It's Beginning to Read a Lot Like Christmas 2025: Author Interview with Anna Jensen

What made you decide to write a Christmas themed book? Could you give a short synopsis on the book for my readers?
A few years ago, wanted to add a Christmas book into my collection for readers. I decided to write a short novella set in the fictional London parish of St Saviours, where the vicar — Reverend Richard — loves all things Christmas.  I released A Candle for Christmas in 2021, thinking that would be my one and only Christmas story.

However, I so enjoyed creating the St Saviours community that I returned the following year. And then at Easter. And again for another Christmas! Each story follows Reverend Richard, wife Marj, their daughter, Ellen and congregants homeless Joelle and glamourous Tamara as they experience the various seasons and traditions of the church calendar.

Their most recent adventure, A Big Five Safari Christmas brings the St Saviours church family all the way to South Africa, where Christmas comes with sunshine, wildlife, and a few unexpected challenges. As five stories unfold — The Buffalo, The Leopard, The Elephant, The Rhinoceros, and The Lion — each character discovers more of the true meaning of Christmas.
 

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?
I’ve had to switch up quite a few of my favourites after leaving the UK and moving to South Africa almost thirty years ago. It’s taken me a while to get used to Christmas being in the middle of summer, rather than the cosiness of winter (I’m not sure I’m entirely used to it, even now!).

Where I grew up with candles and fairylights, and wonderful Christmas meals and treats, I now enjoy summery days, watermelon and salads for Christmas dinner, and a dip in the pool before opening any pressies. In the UK, I attended a traditional church, whereas now our services are more informal. I think I missed some of the traditional elements, and so created the St Saviours stories from a bit of nostalgia!

Do you have any other new releases?
I just released a fifth book in the St Saviours series. It's called A Harvest of Thanksgiving and combines the British church harvest festival with the American celebration of Thanksgiving — thanks to the arrival of American curate, Lloyd.
 
I’m also putting the finishing touches to an appointments and inspirational diary for 2026, which I’m excited about. Each month features a piece of my doodle artwork, a series of Bible verses and prompts for reflection. I’ve also linked its publication to a brand new Patreon subscription offer, for readers to receive more in-depth devotional content, free downloads, sneak peeks of upcoming releases — and much more!

What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given you’d like to share?
Stephen King’s ‘write with the door closed; edit with the door open’. Writing without the pressure of wondering what others think is vital for my enjoyment of the storytelling process. Working through how others may interpret the story (editing with the door open) is a different experience, with its own joys and challenges.
 
What do you know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner?
That it’s hard work! But a glorious roller-coaster of a ride, when Jesus is in the driving seat.

Any last words or tips?
God created us to be like Him — which means we all have the capacity to create. As we discover more about Him, leaning into His presence and His creative imagination, so we find His spark igniting within us. Being Captivated by the Creator is what my writing (and beyond!) life is all about.

 What books would you like to tell my readers about?
A Harvest of Thanksgiving, the St Saviours book I mentioned earlier is available from Amazon: books2read.com/harvestofthanksgiving The 2026 diary just released. This will only be available in hardback print. I’ll provide updates in my upcoming newsletters. Subscribe at annajensen.co.uk/news

That's all for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Anna's writing, she'sI’ve put together a special collection of Thanksgiving and Christmas gifts for you. Head over to her exclusive, hidden webpage at www.annajensen.co.uk/christmasgiveaway and download your goodies! 

There’s a free Christmas colouring page of one of her designs, plus free printable Christmas cards – both DIY for you to colour, and a ready-to-go printed version. You’ll also find a digital version of her upcoming diary for January 2026. And as an extra bonus, She's included the first chapter of A Big Five Safari Christmas and A Harvest of Thanksgiving for you to read. You can find all her writing places through  linktr.ee/annaloujensen

Paperback and eBook available from Amazon via books2read.com/abig5safarichristmas. Always FREE in Kindle Unlimited

It's Beginning to Read a Lot Like Christmas 2025 with "Stuff your Kindle Day"!

If you love sweet and clean romances, here’s your opportunity to get up to 21 FREE eBooks. No special signups, just download them directly. The only catch is that this freebie is only available from Dec 4-6 

This is a joint venture I'm doing with several of my other writing friends to introduce you to our books in hopes you'll be interested in buying other books from us in the future. Here are the details from some of the included books...

Natalie Baynton has finally landed her dream job at

Rothwell’s, the glitzy fashion store in Aspen, Colorado. Romance is the last thing on her mind—until she meets Alexander. Alexander Davies-White is a British aristocrat and soon to be CFO of the high fashion resort town store. Only Natalie doesn't know that. She thinks he's just a personal shopper.

When they meet, there’s an instant attraction. But Alexander chooses to keep his identity a secret. As their connection deepens, Alexander's ruse grows increasingly difficult to maintain. Will Alexander be able to prove his love is real and not another deception? Can a season of miracles bring them together? Or will Christmas miscalculations shatter their chance at love?

Jo Willoughby's first marriage had been nothing short of a disaster. 

Taking things slow on a beautiful luxury ranch in Wyoming to think things through over Thanksgiving and Christmas might be exactly what she needs, except for one factor she doesn't expect—the distracting Jack Colten, a handsome, gorgeous cowboy delivering flowers to her log cabin each day, flowers from Drew.

Finding herself in upper New York with a “made to order” lumberjack wannabe who follows her family’s script to the perfect T… well, Jo gets nervous. Nerves bundle up until a side of her emerges that no one recognizes—even herself. And she likes that side. Okay, she likes the part of it that feels free to steal lumberjack—um, Soren’s—coffee at will.

After breaking up with his girlfriend, Levi meets the woman of his dreams, but she rejects him in his tale of unrequited love. His friend,

Maggie, tries to help him to pursue his dream date without revealing to his best buddy that she’s in love with him. Will these two friends find a breakthrough and their own happily ever after at the Christmas Village where they work?

A big-city romance with a small-town feel set in midtown Atlanta, Georgia, Let Me Hold You is Book 1 in USA Today bestselling author Jan Thompson’s Midtown Christmas holiday series. Maggie and Levi’s romance is a spin-off of Pray for Me (Vacation Sweethearts Book 5). Levi is cousin to Cyrus Theroux, the co-owner of the Christmastown holiday decorating company in Wish You Joy (Savannah Sweethearts Book 10).

Nicole Maribella Beaumont liked everything exactly the way it was going. She had a practically perfect life with her daughter in their 

Santa Monica beach house and a fabulous career as an American actress. Why did Drew have to mess everything up by proposing? Then again, they were a happy couple when they were together, weren't they?

Drew Fairchild was the sole heir to Fairchild Studios and a Hollywood Legacy. He’d helped build her successful acting career. Marrying him would be almost a dream come true in so many ways. Besides, if she didn’t accept his proposal, where would that leave her career? Amy needed a father, after all.

Here’s the link to get the eBooks and learn more about each one that is being offered. Please feel free to share this post with anyone you know. Thanks! https://books.bookfunnel.com/christmas2025-ccr-syk/vlcszfgbn0