Focus on Christmas with Julie Lessman and giveaway

Please help me welcome Julie Lessman to my blog today. I am starting my Focus on Christmas series for December and have an interview a week lined up so far.  I love Christmas and love hearing how others celebrate as in Australia we do not associate snow and cold with Christmas. Thanks Julie for stopping by today.

1. Firstly thanks for coming to my blog to focus on Christmas. What do you most associate with Christmas where you live? 
Well, since I have MSD (the dreaded Martha Stewart Disease) and am an ambiance queen, I would have to say that my hearth room/kitchen area is the thing I most associate with Christmas because I go CRAZY with decorations. It's very private since it runs the length of the back of the house facing snow-laden woods (as I write this), and it's where my family and I spend most of our time. With a cozy and crackling fireplace decorated with a wreath, greenery, twinkle lights, a stuffed reindeer family in skates on a sled, Father Christmas and LOTS of candles, it's the perfect place to sit with my feet up, my laptop and a hot cup of cinnamon hazelnut coffee.  
There's also a simple but elegant Christmas tree, greenery around the screened-in porch French doors with Christmas cards hanging on it and mistletoe (of course!), reindeer and greenery over my kitchen window, and live greenery on the dining-room table strewn with gold gauzy ribbon, twinkle lights and gold and silver strings of beads. But … as glitzy and ga-ga as I go over décor, I would have to say that one of my favorite decorations is a very simple, foot-high wood carving of Joseph leading a pregnant Mary to Bethlehem on a donkey, which sits smack-dab on my kitchen windowsill, reminding me every day what Christmas is really all about.
  
2. Do you have any special family traditions you do at Christmas time? 
Yes!! For years I would fix a big breakfast with scrambled eggs, hashed browns, bacon, cinnamon rolls or monkey bread on Christmas morning after we would open presents. But one very special Christmas when my son was twelve and my daughter seven, they surprised my husband and me with a big breakfast instead. I remember waking up to the smell of bacon and Keith and I both bolting out of our bedroom thinking the house was on fire till the kids shooed us back to bed. That went on for years until my son got married. Now my daughter and I do it for everyone after we open presents, followed by a reading of the Christmas story from the Bible and a time of prayer and gratitude to God for all our many blessings.  


3. Do you have a favourite Christmas Carol and if so do you know why?  
There is an Amy Grant song on her Christmas album called Emmanuel that gives me goose bumps every time I hear it because it is so haunting, especially the lyric lines: And still he calls through the night, beyond the days of old, a voice of peace to the weary ones who struggle with the human soul.  


4. If you could spend Christmas anyway you could, how would you celebrate? 
Just like we do now. J 


5. Do you have any special memories of Christmas? 
As one of thirteen kids, I'd wake up Christmas morning to a wall of presents halfway up our ceiling-height tree. I remember it being pure chaos with everyone opening gifts at the same time, paper flying and everything over within minutes. It wasn't until I married and we adapted my husband's family tradition of sitting in a circle while each person took their turn opening one present at a time that I realized how magical and peaceful Christmas could be. Lots of ooohhs and ahhhs laced with love and gratitude while we enjoyed the unwrapping of other's gifts as well as our own. Pure bliss!!  


6. What is a typical Christmas eve and or Christmas day for you. 
Christmas Eve day is spent wrapping presents while watching old movies in the hearth room before heading to my mother-in-law's house for a dinner of Subway sandwiches, mostaccioli, potato salad, her famous meatballs, etc. prior to opening one to two gifts for everyone. 
Christmas morning, my son and daughter-in-law come over with the grand-dogs (two golden retrievers named Albert and Annie) and we eat a big breakfast, then open one present at a time in the living room (for the dogs too!), followed by Bible reading and prayer. Then we traipse off to my sister-in-law's house for Christmas appetizers/dinner in the afternoon. All in all, a pretty wonderful (and pound-heavy) celebration!!   


7. Do you have any Christmas movies or Christmas books you like to see or read each year? 
I usually like to watch Sound of Music or My Fair Lady, but my husband absolutely insists on watching White Christmasevery single year and … of course … both my son and husband LOVE Christmas Vacation.  


8. Do you have a Christmas message for my readers? 
Yes!! I pray for a happy and holy holiday season for everyone, followed by a new year that brings each of us even closer to the Father's heart. 
Thanks, Jenny, for hosting me on your blog!
I LOVE to hear from readers, so they can contact me through my Web site at http://www.julielessman.com/, either by sending an e-mail via my site or by signing up for my newsletter at http://www.julielessman.com/sign-up-for-newsletter/. My newsletter is chock-full of fun info on my books and there's always a contest going on. Also, I have a cool feature on my website called “Journal Jots,” which is a very laid-back, 3- times-weekly journal to my reader friends that would give your readers an idea as to my relaxed style of writing. Here's the link: http://www.julielessman.com/journal-jots/.


Finally, I can be found daily at The Seekers blog, (http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com/), a group blog devoted to encouraging and helping aspiring writers on the road to publication.





WINDS OF CHANGE SERIES, BOOK 1 -- A HOPE UNDAUNTED:
 

What happens when the boy she loved to hate ...

becomes the man she hates to love? 

The 1920s are drawing to a close, and feisty Katie O'Connor is the epitome of the new woman -- smart and sassy with goals for her future that include the perfect husband and a challenging career in law. Her boyfriend Jack fits all of her criteria for a husband -- good-looking, well-connected, wealthy, and eating out of her hand. But when she is forced to spend the summer of 1929 with Cluny McGee, the bane of her childhood existence, Katie comes face to face with a choice. Will she follow her well-laid plans to marry Jack? Or will she fall for the man she swore to despise forever? 

AUTHOR BIO FOR JULIE LESSMAN

Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. Winner of the 2009 ACFW Debut Author of the Year and Holt Medallion Awards of Merit for Best First Book and Long Inspirational, Julie is also the recipient of 13 Romance Writers of America awards and was voted by readers as “Borders Best of 2009 So Far: Your Favorite Fiction” at http://www.borders.com/online/store/ListView_best2009favefiction. She resides in Missouri with her husband, daughter, son and daughter-in-law and is the author of “The Daughters of Boston” series, which includes A Passion Most Pure, A Passion Redeemed, and A Passion Denied, as well as the recently released A Hope Undaunted, book 1 of her brand-new “Winds of Change” series. You can contact Julie through her website at www.julielessman.com.

Contest:
Julie has kindly offered one commenters the choice of one of her books. For a chance to win comment with your favourite Christmas carol or movie and why if you have a reason. You have till Friday Dec 10 6pm Aussie time.

Focus on Christmas Fiction with Diane Craver with giveaway

Please welcome Diane Craver to my blog today. Diane's book was released this week and looks like a good read (am about to read it very soon) I love the cover. There is also a chance to go in the draw for a copy of this lovely book.

Thanks Diane for visiting today.

1.    Firstly can you tell us a little about yourself?

Hi! Jenny, thank you for having me here today! I met my husband while teaching at an orphanage, and we married in 1975. We live about twenty-six miles from Cincinnati, Ohio. While raising our six children, I started writing nonfiction. Several articles have been published in Woman’s World Weekly, Virtue, Down Syndrome Today, The Catholic Telegraph, Writers Weekly.com and other publications. Later, I decided it would be a nice escape to write fiction. I’m published through a variety of houses, including Booklocker.com, Samhain, Desert Breeze, Whimsical Publications, and Victory Tales Press. I write fun and inspiring stories filled with memorable characters. My books have received great reviews from readers and reviewers. I give thanks to God daily for all my wonderful blessings.

  2.  Can you tell us how you came to write a Christmas book?

When I realized the story I wanted to write, I knew it would be perfect and heartwarming to have the father reach out to his family in a special way on Christmas Day.

3.   How did you come up with the title?

The father gives the most wonderful gift to his wife and their four children on Christmas Day that will impact them for the rest of their lives so I thought of A Gift Forever. After more consideration, I decided A Christmas Gift would be the best title.

4.   How did you find the topic and was it easy to write for you?

      I had thought of writing a story about my father for a long time. His life was hard with his mother’s rejection and being raised by various relatives. Even though both parents deserted him, he had a deep faith and was able to be a good father to me and my siblings.

      Although A Christmas Gift is fictional, the setting and different events are based on true experiences.

 5.  How did you come up with the characters for your story?

My parents and siblings inspired the characters, except in A Christmas Gift there are four children and I have four siblings.

 6.   Do you have a message you hope readers take out of your story?

        I hope readers will enjoy experiencing a simpler life…a nostalgia for a more innocent time while reading A Christmas Gift. I think an important message is the faith of young Debby. She never wavers in her belief that Jesus will answer her prayers for her father. I hope the readers, too, will see age is never an obstacle to  accomplishing your goals in life as long as you have faith in God and in yourself.   Justin Reeves is fifty-four years old when he finally accomplishes what he wanted his whole life. 

7.     Can you tell us a little about your story?

        I’d love to. First of all, some of the book is based on my childhood experiences, but the story line and characters are fictional. Debby Reeves is an adult in the prologue   and epilogue of the book. The rest of the book is told through the viewpoint of  Debby as a bright seven-year-old. Debby’s father’s Justin Reeves is a man who has it all: a good job, a loving wife and children who are the center of his universe. Justin also has a secret he's hidden from everyone his entire life. One night Debby stumbles upon his secret and is shocked by what she finds. She confronts her father with the    awful truth, and together they embark upon a journey which takes her father  from the darkness of shame into the light of victory.

8.     Do you have any upcoming projects you would like to share?

        I have a sweet contemporary romantic story “The Proposal” in A Christmas Collection. It releases the same time as A Christmas Gift by Victory Tales Press. There are three other stories in this anthology by talented authors.

9.     Finally where can we find you on the net?

 My website is http://www.dianecraver.com and my blog is          http://www.dianecraver.com/blog. I’m also on Facebook and various yahoo groups.

EARLY REVIEW OF A CHRISTMAS GIFT:
When I first opened this story I felt like I was reading an autobiography. A woman tells a story of a Christmas years ago that she remembers fondly. Let me start by saying that while I am not usually a fan of first person…..I really, really, really like it.

There was something so powerful and real about the story and the characters. The way a little girl looks at her daddy with hero worship in her eyes is a wonderful thing. And oh how my heart broke right along with Debby’s on several occasions. I cried more than once during this story…in a good way though. It was that touching for me that I was moved to tears.

A wonderful story that will really touch your heart. I highly recommend it.

www.sweetlyreviewed.blogspot.com

Want to win a copy of this book then Leave a comment to be entered in Diane’s drawing on Tuesday, November 30^th. The winner gets a $10 gift certificate to Amazon OR Barnes and Noble or one of Diane’s publishers, a signed print copy of either A Christmas Gift or A Christmas Collection Anthology, and an angel ornament. If the winner should live outside of the US, an ebook will be substituted.  you can leave a comment here or at the above blog which is Dianes blog.

Focus on Christmas fiction with Donita K. Paul

Please help me welcome Donita K. Paul to my blog today to talk about her Christmas book. There is also a link to a great contest at the bottom of the post (this is a link not this blog). Thanks Donita for joining us today.

1.    Firstly can you tell us a little about yourself?

 I live in Colorado Springs, Colorado, right near the foot of the mountains. I have two grown children and two energetic grandsons. I taught elementary school before I was a writer . I've always been a reader, and I think that is a strong foundation for those of us who cross the line and become writers.

  

2.    Can you tell us how you came to write a Christmas book?

 The first books I wrote were Christian romance novels. I started writing those in order to give my daughter, who was 13 at the time, something to read that didn't shock me. Later, I started reading fantasy books, and was inspired to write one. The Christian themes flowed naturally in my writing. That might be the result of teaching Sunday school for more than three decades. I love Christmas stories, and after I had turned in a dragon manuscript last year, I felt particularly drained. As a "vacation," from what I have been writing for the past 8 years, I dove into a modern winter city scene and found the most interesting characters trying to make merry for Christmas.

  

3.    How did you come up with the title?

Actually, the marketing department at WaterBrook did some brainstorming and came up with Two Tickets to a Christmas Ball. Aside: This is my favorite cover of all time. I love the colors and the feel of the scene.

  

4.    How did you find the topic and was it easy to write for you?

Usually, the topic finds me. I invest a lot in my characters and am truly interested in how they are going to resolve the problems in their lives. The story carries me to a point of making decisions. Hopefully, I convey that when you form your life around prime Biblical truths, you tend to make right decisions.

  

5.    How did you come up with the characters for your story?

A couple of the characters were inspired by people I knew, and even one of my dogs. However, most of them sprang out of depths of my vivid imagination.

  

6.    Do you have a message you hope readers take out of your story?

Even the unpleasant occurrences in life prepare you to enjoy your life to the fullest. 

  

7.    Can you tell us a little about your story?

 My Christmas book, Two Tickets to a Christmas Ball is a fun combination of romance, magic, and Christmas spirit. Contemporary matchmaking wizards decide to give a pair of protagonists the opportunity to fall in love. Neither protagonist is interested at first; they have opposite personalities. But as time passes, they begin to see each other as the ideal mate.

  

8.    Do you have any upcoming projects you would like to share?

I have three recent books. My fantasy novel, Dragons of the Valley, is a continuation of the Chiril Chronicles.  Vanishing Sculptor was the first in this series and is the prequel to The Dragon Keeper Chronicles. Vanishing Sculptor will be reissued this spring as The Dragons of Chiril. My other recent book is co-written with my daughter, Evangeline Denmark. It is a picture book called, The Dragon and the Turtle. Evangeline originally told the story to her 3-year-old son when he couldn't sleep. It turned out to be a wonderful tale of friendship with the main characters actually modeling how to become friends.

  

9.    Finally where can we find you one the net?

My website is www.donitakpaul.com

The website for the picture books I wrote with my daughter is www.dragonandturtle.com

At the moment there is a great contest at http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/contests-and-giveaways/  scroll half way down the page for the details. This contest will end 11/17/2010.

Focus on Christmas Fiction with Vickie McDonough

Please welcome Vickie McDonough back to my blog today to start a month of Thursday focus on Christmas books. I am eagerly awaiting this book to arrive its on order and on its way just not here yet.

1.   Firstly can you tell us a little about yourself?

I grew up in Oklahoma, which just 125 years ago was Indian Territory. The area I live in was part of the Creek Nation. When I was first married, I spent a year in Israel, living on a kibbutz (a community-owned farm) and traveling to different parts of the Holy Lands. It was an awesome experience.

As of the middle of October, I will have been married 35 years to a quiet computer geek. Robert and I have four grown sons, a daughter-in-law, and a feisty four-year-old granddaughter. When I’m not writing, I love to travel and do book research. I also enjoy reading, gardening, and watching movies and my favorite TV shows.

2.    Can you tell us how you came to write a Christmas book and how it is writing as part of a novella?

I’ve done several of the Barbour Christmas novella collections before. I wanted to do another one, so I pulled together a team of four authors, and we started brainstorming ideas. Mail-order brides is always a popular theme among historical romance readers and it interested all the members of our team, so we selected that topic.

Since our characters and stories weren’t related to one another, we established Mrs. Mayberry’s Matrimonial Society for Christians of Moral Character. Each gal writes to her future husband via the society, and in the last novella, Mrs. Mayberry even gets her own story. We also decided to have our heroines ride west on the transcontinental railroad to pull a little bit of real history into the book. Then we set the stories around Christmastime and used that as another theme that tied the novellas together.

All of this plotting and brainstorming was done online, because the four authors live in three different states. The other authors in this collection are Susan Page Davis, Therese Stenzel, and Carrie Turansky.

3.    How did you come up with the title.

Since it was a Christmas book, we wanted “Christmas” in the title. Brides book are always popular, and mail-order brides are even more well-like, so it was a pretty simple decision to call the book Christmas Mail Order Brides. We’re glad the publisher didn’t change it.

4.    How did you find the topic and was it easy to write for you?

The idea for my novella was penned a long time ago. It was a shotgun wedding story that I had proposed to my publisher in a “Shotgun Weddings” novella collection. But my publisher decided not to print any more novella collections, except for the Christmas ones, so the book got rejected. I loved the story and had hoped I’d find another place to use it, and I was glad that it found a home in the mail-order bride collection

5.    How did you come up with the characters for your story?

My novella, The Prodigal Groom, is a prodigal son vs. runaway story. Something terrible happened in my hero’s past that caused a breach between him and his father. He left home and never returned. When he becomes a Christian, he feels God compelling him to go home and make peace with this father. He is on his way to do that very thing when he encounters my heroine. She grew up in an orphanage, but since she’s eighteen now, she must leave the only home she’s ever known. When the orphanage’s creepy benefactor insists she come to work for him, she knows she can’t. Every girl who’s worked there has disappeared after a few months. Instead, she answers an ad and flees west to become a mail-order bride. Marrying a stranger has to be better than living with that lecherous, old man.

I think I kind of side-skirted your actual question. It’s hard to say how characters develop. Sometimes I’ll model one after a real person I’ve read about in a research book, other times I know my general story idea and shape my characters to be a good fit. I generally use the Heroes and Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes book to help me mold them.

6.    Do you have a message you hope readers take out of your story?

No matter what you’ve done, God will forgive you if you seek Him with all of your heart. No matter how bad your family life may be, He can heal and restore it. No matter how desperate your situation, God can help find a way out, if you only seek Him and put your trust in Him.

7.    Can you tell us a little about your story?

Since I did that already in question #5, here’s a blurb on the whole book: Ride the transcontinental railroad as marriage arrives by mail-order—and just in time for Christmas. Annika arrives in Wyoming to discover her intended is missing. Jolie’s journey to Nevada is derailed by disaster. Elizabeth carries a load of secrets to Nebraska. And Amelia travels to California to wrap up her final attempts at matchmaking. Will the holiday season be the ticket to spark love in unexpected ways?

8.    Do you have any upcoming projects you would like to share?

I’d like to mention that Second Chance Brides, book two in the Texas Boardinghouse Brides, just released. This is the sequel to The Anonymous Brides and continues the tale of two women who are left stranded in a small Texas town when they man they came to marry weds someone else. Now they must find a job—not an easy feat in such a little town—or find another man to marry. Dare they hope to marry for love?

I also have a new historical series set in South Carolina coming out next year. The titles are Mutiny of the Heart, Indigo Dreams, and Dueling Hearts. The first two of these books are set in the eighteenth century—something new for me to write.

9.    Finally, where can we find you one the net?

My website is www.vickiemcdonough.com  If you sing my guestbook, you’ll be entered in a drawing for a free book.

Also, If you search my name, you can find me on Facebook and Twitter, and I’m also a monthly contributor to the Bustles and Spurs blog: www.bustlesandspurs.com