by Angela Ruth Strong, @AngelaRStrong
Dear Reader,
If you are reading this, you care about my real life and not only about the fictional characters I created. You want to know the story behind my story. You want to know about me. Since you made it to this part of the book, I feel like I can trust you. I’m going to make myself a little vulnerable here. I’m going to tell you about…
My inspiration. Where did I get this idea? Why did it mean something to me? Did an event in the story actually happen in real life? (As a rom-com writer, this is where my embarrassing experiences come in handy.)
My research. This subject fascinated me enough to spend hours online and in person learning more. I’ll share the unique stuff with you—the stuff that is so strange it’s almost unbelievable.
My struggles. Much like my characters, I struggle too. Maybe I had writer’s block. Maybe I didn’t want to write this story because it hurt too much. Maybe I was dealing with cancer or divorce at the time. Whatever it was, it added needed depth.
My message. This is linked to my struggles, but it’s my attempt to take what I’ve learned and change the world for the better. This is where I tell you how much I care for you and what I want for you. I don’t believe it’s an accident you read this book.
My personality. I’ll let it shine through every word choice to illuminate who I really am. As Dr. Seuss said, “When we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.” So I’m not trying to impress anyone, just be my weird self so fellow weirdos can find me.
Sincerely, Authentically, Love Always, or Overly CafFUNated,
Ang
In a world full of happily-ever-after love, Meri Newberg feels like the last young woman on the planet to be single, at least in her Christian friend group. So when she’s handed a strange present at the latest wedding–a 1950s magazine article of “ways to get a husband”–she decides there’s nothing to lose by trying out its advice. After all, she can’t get any more single, can she?
Her brother’s roommate sees the whole thing as a great opportunity. Not to fall in love–Kai Kamaka has no interest in the effort a serious relationship takes. No, this is a career jump start. He talks Meri into letting him film every silly husband-catching attempt for a new online show. If it goes viral, his career as a cameraman will be made.
When Meri Me debuts, it’s an instant hit. People love watching her lasso men on street corners, drop handkerchiefs for unsuspecting potential beaus, and otherwise embarrass herself in pursuit of true love. But the longer this game goes on, the less sure Kai is that he wants Meri to snag anyone but him. The only problem is that he may not be the kind of husband material she’s looking for . . .
Angela Ruth Strong sold her first Christian romance novel in 2009 then quit writing romance when her husband left her. Ten years later, God has shown her the true meaning of love, and there’s nothing else she’d rather write about. Her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been optioned for film, won the Cascade Award, and been Amazon best-sellers. She also writes non-fiction for SpiritLed Woman. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho, and she teaches as an expert online at WRITE THAT BOOK.