Some people have that magnetic personality that draws people to them.
That’s Nicole.
While she’s only a few years older than me, she gives me that Mama-Bear feel. She looks out for her tribe, whether friends or family, and ensures they’re well taken care of and enjoying whatever they’re doing. She’s not the type to exclude, but rather, makes everyone feel included and noticed. She’s quick to offer a big embrace and a wide smile that easily lifts spirits and makes one want to soak in her presence.
She is genuine, kind, and helpful to inexperienced, yet hopeful authors such as myself. Plus, she writes super cute, funny, and heartfelt romance novels. Not to mention, she does it really well (in my opinion and based on her awards—see her bio below). She’s an example I look up to for the type of author I’d like to become.
I hope you enjoy the delightfully fabulous and funny Nicole Deese as much as I do!
Tell us a bit about your writing journey.
Strangely enough, my official writing journey began because of a doctor’s note. Well, not a literal note I suppose, but close enough. After a complication with my pacemaker battery replacement seven years ago (yes, I’m basically a bionic woman), I was told I needed to rest for a
What do you hope readers will obtain from your books?
Humor, heart and a big helping of hope!
If you could travel to wherever you wanted to go and write a book about it, where would you go and why?
I’ve always wanted to visit Ireland (and Scotland)! I think setting a story there someday would be absolutely magical. My husband and I have a tentative trip planned for 2021 for our 40thbirthdays (we’re only a month apart) … so we’ll see!
What are some books that inspired you as you grew up or inspired you to become a writer?
I loved me some Christy Miller Series books by Robin Jones Gunn. These books started my love affair with Christian fiction at the age of 12… and it’s been going strong ever since.
Who are some authors that inspire you?
-Amy Harmon
-Lisa Wingate
-Tammy L. Gray
-Connilyn Cossette
What is your best piece of advice to writers?
To keep your head down and your eyes/heart/mind focused on the writing project in front of you. It’s easy to get distracted by the processes and/or successes of other writers rather than sticking to the specific story you were called to write. (Not that I know this from experience or anything…)
If you could describe your hubby as a hero from your novel from your heroine’s perspective (AKA: you), what would you say?
I actually based my current hero, Joshua Avery, off many of my husband’s qualities. What can I say? I adore me some lovable nerd types. Nerds are always my favorite heroes!
What are 5 things you have never done?
- I have never eaten a helping of mashed potatoes (Seriously, I think they look and smell disgusting! And I live in Idaho—The Potato State!)
- I have never owned a cat (Hey, who knows, this could change someday? Maybe?)
- I have never skied. (Or even put skis on my feet. There are just some things I know I’d be terrible at, and anything that requires athleticism in the snow or ice is simply not going to work out well. For anybody.)
- I have never broken a bone (See above answer. Coincidence? I think not.)
- I have never lit a fire (Okay, I am NOT proud of this one, and I know I need to learn for the sake of a possible apocalypse, but I live with a jack-of-all-trades husband and two teenage sons who often fight over who gets to light the fire. So, yeah. I’d rather just sit back and eat snacks under a blanket and let them do the work.)
What are 5 things you HAVE done?
-I have zip-lined through a rain forest in Fiji (Woohoo! It was so fun!)
-I have been a bridesmaid thirteen times! (True story. Too bad nobody made a movie called 13 dresses… I was almost there! #27dresses)
-I have learned to bake my own bread this year! (Highly recommend buying The New Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a
-I have started practicing Hot Yoga (Definition: Sixty minutes of bending into yoga poses in a horribly humid studio set to 105-110 degrees! So. Much. Sweating.)
– I have accidentally plugged our Christmas lights into themselves (instead of into the light timer I purchased) and couldn’t figure out why nothing was working right for DAYS! (Until my husband snapped a picture of my brilliant handiwork and sent it to every family member we know.)
What are your top 5 chick flicks?
- Life as We Know It
- While You Were Sleeping
- Confessions of a Shopaholic
- The Holiday
- The Proposal
Can you share something about the collaborative book you’re doing with Regina Jennings, Amanda Dykes and Karen Witemeyer?
Yes! The stories in The Kissing Tree collection span over a hundred and twenty years—such a treat for this contemporary-only writer! I’m so not a history buff (but I love to read historical novels!) so I never imagined I’d have the privilege to collaborate with such brilliant minds as Karen, Regina, and Amanda! They’re all must-read authors and so stinkin’ smart and fun!
Writing the contemporary novella for this collection was a treat! I just finished the first draft and I already miss my hero and heroine—Griffin and Abby. I’m a sucker for second-chance love stories… and for men who wear flannel and know how to use a chainsaw.
(The Kissing Tree Collection releases in the Fall of 2020.)
Why is your next release, Before I Called You Mine, special to you?
Before I Called You Mine is a story that flowed from a tender place in my heart. My main character, Lauren Bailey, is on a journey to adopt a child from China, which is a path I know well since we adopted our daughter from China in July of 2017. My prayer for this book is not that every reader decides to adopt an orphaned child from overseas, but that every reader will ask themselves the question: What is God asking me to do that feels too hard/too scary/too far out of my reach? Because the answer to that question is often a journey that will grow your faith in ways you never could have imagined. Eph. 3:20.
What’s something adoption has taught you?
Goodness…. what hasn’t adoption taught me? I could go a hundred different ways with this answer, as adoption has truly transformed my (and my family’s) life forever. But I’d say that before Lucy became our daughter, my understanding of God’s love for me–for us, His precious children—was super limited. Even though I grew up in a Christian home and have been in an active relationship with Christ since I was a young girl, my idea of His love has often been one-dimensional.
Our adoption of Lucy was a hurts-so-good faith stretch like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. The physical ache to hold her in arms and kiss her cheek felt unbearable most days. The on-our-face prayers, begging God to protect her while we waited on the other side of the world was a helplessness I’d never known. The sacrifices made in obedience even though we had no idea how any of it would work out…. all of it, every single minute of our adoption journey, led us to the day God had marked on His calendar before the world began—the day Lucy’s status would change from lonely orphan to beloved daughter.
God allowed us to feel just a fraction of His great rescue plan for His children that day—a privilege and responsibility that has shattered my heart for His cause. His love isn’t one- dimensional, because God’s love has NO dimensions at all. It’s reckless and limitless and unconditional and all-consuming. And I pray that my heart never heals from the shattering of that divine revelation.
When does Before I Called You Mine release?
BICYM releases on March 31st, 2020! Woohoo! I’m so excited to share this story with you all!
Lauren Bailey may be a romantic at heart, but after a decade of matchmaking schemes gone wrong, there’s only one match she’s committed to now–the one that will make her a mother. Lauren is a dedicated first grade teacher in Idaho, and her love for children has led her to the path of international adoption. To satisfy her adoption agency’s requirements, she gladly agreed to remain single for the foreseeable future; however, just as her long wait comes to an end, Lauren is blindsided by a complication she never saw coming: Joshua Avery.
Joshua may be a substitute teacher by day, but Lauren finds his passion for creating educational technology as fascinating as his antics in the classroom. Though she does her best to downplay the undeniable connection between them, his relentless pursuit of her heart puts her commitment to stay unattached to the test and causes her once-firm conviction to waver.
With an impossible decision looming, Lauren might very well find herself choosing between the two deepest desires of her heart . . . even if saying yes to one means letting go of the other.
More about Nicole
Nicole Deese’s humorous, heartfelt, and hope-filled novels include the 2017 Carol
To check out more about Nicole visit her Website and be sure to follow her on all things social media for updates! Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
To pre-order Before I Called You Mine
Great interview, Hayley, and great to “meet” you Nicole! I have an internationally adopted daughter as well. This sounds like an amazing book, can’t wait for it to come out!
Oh! It’s so so nice to meet you, Katie! And I’m blessed to know we share the adoption link <3
I’m not-so-patiently waiting for this book! It sounds fantastic! Thanks for the wonderful interview, Hayley and Nicole!
Me too! I think it will be a delightfully heartfelt story and while Nicole said it’s not her goal to inspire everyone to adopt, I know it will certainly pull on my heartstrings.