We’re so pleased to have author RJ Scott dropping by today to help us celebrate our 5th Blogiversary! She’s here to answer one of her most asked questions, and is also offering the chance for one lucky reader to win a $20 Gift Card at Amazon or All Romance eBooks.
Welcome, RJ!
Congratulations to The Novel Approach. You gave me my first ever review back in 2010 on Oracle, my first ever published book. I will always love you for that.
*hugs and love for what you do for authors everywhere*
And now to the post. I didn’t know exactly what to write for this post. Everyone who knows me, or can see my books, knows that I love Christmas. I actually have so many stories revolving around Christmas or the season that it is unreal.
I asked what I should write about and Lisa at TNA came back to me saying that she was aware one of the questions I was most frequently asked is if I’ll ever write a sequel to The Christmas Throwaway. She also pointed out that she knew I’d been asked that a lot of times. I have. And I have wavered over this so very often.
The Christmas Throwaway was originally written as a short Christmas fan fiction for a friend who was poorly, and it started life as *The Christmas Miracle*. Then I rewrote the whole thing, added thousands of words and suddenly The Christmas Throwaway was born.
Essentially it is the story of Zach, thrown out of his house by his former soldier father, when he was 17 after refusing to attend a camp to *cure* his being gay. He finds himself on the streets on Christmas Eve, and ends up sleeping on a bench behind the church, a stone’s throw away from everyone else’s beautiful Christmases. I think in my heart that he may not have lasted until morning, the cold was in his bones, and he was running an infection. He was utterly lost and alone, and he was going to die in the middle of a town he didn’t even know the name of.
And then, he is found. Ben, a rookie cop, in a small town, finds him.
It’s the story of one man’s compassion and love that makes this story a Christmas miracle.
And the way it ends, with a happy ever after, absolute hope for the future and the promise of tomorrows, is exactly where it should end. Most of the time, some 99% of the time, I am utterly convinced there will be no sequel. I don’t think I could ever match up to what proved to become a best seller in 2010, and which consistently sells, even in July!
I actually have a story for the sequel, in my head, but to write it would be a huge responsibility.
This story was a perfect miracle for Zach, and at the same time it was a miracle for me. Because… it made my name I guess, and following it up with my Texas book, and then Sanctuary, gave me a platform to become a full time writer. Throwaway is my baby, and if I could bottle whatever resonates in that book and put it in all my books I’d be a very happy writer!
I’ve had so much love for this book from readers. So much love. And then the 1% that tells me that I should write a sequel rears up and abruptly I am considering writing a sequel.
And then I realize, it should be left alone, and not be ruined by another story.
This is so hard!
Happy Christmas and Season’s Greetings to everyone, I hope you have a wonderful break, and I will see you in the New Year (with more Montana, Sanctuary, Legacy and a brand new MM Hockey series!).
KISSES, RJ X
The Giveaway
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Hi R.J., thanks for the little insight information on the Christmas Throwaway. I love your books.
RJ is definitely in my top 5 favorite authors. I love the fact that she waffles on writing a sequel to The Christmas Throwaway. I just wish the yes side was closer to the 99%.😀
Thank you for joining the celebration, RJ and for the awesome giveaway!
I’ll be happy to read anything with Holidays theme and this is no diference. Thanks for sharing the insight into the making, RJ.
Happy Holidays & wishing you an early Happy New Year.
Hi, Miss Rj Scott! I’ve heard a lot of good things about the said novel, “The Christmas Throwaway” and from what I’ve learned, people couldn’t stress it enough how beautiful the book is. TBH, I haven’t read it yet but it’s in my TBR list already for quite a time. The book reminds me of my fave novel of all time, The Last Thing He Needs by J.H. Knight. They’re not the same but the idea of someone rescued by a cop & the heartwrenching vibe coming off the book are what I think make them kinda connected. To think that I just connected it to my most fave novel is something, right?
Really looking forward on reading this one. One of these days, I think. Once the holiday madness die down. winks
It’s truly hard to make a sequel to a seemingly perfect standalone but if you’ll ever change your mind, I’m sure readers would be more than ELATED.
Merry Christmas! <3
Hi RJ
Hope you all had a good day yesterday and are enjoying Boxing Day – slump or activities!
I do love TCT, have read it lots and whilst a sequel would be devoured, I do sometimes think that when a book makes you think about the future of its characters so much, it is best left in the imagination!
Hi RJ!!!
I can’t WAIT for End Street #6!!! This series is just so darn fun and well written!!! Hope you and your family had a wonderful Holiday and a Fantastic New Year too, Sugar!!
Happy Blogiversary TNA!!
Thanks for the post! Maybe someday the 1% for the sequel will grow. :-)
Happy Boxing Day!
Hi RJ….such a fan of your books!
Happy holidays, RJ!
Hi R J I hope you and your family had a great Christmas. “The Christmas Throwaway” is my favourite book to read at Christmas.
The Christmas Throwaway was so perfect a story that I can see why you have hesitated to write a sequel. Your books are always a firm buy for me no matter which series. I especially love the boys in the Montana series so keep on writing no matter which subject or series you choose.
I haven’t read The Christmas Throwaway, but it sounds lovely (well, how it all works out, not the start). I totally understand the reticence. I’m sure you’ll make the best decision for your characters and readers! Thank you for sharing with us.
Hi RJ! Happy Holidays. For some crazy reason I realise I’ve not read TCT – shock horror runs straight off to 1-click.
Thanks for this great giveaway.
Hi! I’ve heard such great things about this story. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about it.
Have a wonderful holiday, R.J.
Hi, RJ. I have loved your books ever since I discovered Texas. You are one fantastic author and looking forward to many, many more books coming from you in the year ahead.
hi RJ
hope you had a wonderful Christmas
hello rj!
Hi RJ. I enjoyed The Christmas Throwaway. I thought it ended well but if that 1% increases I wouldn’t mind at all. Maybe a short ficlet or something would work too =)
I really enjoy your books! Thank you for the post.
Thank you for the chance and I wish a great new year for you.
I cannot wait to see what new reads are coming in 2017!
Hi RJ! I can see what you mean about struggling with whether to write a sequel. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway chance!
I love The Christmas Throwaway, it was one of the first m/m books i read. Happy New Year!
Hi R.J. Thanks for the post. I look forward to reading more from you!