I love reading holiday books. And…I admit, I also love writing holiday books. The season is magical, especially when we have young children. Their eyes widen as they unwrap a present from Santa. They love decorating the tree and leaving out the milk and cookies on Christmas Eve. Sadly, my kids are grown, and not so sadly, they now have their own. But all three grandsons are beyond the age of pressing their noses against the window, scanning the sky for Santa.
This year, during my last-minute shopping for Thanksgiving, I came across the candy Advent calendar: a punch-out cardboard, holiday-scene, poster-sized box, where behind each door is a small piece of chocolate for each day in December. Every year I bought them for my young grandsons, one living in my state, and two living half-way across the country. Until a few years ago, now that all three are in high school. This year, as I perused holiday candy at the grocery store, I spotted, the box sporting Santa. I ended up buying one for my fourteen-year-old grandson, despite knowing he was too old. But it made me feel good as a gramma. So, at Thanksgiving dinner, I prefaced that I had brought him a surprise—that I knew this present was for little kids, but still I couldn’t help buying it, since he loved them when he was little. I handed it to him, and the huge smile that came across his face was priceless. I got a big hug. So, moral, are any of us too old to still believe in the magic of Santa? I think not!
And for those who celebrate other holidays at this time of year, I love reading about the traditions in those holiday books, too. I would love book recommendations in the comments section!
All of the above are reasons why I love writing romantic holiday stories. I
have memories of enchanted Christmas Eves as both a child and an adult. One
such snowy scene I used in Snowbound Holiday, a book that I hope
to release in 2024-25. I was visiting my daughter and her family in the Aspen
area of Colorado. As we drove home, we found ourselves in the middle of a herd
of Elk crossing the street, from one snow-covered field to another. We stopped
so as not to hurt any elk or our car, as they soon wandered all around us.
Under a full moon that glowed a soft light through tiny flakes of snow, and the
shadowy outlines of elk, that to this easterner looked like reindeer, it was a
real-life, magical scene I will never forget.
So, here’s to enjoying a good holiday romance.
Below I’ve featured the three holiday books I have written and released so far.
The Holiday Hitchhiker
Two
strangers, one snow-worthy vehicle, and a cozy cabin in a blizzard
Cole Peters is ready to escape the bustle of the wildlife management symposium
and the overpopulated conference complex in Reno, and get back to his solitary,
mountain cabin in the state park.
What he didn’t plan was a road trip with a stranger, clad in the most
unnatural, fluorescent colors, who hops into his truck. With a blizzard
approaching, how can he say no to a “hijacker” in tears?
Addy Adams had a rough night. Fired, no place to escape to, and a missing car
service, how can she get to her parents for Christmas before the blizzard shuts
down the roads? Now stranded on a highway, in a white out, with an accident up
ahead, did she trust the right man?
Can two strangers find friendship and more, while stuck in a log cabin with a
sweet and welcoming couple and their two kids who are super excited about the
arrival of Santa? And will Cole and Addy make their way to their respective
homes in time for Christmas? Or will they realize they were meant to celebrate
together during the magical season?
The Inn on Gooseneck Lane
Nat and Brad were in love once: the young starry-eyed kind of
love. Then life got in the way.
Nat
Thomas calls Mistletoe Falls, Vermont home where summers were magical, her aunt
became the parent she needed, and high school love bloomed. Sixteen years
later, that love lost, Nat returns home for a much-needed break. She's
recruited to revitalize her aunt's picturesque inn. Will the boy who broke her
heart be the man who rallies to save her home and capture her heart…for good?
Brad Matthews returns home to buy Green Mountain
Sports, after years as an outdoor adventure guide. He's thrown into partnering
an event to revive the town's inn and boost his business. Can he work with the
woman who demolished his heart and ran with no explanation?
In a small town where everyone knows your
business and interfering relatives revive snicker-doodling, the lost art of
matchmaking, Nat and Brad may not stand a chance. Can the two find enough heart
to forgive and accept love again?
Barnes & Noble (also in print)
Improvisational jazz musician meets buttoned up
English teacher—will the Christmas lights sparkle or shatter before the dance
ends?
Sam Johnson, a burned out, New York City iconic jazz pianist transplanted to
small town Maine, finds himself and his muse again through a disparate group of
committed teen musicians and their buttoned up, efficient, high school English
teacher who is roped into advising the after-school jazz club.
Ashley Sullivan, an expert in classical music and teaching the bard, is out of
her element when it comes to jazz or anything impromptu and desperately needs
Sam’s help. What she doesn’t know is Sam has made it his mission before this
gig ends to get Ashley to lighten up and enjoy the things in life she denies
herself; music, friends, spontaneity, creativity, and yes, love.
When Sam works to rescue her
from her childhood fears, Ashley runs the other direction. Can what is done out
of love tear apart a relationship before it’s in full swing, or forever cement
a love that is true?
~ cottages to
cabins ~ keep the home fires burning ~
Delsora
Lowe writes small town sweet and spicy romances and contemporary westerns from
the mountains of Colorado to the shores of Maine.
Social
Media Links:
Author website: www.delsoralowe.com
Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/delsoraloweauthor/community/
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/Delsora-Lowe/e/B01M61OM39/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Books2Read Author page: https://www.books2read.com/ap/8GWm98/Delsora-Lowe
BookBub Author Page: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/delsora-lowe-93c6987f-129d-483d-9f5a-abe603876518
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16045986.Delsora_Lowe
Instagram: #delsoralowe / https://www.instagram.com/delsoralowe/
PHOTOS:
Counting the Days: countdown
to christmas clipart - Clip Art Library (clipart-library.com)
Delsora Lowe Book Covers: cover designer, Covers by Karen
14 comments:
Delsora, I remember you talking about the moonlight rendezvous with the elk. In my own life, I remember two gifts I got from my mom that touched and still touch my heart. The first was a handknitted (by her) stocking to replace the one that I lost through my divorce. The second was/is an embroidered saying from a t.v. show we happened to watch although not together. (Mod Squad)
When From Thy Mortal Goods
Two Loaves To The Are Left
Sell One And With The Dole
Buy Hyacinths To Feed Your Soul
She also embellished it with an embroidered little blond hair girl, two loaves of French bread and a bouquet of hyacinths.
Oh and she framed it. I have it hanging where I see it first thing in the morning and it is one of the last things I see at night.
Thanks for a post that brings back such lovely memories!
I love your post! Especially your grandson's reaction to the candy surprise. Being caught in the middle of a herd of elk would unnerve me. Shudder.
Oh, Judith - what lovely memories and gift. I love it when something sparks memories for me. So glad this did the same for you.
Barb - I'll admit it was a bit disconcerting to have big animals surrounding us- the kind of hold-your-breath and hope none of them spooked, but at the same time, it was so beautiful. They were just milling about in the gentle snow. Thank goodness for a full moon that shone through the light snow, or we may have hit one. Instead, we just stopped, held our breath, and took in the magic of the scene.
Beautiful post, Delsora! Memories are so much a part of what makes Christmas-time special. We forget that fourteen-year-olds are old enough to have treasured memories --sounds like you totally pinged one of his. Good job!! The elks encounter sounds amazing. The slight chance of it going wrong I'm sure heightened all of your senses and probably made it even more magical. <3
Love, love the. elk memory! It sounds beautiful. It reminded me of when we lived in Bend, OR , and it had snowed at Christmas and I looked out the bedroom window in the middle of the night and about six deer had laid down in the snow out front. The picture of those deer took my breath away. Great blog post.
Gail - I definitely didn't expect a huge grin from my grandson. But he is a sweet kid, so I probably should have. But being a teen now, I thought maybe an eye roll before I got a hug. The fact is, I grabbed the chocolates, put them back, and grabbed them again. Figured - why not - and am I glad I did.
Diana - being among the elk was probably the most surreal, dream-like thing I have ever experienced. My daughter told me this area is the migration path for Elk, and the builders are overtaking the area, putting up more and more homes. But this area was probably about 200 feet of land between two subdivisions. Definitely a magical experience. Thanks for checking in...
Loved the story with your grandson, and the magical story of the elk! Great post!!!
Deb, I love your post about beautiful Christmas memories. We're lucky. We write our holiday stories months before December rolls around so we basically celebrate all year long.
Happy Holidays,
Judy
I love your post, Deb. The story of the elk is a wonderful memory to treasure.
Sarah - that grin from my grandson will remain a treasured memory, for sure. And he'll be getting a chocolate advent calendar every year from now on.
Oh my gosh, Judy - you are so right. The magic for writers is being able to live fun and magical moments through our written scenes all year long. So glad you could pop in. And sorry to respond so late - been a chock-full week.
Anita - the memory was from so many years ago and still so vivid - not only the actual scene, but the feeling the experience evoked. So glad you could stop by.
Post a Comment