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A Beachy Christmas & Giveaway

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Are you confused? Wondering why I’m talking about Christmas when it’s only October? Well, here’s why! Last Tuesday, Candy Cane Wishes & Saltwater Dreams, a novella collection, released, including one of my stories. And every one of the five stories is about Christmas … on the beach.

What? The beach isn’t usually what you think about when you think about Christmas, is it?

I completely agree. That being said, when I was invited to collaborate in this collection, it took me a minute to figure out which beach I wanted to set my story on. But only a minute. Because I have a favorite beach.

So, my story, Mistletoe Make-Believe, is set on St. Simons Island, Georgia. Know where that is? Way south Georgia off the coast of Brunswick. With gorgeous old oak trees dripping with Spanish moss, interesting old historical sites, white sand beaches, dolphins, and a lighthouse. Know why it’s so special to me? It’s where I honeymooned. ;-)

But since my story isn’t the only one in this collection, I wanted to let the other authors included also share their beaches and why they chose them. Read on, because each is different and the stories are fun, too!

Hope Toler Dougherty — A Hatteras Surprise

My novella, A Hatteras Surprise, is set on Hatteras Island, part of the beautiful Outer Banks in North Carolina. When Linda Fulkerson invited me to be a part of this Christmas collection set on beaches, she asked, “Don’t you live near the Outer Banks?” She provided the sign I needed to rejoin six other authors on Hatteras for a retreat. COVID still raged during the fall of 2020, and my dad had entered the final stages of dementia. I wondered if the annual Hatteras writing week was a good idea. Turns out, the idea was great because the trip reconnected me to some special authors and taught me again about obedience and God’s faithfulness in helping me write this story.

Linda Fulkerson — A Pennie for Your Thoughts

I chose the windward coast of Oahu for my novella’s setting because I was blessed to live in that tropical paradise for nearly four years. When I first moved to Oahu, I lived on the opposite side of the island, so each morning I drove across the Likelike Highway to work. When I popped out of the tunnel, I was welcomed by the stunning view of the Pacific Ocean easing into Kaneohe Bay, surrounded by the lush mountains that frame Windward Coast. The scene literally took my breath away. Every single morning.

Christmas in Hawaii is unique. Because nearly everything is shipped from long distances, finding a Christmas tree or ingredients for baking favorite holiday dishes can be challenging. Christmas cards display Santa sunning himself on the beach or testing the waves on a surfboard, and Christmas music typically includes a ukulele strumming in the background. The locals have their own stories of Santa’s origin, and instead of arriving on a reindeer-driven sleigh, he arrives on a catamaran pulled by dolphins.

Regina Rudd Merrick — Mr. Sandman

The Pawleys Island area of South Carolina is one of those places that I visited and immediately knew it was special. We (My family, my sister’s family, our parents) rented a 2nd-row beach house in 2003, for my parents’ 40th anniversary, and I’ve been twice since then. It’s never far out of my mind. This region is part of the “Grand Strand” of beaches that includes the area north of Myrtle Beach, SC to Georgetown, SC, just south of Pawleys Island. The first time I went, the first thing I noticed was the air–it felt “soft,” if that’s possible. It’s an area that mixes historic homes, beach resorts, and family homes, all residents, both temporary and full-time, coming together on the beach and at the grocery store. As I’ve often said, I’d move there in a heartbeat.

Shannon Taylor Vannatter — Coastal Christmas Charade

Since we have family in Texas, I’ve been to the beach in Galveston and Corpus Christi. It would have been smart to pick one of those for my setting. But no, I went with Surfside Beach, with the plan of visiting before the book release. And then life happened. It’s still on my bucket list to go because when I googled best shelling in Texas, Surfside Beach was at the top of the list. I don’t swim unless there’s chlorine involved. All I do at the beach is wade the shore and pick up shells. My office has them everywhere. To me, seashells are proof of God, the creator. Who else would design such intricate homes for seemingly insignificant sea life?

 

Well, are you ready to pack your bags and visit a beach or two this Christmas? If you’re a US reader and would like a chance to win a paperback copy of this lovely and festive collection, let me know by October 6th. How do you feel about going to the beach for Christmas? Where’s a beach you would like to visit that maybe didn’t make our list?

Amy R Anguish (24 Posts)

Amy R Anguish grew up a preacher's kid, and in spite of having lived in seven different states that are all south of the Mason Dixon line, she is not a football fan. Currently, she resides in Tennessee with her husband, daughter, and son, and usually a bossy cat or two. Amy has an English degree from Freed-Hardeman University that she intends to use to glorify God, and she wants her stories to show that while Christians face real struggles, it can still work out for good.


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Comments

  1. Many Aussies go to the beach for Christmas so its not unusual for us but it is summer. I think going to Hawaii for Christmas would be great and I remember being told how things were shipped there. I have some lovely Hawaiian ornaments for the tree. While it would be nice to see a white Christmas I would need to be able to get back home quick cos I really don’t like winter but Christmas in Hawaii would be fun. (I went the end of Jan).

  2. As an Aussie, this is pretty much our Christmas every year: beach time. So, it’s nice to see some Christmas romances set in warmer weather. However, I’m always “Dreaming of a White Christmas”. 😊

    • I am always dreaming of a white Christmas, too. And Tennessee doesn’t usually have one. But my kids are so excited when we do (as am I because I am still a kid at heart when it comes to Christmas).

  3. We spent part of our honeymoon in Virginia Beach, Virginia. We have had the chance to visit beaches from Maine to Hawaii. The one that sticks out, though, is Ocean City, Maryland, where we used to attend an annual marriage retreat. The retreat was in October, though, so it was too cold to enjoy the water and, more often than not, the wind was blowing and that made it all the more chilly! Maybe that’s just what you need for a (northern hemisphere) beach Christmas!

    • That sounds about right. I would love to see more of the east coast. Especially Maine. It’s on my list, which seems to grow longer every year. :)

  4. I enjoyed Fripp Island and Catalina Island. I think it would be nice to spend the day after Christmas on a beach. I like to have snow on Christmas. That’s the only time I enjoy snow!

    • I am going to have to look up those islands. They’re new to me. :)
      And I agree there is something special about snow on Christmas.

  5. Last year and this year we went and are going to Disney World! Our family lives in three different states so we ditch the gift giving and spend time together!

    • That sounds like fun. I know some others who do trips instead of gifts. I bet that helps eliminate clutter, too. :)

  8. Hi Amy! The only beach I’ve been to is Daytona Beach, so I guess it’s my favorite thus far. =) Congrats on the book. I enjoyed reading the opening chapter!

    • I have friends who love Daytona beach. :)
      So glad you enjoyed the first chapter. Hope you enjoy the rest, too.

  9. I have no favorite beaches. I grew up in a fishing family so was on the water a lot but only remember going to a beach a handful of times and just small lakes. I would like to see an ocean or even a large lake someday, but at my age now I will likely stick to the experience through books!

    • I got to see Lake Michigan once when I was in Chicago. It reminded me of the ocean a little but it’s not salty so it has a different smell. But I love both. :)

  10. Hi Amy! Living in Michigan, I usually think of a White Christmas, so even though I live a mile from Lake Michigan – we don’t spend Christmas on the beach. About every decade Michigan has a green Christmas. This avid traveler has been blessed to experience beaches on both coasts – California, Florida, and Virginia; as well as a beautiful tropical beach in the Wakaya prefecture in Japan. In June we visited Virginia Beach with our son and 3 grandchildren. Anthology sound delightful. On my wish list. Enjoy the weekend.

  11. I live on the Space Coast of Florida, otherwise known as Brevard County, home of Cocoa Beach, I’m 15 minutes from the beach, depending on traffic! We’ve had Christmas’s where my nieces and nephews, and now greats, spend Christmas Day in the pool. Mind you, a few years they’d get out of the pool, stand under the outdoor shower with hot water on, then wrap up in a towel before coming in the house! One of my sisters lives on the beach, and that’s where we’d be. Sometimes my brothers-in-laws would take all of the kids for a walk on the beach. So, a “beach” Christmas is extremely common for me!

    • I can’t imagine swimming in Dec! Brrr! 😂 Even in Florida, I don’t think it would be warm enough for me.

      • You noticed I said my nieces and nephews, and that was when they were much younger than they are now! The greats are the ages their parents were (and some much younger) so it’s only the young ones!! Unless, sometimes it’s been in the mid 80’s, water colder, but once you were in, you got used to it.

  13. We’ve gone to the beach as late as Sept/October, but no later that I can remember. My husband does have some vacation time in December this year, so who knows, we may head down to Hilton Head!

  14. If I went to the beach my whole family would need to be with me or it wouldn’t feel like Christmas.I have 8 brothers and 4 sisters two of my brothers are married and one sister is married so everyone would have to be there for it to be fun if they didn’t come I would miss them.

    • I feel the same way about my family. I want to spend at least part of the holidays with them. :)

    • It sounds absolutely lovely. I think I need to take a trip up and visit Hope Dougherty and the island. :)

  16. I’d love to win a copy, thank you for the chance! I’ve been to St. Pete beach in Florida several times and always thought it was really pretty. I’m not sure if I’d want to spend Christmas at the beach, I kind of like the cold and snow that time of year, but it could be fun.

  18. My brother and sister-in-law lived in Kissimmee, FL for a time and four years ago I was able to spend Christmas with them. While they didn’t live at the beach I was able to take a couple of days before Christmas and visit Miami and Key West, with a couple of stops in between. One of my favorite memories of that trip is the giant sand snowman I saw in Ft. Lauderdale. I definitely don’t see any of those in the Midwest.

  19. I live on the Oregon coast and I can go to the beach anytime. However, our water is always cold, so I’d love to visit Florida where the water is warm & the beach is white :-) My grandma & grandpa used to vacation there every year when I was growing up and they’d always bring something back for us grand-kids. I used to have a small glass bottle full of white sand that I had for years, it always made me want to go there someday too!

    Of course, Hawaii sounds good too :-)

    • I love that story about the bottle of sand. I am going to have a clear ornament full of shells from the beach now. A perfect way to keep the memories and not have them just collecting dust.

  21. I live in Northern CA and I have been away from home during the holidays 3 times. Once to Hawaii and twice to Mexico. Love being at a beach anytime of the year!

  22. I think that if I would have the opportunity to spend Christmas on a beach, I would like to experience it on the Isles of Palms off of Charleston. Thank you for the opportunity. God bless you.

  27. I would love to go to the beach for Christmas but I don’t think it will ever be possible! I’ve only lived in Iowa and Arizona and neither one was close to a beach!

  28. Oregon Coast has wonderful beaches and I would love to spend Christmas there. We live just over an hour away and often considered skipping the gifts and spending the money on a beach rental for the week. Haven’t done it yet, but it sure would make for a relaxing week, and more focused celebration of Christ’s birth.

    • I love the idea of trading in gifts and doing an experience instead. That sounds lovely.

  30. I’d love to visit a TX beach because I visited the state, but never got to see the coastal part of it. Still, all the other beaches y’all mentioned sound good too, so I’d love to go to those too one day :)

    Thanks for the chance, and congrats on your new release!

    • Funny story. I lived in Texas for 11 years and never got to the coast. I think I would love to go back and do that one day, too. :)

  31. I don’t know if I’d like to spend Christmas at the beach. I need a white Christmas, with all my family. (2 brothers, 3 sisters, with kids and grandkids). The only beach I’ve been to is Lake Michigan at Indiana Dunes. Thanks for the chance, the book sounds great.

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