If you've followed me for long at all, you know I love all things bookish. Socks, T-shirts, mugs, etc. Therefore, it probably doesn't surprise you that I own a shirt and earrings that look like a Christmas tree made of books. I just can't help myself. They're too cute.
So, when my publishing company family decided to participate in our own version of Jolabokaflod, I was intrigued.
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I was addressing Christmas cards a few weeks ago and had to stop. It was the first year I would address an envelope to one person but not his spouse. The first time that name wouldn't be on my list. And it hurt. I stopped and teared up for a few minutes, praying for the family that would be without their Marmie at Christmas for the first time. For the man who would do Christmas without his wife.
I had a friend lose her dad a few weeks ago. Another has her dad on hospice. Several friends have received cancer diagnoses or news that wasn't what they wished. Another friend suffered a traumatic brain injury over Thanksgiving break. But it's Christmas. That means we have to be happy, right? All three of my Christmas stories have children in them. Want to know why? I can't imagine Christmas without kids.
Don't get me wrong. We had ten Christmases without children, while we waited on God's perfect timing. And I enjoyed those Christmases. But they lacked something. There is something magical about seeing the holidays through a child's eyes. They still believe in magic and see it in every piece of the holidays. Why not join them? Can fictional murders lead to real-life ones? I'd like to hope not, but just listen to this funny story from my good friend Deborah Sprinkles. She writes mystery and suspense and this new series of hers is sure to pique your interest. When I decided to write my Mac and Sam mystery series, starring Mackenzie Love and Samantha Majors, the first thing I had to do was choose a location. Would their private investigation firm be in an imaginary town like my first series or a real one? There were advantages to both.
I liked the idea of a small town close to a big city. It offered the best of both worlds. And, being from St. Louis, I knew the perfect location. Washington, Missouri, a small town on the Missouri River about forty-five minutes southwest of St. Louis. I’d been there a number of times and loved it. The Christmas trees decorated by theme are beautiful. Their big fluffy bows and color-coordinated ornaments are stunning. But that's not the kind of Christmas tree I want.
Granted, I also don't want one like I described in the first chapter of Mama Dated Santa, where all the ornaments are falling apart, tinsel is here and there, and some of the branches are in the wrong slot. Yeah, no. Thanks. There's something special about the tree we put up each year--and not because it's twenty years old (the one we bought our very first Christmas when we barely had any room to put a tree up). No, it's because the ornaments hold so many memories and reminisces. Today, I'm thrilled to introduce you to an author I've grown close to over the last year. First, by editing her first novel, a gorgeous Biblical fiction woven around the Samaritan woman and the Good Samaritan. Second, when we got to meet in person last month at ScrivCon. You guys! She's so much fun and I know you're going to love her too. Without further ado, let's chat with Linda Dindzans. Linda, what inspired you to give up your scalpel and take up a pen?
Since childhood I have been an avid reader of all genres, but particularly drawn to historical and biblical fiction. I’ve also been fascinated with the study of the Bible and facilitated and taught Bible studies. Prior to my retirement I had a story coming to me that would not let go. I found myself writing chapters in my head. That story grew, became a trilogy and got out of control. I set it aside but one day will pick it up again. At first, I planned to take a sabbatical to write, but after a couple of months I realized that this was retirement–– a new calling, a new direction. If you had asked me at the beginning how long it would take me to write a book, I would have guessed about two years. I was either very naive or a little bit arrogant. Probably both. Before I felt I had mastered the level of writing I was willing to submit, my writing journey was twelve years to publication and involved many writer’s conferences, online courses, critique groups and coaching. Have you ever wondered what it's really like to go to a Writers' Conference? Well, let me tell you.
It's a blast! Especially if you're like me and love to be around people. I LOVE to be around people. Especially people who I love. And a room full of authors is definitely full of people I love. But a lot of these people were extra special to me because we've worked together either as collaborators in a collection or as editor/author. And quite a few of them I had never met in real life. Last weekend, I went to ScrivCon, the Writers' conference my publisher puts on each year. It was amazing, and I got to hug so many people I'd only met online before now. So, that was pure bliss for me. I love hugs. Quite a few of those people were authors I had edited for over the past few years. And that was really fun too. Because even though we'd worked together, we'd never met in person.
Fast forward to Saturday evening, and there was a gala and award banquet. Well, I didn't expect to win anything despite having three books up for awards and being in the list of finalists for Editor of the Year. There were just too many other great authors and books and editors. But I bought a fancy dress and planned to enjoy myself anyway. This time of year, it's easy to get caught up in cheesy holiday movies on TV, but do you pay attention to the ratings? My friend and fellow author, Regina Rudd Merrick is here today to tell us how those ratings inspired a scene in her newest book. Christmas books are fun to write. Christmas Rewired is book 4 of my RenoVations, Inc. series, but, like last year’s Christmas story, 12 Days of Mandy Reno, it’s not a mystery—it’s just a little romance, a little fun, and a lot of Renos.
A few years ago, after years of avoiding them, my oldest daughter introduced me to the mindless joy of watching Hallmark movies. They come in all genres, and some are better than others. My favorites are the Rom-Coms. I realized, then, that these movies are exactly the kinds of stories I like to read as well as watch! Today, we have a treat for you. I have lured Colleen Hall away from her horses and her writing long enough to answer a few questions about herself and her stories. I think they're going to intrigue you as much as they do me. Be sure to read all the way to the end for a special note from Colleen about how to get her books right now. You started writing at an early age even though life interrupted your author goals. When you were
laid up after surgery, you could've put your interest and attention anywhere--what led you to pick up your old writings again? I found out that my niece had written a novel and was hoping to publish it. She planned to self-publish rather than go the traditional route, but her accomplishment started me thinking. If she could write a novel, why couldn’t I? That was the spark reignited my love of writing that had lain dormant for many years. So, while I was out of work recovering from surgery, I pulled out the manuscript that became Her Traitor’s Heart and started editing it. And the rest is, as they say, history. What leads you to write historical fiction? I grew up in New England around a lot of old things—200-year-old houses, antique furniture, history—so I guess I absorbed a lot of that into my psyche. I’m interested in history and historical stories, and my plots usually include some historical incident. w up in New England around a lot of old things—200-year-old houses, antique furniture, history—so I guess I absorbed a lot of that into my psyche. I’m interested in history and historical stories, and my plots usually include some historical incident. |
This is a place for me to tell you about what I'm writing, talk about the process or where some of my ideas came from, or even have other authors come in and talk about their books.
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