Do you enjoy reading books about writers? What about books about Christmas? What about books about writers AND Christmas? Do you ever wonder how much of a book about a writer is based on the author’s actual own experience? Well, have I got a book for you…
A few years ago I wrote a book about a historical author who returns to her small town in order to write a book. This turned out to be a Hallmark-esque Christmas story, complete with all the usual Christmas activities (baking cookies! Christmas tree hunting! singing carols!) but with a twist. My author heroine might be skilled with words, but prowess with certain domestic – and other – activities elude her.
Now of course I can’t relate to domestic challenges at ALL (feel free not to visit me to see the dust bunnies lurking in the corners, lol!), but there might be a few things in my author’s story that I can relate to. Like the way I plonk butt-in-chair until a rough first draft is done. (Well, not all at once, but it’s my focus until it’s done. My last book saw me write 75k in 14 days – a new record for me) I might also write down certain phrases I hear that are beautiful or evocative. And yeah, there might be a few other things that are true in my own life, like the fact I’ve written historical books, but as this is a work of fiction, I reserve the right to deny all similarities of my heroine to moi.
Anyway, this book was sitting in my computer, waiting for a home, when I realized just how easy it would be to subtly tweak and edit and release as part of my new Muskoka series. And knowing there are many people who love Christmas stories, and small towns, and books about writers, I thought it’d be perfect to release this year, just in time for Christmas. And so Muskoka Christmas will release November 10.
Want to know a little more? Here’s the back cover copy for Muskoka Christmas:
Staci Everton is a multi-published author of historical romances, whose Christmas Eve deadline for a new book sees her leave her Chicago home to go write while staying with her grandmother in the beautiful small town of Muskoka Shores, Canada. Staci is determined to finish her manuscript, despite the small town’s Christmas charm – and Muskoka Shores most eligible bachelor.
Dr. James Wells is on enforced leave from working in Africa, after nearly burning out as a medical missionary. He’s here to spend time with family, not spend time with a workaholic whose focus on fiction is very different from the harsh realities he’s faced.
But Christmas is a time of second chances, family and faith. Maybe they’ll find magic under the mistletoe, and a future after all.
Sounds fun, right? So if you enjoy reading about writers, and stories with Christmas themes galore, then I hope you’ll preorder your copy of Muskoka Christmas at Amazon Apple Kobo Nook or GooglePlay.
So I’m curious: what are some of the things you like to see in a Christmas story? What about in a story about writers? Let’s chat!
Carolyn Miller lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. A longtime lover of romance, Carolyn loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. Her Regency and contemporary novels are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Koorong, etc
Sounds really good! Also I love books and movies about writers, especially novelists.
This sounds a great story.
I love Christmas stories that include Christmas traditions – baking, gift giving/making, singing Christmas carols, eating Christmas food, decorating etc – especially if the story is from another country (I’m in the UK) as it’s really interesting to learn about Christmas traditions in different places. I particularly enjoy stories that have a description of a Christmas service, like a carol service or nativity play.
I like the idea of stories about writers too but I don’t think I’ve read that many!
I love Christmas stories that focus on the REAL meaning of Christmas! Bonus points if they go to a living Nativity, or a church program, or a Christmas Eve service, or all of the above!! I’ve read stories with writers in them, and I like the way they have to find time to write, or make time to get with friends around their writing, things authors have to “find time to do” in real life, too!!
fun settings
Yes! It’s fun feeling like you’re getting an inside peek to an author’s life, isn’t it?
Yes! As an Aussie I can totally relate to being fascinated by how other countries celebrate Christmas. Christmas is always in summer here, so my dream is to one day experience a white Christmas – which would make so many more of these Christmas traditions make sense!
Yes! I agree it’s so good when a book focuses on what Christmas is really about. I like how that can be explored in different ways, so it might be a gradual understanding of just what Jesus has done rather than a lightbulb moment. I do love how there’s far more awareness of Jesus at this time of year.
Yes
I like things that are traditional for the area. Like you don’t see tobogganing in Hawaii but you would in a place like Vermont. cookie baking is universal. also looking at the lights is universal. Places like Hawaii have different Christmas traditions to the other states. Also Australia is different to Germany. I would like to see more books set in different places for Christmas. Melody Carlson’s Christmas novella last year was in the Alps and fun. I read one on a vacation in Jamaica. I would love to see a Christmas in Hawaii as I would love to have a Christmas there (except I would miss the Boxing Day test).
I read a good book that was a Christmas at an Amish inn but it was non Amish who were the guests and the hero/heroine had both gone to the inn to get away from home. Hero was a widower and Heroine I think had recovered from sickness and wanted be away from well intentioned people who were smothering her.
If a writer is the hero/heroine thats ok
I dont think I have read a book about an author as the heroine. This sounds like an interesting idea. And then add christmas to the mix, woohoo
I agree! It’d definitely be fun to read more books set in other interesting places in the world and how Christmas is celebrated there. (And I reckon you could probs still watch the Boxing Day test in Hawaii – just need to check the hotel’s TV channels)
Right? This book has definite woohoo appeal! ;) Happy reading to you!
Thank you so much for sharing. I enjoy reading happy endings, carols, Christmas Eve service or church service, family, snow, animals, and conflict. God bless you.
God bless you, Debra – and happy reading!
I couldn’t last time I went in January not where I was staying. it would probably need a pay subscription and not all hotels would do that. Also if In Hawaii I don’t want to be stuck in the hotel all day although it would start around 6am. (Christmas day would be our boxing day).
I do have quite a few Hawaiian ornaments that go on the tree