How to Make a Wedding

by Cindy Kirk

  I knew I'd have to start the novella within a few weeks of turning in the novel and I hadn't not one iota of an idea. So I prayed.

   

  I heard the name Ginger and I knew she didn’t believe she was beautiful. Then I thought of the hero, Tom, and knew his job was to make Ginger see her true beauty.

  I cannot begin to expound God’s faithfulness to me in the winter of 2014. Dropping this idea in the midst of crying out for help and ideas for another book is only one example.

  I turned in the novel and went to a writers’ retreat where I helped mentor eighteen aspiring authors. When the week was over, Susan May Warren, Beth Vogt, and Alena Tauriainen brainstormed A Brush with Love with me, beginning, middle, and end. I actually had enough story for a big novel! Their help and friendship was a blessing to the core of my soul. Another example of God’s faithfulness.

  To my editor, Becky Philpott, you are a dream. A friend. A champion and cheerleader. Thank you for your partnership with not only this novella, but my writing journey. You’re a treasure.

  To Daisy Hutton, publisher extraordinaire, I love the honest conversations we’ve had and how you champion your authors. Thank you for giving me opportunities to do what I love!

  Katie Bond, Elizabeth Hutton, and Karli Jackson, for being a fabulous marketing and editorial team. It’s such a feeling of contentment to know I can e-mail any of you, any time, and get a response. Katie, we’ve been together a lot of years now and it’s more an honor day by day.

  To the rest of the HarperCollins Christian Publishing team, let’s keep writing and publishing for Him. You all are the best.

  To my husband who lives with a writer. He is my hero. God knew what He was doing when He paired us together. I love you, babe!

  To my canine writing partner, Lola, thanks for making me get up out of my chair from time to time. Ha!

  To my writing partner, Susan May Warren, ten years we’ve been doing this biz together. Sometimes face-to-face but mostly phone call to phone call. I shake my head in wonder at how blessed I am to have you in my life. XO.

  To my hair dresser, Michele Lacy, who’s kept me looking beautiful and young for over twenty-three years. Thanks for your help on this one.

  To my line editor, Jean Bloom, thank you for your time, insight, and help.

  To all of the readers who take the time to curl up with a book I’ve written, thank you! It means more than you’ll ever know. Be blessed!

  for Serving Up a Sweetheart

  Becky Philpott, sincere thanks for bringing me into this novella collection. What an honor! I’m giddy with gratitude. Skate on and keep rooting for those Tigers, even if they beat my Cardinals.

  Becky Monds, I’m so glad for your amazing intuition and editorial guidance. I feel so blessed to get to work with you. You have a strong pulse on what it means to tell a good story. Thank you for encouraging and growing me.

  Jean Kavich Bloom, thank you for your attention to line editing. My MIA serial commas, staging issues, timeline glitches, and I appreciate you!

  To the entire HarperCollins Christian Publishing team, Katie, Karli, Elizabeth, Ansley, Amanda, Jodi, Daisy, and the many others who make Zondervan such an AMAZING imprint, thank you for all you do and are.

  HUGE thanks to readers. Your time is so precious and valuable. That you’d spend it on our words means the world. Your readership is a tremendous blessing. Find out what’s coming next by signing up for my newsletter at www.cherylwyatt.com.

  Thanks to Denise Hunter and Colleen Coble for recommending me for this project. I’m grateful for your belief in me. Thanks Joel Kneedler and John Perrodin at Alive Communications for contracts and career guidance. Thanks Rachel Hauck, Denise Hunter, and Deb Raney for answering my gazillion novella-related questions.

  Thanks Sally Shupe and Casey Herringshaw for beta reading this book. Thanks Preslaysa for the novella article. Thanks to my Facebook community for all the fun ideas and excitement over every story. You are awesome! I am blessed by your presence on my author page. Those who haven’t visited, we’d love to have you: https://www.facebook.com/CherylWyattAuthor.

  Thanks to my family for being so supportive of my deadlines and for loving frozen pizza.

  Lastly, thank you, Jesus, for the gift, the grace, and the gumption to write. May every word honor you, make you smile, and make you more famous to those who don’t know.

  for All Dressed Up in Love

  This fun novella wouldn’t exist without the grace of the Hall family, owners of a renowned independent bridal store in Rochester, New York. “Bridal Hall” was a long-standing and wonderful part of the Western New York bridal industry for decades. As employers, they were marvelous, kind, and caring. As friends, they’re more so! They offered jobs to two of my children in “Tuxedo Hall” as Beth and Luke worked their way through college, and on slow winter nights Ed Hall would say, “Bring your books and study if it’s quiet. Make good use of your time!” Also, big thanks to Matt and Zach Blodgett, my two boys who attended the University of Pennsylvania. Their years in Philly gave me a chance to know and love the city, from the streets of Old City to the hills of Valley Forge, a wonderful place to visit and live! And a huge shout-out to the missions and soup kitchens reaching out to the needy in our communities. Bless you for your living example of Christ’s words among us!

  for In Tune with Love

  Thank you to my publisher—Harper Collins/Zondervan—for inviting me into your group. As an indie author who often finds herself flailing alone, it’s nice to have found a place to belong. I appreciate your entire team of sweet, encouraging people.

  I would like to thank my readers for coming back again. It’s always a humbling and thrilling experience when someone buys my books, especially when you take the time to give a nice review or sweet face-to-face comment. I appreciate every single one of you, and I’m forever grateful.

  A huge thank you to my fantastic agent, Jessica Kirkland. Without your guidance I would still be staring at a screen, wondering what the heck to do with all the finished manuscripts stored inside my computer. Thankfully you always know what comes next. You’re savvy when I am clueless, sharp when I am dull, excited when I am lifeless, a marketing genius when I am not (which is always since I hate marketing). I’m eternally blessed by you.

  Thank you to my awesome editor—Jamie Chavez—for your willingness to read this book and for taking my very rough manuscript and turning it into something (hopefully) worth publishing. I learned so much about writing from you, and I appreciate your wisdom.

  To Nicole Deese—my “writer wife”—for every encouraging word you’ve ever spoken. If words came to life and I tried to stack them in a room, all your kind ones wouldn’t fit inside. You cheer me up when I’m down and eagerly volunteer to slap me when I’m filled with self-doubt. Only a real friend would do something so sweet. God made a great person when He made you, and I am privileged to know you.

  To Alec Stockton, for sharing my love of creating things from nothing but imagination and a computer. It’s nice to know someone who identifies with my weirdness. Or coolness, as I prefer to call it.

  To my sisters, Tracy and Emily, for being my best friends and for not giving up on me when I’m under a deadline or going through last-minute freak outs. I love you both. Thank you for loving me.

  To my parents—Hal and Jan Millsap—for raising three pretty awesome girls. At least I think we’re awesome. Other people might think differently, but whatever.

  To my extended family—both the Millsap side and the Matayo side. I couldn’t ask for a better group of people to belong to.

  To my kids—Jackson, Lilly, Landon, and Rowan—for being the loves of my life. You four sacrifice more than anyone so that I can achieve my dreams, and I’m grateful for each one of you. I’ll love you always.

  To my husband, Doug, for loving me, sticking with me, and encouraging me through the craziness.

  And to Jesus Christ, for saving my life. I’m messy and ridiculous and constan
tly screwing up, but your grace makes all the difference.

  for Never a Bridesmaid

  A huge “Thank you” to my editors, Becky Monds and Karli Jackson. I’m grateful you gals took a chance on me. Working for HarperCollins has been pure delight!

  To my copy editor, Jean Bloom: You put a lovely Texas spit-shine on this story and I’m tickled to have your input. Mari’s tale is in much finer shape, thanks to you.

  To my wonderful agent, Chip MacGregor: you are my biggest cheerleader and faithful guide. How wonderful to walk alongside you.

  To my prayer team: Kathleen, Dannelle, Sharen, and Linda: you’ve been a God-send. Thank you for walking me through the ups and downs of this past year.

  To all of the girls out there who’ve ever walked a mile in Mari’s shoes: You know what it’s like to be overlooked and to feel left out. Don’t let that stop you from responding with grace and ease. You might be the last bridesmaid in the lineup but you’re still #1 in God’s eyes.

  And last, but certainly not least: to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Every word is for You.

  for Picture Perfect Love

  Thanks to my editor, Becky Monds, as well as Becky Philpott, Karli Jackson, and the rest of the team at HarperCollins Christian. I so appreciate this opportunity! I’m thrilled to be a part of the Year of Weddings series!

  A special thanks to my line editor, Jamie Chavez, for the time you spent on this project and all the back-and-forth emails.

  A shout-out to my agents Christina Hogrebe and Annelise Robey at Jane Rotrosen Agency for thinking of me when they heard about this project and making it happen. I cannot thank you enough for all that you do and have done for me over the years!

  Thank you to my dear friend Terri Reed for your support, friendship, and prayers as we’ve traveled the road from unpublished to published authors and beyond. I hope you know what a blessing you are in my life.

  Thanks to my sweet friend Kimberly Field for reading this manuscript, offering encouragement and help when I needed it most. You’re another one of my blessings, and I pray we can meet in person someday!

  A high five to my Panera Write-In Group —Amy, Delle, Marilyn, Melania, and Peggy. Next to attending church on Sunday, meeting with you is the other thing I look forward to each week. Thanks for getting together so we can socialize and get words written too!

  A big hug to my oldest daughter for helping me brainstorm my hero’s first name by telling me the names of the guys in your favorite band.

  And finally, lots of love to my readers. You’re the best! I pray that God blesses each one of you the way you have blessed me.

  for I Hope You Dance

  I have enjoyed reading each one of the Year of Weddings novellas as they have released, and I was delighted to be invited to participate in the second year, especially since it allowed me to return to Kings Meadow once again.

  And a special thanks to Ami McConnell, who championed all of the stories set in Kings Meadow.

  for Love on a Deadline

  A heartfelt THANK YOU to Daisy Hutton and the amazing team at HarperCollins Christian Publishing for giving me another opportunity to use all the wedding intel I gathered two summers ago when our children (all THREE of them!) got married.

  Editor Becky Monds, Lorie Jones, Karli Jackson, Elizabeth Hudson, and Katie Bond—you all make this so easy (and so much fun!).

  And to Pete, for providing Friday night pizza, melt-me hugs, and the occasional emergency cupcake when I’m having a bad day. But especially because you still look at me the way you did when we were married twenty-seven years ago . . . even though I no longer look like I did twenty-seven years ago!

  And to the Creator for writing the very first romance and showing me what true love is all about.

  for Love Takes the Cake

  Much gratitude to my editor, Becky Philpott—I love you more than cupcakes!

  To the entire editorial and marketing team at HarperCollins—you guys rock!

  And to my agent, Tamela Hancock Murray with the Steve Laube Agency—thank you for your consistent support and cheerleading.

  To Anne, for being a friend, a first reader, and a voice of reason and truth. I am so grateful for your friendship.

  To Jacki, for always being willing to fly with me into the unknown. You’re a warrior!

  And to Audrey—my Little Miss, who’s always up for dessert. I love you! Let’s eat cake!

  for The Perfect Arrangement

  Seriously y’all. I’m not typically a fan of writing first drafts. They tend to feel unwieldy and messy and sort of like oh-my-goodness-this-is-going-to-be-the-end-of-my-writing-career-because-this-is-so-horrendously-horrible. I usually lament this thought once or twice (or a hundred times) to my husband and my best friend, Melissa, both of whom remind me that I say this with every single story and, so far, my career hasn’t ended. Anyway, that’s usually how my rough drafts go down.

  For whatever reason, this wasn’t the case with The Perfect Arrangement. Let’s just put it this way: If The Perfect Arrangement were a baby, it would be one of those incredibly endearing, low-maintenance, perpetually smiling babies that makes mamas everywhere feel like they’re winning.

  For that, I feel all kinds of gratitude toward the two main characters—Amelia and Nate—for their blessed cooperation. I had a blast bringing you two to life on the page. And now that I’ve expressed my gratitude toward two imaginary people, I probably ought to express it toward the real-life ones.

  Immense thanks go to . . .

  My village, without whom I’d not be able to write an ever-loving word. My husband, for everything he does so I can pursue this dream. My children, for letting mommy escape to the office in relative (it’s all relative, isn’t it?) quiet. And my family, who are always willing to take said children so mommy can escape to the office in actual quiet.

  Becky Philpott, Karli Jackson, Elizabeth Hudson, and all the other people at HarperCollins who’ve had their hands in this particular story. You’re wonderful to work with! Same goes with my fabulous agent, Rachelle Gardner.

  Terri Nelson and Terri Werkhieser, for not only answering my questions about the floral business, but for inviting me inside your adorable shop in Orion so I could gather some first-hand knowledge.

  Katie Coleman, for kindly naming Amelia’s business. The Forget-Me-Not Flower Shop fit perfectly. Oh, and all my Facebook fans, for helping me name Nate and Amelia! If you’re reading this and not on my Facebook page you really should join in the fun. People help me name things all the time.

  Amy Haddock, for sharing some funny flower-arranging anecdotes, one of which I used in the story.

  Jesus. Because, well, you’re everything.

  And then, of course! My fabulous readers with an extra-special shout-out to the Ganshert Gang. You take the joy that is writing and increase it exponentially. Thanks for filling this adventure with so much encouragement, support, and love! I hope you enjoy reading my latest every bit as much as I enjoyed writing it.

  for Love in the Details

  I’m grateful to Becky Philpott, my editor at Zondervan, for inviting me to participate in this wonderful collection of wedding-themed novellas. Thank you, Becky! You’re kind, outgoing, and a pleasure to work with. I truly appreciate the opportunity you extended to me.

  Many, many thanks to my agent and Love in the Details’ very first reader, Linda Kruger. Your feedback on this novella was extraordinarily helpful, Linda. Oh, how I value your insight and friendship.

  My husband has staunchly believed in my writing since the very first time I ever mentioned to him that I might like to attempt a novel of my own. His hands-on help (making dinners, watching the kids, doing the dishes, and giving me pep talks) made this novella possible. I love you!

  And lastly, to my kids, who (almost) never complain about the hours I spend working. I’m so glad that I get to be your mom. Thank you very, very much for supporting my writing.

  k, How to Make a Wedding