Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for Across the Bridge by Kristin Neva with JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: Across the BridgeSeries: Copper Island, Book 3
Author: Kristin Neva
Publisher: The Christmas Tree House
Release Date: November 4, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Fiction from the Ragged Edge of Faith
When Marcella Seppa meets her new tenant, widower Drew Smith, a spark ignites, but she won't consider dating him. She doesn't want his son, AJ, to experience the hurt she felt when her dad remarried shortly after her mom died. Her faith unraveled, and she threw herself into exercise and gardening instead of forming trusting relationships.
When Drew finds out he may not be AJ's biological father, his first instinct is to leave Copper Island, but he wants to find out the truth. He seeks out Marcella's support.
Is it possible their friendship could become more? But how would that affect AJ? Could love help make peace with the past?
Love weaves its way through the messiness of life on Copper Island.
Across the Bridge is part of the Copper Island series, but it can be read as a stand-alone novel.
Across the Bridge will make you laugh and cry. Deep, meaningful themes are woven into a fast-paced storyline.
After Marcella Seppa lost her mother when she was fifteen years old, her father quickly remarried, and her stepmother pushed too hard to foster a relationship with Marcella. Well-meaning people used Christian clichés in an attempt to comfort her, but it resulted in Marcella having a faith crisis. Is love worth the risk of loss, and how can you hold on to faith when questioning the idea of a puppet-master God?
Drew Smith moves to the small town of Quincy so that his in-laws can help raise his son, and he plugs into a local church where the leader of a boys group -- and his deceased wife's high school boyfriend -- looks strikingly like his son. Drew fears losing part of his son's heart to a man who even he admires for his height, charm, and cool job as a State Trooper. What does it mean to be a father, and what is the balance between protecting and preparing your child?
Across the Bridge also contains a theme dealing with ALS, a terminal disease that requires a team of caregivers. Readers who've met Grandma Lou in Snow Country will want to be with her again.
PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
Q&A WITH KRISTIN
Q: What’s
the story behind the story?
A: Across
the Bridge felt the most personal of the three novels I’ve
written. My husband was diagnosed with ALS nine years ago. As I have watched
his body slowly decline, I’ve struggled with God and the suffering in the
world. Likewise, my protagonist Marcella pushes back against the sentiments
people often offer to those facing tragedy, such as “Everything happens for a
reason.”
I recently heard some advice on writing: “Tell a story about what you don’t understand.” When story is an exploration, there’s authenticity in the writing. Life is hard, so how do we persevere? How do we make peace with questions that can’t be answered? I wrestle alongside Marcella as she struggles and grows.
I recently heard some advice on writing: “Tell a story about what you don’t understand.” When story is an exploration, there’s authenticity in the writing. Life is hard, so how do we persevere? How do we make peace with questions that can’t be answered? I wrestle alongside Marcella as she struggles and grows.
Q: What
character in Across the Bridge do you
most identity with and why?
A: There are bits and pieces of me and those I love in
all of my characters. Mak is my alter-ego. He’s a rugged older guy who speaks
with a thick regional accent. He plows snow and makes wood, but he also writes
Amish fiction, mining the lives of his family and friends for plot ideas. I,
too, am always on the look-out for story ideas, so be nice or you might be the
inspiration for the antagonist in a book.
Seriously though, Marcella’s questions about life and
suffering are ones that plague me, so I identify with her on a much deeper
level.
Q: What
message do you hope readers take away from Across
the Bridge.
A: That love weaves its way through the messiness of
life.
Near the end of the book, Mak sums it up when he tells
Marcella, “Ya know, I started writing’ romance because it sells. But now, I’m
startin’ to like da genre because ya see how strong love is. My first book
showed that love is stronger than shame. This book I’m workin’ on is about love
being stronger than blood ties, but I’d say love’s also greater than hurt, anger,
grief, even doubt. Don’tcha think?”
Q: I love that! What
can you tell me about your next project?
A: I'm brainstorming ideas for Senja's story. She's a minor character in the Copper Island Novels. We know she had never married but came close once. I hope her college sweetheart returns to Copper Island and they get a second chance at love.
I'm also collecting ideas for a middle grade reader. My daughter is in middle school, and she comes home with stories that make me laugh.I have a unique opportunity to mine her experiences for ideas--with her approval, of course. She prefaces some things with, "You can't put this in a book."
Q: Ha! I love that! What’s
something about you that might surprise your readers?
A: I have look-alike themes in both my first novel, Snow Country, and Across the Bridge. This was used as a device to create tension and
reveal surprises. It was inspired by my mom and I looking a lot alike. I get
mistaken for her around town. She loves hearing, “Are you the author?” Now, my
mom is 27 years older than me, so I am not as thrilled when I hear, “Oh, you
have your grandchildren with you today” when I’m out with my kids! But I’m
hoping that doesn’t mean I look her age, but rather when I am her age, I’ll
still look like I’m in my 40’s.
Q: That's a good way to look at it 🙂What
are some of the books in your TBR pile?
A: I’m reading Faith
in the Shadows by Austin Ficsher. I am a big fan of C.S. Lewis and am
looking forward to reading his and Joy Davidson’s story in historical fiction: Becoming Mrs. Lewis.
Good choices! Thanks for stopping by. I'm sure my readers will enjoy getting to know a bit more about you and your book.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kristin Neva grew up in an old farmhouse on Copper Island in Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula where the hard-working, rugged residents persevere through harsh winter weather, sustained by friendship and family, surrounded by natural beauty. As an adult, she lived in the Chicago and Milwaukee areas for seventeen years before returning to the her hometown with her husband and two children.
Kristin’s first book, Heavy, co-authored with her husband, Todd, journeys through the first year after Todd’s ALS diagnosis as the Nevas struggle to find meaning, hold on to faith, and discover joy in the midst of pain.
It is this life experience that brings authenticity to Kristin’s fictional works as she explores themes of love, loss, and faith on Copper Island. Her quirky characters are endearing and wholesome. But they are also full of healthy grit, humor, flaws, and appetites.
Learn more about Kristin and explore Copper Island at KristinNeva.com.
CONNECT WITH KRISTIN: Website | Facebook | Twitter
TOUR GIVEAWAY
- a Signed Copy of Across the Bridge
- Scandinavian Dish Towel
- Garden Note Cards
- Locally Hand Crafted Bird's Eye Maple Spatula
- Rishi Loose Leaf Tea and Tea Ball
- Keweenaw Mug
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
Great interview!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Heidi. Good luck!
DeleteYou're welcome, Rita. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds like a really great read.
ReplyDeleteI agree! Good luck!
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