Gabe and yours truly. Back before I chopped almost five inches off my hair!
True story: Last summer I was visiting my friend Gabrielle Meyer up in Little Falls, Minnesota, aka one of the coolest small towns in America (Charles Lindbergh!), when she got some BIG news. Not one, but two of her novellas were chosen to be in two collections in 2015.
What ensued included squeals and hugs and possibly even some jumping up and down.
And today I’m sooooo happy that Gabe’s a guest on my blog. It’s super fun any time a friend stops by the blog, but it’s extra special when it’s someone as close to my heart as Gabe. I’m so excited for her and proud of her. And she’s giving away a copy of her first novella collection! So check out the Q&A and be sure to enter the giveaway.
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Melissa: This is your first novella. YAY! What’s been the most surprising thing to you about life after a contract offer?
Gabe: Thankfully I’ve been fortunate enough to watch many of my author friends walk through their first publishing experience, so I haven’t had any major surprises, yet. I guess one thing that surprised me a little was when I had an opportunity to submit an idea for another novella, and my agent said I didn’t have to write a full synopsis, but just a short blurb, since I was already “published.” That was nice!
Melissa: Yessss. Any day you get to skip a synopsis is a good, good day. I’ve had the fun of visiting your hometown several times now…and I love it. Why do you choose to set your stories in your hometown and state?
Gabe: I wish everyone could visit my Little Falls. 🙂
I’m the fourth generation to live here in central Minnesota, so my roots go deep. I grew up very active in our community. My mom was the mayor for two terms, and I have an uncle on the City Council. Both sides of my family live here, as do both sides of my husband’s family. It’s a quintessential small town on the Mississippi River. We’re rich in history and hometown pride. We were the second town established in Minnesota (in 1849), the first to have electrical lights on Main Street, we’re the hometown of aviator Charles A. Lindbergh, and so much more.
Geographically, Minnesota is a very diverse state with beautiful lakes, woods, forests, rivers, craggy cliffs, and prairies. It’s probably most known for its harsh winters, but there’s so much beauty here. I long to educate people about my state and community, while sharing my love and passion through my writing.
Melissa: You’ve definitely educated me…multiple times. Enough so that I kinda wanna pick up and move to Little Falls. Haha! Moving on to your novella, can we get a brief sneak peek of your hero and heroine? Can you describe each in five words?
Gabe: Um… Luke is a missionary who needs a wife! Sarah is a missionary who needs a husband! 🙂
The American Board of Commissions for Foreign Missions believed a missionary could better serve with a spouse, so they required their missionaries to be married. My hero has a week to find a bride, or he’ll be sent back east. He hears a single female missionary has come into the territory, so he gets in a canoe and travels a hundred and fifty miles down the Mississippi to propose to her and take her back within the week…what he doesn’t realize is the missionary director has just returned from the east with three more female missionaries, and all of them are eager to wed. Now he only has a week to choose the right bride!
Melissa: Poor Luke…decisions, decisions! 🙂 What’s your biggest hope for this novella? In particular, what do you hope readers gain or take away?
Gabe: Four Brides and a Bachelor is inspired by a real event that took place on Belle Prairie, Minnesota in 1852. Miss Harriet Nichols, one of the teachers who had just arrived, wrote a letter to her brother and said: “There was romance enough acted here to write as good a story as you will find in any novel.”
My greatest desire is to bring history to life! I believe we are much better stewards of our lives when we understand the people who came before us and fought for what we now take for granted. All of my stories are inspired by real people and events for this reason. I hope readers will have a better appreciation for early missionaries and the sacrifices they made to spread the Gospel.
Melissa: You’ve got another novella releasing this summer. Can you tell us about that?
Gabe: My second novella, A Groom for Josette, is set in 1855 in Little Falls, Minnesota. At the time, Little Falls was heavily populated by men. This story is inspired by an advertisement the men put in the paper informing women there were a hundred eligible bachelors for every single lady who would come to town. 🙂
Josette lives in St. Louis, and she will become the heir to her father’s shipping empire if she is married before her younger half-brother turns twenty-one—but she only has three weeks! She sees the advertisement and decides to take her chances in Little Falls. When she arrives in town, she rents a parlor at the hotel to conduct interviews, but the hotel proprietor brings her to the ballroom, instead, where over a hundred men wait for her!
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Gabrielle Meyer lives in central Minnesota on the banks of the Mississippi River with her husband and four young children. As an employee of the Minnesota Historical Society, she fell in love with the rich history of her state and enjoys writing fictional stories inspired by real people and events. Gabrielle can be found at www.gabriellemeyer.com where she writes about her passion for history, Minnesota, and her faith.
YAY thanks so much for being here today, Gabe. It’s giveaway time, guys. You’ve got a week to enter…and be sure to check out The Most Eligible Bachelor collection!
Comments 53
i love that I have 2 lakes within walking distance & that there is always something fun happening in my town whether it be cardboard boat races, Easter egg hunts, pancakes with Santa, etc. & most of them are Free or a small donation.
It sounds like you have a very charming town, Sharon! I love local events and festivals. They always have a unique flavor to them. Thank you for stopping by today!!
The neighborhood. I live in California and the neighborhood feel is just not the same as I grew up with in Minnesota. Just wondering if Little Falls still has the craft fair? It was the best and so much fun to go to.
Hello, Pam! Yes, Little Falls does still have “the Midwest’s Largest Arts & Crafts Fair”! 🙂 I will actually be signing copies of my novellas this year right downtown in the midst of the melee. The event usually brings in about 100,000 people in one weekend (the weekend after Labor Day, if anyone cares to know). 🙂 Looking forward to being there. It’s so nice to “talk” to a former Minnesotan. Thanks for stopping by!
Melissa!! Thank you so much for hosting me on your blog today. I’m so excited to share this journey with you, and thrilled that you and Lindsay and Alena were there when I got the news. 🙂 That will forever be one of the greatest writing-related moments of my life. I’m so happy you’ve been to Little Falls and that you’ve fallen in love with my hometown. I can’t wait for July when you’ll be here again!!
I think one of my favorite things from my home town would be the mountains, and the people, I’ve not been there in a while and I really miss it. Is this giveaway open to Canadian residents?
Lisa, mountains sound so lovely. 🙂 There are no mountains in central Minnesota, however, I do have the Mississippi out my backdoor. Yes, this giveaway is open to Canadian residents (my neighbors to the north!). Thank you for being here.
“A Groom for Josette” sounds like an early online dating site. Like a pre-ChristianMingle. Interesting!
It does sound like an early online dating site, Kristy! It has much of the same flavor, only in 19th century culture. Josette answers an ad claiming there are one hundred eligible bachelors for every single lady who comes to town–kind of like an online dating promise. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
I love the history behind my town. It seems like we have roots that go down deep.
I’m pretty sure every town in America has great history, if we go digging for it! Since I’m always on the lookout, I’ve found some crazy-cool history in the unlikeliest of places. Good luck in the drawing, Megan.
I love that it is small and friendly
Small town people can be very friendly. I’m so happy you’re from a place like that, Robin. Thanks for being here!
I grew up in a small town and loved the peace, the quiet, and feeling safe. Plus, it’s has a lot of antiques stores to explore and imagine the stories surround each piece. I’m hoping to move back there this summer.
Oh, I love antique stores!! I always try to imagine what each piece was used for, who owned it, and the stories it could tell! I hope you get back to your hometown, Summer, it sounds wonderful. 🙂
The town where I grew up in MI was very small, and I loved that as kids we always felt safe going out and about by ourselves. The church and school were only blocks away and we could walk to them almost year round.
Greenville, SC where I live now has a beautiful downtown and is great fun to bring guest to. Lots of outdoor activities available for those who like to enjoy the outdoors.
It sounds like you just described my hometown, Patty. I think most Midwestern towns have very similar flavor. 🙂 Greenville sounds so lovely, too! Thanks for sharing.
I love all the farmer’s markets available to visit. All the local vegetables and fruit that people can purchase at very little cost!
Farmer’s Markets are such a boon to any town! We have three in our small town, and since we’re in the heart of the state, with great farmland, we usually have a wonderful selection. Thanks for stopping by, Lori!
YEAH!!! Being introduced to yet another new author launching her writing career. Looking forward to getting to know you through your writing. Your hometown sounds so lovely.
LouAnn, thank you for stopping by and introducing yourself on Facebook! I love meeting new readers. 🙂 I hope you enjoy my writing. It’s a dream come true. Good luck in the drawing!
I have only been in Minnesota while my husband was hauling the Amish from where we live in Missouri. I never got to see any lakes, unfortunately. But I know it is a beautiful state.
We do have quite an Amish community about thirty miles to the west of us. Too bad you didn’t see any lakes, Sally! It’s almost impossible not to see one in Minnesota, unless you take the interstate. 🙂 We abound in water here. The Mississippi is just out my back door. Thanks for being here today! Good luck in the drawing.
Gabe loves her hometown…what’s one thing you love about YOUR hometown?
I love my hometown because it is surrounded by mountains. It is also has a fantastic library and library events where anyone in the community can come. The summer reading programs are especially amazing!!
Oh, I love a good library!! They add so much to a town. I’m happy to hear yours is very active. And mountains! I can’t get enough of mountains. 🙂 Thanks for stopping here, Sydney (and thanks for stopping by my blog today, too!).
One thing I love about my hometown of Coopersville, MI is that it’s small enough to have a small town feel, yet close enough to some of the best larger cities, Grand Rapids and Grand Haven! Depending on the day I can have either big city or the beach!
That sounds like the best of both worlds, Abby! I live about thirty miles away from two mid-sized towns with great shopping, and about 75 miles away from the Twin Cities Metro area, so I can enjoy my small town, and still be close enough to the amenities that make big city life exciting. It’s nice to see you here. 🙂
I don’t even know if this is called a hometown but I have lived here in this little valley almost my entire life, I love the peace, the mountains, the animals, it’s in my blood and has been in my family for generations.
It sounds breathtaking, Sherri! I’m the fourth generation to live in my hometown area, so I know what you mean about it being in the blood. My children are fifth generation. It will be interesting to see where they choose to live someday. Thanks for stopping by to learn a little more about me and my books. Good luck in the drawing!
I have not read any of her books and would love to, they sound very attention grabbing.
Karen, thank you for stopping by! Good luck in the drawing.
I love reading books with some history in them and would love to win your book.
We make a good team, Phyllis, because I love writing stories with history in them!! Good luck in the drawing.
What a fun interview! Gabrielle, your hometown sounds delightful. One of my favorite things about my small hometown is that I live right next to a train track. A lot of people think I’m weird for loving that, but I don’t mind in the least. My love for living next door to a train track goes so deep that it will be completely odd and much too quiet if I ever don’t live next to one.
Blessings,
Andrea
I live close to a train track, too! We actually live by the trestle as it goes over the Mississippi. I enjoy the trains, but I don’t enjoy waiting for them when I’m late!! 🙂 Thank you for taking the time to stop in today, Andrea!! I’m so happy to be here on Melissa’s blog, and on your blog at the same time!!
My favorite thing about my hometown San Diego is the beach!!! Looking forward to reading the novella collection- I love them!
That sounds delightful, Heidi! I love beaches, especially in California. 🙂 Here’s a bit of trivia about Minnesota and our 11,000+ lakes. We have more running shoreline in Minnesota than Florida, California, and Hawaii combined! Thanks for stopping by!
This is a wonderful interview. Thank you for doing it.
Thank you for stopping by, Cynthia! I hope you enjoy my book.
What I love about my hometown is that I have seen it grow. And they now have more available for the teens and children than when I was a kid.
That’s great! I love hearing about growth and more options for teens and children. Our community is working toward this, as well, but sometimes it can be a difficult task. Thanks for sharing, Cynthia.
Very interesting interview. Would love to visit Little Falls one day. Will put these two novellas on my ‘to read’ list!
I hope you do get a chance to visit Little Falls one day, Carla! And I hope you enjoy my novellas. They’re so much fun to write!
Little Falls is neat but driving through only shows the surface. I’m sure Gabrielle does wonderful things incorporating tidbits into stories and I’ll look forward to reading whether I win 🙂 or track down separately. Great interview!
Dolores, I’d love for you to come and discover Little Falls off the beaten track (a.k.a. Hwy. 10!). It’s a beautiful river town, but the highway only cuts through the fast-food district. 🙂 Thanks for stopping here today. It was fun to see you. 🙂
My hometown is such a cute small town. Up until a few years ago we only had one stop light! I think we two or three now 🙂
That sounds like Little Falls, Hannah! When I was growing up we only had two stoplights, now we have five! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
Small town along the Oregon coast….what’s not to love!! Except for summer, then it’s gets VERY crowded 🙁
I usually run into at least one person I know when I go shopping or wherever I happen to be. The locals are very friendly 🙂
I can’t get through our grocery store without stopping to chat with half a dozen people. 🙂 When I first shared the news that I had sold a novella I was stopped by three people just inside the pharmacy! 🙂 My good news is everyone’s good news, and vice-versa. Your town sounds charming! I love coastal towns and, despite the traffic, I love when a town swells from tourists. 🙂 Good luck in the drawing!
My favorite thing about my hometown is that it’s small and I played outside every day I could growing up! And my hometown and also my current towns are also in the great state of MINNESOTA! I just live a lot more north where it’s faster to get to large cities in Canada than Minnesota! 😉
It’s nice to meet a fellow Minnesotan here! I love northern Minnesota. My husband’s family camped near the Minnesota/Canadian border for years, and I went in 2000 to Quetico with them. Two years ago we went to a cabin in Ely. Minnesota is such a diverse and beautiful state. Thanks for stopping by, Katie! Good luck in the drawing.
The place where I spent most of my growing up years was pretty much in the middle of nowhere and there really wasn’t anything to do. But I now live in a town about 20 minutes from there that I’ve always loved. I don’t know if I can pick just one thing about this town since it is pretty much just awesome! I love the brick sidewalks (and a few brick streets), having the river within walking distance, the little shops on main street, and all the fun parades/events!
Abbi, it sounds like you live in a very quaint town! I love brick walkways and roads. We have one in town that hugs the Mississippi and it’s one of my favorite roads. Thanks for stopping by and sharing a bit of your town with us. 🙂