It's beginning to read a lot like Christmas 2025: Author Interview with Deborah Raney

What made you decide to write a Christmas themed book? Could you give a short synopsis on the book for my readers?
I’ve always loved Christmas books, especially novellas. In fact, the first (and only historical) novella I wrote was a Christmas book. Gifts of the Season contains two novellas, Christmas then and now. "Circle of Blessings" is set in Dakota Territory in 1864 and tells the story of Stella Bradford’s unexpected romance with the English professor at her college. “Measured with Love” is a contemporary tale set in a Mississippi River town in Southeast Missouri (where I happen to live). Benji Gabriel believes the chef’s position she’s just taken at an award-winning bed and breakfast is temporary—only a stepping stone to greater things. Her boss—and God—have other ideas.

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?
"Circle of Blessings” from Gifts of the Season is based on a family tradition from my own family. Each Christmas, we would take our kids out to eat with the intention of blessing our server with an extra generous tip. We would pray for the server ahead of time, and one of our rules was that we would leave the restaurant without waiting to see that person’s reaction…we simply trusted that God would use that gift to bless the server in ways we will surely never know this side of heaven.

Recently, I’ve loved what has become a tradition of setting up our Christmas tree on our screened porch, and leaving it up and decorating it for Valentine’s Day and again at Easter. It adds the twinkle of lights and pretty decorations throughout the long winter months and makes Christmas seem to last longer.

What’s coming up next?
I’m working on the third book in The God Who series, Who Names the Stars. The first book, Who Touches the Mountains, is a Christy Award finalist this year and I’m thrilled about that. I’m especially looking forward to teaching at the Seaside Scribes conference at Myrtle Beach in January, and at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference’s 50th anniversary in May. Teaching the craft of writing is one of my favorite parts of my writing career.

What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given you’d like to share?
Even though this may not apply throughout a long career, it’s still good advice for beginning writers: Write what you know. Yes, if you write more than a few books, you’ll need to research new things and write about characters who are very different from you. But when you are starting out, I think you find your truest voice when you are writing about characters much like you and settings with which you are intimately familiar. Once you’ve mastered the craft of writing, then you can stretch yourself writing what you don’t know but are willing to learn.

What do you know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner?
That the publishing world is ever-changing, ever-challenging, and sometimes brutal. I have had a wonderful career, written many books that I’m proud of and that readers loved, but at the same time, I’ve often been disappointed by rejections, poor sales, one-star reviews. It’s all part of the business of being a writer and I wouldn’t trade it for any other job I can think of (except being a stay-at-home mom, which, if you do that job well, you quickly put yourself out of a job.) The relationships I’ve formed with other writers, readers, and professionals from the publishing world are golden and have enriched my life so wonderfully. So hang in there. For every disappointment there is a success. For every challenge, there will be a triumph.

What’s your newest release that you’d like to tell my readers about?
Who Stirs Up the Sea is the second novel in The God Who series from Raney Day Press. It has been one of the most fun-to-research books I’ve written, including a week-long research trip on beautiful Saint Simons Island, Georgia, and a DNA test my character takes, that I took too, for research’s sake. I think you’ll love the romance that grows between my Emma and Tadhg.

That's all for today's interview. To learn more about Deborah's books, start with these links.
Website: http://www.deborahraney.com
Facebook Readers Group: http://tinyurl.com/DRreadergroup
Instagram: http://instagram.com/deborahraney
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/deborahraney/
X: https://twitter.com/authordebraney
Goodreads: http://tinyurl.com/DRGoodReads
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/deborah-raney

And here's a bonus for my readers, leave a comment on this post and we'll pick one reader who'll receive a copy of Deborah's book, Gifts of the Season. So do that now. It can be as simple as I want to be in the giveaway. We'll chose a winner next Saturday!

Celebrating Christmas Themed Books 2025

It's that time of year again. Get ready for a joyful journey through the world of Christmas-themed books! Starting today through Christmas, my blog posts will be filled with chats from various authors, who will share their unique writing approach for holiday books. You’ll hear about heartwarming children's tales to cozy mysteries, romantic comedies, and nostalgic historical romances. 

In these posts, each author will share their favorite Christmas traditions, the inspiration behind their festive books, and valuable writing tips. Plus, you'll get an exclusive sneak peek into their upcoming projects. And since we’re celebrating the season of giving, there will be an assortment of giveaways sprinkled generously throughout the season!

To kick it off, I’m highlighting my own Christmas themed books. This is my favorite season of the year and I love writing stories set in this time frame. I've written two this year. The first book is The Innkeeper's Son: Witness to a Miracle! It's a fictionalized account of the birth of Christ as told by a young boy who was there. Here are the details... 

Marcus's play time with his toy soldiers is interrupted when his mother asks him to deliver blankets to a poor couple staying in a stable down the road. Frustrated, Marcus grumbles—"Nothing exciting ever happens in Bethlehem."

Or so he thinks.

What begins as a simple chore turns into an unforgettable night of excited shepherds, choirs of angels singing, and a very special birth. In the quiet of the stable, he meets a newborn baby—Jesus—and feels joy stirring in his heart. There’s something different about this child… something powerful and wonderful.

This book would pair well with one of my other books, The First Noel: Digging Deeper into Christ's Birth. This Advent devotional includes additional Biblical insights into that time period with links for more details.

When you buy this book, you will be supporting a prison ministry that gives hope to the incarcerated and guidance when they are released. All my royalties from this book are being donated to EE Prison Ministries. Learn more about what they do here: https://eeprisonministry.com/services/about-us.

The second book, Falling in Love Despite Christmas Miscalculations, is a sweet romance. Here are the details...

Natalie Baynton has finally landed her dream job at Rothwell’s, the glitzy fashion store in Aspen, Colorado. This coveted apprenticeship is her one shot at becoming the store’s major fashion buyer, and she’s determined to succeed. Nothing will get in Natalie’s way. Romance is the last thing on her mind—until she meets Alexander.

Alexander Davies-White, a brilliant numbers whiz from Britain, is on track to become Rothwell’s next CFO. His past romances have always been more about image calculations than chemistry, leaving him longing for something genuine. Arriving in Aspen two months early to observe the store staff incognito, he meets Natalie. Captivated by her charm and ambition, Alexander pretends to be a personal shopper to spend time with her.

As their connection deepens, Alexander's ruse grows increasingly difficult to maintain. Will a season of miracles bring them together? Or will Christmas miscalculations shatter their chance at love?

So, snuggle up with a cup of hot cocoa or cider and join me in celebrating the magic of Christmas in the most delightful way—through the joy of reading from now till the end of December. I'll be setting up eBook giveaways throughout that time.
If you'd like to learn more about these books and others I've written, here's the link to my Amazon author page. https://www.amazon.com/stores/Christine-L.-Henderson/author/B09L2Y7XNP