Celebrating Christmas Books 2024: Author Interview with Danae Little

What made you decide to write Christmas themed books? 
I LOVE Christmas! It’s such a magical time of year. I have a big family and my childhood consisted of what my hubby calls “movie-type holidays”. I love adding those memories in with a good dose of small town Christmas traditions and a sprinkle of romantic moments.

Could you give a short synopsis on the books for my readers?
I have two new releases, both are Clean Cowboy Christmas Romances. In fact, they are set in the same world.

The first is The Cowboy’s Chocolate Covered Christmas which is a bite-sized novella that sets the stage for the rest of my Cowboys at Christmas Tree Ranch series. In this prequel we follow Ellie and Jim in their second chance romance. Ellie returns to their small hometown to help Jim bring the magic of Christmas to their families.

I’ve jam packed this work with all the ingredients for a wonderful small town Christmas story: baking, snow, sleigh rides, Christmas Tree cutting & decorating, small town traditions, and, of course, Christmas miracles. Ellie and Jim become Grams and Gramps in the rest of my Cowboys at Christmas Tree Ranch series.

And what about the second book?
My newest release is The Cowboy’s Romantic Christmas which is book four in the series. The first three books follow the older grandsons and granddaughter of Ellie and Jim. The Cowboy’s Romantic Christmas follows another granddaughter, cousin to the first three characters. When Rachel falls for her cousin’s friend, Drew, a secret he’s too afraid to share threatens their love and her greatest desire—to become a mom.

This book is full of even more small town Christmas traditions, a ton of family, Christmas in July, super swoon-worthy mistletoe kisses, and a sweet girl in foster care who brings more Christmas miracles than she’ll ever know. If you love Small town Christmases, this series is for you.

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?
Do you have a few hours? 😂 I did mention how much I love Christmas, right? In real life, my favorite Christmas traditions are decorating the Christmas tree with my son, baking and making homemade presents, hanging out with family, opening presents next to the Christmas tree, and the food—can’t forget all the yummy food!

In real life, I’m somewhat socially anxious, so a lot of the small town traditions I love to write about, I don’t necessarily attend most years. Though I grew up and live in small towns, so I know them very well.

In fiction, I love including parades of lights, cookie sales, dances, Santa, and anything in the snow—snowball fights, snowmen building, sledding, sleigh riding, and catching snowflakes on the tongue, just to name a few.

What’s next? (future books, novellas, special appearances you want to mention)
I have at least three more books in the Cowboys at Christmas Tree Ranch series to get through all of the siblings. I normally release my holiday books at Christmas time and sometimes for Christmas in July. In between those releases I work on my Clean Cowboy Romance with a touch of suspense series called Hope Lake.

What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given you’d like to share?
The best tip…can I only share one? 😂 I’ve learned so much over the last forty plus fiction books published. I guess if I could only share one it would be to write as if you’re watching a movie. Visualizing your story as a movie playing out in front of you helps you to see how the characters are moving, their gestures, their facial expressions, and what else is going in the scene around them. It will also help your dialogue to become more natural if you think about your characters as in a movie where not everyone talks the same—or even proper. 😉

What do you know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner?
This is a great question! In the beginning I saw the entire experience about the actual writing of the book, and though that is the heart of being an author, there is so much more to it.

New writers (this was me too) have the tendency to feel the work is done once we write The End. That way of thinking can cause a lot of heartache. Not only is the book not really finished until several rounds of editing, but the next and essential step is publishing, which can look different depending on if you go indie or traditional.

Editing is an important part of the process, vital to having a good, professional book. And its hard! Even those who say they love editing end up having times of struggle when it comes to this stage. Having someone else critique your baby…because all books become your babies…it’s easy to take an editor’s comments and corrections as a personal attack, leaving the writer feeling discouraged.

So, here are my tips for working with an editor (regardless of who that editor is).
1. Keep reminding yourself that this is only making your book better, more relatable, more able to shine the brilliant story we have created.
2. Do the easy edits first. Go through the edits and correct the easy things like punctuation and grammar.
3. Then go through the more in-depth edits. If your editor’s comment triggers you, move on to the next one. Give yourself a day, and go back to the comments that made you react emotionally. Sometimes that space allows you to see things from a different perspective and with less of an emotional charge.
4. Repeat until all edits are corrected OR you have decided after multiple sessions that the suggested correction would go against the grain of your book. This happens, and it’s important to keep your voice when working with others, but you want to make sure that you have looked at the correction several times to make sure that you aren’t solely reacting emotionally.

Those steps have helped save me from very emotional and discouraging editing sessions. As for publishing…that’s quite the long response that I’m not sure you want me to get into here…

Any last words or tips?
My greatest advice is not to give up. If you want to write and become an author, don’t stop for nothing. Learn everything you can about writing, read books in your genre and study them, and be open to edits—see it as a way to improve your already wonderful story. I feel like writing is a skill that anyone can learn, but a storyteller is born. If you have a story, don’t let a skill not yet honed stop you from succeeding, keep learning and keep writing. You’ll get there!

Oh…and find a community! A supportive writing community is so vital to succeed as an author and to keep your sanity. 😉

Are there any other books that you’d like to tell my readers about?
Besides my Cowboys at Christmas Tree Ranch series and Hope Lake, I have a few other series: More Than Friends Holiday Romance, Faithful Cowboys, and my best selling Unforgettable Cowboys series.

That's all for today's interview. Hope you've enjoyed learning about Danae's stories and writing esperiences. Check out her books. There are a lot to choose from! 

Danae's bookstore: https://store.danaelittle.com

Facebook reader group: 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1043326012501406/?ref=share_group_link

The Cowboy’s Chocolate Covered Christmas:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DJY6FWRX
The Cowboy’s Romantic Christmas:
https://www.amazon.com/Cowboys-Romantic-Christmas-Cowboy-Romance-ebook/dp/B0CNR81ZZF/

And here's a tip for my readers...If you sign up for her newsletter, you can choose either the prequel for Unforgettable Cowboys or the prequel from Hope Lake as my gift.
Her Forever Cowboy: Unforgettable Cowboys:
https://dl.bookfunnel.com/7i6wvq54f6
Hoping on Forever: Hope Lake:
https://dl.bookfunnel.com/vq7zfkfyys

Celebrating Christmas Books 2024: Kindle Unlimited Style!

I am an avid reader; however I rarely sit and read a book for more than 15-20 minutes at a time. I do however usually have my kindle e-reader readily available. That means it always comes with me if I have a doctor's appointment, hair appointment, nail appointment, or anything else that would require a wait time. 

If I'm busy working on my computer until late at night, I usually take time to read a chapter or two on my kindle before I go to sleep to take my mind off of what I've been working on.

For years, I didn't want to have anything to do with E readers. I was still of the mindset that I wanted to hold a book in my hand. Well, I still get to do that with my kindle because it has a cover that opens and I’m holding it as if it were an actual print book. What I also like about the kindle is that I can read it with or without my glasses since I control the size of the font. I also like the kindle because it lights up for easier reading at night.

My only negative is that I don't see the title of the book each time I open my kindle to read. It just directs me to the last page I've read which only shows the page text without a title.  So oftentimes I'll need to go back to my library to see which book I just opened as I tend to read a few different books at a time. 

Because I like to read a lot of books, kindle unlimited it's a great option. I can stuff my kindle with lots of books for the price of just one book a month. Right now Amazon is offering a special rate for new subscribers. Here's the link to that special promotion https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/hz/subscribe/ku

You can try it for three months for only 99 cents! After that time frame, if you don’t cancel, you will then be charged $11.99 per month. So if you haven't tried kindle yet, now is a good time to look into it. And you don't have to buy a kindle product, you can also read the books on some of your other devices. Check Amazon for full details.

All three books you see around this post are part of  kindle unlimited - plus several more of mine as well. Here's a special note about the book you see to the left of this paragraph. I'm donating ALL my royalties from The First Noel to a prison ministry that gives hope to the incarerated. You'll find a link to this ministry on the  page for the book on Amazon. This also includes kindle pages read. So please go through them a page at a time.

You can also search for books on Amazon that are in KU.  And there are many Facebook group sites for KU readers broken down into categories or just showing as new releases. If you love to read like I do, this would be a great gift to yourself! HAPPY READING!

Celebrating Christmas Books 2024: Now with Audiobooks

Today's interview is all about audiobooks. Let's get right to it. Could you give a short synopsis on the book for my readers?
In Escape Room: Saving Carrot the Snowman, four friends embark on a magical Christmas adventure after receiving a mysterious invitation. Tasked with saving Carrot the Snowman before he melts forever, they face a series of puzzles inside a whimsical escape room set in a cozy, enchanted cottage.

Guided by the mischievous elf, Peppermint, the group navigates through challenging puzzles as the clock ticks toward Christmas Eve, the friends rely on teamwork, quick thinking, and holiday cheer .This heartwarming tale celebrates friendship, courage, and the magic of Christmas in a thrilling winter wonderland.

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?
Preparing Christmas Dinner, opening advent calendars, watching loved ones opening their presents, writing cards, decorating the house, going to get a real Christmas tree

What other stories are in the process of publication?
Coming Soon fairy tale escapes!!! A twist on the classic fairy tales .
Three Little Pig’s Escape from the Big Bad Wolf
Jacks and the beanstalk - Escape from the giant Castle
Goldilocks Escape from the Three Bears
Red Riding Hood’s Escape
Snow White’s Escape

What do you know about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner?
That it's more than just reading a story. There's the equipment, working with an engineer, setting up distibution in libraries, online platforms,  and creating a printed publication of the audiostory.

Any last words or tips?
We are looking for a Child Reviewer. Please contact claire for more details:  claire@escaperoomstories.com

That's all for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about these audio stories, here's the link to learn all the details. https://www.escaperoomstories.co.uk/christmas

Celebrating Christmas Books 2024: Author Interview with Brynn Lee

What made you decide to write Christmas themed books? Could you give a short synopsis on the books for my readers?

I wrote my first Christmas themed book, Cocoa and Kisses in 2019 and found it to be one of my most popular books.  This year I wrote two Christmas themed stories. One is an urban fantasy about what Heaven is like during Christmas time from the perspective of a grim reaper. The other is  part of a sweet romance collaboration with 37 other authors with a mistletoe theme to them.  This book, The Christmas Auction, is due out on November 30th.  It's about a girl who had declared her love to her brother's best friend the Christmas before high school graduation, but he never shows up to kiss her under the mistletoe. Six years later, they reconnect and have a second chance at friendship and love under the mistletoe. 

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?

When I was a kid, my dad used to buy the biggest candle he could find. He would light it the night before Christmas and place it in the living room window. He said the flame allowed all of our deceased ancestors to find our home and spend the holidays with us.  This is my favorite holiday, and much safer now that we have battery operated candles!

What’s next? (future books, novellas, special appearances you want to mention)

I have a second sweet romance, Cinnamon Sky, releasing the day after The Christmas Auction. After that, I'm taking the month of December off to focus on family and the holidays, then I'll be at it again. I have another urban fantasy fairytale retelling which is Cinderella with Vampires I'm 1/3 of the way through the rough draft. For the first time in years, I'm unsure what my next sweet romance will be. I write about eight books per year, so I'll probably plot them all out in January and get to work! 

What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given you’d like to share?

Ooh! There are so many good writing tips! I think one of the most valuable things I've had is to listen to your story out loud. It's surprising how many times I've been through a draft and thought I had things perfect only to discover multiple errors once the story is read out loud. It's like fingernails on a chalkboard!

What do you know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner?

 So I have literary ADD.  I write under five pen names, which is great because I need to jump between genres. But it's also my biggest weakness.  It keeps me from building my backlist quickly. My advice is to choose one genre and stick to it.  You'll find success much faster that way.

Any last words or tips?

Don't try to be all things to all people. You'll hear tips on how to post on various social media, direct sales, newsletters, videos, book fairs, and dozens of other ways to sell your books.  Choose one or two and focus on those. Get really good at THOSE, and you'll find the success you're looking for.

Are there any other books that you’d like to tell my readers about? 

I'd say if you're looking for Christmas themed books, check out the Mistletoe Kisses series.  Every book is Christmas themed.  They're all closed-door romance, and you'll find 38 of your new favorite authors!

That's all for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Brynn's books, here are the links to get you started.

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Brynn-Lee/author/B08299W8YJ

Facebook  Group: https://www.facebook.com/authorbrynnlee
Sign Up for my Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/j8v4q8

Celebrating Christmas Books 2024: Author Interview with Cathe Swanson

What made you decide to write Christmas themed books? Could you give a short synopsis on the books for my readers?

I’d been writing stories for a long time and even had a couple manuscripts completed when, in 2016, Chautona Havig invited me to participate in a multi-author collection of Christmas stories. I wrote Snow Angels for that collection, and I’ve now written five other books around it, to complete the Hope Again series.

We’ve done the Christmas Lights Collection every year since then, so I have a lot of Christmas books! Some are standalone books, but three of them—Snow Angels, Hope for the Holidays, and The Road Home—are within the Hope Again series.

In addition to those shorter Christmas books, the series includes three romantic suspense novels. (That’s not how I would do it now, as a more experienced author!) Most of the series is set at the Unity Plenkiss Community Center in Chicago. It’s a Christian ministry providing meals, shelter, and other resources to veterans, elderly people, and families in crisis in a rundown Chicago neighborhood. Parts of the stories are heartbreaking, but there are many laugh-out-loud instances, and all the books have happy endings. The Christmas books are especially heartwarming. They’ll make you laugh and make you cry. I like to say that it’s just like reading a Hallmark movie!

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?

I like to decorate my home. As I get older, I tend to start earlier and leave it up later, because I want to revel in the Christmas spirit longer. A recent holiday tradition we’ve instituted is having pizza (NOT homemade) for Christmas dinner when the children and grandchildren come over instead of a big feast. Because I was the only one working on the meal, I was always stressed and tired—and it made such a big mess for me to clean up later! Now, we have a super easy spread of pizzas, and I get to enjoy the time with my family. We exchange presents and play games.

Because none of our children live very nearby, we are flexible on which day we celebrate—it’s usually within a week or two of Christmas, but it’s seldom on the 25^th.

What’s next? (future books, novellas, special appearances you want to mention)

Currently, I’m working on a series of novels set in the 1960s and 70s. They are all mystery/suspense with some romance. Because I grew up in this era, I’m enjoying the research and writing. The books are Christian fiction, so they don’t include details of the more “liberated” aspects of that turbulent time, but the world changed drastically back then. The various plots have Cold War politics, drugs, Vietnam, back to the land movements (hippies), and the Jesus People!

 What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given you’d like to share?

Just do it! Jodi Picoult said, “You can always edit a bad page. You can't edit a blank page.” It’s easy for me to get caught up in wanting to make my writing perfect, so I keep re-writing what I already have instead of moving forward. Although I don’t participate anymore, NaNoWriMo helped me learn to write fearlessly, to get the story down and then go back to shape it up later.

What do you know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner?

 Mark Dawson said, “There’s never been a better time to be a writer.” This is an age of opportunity for creative people, if we just seize the moment without fear. We have more control over our career than ever before, if we’re willing to put in the work and not be deterred by setbacks. Also, it is a profession, and we shouldn’t be ashamed of wanting to make a living from what we do. OR, we can make it a hobby or ministry. It’s up to us.

Any last words or tips?

As Christians, our first object in life is to glorify God. Even when our books aren’t overtly evangelical in content, they still need to adorn the gospel and reflect the nature of Christ. This is an opportunity to minister to the world. That includes believers as well as non-believers.

Are there any other books that you’d like to tell my readers about?

The 2024 Christmas Lights Collection, An Evergreen Christmas, is available on Amazon in print, eBook, and Kindle Unlimited. This 9th annual collection includes stories from Chautona Havig, Jaycee Weaver, Teresa Tysinger, and me, Cathe Swanson!

The collection includes four contemporary Christian romance novels featuring Christmas trees! Christmas Lights Collections are only available for a few months before disbanding, so get yours now!

That's all for today's interview. I encourage you to check out her books. Below are links to direct you to them.

https://www.facebook.com/CatheSwanson
https://www.instagram.com/CatheSwanson/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15754310.Cathe_Swanson
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cathe-swanson
BookBub Author Page
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Cathe-Swanson/author/B01LW5WB2H
https://www.pinterest.com/catheswanson/

And here's a special tip for my readers...You can get a free ebook copy of Potato Flake Christmas when you subscribe to  her monthly newsletter! Be the first to learn of upcoming new releases, events, and subscriber-only giveaways. https://catheswanson.com/newsletter

Celebrating Christmas Books 2024: Author Interview with Tamie Dearen

How did you come up with the idea for your Christmas book?

Could you give a short synopsis on the book for my readers?
My new standalone romance, St. Nick and Me Are Mint to Be, released on December 3. This novella is related to my Underground Granny Matchmakers, and tells the story of the 4rth MacIlheron sister, Syanne. It's also a part of a 12-author group series called Christmas Kisses and Cookie Crumbs. We all got together and decided to write Christmas short-stories related to one of our own series. We call them bite-sized Christmas treats. The only tie between these 12 books is that they are all sweet, clean, Christmas romcoms and each one features a special Christmas recipe. My book features one of our family recipes, Chocolate Mint Brownie Bars.

The book starts out with Syanne at the airport talking on her phone to her sister about her ex boyfriend, whom she has just caught cheating. The hero, Reid, can't help overhearing the conversation. And as he listens, he gradually becomes emotionally involved, outraged at the ex's behavior. Then the ex shows up at the airport and confronts Syanne. Reid finds himself desperate to rescue this woman he hasn't even spoken to. He throws his arm around her shoulder, glares up at the cheating ex and says... (Well, you have to read the story to find out. LOL And it's only 99 cents.)

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?
I think our favorite Christmas tradition is on Christmas morning. We make a special family recipe coffee-cake, light a candle, sing Happy Birthday to Jesus, and blow out the candle. One of our daughters and her family live too far away to be home at Christmas, so we each do a cake in our own homes and sing together via FaceTime.

What’s next? (Future books, novellas, special appearances you want to mention) I'm working on a new book that will tie in with the Limitless Sweet Billionaire Romance Series, but will start a new spin-off series. Like the Limitless guys, our hero has a disability. He's a vet who lost his hearing in a blast and had to return stateside. Now he wants to cut himself off from society. But when he crosses paths with woman in danger, his protective nature and sense of honor kicks in.

What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given you’d like to share?
They say to "write what you know." But authors can learn and "know" a lot of different things. If you want to keep writing for years, you need to write what you love. For me, that means I prefer books with some angst and character growth, whether the book is a light romcom or a more serious romance. I want my readers to love my books, but the most important reader I need to please is me. Eventually, if you stay true to yourself, you will find your audience--fans who love everything you write.

What do you know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner?
It's wonderful that your book is distinct and stands out from all the others in the genre. But for marketing purposes, the readers are more interested in how your book is the same as all the other books they are reading.

Any last words or tips?
Write your blurb first. Writing your blurb first will force you to think about the tropes and important plot points you want to include. That way you can find a way to work them into your story as you write.

Are there any other books that you’d like to tell my readers about?
I mentioned the Limitless Sweet Billionaire books, which is one of my most popular series. You can get a great deal on the 7- book bundle at my store.

That's all for today's interview. I'm a fan of Tamie's books, so I hope you'll click on the links to learn more about her books.

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/tamie-dearen

Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Tamie-Dearen/author/B00FS21B4Y
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Tamie%20Dearen%22
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/author/tamie-dearen/id819513899

Celebrating Christmas Books 2024: Author Interview with Amy Anguish

What made you decide to write Christmas themed books? Could you give a short synopsis on the books for my readers?
Originally, I wasn't going to write a Christmas story because I thought it was too much of a niche, but then I was invited to join a Christmas novella collection a few years ago and I discovered it was really fun to write a whole story based around Christmas. What's more romantic than falling in love around the holidays?

My book Mama Dated Santa is set in a toy store during the month leading up to Christmas. Nick, manager of the store, is struggling to keep his store afloat despite the holiday season. Trudy is brought in to help revamp the store. Neither of them love Christmas, but each decides to help the other fall back in love with the holiday, and in turn discover they might be falling in love with each other too.

The novella collection A Match Made at Christmas is four stories about people who are having to deal with matchmakers during the holidays. An eight-year-old boy, a young "Emma"esque woman, some feisty older ladies, and a group of mischievous teens. Each story is unique and warm, just perfect for the season.

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?

Every year, my family makes sure we make and decorate cookies together. We also love to heat up some hot chocolate and drive around looking at lights while listening to Christmas music. My kids would never forgive me if we skipped either of those traditions.

What’s next? (future books, novellas, special appearances you want to mention)

I have another novella collection releasing mid-February called Pets Amore. Each story revolves around a couple and animal or two, from hamsters to parrots to puppies and goats. It's full of fun.

Then, in July, my book Rendersella, a fun modern-day Cinderella retelling comes out. It's set in West Virginia. Ella Renders just wants her artwork to hang in the Prince Art Gallery. When her stepsister claims the drawing as her own, can Ella convince Chaz Prince that she is the one who deserves to win the contest?

What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given you’d like to share?

 You can't edit what isn't written. In other words, turn your editor off while you're writing and just get the words down so you can edit it later. Otherwise, you might get too hung up on editing as you go and never let yourself finish writing.

What do you know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner?
 As a writer, you have to be your own marketer too. I wish I had known this in college, when I could have taken a marketing class or two. Instead, I have had to learn as I went. And some days I'm definitely better at it than others.

Any last words or tips?
If God puts a story on your heart, it's a blessing. Write it down even if no one reads it but you. 

That's all for today's interview. Hope you'll check out her books. And here's how to do that.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amyanguishauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyranguish/
Newsletter: https://subscribepage.io/e9f3n2

Website: https://abitofanguish.weebly.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17258354.Amy_R_Anguish

 Bookbub: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17258354.Amy_R_Anguish

And here's a bonus for my readers... Here are two sweet romance eBooks that you can get for free on Amazon now!

https://www.amazon.com/Love-Reindeer-Run-Holiday-Holidays-ebook/dp/B0CGP6C6N2

https://www.amazon.com/Gloria-sweet-small-Christmas-romance-ebook/dp/B07WD2G7D6/

Celebrating Christmas Books 2024: Author Interview with Diana Kizlauskas

When I saw this author's book on Lithuanian folklore, I knew I wanted to do an interview with her. Seeing she was both an author an illustrator and had a Christmas book for children I had to include her in this Christmas blog series. Read on to learn more about her lovely books!

What made you decide to write Christmas themed books? Could you give a short synopsis on the books for my readers?

I wrote Christmas Best to share a great holiday message left to us by Mother Teresa: ”Do small things with great love.” Also, as an illustrator, I found the visual setting of the Christmas holiday season irresistible! In Christmas Best, beginner readers watch chaos and confusion sweep through Santa's Workshop when five elves walk off their jobs in search of "greatness." Their misadventure with new holiday careers leads them to learn that not only are they each special in their own way, but that even the littlest things done with care can change the world.

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?
Coming from a traditional Lithuanian and Christian background, my family and I celebrate the season with a very festive Christmas Eve supper known as “Kucios.” We begin with an exchange of Christmas wafers, wherein each family member or guest wishes the other some special blessing for the New Year. The spread consists of 12 meatless entrees, salads, breads, and ethnic sweets. We include a candle-lit cake and rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday, Jesus!” We close out the evening with gifts.

What’s next? (future books, novellas, special appearances you want to mention)
I am currently working on a prequel /sequel to my first book LETTUCE! So far, the working title is THE TRIP: Rabbit Looks for God.

What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given you’d like to share?
Revise, revise, and revise some more!! This is especially true when writing in verse. Never stretch for a rhyme. Make sure that the grammar and wording flow naturally.

What do you know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner?
Though I have been illustrating professionally for over 30 years and know how competitive the field is, I’ve learned that the world of indie books is even more so. Doing your best work, perseverance, and networking are keys to success.

Any last words or tips?
I think that the basic steps of creativity —preparation, incubation, illumination, evaluation, and implementation —are very important to recognize. They don’t always happen in order or even consciously, but being aware of them helps to stay on track with a project. Allowing time for “incubation” and waiting patiently for “illumination” is a challenge, but well worth doing.

That's all for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Diana's books, here are the links to get you started. 

Website:  https://dianakizlauskas.com/ 

(It shows her lovely illustrations portfolio with more of her work)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DKIllustration/

Publishing Company: https://brightbearbooks.com/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Diana-Kizlauskas/author/B00IGW8CZY

Celebrating Christmas Books 2024: Author Interview with Cathy Tully

Today's interview is with an author who writes cozy mysteries. We'll be discussing her Christmas themed murder mystery. How did you come up with the idea for your Christmas book?
My Christmas cozy, The Purloined Poinsettia, is set in a small Georgia town called Peach Grove. The main character is a chiropractor, and the doctor and her best friend do a lot of the sleuthing. The doctor’s assistant and office manager are also integral to any investigations. The office manager (Larraine) is well known as a committed churchgoer. She knows just about everyone in the church because she has served for years the welcoming committee. It only seemed natural to involve Larraine and her church in my Christmas plot.

As I began to write the first page of the soon-to-be mystery, I wondered what would happen if Larraine decided she wanted to spread her wings and join the decorating committee. The idea of her being in charge of a large order of potted poinsettias, which somehow, mysteriously, gets cancelled, seemed a natural -- and the beginning of the Purloined Poinsettia took shape.

The actual murder was moved along by some of my cozy-mystery-writing pals. In my previous stories, the murders were more traditional. The victims succumbed to poisoning and gunshot wounds etc… The Christmas story cried out for a Christmas-decoration related murder. So I went to my Cozy Mystery Writer FB group and bounced a few ideas off the ladies there. I think I found a good one.

Could you give a short synopsis on the book for my readers?
It's Christmas time in Peach Grove and someone is pilfering poinsettia plants from the True Blooms Florist! When Dr. Susannah Shine and office manager Larraine Moore search for a cancelled flower order for Larraine's church, they dig up a deadly discovery: A bloody body surrounded by the poached poinsettias.

Close by, Larraine's bestie, fellow welcome-committee-member Shirleen Carter, is found holding the murder weapon. As the women begin uncovering clues, a long hidden relationship between Shirleen and the victim, the church financial secretary, comes to light. Poking around the church during the annual Christmas pageant, Dr. Susannah discovers two parishioner’s clandestine meeting, along with irregularities involving the accounting office. When the gang follow leads back to the True Blooms Florist, a series of secrets are revealed and the killer is finally discovered.

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?
I love collecting decorative blue-and-white ceramic snowmen.
Also, being Italian American, building a big delicious antipasto is a requirement. It reminds me of Christmas in the past where my extended family got together and my father and aunts built a huge platter of all the luscious delights, like olives, roasted peppers, veggies drizzled in olive oil, cheeses, and deli meats. Then they put it in the middle of table, while scolding everyone not to touch it until we all sat down. With the aroma of a turkey cooking, my mouth would be watering already! My cousins and I would sneak over and grab a black olive or a small wedge of cheese when no one was looking. Even for just a few people, making a holiday antipasto can take a few days of advanced prep, and lots of garlic!

What’s next? (Future books, novellas, special appearances you want to mention) I’m working on a new series, featuring a Massage Therapist and her pet French Bulldog, Milo. It’s also set in Peach Grove. I’ve already written (and published for Christmas in July) Milo & Mistletoe, a Chirstmas story about what happens when Milo goes missing. I’m finishing the first in that series.

What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given you’d like to share?
I remember being told to write every day, but I like to translate that to: Be persistent. Even if you can only fit in 10 minutes on a certain days. Keep pushing forward. Also, find your tribe. The best beta readers and critique partners are ones who read your genre, understand it’s conventions and appreciate it.

What do you know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner?
Hmmm. That’s a loaded one. There’s so many things in writing and especially self-publishing that you only learn by doing. I would say, as a self-published author, meet all kinds of authors, share your process, give advice openly, but save your energy for your own work.

Also original ideas exhilarate the artist, but if you want to sell books, you have to understand and hit the tropes. You can challenge yourself, for instance with different genres by writing short stories.

Any last words or tips? (Not meant in a murder mystery type of last words)
Find your own process. People who sell books want to turn everyone into a plotter/outliner. Of Course!! Every pantser has their own process, which won’t necessarily fit anyone else, so there aren’t many books on pantsing! I wasted a lot of time trying to get other methods to work for me. Save the Cat, Writing the Breakout Novel, Story Genius, Rock Your Writing and many others gave me a lot to think about and aim for in my plotting, but in the end, I don’t outline. I write the first act (approximately) and then back engineer an outline in excel and use it to keep track of the story structure, clues and red herrings. It works for me!

Are there any other books that you’d like to tell my readers about?
My ChiroCozy Mystery Series has books set at Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. They all feature, fun, food, hijinks, and recipes. My favorite recipe, Double Chocolate Pecan pie, comes from the Thanksgiving themed book: Fixation and Fraud. You can find them in my Holiday Bundle.

That's all for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Cathy's book, check the links below.

Holiday Bundle: Halloween, Thanksgiving & Christmas Tales: A ChiroCozy Holiday Edition https://www.amazon.com/Halloween-Thanksgiving-Christmas-Tales-ChiroCozy-ebook/dp/B0CMD6ZTZR

The first installment of my Milo series. So far, only a Christmas story is available .
https://www.amazon.com/Milo-Mistletoe-Molly-Dishy-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0D5WYJ7R7//
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CathyTullyCozyAuthor/

And here's an added bonus... Sign up for her newsletter and get a free eBook! (the one to the left)
https://dl.bookfunnel.com/nano75o7xs

Celebrating Christmas Books 2024: Author Interview with Ian Humpheryes

Today I'm featuring a children's book author who will tell you about his Christmas stories featuring a special animal. Read on to learn why he writes about hedgehogs.
Although I now live near the coast, when I was much younger, I lived in the countryside and that's where I first encountered hedgehogs on their evening/night time rambles, with their distinctive snorting sounds and constant rustling of leaves as they hunt for food. They always seemed timid and would roll into a defensive ball when approached. Not seen as something scary at all.. When I moved away, I discovered that hedgehogs (like foxes) have made the transition to urban life and quite wel. They are constant visitors to my garden hunting for pests and any tidbits they can scavenge. These animals don’t get a lot of positive recognition and most people sadly only see them when they are run over (far too often) crossing our busy roads. 

Tell me a bit about your hedgehog series.

My book series is titled Tales from The Bluebell Woods. The books tell about the animals that call this beautiful place home.  The main characters explore their life of friendship, love and resourcefulness with a bit of humour thrown in for good measure. The Little Hedgehog is the main character in each plot and his interaction with other friends create the narrative.

The Christmas Hedgehog was the first story of the series where the hibernating Little Hedgehog (curled up warmly in hollow log) awoke for the first in late December and discovered to his great surprise and excitement something called Christmas. The story takes the reader on a path of discovery with the Little Hedgehog as he visits each of his woodland friends and learns more about the festive season whilst accidently gathering items to make his own Christmas special. 

The story finishes with the cold weather coming back in and the Little (now very content) Hedgehog settling down to sleep again for the remainder of the winter. At end of each book there are facts relating to the story to be shared with an adult so hopefully further interest can be generated for the young reader.

In the other books in this series, the Little Hedgehog and friends find challenges from extreme weather, mysterious visitors, and even a Halloween special. However, I particularly love Christmas and a second Christmas book had to be written. Thus The Little Hedgehog’s Second Christmas became the newest book published. This story begins with a Hedgehog determined not to sleep through Christmas. When he awakes he wants to find the perfect present for each of his friends. Things do not go as well as expected but on Christmas Eve a very special visitor arrives and the next day is amazing. The theme is the joy of giving at Christmas and how that makes it the most wonderful time it is. Fun facts about Christmas are included at the back of the book plus a message to everyone from the animals of the Bluebell woods.

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?
Christmas is a very special time for our family, we love to decorate the house inside and out and leading up to Christmas. We make lots of homemade Christmas goodies, such as sweets, cakes and biscuits for our children (grown up now but they still love to come over for this season). When the children were small, we would go and cut our own Christmas tree from a nearby farm. The tree then took centre place in our house. We never take the decorations down before twelfth night as there are twelve days of Christmas to enjoy and we make sure we do just that.

Are there other books you'd like to tell my readers about?
My other book series  is called Somewhere between the Land and the Sea. It tells about the wonderful marine animals living in a tidepool and their adventures. I am a marine biologist by profession so it was an obvious choice for story material. Currently I am toying with the idea of writing a series based around the bugs and creatures that live in a vegetable patch in my garden. For this one, I'll be using a cut-out paper method of illustrating the stories. Early results look promising!

What do you know about writing now that you wish you had known sooner?
If I was starting from the beginning again, I would definitely join some of the useful groups I have found, particularly before publishing, for their advice as it is so easy to make simple mistakes. I enjoy learning new things, thus while the path was slow and painful at times to getting a book finally finished and published, the actual experience was really rewarding and good for older authors like myself to keep their minds fresh and active. My advice is when you see something you like, then learn how to do it yourself!

Living by that concept, I have created my own Youtube channel where I showcase the videos I've made about my books. You'll find my own narrated version of The Christmas Hedgehog with pictures, simple sound effects, and animations  -- if anyone would like to try one of my books for free.

That's all for today's interview. If you'd like to learn about his books, here are some links to get you started.

If you'd like to read along (for free) with one of his books as it is being narrated, go to 
https://youtu.be/NTajjiaFxtw?si=b14SvDw8fQ7JRNvV

YouTube channel: For mini views on other books
www.youtube.com/@ianhumpheryes8804

Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559563120202
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Ian-Humpheryes/author/B0CCS7ZHDN

Celebrating Christmas Books 2024: Author Interview with Deanna Lilly

What made you decide to write Christmas themed books? 
Growing up in a dysfunctional family, I always longed for those picture-perfect Hallmark-style holiday moments. I'd daydream about what it would feel like to experience a cozy, love-filled Christmas. Now, I get to write those holiday stories for my readers! My books blend inspiration from real life with a generous dash of holiday magic to create heartwarming, feel-good romances. They’re like a big, cozy blanket on a cold winter’s day, where love always finds a way—whether it's under the mistletoe or in a small-town snowstorm.

Could you give a short synopsis on the books for my readers?
I love writing interconnected series, so whichever book you pick up, you’ll always find familiar faces tucked inside. My characters are real and a bit broken, but that’s what makes their happily ever afters so satisfying—they find someone who loves them, flaws and all. I’m passionate about supporting our military, and many of my stories revolve around ex-military characters who face challenges after returning home.

My Mountain Men of Whispering Pines series is where it all starts. It’s about three military men who come home to heal and rebuild their lives in a small town, Hickory Falls, which becomes a sanctuary for those dealing with trauma—whether from military PTSD, mental, or physical wounds.

My first book, The Grumpy Mountain Man, follows Eric, an Army Ranger Staff Sergeant who’s recovering from a severe injury sustained during a mission. He’s carrying a lot of personal baggage, and the last thing he wants is to be tasked with protecting his best friend’s sister all winter. But sometimes life has a funny way of giving us exactly what we need, even when we don’t realize it.

Just released is Sleighed by the Farmer’s Daughter, a Christmas book about Eric’s older brother, Seth. This story dives into childhood trauma and feelings of abandonment that have shaped Seth and Eric. It focuses on the importance of family and healing from those early wounds.

Next, The Best Mistletoe Bet (releasing 11.23.24) takes place in a neighboring small town and introduces Tim, a childhood friend of Seth and Eric. Tim, a former Spec Ops pilot, is haunted by memories of his military service. He works with the men of Mountain Men of Whispering Pines to keep their communities safe, running rescue operations that tackle both human threats and the harsh forces of nature. Tim also teams up with characters from my Bad Boys Club series, who run BraveHeart Securities, providing protection and retrieval services where the government can’t—or won’t—intervene.

My Bad Boys Club series revolves around a group of five orphaned boys who’ve formed a tight-knit found family. Each of them has worked hard to lift themselves and each other up, pursuing different careers but always staying connected. Their stories weave in and out of my Hickory Falls and Mountain Men of Whispering Pines series. Book three, Finding Love at Sea (releasing 12.14.24), follows Gabriel Knight, a billionaire financial and real estate mogul known for his charitable work around the world. Despite the tabloids painting him as a playboy, Gabriel is a man with a deep sense of duty and honor. This series centers around a New Year's Brotherhood pact, with each man on a journey to find love.

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions? Honestly, I didn’t grow up with many holiday traditions, and I think that’s the bittersweet part of writing these stories. But one tradition I’ll always cherish involved my great-grandfather. Every year, during the week before Christmas, he’d randomly pick a day and call the family with the announcement: “I think today feels like Christmas!” We would pile in our mom's station wagons and head to my grandmother's to open gifts. It wasn’t about the presents—half the time it was socks, underpants, or some other basic necessity—but it was the surprise that made it magical. The whole week, we’d be on tenterhooks, waiting for that call and wondering when “Christmas” would arrive. It was such a special way to build anticipation and make the holiday a little bit more exciting. It’s the one holiday memory that still brings a smile to my face.

What’s next? (future books, novellas, special appearances ets.)
2025 is going to be an exciting year for me. I’ll be finishing my Bad Boys Club series early in the year, and my first Valentine’s Day book, A Heart in Bloom, a Hickory Falls story, will release on 2.6.25. After that, the rest of the Hickory Falls series will roll out in the spring and summer.

One big milestone I’m really looking forward to is my first-ever in-person book signing at the Feel the Heat Book Bash in Tampa, Florida, on July 12th. I’m thrilled to finally meet readers face-to-face.

Then, later in the year, probably late summer or early fall, I’ll be releasing the start of a brand new series. It’s a project I’ve been dreaming up for two years, and I’m really excited to bring it to life—though I’m keeping the details under wraps for now.

What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given you’d like to share?
One of the best writing tips I’ve learned? Be cautious when reading your reviews, especially the one- and two-star ones. More often than not, those reviews aren’t a genuine reflection of your work, but someone behind a keyboard venting. I used to read them, hoping for constructive feedback, but all they did was chip away at my confidence and make it harder to write my next story. Now, I avoid them altogether.

If you’re writing from the heart and telling a story you love, focus on that. Write it for you, not for everyone else. But if you’re in this to make money, you’ve got to do your research—it’s a tough industry, and knowing your market is essential.

What do you know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner?
If you have a story burning a hole in your heart, get it out there—it doesn’t take much to self-publish. But if your goal is to make money, save up first because it’s going to take a serious investment to get off the ground. Making a living as a writer is hard. It takes countless hours, and you really have to want it, because this dream is going to make you work for it. The saying in this industry is “No risk, no reward, and no pain, no gain,” and it’s true. You don’t have to be fully ready—take those messy first steps—but be prepared for the grind. I wasn’t, and the debt piled up fast.

Any last words or tips?
You’ve probably heard the saying, “Everyone has at least one story in them that needs to be told,” and I really believe that. But here’s the thing—it might not be a story for everyone, and that’s okay.

Sometimes it’s a story just for you, a part of your own healing process, or maybe it’ll touch one person and change their life. Don’t be afraid to share your story, and when someone tells you it’s not good enough—because someone will—shrug it off. Your story just wasn’t for them.

I wish you well on your journey, wherever it takes you. Embrace it. Grow from it. Find joy in the process.

Are there any other books that you’d like to tell my readers about? 
I have a feel good later in life romance (carribean cruise/vacation romance that takes place at Thanksgiving) for those looking for a quick easy, fun read with only warm fuzzy feelings. I don't believe every love story needs to have drama and angst, especially later in life when they have learned their life lessons and have earned the right to be happy. 

This book is not for everyone but if you enjoy low drama romance reads then Best Friends' Unexpected Love might be a story for you. It is connected to my other characters. Beth is the mother of my main characters Sarah and Tom (they are in almost all of my stories). This book is free if you join my newsletter. You get a feel good book and a sample of my characters then you can choose which character you would like to learn more about as my books are all standalones. 

That's all for today's interview. Hope you'll check out Deanna's books. Here are some links to get you started.

Website: https://www.deannalillybooks.com/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/DeannaLillyBooks/

Newsletter links: https://subscribepage.io/DeannaLillyNewsletter

And here's a special bonus... Sign up for her newsletter, and you'll get a free eBook of  Best Friends' Unexpected Love.  I've already signed up for my copy! Here's the link: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/7zhpb7nnme