Merry Koda Christmas: Author Linda Bowers Bolton

Christmas at Linda’s

Christmas is my favorite holiday. Its starts with decorating the weekend after Thanksgiving. No Black Friday sales for me, I hate the crowds. I’d rather put up my tree and take out the Nativity.

Spare time on the weekends are filled with Christmas movies - my favorites are White Christmas and The Holiday. I love the Hallmark Christmas specials too. They really put me in the mood since we don’t get much cold weather here in Texas.

Christmas eve is family day which usually includes adopted family - friends with no family near. I usually cook something from a different culture for the evening meal, German one year, Spanish the next, Italian the year after, etc. Then we watch more Christmas movies and open our gifts at midnight. We take pictures with our gifts then go to bed.

Christmas day is sleeping in and having a yummy brunch of eggs, bacon, hash browns and leftovers! Come join us!

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Take 2

Take 2 is a story of love, loss and loving again. There are travels, roadblocks, and struggles. 

Alexandra Daniels is a forty-something, hard-working mom, wife and employee. Her life has been plodding along at a snails pace and she’s longing for excitement. She wins a trip to her favorite talk show in New York, the Veronica Becker Show, and it just so happens the actor of her dreams is a guest, Derek Dunbar! Is Alex’s life about to change?

Derek Dunbar is Scottish, an actor and a hunk! Every woman in America drools after him. He has his pick of women but stinks at relationships. At forty, is he longing for a more meaningful relationship? Does he even know how to have one? Is he willing to make the effort or will it just be too complicated?

Chapter 1

Alex sat in her chair, her eyes wide, staring at the screen. She loved the Veronica Becker Show and was a faithful viewer. During her lunch hour at work she would rush to the break room to turn it on. Veronica had viewer contests every week.  Alex had never won anything but that didn’t prevent her from signing up each week in hopes, knowing full well the likelihood of winning was minimal at best.

            “Today one lucky viewer will win a trip for two to visit New York and my show.  An all-expense-paid weekend!” announced Veronica Becker, touted as the ‘“Every Woman’s Woman’” by national magazines. 

            Veronica Becker had become a household name, a chef for the everyday woman: quick, inexpensive meals that were tasty, too. Veronica had taken her love of cooking to television and added a bit of fashion, some down to earth chat with the audience, and interviews with the latest stars. She was health conscious and wanted the women in her audience to look their best at any age. She also loved to give things away. Coming from a modest family, she believed in giving back. Generous to a fault, if there was an earthquake somewhere, a typhoon, or tornado, Veronica was there to help out.  

            “Our winner is Alexandra Daniels of Plano, Texas! Congratulations! We’ll be giving Alexandra a call today!”

            Her co-workers were staring at her. Had she really won?

            “Alex! That’s you! You won!” they all shouted.

            “Oh...my...God! I can’t believe it! I won!”

            Alex had the hardest time concentrating the rest of the afternoon. As a customer service rep for a marketing company, she was usually swamped with work but couldn’t concentrate. Two o’clock rolled around and Alex’s cell rang, a number she didn’t recognize.

            “Hello?”

            “Is this Alexandra Daniels?”

            “Yes, it is”

            “Alexandra, this is the Veronica Becker show. I am pleased to tell you that you are the winner of a trip for two to New York City and tickets for the show.”

            “I can’t believe it! Are you sure?” Alex was still in shock. She wanted to make sure there was no mistake. Josh would never believe her.

            “Yes, you’ve won! We will send your tickets out next week. Your trip is for April 15^th to 17th. Can you make it those dates?”

             “Oh yes!  I’ll make it work! Thank you so much!”

 “We’ll get back to you Monday to finalize the details. Have a great weekend!”

            “Oh, I will now!” Alex was amazed! It was true, she actually won! She was already mentally packing when reality hit. Josh would never take off work to go. Maybe Mattie could go with her....no, she had school. She could ask Kathleen, her best friend and co-worker, but they couldn’t take off at the same time. Kathleen was her back up so one of them had to be there. No, she’d have to go alone. Well, it was about time she did something adventurous. This was probably the most exciting thing that had happened to Alex in a very long time.

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 Take 2 is Linda Bolton’s first release due out  December 29 in ebook on Amazon. When she’s not writing she is a new GiGi, playing with her new granddaughter Z, working full-time and writing. While working on a future projects Linda can be found:

On Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/lindaboltonauthor

On Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/#!/lindalou42 

Her romance blog at http://www.lindabolton.blogspot.com

Thank you, Linda for sharing your Christmas with us, and also a sneak peek at your new novel, Take 2. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Merry Koda Christmas: Author, DeEtte Beckstead

What I Love About Christmas

When I read the theme, I thought “Gee, I haven’t written an essay for school in… well, decades!” I decided to approach it as such and see what happened.

I love Christmas. I love the lights and the music, the specials on television.  I love how people seem to cheer up during the season. I’m one who loves a white Christmas. I love to go to Dickens festivals or, as is the case this year, Mystic Village. It’s a time when I can slip into a fantasy world of love and cheer, even when circumstances that bombard me are of a different opinion. It’s a time when seeing people in costumes of other times, even if they weren’t easier, still have an appeal toward that simpler life ideal.

I love the traditions. I love decorating the Christmas tree. Years ago, I used to spend hours wrapping the strings of lights meticulously around the branches to be sure the lights were evenly distributed and the wires wouldn’t interfere with the ornaments. The most cherished ornament is a glass bell that was on my mother’s first Christmas tree in 1915. In three years, it will be a hundred years old. It goes near the top of the tree to protect it from inquisitive little hands (and dogs and cats). Our family tradition was that the ornament stayed on the tree as long as the kids got along. If they fought with one another, the bell would come off the tree. There was one year it did come off. I don’t think they will ever forget that. This year, the bell will be visiting the tree at my son’s, where I will be celebrating.

Other traditions I love:

·         Eggnog 

·         Musical oranges made by pushing a candy cane into an orange and sucking till the juice comes through the candy.

·         Our traditional family hot cocoa made with evaporated milk (this also appears in my novel Victory)

·         Going to the Nutcracker with my grandson. We missed it last year, and will again this year (I am 2000 miles away this year). Maybe I will be able to take him again soon…

·         Watching It’s a Wonderful Life, White Christmas, and Miracle on 34^th Street

·         Celebrating St. Nicholas Day on December 5^th

·         Going out for a Christmas light tour somewhere in the city

·         Midnight church services

Judging from my list, it’s easy to see I love spending time with family and friends. I love all the warmth and fun that comes from baking and decorating cookies with my grandchildren, watching their sparkling eyes and beautiful smiles as we create something special together.

I love to make gifts for my family. It doesn’t matter if they would win prizes; it matters because there is love built into it.

When my children were small, my father-in-law had lots of money, especially compared to my own dad. Their paternal grandfather spent way more than was necessary on the kids (he wanted to), but my dad, who was retired and didn’t have much money, spent hours in his workshop, sawing, gluing, nailing, painting. He made wooden cars and animals, rocking horses, cupboards, nightstands and rocking chairs. The monetary investment was small, but those handmade gifts were the items my now-grown children still treasure.  Some have even been passed down to the next generation. They knew Grandpa Beckstead had built love into them. Yes, their other grandparents loved them, and had taken time to buy something for them. They appreciated that and love them for it. But those small pieces of painted wood were extra special! The love was tangible; they were like hugs from their beloved grandpa. Now that he is gone, they treasure those items even more.

I love seeing my children giving from their hearts: their talents, their time. If there is one thing I did right as a mother, it was to teach my children that “building love into” a gift makes it so much more than what it appears on the outside. Even if it is a purchased gift, I know my kids take time to really think about the person the gift is for. When I crochet a doll or stuffed animal for one of my grandkids, I pray over it, asking God to bless the child who will love it. Gifts to me? I prefer drawings from my grandchildren to paintings by the Masters. I would rather have a macaroni necklace made by a 3 year old than diamonds; a tissue paper flower than a dozen long-stemmed roses.

But the thing I think I love most about Christmas is that it is the time of year we remember God’s most wondrous gift to us: Jesus. It doesn’t matter if we have the right date or not. What matters is that we celebrate and thank God for His love. A quote from my book Victory sums up my feelings: 

I am not going to let one man, or even a group of men, stop me from celebrating the birth of Jesus. If I have to do it alone, I will. But no matter what label man puts on it, or whether or not this is the ‘right’ date, this season is still when we Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Savior. He is always faithful to us, and wants us to be faithful to Him. He wants us to trust Him and be full of faith.

That means I will celebrate Him. No one can stop me. It’s truly my God-given right. If others want to share the joy of Christmas, all the better. But with or without others, there will be joy in my heart and I will celebrate the birth of my Lord!

And with that, I wish you all a Merry Christmas!

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DeEtte Beckstead Anderton: DeEtte is an author from Salt Lake City, UT, USA. DeEtte’s first work, The Christmas Visitors, was published November 25, 2012; and her first novel, Victory, - Victory, a town where the people love their country and their neighbors, but what happens when two visitors come to town? One comes with fear and control, slowly taking away the freedoms the people love. The other comes with faith. When darkness overtakes the town who will have Victory? - was just released on Friday, December 7, 2012. 

Thank you, DeEtte for sharing your thoughts on, and memories of, Christmas!!!

Merry Koda Christmas: Author Alycia Neighbours

As I pull out of my driveway, I notice the house across the street has lined their yard with impressive holiday lighting, just like last year. This year they have added twinkly lights around their door and a beautiful red bow on the mailbox. Down the street a little, another home has a stag standing proudly while a doe grazes beside him outlined in lights in the front yard next to a nativity scene lit by a spotlight.

Halfway into town, I have passed houses outlined in elegant white lights and wreaths on every window. I have seen colorful bulbs on the bushes and lit trees inside front windows that have been opened wide. Gated communities, farm houses, and apartment buildings all with the same electrical candles glowing from windows.

Stretched across the street entering the city is a banner wishing “Happy Holidays” in sparkling green foil. There are signs pointing the way to fresh Christmas trees and “Merry Christmas” scrolls across the bank marquee along with the time and temperature. Cardboard signs advertise the annual parade in big block letters with the promise of Santa’s appearance.

Everywhere I drive the decorations come into view. Strangers smile easier and stories of kindness, generosity and holiday spirit are shared more often. Traditions are followed precisely and loved ones begin the trek across the town or country to share in memories and create new tales. Cards begin to show up in the mail bearing the faces of family and friends along with the wishes of the Season.

Then I pass a plot of land dotted with stone memorials, where the air is mostly met with tears and prayers. My eye catches the glimmer of something shiny and I have just enough time before it leaves my field of view as I continue my journey to see a small Christmas tree erected beside one monument.

This is what I love about Christmas.

The decorations assure me that we have a passion that supersedes our pain. It is the thing that unites us no matter our circumstance. No matter how we might feel alone in our world, Christmas decorations put out for all to see shows us that we are here all together.

The child that carries a plate of homemade cookies in the shapes of trees and stars into their classroom for all to enjoy.

A dad that spent hours getting the strands perfect on the gutters of his home and gathers the family in the lawn to witness the “lighting.”

The employee who hangs the tinsel on the tree in the lobby and greets everyone who comes in with a hearty “Happy Holidays.”

The woman who stands beside a stone marker smiling at the little tree and the memories in her heart.

This time of year, no matter who you are, what you have endured, or what you will encounter; you only have to look around at the Christmas decorations to see that you aren’t alone. Regardless of the stories that have dominated the news of hurt, anger and injustice; stories will emerge of acts of kindness that give us hope again.

We know that as we wake on Christmas morning and watch our children, friends and family unwrap the gifts we agonized to pick, that it is more blessed to give than receive. There will be a moment of heartache as we know that not everyone had our blessings, and there are some down the road who are suffering, but we will see our own with a better clarity.

There will be many alone this year. Countless will be almost too busy, but they haven’t forgotten. Thousands will be away to sacrifice all they have for the ones left behind. Thousands of letters to Santa that aren’t asking for a toy, but rather something more heartbreaking.

There will be empty chairs around Christmas dinner, reminding us of those we lost. There will be stories from Christmas’ past that make us laugh. There will be the one gift you didn’t expect that assures you that you are important. There will be the smile across the room that reminds you that you are loved. There will be many watching the same timeless classics on the television that recalls the importance of beliefs.

Yet, every year as I drive I see the wreaths, the trees and the lights that unite us. Our hearts, our hopes and our dreams are not at all unique, and one only has to look down the road a little to see the Spirit of Christmas set up for all to enjoy.
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Alycia Neighbours - Hendersonville, Tennesseee
Author of "Deciding To Dance" and "Wake Up In The Mourning"
Blog - "Diary of '...and frankly.'"
Twitter - @and_frankly
FaceBook - "Diary of '...and frankly.'"

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Thank you, Alycia Neighbours for sharing your favorite things about Christmas!!!

All week authors will be sharing their thoughts and memories of Christmas! Join us in our Holiday Celebration!