The Christmas Gift by Anna Adams
This anthology was born one night in January when Melinda Curtis and Anna J. Stewart and I (Anna Adams) were chatting on Skype, and Melinda suggested a holiday anthology. From there we went to setting, and then to the kind of stories we wanted to write. Christmas Town, Maine came to life and the Banning siblings began living. I hope readers will be moved as I am by Jack and Sophie’s story.
Sophie Palmer was confused when the pregnancy test came back positive, but one thing she knew—she already loved her unborn child. She didn’t expect former Army surgeon, Jack Banning to break all contact with them. He’s promised financial support, but he wants no other contact with her or their coming child.
He must have a reason. She’d known him and loved him for two years. At Christmas, she follows him to Maine to tell him she’s putting his name on the birth certificate.
She no longer loves him. He’s destroyed those feelings, and she will never give their daughter a reason to believe she can expect more than her father’s name, but Sophie can’t forget the soldier who lived by the code of “Leave no man behind,” the doctor who’s cared more for his patients than himself, the man who didn’t know how to be dishonorable.
Fatherless herself, Sophie doesn’t care about the financials. She’ll take care of her own, but she needs to understand why Jack’s become an impossible-to-love stranger.
The Christmas Wish by Anna J. Stewart
For as long as I’ve been writing, I never thought I’d ever write a novella. I’m a novel length kinda girl–I just write long books; sometimes very, very long. But when my friend (and writing Yoda) Melinda Curtis proposed the idea of interconnected novellas featuring a set of siblings, I couldn’t say no. Especially not when she, Anna Adams and I decided to make it a holiday themed anthology. There’s something magical about the holiday season, and writing Callie and Dean’s story was a true pleasure. In all honesty, it was also the easiest thing I’ve ever written; probably because this story comes straight from my heart.
When Callie Banning’s student declares war on Christmas, it’s up to her to teach the little girl–and her widowed father–to believe again.
Normally when I start a story, the heroine is first to pop into my head. This time around, Dean Galloway entered the scene first. I could see him so clearly, shoulder length blonde hair, the brown leather jacket, the haunted twinkle in his eye as he struggled to raise his little girl on his own. And he came with a camera. No idea why, he just arrived that way. Like a gift. There’s something incredibly appealing to me (and hopefully to readers) about a father who is so in love with his child he’ll do anything–even move them all across the country–to keep them happy. Adding a tinge of grief to their story and Callie Banning was just the healing effect they’d been looking for. There are people who just fit from the moment they meet; not necessarily that clichéd “you complete me” fit, but that something special that makes life and love all that more exciting. The Christmas Wish is more than about celebrating the holiday season and rediscovering the magic those months bring–it’s about finding where one truly belongs, both in home and heart. So come on, welcome to Christmas Town, Maine and meet the Banning siblings, who have a very special New Year coming their way.
The Christmas Date by Melinda Curtis
The Christmas Date is the third novella in Christmas, Actually – three holiday stories about three siblings living in Christmas Town, Maine, where tradition has it that a kiss on Christmas Eve in the town square gazebo will lead to wedding bells in the new year!
At a critique session, the Annas and I were talking about how we loved holiday stories. It was a natural progression to creating our own special town with heartwarming traditions.
In The Christmas Date, Gina Vernay was in an accident as a child and has a scar down her right cheek. Since then, Gina has always sat on the sidelines, lacking the self-confidence to shine. Wanting what many of her friends have – love, a family – Gina signs up for an online dating account. But her picture doesn’t show her scar. And she’s always too busy running The Tea Cup in Christmas Town to meet anyone, much less a man to share a kiss under the mistletoe in the town’s gazebo. But when one persistent on-line suitor arranges to meet her on Christmas Eve, Gina’s life turns upside down.
GUEST POST
My Top 10 Christmas Traditions
I LOVE Christmas time. Truly, from about Halloween on, I’m all about the tinsel, the trees and the music (why do they have to stop the Xmas carols on the 26th?!). For years now it’s just been my mom and me during the holiday season, but we’ve got our traditions…and they start early…even before we carve the Thanksgiving turkey.
- We decorate on Thanksgiving day. It used to be the day after Thanksgiving, but I spent years working in retail and we all know what that means. No one gets black Friday off, so our decorating begins as the aroma of roasting turkey and baking pies hits the atmosphere.
- We put up 3 Christmas trees. That’s right. 3. Of varying sizes of course. We have our 7″ (fake) tree that takes hours to put up, light, and decorate. Then we have our smaller, 3″ tree that’s reserved only for Harry Potter ornaments and my Grandfather’s tree-top angel. Then there’s my favorite tree–the small, 2″ tree my Grandmother had in her bedroom every holiday season, covered in hand-made needlepoint and tatted ornaments, topped with an antique glass topper that once upon a time cost .10 cents at the Five and Dime. Once that tree is up, Christmas has arrived.
- Make the egg-nog! Okay, this is a polarizing issue. Some people hate it, others love it. Me, I was in the middle (calories, ugh!) until I discovered a “fake” eggnog recipe that’s made from soy or almond milk and vanilla pudding mix. I LOVE it–and you can find it at HungryGirl.com. I’ve served it to so many people and no one has ever guessed it’s fake.
- Garth Brooks. I’m not a big music fan. And I’m really not a country fan. Okay, I confess. I’m a leftover metal head from the 80’s, but for me, the perfect Christmas album is by Garth Brooks. I love hearing him sing the traditional carols with a twangy twist. And more than a little heart.
- A Christmas Carol. Everyone has their favorite holiday movie and I’m no exception. At least once during the season I need to watch A Christmas Carol…but not any version (and not, oddly enough, the Patrick Stewart version, despite being a die-hard Trekkie). The George C. Scott version hits all the right notes in both homage to Dickens and to the season’s spirit (ahem, literally and figuratively).
- Party! Everyone’s always so busy, it’s hard to get people together, even around the holidays. But every year I have one dinner that includes my 2 best friends and my Godmother. I cook (like a maniac) and we open gifts and share all sorts of memories and goodies. It’s a tradition we had to miss last year for various reasons, but for me, that day, is even better than Christmas.
- Legos! So, like I said, it’s usually just me and mom on Christmas and if there’s one thing we have in common it’s our love of (and fascination with) Legos. Mom and I head to either Target or the Lego store well in advance of Christmas and choose a set to assemble on Christmas day while music plays on the stereo and dinner cooks in the oven. Last year it was The Hobbit; the 2 years before that, it was Harry Potter (Hogwarts and The Hogwarts Express respectively). Not sure what this year might bring…maybe some superheroes? Someday it’ll be the Death Star. Fingers crossed!
- A drive. We’re so fortunate to live where we do in Northern California. Sacramento has some beautiful old areas that go all out for the holiday season. Typically a few days before Christmas, we’ll head out just after sunset to explore the lighted homes and marvel at people’s creativity. The beauty stays with me for months…which probably explains why I was able to write a Christmas story in March.
- Shopping. I’m an early shopper for presents. I’m usually done sometime around Thanksgiving (you may commence hating me now). But I love venturing out closer to the holiday, to those little holes in the walls, the non-chain places that house treasures of the season you might not find other places. Seeing new and different, feeling that cold chill on my cheeks as I go in and out of the stores…is there anything better?
- Celebrating dreams coming true. The holiday season in the perfect time to reflect on the past year and to see how far I’ve come to fulfilling my dreams. Nearly 1 year ago to the day of this post, I got “the call” from my friend Melinda, letting me know my first story was going to be published. This story, THE CHRISTMAS WISH. I could not have had a more perfect gift, or have found a better time for my dream of finally being a published author to come true. Because they do. This story is proof.
So how about you? Share your favorite holiday traditions in the comments below. Maybe I’ll be adding yours to mine this year and celebrate in even grander fashion..
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Will your heart be warmed by a sweet kiss under the mistletoe this year? Come along on the tour to find out!
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This will only need to be done once.
I’ve never kissed under the mistletoe. We don’t have that tradition here in Finland.
What are some of your traditions, Mai? I am thinking they will be very interesting. I love to learn how others celebrate.
It’s been a long time since I kissed someone under the mistletoe! Maybe this year! LOL
I don’t remember my last time either. 🙂
Well, I already entered the giveaway on another blog, and commented on the mistletoe. That being said, I enjoyed reading about the top ten Christmas traditions. My favorite tradition: we always open brand new Christmas pajamas on Christmas Eve–and wear them until it’s time for Christmas dinner on Christmas day!
That’s cool, Taylor. I like the tradition of PJs. Why not be comfy and cozy. 🙂
I’m also a leftover 80’s metalhead and I thought I would let you know that there are some great metal Christmas albums out there. Rob Halford of Priest has one and so does Twisted Sister. Others as well just forage through Amazon. Thought I would pass that on in case you didn’t know about them.
Thanks so much for letting us know. I will be sure and check them out, after all, Christmas is right around the corner. I am happy to have you visit!
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