In this episode of the Christian Romance Podcast, my friend and fellow author CJ Milacci shares her writing journey and mission to provide hope-filled stories for teens and young adults. She discusses the lack of books with action and hope that led her to start writing her own, along with a strong pull from God.
CJ shares details about her podcast, Read Clean YA with CJ, where she highlights authors who write clean and exciting stories for young readers.
CJ is an award-winning author who provides stories addressing hard questions and offering hope in difficult circumstances. Her writing journey with Jesus often reflects the message in 2 Corinthians 12:10, “Therefore I take pleasure in my infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Listen to Episode 2 Here:
Meet CJ Milacci
Award-winning author CJ Milacci writes stories for teens and young adults with heart-pounding action and hope. As the podcast host for Read Clean YA with CJ, she loves talking about books and the deeper themes woven into the pages of each novel. She’s passionate about crafting stories of good overcoming evil, finding hope during seemingly hopeless circumstances, and true acceptance.
In a world shattered by chaos and divided by the brutal reign of the Raiders, one woman longs to break free from the shackles of her family’s legacy.
Born into darkness and raised to become heir to the ruthless Raiders, Princess Catori yearns for a life beyond the violence and oppression that defines her existence. When she meets Micah, a riverboat captain with an unwavering sense of justice, she sees a glimmer of hope for a different future.
But her grandfather, founder of the Raiders, has a plan for Catori’s life that he refuses to relinquish, and he’ll stop at nothing to see her become all he has prepared her to be, whether she wants that existence or not.
Will Catori and Micah escape tothe new life they long for, or will Catori become something she despises?
In this gripping companion novel set in the world of the Talionis Series, readers transport on a thrilling journey with Catori and her companions. Filled with action, suspense, and romance, Abandoned Shores is a story of survival, hope, and the power of love in the face of adversity.
Fans of dystopian fiction and epic romances will be captivated by this heart-pounding tale of adventure, danger, and the unbreakable bond between two unlikely allies.
Visit CJ’s Kickstarter campaign to get a bundle of her Talionis series, including the YA Christian romance Abandoned Shores.
You only have until July 26th, 2024. Check it out today!
You can receive her YA romance Abandoned Shores in a special bundle in her Kickstarter rewards.
Get updates on our themed book giveaways
Make sure to sign up for our email list and get a link to the most current book giveaway.
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Kelly’s Personal Update:
My debut novel, Finding Forevermore, is coming soon to Kickstarter! I’ve been working on this book for a long time, and God has shown me so much in the process. I can’t wait to share more about it with you as it goes through the editing process.
Welcome to the debut episode of the Christian Romance Podcast! Kelly Jo Wilson talks with Heidi Chiavaroli, an award-winning novelist and hope-inspired storyteller who writes Christian romance novels.
Heidi shares her experiences as an author, including her writing background and faith journey. She discusses her unique writing style, which combines contemporary and historical romance in dual-timeline books.
She also talks about the challenges and perseverance required in the writing journey. Heidi shares her favorite Bible verse, Hebrews 12:1, which encourages endurance and keeping our eyes on Jesus.
Heidi’s latest book, The Way Back, is about a woman who seeks shelter at her estranged grandmother’s seaside inn while facing the uncovering of family secrets.
Heidi Chiavaroli is a hope-inspired storyteller writing from the deep curiosity of her own heart. Her debut novel, Freedom’s Ring, was a Carol Award winner, Christy Award finalist, Romantic Times Top Pick, and Booklist Top Ten Romance Debut. Her second Carol Award-winning novel, The Orchard House, is inspired by the lesser-known events in Louisa May Alcott’s life and led her to write The Orchard House Bed and Breakfast series, a contemporary twist on Little Women. Heidi makes her home in Massachusetts with her husband and two sons.
Young love means everything . . . until it leaves you with nothing.
The summer before her senior year of high school, Laney Jacobs and her best friend jump from a six-story beachside cliff to impress their boyfriends. Laney rose from the water. Her friend did not.
Six years later, when Laney’s troubled mother’s memoir hits the bestseller list airing the family’s destructive secrets, Laney is forced to relive the trauma, this time in the public eye. To escape the scrutiny, she seeks shelter at her estranged grandmother’s seaside inn.
But she can’t reconcile the loving woman with the heartless parent in her mother’s book. As she looks for answers, the ex-boyfriend who’d witnessed her darkest days reappears, stirring up both pain and hope.
When her mother’s vindictive fans threaten her grandmother’s livelihood and the lighthouse Laney has come to love, she turns to the century-old words of a young lighthouse keeper to help her find the courage to move forward. But once truths from the past come to light and old love finds new beginnings, will Laney discover that forgiveness is the only way toward true healing?
Make sure to sign up for our email list and get a link to the most current book giveaway.
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Kelly’s Personal Update:
My debut novel, Finding Forevermore, is coming soon to Kickstarter! I’ve been working on this book for a long time, and God has shown me so much in the process. I can’t wait to share more about it with you as it goes through the editing process.
Welcome to the Christian Romance Podcast, where we go behind the books with inspiring Christian romance authors, exploring faith, love, and the journey to bring the story to life.
Listen to the podcast overview:
Each month, we’ll host themed book giveaways, offering you the chance to win a custom selection of Christian romance novels. These giveaways celebrate different themes, from patriotic love to holiday romances, ensuring there’s always something exciting to look forward to.
Subscribe to our newsletter to enter for your chance to win and add inspiring reads to your To-Be-Read list!
Thanks for listening, and I look forward to sharing these wonderful stories with you!
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