Only eighteen days left until Christmas! Welcome to A Writer’s Mind’s third annual WHAT EVERY WOMAN WANTS BENEATH HER CHRISTMAS TREE blog event. Just popping in for the first time? If so, allow me to fill you in on the festive details. Between now and Christmas day many more authors will be joining us to share a bit of their holiday. In addition, this event will be welcoming over an editor and cover model, Jimmy Thomas. YULETIDE NOTE: I encourage you to leave a comment for a chance to win each featured author's given prize (Include email addy). Their individual winners will be announced in a comment after their post. In addition, be sure to enter the Rafflecopter provided after each post as often as you like for a chance to win the grand prize, three $30 Amazon Gift Cards, 12+ ebooks and over six print novels. Three winners drawn and announced December 26th, 2012. Click on 'Ready to be Served?' at the top of this blog to find the itinerary.
Today it’s my pleasure to welcome over NY Times bestselling author, Catherine Bybee. She'll be sharing a little bit of her Christmas California style. Bybee is graciously giving away a PRINT copy of her just-released, Amazon bestseller, Not Quite Dating to one lucky commenter. Contest applies to readers in the Continental United States.
Let’s hear from Catherine…
Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. I know the song…and yes, I hope to have planted the tune inside your head with my words.
Here in California we don’t have the icy temperatures or the snow laden trees. No, we often walk around in flip-flops and short-sleeved shirts. This is the time of year to replace our windshield wipers for the rare rainstorm that might blanket the world with green.
For those of us celebrating the season in temperatures dipping into the 50’s and not reaching into the 50’s…don’t work yourselves up and put your home for sale. Wintering in a higher temperature does several things for the holidays that you might not think of.
First… That lack of cool temps… yeah well, that means the cozy Christmas fire is often not needed. That’s why they have that darn ‘Yule log’ on the TV. All the snap, crackle and pop without the heat.
Second… When was the last time you saw Santa land his sleigh on anything other than dirt? Nuff said on that!
Third… The kid table is supposed to be in the living room… NOT on the patio.
Fourth… That ‘dry’ tree you think you have has nothing on the wilted “Don’t you dare plug in the lights for fear of a fire” tree we have here!
Fifth… Mittens, scarves… the awful Christmas sweater you buy for some poor sap in your family… not happening here. No need for it! We ask for gym memberships and juice bar gift certificates.
Yeah… A Southern California Christmas is something to get used too. Once the Rose Parade is shown about the world we often find an influx of EX-Easteners looking for a new home.
From a girl who grew up in the Northwest let me tell you. I miss the rain… and the possibility of a white Christmas. The nip in the air helps the season kick off and often brings the decorations out of attic long before the second weekend of the month.
The holidays are about family…and this is where many of mine live. So unless they want to plan a trip north…this is where my Christmases will be.
Merry Christmas
For you… a glimpse into a California Christmas through the eyes of Jack and Jessie in Not Quite Dating Amazon Top 5 Bestseller. Available Now.
Waitress and single mom Jessica “Jessie” Mann is practical to a fault. Even if she had time to date, which she doesn’t, she’d be determined to provide her son with a more secure upbringing than the one she had—and that would mean a husband with big bucks. When Jack Morrison—a sexy-as-sin, seemingly broke customer with a cowboy hat and a seductive grin—tries to flirt with her, she shoots him down. She doubts a carefree dreamer like Jack can provide the financial stability she needs. Yet with Christmas just weeks away, and Jessie not wanting to spend it alone, the charming Texan is proving hard to resist.
As the heir to the Morrison luxury hotel empire, Jack is used to being fawned over. But Jack needs someone who will fall in love with him—not his wealth. He’s set his sights on Jessie, though her hardened heart just might get in the way…To be sure, he conceals his true identity and offers to help Jessie find the rich husband she seeks. But Jack’s daring charade may rob him of the holiday wish he wants most of all…
Purchase Not Quite Dating at Amazon ~ Kindle ~ Print
Bybee Giveaway for December:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/8a85441/>
Catherine Bybee
NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author
Coming April , 2013 ~ Not Quite Mine ~ Montlake
Romance Pre-Order HERE
Coming May, 2013 ~ Fiance by Friday ~ Montlake Romance
Pre-Order HERE
Sky here. Great post, Catherine! Gave me a good chuckle. You're absolutely right though, Christmas is truly Christmas when spent with family. Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season.
Readers, DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT for a chance to win a PRINT copy of Not Quite Dating. (Contest ends Monday, December 10th, 12 AM EST) After that, be sure to enter the Rafflecopter below to win even MORE LOOT!
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7 comments:
Awesome post! Having moved from PA to TX I can relate to your list! However most my family is back in PA. For many years it was just the 4 of us...now it has grown to 10....soon to be 11 when my younger son's girlfriend gets here from VA!
I think the hardest part for me has been realizing how close Christmas is with the warm weather!
Thank you Sky, for the chance to win another great book!
~Cathy~
clm_77@verizon.net
Thanks for coming by, Cathy.
I can totally relate to a Southern California Christmas here in Australia, by for one thing and that is, that it can and does snow for Christmas in the High Country. Here for Christmas it's a BBQ dinner with prawns and lots of other goods.
Thanks for another chance to win.
celtlover25
Loved the description of the SoCal Christmas. I LOVE Christmas up here in the NW, and the chance for a white christmas (but if it snows 2 feet like it did in '08 I'm staying home)
I spent many years living in Florida. Christmas was like what you describe. What I did notice, though, was all of the snow birds from the Northeast would OVERCOMPENSATE by decorating to an inordinate extreme. I have never seen such elaborate decorations in any other state where I have lived. Floridians try to make up for the fact that they don't have snow and cold. They have to make it feel like Christmas through their decorations.
catherinelee100 at gmail dot com
LOL, Catherine... we have the same issue here with all the decorations. I think it's because we put them up outside in shorts and flip flops. No need to rush because of the cold.
Congrats, Catherine Lee... you won the print copy of Not Quite Dating.
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