Amanda,
welcome to my Christmas series of Writers on Reading. I’ve been looking forward
to these interviews like—well, excuse the cliché—but a kid at Christmas! So
with your recent Christmas story, “The Christmas Star Bride,” part of the 12 Brides of Christmas Collection,
released October 1. What is your favorite part about a Christmas-themed story?
Like you, I’m a kid at heart when it comes to
Christmas. I love the fact that, for most of us, this is the happiest time of
the year. I also love knowing that for those who least expect it, it can be the
season of miracles, a time to find peace and joy.
Beautifully
said, Amanda! I don’t know about you, but many of us associate this season with
traditional baking. I don’t think a Christmas novel would be complete without
those special scents floating around in your head. What are your favorite
Christmas goodies to read or write about?
Oh, yes, I definitely associate Christmas with baking.
That’s why I included a special recipe at the end of Christmas Roses, my first Christmas novella, and why the heroine of
“The Christmas Star Bride” is a baker. I’m not sure I have a favorite Christmas
goody to read about, but there’s no question about my favorite to eat. It’s a
special Christmas cookie that I associate with my childhood: date pinwheels.
Oooh, sounds
delicious. What is on your Christmas fiction to-read list this year? And what
is
your ideal Christmas reading experience?
your ideal Christmas reading experience?
This year’s list includes several books by Melody
Carlson, who can always be depended on to give readers a heart-warming story
that celebrates the wonder of the Christmas season. I also have a couple
novella collections on my TBR pile, including A Log Cabin Christmas. Somehow, I missed that when it was first
released.
For me the ideal Christmas reading experience is a
story of ordinary people struggling to find happiness at this most wonderful
time of the year. I’m particularly drawn to stories of people who—for one
reason or another—don’t expect to have a merry Christmas but who find happiness
against all odds.
Those are
special. Thank you for sharing. Over the years, has any Christmas novel or
novella really stuck with you that you’d like to share with our readers? And is
there one you’re looking forward to rereading?
I started my Christmas reading early this year and was
enchanted by Stephanie Grace Whitson’s “A Patchwork Love,” which is part of A Patchwork Christmas Collection. Stephanie
is one of my favorite authors, and I think she’s outdone herself with this
story. It has every element that makes a Christmas story special for me. This
is one I’m planning to reread each year.
Well, that’s a
recommendation! We’ll have to add it, and Christmas Roses to our lists—which,
of course, already include the 12 Brides of Christmas Collection—don’t they,
folks? Thanks for
visiting, Amanda. You can continue to connect with her at this link https://www.sff.net/people/amanda.cabot/.
With both parents avid readers, it's no surprise that Amanda Cabot learned to read at an early age. From there it was only a small step to deciding to become a writer. Of course, deciding and becoming are two different things, as she soon discovered. Fortunately for the world, her first attempts at fiction, which included a play for her fifth grade class entitled "All About Thermometers," were not published, but she did meet her goal of selling a novel by her thirtieth birthday. Since then she's sold more than thirty novels under a variety of pseudonyms. When she's not writing, Amanda enjoys sewing, cooking and - of course - reading.
Christmas Roses: http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Roses-Amanda-Cabot-ebook/dp/B008B9HRA8/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1447893718&sr=1-1&keywords=amanda+cabot+christmas+roses
12 Brides of Christmas: http://www.amazon.com/Brides-Christmas-Collection-Heartwarming-Historical-ebook/dp/B0159JAEZW/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
Christmas Star Bride: http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Star-Bride-Brides-Book-ebook/dp/B00NVZW7PW/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1447893831&sr=1-1&keywords=AManda+cabot+Christmas+star+bride
visiting, Amanda. You can continue to connect with her at this link https://www.sff.net/people/amanda.cabot/.
With both parents avid readers, it's no surprise that Amanda Cabot learned to read at an early age. From there it was only a small step to deciding to become a writer. Of course, deciding and becoming are two different things, as she soon discovered. Fortunately for the world, her first attempts at fiction, which included a play for her fifth grade class entitled "All About Thermometers," were not published, but she did meet her goal of selling a novel by her thirtieth birthday. Since then she's sold more than thirty novels under a variety of pseudonyms. When she's not writing, Amanda enjoys sewing, cooking and - of course - reading.
Christmas Roses: http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Roses-Amanda-Cabot-ebook/dp/B008B9HRA8/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1447893718&sr=1-1&keywords=amanda+cabot+christmas+roses
12 Brides of Christmas: http://www.amazon.com/Brides-Christmas-Collection-Heartwarming-Historical-ebook/dp/B0159JAEZW/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
Christmas Star Bride: http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Star-Bride-Brides-Book-ebook/dp/B00NVZW7PW/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1447893831&sr=1-1&keywords=AManda+cabot+Christmas+star+bride
Deirdre, thanks so much for inviting me to be part of your blog. I enjoyed our conversation.
ReplyDeleteAmanda, it was a delight having you and sharing your Christmas Reading! :)
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