Guest Post by Amelia Hutchinson
of A Canine ChristmasAuthors are strange sort of people, don’t you think? I mean, they get it into their heads their fictional characters are real—my creator, Jennifer Sienes, even asked me if I’d tell y’all a little bit about myself, as if I truly exist.
We’re going to give her a little grace and pretend I do.
My name is Amelia Hutchinson, and I live in the town of Shelbyville, Tennessee, which is the county seat of Bedford County. We’re the hub of the Tennessee Walking Horse industry or better yet, the “Walking Horse Capital of the World.” You’d think with a reputation like that, I’d be into riding horses, but I’m not.
What I am into is finding something more exciting for a career than a mail carrier—like maybe a private investigator. My sister Olivia thinks I spend too much time watching the Hallmark Channel, because I kind of idolize Hallie Dean and Aurora Teagarden. When I told her about wanting to be a detective like them, she had the nerve to laugh.
I wouldn’t tell Olivia this, but she’s probably the best big sister a girl could have. She got herself hitched to Jack and they have two little girls—Janie and Ella. When I got hired as a mail carrier in Shelbyville, they offered me their guesthouse. I don’t technically live with them, but to say different is splitting hairs. I eat supper with them most every night, and I can see into their kitchen window from mine.
Most of my friends are married and having kids by now, but I wasted a whole lot of time on a guy who didn’t appreciate the purity pledge I’d made when I was thirteen. Yes, I know celibacy is archaic, but I’m not fixing to give away the only true gift I have to offer my husband (if I ever get married) on our wedding night.
It’s been some easier because I’ve never truly fallen in love before. I’ve spent so much energy trying to find myself, I haven’t had a lot of time left over to date. If I’m being totally honest, I’m a little lost. Olivia knew from the time she was a kid what she wanted—marriage and children. She’d even prayed for a godly husband back when she was in high school.
I prayed for some kind of direction. I just didn’t know it’d start with a monstrously big dog and his surly owner.
I’ve never much liked dogs. I have me a Persian cat named Alette who fancies herself a princess. That’s about all the animal I can handle. But there is something about Rayce Jasper (the dog’s owner) that draws me in. It might could be the mystery behind the Jasper Farm.
Every famous detective has to start somewhere.
For a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of the ebook version of A Canine Christmas, share something quirky about yourself in the comments below. If you missed Monday’s post, be sure to visit and comment on it for another chance to win the giveaway.
Comments 2
As I was putting things away in the kitchen cabinets, I was reminded of how I “need” all of the labels facing front and center, the salt and pepper shakers sitting just right to where the S and the P are front and center, etc. So silly but that’s me!
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My daughter has a little OCD in her–silverware has to be lined up right, cabinet doors always closed (although that’s one of my things, too), etc. But she’s not so particular about the messes left in her office LOL.