multi-author promotion

Readers, I guest-hosted at the Whispers in Wyoming Reader Group on December 5, 2019, from 5-9 PM EST as a part of the Wyoming Christmas Extravaganza. We hopped onboard a trolley for a mini tour of Savannah and Tybee Island, with giveaway galore along the way.

Post #1: Introduction

https://www.facebook.com/groups/WhispersinWyomingRomance/permalink/392519924789577/

Is it snowing where you are? Cold outside?

How about coming with me on the Jan Thompson Trolley Tour and let’s go to the warm southern coastal city of Savannah, Georgia, and to the beach town of Tybee Island by the Atlantic Ocean, two of the most romantic places in the world, perfect for the setting of at least two of my book series.

I’m Jan Thompson, your co-host from 5-9PM this evening. I’m a multi-genre author of contemporary Christian romance, romantic women’s fiction, romantic suspense, and romantic thrillers.

Find out more about me: JanThompson.com

Thank you to Lisa Prysock and the Whispers in Wyoming team for inviting me to the Christmas Extravaganza party.

In my posts this evening, I’m going to put on my Tour Guide Jan hat and invite you to travel with me to Savannah and Tybee Island on a highlight tour.

QUESTIONS FOR YOU: Do you like to read about real places in fiction books? Or do you rather the author invent a town or city? Or both?

GIVEAWAY: Comment for an opportunity to win a $5 Amazon gift ecard!

Look for my next post and the next giveaway.

I’m getting the trolley ready… In a few minutes, the next post will pop up and we can hop on the trolley for our mini tour of Savannah and Tybee Island!

I like a mix of both real and fictitious places in fiction. Speaking for myself an author, adding in a fictitious building or entire city block (like what I did in Savannah Sweethearts and Vacation Sweethearts to a real town is safer for everyone in the area especially in my suspense/thrillers. Hehe.

Post #2: Let’s Go to Warm Savannah

https://www.facebook.com/groups/WhispersinWyomingRomance/permalink/392522061456030/

Does it snow where you are? I saw a Facebook post the other day where the snow is halfway up the front door. Brrr!

I’m in Georgia, USA, so it’s still warmer here comparatively. However, most snow birds go to Florida instead. When the weather is cold, Florida sounds very enticing, TBH!

It’s because I love warm weather that I set many of my books in the south, primarily in coastal cities and beach towns. I am partial to coastal Georgia, where we find cities like Savannah and small beach towns like Tybee Island, St. Simon’s Island, and Jekyll Island.

Check out my books on Amazon: JanThompson.com/amazon

Chartered in 1732 and founded in 1733 as the last British colony in America, the city of Savannah is located on the banks of the Savannah River instead of directly on the Atlantic Ocean, like Tybee Island is. Tybee is that laidback southern beach town, with a lot of sand and sun and surf.

If you want to have an idea of how the beaches feel like at various times of the day, you’ll have to read Savannah Sweethearts because I wrote in my own real life experiences visiting these places.

QUESTIONS FOR YOU: Which part of the world do you live? Is it snowing where you are? Or are you in one of those gorgeous tropical places where the weather is warm all year round?

GIVEAWAY: Comment for an opportunity to win Know You More (Savannah Sweethearts Book 1), where the Riverside Church holds services on a riverboat docked at the Savannah River.

Look for my next post and the next giveaway.

For anyone curious, in the photo I posted, you see the gold dome of the Savannah City Hall. They used real gold leaf on the dome. Previously it was copper. The City Hall was fairly new (compared to the rest of Savannah). 1900s.

Post #3: Tour Stop #1: Savannah Squares

https://www.facebook.com/groups/WhispersinWyomingRomance/permalink/392523484789221/

While my series, Seaside Chapel, is set on St. Simon’s Island, my other Christian romance series, Savannah Sweethearts, is set in Savannah and on Tybee Island, about one hour north of St. Simon’s.

I am writing my 22nd book, the next book in my Vacation Sweethearts series. Keep up with my publication news via my newsletter: JanThompson.com/newsletter

Our first stop in Savannah is at those historic Savannah squares. Yes, they are really rectangular. Yes, they are surrounded by many tall oak trees.

While the buildings you see in the squares might look old, many of the buildings that President George Washington saw in 1791 had suffered through a devastating fire. However, the good news is that General Sherman did not burn down Savannah during the American Civil War, choosing to spare it as a Christmas present to President Abraham Lincoln in 1864.

QUESTIONS FOR YOU: Do you like to study history and historic places? What are the most historic places you have visited recently?

GIVEAWAY: Comment for an opportunity to win Walk You There (Savannah Sweethearts Book 5), where Tamsyn will take you on more walking tours of Savannah as she battles a developer who wants to raze down her grandmother’s Queen Anne home.

Look for my next post and the next giveaway.

There are some pretty gardens in Savannah. Here’s one of them.

The picture in the main post is the fountain at Forsyth Park which is on one of the squares.

On Google Map, you can see all the squares labeled in green. The entire old town Savannah is made up of grids. They designed it this way back in 1732 when General Oglethorpe came over. When John Wesley and his brother Charles Wesley came here, the squares were already established, but of course, the houses were wood back then, not like the 19th century buildings we see now. That’s because there was a big fire in Savannah at the end of the 18th century, sadly, and most of the town burned to the ground.

Have you seen this photo before of these lovely oak trees? They even appeared in movies.

Sometimes people use this photo as a picture of Savannah. I hate to say that the place, Wormsloe, is actually outside of the city of Savannah, although it was owned by one of the original settlers of Savannah, Noble Jones. I’ve visited this place before and seen the ruins of the tabby house that Jones built.

A tabby house is sort of like old world “cement” and it’s a mixture of whatever shells they can find in the area. So the walls have shells embedded in them.

The squares of Savannah are pretty much downtown Savannah. Here is how some of the house doors look like. Many are preserved from the 19th century.

I mentioned Tamsyn Pendegrast in my main post. She is the main character of my book Walk You There (Savannah Sweethearts Book 5). She’s a tour guide, and she does use a trolley although she would also walk. Ryan Ruttledge is the architect-developer who wants to buy up city blocks and turn them into new buildings. Tamsyn’s grandma’s 19th century house is on one of the blocks. So she fights the erasure of Savannah history…

One more photo of one of the squares. There are many live oak trees (with Spanish moss hanging off them) in Savannah’s squares. Yes, they usually erect historical statures right in the middle of the squares. Many of the squares are also surrounded by private homes and businesses.

The next post has appeared! Yes, I mentioned traffic earlier, and sure enough, our trolley is stuck in traffic. But no worries! We’re handing out hot cocoa for everyone.

Post #4: Something Hot, Something Cold

https://www.facebook.com/groups/WhispersinWyomingRomance/permalink/392526738122229/

While our trolley driver navigates the heavy traffic in downtown Savannah to get us to River Street for our next tour stop, we’re passing around a tray of hot cocoa for everyone. Feel free to take pictures of the historic streets around you.

QUESTIONS FOR YOU: Do you like hot chocolate? Maybe with marshmallows on top? Hot coffee? Hot tea?

If you like coffee or tea, when do you drink them? I know people who drink coffee all day. I myself used to drink tea all day until my heart can’t take it anymore (caffeine can cause heart palpitations). Now I drink tea only once a day with food.

GIVEAWAY: Comment for an opportunity to win a $5 Amazon gift ecard!

Look for my next post and the next giveaway.

Do you pile up marshmallows on top of your hot cocoa?

Anyone here make hot cocoa from scratch instead of an instant packet? I’ve done it — the cocoa is not sweet at all, so I had to boil water or milk, whisk in the cocoa powder, and mix in honey to taste. How about you?

Hot chocolate for a cold day seems to hit the spot, doesn’t it? I like tea too! My husband drinks coffee around here.

And at Christmas time, with cookies!

I see some tea drinkers here too! I make tea in a teapot with loose leaf tea. How about you?

Anyone here collect teacups and/or teapots? I collect some teapots but I don’t make an effort to do it. So if I see a nice teapot somewhere, I might buy it. I usually don’t collect teacups bc you know they are too small HAHA. I use coffee mugs for my tea! How about you?

Whoa! I was enjoying our discussion about cocoa, coffee, and tea that I forgot to see where are now. The trolley has arrived at the Savannah riverfront! We might take a walk to walk off the marshmallows! Here is the next post! 🙂

Post #5: Tour Stop #2: River Street

https://www.facebook.com/groups/WhispersinWyomingRomance/permalink/392527328122170/

Savannah is a busy port and city. Container ships go up and down the river day and night. It’s a working city filled with local residents and even more tourists. You might not want to be caught in the afternoon traffic jam on Fridays. Also be prepared to walk a bit if you parked your vehicle a distance away (for cheaper parking).

You might need to walk some blocks to get to River Street, where I set a number of my scenes in Savannah Sweethearts. You can watch Friday night fireworks right there by the Savannah River, take a riverboat dinner cruise, or find my characters walking together up and down the waterfront.

River Street has many souvenir shops, restaurants, and art galleries. Piper’s Place is a restaurant I invented for my series, Savannah Sweethearts, to take in the busy atmosphere of tourist seasons on River Street.

As for art galleries, I also invented Simon’s Gallery and placed it smack dab in the middle of River Street. You will find this gallery in Ask You Later (A Savannah Sweethearts Prequel), which is one of the paperbacks in the grand prize winner basket in the Christmas Extravaganza sweepstakes. Look for it!

QUESTIONS FOR YOU: Do you like to visit art galleries? What are your favorite types of art? Modern? Classical? Folk art?

GIVEAWAY: Comment for an opportunity to win Call You Home (Savannah Sweethearts Book 10), the story of Piper Peyton, the Deaf owner of the Piper’s Place restaurant on River Street.

Look for my next post and the next giveaway.

Welcome to the Savannah riverfront! Back in 1733, the original British settlers first camped in a bluff in the area overlooking the Savannah River. Today the Savannah River looks like this. Isn’t it lovely?

You see a couple of riverboats docked there in the photo above. In my Savannah Sweethearts series, I decided to turn one of them into the venue for a local church services.

Savannah is still a port today, as it has been for hundreds of years. Cargo ships come and go.

The container ships are huge! Have you seen one? I was sitting by the river one day and watched the ships go by. I was amazed at how they could float down the river. I guess they have to keep digging out the bottom of the river all the time since sediments could settle.

Sadly, at the riverfront was the last time I saw the Bounty tall ship. That was some years ago, but I do remember that several months after the tall ship docked at Savannah, it perished in a storm. Most of the crew were rescued but the captain went down with the ship.

Back on land… There are a lot of cobblestones on River Street. Do you like walking on them? I feel like I have to wear my hiking boots or my feet would hurt!

In some of my books in the Savannah Sweethearts series, I mentioned this promenade where my characters would take walks after dinner or to watch the fireworks over the river. They let you sit at the edge there. A lot of times, there are street musicians and artists there. I enjoy my time at the river every time I get a chance to go to Savannah!

The Waving Girl looks like this:

Well, our trolley is moving again and we’re heading to the next stop, the beach town of Tybee Island. The drive will take about 15-20 minutes, so let’s see what’s happening on the trolley in the next post!

Post #6: We Wish You a Merry Early Christmas

https://www.facebook.com/groups/WhispersinWyomingRomance/permalink/392528938122009/

Now we’re going to take a little side trip across the bridge to the Atlantic Coast, where the tiny beach town of Tybee Island is still standing after all these centuries. While we’re waiting to get there, shall we sing some Christmas carols?

QUESTIONS FOR YOU: What are your favorite Christmas carols? Do you go caroling? Do you sing in a Christmas musical at church or in your local community?

GIVEAWAY: Comment for an opportunity to win Wish You Joy (Savannah Sweethearts Book 9), my one and only Christmas story to date.

After finding out that her mother has sold a majority share of the family business to a stranger, Amy comes home to Savannah to find out what’s going on. Will she find the meaning of Christmas at Chrisrtmastown USA?

Look for my next post and the next giveaway.

For those who just now hopped on the tour trolley, we are making our way out of downtown Savannah, across the river, heading to the beach town of Tybee Island on the Atlantic Ocean. Because it takes 15-20 minutes to get there (depending on our driver), we’re singing carols in the trolley! Come join us! Tell us what your favorite carols or Christmas songs are!

Does your church have a concert, performance, musical, or even at Christmas time?

And we have now arrived on Tybee Island! The next post has popped up. See you there at the last stop of our mini tour:

Post #7: Tour Stop #3: Tybee Island

https://www.facebook.com/groups/WhispersinWyomingRomance/permalink/392530691455167/

Even though General James Oglethorpe claimed Tybee Island for Britain, together with Savannah, the British were not the first people on the island back in 1733. Various Native American tribes have been hunting and fishing there for a long time, along with French and Spanish traders. Of course, American history buffs knew that in some ensuing battles later, Oglethorpe’s men (with Scottish soldiers among them), pushed the Spanish forces back to Florida.

Being on the Atlantic Ocean, Tybee Island has its fair share of sunrises over the sea. I try to mention sunrises or set some of my scenes just around that time of day in my Savannah Sweethearts books.

QUESTIONS FOR YOU: Where do you like to go on vacation? To the coast or the mountains? To the city or countryside? To somewhere in your own country or overseas?

GIVEAWAY: Comment for an opportunity to win Kiss You Now (Savannah Sweethearts Book 7), in which Priyanka and Hunter live in neighboring yurts in a glamping campsite on Tybee Island as they struggle at the crossroads of their careers.

Look for my next post!

Welcome to Tybee Island!

The weather is mild year around on Tybee Island, though you might need a sweater in the winter months. No snow, no blizzard.

Another view of the pier and the surrounding oceanfront homes.

The lighthouse on the island is not the original lighthouse that the British settlers built in 1732. The Tybee lighthouse was rebuilt many times over, and the final one was constructed after the American Civil War.

Tybee Island is not the only beach town I write about. One hour south of Tybee, we have St. Simon’s Island and Jekyll Island. St Simon’s is where I set a sister series to Savannah Sweethearts. I called it Seaside Chapel. Two of the books are out right now, Share with Me and Step with Me, while Sing with Me is on preorder.

Meanwhile, back on Tybee Island, the fishing industry is thriving. Here is what looks like a shrimp boat, though the label is fishing boat.

Coast or mountains? I like both!

Post #8: Warm Reads for Cold Days

https://www.facebook.com/groups/WhispersinWyomingRomance/permalink/392532791454957/

Are you familiar with my writing? I currently have five series in several genres. One of my series, Savannah Sweethearts, is finally completed after five years of writing, writing. Praise the Lord.

View my complete book list on my website: JanThompson.com

CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN ROMANCE & ROMANTIC WOMEN’S FICTION

Savannah Sweethearts (11 Books)

JanThompson.com/savannah

Vacation Sweethearts (5 Books)

JanThompson.com/vacation

Seaside Chapel (9-12 Books)

JanThompson.com/seaside

CHRISTIAN ROMANTIC SUSPENSE & INSPIRATIONAL ROMANTIC THRILLERS

Protector Sweethearts (6 Books)

JanThompson.com/protector

Suspense Sweethearts Collection (Box Set)

JanThompson.com/suspense

Binary Hackers (3 Books)

JanThompson.com/binary

Check out my books on Amazon: JanThompson.com/amazon

Subscribe to my mailing list for book news: JanThompson.com/newsletter

QUESTIONS FOR YOU: Have you read any of my books? Which ones?

GIVEAWAY: Comment for an opportunity to win a $5 Amazon gift ecard!

Look for my next post as we wrap up this mini tour.

Nice to meet you, if you’re new to me! I’ve enjoyed our little tour (I can’t believe it’s been over 3. 5 hours and we’re almost done with the tour), but it’s been nice to get to know you this evening.

Since we have several ladies who haven’t read my books, let me just share that my prequel novel, Ask You Later, is in the box of 34 books for the grand prize winner! Here is the description of this novel. It’s a prequel to Savannah Sweethearts and its spinoff, Vacation Sweethearts, as well as a prelude to the sister series, Seaside Chapel.
JanThompson.com/ask-amazon

I don’t want to sound sale-sy, but it just so happens that I did put 4 of my ebooks on a $0.99 Christmas super sale until the end of December, saving a total of $13 altogether. The sale has been going on since November. Better yet, if you’re a Kindle Unlimited subscriber, you can find most of my ebooks there! Rent the ebooks free with your KU subscription.

If you like Christmas romance:
Wish You Joy: JanThompson.com/wish-amazon

If your winter needs warming up, how about visiting the Bahamas:
Smile for Me: JanThompson.com/smile-amazon

Or the beaches of Tybee Island:
Ask You Later: JanThompson.com/ask-amazon

Orchestra music is not just for Christmas, but year round:
Share with Me: JanThompson.com/share-amazon

Post #9: The Warm Tour is Over!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/WhispersinWyomingRomance/permalink/392534041454832/

And now the Thompson Trolley Tour is back to where we started. Thank you for joining me on this wonderful tour. I hope you had a lot of fun and enjoyed yourself as much as I did.

If you enjoy reading clean and wholesome Christian Romance or Christian Romantic Suspense, but haven’t followed my author name, feel free to do so as I write more books in these genres for you to enjoy.

Author: Jan Thompson
Website: JanThompson.com
Mailing List: JanThompson.com/newsletter

Amazon: JanThompson.com/amazon

GoodReads: JanThompson.com/goodreads
BookBub: JanThompson.com/bookbub

Facebook: JanThompson.com/facebook
Twitter: @ThompsonAuthor
Instagram: JanThompson.com/instagram

Thank you, friends! Tour Guide Jan taking off my hat and signing off!

Don’t forget to comment on all the posts I made this evening so that you don’t miss the giveaways!

Once again, I’d like thank Lisa Prysock and the Whispers in Wyoming group for inviting me to guest host tonight. It has been so much fun!

The drawings for the giveaways will be done at the end of the Christmas extravaganza to give everyone time to comment. I will post the list of winners in a new thread.

Tour Stop Photo Credits: Pixabay

Merry Early Christmas to you and your family!

I am forever thankful to God for sending His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for my sins and to give me eternal life in Him. Saved in Jesus, I celebrate Christmas with peace in my heart. May God bless your heart with peace in Christ also!

Once again, thank you, everyone, for having me! It was a lot of fun! I hope you enjoyed the mini tour.

Again, the drawings for my giveaways will be done at the end of the Christmas extravaganza (Friday night after 9PM EST) to give everyone time to comment. I will post the list of winners in a new thread, which will be Post #10!

Post #10: Savannah Mini Tour WINNERS!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/WhispersinWyomingRomance/permalink/393175008057402/

This is where I post the winners of the tour stop giveaways that we did on December 5, 2019, in the 5-9PM timeframe, and ask for your email to send the ebook.

Do check back late Friday night (December 6 – the last night of the Christmas Extravaganza) or better yet, Saturday (December 7) for the winners list. I will tag you, so you’ll know. I hope that you have Notifications turned on for this Whispers in Wyoming group.

Meanwhile, the list of winners is coming soon!

Suspense/Mystery/Thriller BookFunnel Promotion (January 15-31, 2020)

“Snuggle Up with a Heartwarming Book!” (January 1-31, 2020)

Last Day: Christmas Scavenger Hunt!

Christmas-Themed Books at the CIB Reader Group

Christmas Scavenger Hunt Question #5

Scavenger Hunt Book #5: Wish You Joy

Scavenger Hunt Question #5: What didn’t Cyrus get to buy?

Christmas Extravaganza Facebook Party! (December 5, 2019)

Post #1: Introduction

Post #2: Let’s Go to Warm Savannah

Post #3: Tour Stop #1: Savannah Squares

Post #4: Something Hot, Something Cold

Post #5: Tour Stop #2: River Street

Post #6: We Wish You a Merry Early Christmas

Post #7: Tour Stop #3: Tybee Island

Post #8: Warm Reads for Cold Days

CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN ROMANCE & ROMANTIC WOMEN’S FICTION

CHRISTIAN ROMANTIC SUSPENSE & INSPIRATIONAL ROMANTIC THRILLERS

Post #9: The Warm Tour is Over!

Post #10: Savannah Mini Tour WINNERS!

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About Author Jan Thompson

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multi-author promotion

Scavenger Hunt Book #5: Wish You Joy

Scavenger Hunt Question #5: What didn’t Cyrus get to buy?

Post #1: Introduction

Post #2: Let’s Go to Warm Savannah

Post #3: Tour Stop #1: Savannah Squares

Post #4: Something Hot, Something Cold

Post #5: Tour Stop #2: River Street

Post #6: We Wish You a Merry Early Christmas

Post #7: Tour Stop #3: Tybee Island

Post #8: Warm Reads for Cold Days

CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN ROMANCE & ROMANTIC WOMEN’S FICTION

CHRISTIAN ROMANTIC SUSPENSE & INSPIRATIONAL ROMANTIC THRILLERS

Post #9: The Warm Tour is Over!

Post #10: Savannah Mini Tour WINNERS!

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