Toni Shiloh is a wife, a mom, and an award-winning Christian contemporary romance author. Her novel In Search of a Prince won the first ever Christy Amplify Award. It has also been praised by Oprah Daily, POPSUGAR, Library Journal, and Booklist and is a Parable bestseller. Her books have won the Christy Award and Selah Award and have been finalists for the Carol Award and the HOLT Medallion. As a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Faith, Hope & Love Christian Writers (FHLCW), Toni loves connecting with readers and authors alike via social media. Learn more at ToniShiloh.com.
FF: What sparked the idea of having two meddling kids play matchmaker in Matchmaking Christmas?
I love writing Christmas stories and so I was brainstorming one day about potential Christmas stories. Then it hit me that I haven’t read a story like that. And they say write the book you want to read so Matchmaking Christmas was born.
FF: Second-chance romances carry a special kind of emotional weight—what drew you to explore one specifically during the Christmas season?
There are so many mixed emotions around the Christmas season. So people absolutely love it and others have wounds that feel too raw during the holidays. I wanted to combine the two. What happens when two people are faced with the wounds of the past with the obvious cheer of the season their daughters possess.
FF: How did you approach writing convincing, funny, and heartfelt child characters who drive so much of the plot?
I absolutely adored writing these two girls. I think being a parent naturally helps me create funny and relatable children. Also, I’m a natural observer and I have so many stories in my mind from other friends who have children as well. I think all of that combined helped me craft two kids who drive the plot with glee and the joy of the holiday season.
FF: Without spoiling the story, what originally came between your two leads, and what makes this the right moment for them to find their way back to each other?
The problem that surfaced was different dreams. It’s so relatable too feel disconnected or even sever a connection because one person’s dreams seem in direct opposition to your own. And what better time of year to explore second chances than the Christmas season. There’s a change in the atmosphere that lends itself to hope and dreaming once again that all can be well.
FF: What holiday traditions or moments in the book capture the spirit of Christmas for you personally?
There are nods to Christmas baking, movie watching, and just the joy of togetherness. Those are all personally my favorite aspects of the season. I’m all for getting in the kitchen and baking comfort dishes that bring up nostalgia and gratitude. Our family also likes to watch different holiday movies throughout the season to spend quality time with each other. And because I have teen boys, they’ll definitely make their opinions known on whether or not the movies I find a classic translate to their generation. Spending time as a family fills my cup and I wanted to bring that into Matchmaking Christmas as well.
FF: What do you hope readers—especially those who’ve experienced a second chance in their own lives—take away from this story?
That the Lord is God of second chances! I think sometimes when we lose hope or stop daring to dream, we believe that we’ll never get a second chance to revisit those heart desires. But I’m a firm believer that God gives good gifts and I know second chances are one of those gifts.
FF: Is there a favorite line or moment from the book that still makes you smile?
There are probably too many moments to narrow down to just one. But definitely, when the girls are on scene, I’m laughing and grinning at the shenanigans they come up with.
FF: What’s one thing you’d want readers to know about the story before they dive in?
I’d love it if they come to the story with an open heart. To not just escape into the lives of the characters, but to see what God wants to do in their own hearts as they go on the journey of two matchmaking kids bringing a second chance to their parents.
