Q&A with RaeAnne Thayne

 

 

RaeAnne Thayne is the author of the new novel Snow Kissed. Her many other novels include The Lost Book of First Loves. She lives in Utah. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write Snow Kissed, and how did you create your characters Holly and Ryan?

 

A: I introduced Holly in the previous two books in my Shelter Springs series, Christmas at the Shelter Inn and The December Market. She was a friend to the two heroines of those books.

 

I knew I wanted to write her story but all I knew about her from those books was that she is a twin, that she has a child with special needs, and that she was separated from her husband.

 

As I mulled where to take the story, I knew she needed a true hero to help her through some awkward family dynamics and Ryan Caldwell suddenly showed up in my imagination.

Q: How would you describe the dynamic between Holly and Ryan?

 

A: Holly is a struggling single mom who is NOT looking for romance after her ex-husband broke her heart and basically abandoned their child. Ryan loves his sister and his niece but has carved out the life he thinks he wants, living alone and focusing on his career as a helicopter pilot.

 

I loved throwing them together and showing them they were absolutely perfect for each other!

Q: Holly’s daughter, Lydia, is a big part of the story--how did you come up with the idea for Lydia's character?

 

A: I have a son with multiple disabilities who requires total care. While he doesn’t have Down Syndrome, as Lydia does, we have many friends in the disability community, including several with Down Syndrome. They have always been so warm, sweet, and protective of our son.

 

I wanted to show especially that while Lydia does have special needs, she is a child first and foremost who loves Christmas and twinkly lights and Santa, like every other child.

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: Next year’s Christmas book! This one is about Holly’s twin sister Hannah and I’m having so much fun working out the details of her story.

Q: Anything else we should know? 

 

A: I’m so incredibly grateful for readers who inspire me to keep writing, story after story!

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with RaeAnne Thayne.