#NewRelease - ONE WINTER IN BLUE SKY from Margot Johnson
- 13 hours ago
- 5 min read
Today on the blog I'm featuring a #NewRelease - ONE WINTER IN BLUE SKY from Margot Johnson. Margot and I hail from the same Canadian prairie province and we've belonged to the same writing group. I'm excited that this is her seventh published book! Welcome Margot, and best of luck with the new book!
Blurb—One Winter in Blue Sky by Margot Johnson
Krista is a professional figure skater who performs on cruise ships, a world away from the prairie town of Blue Sky where she is maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding. The handsome best man, Tate, is a small-town guy, former hockey player, and single dad.
Why not accept his invitation to trade her glamorous life for a temporary coaching position in the middle of nowhere? After all she’s been through, she needs a fresh start. But soon, complications with the ice show, her newly adopted dog, and her inconvenient attraction to Tate send Krista spinning off balance faster than a flip jump.
Who knows what will happen by spring…if she lasts?
Excerpt. ONE WINTER IN BLUE SKY:
Not dating much, he hardly knew what he was missing. But now Krista reminded him. He’d like to get to know her better—a lot better.
Finally, he led her to a table and brought them cool drinks. “Do you teach skating to people who actually want lessons?” With all the hubbub and the busyness of the rehearsal party, he never got around to hearing her answer yesterday. He shifted his chair to almost face
her and leaned forward so he could hear her answer over the blaring music.
“I’d like to get back into coaching. Right now, I perform in ice shows on cruise ships.” She crossed her legs and tilted toward him.
“Oh! A star.” He widened his eyes. “I’m in elite company.”
She laughed and brushed a curl off her cheek. “I’m glad you think so. Now that I’ve visited very port in the Caribbean, the novelty is wearing off.”
“Did you ever compete? Are you a champion?”
“I came close but just missed out on the medal part.”
“An almost champion?” Maybe he should have just dropped the topic. Her voice suddenly tightened around the mention of her competitive record. “You could say so.”
Did he detect a bit of a wince? “Why not coach if it’s really what you want to do?” He heard his own tone dissolve from teasing to serious.
“It’s complicated.” She sighed. “Maybe someday.”
He sensed her heavy disappointment verging on bitterness. What was her story? Much as he wanted to know, now was not the time to nudge her for more details. He knew the pain of lost dreams and a lost relationship.
He studied her face and traced her firm expression. Was there a chance? Would she possibly consider a new opportunity? “Are you locked into a contract with the cruise line?” A rush of anticipation bodychecked him in the chest. Was she open to a dramatic life change?
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Blog: A little about Margot Johnson & her characters
Are your characters based on anyone you know?
The story and characters are fiction but draw on my love of figure skating. Although I took lessons and competed a little, I was definitely not an almost champion like Krista, and I didn’t perform on cruise ships. Also, I did not meet my handsome husband at a skating rink!
Do any of your characters take over and write the book themselves sometimes?
The synopsis is my only outline. I find characters take on lives of their own and influence the direction of the story. I love it when a character surprises me.
If you could spend time with a character from your book, who would it be?
I’d like to go to Krista’s ice show and see all her students perform. Being a dog lover, I’d love to give golden retriever Pearl a big pat and a dog treat. Even the agitating characters like Krista’s mom and the skating club president would be fun to meet in person.
What do you want readers to come away with after they read One Winter in Blue Sky?
I hope readers feel satisfied they’ve had a fun experience that entertained and moved them in some way. Ideally, they got really invested in the characters and rooted for their happy ending. Maybe they even stayed up late to finish it!
How long have you been writing? When did you decide to become an author?
Writing is in my blood. My late dad was a journalist, editor, and author, and my sister, Donna Gartshore, writes for Harlequin Love Inspired. I recently found an illustrated story I wrote when I was seven!
We all need a little inspiration in our lives. What’s your favorite quote and why?
When my first book, Love Takes Flight, came out, I received a card that said, “Dream big and work hard.” I think that’s a good approach to life in general, and I think Krista in One Winter in Blue Sky would agree.
Any advice for the aspiring authors out there? Particularly those who are feeling a little discouraged?
Keep reading, writing, and learning! Even bestselling authors have had their share of rejections. It helps to build a writer network you trust to support and encourage you.
Besides writing and reading, what are some of your hobbies?
I walk a lot for fitness. I like to travel and to volunteer in my community. My husband and I share a big blended and extended family which makes for lots of fun gatherings and games at our place.
Do you and your characters like surprises?
I like to surprise characters with circumstances they don’t expect and might not like, at least at first. Often my characters say or do things I hadn’t planned.
Surprises in real life can be fun too. One of my more unusual adventures was appearing on the TV game show Let’s Make a Deal where I almost won a car. I was very excited to receive an invitation to the Queen’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace several years ago, but sadly, it never happened because of Covid cancellations.
Author Bio:
Margot Johnson writes feel-good stories about women who chase their dreams and find romance along the way.
She is the author of seven romances--the novels One Winter in Blue Sky, Some Other Way, Love Takes Flight, and Love Leads the Way and three novellas in the Merilee Tours series--Let it Snowball, Let it Melt and Let it Simmer. Her characters can't possibly find their happy endings...or can they?
Before turning her focus to the fun writing life, Margot held leadership roles in human resources and communications. When not writing, she loves to connect with family and friends, volunteer with SK Writers' Guild, and walk at least 10,000 steps a day (except when it's minus 40 degrees outside!)
She lives with her husband in the Canadian prairies.
Website: https://margotjohnson.ca/