Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Interview + GIVEAWAY: Rachel Hauck


While I have enjoyed all of Rachel Hauck’s wedding-themed stories, The Wedding Chapel is one of my very favorites, a 5-star read all the way. It has an ethereal quality, grace and elegance, symbolism, and the feel of God’s heart throughout. Please click on the title, The Wedding Chapel, to see my review.

I really enjoyed Rachel’s interview and appreciate Audra at Litfuse Publicity for allowing me to share her thoughts with you, as well as offer a giveaway. I hope you’ll enjoy all that Rachel has to share . . .



An Interview with Rachel Hauck,
Author of The Wedding Chapel

Q: What inspired the plotline of The Wedding Chapel?

This book came from the old saying, “Desperate times call for desperate measures.” I needed a new story idea, and while on vacation in Tennessee I drove past a wedding chapel called Chapel in the Glen. I pitched the title to my publisher a few minutes later. She and the team loved it. And I was off to find a story to go with it.


Q: Why did you choose to marry a classic love story from the 1940s with a modern tale of romance gone off-course?

        I like to look at all aspects of life in a novel. Maybe it’s hindsight or the Golden Age of Hollywood, but romance seemed sweeter in the post-war 1940s. Coming out of a depression followed by war, men and women seemed devoted to getting back to basics, just living life, and loving each other and family. (I’m sure it was not as rosy as I imagine.)
        In our day, people can walk away from a relationship so easily at the slightest sign of trouble. It’s easy to decide it’s not worth time and effort. However, the chapel itself stands for enduring love, even when love looks impossible.


Q: What would you say is the major thread or theme that runs throughout The Wedding Chapel?

        This book takes a long look at the complications of family yet champions the power of enduring love. Tragedy such as war destroys lives, destroys dreams, but the zeal of the human heart helps people to carry on. The book also looks at how selfishness and greed are just as devastating as war, destroying the family and tearing down dreams. But with a little prayer, guidance and Divine intervention, we can find a way.
        The book also confronts lies and misconceptions and calls for forgiveness. The story furthers the enduring power of love to bring wrong things right.



Q: Those who have a complicated relationship with their earthly fathers may struggle with a having healthy relationship with God as Father. How can they reconcile what they believe about God with what they’ve experienced with their earthly dads?

        I’ve been mulling on this a lot lately. God is our Father. He’s holy, which means He’s “totally other than.” He’s like nothing or any one we’ve ever encountered or experienced. That’s exciting because God is also love (1 John 4).
        For those hurt by their earthly fathers, my heart goes out to them. I think it’s probably the hardest thing to overcome. Abuse, neglect or rejection from fathers so molds a young heart. But God the Father is much greater. He extends His love to us even before we fully understand who He is. That’s the message of the Cross. Even Jesus, His begotten son, earned God’s pleasure and love without doing a thing!
        Remember when Jesus went to John to be baptized? At that point, He’d not yet started His ministry. When He came up out of the Jordan, everyone heard a voice saying, “This is my son in whom I am well pleased.” Up to that point, Jesus had not entered His ministry. But He believed the Father — which pleased Him.
        Same with Abraham — he was just living his life when God the Father called him out of Ur. Abraham’s only response was, “Yes.” Faith and belief.
        God tells him, “I am your exceeding great reward.” Wow. The God of heaven and earth wants to be OUR great paycheck. There’s a powerful punch in that notion!
        So for those who’ve had a troubled past with fathers or mothers, believe in the Father who says He loves you. He’ll move in and through your heart.


Q: In your book The Wedding Dress, you included some rich symbolism that showed how God impacts history and our lives in ways we don’t always see or understand. Did you incorporate any of that imagery in The Wedding Chapel?

        Every book is different, but in the back of my mind I want to show, in a physical way, God touching the lives of the characters. I think He’s doing that for us every day. In the “real world,” we can’t always see God moving; that’s why our relationship with Him is a walk of faith, but He is working on our behalf daily. We just have to be willing to believe, to see with our heart.
        With The Wedding Chapel, the heroine, Taylor, is aware that she once heard God, but after some choices she made, she no longer hears Him. She begins to long for those days again.
        The chapel itself is a symbol of love, of one man’s devotion, which is a small reflection of Jesus’s love and devotion to us.
        Like The Wedding Dress, there is a family thread, connecting generations. Two of the characters hear a sound whenever they are in the chapel. It creates quite a mystery for them. For me, that sound is God’s eye and attention on us. He wants good for us. He wants us to believe He is with us. It’s symbolic of God’s desire for us in the quiet, intimate place.


Q: When you sat down to write The Wedding Chapel, what impact did you hope it would have on its readers?

        I always hope my stories leave readers uplifted, hopeful and aware of God’s love for them. In this book, I tried to show how His heart beats for us, even when we are running the opposite direction.
        Just stop and listen!

Learn more about Rachel Hauck and her books at www.rachelhauck.com or on Facebook (RachelHauck) and Twitter (@RachelHauck).



____________________

GIVEAWAY

Please click on this link and share my Facebook post, then leave a comment here, drawn from the following questions:

What did you enjoy most about Rachel’s interview?
Do you have a favorite Rachel Hauck book?

I try to promote on social media, but the best way to keep up with my reviews and occasional giveaways is to subscribe by e-mail in the top right corner (no pressure intended).

BE SURE to leave your name and your email address in a safe format - [at] and [dot] - for the drawing. E-mail required for entry. Contest ends at midnight PST on Monday, April 4­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­. Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted by e-mail.

Eligibility: US residents

31 comments:

  1. I haven't read any of Rachel's books yet and I am definitely adding to my TBR list. I enjoyed the interview and how she decided as a wedding chapel as a setting for her book and also using the 1940's time period.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. I think you'll enjoy Rachel's book, Dianne. Her newest releases are wedding-themed books, with a lot of depth to them. Hope you get to try one of her books soon. Thanks for visiting, Dianne.

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  2. I enjoyed the interview and your previous review. I love that Rachel's inspiration came from a chapel in East Tennessee. It is sad that couples in this century, on the average, don't seem as committed to the marriage from the beginning, as couples in times past. It's caused so much heartache. (Shared on Facebook & Pinterest). Thank you, Carole.
    may_dayzee(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. So much heartache...How right you are, Kay! All of Rachel's books have a spiritual depth that I love, but this just might be my favorite. Thank you for sharing. I always love seeing your smile, Kay.

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  3. I'm sorry to say I have not read any of Rachel Hauck's books. I'd love to win this one as a start to read the rest. I have heard so much about the Wedding Dress, all so positive so I'm sure this one is wonderful too. sallydav45(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Sally, there's just not enough time to read all that we'd like, is there?! This book stands alone, so it would be an excellent one to start with. And I believe Rachel has two more wedding-themed books coming out this year. Thanks for visiting, Sally.

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  4. I've not yet read any of Rachel's books. I love the impact that Rachel wants her stories to have... "His heart beats for us, even when we are running the opposite direction. Just stop and listen!
    psalm103and138 at gmail dot com

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    1. I love that quote, Caryl - and believe me, it comes through in Rachel's writing. There's never enough time to read all that we'd like, but I believe you would enjoy her stories, Caryl. Her wedding-themed books are really popular right now, so that would be a great place to start. So glad you stopped by!

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  5. I really liked The Royal Wedding series and also The Wedding Dress. Her books have a romance between a man and a woman, but also between God and the characters.
    I shared your giveaway with my book club.

    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

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    1. Well said, Pam, and you're exactly right. I can guarantee that you will enjoy The Wedding Chapel - and I believe Rachel has two more wedding-themed books coming out this year. Thanks so much for sharing. I'm a little envious of you being in a book club!

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  6. I've not read any of Rachel's books yet. I love the fact that she said He(God)wants good for us. He wants us to believe He is with us. I believe that He is with us all of the time! d{dot}brookmyer{at}yahoo{dot}com

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    1. Rachel's passion for God comes through in her writing, Donna, and I can't imagine you not enjoying her books. Her wedding-themed books are real popular right now, so I'd recommend starting there. Thanks for stopping by, Donna.

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  7. I enjoyed Rachel's interview very much. I just recently started reading her books this year. My favorite is The Wedding Dress and am currently reading Once Upon A Prince. I would love to win her new book The Wedding Chapel. It is on my list to read. Thank you!

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  8. Great interview. The Wedding Chapel was special and I'm glad your questions dig deeper on its concept! Thanks for a great interview.

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  9. I enjoyed when she said those who have a complicated relationship with their earthly fathers may struggle with their relationship with the Heavenly Father. Because it was true for me! My dad wasn't the best example of what a dad should be, so when I first gave my heart to God, I did struggle with my image of what He was. Thankfully, after all these years, I know He loves & cares for me as a Father should. It took a long time to really heal and it wasn't easy, but I'm so grateful that the Lord is patient! I know when I read in the Word that God loves me, I believe it :-)
    Rachel, thank you for the author interview, I so enjoyed getting to know you more. I have (yet) to read one of your books, but I've read so many positive things about them. Thank you also for the giveaway chance, this is one book that's already on my want-to-read list!

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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  10. I think the part that caused me to hesitate was the question about earthly fathers and our heavenly father. For many years my earthly father was detached from us emotionally. I longed to hear him tell me he was proud of me. I finally heard that when I was 17 years old. He was a good father, just not the sit me in his lap and tell me a story kind of father. We were closer at one point, until there came a time when I ended up having no relationship with my family at all because I chose to follow Jesus and they simply couldn't understand it or accept it. My father is gone now and I hope he is in heaven. But the way he was with us makes understanding God's loving arms very difficult. I constantly, even after 40 years of knowing Jesus, wondering how He could love someone like me and standing in awe that He does.

    I've read some of Rachel's books and have enjoyed everyone of them. I would love to read this one as well and currently have it on my wish list!
    wakim98 at yahoo dot com.

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  11. Hi Carole, I have shared your link on my FB page.

    "...while on vacation in Tennessee I drove past a wedding chapel called Chapel in the Glen. I pitched the title to my publisher a few minutes later. She and the team loved it. And I was off to find a story to go with it."

    This caught me ~ I'd love to see a photo :D I have The Wedding Dress of the different generations wearing the same dress. I like to read these two generation stories then and now. Captivating. Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net

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    1. Dearest Kathleen! I hope you're surviving Amy's challenges. I really wasn't any good at the second one. And I thought the exact same thing when I read about Rachel seeing the wedding chapel. Would love to see a picture of it. . . . Okay, I looked it up online, Kathleen. It's a beautiful little wedding chapel in Gatlinburg.

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  12. I appreciate the thoughtfulness that Rachel pout into answering these questions! There's such a strong faith message that resonates throughout the interview. I would love to read this book. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy.
    Shared on my FB page.
    duhpaynes[at]gmail[dot]com

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    1. It's great to see you here, Anne! I appreciate the spiritual level of Rachel's books, and the thoughts she shared here. Thank you so much for sharing on FB, Anne. That really helps authors.

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  13. I haven't read any of Rachel's books yet, but I'd love to! I think it's so wonderful that Rachel tries to use her books to testify of our Heavenly Father's unconditional love for us! There are just way too many people walking around on this earth who are unfamiliar with this most basic eternal truth! mylittlebirdie (at) yahoo (dot) com

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    1. I enjoy interviews because we usually get to see the author's heart and thoughts behind their writing, and I loved all that Rachel shared. Thank you for visiting, Karen.

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  14. I have only had a chance to read Once Upon a Prince so I guess that is my favorite so far. ;) Too many books so little time...I am looking forward to reading more of hers though. Thanks for the interview and giveaway. I shared on Facebook.

    mo1202007ATyahooDOTcom

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    1. I'm with you, Melissa. There's definitely not enough time to read all that I'd like. I've enjoyed all of Rachel's wedding-themed books, but this one just might be my favorite. Thanks for sharing, Melissa.

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  15. Love the interviewed. Can't wait to read The Wedding Chapel

    myrtle1961(at)gmail(dot)com

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  16. i love the idea of having it in olden days and the present day.

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    1. I love that type of storyline also, Darlene. Thank you for sharing - and please don't forget to leave your email address for the giveaway.

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  17. I would love to win this book! My favorite and only I guess book I have read by Rachel was the Wedding Dress! It was amazing. The part of the interview I liked is where she talks about earthly fathers vs our Heavenly Father. My earthly father is wonderful so have no complaints there but I know many people who struggle with that relationship.
    thanks Carole, as always, great post!!
    can't wait to read this book

    amylsmithat bledsoedot net

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  18. I always enjoy reading interviews with authors. Thank you for sharing with #TheCozyReadingSpot

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