Cinnamon Rolls & Running Shoes: My debut novel is now available exclusively on Channillo!

cinnamon rolls cover — *Cinnamon Rolls & Running Shoes* is available exclusively from Channillo!

My Very First Serial Novel!

I have always loved to write stories. I have written stories for as long as I can remember. There is a trunk in the guest bedroom of my parsonage that is overflowing with journals, manuscripts, and writer’s notebooks. I always intended to write a book.

My job as a United Methodist Minister will always come first and foremost in my heart, but I believe that God calls us to use all of our gifts and graces. In December of 2018, I published my first book, a small chapbook of poems entitled Through My Good Eye: A Memoir in Verse. This book, as well as all my writing, is a natural extension of my ministry. All profits from that poetry collection are donated to Christ Community United Methodist Church.

In March of 2019, I was contacted by Kara Klotz, the founder of Channillo.com, to ask if I would be interested in writing a series for Channillo. I had already outlined an entire book series (I visualize Cinnamon Rolls & Running Shoes as the first in a series) and I was excited to send the pitch to Channillo.

What is Channillo?

Channillo is a publisher that specializes in serialized writing. They publish fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and recipes. Essentially, Channillo is Netflix for books.

Authors are accepted to write a series for Channillo. Readers “subscribe,” to series the same way that you would add a Netflix series to your queue. Authors release new “episodes,” of their series on a regular basis.

I plan to offer an entire review of Channillo in the future, but right now, suffice it to say that I can’t stop reading all of the great authors on this platform! Channillo hosts some really first rate writing and I’m happy to be numbered among their authors. Right now, I’m subscribed to a ton of series and I’m thoroughly enjoying every single one!

Channillo is Like Netflix for Books!

My pitch was accepted at the beginning of April and I’m so excited to share Faith and Alex’s story with the world! I hope you all will love them just as much as I do. I also hope that you will fall in love with their small hometown of Lovely, Pennsylvania.

Cinnamon Rolls & Running Shoes is a romantic comedy and a sugary sweet inspirational romance. The first chapter of Cinnamon Rolls and Running Shoes was released on Sunday, April 28th. New chapters will be released on the first and fifteenth of every month. If you’re interested, Channillo offers a free trial period in which your first month is free. You can subscribe to as many series as you want for just $4.99.

Personally, I really enjoy reading on Channillo. The website is very simple and works well with the voice over application on my iPhone XR. I enjoy reading bite sized bits of poetry and novels during my lunch break or while I have my coffee in the morning; however, don’t worry if you aren’t a tech savy person. The paperback of Cinnamon Rolls & Running Shoes is scheduled to be released in 2020.

Diversity in Literature: The Goal of Cinnamon Rolls & Running Shoes

For ages, I have complained about the lack of diversity in literature. I have had a soft spot for romance novels since I was twelve years old; however, it always makes me sad because romance novels are never about people like myself. As a young girl, I never saw myself reflected in literature or in film.

Growing up, I thought that I was unattractive because there were no visually impaired Disney princesses, curvy girls were always reduced to the best friend role, and I never once saw a hero or heroine who was half-Flipino.

Well, now, I’m holding the pen- and I have the opportunity to flip the script.

Some Fun Facts About Cinnamon Rolls & Running Shoes

-Cinnamon Rolls & Running Shoes is a story about how love conquers all. In this story, love conquers racism, low self-esteem, and classism. Also, along the way, there are lots of tasty treats!

-Although the town of Lovely Pennsylvania is fictional, I worked to make it a real place with lots of local flavor. If you gave me a map, I could point out exactly where the town of Lovely would be if it were real. It is located near Indiana and Wellsboro, not far from the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.

-The hero is Filipino and the heroine is full figured. People of all shapes and sizes deserve love!

-The heroine’s sister is named Hope and she is blind. I’m always searching for good representations of characters who are blind in literature. This is my attempt to represent disability accurately, as my friends and I have experienced. In the sequel, Hope gets her own chance at love!

Cinnamon Rolls & Running Shoes: Synopsis

Faith only wants Lance to notice her.

Faith has loved Lance from afar since high school, but Lance has never spared her so much as a second glance. Lance doesn’t date full figured women.

Alex has loved Faith since they were children- but will she ever see him as more than her nerdy best friend?

When Faith decides to lose weight by entering the Annual Lovely Marathon, she is certain that she will finally catch Lance’s eye. Alex, her asthmatic childhood best friend, reluctantly agrees to help; however, he fears that each mile Faith runs is taking her farther away from him.

Can Faith overcome her love of Cinnamon Rolls and stick to marathon training?

Faith and Alex have never quite belonged in their idyllic small town of Lovely, Pennsylvania. Faith was always mocked for her full figure and Alex, who was adopted from the Philippines, has always felt different from his very white classmates.

Will Alex and Faith learn that in the end, you can’t run from love?

Charles Dickens, Herman Melville, and Alexandre Dumas were all published in serial form. I’m happy to say that now I am as well!