Author Guest Post with K.L. Brady: The Nick Before Christmas

Will an angel’s dire warning, a quest to discover a second act by Christmas Eve, and a touch of Christmas Magic lead Nickie Wright back to the one that got away?

Welcome to the February 1st stop on the blog tour for The Nick Before Christmas by K.L. Brady with Goddess Fish Promotions. Be sure to follow the rest of the tour for spotlights, reviews, more guest posts, and a giveaway! More on that at the end of this post.

Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means there is no additional cost to you if you shop using my links, but I will earn a small percentage in commission. A program-specific disclaimer is at the bottom of this post.

Author Guest Post

What is the critical driver in the main character’s journey in The Nick Before Christmas?

The second act—and the fact that it’s never too late to pursue it.

I believe everyone has a calling in their life—whether that is to be a writer, bake cakes, make chocolate, or lead companies–whatever it may be. Some are lucky to realize their calling early in life. Following a calling means never working a day in life because you love what you are doing so much that it never feels like work. I might add that people who are fortunate enough to figure out their calling and be drawn to it early in life are indeed lucky…and blessed.

Others (like me) buried their callings beneath layers of responsibility to family, a desire to achieve some semblance of “success” (new car, McMansion, or exotic vacations every six months). It’s not until they reach a significant crossroads that they acknowledge their calling…and that life might be better if they follow it.

People who don’t follow their callings (or even know what their callings are) probably see signs and hear whispers drawing them to callings throughout their lives, but often, they’ve ignored the signs or didn’t fully discern that the signs were leading them to a calling. But I believe that if you don’t follow your calling early, it will hunt you down, stalk you, and never stop trying to pull you in, no matter how much you resist. Eventually, the pull becomes something you can’t ignore, and you reach a crossroads in your life. At the crossroad, which is usually some major life change, you’re given a choice to lean into your calling and find optimal fulfillment in your life or continue burying the calling, at least until you reach the next crossroad – and you will have to face the choice and make a choice.

Callings must be chosen. You don’t just fall into one. A calling is never an accident.

Well, Nickie Wright has a calling—writing—which she’s pushed down and ignored, instead opting to achieve society’s standards of success. She’s had several crossroads where she could have exhibited the courage to choose and follow her calling, but she chooses “success,” financial security. A single mother raised her, and now her mother is gone, so Nickie believes she’s securing her future. At a critical crossroads, she passes up the opportunity to follow her calling (and her heart) and chooses success. Whether intentional or unintentional, she ignores her calling or forces it out of her mind.

At least until she can’t.

The universe delivers the ultimate crossroads in which she can’t ignore her calling anymore. For some people, it is getting fired or laid off from their jobs. For Nickie, it’s a brush with death and an encounter with a wise angel that brings her to a “come to Jesus” moment (almost literally). Confronted with the option to follow her calling or die (basically), she chooses to follow her calling, accepting that she’ll suffer some dire consequences if she fails.

In that moment, at that crossroad, she receives one of the greatest gifts we can get – a second act, a chance to follow her true calling and achieve the dream she’s buried. The cherry on top? She has an opportunity to find the love she wants and needs.

In addition to enjoying Nickie’s journey into her second act and the love triangle, I hope this makes readers think about their own callings and second acts. What crossroads have you faced that led you to find your calling…but maybe you didn’t follow it.

What would it take for you to follow your calling? The buried dream? The activity you love to do so much that if you did it every day, it would never feel like work.

That’s the second act. If you’re not embracing and living your second act, what are you waiting for?

About the Book

The Nick Before Christmas
by K.L. Brady

Published 24 October 2023
LadyLit Press

Genre: Romance
Page Count: 272
Add it to your Goodreads TBR!

Will an angel’s dire warning, a quest to discover a second act by Christmas Eve, and a touch of Christmas Magic lead Nickie Wright back to the one that got away?

Nickie Wright is ready to celebrate the big 5-0 for Christmas in July, but a hot flash leads her to a sobering revelation: her life has hit rock bottom. Her successes–the home and the car–feel empty. Her vision board has been a waste of time, her job is unfulfilling, and she’s mulling over a proposal from Smith, who she’s not sure she likes. The best day of her life spirals into the worst. During a near-death experience, a meeting with her guardian angel presents Nickie with an ultimatum – either go to heaven or return to Earth and find her second act by Christmas Eve. If she fails, her future’s bleak — her life will be filled with days no better than her worst.

Her second act sets her on a collision path with Evan Goodman, the man who makes her content, and Jordan Devlin, the first love who drives her crazy. She’s torn between two worlds–contentment and safety, passion and excitement.

Time is running out for Nickie.

She only has from Christmas in July until Christmas Eve to find her calling, follow her dreams, and figure out which romantic interest will help Nickie embrace the best of herself.

The Nick Before Christmas is the perfect romantic comedy to help you find your calling and renew your faith. It delivers unforgettable moments of self-discovery and romance. It’s an enchanting story to fill your heart with joy this Christmas.

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK

Excerpt

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Great. An uninvited visitor.

Nickie gulped hard and groaned. She assumed Smith had shown up to un-reverse his reversed proposal. When she asked, “Who is it?” a pleasantly surprising voice responded.

“Hi, Nick. It’s your doctor…from the Memorial Hospital?”

Stunned, she tipped backward five steps to increase her distance and said, “I’ll be right there,” then she swiped her index fingers under her eyes and combed her fingers through her hair.

She swung the door open. “Dr. Feelgood…I mean, Goodman. What’re you doing here…I mean, here?” She pointed to the ground.

“Well, I have two answers to offer. If I may, I’ll come inside and explain inside.”

Jehovah witnesses. Anyone from the Republican party. Her mother. Nick would sooner expect to see them at her door than Dr. Goodman. Yet, there he stood, in his fineness and splendid glory—a polo with dockers, sunglasses, and hiding his left hand behind his back; she could see the craft paper shopping bag.

Songs had been created for men like him—Whatta Man, by Salt and Pepa. Why’d You Come in Here Looking Like That? by Dolly Parton. And I Luhya Papi, by JLo were among the soundtracks playing in her mind. She wanted to sing his praises, and she might…but first, he must cross the threshold.

“Dr. Goodman.” She stepped aside. “Please, come in. Make yourself at home.” Forever.

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author K. L. Brady is a D.C. native and award-winning author of 20 novels. She self-published her first book, THE BUM MAGNET, after an Oprah “live your best life” moment, which was picked up by Simon & Schuster in a two-book deal. She’s been publishing romantic comedies ever since.

K.L. is a Washington football fan and professed nerd-girl who loves all things Star Trek, Star Wars, and Big Bang Theory. She lives to write stories involving hilarious quirky characters looking for love. She’s hard at work on her next several projects, including Sincerely, Santa, a heartfelt romantic comedy that also celebrates the special friendship between her late mother and grandmother.

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Giveaway Alert!

K.L. Brady will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC o a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.