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Rachelle McCalla: Sights on Memory Lane & Book Giveaway

9/18/2011

 

This week we welcome Rachelle McCalla to Author Memories.

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As far back as the fourth grade, Rachelle McCalla knew she wanted to be an astronaut. Her best friend wanted to be an author, and so they argued about whose chosen profession was better. Rachelle soon discovered she had no aptitude for science, math or weightlessness. She’s been writing ever since. When she’s not writing, Rachelle spends most of her time working on her servant’s heart with her four children as relentless but adorable taskmasters.  In her free time, she is an overly-creative cook, a distracted reader, and an avid gardener whose black thumb of death strikes fear into plants everywhere. 

Sights on Memory Lane
by Rachelle McCalla

My grandparents moved off their acreage when I was twelve.  All my childhood memories of visits to their house are located on that parcel of land—picking chokecherries for chokecherry jelly, baling hay with pitchforks, tossing split watermelons to the chickens.

Other families have since come and gone from that acreage and it has fallen into disrepair along with much of the village of Oakdale.  I didn’t realize how much the town had deteriorated until we made a point of passing through with our kids this summer.  As we drove past the city park, across the bridge that spanned the creek, and up the road past the old house, I related my memories to my children in hopes that they’d understand a little bit about their family roots and where we’d come from.
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When we passed by the dilapidated church building in this picture, my eight-year-old son voiced a theory, “I think the skeleton of the last pastor is still in there, standing over the Bible with cobwebs.”

So much for Memory Lane.

Perhaps my family heritage has more to do with our penchant for spinning stories than it does a few falling down buildings.  Our identities may be more clearly seen in the fruit of the new branches, than the long-buried roots returning to the dust from which they came.  I can see my grandparents more clearly in the smiles of my children than the abandoned streets of a ghost town.

We left Oakdale behind.  Instead of looking back, I pointed my face forward to the memories I can help make for my children.  And some day, when their children tell my great-grandchildren stories about me, I want to be listening in to hear what they have to say.  Something tells me, they won’t be the same stories I tried to pass on.  They’ll likely be a lot more interesting.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leave a comment with a valid email address by midnight, Sep 25th
if you want to be entered to win a copy of Rachelle's novel,
Princess in Peril.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Princess in Peril, Love Inspired Suspense, Oct 2011

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Back of the Book Blurb

When insurgents attack the king's motorcade, scattering the royal family, bodyguard Levi Granaldo has one goal—to protect the princess. Even though he knows Princess Isabelle distrusts him. On the run together, they flee to New York, to the shelter of a sanctuary established by Levi's father. But their safety can't last. After a surprise attack divides the pair, Isabelle is forced to face some hard truths. The danger she's in is getting deadlier by the day…and she'll never be able to face it without Levi by her side.

Read Excerpt

Reclaiming the Crown series:

Princess in Peril, Oct 2011
Protecting the Princess, Feb 2012
Prince Incognito, June 2012
The Missing Monarch, Sep 2012
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rachelle's Free Online Read at Harlequin.com :

 Royal Peril by Rachelle McCalla (Love Inspired Suspense)

About the Story:

Arianna Raff opens the backpack at her feet, expecting to find her clothes and travel documents. Instead she finds guns. Too late she realizes her mistake—she opened the bag of the thugs at the table next to hers. And now they aren't just going to let her go.

Because Arianna has stumbled into a dangerous plot.
 The men are more than thugs—they are assassins.

Arianna's only ally is Sergio Cana, a soldier from the neighboring country of Lydia.
With their pursuers just a breath behind them, Arianna and Sergio race across the Albanian countryside, desperate to deliver their warning…before it's too late.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Kristi Ann Hunt link
9/18/2011 12:34:33 pm

I would love to win a copy of your book! It sounds very interesting.
kristiannhunt (at) gmail (dot) com

Kristi Peifer link
9/18/2011 12:56:50 pm

I enjoyed your story and would love to read your book! (I've visited a town like your Oakdale myself.)

Missy Tippens
9/18/2011 02:12:12 pm

Rachelle, that was such a sweet story. I love the photo! But how funny about your kids. :) I told an old story today that I've always thought was extremely funny, and my kids thought it was so dumb. :)

Beth K. Vogt link
9/18/2011 02:35:38 pm

I found my way here via the ACFW loop. Enjoyed the walk down Memory Lane, and your book, Princess in Peril, sounds like a good read too, Rachelle.

beth@bethvogt.com

Debby Lee link
9/18/2011 05:02:28 pm

Hi Rachel, thanks for sharing such heart warming memories about your grandparents farm. I'm sure many people can relate and share the same kind of memories. I know I do.
Your book sounds fabulous, and since William and Kate's wedding wasn't too long ago, the timing of it's release is perfect.
Wishing you much luck and much success. Please enter me in the contest. Thanks so much.

susan karsten link
9/19/2011 01:35:42 am

This sounds like a fun read! I like the blogging about your family too.
Susan

Sandra Orchard link
9/19/2011 01:40:15 am

Oh Rachelle, you hooked me with the bio. If you can write one that intriguing, I'm sure to love the book! It's so sad to see towns fall into disrepair, but I like your perspective. :D And of course, my hubby insists on taking credit for your June title. LOL

LoRee Peery link
9/19/2011 02:33:08 am

One route to my farm family home was via the Oakdale bridge close to Neligh. I could relate to your "memories."
Your story sounds like a keeper.

Cynthia
9/19/2011 03:54:21 am

It's always interesting to go back where you grew up. I like seeing what is still the same and looking at what has changed. Reminiscing about what used to be in place of a restaurant, the old bowling alley, or a housing tract.
I look forward to reading your latest book. Thank you for the book giveaway.

Rachelle McCalla link
9/20/2011 12:06:46 am

How sappy am I--I got all teary-eyed reading through this! I must need chocolate...
Thanks everyone who commented. You are all so sweet!

Mary Hake link
9/24/2011 05:38:42 am

Always ready to read a new (to me) author and an intriguing story line.

Anita Mae
9/28/2011 03:05:48 am

Thank you all for your wonderful comments on Rachelle's post. Using random.org I've picked a winner from all the eligible comments and that winner is...

beth (at) bethvogt (dot) com

Congratulations, Beth!

Rachelle will be contacting you shortly about your copy of Princess in Peril.

Thanks again everyone.

Anita Mae
9/28/2011 11:33:46 am

Rachelle, thanks for joining us this week at Author Memories. Your post sure evoked some nostalgic settings. :)

Cara Putman link
10/1/2011 10:56:43 am

My favorite were my Strawberry Shortcake dolls. It's been so fun to have those come back and watch my girls love them as much as I did.


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