Dan Walsh's "The Homecoming"

We're happy to have Dan Walsh with us today talking about his book, The Homecoming. To learn more about Dan and his book, read on!

1) How did this story come to you?
The Homecoming is a sequel to my first novel, The Unfinished Gift, which released last September. After finishing the first book, I hadn’t intended to write a sequel. But I knew I wasn’t ready to leave these characters behind; they had become like family. And I could see they had at least one more story to tell. This time, a love story. Best-selling author Colleen Coble called it, “One of the most touching and delightful love stories I’ve ever read.” When I read her endorsement, I was so happy, because that’s exactly what I’d set out to do with the second book.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
The Unfinished Gift was a one-book deal. My agent and editor both asked me, “What else do you have in mind?” When I told them I thought there was another book here, at first they were reluctant. Both felt the first story seemed complete. Then I said, “I’m thinking about a love story on this...between Shawn and Katherine.” Both said they said they’d thought about that possibility but wondered how it could happen (we all knew there’d be some serious obstacles to overcome). When I told them what I had in mind they both instantly loved the idea and asked me to start developing it. Revell offered the second contract after I’d written about 75 pages.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Hmmm…First, I don’t sing half bad; I’m at least as good as the singers on American Idol who get knocked out in the early rounds. Second, while I do love and listen to Christian music, I also really enjoy the old standards, songs being brought back now by guys like Michael Buble and Harry Connick, Jr. And third, when I got saved as a senior in high school, I was a long-haired surf bum who had absolutely no ambition to be anything else for the rest of my life.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
As most of you know, the publishing world moves pretty slow. My second book (the one featured here) has just come out, but I’m actually finishing up my fourth book now. The working title is The Book Nook. It’s a Christmas novel set in 1980, about a little bookstore owned and run by Art and Leanne Bell. The day after Thanksgiving, Art collapses at the store and is found by a homeless man. It’s the busiest shopping time of year but Leanne needs to stay in the hospital by Art’s side. Her son, Rick, a CPA in Charlotte, reluctantly agrees to help. He cancels his skiing trip and drives down to Seabreeze, Florida, his old hometown. He thought he’d left it for good ten years ago. Over the coming days, Rick gets re-introduced to the mother he’s ignored and the stepfather he’s rejected, as he listens to a host of charming and eccentric characters, whose lives have been forever changed…at The Book Nook. Oh…and Rick is also introduced to a woman who will turn his life upside down.

5) Parting comments?
Thanks so much for the chance to interact with your readers. If they decide to pick up a copy of The Homecoming my first hope is that they’ll thoroughly enjoy themselves. I hope they’ll feel transported back to a simpler time when our country made a whole lot more sense and become totally immersed in the lives of characters I’ve come to love. And I hope every reader will be able to say what Colleen Coble said when they finish the last page.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
I’d love to have them visit my website, http://www.danwalshbooks.com/ or check out my blog, which they can get to from my website by clicking on “Latest News.” Or they can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/authordanwalsh