Bearing in mind that I am afraid of heights, this movie really pushed me out of my comfort zone, just like Savannah is pushed out of hers in the book. 

As these ideas come together, I wrote out a synopsis which mostly stayed the same except that Donavan Radcliffe pushed his way in and demanded attention.

While I was choosing settings for the story, my husband and my two teenagers took a trip from Toronto down to Niagara Falls and we explored the area. I loved it so much and wanted to include as many of the attractions and locations as I could. Since A Promise to Keep is a romance, what better place to include than the charming Niagara-on-the-Lake and Niagara Falls. 

A Promise to Keep is about promises, living without regrets and letting go of fear. 

I hope readers will be inspired by and enjoy Michael and Savannah’s story.

Melony Teague writes contemporary romance with a dash of humor, she loves to inspire and motivate others through her written words, and she believes everyone has a story to tell. Melony is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and The Word Guild. She is the co-author of As the Ink Flows, a devotional for authors. Her fiction debut, A Promise to Keep released, Jan 21, 2020. Melony was born in South Africa and now lives in Toronto with her handsome husband, their two teenagers, and does the bidding of her two adorable cats.

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BUY LINK: 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2VU0ImS

Melony is giving away an ebook copy of A Promise to Keep. To enter, follow the instructions below.

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Thanks so much for joining us, Melony!