With a degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University, the last thing Melissa McClone ever thought she would be doing was writing romance novels. But analysing engines for a major US airline just couldnât compete with her âhappily-ever-aftersâ. When she isnât writing, caring for her three young children or doing laundry, Melissa loves to curl up on the couch with a cup of tea, her cats and a good book. She enjoys watching home decorating shows to get ideas for her houseâa 1939 cottage that is slowly being renovated. Melissa lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon, with her own real-life hero husband, two daughters, a son, two loveable but oh-so-spoiled indoor cats and a no-longer-stray outdoor kitty that decided to call the garage home. Melissa loves to hear from her readers. You can write to her at PO Box 63, Lake Oswego, OR 97034, USA, or contact her via her website: www.melissamcclone.com
Melissa McClone on RESCUED BY THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS:
âChristmas time is about love and affirminglife. My youngest child was due in January, and I drew upon my own experiencesfor writing Hannah. Like her, Iprepared endless lists, hoping to make theholiday the âbest everâ for my toddler andpreschooler while preparing for the new arrival. Unlike me, Hannah didnât have things go quite as planned, but what better way to celebrate this special season than with the birth of a child?â
Recent titles by the same author:
WIN, LOSEâ¦OR WED!
MARRIAGE FOR BABY PLAIN JANEâS PRINCE CHARMING
Dear Reader
In December 2006 three climbers went missing on Mount Hood in Oregon. The story captured media attention as rescuers struggled against weather conditions to find them.
Hoping to learn more about their fate, I stumbled across an on-line climbing forum where rescuers were posting about the search and rescue (SAR) operation. Sadly, the climbers perished, but the courage of the men and women on the mountain rescue units inspired and intrigued me. I knew I had to write this book.
One problem. I knew nothing about climbing. My husband climbed before we married, and he wanted to climb again, but I didnât want him anywhere near Mount Hoodâs summit. I decided not to ask him for help. Lucky for me, he wasnât offended. Through the internet I met climbersâsome members of mountain rescue unitsâwho not only helped me with my research, but became friends. The more I learned, the less I had to fear about climbing. I even gave my husband a guided trip up Mount Hood as a gift for our twelfth anniversary. He reached the summit during a climb in May 2007 and loved every minute of it.
My curiosity about climbing grew. Though Iâm scared of heights, I took a class at a local rock gym for some hands-on research and discovered I loved climbing! Iâve been climbing ever since.
Iâve written several books, but not one has changed my life the way RESCUED BY THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS did. For those who helped me discover a new passion to pursue, all I can say is thank you and climb on!
Melissa
For Portland Mountain Rescue (PMR), Central Washington Mountain Rescue (CWMR) and all the dedicated men and women who volunteer their time and talents to mountain rescue units.
Special thanks to Michael Leming, John Frieh, Mark Westman, Paul Soboleski, Lyneen Norton, Iain Morris, Steve Rollins, Keith Langenwalter, Hugh OâReilly, Debra Ross, cascadeclimbers.com and Virginia Kantra. Any mistakes and/or discrepancies are entirely the authorâs fault.
JAKE PORTER double-checked the gear in his pack, his motions driven by habit and a sharp sense of purpose. Bivy sack. Avalanche transceiver. Probe. Shovel.
His friends were somewhere up on Mount Hood in the middle of one of the worst weather systems to ever hit the Cascades in December. And Jake was going after them.
Carabiners rattled as he closed the pack. Now came the hard partâwaiting.
The other members of the mountain rescue unit sat at cafeteria tables inside the WyâEast day lodge, their faces tight and their voices low as they checked their own gear. Yawning reporters grabbed quick interviews between sips of coffee. Eager photographers snapped pictures of the early-morning mission preparations.
The overhead lights made everything look pale, stark and ominous, matching Jakeâs mood. The weather, too.
Outside, visibility sucked. The wind howled at forty miles per hour. The morning temperature hovered around thirteen degrees. The threat of frostbite and the very real avalanche danger made going to a higher elevation a foolâs errand. But in his five years as a member of Oregon Mountain Search and Rescue, Jake had never been more eager to confront the elements for a mission.
He wasnât the only one. Every single OMSAR member had responded to the alert. More than a few had already heard the news and been waiting for the call. Others hadnât waited and had come here on their own. All they needed was the go-ahead to start moving out. Up.