I feel like a bride again … more than forty years after my own wedding.

Here we are–Markus, a dashing groom, and I, a blushing twenty-year-old bride–at our wedding at a beautiful farm, beginning the rest of our lives … together.

Now some 40 years later he’s retired and for the first time we’re traveling together–not a second honeymoon but for book tour–celebrating the release of my new novel A Lowcountry Wedding. From the seaside book reception at the Wild Dunes Resort Grand Pavilion on Isle of Palms, South Carolina to our multiple book signings, book talks, and literary luncheons across the country. Planes, trains, and automobiles!

There have been toasts with the novel’s signature drinks. (Firefly peach moonshine and champagne, need I say more?)

I’ve cut a wedding cake–seriously–with my book editor.

We’ve reunited with family members, readers, booksellers, bloggers, and friends. And we’ve been showered with generosity, kind words, and even gifts.

Like a bride and groom driving off after an exciting wedding reception, Markus has been by my side, driving me to book tour events. This is a first for him, and he says this experience together has been on his bucket list. Prior to his recent retirement, he could never accompany me because of his own work commitments. But now, he’s been working by my side– snapping photos, helping with book signings, and being well… my greatest support, my best friend, my husband.

The reality is–were it not for his belief in me and his support all these years–I may not have ever experienced this wild journey in fiction writing so many years ago. I’m so happy to share this particular book tour with him, hand-in-hand, just like we began our lives together so many years ago.

I believe it’s serendipity that my first novel featuring weddings as the major storyline is the first time my husband could accompany me on this adventure.

And thank you, my readers and booksellers and book reviewers. Without your support, I wouldn’t be doing this, twenty published books later. What an incredible journey together!

This is the final leg of my summer book tour, and it’s also the final week of my special $40,000 Lowcountry Wedding Giveaway. Contest entries deadline is May 31st.

Charleston’s best wedding vendors will give one lucky bride and groom the southern wedding of their dreams! Like a scene right out of my novel A Lowcountry Wedding, the winning couple will have a gorgeous plantation wedding and reception at the historic Legare Waring House in Charleston, SC with up to fifty guests. Then on June 13th, I’ll reveal the finalists to you–the public– who gets to vote on the winning couple. I can’t wait to see which deserving couple wins this amazing gift! To enter, visit: www.maryalicemonroe.com/weddingcontest, fill out a brief form and upload a short, candid video explaining why you want to win a Lowcountry wedding. This is nothing short of a dream wedding, thanks to A-list vendors and their generous contributions totaling $40,000.

Thank you again, my dear readers, for your love and support of A Lowcountry Wedding.

You’ve given my new novel wings to soar and made me feel like a blushing bride all over again!