No one loves Christmas as much as Chelsea Macintosh, the heroine in my recent novella The Last Mountain Christmas in the Marry Christmas Collection. I recently sat down with her to discover a few of her favorite things. We met up at a coffee shop where she ordered a hot chocolate and offered me half of her gingerbread cookie. She really played the part, wearing a comfy knit sweater and boots with jingle bells tied to the laces!
Teresa: Hi, Chelsea! Thanks for spending a little time with me and the Inspy Romance readers today. First, tell us a little about yourself.
Chelsea: Oh, my gosh, I’m so excited you asked me! I’m about to turn 30, work as a school counselor, love coffee, and some might say I’m mildly obsessed with Christmas. [giggles]
Teresa: There’s a lot to love about the holiday. Let’s start with traditions. What’s your favorite Christmas tradition?
Chelsea: I think it’s a tie between spending Christmas at our cabin in Spruce Ridge and the candlelight service on Christmas Eve!
Teresa: Oh, I love that too. What do you love most about Christmas at your family’s cabin?
Chelsea: Other than the fact that it’s the coziest place on earth, I’d have to say I love reuniting every year with our dear friends the Reynolds. Especially, this year, because my longtime friend Owen finally returned after a few years away.
Teresa: Do you have a favorite Christmas song?
Chelsea: It’s impossible to choose just one. Between old records of my dad’s and the local radio station, I listen to Christmas music from Thanksgiving through New Year’s! But if I had to choose just one, it’d have to be “Silent Night.” I cry every time we sing it at the candlelight service.
Teresa: Okay, let’s do a few more questions about your Christmas favorites. Favorite gift you’ve received?
Chelsea: The first-edition copy of Jane Eyre that my friend Owen gave me when we were teenagers. [blushes]
Teresa: Aw, that’s sweet. Favorite Christmas memory?
Chelsea: Ice skating at the outdoor rink in Spruce Ridge when we were kids.
Teresa: Favorite holiday movie?
Chelsea: While You Were Sleeping, for sure!
Teresa: And finally, what about your favorite Christmas treat?
Chelsea: There are so many! But, probably the iced sugar cookies my mom and sister and I have been making together for years.
Teresa: Oh, those sound delicious.
Chelsea: They’re totally superior to Owen’s favorite, which have crushed potato chips in them. I mean, that’s weird, right? [scrunches her nose]
Teresa: [laughs] Maybe it’s the salty/sweet combo? Well, Chelsea, thanks so much for letting us get to know you today. Your enthusiasm really helped to get us into the Christmas spirit!
Chelsea: It was my pleasure! Thanks for asking me. I hope everyone has a fantastic, blessed Christmas this year.
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Did anyone else notice that she mentioned her friend Owen a few times? I wonder if there’s something there. 😊 Pick up a copy of the Marry Christmas Collection to read Chelsea and Owen’s story, The Last Mountain Christmas, to find out. Other stories in the collection are by Jaycee Weaver, Cathe Swanson, and Chautona Havig.
What are some of your favorite things about Christmas? Tell me in the comments!
Thank you Teresa for such a positive post. It helped me flick the switch back to positive after a day dealing with what I call the “Christmas Crazies” where many people seem to lose their capacity to think straight from stress in the lead up to Christmas. For me it is the blessing of being able to spend uninterrupted time with family and friends over the season and catching up with those loved ones we are only able to visit with during Christmas. Seasons blessings to all.
I also like Silent Night and While You Were Sleeping.
I think my favorite thing about Christmas is the REAL meaning of Christmas! That Christ came as fully man and fully God to save us from our sins. I like attending the Christmas Eve service, as that brings the point home even more! Without Christ, we wouldn’t have Christmas to celebrate. I think that’s why I love nativities so much, too.
Dianne, I’m so glad you enjoyed this lighthearted post! I agree, the seasonal insanity can be hard sometimes. Blessings!
SO fun! :)
Amen! I love nativities, too!
Welcome. You do a very important job. I know my two kiddos love their counselors in grade school and middle school and high school. They didnt have problems at all, they just loved to talk to the counselors and bounce things off of them at times. These ladies were very important in our kiddos lives. thanks for what you do.
I completely agree school counselors are awesome! Thanks for reading Chelsea’s interview!
I love character interviews. The collection sounds great, I will look out for it.
I completely agree with Chelsea about While You Were Sleeping, it’s such a lovely story.
I wouldnlove to try Christmas sugar cookies, Christmas cookies aren’t really a thing where I’m from in the UK but I read about them so much, maybe I will have to try baking some!
My favourite Christmas tradition is Carol concerts.
Good afternoon, I loved this interview! Thank you for sharing it with us. I love the sound of your story, Chelsea sounds like a great person. And yes, I bet there is something between Chelsea and Owen, I sure would love to know more about both of them. I love Everything Christmas, especially spending quality time with my family. My favorite song is Silent Night also. Have a great day and a great week.
A carol concert sounds delightful!
I hope you have a chance to enjoy their story!
Celebrating the birth of the Lord. It is hard to keep our eyes on the Lord with so many things trying to grab our attention. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
I love this time of the year, I get make Christmas cookies with my Granddaughters! I made them when I was a kid and then with my kids.