reviewsbyerin

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I'm delighted to welcome Ashlyn McKayla Ohm to my blog today! We're here to talk about her debut novel, When the Ice Melts.

Ashlyn and I met early this year, when she was looking for someone to beta read and give feedback on certain scenes from the book. She wanted to find someone who had experience with figure skating, and I replied to her query, saying I’ve never actually skated but I’m rather a huge skating nerd. It was such an honor to read Ashlyn’s scenes, and she was so gracious about accepting my feedback and asking for brainstorming help to make sure the technical aspects were working for me as an avid fan. I had a blast, and I can’t wait to read the finished product!

Here’s the blurb about When the Ice Melts:

Competitive figure skater Addisyn Miles has been running her whole life—both from her overprotective sister Avery and toward her dream of competing in the Olympics. Despite the compromises she’s made along the way, her future has never looked brighter—until a single moment shatters not only her dearest hopes but also her relationship with the man for whom she sacrificed her principles. In search of answers, Addisyn escapes to Whistler, Canada, where she meets Darius Payne, a lonely man with a crushing secret. But when Darius’s past threatens their relationship and Addisyn receives an unexpected invitation to return to the world she left behind, they’re both confronted by the truth they may not be brave enough to face.

Meanwhile, heartbroken by her younger sister’s rejection, Avery Miles has uprooted her life and relocated to Estes Park, Colorado. There, she seeks to bury her painful memories in the peace of the mountains—and the love of the God Who made them. She’s struggled to erase Addisyn from her thoughts entirely, but then she comes face-to-face with an unwelcome bit of her past—someone who poses the ultimate threat to Addisyn. Haunted by her own darkest fears, Avery must summon the courage to love her sister again—and find her before the clock runs out.

Compelling and captivating, When the Ice Melts is a story of broken dreams, desperate decisions, and the relentless grace of a love that never lets go.

Order your copy today!

Now let's meet Ashlyn! 🙂

Q: Ashlyn, can you tell us the inspiration behind the story?

A: While watching the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics on television, I was struck by the emotional impact of a figure skater who lost her chance at a gold medal by a heartbreakingly narrow margin. As I watched her gripping post-performance interview, I realized that the deepest stories from the Olympics were probably not from those who won but from those who lost. What do you when something pivotal to your identity is shattered, and how do you ever remember who you truly are?

I left the television and began scribbling some ideas on notebook paper, and I look back on that now as the moment that When the Ice Melts was born. That was four years ago, but I feel that the topics of Biblical identity addressed in the book—moving beyond failure, refusing to accept labels, and not mistaking our accomplishments for our value—are even more relevant today.

Q: Is this book a stand-alone, or will there be more in the series?

A: There will definitely be more installments in this story! When the Ice Melts is the first in the Climbing Higher series, which will continue the journeys of the main characters as they venture farther not only into the Rocky Mountains where the book is set, but also into the vast frontiers of God’s love for us.

Q: I know this is your debut novel, but what other kinds of writing do you do?

A: As is obvious from this novel, I love the outdoors! Therefore, I share monthly posts on my blog, Words from the Wilderness, where I explore a lesson or experience from nature through the lens of God’s Word. I’ve also published a 52-week devotional, A Year in the Woods, which continues the theme of using creation to draw closer to the Creator.

Q: Do you have any words of advice or encouragement for fellow authors who are hoping to see their own works published someday?

A: There are two great tools by which writers learn: reading and writing. It really is that simple. Read widely and look for patterns. What techniques strike you? What character dynamics speak most strongly to you? What makes you put a book down, and what makes you unable to put a book down? And then take what you learn and just start writing. The very act of pouring words onto a page is healing and life-giving. Don’t worry about being a “good” writer; just use your words to chase away the shadows and point to the Light of the World.

Q: What’s a Scripture that has been meaningful in your life?

A: I love the message of 1 Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (ESV). It’s so easy to become discouraged, especially for us as creatives. Writing can be lonely, publication is laborious, and gaining a following requires patience. Yet this verse reminds us that no matter the ups and downs of the process, our work is ultimately an act of worship to God. Even when our writing is rejected or we’re tempted to just give up, we can’t lose heart, because God delights in our offerings and is so worthy of all our praise.

Q: That's a great reminder! Where can readers connect with you?

A: I love to connect with readers! The best place for that is my website, Words from the Wilderness. There, you can read the first four chapters of When the Ice Melts for free as well as download an exclusive bonus scene. If you decide you’d like to read the whole book, you can find it on Amazon, or you can use the promo code READ2022 for 10% off the paperback from my website.

I’m also active on Instagram (@wildernessashlyn) and Facebook (Wilderness Words), and I love to chat with readers via my email: wildernessashlyn@gmail.com.

Thank you so much for having me, Erin! And thank you again for all the invaluable feedback you provided during the creation of When the Ice Melts.

You're so welcome! It's been great getting to know you and to have a small role in helping your story come into the world. 🙂

Readers, click here to check out When the Ice Melts. It's free on Kindle Unlimited or the ebook is only $1.99 to purchase, but I can't tell you how gorgeous the paperback is. It's so pretty! Please check out Ashlyn's website so you can follow her writing journey.