Looking Out the Window: Award Winning Author Tanya Agler Talks about The Soldier's Unexpected Family, Her Latest Harlequin Heart Warming Romance. Gives Away an E-Book of The Sheriff's Second Chance, Shares Recipes

 A Warm Welcome to Tanya Agler

Tanya's included lots of goodies! There's a character interview and recipes, so check out all of the fun things. She'll give away an e-Book of The Sheriff's Second Chance, an earlier Harlequin Heartwarming Romance. To enter to win leave an email address and a comment below.

I’d like to start by thanking Gail for hosting me on her blog today. Thank you so much, Gail, for having me and introducing your readers to my books.

It’s my pleasure to have you. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Thanks for asking. My father was in the military and I moved often as a child. I went to twelve different schools before I attended the University of Georgia where I met my husband. We married while he was in pharmacy school and I was still in law school. After graduation, we continued living in Georgia and welcomed our first daughter. Now, I’m a write-at-home mother of four, and my family recently adopted a rescue beagle, whom we named Linus.

Lots of writers were avid readers as children. How about you? If so, what did you read?

I was absolutely an avid reader. I recently reconnected with a friend from college who said she wasn’t surprised I’m a writer because she remembers that I always had a book with me. 

The first series I loved was Trixie Belden. While most wanted to be Trixie, I wanted to be like Honey Wheeler! Later I discover Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, which continues to be one of my all-time favorite book series and I loved the miniseries with Megan Follows and Jonathan Crombie. 

Did you always want to write? 

Yes, but it took me a long time to work up the courage to do something about it! I started writing before my twins were born, but after they were born, I found writing groups and started attending workshops. After my first critique, I buckled down and became serious about writing full-time.

In three words describe your style of writing.

Plotter, planner, and persistence. 

What themes do you write about?

I write about themes that are often found in the New Testament and Psalms: hope and redemption.

What’s the best thing about writing?

I love dreaming up stories and going down different paths before setting the story to paper. I love writing about themes of hope and redemption, which are also some of my favorite themes in the New Testament. 

Do you have to juggle writing with a job, family responsibilities or other obligations? How do you balance it?

While I’m a write-at-home mom, my twins are digital learning at the present time, and I juggle being a mom of 4 with my writing. I’m a huge fan of my day planner. Every day I plan my writing day, and I try to stick to my schedule as much as possible. I also include my husband’s work hours and just this week, I’m now including my son’s work hours as he just got his first job. 

Wow! Congratulations to your son. What are some of the challenges you faced while writing The Soldier’s Unexpected Family?

There were different challenges about the book. The timing itself was challenging as I wrote the last half of the book and edited it while under lockdown. My kids learned to do schoolwork to classical music playing in the background as that seemed the least intrusive music and was a signal that it was time for work. However, there were different challenges about the book itself.

When Natalie came into books one and two, her personality was bright and sunny and just plain happy. These are great qualities in a supporting character who is trying to show the heroine that goodness and hope will prevail. In a heroine, though? It was hard to put someone that happy into impossible situations. The more time I spent with her and this book, the more I discovered she is happy, but there were layers to her and I hope those come across to the reader.

Another challenge revolved around Aidan. My father and grandfathers served in the military. My father was in the Air Force, and both my grandfathers were veterans of World War II with my maternal grandfather serving in the Navy and my paternal grandfather being part of what became the Flying Tigers. One interesting sidenote about my paternal grandfather was he was an amateur photographer who once met Babe Ruth and the last king of Hawaii and they posed in the same picture. Because of my family’s ties to the military, I wanted to make sure I did justice to Aidan, a major in the army.

On a much lighter note, it was rather challenging but fun to write a book set in summer during the doldrums of winter! I kept looking at pictures of the Fourth of July and fireworks and parade floats at the same time I saw snow out the window (yes, Georgia had snow in February of 2020!) and wore thick sweaters. It’s great fun, though, and it feels like it’s the best of both worlds to write a summer book while it’s winter. 

Do you put yourself in your books?

No as far as the characters, but I do try to put in little pieces of my life. In A Ranger for the Twins, my second book, the hero’s last name is Spindler, and that’s because I have a book called Frederick’s Hope, which traces my family tree back to the 1700s. Spindler was the maiden name of my great-great-great grandmother. In the same book, the town’s philanthropists names are Frederick and Agnes and they were also named for two of my family members. In The Soldier’s Unexpected Family, Aidan’s last name was taken from the place where my grandmother worked when she started bringing me Harlequins and I’ve been a huge Harlequin fan ever since.

When’s your next book coming out?

The Single Dad’s Holiday Match will be released in October of 2021.

What are you working on right now?

I’m working on the edits for The Single Dad’s Holiday Match, and I recently completed the first draft for what will be my fifth (!) book for Harlequin Heartwarming, which will also be set in Hollydale. 

How have you seen God work in your writing journey?

After I found a great group of writers (Georgia Romance Writers), my father’s lung cancer came back. The same year I started writing and the twins were in preschool, my father passed away. I prayed for a long time about whether I should attend a writing conference in Atlanta only six weeks after he died. And that’s where my critique partner and I, who joined GRW at the same time, started talking more and after that we exchanged our first chapters. That’s also how I started following the blog, Seekerville, which was started by a group of unpublished inspirational writers who all supported each other on their way to publication. Many of the Seekers were so encouraging and supported me along my path to publication. I’m very thankful I listened to God and went to that writing conference. 

Thank you so much, Gail, for hosting me today.

It was my pleasure.

About The Soldier's Unexpected Family

He had a plan...

She changed it all!

Major Aidan Murphy arrives in the charming small town of Hollydale to take full guardianship of his six-year-old nephew. Only there's a slight problem--his vivacious, fiery co-guardian. School teacher Natalie Harrison has no intention of letting Aidan take her best friend's heartbroken little boy away. Now Aidan must convince Natalie that blood is stronger than love...even if his heart tells him otherwise.

Buy on Amazon

Meet the Characters, Natalie and Aiden

Natalie: Hi, I’m Natalie Harrison, and I’m so excited about being here today! I just know this is going to be such a fun interview. (Waves hello with her bangle bracelets making a cheerful sound).

Aidan Murphy: I’m Major Aidan Murphy, and I’m temporarily visiting Hollydale, but I look forward to returning to my home base in the state of Washington soon, and I’ll be taking my nephew, Danny, with me. 

Natalie: Now, Aidan, you know we haven’t decided anything about that yet. Your sister was my best friend, and her sudden death shook both of us to the core. Danny’s known me since I held him the day he was born. He and Shelby even moved to Hollydale so Shelby could start a lunch café named Snickerdoodles. Danny loves Hollydale and he’s found a support network here. So he hasn’t…. Never mind.

Aidan: He hasn’t what?

Natalie: Nothing. I didn’t say anything. How are you enjoying Miss Ginny’s hospitality at Eight Gables bed-and-breakfast? She’s so hospitable. You’ll just love her peach muffins.

Aidan: My stay is planned down to the minute, just like everything else in my life. What were you saying about Danny?

Natalie: Danny’s such a darling little boy, and we have such fun together. He’s helping me with the float for the Fourth of July parade. 

Aidan: That wasn’t what you were going to say. What about Danny?

Natalie (with a big sigh): Well, he’s the one who found Shelby, you know. And that’s hard for anyone, let alone a six-year-old boy. He hasn’t laughed since then, but he’s made so much progress that moving him could be worse for him in the long run.

Aidan (with a clenched jaw): I’m his uncle so I should decide what’s best for him.

Natalie: I’m his guardian, and he’s happy here. Why don’t you give Hollydale a chance? Come with Danny and me this afternoon when we go see Toby. Danny tells Toby everything, and Danny loves his time with him. Thank you, Gail, for interviewing us, but Danny needs us.

Aidan: Thank you. [Aidan leaves.]

Natalie: And Aidan doesn’t know it yet, but he needs Hollydale as much as Danny needs to stay here! Hope is just around the corner! Happy Fourth of July! 

Summer Fun with The Soldier’s Unexpected Family and recipes 

The Soldier’s Unexpected Family takes place around the Fourth of July, and food plays an integral part! I think I was hungry from all the different times my characters ate or talked about pie. When I think of summer, I think of fun outings where food is usually involved. As far as my personal life, I remember my sixteenth birthday. My grandparents came to visit and my parents asked what I wanted to do, and we all went on a picnic.

Summer activities and food go hand in hand in my family, and they do in the book. Without giving too much away, two of my favorite characters in the book are feuding pie bakers who are getting ready for the Fourth of July pie contest. Also there’s a family barbecue scene that was so much fun to write. In the scene, Natalie’s brother Mike talks to Aidan and introduces him to banana pudding. 

Harrison Family Banana Pudding

2 (4-oz. each) packages vanilla instant pudding mix              8 oz. Cool Whip

1 (4-oz.) banana instant pudding mix 6-8 bananas, sliced

5 c. milk 1 (16 oz.) box of vanilla wafers

1 c. sour cream

(I use an aluminum foil pan whenever I take this to potlucks or parties; you can either make this in a bowl or a clear rectangular glass pan.)

Beat pudding mixes and milk in mixer bowl until smooth. Fold in sour cream and Cool Whip. Alternate layers of bananas, vanilla wafers, and pudding mixture in aluminum foil pan until all ingredients are used, ending with pudding mixture. Chill until serving time. If you’re taking this somewhere, after chilling, you can dot the portion sizes with chilled whipped cream and an extra vanilla wafer. Prepare in advance (preferably night before or morning) and store in refrigerator.

And because pie is such an integral part of the book, which is dedicated to my oldest of four, here is Kath’s favorite pie recipe.

Hyacinth's Toffee Pie

Crust Ingredients:

1 1/2 c. crushed Oreo cookies

5 T. melted unsalted butter

2 T. granulated sugar

In a medium bowl, combine Oreo cookie crumbs, butter, and sugar. Press mixture into the bottom of a 9-inch pie plate. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes. Place on a wire rack to cool.

Filling Ingredients:

1 c. chocolate chips

3/4 c. heavy cream (divided into a 1/2 c. and a 1/4 c.)

8 oz. softened cream cheese

1/4 c. light brown sugar

1 T. vanilla

1 c. Heath bar pieces (or other chopped toffee candy)

Place the chocolate in a small bowl that can withstand heat (I use a Pyrex bowl). In a small pan, bring 1/2 cup of the cream to a simmer. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate. Pour hot cream over the chocolate. Cover the bowl and let it stand for 5 minutes, then stir until smooth.

In a medium bowl with a mixer, beat the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Beat in the remaining 1/4 cup into cream cheese mixture. Gently stir in the melted chocolate. Fold in 1/2 c. of the Heath bar candy pieces. 

Pour the filling into the cooled crust. Sprinkle with the remaining toffee pieces. Chill until firm, at least 2 hours or overnight. 

Yum!

This is just a taste of what’s to come in The Soldier’s Unexpected Family. When Aidan Murphy shows up to take guardianship of his nephew, he doesn’t expect to find that Natalie Harrison has already accepted the position! And neither of them has any intention of quitting the job. The Soldier’s Unexpected Family is now available through all major online book retailers.

Find on Amazon

Bio: Tanya Agler remembers the first set of Harlequin books her grandmother gifted her, and she’s been in love with romance novels ever since. An award-winning author, Tanya makes her home in Georgia with her wonderful husband, their four children, and a lovable rescue beagle. When she’s not writing, Tanya loves classic movies and a good cup of tea. Visit her at her Website or email her at tanyaagler@gmail.com.

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