MIRIAM: Her First Noel is about a young attorney named Reagan Pierce. At the beginning of the book, Reagan’s sole focus is her job. Then, her world is rocked when she learns that her high school best friend has passed away. As she spends time with her friend’s brother, Daniel, Reagan has to confront spiritual questions and figure out if her priorities are really in the right place. She also has to decide what to do with the feelings she is starting to develop for Daniel.
I began writing this story in December of 2016 because I was in the mood to write a Christmas story that ended happily but also delved into the true meaning of Christmas. So often, Christmas movies and books have a happy ending but leave Christ out of it. I wanted my story to include both.
LAURIE: And is this the first book you have coming out with Anaiah Press?
MIRIAM: Yes, this is my first book with Anaiah Press, and I’m very excited about it.
LAURIE: What led you to publish with Anaiah Press?
MIRIAM: When I started looking for a place to submit Her First Noel, I knew I would need to find a press that published unapologetically Christian romances and that accepted novellas. When I read the guidelines for Anaiah Press, it just seemed like a perfect fit. It was the first place I submitted Her First Noel.
LAURIE: What draws you to write romance?
MIRIAM: Her First Noel is a romance novella, although I feel like the heart of the story is Reagan’s journey to faith as much as her falling in love. I decided to write a Christmas romance because I love happily-ever-after endings, especially at Christmas.
LAURIE: Are there any authors who’ve influenced you in your writing? Do you have any favourite authors?
MIRIAM: I feel like many of the authors whose books I’ve read have influenced my writing style in some way. A couple of my favorite authors who have probably influenced me the most are Louisa May Alcott and Karen Witemeyer.
LAURIE: How long has it taken you to get published?
MIRIAM: I’ve wanted to have a book published since I was in elementary school, so in some ways it feels like it’s taken my whole life. I actually started submitting books for publication in 2014, so it’s taken four since then.
LAURIE: What advice would you give to other writers trying to break in to the Christian market?
MIRIAM: I would advise writers to spend time searching for publishers and literary agents that consider Christian manuscripts. There are a lot of them out there, and the one they’re looking for may not appear on the first page of search results. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found new places to submit stories and manuscripts, despite thinking I’d already exhausted all my options.
Also, writers should look very carefully at the types of manuscripts being sought by each publisher/literary agent they find. The fact that they accept Christian manuscripts in no way guarantees they are looking for their particular genre or that they would be a good fit for their manuscript. Submitting to publishers and waiting for a response is a long process anyway but submitting to places that don’t fit your manuscript makes it a lot longer.
LAURIE: What hobbies do you like to do when you’re not writing? Anything else you’d like our readers to know about you and your work?
MIRIAM: As is the case with many writers, I am an avid reader. I also enjoy spending time with my husband and spoiling my cats.
I hope anyone who decides to read my book enjoys it.
LAURIE: Where can your readers find you on social media?
MIRIAM: I feel like the best place to find more information about me is on my website: https://miriamthor17.wixsite.com/author. They can also find me:
On Twitter: @miriamthor17
And on Pinterest: Miriam Thor
LAURIE: And finally, how long do we have to wait for your next book?
MIRIAM: I have no idea. I guess it depends when inspiration strikes me.
LAURIE: Here is the beautiful cover of Her First Noel and the backcover blurb. It can be bought on Amazon at:a.co/d/5yjHPYZ
When Daniel calls a few days later and asks for a favor, Reagan disrupts her structured routine to help him out. As she spends more and more time with Daniel and his niece, Reagan starts to reconsider her priorities and begins to ponders spiritual questions that never seemed to matter before. Will Daniel help her discover the true meaning of Christmas, or will she miss out on something great that she never knew she wanted?
About the Author:
After growing up in Louisiana, Miriam Thor attended Gardner-Webb University. She
graduated in 2012 with degree in American Sign Language and elementary education.
Currently, she resides in North Carolina with her husband and cats. She has had several short stories and poems published.
