Talk about crazy weather in the US and Canada. Places that never get snow—California, anyone—have been pounded, while Colorado waited…and waited…and waited for even a dusting. We made a new record this year, with a LACK of snowfall well into November, and even then it was less than a quarter of an inch and melted within hours. Finally in the New Year we got a decent snowfall, which my grandson and our dogs loved and my husband not so much. We thank the Good Lord for snow blowers! We’re just too old to use a shovel anymore. But my 10-year-old grandson Boo had a lovely time making Henry (the snowman with the hair) and Henry Junior.
Weather and time of year is always at the front of my mind as an author, as well. Christmas books are rarely written during the Christmas holidays, which is weird, and why I’m sometimes playing Christmas Carols in the middle of summer. It’s all about release dates.
My current WIP (Work In Progress) has been slotted for September of 2022 and already has an official name: A Reason to Stay. I’m thrilled with this title because it complements the book so well.
It’s also got a great “seasonal” story to go along with it. It was originally slotted for July, as I wanted to write a summer book. But then I had to have emergency major surgery and had to have the book pulled from the lineup. So I’m thinking, “Well, now it’ll probably be a Christmas book. So I went back to the first chapter, which originally started with a May country carnival, and I turned it into a Christmas shindig. A little plot shifting and I’m on my way…until I hear they’ve actually slotted the book for September. Whoa. Okay. Now it’s an autumn book. Back to the drawing board!
So now the timeline is the beginning of October (an Autumn Carnival) and goes through the day after Thanksgiving, when they go out to cut down a Christmas tree…which makes sense, given that the Winslow family runs a Christmas tree farm.
So there you have it. The life and times of the traditional side of my author work. Planning my indie books can be equally as confusing, especially when life unexpectedly drops in for a visit and I have to shift publishing dates.
What about you? Do you enjoy books set in a specific time of year, or are you a round-the-calendar reader?
Their Unbreakable Bond is available now!!
~~Love Courageously~~ Publisher's Weekly Bestselling, award-winning author of 30 novels, Deb Kastner enjoys writing contemporary inspirational western stories set in small communities. She feels especially blessed to be able to include faith as a natural and genuine part of her characters' lives. Deb lives in beautiful Colorado with her husband and a pack of miscreant mutts. She is blessed with three adult daughters and two grandchildren. Her favorite hobby is spoiling her grandchildren, but she also enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to music (The Texas Tenors are her fav), singing in the church choir, and exploring the Rocky Mountains on horseback.
I love reading books no matter what season!!
I read what I feel like, no matter the season.
I’m around the calendar reader but I like to know the season in the first few pages
I love reading any book, any time!! I used to only read Christmas books between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but now I read them any time of the year!! The same goes for any other “season” I’ll them whenever!
Interesting peek into fitting your book into the publisher’s schedule! I love reading summer books in the summer, but I’ll pretty much read any season year-round.
I read books year long I just finshed their unbreakable bond it was a quick read for me and it was really good.
I live on the Oregon coast & we got a good bit of snow Christmas weekend, which trapped us for about 4 days (we never lost power, thankfully!). We rarely get snow, and most of the time if we do, it melts by the end of the day. Not only did we get snow, but it created a sheet of ice underneath. We don’t have the road equipment to handle it (snowplows or ice melt on them). My husband missed a day of work because we couldn’t get out of our driveway & church cancelled service on Sunday. It was bad! I don’t care for snow at all, pictures of it are pretty though.
As for books, it doesn’t matter what season or time of year it’s set in. Each season has it’s beauty and I enjoy reading about it all :-)
I feel the same way. Even over the summer when its so hot I can even read a Christmas book.
Although I’ve been buying books for quite sometime left and right lol. But noe I need to stop because I have regular reading to do too.
Did any of you hear or read books by Debbie Meacomber? I love her Christmas books.
I’ve read a few of her Christmas books. I have to really watch what I read of hers, though!
The season doesn’t really matter to me. I’ll read any season at any time of year.
Hi, I read books no matter the season. I read books on whatever season it is on all year round. Have a great rest of the week and stay safe.
My TBR pile is WAY larger than the time I have. Audible has helped for when I’m cooking and cleaning, and then I read before bed.
That’s great to know! I’ve sometimes wondered if my Christmas books get “put away” once the season changes.
I’m always grateful when the season is clear from the cover.
I adore Debbie Macomber, especially her angel books. I laughed all the way through them.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.
We enjoy our snow in Colorado, although no one in my family is a skier. It’s weird when we don’t have the snowy winter.
I am a round the year reader. It does not matter to me about the season of the book verses the season I am reading it. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
Deb I love books for all seasons and I especially love yours with the service dogs and those with intrigue and always keep me on my edge of my seat to the point I have to finish the story in one and never
More than two readings. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and stories!!
I read all year round about other seasons but it doesn’t bother me.
I’m an all around season reader for all books
really really late but Christmas carols in Summer is normal here. But I tend to read Christmas more in the Christmas season. most others it doesn’t matter cos a book set in Autumn/Fall quite often is our spring. and via versa. I enjoy reading winter in summer as it can be cooling. and Summer in winter. Sometimes I am not even sure which season it is.
the same with holidays like July 4 it doesn’t mean the same to me as an American. Also Labor day is at different times (its at different times in different states in australia too). So besides Christmas I don’t really mind and even Christmas I can read other times of the year.
I am the round-the-calendar reader!