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Shannon McNear

Shannon McNear

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12 Days of Pioneer Christmas, Day 6: my own novella, Defending Truth!

August 24, 2013 by Shannon McNear 8 Comments

So, today … I get to intro my own novella, Defending Truth. 🙂

Michelle Ule has a nice interview article, and Marcia Gruver and Anna Urquhart have the same thing, but in a straight Q&A format. (Someone on Marcia’s blog asked me to clarify my “righteous patriot and heathen British” statement, so that might be interesting if you have time.)

And look what I held in my hands for the first time this week!

This is my debut as a published author–Anna’s as well. I’ve already shared the story of how I got my first contract, at last year’s ACFW conference, and during the past week I’ve been amazed at the fulfillment of hope from a year ago. Other hopes fill my heart now, as I face attending ACFW again in just three weeks. What does God have for me this time?

But–on to the novella, and the lovely collection it’s part of. Here’s some fun trivia:

  • I discovered a rather crucial typo just two days before receiving my first copies of the book. The Battle of Kings Mountain actually takes place in October 1780, not 1781 as the book says. Argh! How did this happen? It’s right there, in the galley, in my own drafts, in the original proposal, for crying out loud … and I never noticed. All I can figure is that I was so deep in finishing my full-length historical, which finishes up in September 1781, that I typed that year without thinking.
  • Three female characters in the collection, across three different novellas, share the name Milly. 🙂 One is Truth’s aunt, named after the real-life Milly (Millicent) Bledsoe, married to the real-life Loving Bledsoe.
  • Truth’s four younger siblings are loosely modeled after my own four younger children. Three of those read Defending Truth before I turned it in to my editor.

Any other questions? If I haven’t answered them here or in the Pioneer Christmas interview, feel free to ask! And don’t forget to enter the giveaway for a copy, signed by all nine of us. Anna is giving away a copy as well, so you can enter over on her site for even more chances to win!

    12 Days of A Pioneer Christmas

    Monday, August 19 12 Days of Christmas Introduction
    Tuesday, August 20 Cynthia Hickey on cynthiahickey.blogspot.com
    Wednesday, August 21 Kathleen Fuller on www.kathleenfuller.com
    Thursday, August 22 Michelle Ule on michelleule.com
    Friday, August 23 Marcia Garver on Yielded Quill
    Saturday, August 24 Shannon McNear on www.shannonmcnear.com
    Monday, August 26 Lauraine Snelling on michelleule.com
    Tuesday, August 27 Kathleen Fuller on www.kathleenfuller.com
    Wednesday, August 28 Vickie McDonough on www.shannonmcnear.com
    Thursday, August 29 Anna Urquhart on The Silent Isle
    Friday, August 30 Michelle Ule on Colonial Quills
    Saturday, August 31 Michelle Ule on michelleule.com

    Sunday, September 1

    A Pioneer Christmas Collection Release!!

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

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    Filed Under: author interviews, Defending Truth, historical research, historical romance, Pioneer Christmas

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. rose mccauley says

      August 24, 2013 at 3:50 pm

      Hi Shannon, Big congrats from Rose who got my first contract from Barbour at the ACFW conference in Indy in 2010. Enjoy the ride!

      Reply
    2. Kimberli says

      August 24, 2013 at 4:18 pm

      Congratulations! I look forward to reading Defending Truth1, and more in the Pioneer Christmas Collection!

      Reply
    3. Kimberli says

      August 24, 2013 at 4:19 pm

      Ack! The "1" was my typo as I tried to type in the italics html. See? It happens lol

      Reply
    4. Shannon McNear says

      August 24, 2013 at 8:51 pm

      Thank you so much, Rose! It has been an adventure. 🙂

      And thank you, Kimberli! I couldn't have done this without you. Hugs!!

      Reply
    5. Anonymous says

      August 24, 2013 at 9:32 pm

      I am looking forward to reading the stories in the Pioneer Christmas Collection.

      Katie J.
      johnsonk133 at yahoo dot com

      Reply
    6. Shannon McNear says

      August 24, 2013 at 10:51 pm

      Thank you, Katie, for entering! 🙂

      Reply
    7. Heidi Reads... says

      August 28, 2013 at 4:54 pm

      I am so looking forward to reading the novella collection! I love ones that are Christmas themed!

      Reply
    8. Shannon McNear says

      August 28, 2013 at 10:18 pm

      Thanks so much, Heidi! I hope you enjoy it! 🙂

      Reply

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