Christmas Memories with Pam Hillman

Please join me in welcoming Pam Hillman to my blog today to talk about Christmas Memories.

Remember is you can get a further 8 entries in this weeks giveaway which you will find here.

1.      What do you most associate with Christmas where you live?

Ah, Christmas way down in South Mississippi, in the good ol’ USA. I’ll just say that it rarely ever snows in Mississippi, so a white Christmas with lots of beautiful fluff is not on the agenda. But it can be fairly cold. As I write this, it’s 28 degrees. But some Christmases, we’re in shirt-sleeves. The things I associate with Christmas: Jesus’ birth. Family. Laughter. Joy. Children. Practising Christmas plays, and then my own children being on stage in plays. And nativity scenes acted out by adorable little children. Those kinds of memories make me smile! I close my eyes and think about the smell of my mother-in-law’s house on Christmas morning, the laughter and the squeals of excitement as my kids and their cousins open their presents. Lots of hustle and bustle, not necessarily shopping, even though there is some of that, but family get-togethers, Christmas parties, Christmas plays and cantatas. Precious memories! 

2.    Do you have any special family traditions you do at Christmas time?

As families change, so do traditions. As a newly-wed, I had visions of making hot chocolate, playing Christmas music, and decorating the Christmas tree with my husband. My Norman Rockwell fantasy died a quick death. My Cowboy doesn’t drink hot chocolate, and he’s simply not into decorating! Later, when my children were small, I tried again. When 20 ornaments ended up on one poor beleaguered limb, I decided those boys were just like their daddy and a career in decorating was not in their future. Fast forward several years and my daughter-in-law decorated my Christmas tree this year! A tradition is born! Yes!!!!

(Jenny here it became my job to do the tree otherwise we would not have had a tree. mum would have been happy to not have a tree so I would do it when she was in bed)

3.    Do you have a favourite Christmas Carol and if so do you know why? 

I love Christmas music and as I write this, I have a Christmas cd playing. Generally, I work all year long in the quiet of my office, but occasionally I’ll listen to music. Today is one of those days. I used to wonder why we didn’t  listen to Christmas Carols all year long, but then I came to the conclusion that the very fact that we don’t play Christmas music until right around or right after Thanksgiving Day is what makes it so magical. Even though We Three Kings isn’t the most popular song at Christmas, I’ve just always loved it. I don’t know why, I just like the rhythm, and the words. Silent Night is a favorite, too. And The Little Drummer Boy.

4.    If you could spend Christmas anyway you could how would you celebrate?

At first, I read this question to ask anywhere, so I’ll answer it that way first. I’d be right where I’ve always been. Home. At my mother’s house. At my in-laws. At church. With my family. While I don’t actually make a lot of crafts, I like the idea of doing it. I think it would be fun to gather all my family in an old farm house somewhere (think The Waltons) where family members have to hand craft all the gifts. Rocking horses, sleds, carved animals, rag dolls for the children, homemade cookies, crafts and keepsake boxes for the adults. Children would make popcorn balls and craft paper ornaments. Cell phones, television, computers and electronic games would be banned for the duration. (Jenny here that is how I meant the question how would you spend a Christmas if you could do anything. I think I would like to have that sort of Christmas, I will be home alone and I miss having the excitement of being with a big group of people)

5.      Do you have any special memories of Christmas?  

I remember one year when my cousin and I decided to cut trees for both of our families. This was way before Christmas tree farms became popular. I was about 14. He was 12. Standing at a distance, we found these perfectly shaped trees. We chopped, and chopped, and chopped. It wasn’t until we got those trees on the ground that we discovered both were about 8-10’ tall and 6’ in diameter at the bottom and would never fit in our homes. Not to mention that we wouldn’t have had nearly enough ornaments to decorate them! We had to trim them at the bottom. Practically ruined the big, bushy look of the trees, but all that work taught us to pay attention to the size of a tree out in the woods the next time we got a wild hair to cut down a tree. (Jenny again Oh I love it and its amazing what looks smaller outside is often bigger.)

6.    What is a typical Christmas eve and or Christmas day for you.

We have a quiet Christmas Eve mostly, sometimes at my mothers, depending on when my nieces and nephews come to visit. If Christmas Eve or Christmas day falls on Saturday, Sunday, or Wednesday, we don’t dismiss church. We carry on services as usual, but celebrate Jesus’ birth singing Christmas songs, reading the Christmas story, sometimes by candlelight. Simply beautiful. Now that my children are grown and we don’t have little ones around, Christmas morning at my house is fairly quiet as well. Things start hopping around 10 am when we go to my in-laws for a huge breakfast, then exchange gifts there. I have some great-nieces and nephews, so the excitement of Christmas morning is fresh and new with children around.

7.     Do you have a Christmas message for my readers?

Over the years, as I’m sure all of us have, my Christmas has run the gamut of over-the-top commercialism to tough years where we tightened our belts a bit and did without, from the abundance of health to having loved ones hospitalized or at death’s door on Christmas day. From year to year, the pendulum swings from one extreme to the other. But no matter our circumstances, no matter if there is no money to buy toys or extra food, no matter if you or a loved one is sick and the doctors have given up hope, no matter if you’re sitting in a foxhole in a war-torn country, or wondering where the money for rent will come from…Jesus was born on Christmas morn to wipe it ALL away. All sickness, all financial troubles, all worries, war and strife. No, answers might not come today. Answers might not even come in this lifetime. But He is the answer. He’s the reason for the season. Now and for always.

BIO: Pam Hillman was born and raised on a dairy farm in Mississippi and spent her teenage years perched on the seat of a tractor raking hay. In those days, her daddy couldn’t afford two cab tractors with air conditioning and a radio, so Pam drove the Allis Chalmers 110. Even when her daddy asked her if she wanted to bale hay, she told him she didn’t mind raking. Raking hay doesn’t take much thought so Pam spent her time working on her tan and making up stories in her head. Now, that’s the kind of life every girl should dream of! Claiming Mariah is her second novel. www.pamhillman.com

Book Review Claiming Mariah by Pam Hillman

Product Description:
In light of her father’s death, Mariah Malone sends a letter that will forever alter the lives of her family. When Slade Donovan, strong willed and eager for vengeance, shows up on her front porch, Mariah is not ready to hear his truths: her father’s farm, the only home she’s ever known, was bought with stolen gold. With Slade ready to collect his father’s rightful claim and force Mariah and her family out on the streets, Mariah must turn to God for guidance. Though Mr. Frederick Cooper, a local landowner, promises to answer her financial woes if she agrees to be his bride, Mariah finds herself drawn instead to the angry young man demanding her home.

With the ranch now under Slade’s careful eye, he will unearth more than he ever imagined as a devious plot of thievery, betrayal and murder threatens more than the well-being of the ranch, endangering the lives of those who hold it dear. With days dwindling until the rest of the Donovan clan arrive to the Lazy M ranch, Mariah and Slade must rise above the resentment of their fathers and see their true feelings before greed alters their futures forever.

My Review:
Another really good book by Pam Hillman. This time we the story revolves around Mariah Malone who after her fathers death has decided to right a wrong. Slade Donovan is the son of the man her father wronged and is out to get what he believes should be his families. We see what happens due to something their fathers did and the fall out. Slade wants his family to have the home they always deserved and hasn't thought of what that will mean to Mariah and her family. I love the story and there are other characters like Slade's brother who threatens to steal the show at times. I was drawn to Mariah and her fighting spirit and also felt for Slade. There are a few misunderstandings due to assumptions which were interesting. Really loved the book and can't wait to read more books by Pam. 

Blog Tour Claiming Mariah by Pam Hillman with giveaway

Please join me in welcoming Pam Hillman to my blog today as part of her Claiming Mariah blog tour. You will find chances to win prizes at the end of the post along with a way to win the book here on my blog. Pam has written a post about Making hay which is quite interesting.

Make Hay While the Sun Shines

I’m sure you’ve heard the old saying, “make hay while the sun shines.” A simple saying, really, meaning to get your work done while it’s daylight, before time runs out, or while things are going good. But, literally, there’s more to it than that. I grew up hearing this saying. I’ve lived it. So, let me explain how to make hay while the sun shines from a Mississippi farm girl’s perspective.

There is a short window of time when grass is ready to cut, and the weather plays a huge role in how long that window lasts. Btw, we never actually say we’re going to go cut the grass. We say we’re going to cut hay. Cutting grass is just mowing the yard. Just sayin’

So, my modern-day cowboy has to keep one eye on the hayfield and one on the weather. He uses weatherchannel.com to track one, two, three, five day forecasts. Sure, meteorologists miss the forecast on occasion, but having those reports is better than what my daddy and his daddy had to work with. Next, my cowboy goes to the local watering-hole and talks to the men there. They all have an opinion about how much rain to expect, when, and how long it might last. He takes their opinions to heart because some of those men have been baling hay for a long, long time.

Once he’s made up his mind to cut hay, he goes at it with a vengeance. He sharpens the blades on the hay mower, makes sure it’s greased up, fires up the John Deere and away he goes. He can cut hay day or night. Doesn’t matter if the dew has fallen or not. So, he might cut hay into the wee hours, or get up really early and start a field. He has been known to enlist one of our sons or a neighbor and run two mowers at once.

Once the hay is cut, the sun dries—or cures—it. This generally takes 36-48 hours, depending on how thick the hay is. About half-way through this process, it’s time to fluff the hay. When I was a teen, I rarely remember us fluffing hay unless it was extremely thick. Now, we almost always fluff it just to speed up the process. There is a special piece of equipment called a hay fluffer. Basically, the fluffer stirs the hay, turning it upside down, and letting the sun dry the hay that has been on the bottom.

There comes a point when the hay is just right for baling: not too green, and not to dry. And you hope it gets to this point without a storm rolling in while the hay is on the ground. If it rains between cutting and baling, you have to let the sun dry the hay, fluff it again, dry some more, then rake and bale. But there’s only so much of this fluffing/drying/raking cycle the hay can take before it looses most of its nutritious value.

The hay has been cut, it’s been fluffed, the sweet scent fills the air, and a storm’s a brewing! Yikes! But wait, you can’t just jump up at daylight and bale hay. Not in Mississippi. You have to wait until the sun burns the dew off the hay. So, we’re chomping at the bit waiting for mid-to-late morning, hoping to beat the rain.

Two tractors hit the field, one pulling a double-sided contraption that rakes the hay into windrows, the other pulling a big round hay baler. It can take half a day to bale a forty acre field, but it’s a wonderful feeling to finish up before that first big, fat raindrop falls!

~

Pam is thrilled to announce the release of her second novel,

Claiming Mariah

Claiming Mariah

In light of her father’s death, Mariah Malone sends a letter that will forever alter the lives of her family. When Slade Donovan, strong willed and eager for vengeance, shows up on her front porch, Mariah is not ready to hear his truths: her father’s farm, the only home she’s ever known, was bought with stolen gold. With Slade ready to collect his father’s rightful claim and force Mariah and her family out on the streets, Mariah must turn to God for guidance. Though Mr. Fredrick Cooper, a local landowner, promises to answer her financial woes if she agrees to be his bride, Mariah finds herself drawn instead to the angry young man demanding her home.

With the ranch now under Slade’s careful eye, he will unearth more than he ever imagined as a devious plot of thievery, betrayal and murder threatens more than the well-being of the ranch, endangering the lives of those who hold it dear. With days dwindling until the rest of the Donovan clan arrive to the Lazy M ranch, Mariah and Slade must rise above the resentment of their fathers and see their true feelings before greed alters their futures forever.

Pam Hillman was born and raised on a dairy farm in Mississippi and spent her teenage years perched on the seat of a tractor raking hay. In those days, her daddy couldn’t afford two cab tractors with air conditioning and a radio, so Pam drove the Allis Chalmers 110. Even when her daddy asked her if she wanted to bale hay, she told him she didn’t mind raking. Raking hay doesn’t take much thought so Pam spent her time working on her tan and making up stories in her head. Now, that’s the kind of life every girl should dream of! Claiming Mariah is her second novel. www.pamhillman.com

To celebrate, Pam is giving away two eReaders

(choice of Kindle Wi-Fi, 6" Display, or Nook Simple Touch)

Two Winners: One on facebook. One through Pam’s Newsletter.

Facebook Drawing: Kindle/Nook Giveaway

Newsletter: Pam’s newsletter.

Registering both places is not required but will double your chances of winning. Also keep in mind that you will receive updates more often being connected on facebook than through the newsletter. Just sayin’

Contest runs from January 1^st until March 31^st, 2013.

And....that’s not all! There will be prizes offered randomly throughout the tour.

Pam is especially excited about this week’s giveaway:

A horn fountain pen handcrafted by Herbert Johnston

Clinton, MS

PREVIOUS STOP ON TOUR

January 16^th: Blogging with Dora Hiers

http://dorahiers.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/pams-publishing-ps-part-one-by-pam.html

NEXT STOP ON TOUR:

January 18th: Blogging with Preslaysa Williams

http://www.preslaysa.com

Click for a Complete List of Stops Along the Tour

www.pamhillman.com

I finished this book but haven't had time to do a review yet it will be up in a day or so. Have to take it easy typing at present. 

GIVEAWAY

I am giving away one Kindle ecopy of Claiming Mariah from Amazon to one commenter on my blog if I get 10 commenters. Pam has some questions for you to answer you can answer any of them to enter. (Putting please enter will not be considered without an answer.) Please leave a way to contact you. You have til Jan 24th 6pm Aussie time to enter.

"Are you surprised at the amount of time and effort it takes to bale hay? Did you know the weather played such an important part of the process?"

"Is there anything about farming or ranching you'd like to ask?"

"It's your turn. Are you a city girl or a country girl? And have you ever dreamed of leaving that life for the other?"

Getting to know you Thursdays with Pam Hillman and a review.

Please welcome Pam Hillman to my blog today. Pam's debut book was released in ebook format recently and for a limited time it is free (see link below) This is an excellent book and I am so happy Pam agreed to be on my blog. Now a shameless plug for this book its in my top 5 for the year so far. 

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself? Award-winning author Pam Hillman writes inspirational fiction set in the turbulent times of the American West and the Gilded Age. Her debut book, Stealing Jake, won the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Genesis contest and was a finalist in Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Golden Heart contest. She lives in Mississippi with her husband and family.
   

2. When you were a child did you have a favourite book or books? When I was about five, my favorite book was The Kitten Twins, about two mischievous kittens named Twinkle and Boo. For some reason, I didn’t have a lot of books at home, and didn’t learn to read until I started first grade. But I caught on quickly and fell in love with books. One day, our teacher, Mrs. Smith, told us to bring something to school to trade with the other children. I remember taking a small stuffed bear I had gotten on vacation in the Great Smokey Mountains in Tennessee. One of the girls brought the book, The Kitten Twins. Oh, I wanted that book! And I got it. I never forgot that special Little Golden book. I even named my real kittens Twinkle and Boo.
(Jenny again I this story I loved the little Golden books they were so cool)

3. Do you have a favourite Genre to both read and write? I love to read and write historical romance, especially prairie romance and westerns set in America during the late 1800s. I don’t know why I fell in love with that genre and that era. Maybe it was all those John Wayne movies and Gunsmoke episodes I watched as a kid. (Jenny here I loved westerns as a child have to say loved the Cisco Kid but I also loved the movies still love watching them)

4. Did you have favourite authors growing up who have influenced you? I cut my teeth on the great western writer, Louis L’Amour. L’Amour kept me mesmerized with his tales of cowboys and Indians, outlaws, prim schoolteachers, hot dry deserts and boom towns.

5. When did you know you wanted to be an author? I knew I wanted to be a writer by the time I was 8 or 9 years old. There was a small public library where we checked out books once a week on the way home from school. My brother and my cousins were okay with stopping by the library on the way home from school, but it was the highlight of my week! I checked out the maximum allowed (I think it was 3) and my cousin, Joy, checked out 3 more that I wanted to read in her name. I’m sure I even twisted her little brother’s arm and made him check out books I picked out! lol

6. How did you go about becoming an author? As a child, I was fascinated by how authors put all those stories on paper. Somehow, my brain just naturally made up stories. But for years, I didn’t write them down. I tried to get started a few times, but didn’t know how to construct a compelling story with an interesting beginning, firm middle, and satisfying ending. So out of lack of knowledge and fear of failure, I just kept dreaming. I think I had the idea that as long as I didn’t attempt to write, I couldn’t fail at writing. In 1994, I decided that if I was ever going to write, I had to stop kidding myself and get to work. This was before the internet changed our lives, and the first thing I did was go to the library and check out the only book they had on becoming a writer. It was “How to write a Romance” by Kathryn Falk. I read it, picked one of the many ideas in my brain to start writing, and began. Oh, and I need to add that this was when Apple came out with the Apple Macintosh computer. I was a young mother with two children and my mother wanted to give me a gift. She asked what I wanted. I told her a computer. I had a computer science degree but no computer at home. So, now I had a computer so I could write. I’m not sure I would have ever attempted it if I had to write long-hand. Next, the librarian called me one day and told me that a lady was there who was also interested in writing a novel. I left work and we met and chatted for a while. She was a member of Magnolia State Romance Writers of America, the RWA chapter in Mississippi. So, that connection led me to RWA. It was there that I met real, live flesh and blood women who were writing novels and getting them published. At that point, I realized my dream was something I could attain. Someday. Somehow.

7. If you were not a writer what would you like to be? Maybe this is hard to believe, but I can’t think of a thing! Other than being an observer of people. Can I get paid to do that? (If you can get paid for this I can get paid to be a professional cricket follower)

8. Outside reading and writing what do you like to do? I like traveling, just meandering all over the place with no set agenda in mind, and eating at really good old-fashioned restaurants.

9. Do you have a place you love to visit or would love to visit? I’ve always wanted to travel overseas. I’d love to visit England, Ireland, and Australia (and I’m not just saying that because I’m talking to YOU, Jenny!) I’m not fond of the idea of being in an airplane for 10-12 hours, but maybe someday, I’ll get the chance. (The flight seems worse than it really is I have done the 17 hours to Vancouver and survived, 10 hours to Hawaii, make sure you have a good book and that you have access to movies or something if you dont sleep. Coming back from hawaii I read one of Mary Connealy's books)

10. If you could have a meal with 3 living people who would you choose and why? I would say my husband and two sons, but then the boys would bring their girlfriends, so that would be six of us, so that’s too many. But I’d rather hang out with them that anyone. So….let’s see. Only 3? Sigh. That leaves out the Seekers, since there are 15 of us. Seriously, I’d rather have dinner with 3 family members or 3 of my writing friends, or agents and editors at ACFW than a Saudi Arabian prince or a king or the President. The very thought gives me hives. Let me sit around a campfire listening to some ol’ cowpoke nobody’s ever heard of spinning tales about his adventures, and I’m happy.

Finally can you tell us about your current books and/or any that will
be coming out soon. Also where we can find you on the web.

My debut novel, Stealing Jake, released from Tyndale House Publishers July 2011.

When Livy O'Brien spies a young boy jostling a man walking along the boardwalk, she recognizes the act for what it is. After all, she used to be known as Light-fingered Livy. But that was before she put her past behind her and moved to the growing town of Chestnut, Illinois, where she's helping to run an orphanage. Now she'll do almost anything to protect the street kids like herself.

Sheriff's deputy Jake Russell had no idea what he was in for when he ran into Livy--literally--while chasing down a pickpocket. With a rash of robberies and a growing number of street kids in town--as well as a loan on the family farm that needs to be paid off--Jake doesn't have time to pursue a girl. Still, he can't seem to get Livy out of his mind. He wants to get to know her better . . . but Livy isn't willing to trust any man, especially not a lawman.


Please visit me on the web at www.pamhillman.com, www.calicotrails.blogspot.com and www.seekerville.blogspot.com

Link to free down loads

Stealing Jake Prologue and 1st Chapter:

http://pamhillman.blogspot.com/2007/11/stealing-jake-prologue.html

Stealing Jake Amazon link:

http://www.amazon.com/Stealing-Jake-ebook/dp/B0057Z87DK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1309377471&sr=8-1

Stealing Jake B&N link:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stealing-jake-pam-hillman/1103995167?ean=9781414366616&itm=1&usri=stealing%2bjake

Stealing Jake CBD link:

http://www.christianbook.com/stealing-jake-ebook-pam-hillman/9781414366616/pd/19108EB?item_code=WW&netp_id=936169&event=ESRCG&view=details

  

Thanks again for your time and agreeing to be on my blog.

Jenny, it’s been a pleasure to be your guest. Thank you for asking me. I’d love for your readers to download Stealing Jake. It’s available for free for a limited time!

And I’m giving away a Kindle in October. Deadline to enter is September 30^th

.


My Review: 
This book is amazing. I loved the story. Livy has lived on the streets and has a real heart for street kids. She remembers what its like to have to struggle for food, warmth and survival. Jake has no idea he thinks street kids are a problem that needs to be moved on. Jakes opinion is common of many people. Add a to this mix the fact the street kids are being brought to town by an unknown man. I love reading livy's story how her life has changed and she is now working in an orphanage helping look after orphans, she would like to help all the children but knows its hard for them to trust adults. Jake also has to deal with some of the issues of the children also when some robbery start to happen. We see themes like redemption, forgiveness, acceptance in this book. When I was reading this book I was thinking about children today we still have foster children who are still mistreated. There are also children in third world countries that are badly mistreated today. I love a book that makes me think about different issues. This is a great book and I cant wait to read more books by Pam.