Mikal Dawn Talks About Count Me In

I am absolutely delighted to have author Mikal Dawn as my guest today! Her book releases on May 16th, and you can pre-order it right now! I spent the weekend away and read her book while I was gone and it was a wonderfully relaxing time, until I caught myself praying for the characters…..you can hear more about that in my review.

Welcome  Mikal Dawn!

Q: Is this book, Count Me In, part or a series or is it a stand alone?
Mikal: It’s the first in a collection of related romantic comedies. The books will be able to be read alone…but why would you want to?! 😉 While they can be read as standalones, you’ll get some ideas of the endings of the previous book(s) so you might want to read them in order. (Not that I’m biased and want you to buy all the books or anything….)

Q: What was the biggest challenge in writing Allegra and Tyler’s story?
Mikal: The middle!!! I had a solid beginning and a terribly fun (in my opinion!) end, but the middle. It was that proverbial sagging middle. I had such a hard time finding conflict and issues that weren’t repetitive. Thankfully, I have some fabulous critique partners and brainstorming partners who really helped me. My editor is also fantastic and helped make this book baby shine.

Q: When you began writing Count Me In, did you have the ending in sight? Or did that happen along the way?
Mikal: I actually did! Confession: I wrote the ending after only the second or third chapter. I had a good idea of it in mind so wrote it, but it did change as the story continued and the characters revealed to me how they wanted to transform.

Q: I found that the theme of overcoming fear with God’s help came through loud and clear for me, is this theme something that is particularly special to you?
Mikal: Fear and overcoming it is near and dear to my heart. I struggle with anxiety, mostly a result of fear. I use God’s Word each day to remind me of who I am in Him, how He shelters and protects me, and just how much He loves me. The Light drives out darkness, of which fear is a part of. Each time I sat at my computer to write, I prayed about what God wanted me to say. This theme wasn’t intended, but was definitely God’s direction. And I’m so glad He directed me this way because I learned so much, and have already received messages from early readers. Those messages are the reason I wanted to write in the first place. To see God move and use me.

Q: Which scene did you have the most fun with (without giving away too much)?
Mikal: Oh Mel. LOL!!! I had a blast with Allegra’s first adventure and the last two chapters before the epilogue. Seeing the transformation in her between the two scenes was terribly fun for me. (And Tyler laughing. I love a man who can laugh a lot!)

Q:Where and how can readers connect with you? 
Mikal: I’d LOVE to hear from readers!! It’s such a privilege to be called to write, and while at the moment of writing these answers I really want to get sick to my stomach because of nerves (Count Me In is two weeks from release right now—as a matter of fact, I’m jumping between screens to get a preview of the paperback on Amazon right now!), I trust that the Lord will use this story—humor and all—to touch someone’s life.

Thank you Mikal, comment below and let us know what fears you have.

You can find Mikal Dawn on my website, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon.

GET IT ON AMAZON.CA (click on cover)

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Mikal Dawn is an inspirational romance author, wedding enthusiast, and proud military wife. By day, she works as an administrative assistant for an international ministry organization, serves in her church’s library, runs her kids to football, Tae Kwon Do, and figure skating, and drinks lots of coffee. By night, she pulls her hair out, wrestling with characters and muttering under her breath as she attempts to write. And drinks lots of coffee. When she isn’t writing about faith, fun, and forever, she is obsessively scouring Pinterest (with coffee in hand, of course!) for wedding ideas for her characters.

Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Mikal now lives in Nebraska with her husband, Mark, their three children, and one ferocious feline who can often be found taking over her Instagram account.