Please help me welcome Christine Columbus…
When I didn’t believe, others did.
In 1976, my boyfriend said, “I wish I was like you and knew what I wanted to do.”
I asked, “What?”
“You’re going to be a writer.”
In 1979, my same boyfriend said, “If you get married, never change your last name.”
“Why?” I asked as I realized we did not have a future together.
“Because when I’m standing at the grocery counter line and see a book on display, I’ll see your name and know it’s yours.”
1988—Birth of my daughter
1989—Birth of my son
In 1994—when a woman asked what I did, my five-year-old son didn’t tell her I worked for a utility company and stuffed 20,000 bills and advertisements into envelopes daily.
He said, “My mom’s a writer.”
1996—I had a short story published in Half Price Books bedtime stories, and my mom and I drove to the store to buy a copy. She turned to me and said, “I’m so excited. I’m shaking.”
2006-2010—published many short stories and one novel with The Wild Rose Press
In 2007, after working for 27 years at the utility company, the boss said, “If you’re not happy here, quit.”
So, I did.
In 2015, I married and quit working in Waukee, Iowa, as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant—to travel and volunteer with my husband.
In 2023, my husband and I moved into an apartment in Wilmington, NC, and he said, “You should start writing again.”
I sent a manuscript for a novel to The Wild Rose Press and got a contract and then another.
Chance Meeting
January 8, 2024
I’d Rather Kiss You Goodnight
coming in 2025.
Book Blurb:
Melody is fostering her niece while her sister, Captain Opal Erickson, is deployed to Kuwait. A chance meeting at work with Clayton, a construction manager, awakens feelings of love and romance. Everything is perfect until Opal reveals a family truth and swears Melody to secrecy. To honor her sisterly pledge, Mel attempts to reject any advances from Clayton until he guesses the truth. Torn between loyalty to Opal and love for Clayton, she pours herself into work, making a mess of everything. When the dust settles, Mel wonders if she can put the pieces of her life back together.
About the Author:
I am thrilled to be back writing with Chance Meeting available now, and I’d Rather Kiss You Goodnight coming out soon. These novels culminate my passion for storytelling, and I can’t wait to share them with you.
Eighteen years ago, while living in Minneapolis, Minnesota, I published children’s stories, creative non-fiction, poetry, and flash fiction, then stumbled into romance, writing several short stories and a novel with The Wild Rose Press.
https://www.ColumbusChristine.com
Inspiration:
I wrote the story from Melody’s perspective with humor and heartfelt emotion: she is a civilian with a sister deployed to Kuwait. Melody is the caretaker for her sister’s daughter. The story is about the struggle of balancing family, work, and a budding new romance when you are over forty and wanting to do what’s best for everyone, even when you’re not exactly sure what that looks like.
https://www.facebook.com/christinecolumbus/
https://www.instagram.com/Christine_Columbus/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinecolumbusnet?
https://bsky.app/profile/christinecolumbus.bsky.social
Buy Links:https://christinecolumbus.blogspot.com/2024/11/chance-meeting.html
Author Alicia Dean 
What a cool list! Congratulations and best of luck with your new releases!
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Thank you. It was a lot of fun defining moments
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Thank you Alicia, for hosting writers in your blog. I enjoyed pondering the question. And I love writing and connecting to readers and getting exposure to new authors.
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Great read, Christine. Looking forward to reading your book(s)!
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Interesting list. Book looks interesting, too.
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Your book sounds compelling, Christine. Nice interview on 10 Moments that Changed Your Life. Congratulations on your successful writing journey!
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