It's Beginning to Read a Lot Like Christmas 2025: Author Interview with Vida Li Sik

What made you decide to write a Christmas themed book? Could you give a short synopsis on the book for my readers?
Living in the Southern Hemisphere means we don’t get snowy Christmases—our festive season is all sunshine and summer fun. The closest we come to snow is high up in the mountains during July, and that became the inspiration for my story, Giving Heart—a “Christmas in July” tale set around a cozy lodge in beautiful Lesotho.

Giving Heart is a story of second chances. After a painful breakup, single mother Hannah has sworn off love and trust. But when she joins a snowy midyear getaway, she meets Henri, a man who’s long buried his own dreams of family. As laughter fills the air and snowflakes fall, old wounds begin to heal. Will they find the courage to open their hearts again—or let the past keep them apart?

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?
Here in South Africa, we celebrate Christmas in the middle of summer. Our family starts the day by exchanging gifts after breakfast, then we gather for a big, leisurely lunch with loved ones. The afternoon is filled with board games, swimming, and plenty of laughter—the perfect time to relax, unwind, and simply enjoy being together.

What’s next in writing for you?
Next year, I’ll be joining the multi-author, multi-genre Our House series of Christian novellas once again—this time set in a charming little village in South Africa’s Cape Province, one of the most breathtaking places on earth. I’ve loved being part of the first two series, which took us to England and Scotland, and I’m thrilled to continue the journey closer to home. On my own, I’m also working on a small-town series of novellas set in a fictional South African town—a project that’s been on my heart for years. I’ve even started writing two of the stories already, and I can’t wait to bring this dream to life.

What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given you’d like to share?
I’m not a fan of detailed outlines, but I’ve discovered the value of creating a simple “skeleton” outline. It maps out the main plot points and key challenges my characters will face, giving me just enough structure to guide my writing while still leaving room for creativity and surprises along the way.

What do you know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner?
The value of a critique partner to help you decide if the story works or not, and to help you not to be sentimental when it comes to cutting scenes or dialogue that don't serve the story.

Any last words or tips?
Build a supportive writing community around you. Connect with a few fellow writers to share ideas, offer feedback, and encourage each other through every stage of the journey. Consider teaming up to write a shared series or set your stories in the same fictional town—it’s a fun way to collaborate, grow together, and reach new readers you might never have found on your own.

What’s your newest release that you’d like to tell my readers about?
I’ve just released my latest women’s fiction novel, The Baker’s Pickle—book 12 in the Our House on Heather Wynd series, set in a charming fictional Scottish village. The story explores adult sibling rivalry and the power of forgiveness, blending my love of baking with my passion for writing about multicultural characters.

That's all for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Vida's current and upcoming books, here are some links to get you started. 

Website: https://vidalisik.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vidalswriter

Since this is the Christmas season, here's a tip on how to get a free eBook. Sign up for Vida's newsletter and you'll get a copy of Giving Heart when you sign up . 
https://storyoriginapp.com/giveaways/b56253b0-ba56-11ef-967a-8be90ae0d202 

It's Beginning to Read a Lot Like Christmas 2025: Author Interview with Cathe Swanson

What made you decide to write a Christmas themed book?

Every year, I write a book for the Christmas Lights Collection, so I have quite a few Christmas books. For the past three years, I have written books set in Golden Valley, Montana: Hashtag Hitched at Christmas, A Gold-Fashioned Christmas, and A Christmas Glow-Up. This year’s collection, Lovelight Gleams, is our 10th annual collection!

Could you give a short synopsis on the book for my readers?
When social media influencer Lindy Sutton loses her job in Seattle, the last place she expects to land is Golden Valley, Montana—population 500 and shrinking fast. Her great-aunt Clara has recruited her to promote a brand-new conference center as the ultimate destination wedding venue, complete with ghost town backdrops and Rocky Mountain sunsets. It's a quirky gig with a tight deadline: document a New Year's Eve wedding that will save a dying town. But between the bride's questionable choice in grooms, a banana-yellow rental car that won't go uphill, and a frustratingly handsome sheriff who keeps pulling her over, Lindy's Montana adventure is nothing like her carefully curated Instagram feed.

Sheriff Wyatt West has his hands full keeping the peace in Gold River County, especially with his father waging a one-man war against the very conference center that represents the town's last hope for survival. The last thing Wyatt needs is a glamorous city girl with a ring light and a sports car disrupting his orderly world. Yet somehow Lindy's enthusiasm is contagious, her laughter is irresistible, and those sunset-amber eyes make him forget every reason he should keep his distance. When vandalism threatens the town's dreams and family secrets come to light, Wyatt must choose between loyalty to his father and his growing feelings for a woman who might not stay past New Year's.

As Christmas approaches and wedding plans unravel, Lindy discovers that Golden Valley isn't just a backdrop for her videos—it's becoming home. But can a small-town sheriff and a big-city influencer find common ground when their worlds are hashtag-incompatible? In a season of hope and second chances, two hearts will learn that the best gifts can't be wrapped, the truest love stories aren't scripted, and sometimes God's greatest blessings come in the most unexpected packages.

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?
I love to decorate my home for Christmas with things that are special to me -- family heirloom decorations and many that are handmade by me or friends and family. I have a lot of framed photos from family Christmas celebrations over the past fifty or sixty years, and I hang them up only at Christmastime, covering most of one wall. They get packed away after the holiday, so it’s fun to see them “fresh” each Christmas. The grandchildren enjoy seeing the pictures of their parents and grandparents celebrating Christmas as children.

What’s next in writing for you?
I’m currently working on a series set in the late 1960s to early 1970s. My generation experienced dramatic political, cultural, economic, and spiritual changes in our lifetime! These books will have some romance, but they are primarily mystery/suspense. And Jesus People!

What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given you’d like to share?
Maintain a “series bible” with all the details for each book, to stay consistent. Otherwise, I forget things from one book to the next. I recently had a man inherit property from an aunt he’d never met, because he was her only living relative. But I had initially introduced him as having parents and siblings! (Younger authors might not have this problem.😉)

What do you know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner?
Prepare to treat it like a business from the start, with separate bank and Amazon accounts. Track expenses and income closely and learn to read the data, making practical decisions based on accurate information. And keep up to date on it all year, to make tax returns less stressful.

Any last words or tips?
Write at your own “spiritual comfort level” for each story. Don’t downplay the Christianity because you’re afraid you might turn people off, and don’t try to shoehorn religion into a story just because you want to write Christian fiction. Keep it natural. My books tend to be heavy in Christian content because they are usually set in Christian ministries and communities. Scripture is quoted. Sermons are discussed. Prayer is offered aloud. The books that are set in more secular environments still have Christian characters, and they behave like Christians (you know… sinners saved by grace!), but the stories are less “saturated” in daily Christian life.

What’s your newest release that you’d like to tell my readers about?
Don’t miss this year’s Christmas Lights Collection: Lovelight Gleams

It includes contemporary Christian romance novels from Chautona Havig, Jaycee Weaver, Laina Turner, and me, Cathe Swanson!

That's all for today's interview. I love the plot for Cathe's latest Christmas book. It's a fresh and creative idea. Hope you like it, too. Here are some links to find out about this books and all the others Cathe has written. 

https://catheswanson.com/books/
https://www.facebook.com/CatheSwanson/

And here's a bonus for my readers... Get a free eBook copy of Potato Flake Christmas by signing up for her newsletter. Just click on the link below. I did it and I'm looking forward to reading this story! https://catheswanson.com/newsletter/