Rachel Hauck is a USA Today Best Selling, and award-winning author of critically acclaimed novels such as The Wedding Dress, Love Starts with Elle, and Once Upon A Prince.
She also penned the Songbird Novels with multi-platinum recording artist, Sara Evans. Booklist named their novel, Softly and Tenderly, one of 2011 Top Ten Inspirationals.
A graduate of Ohio State University with a degree in Journalism, Rachel worked in the corporate software world before planting her backside in an uncomfortable chair to write full-time in 2004.
She serves on the Executive Board for American Christian Fiction Writers and leads worship at their annual conference. She is a mentor and book therapist at My Book Therapy, and conference speaker.
Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband and pets, and writes from her two-story tower in an exceedingly more comfy chair. She is a huge Buckeyes football fan. Visit her at www.rachelhauck.com
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Welcome to the blog, Rachel. I’m so excited to have you here! I just finished The Wedding Chapel and LOVED it! 🙂
Which heroine from The Royal Wedding Series do you most relate to and why?
I loved all of the heroines but I think Regina was the one I related to the most. I set her in Tallahassee, Florida where I lived for seven years. A lot of her story was another side of me.
Out of all the places you’ve traveled to around the world, is there a particular place you visited that really inspired your writing?
Everywhere I’ve been is inspiring in some way. Last year my husband and I went to Oregon and I loved it. Was wild about it. I love mountains, hills, woods, ocean, blue skies, grey snowy days. Inspiration is everywhere.
Oregon is so beautiful! I’ve only been there once, but I hope to return someday. 😉 Do you remember the first time you met one of your favorite authors? Who was it and can you tell us a bit about it? 😉
Beatriz Williams is a new author to me. I read her book A Hundred Summers last year and loved it. This past May she was at an event in a town near me and I went down to see her. I was blessed to have dinner with her after. That was really fun. I drilled her with questions about writing, her writing process, how she came up with her stories.
Wow! How fun! As a mentor and speaker to writers everywhere, what is one of your favorite workshops you’ve presented?
I like to stay with the basics. This past year I presented the Story Equation at a couple of conferences, the method I use to get my stories started. It’s a method I learned along with Susan May Warren at My Book Therapy. Susie took the elements she learned in her early writing years and put them in an “equation.” This method is so helpful getting a good character start so I love teaching the basics of it.
I so enjoyed attending a writing class you and Susie taught at ACFW a few years ago. I still have all the notes I took! 😉 You’re the worship leader at your church and at the annual ACFW conference, right? What is one of your favorite songs to sing?
Easy! What Joy Is Found by Jeremy Riddle. I’ve been leading that song for ten years and it never gets old. It’s timeless.
Thank you so much for being with us today, Rachel! Is there anything else you’d like to add? Any upcoming projects you can share with us?
My latest book, The Wedding Chapel just released. It’s about a Sixty year old wedding chapel in which there have been no weddings.
It’s such a beautiful story. Can’t wait to read what you have up next! 🙂 Blessings on your 2016.
GIVEAWAY!!
I’m giving away my gently-used copy of The Wedding Chapel to one lucky winner. Enter below and it could be you!
Thanks for entering! Contest is open to US residents only and ends February 9, 2016. The winner will be notified by email. Happy Reading, everybody!
Thank you so much for having me!
Rachel
It was my pleasure, Rachel! Can’t wait to read your next book. 😉
I love to go somewhere new every time we travel. Anyplace that is hot and has a pool nearby! 🙂
That sounds SO nice right now, Candice! I’m ready for winter to be over. 😉 Thanks for stopping by!
I’m not a big traveler but I do enjoy going to visit family, wherever that may be.
That’s always fun, Pam! Love it. 🙂 I appreciate you joining us. Good luck in the drawing!
I’ve seen so many beautiful places, but Hawaii is probably the one I loved the most – followed by Alaska!!
Enjoyed the interview, Rachel and Savanna – thank you!! I’ve read so many wonderful things about Rachel’s books and would love to become acquainted with her writing – thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of “The Wedding Chapel”!!
Shared post!!
Awww, Bonnie, I would LOVE to see Hawaii and Alaska someday!! How cool! 🙂 I’m glad you could stop by. I hope you get the chance to read Rachel’s work soon. Thanks for sharing the post!
I haven’t traveled too much, but I’ve always enjoyed Door County. It’s so beautiful and the food it great!
Hi Kathryn! What exactly is “Door Country”? I’ve never heard of it before, but it sounds nice! 😉
Anywhere with my family. I love being with them.
Yep, the company is always the best part! 🙂 Thanks for visiting, Anne!
Great interview! Since reading The Wedding Chapel, I’ve added two more of Rachel’so books to my TBR pile…waiting to dive in when my schedule permits! Thanks Savanna and Rachel!
Thank you Annie!
Awesome!! So glad you enjoyed The Wedding Chapel too, Annie. I appreciate you stopping by! 🙂
Not able to do any travel, but I could pretty much say that if we did, it would have to be some place WARM.
Yes, Heather, right now I totally agree! 😉 Spring can’t get here fast enough. Good luck in the giveaway!
The two places I’ve been where I’d most like to return are the Swiss Alps and the Basque region in Spain. For a more “normal” vacation though, it’s hard to beat the Rocky Mountains. I went there every summer growing up and loved it.
Oh, Katy, every place you mentioned sounds incredible! I’d love to see those places someday. I’ve only seen the Rocky Mountains driving by. Hope to change that some day. My hubby wants to take me skiing. 😉
I love the Oregon coast. Walking on a trail above the ocean or walking along the beach. That is my favorite destination!
I LOVE the Oregon coast! And I’ve only seen it once. 🙂 I would definitely go back there too, Bonnie. Thanks for sharing!
I would just love to travel. The only trip I’ve been on lately is to visit friends and family in Ohio. That’s a 12 hour trip from where I live in Saraland, Alabama.
I bet that was fun, Emilee!! A 12 hour road trip is no small thing. 😉 Thanks for sharing!
Would love to win. Thanks
Good luck, Kim! 😉
At age 68, I fulfilled a lifetime wish to visit Scotland (which I thought was an impossible dream). Last fall, at age 72, my two daughters and I toured the New England states — another place on my bucket list!
I’d love to do both of those too!
Oh wow, Joan! What special memories for all of you. Hope you took lots of pictures. 😉
My bucket list seems to be mostly places I would love to visit.
Nothing wrong with that, Donna. I have a long list of “hopefuls” too. 🙂 Hope you get to cross one (or several) of those off this year. 😉
the ocean
Yes, love the ocean. I don’t see it too much living here in the midwest, but I remember those few special times. 😉 Thanks for visiting, Barb!
What’s one of your favorite places to travel to?
The Christmases when our family has traveled to one place to be together; those have been my favorites! Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
Awww, yes, Kathleen! It’s hard to beat Christmas memories like that. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
I’ve never been anywhere exotic, but I’m from Michigan, so I love to go up north, which to us means going to the Upper Peninsula. 😉
🙂 Hey a road trip is a road trip, no matter the direction or destination. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Karen!
Downtown Seattle on the waterfront….Pike’s Place Market…that says it all….LOL!! A close second would be Leavenworth WA, a Bavarian (German) themed town at the foot of the Cascade mountains! Oh so pretty, and all the shopkeepers dress up in traditional German clothes. They also have many festivals throughout the year. Live folk music, dancing & all the food…count me in 🙂
Wonderful author interview, really enjoyed it Rachel. I have yet to read a book by you, but I’ve heard such great things about them! I’ve already added “The Wedding Chapel” & “The Wedding Dress” to my want-to-read list. Thanks for the chance to win the latter book 🙂
Great post Savanna, thanks for sharing Rachel with us today! Blessings you two.
Hi Trixi! So glad you could join us! The way you described your top destinations had me wanting to go with you!! 😉 Sounds like such fun.
Ohhhh, you’ll have to read a book of Rachel’s soon. I think you’ll really like them. 🙂
Hope you’re having a great week, my friend. Praying for you!
Any coast is wonderful. I live in northern California and summer visits to the beach are very refreshing. Catalina Island is also a lovely getaway. Thanks for the giveaway!
Awww, Diana, that sounds so nice and warm and SUNNY! 🙂 Enjoy the beach. I don’t see much of that here in Missouri. 😉 Good luck in the drawing too.
I have traveled to a lot of states plus Mexico, Canada and Israel. I loved Hawaii. I would love to go to Alaska. I love Rachel Hauck’s books.
Wow, Stella, that’s great! How many special memories you’ve made. 🙂 I’m so glad you could join us today!
I don’t have a particular place to I love to go, I enjoy visiting new places and finding things to do wherever I can.
There’s so much fun in the simple discovery, isn’t there? My hubby and I enjoy finding simple off-the-beaten-path places to hike around here. So pretty and quiet. Thanks for visiting, Ellen!
Our favorite place to go as a family is Lancaster – going to Sight and Sound is always top of our favorite places to go.
That sounds really cool, Wenona. Which state are you talking about?
My husband and I went on an Alaskan cruise this past summer for our 40th anniversary. Alaska is my favorite state to visit thus far.
Oh wow, I bet that was incredible, Melanie. I’ve always thought a cruise looked like fun. Congrats on 40+ years with your hubby!! 😉
I have added this book to my “want to read” list! Thank you for sharing your book and of yourself!
Janice
Wonderful, Janice. I’m so glad you could stop by. I hope you get the chance to read this real soon! 😉 Have a great day!
I do my traveling through the books I read.
Marion
Hi Marion! That’s a great way to do it too. 🙂 So glad you stopped by!
My husband and I take short trips pretty often. We don’t have any favorite places to go but just enjoy our time together. I hope we will be able to take a big trip this summer to celebrate our 50th anniversary!
Awww, Brenda! Congrats on celebrating your 50th this year. Hope you both have a wonderful time!! 🙂
My favorite place to travel to is the closest body of water where I can do a little fishing.
That sounds perfect, Jan! It’s been years since I’ve gone fishing, but I always enjoyed it as a kid. Need to do it again! 😉
I loved traveling to Italy. Would love to go back!!
That is so cool, Melissa! I hope you get to go back too. What a neat trip that must have been. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Any where down south where it is warm and we have family in South Carolina I am in PA
That sounds so nice, Linda!! Here’s to a road trip soon. 😉 Good luck in the giveaway too!