Lacey Baker: Writing Holiday Romance That Reflects the Pain of the Season
Lacey Baker, a Maryland native, is a wife, mother, Nana and an author. Family cookouts, reunion vacations, and growing up in church have all encouraged Lacey to write heartwarming and inspirational stories about the endurance of family and finding love.
She is the author of the Crescent Island series and Hallmark Channel Original Movie novelizations: A Gingerbread Romance and Christmas In Evergreen: Bells Are Ringing. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Lacey Baker
In this post, Lacey explains why she wanted to tell a story that reflected the pain and sorrow of the holiday season, how her characters are always plotting against her outlines, and more.
Name: Lacey Baker
Literary agent: Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency
Book title: Snow Place Like Home: A Christmas Novel
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Fiction
Release date: October 10, 2023
Genre/category: Fiction / Romance / Holiday
Previous titles: Christmas in Evergreen: Bells Are Ringing
Elevator pitch for the book: Ella doesn’t like the holidays and is a Scrooge in the making, so when she returns home and reunites with Seth, an old flame and a Christmas enthusiast, over her town’s Christmas tree auction, her stubbornness will be put to the test. Can he thaw her heart and convince her to give him and Christmas a second chance?
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What prompted you to write this book?
I love writing holiday books! So, it really doesn’t take much for me to have ideas about festive and feel-good stories. But there was a particular element of the holiday season that I hadn’t written about before and I wanted to explore.
For some, Christmas isn’t always the most wonderful time of the year, so when I wrote Snow Place Like Home, I wanted to tell a story that reflected the pain and sorrow that can resurface during this time while also shining a light on the power of hope.
How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?
It took a little over two years to go from the notes I typed into my phone—while on a road trip—to publication. That had a lot to do with the process of writing a proposal, submission, getting an offer, completing the book and then the editorial process.
The idea basically remained the same throughout that time. I believe we really only adjusted some details to Ella and Seth’s backstory from the original proposal, but the heart of the story never changed.
Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?
The biggest surprise was having to change publishers at a very late stage in the process. I was worried for a minute that I wouldn’t get to share Ella and Seth’s story with the world, but, as Aunt Addie told Ella in the book, I had to keep the faith that everything would work out the way it was meant to be.
And it did! I’m thrilled to have this book published by Thomas Nelson.
Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?
I think my characters are always plotting to surprise me!
I usually take about a week to work out a detailed outline for how the book will unfold. During this process I really flesh out each character, even the secondary ones—and that includes Teddy, the dog!
But it never fails that once I start writing, every one of those characters take on a life of their own, which usually leads to them deviating from my outline. This almost always requires additional scenes and even added characters. But one of the things I love about writing small towns, is having the creative space to really draw a detailed picture of not just the location, but also everyone who lives there.
What do you hope readers will get out of your book?
When readers experience Ella and Seth’s story, I’d like for them to feel a renewed sense of family, of belonging, and of holding on to their faith.
If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?
Take care of yourself. This business can be brutal, lonely, and sometimes disappointing. Incorporating a self-care routine into your writing process is essential to your peace and productivity.