Dreaming of Sun and Sand…OR…Silently Falling Snowflakes? … by Delsora Lowe

What a choice!

It’s July. And everyone who knows me, knows I love Hallmark and especially Christmas in July, where they run holiday movies all day long. Okay – full confession. By the time I get to the third week of July, I am pretty numb and holidayed-out. However, I still love to read holiday books while sunning by the ocean. And…I love writing holiday books.

As an author who has written three Christmas-themed romances and one that is Valentine-themed, when do I usually do most of that writing? You got it, during the warmer weather of spring and summer.

And many times, when I am working on books that take place in warmer weather, that writing takes place as the weather-gods open up the skies to that cold, white stuff.

The hero and heroine in Come Dance With Me, an interracial, intercultural story about a uptight high school English teacher who has trouble opening up to anything, much less love, are both based on actors I have seen on Hallmark.

As I wrote the hero, I had in mind an actor I saw on “Christmas in Homestead,” a Hallmark movie. Aaron also reminded me of a guy on whom I had a major crush in high school. I watched Aaron “Quick” Nelson when he played the role of a bodyguard to a well-known actress. His role was so sweet as he interacted with the innkeeper hero’s young daughter who loved the movies made by the actress. Plus, in real life Mr. Nelson is a New Englander, so…what’s not to like. I envisioned the actress being Autumn Reeser, a well-known Hallmark staple. And I searched high and low for the perfect cover photo of how I envisioned what these two characters might look like, as I wrote the story.

But I digress…

To address the question about whether I like snow better than sand, or vice versa is a tough question. I can be gazing at a blizzard outside my window and writing a hot, summer scene. That stream of fluffy and frozen, white stuff brightens the sky in its own way. The day is beautiful, cocooning, and comfortable, especially when I know I can stay inside with a cup of hot cocoa, and write, write, write. With a bit of a shiver, I imagine a cozy comforter, snuggled on the couch in front of a roaring fire.

As a writer, it is good to have an imagination, since I do not have a fireplace or a woodstove, so instead I have to crank the heat up and know I’ll be using more fuel to stay warm. I also know that were I to succumb to cuddling on the couch with a comforter wrapped around me, I’d doze off and not get any writing work done. Instead, I crank up the electric heater by my desk and crank up the fire under the kettle, and imagine myself in that sunny clime, as I finish tapping out a romantic, engagement, beach scene that could bring my beach-wandering couple to their inevitable happily-ever-after.

The warmth of the radiator takes my imagination away to a pristine white sand beach, sailboats, and the aqua blue ocean or bay gently lapping against the shore. A couple strolls, hand-in-hand. When the sun becomes too much, they run into the bathtub-warm water, splash around, and cool down before they continue their leisurely walk, picking up beautiful shells as they go.

And occasionally, they stop to turn toward one another for a sun-drenched kiss. And maybe, just maybe, the hero, pulls from his swim trunks pocket a shiny, glittering gemstone, attached to a ring. He slips to his knees in the packed sand and proposes. Okay, since I just had the hero taking a dip in the ocean, I better add that his swimsuit’s inside pocket has a zipper, so that precious engagement ring doesn’t float down and get buried in the murky depths of sea and sand. That would be a total downer for the couple. Or…it could create some tension in a scene that is supposed to be sweet. Hmmm…ideas percolate

See what happens when I crank the heat and imagine, in the middle of winter, sand and sky-blue water and dining outdoors and moored boats? 

The downside of being a fiction writer, the imagination can run wild at any given time. So, picking a snowy day snuggled by the fire, over a breezy, sunny day at the ocean…well, for me, it depends on the mood of the story I am writing, and not the actual season flashing its attributes outside my window. Because in the winter I dream of sand. And in the summer, I dream of sipping hot cocoa by a fire.

Do you have a favorite season?
Do you prefer snow over sand, or vice versa?

 

Amazon

The Inn on Gooseneck Lane - Kindle edition by Lowe, Delsora. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

                       Barnes & Noble

                         The Inn on Gooseneck Lane by Delsora Lowe | NOOK Book (eBook) | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

                    Apple Books

                 TheInn on Gooseneck Lane on Apple Books

Amazon

HolidayHitchhiker: A Sweet, Heartwarming Holiday Romance: Christmas in Angels Glen -Kindle edition by Lowe, Delsora. Contemporary Romance Kindle eBooks @Amazon.com

Books2Read

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Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Come-Dance-Me-Serenity-Starlight-ebook/dp/B074N95RGK/

Books2Read

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~ 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.

Author of the Starlight Grille series, Serenity Harbor Maine novellas, and the Cowboys of Mineral Springs series, Lowe has also authored short romances for Woman’s World magazine. Her newest novella is The Love Left Behind. Look for both a Christmas novel (The Inn at Gooseneck Lane) and novella (Holiday Hitchhiker) later this fall.

 

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/

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Happy Holidays and Happy Reading, Friends!!!

Inspiration for My Holiday Stories By Kathy Coatney

I started writing Christmas themed romances a few years ago and really enjoyed writing the Crooked Halo Christmas Chronicles. 

I started a new Christmas series in 2021, A Vermont Christmas Romance, after I lost a dear friend, Jody Sherin, who died in April of that year.

 I met Jody at the Emerald City Romance Writers conference about ten years ago through mutual friends. They were all having dinner together, and they graciously invited me to tag along.

 Not only did Jody welcome me with open arms, but the day before our dinner she bought my book, Forever His, and read it overnight, then raved about it all through dinner. She stole my heart in that moment, and we became fast friends. She was also my loyal reader, and eventually became my proof reader/critiquer. I always looked forward to our dinners in Seattle—until COVID when our annual dinner was cancelled along with the conference.

BOOK 1

 The last time I spoke to Jody was two months before she died. We were discussing my latest book, but then we transitioned to family, and of course her great grandchildren, and how adorable each one was, and how much she loved them. I’ve never met anyone more caring or knowledgeable, or anyone who loved Christmas more than she did. She spent weeks decorating her house for the holidays and had not one, but several Christmas trees. Her husband, Dave, made a special Christmas village that grew every year.  Wherever Jody is, I’m certain heaven is decorated for Christmas year-round.

 After Jody died, I wanted to do something in her memory and came up with the Vermont Christmas Romance series where Jody and her husband, Nick C-L-A-Ws, play matchmaking Santa and Mrs. Claus in the town of Snowside, Vermont. They bring lonely hearts together just in time for Christmas.

 I have so loved writing this series and felt Jody guiding through the story. The first book, Santa Comes to Snowside, released last November and book 2, Jingle all the way to Snowside released on October 4, 2022. Here’s an excerpt from the latest release where Jody opens the story:

 

BOOK 2

Somewhere north of Vermont

 Nick Claws finished polishing the hood of the candy red Mini Cooper and began loading it with suitcases. The October sun crept over the horizon as Nick wedged the last suitcase into the trunk, leaving room for him, Jody, and their miniature poodle, Prancer. His wife had never learned the art of packing light.     

 “So why are we headed to Snowside in October?” Jody asked, coming up to him with Prancer snuggled in her arms. The miniature poodle lifted his head and gave a single bark, as if he also wanted an answer to the question.

       Nick glanced over at her, his blue eyes twinkling as he stroked his long, white beard. “We’re getting an early start on the Christmas season.”

       “The earliest we’ve ever gone is November.”

       “You’re right, but this one’s going to be a bit more challenging, and we’re going to need more time since we’ll be volunteering at two different sites.”

       Jody looked down at Prancer. “Did you hear that?” she asked the dog. “We’re starting Christmas in October this year.”

       “Is that a bad thing?” Nick asked.

       “Absolutely not. You know I love Christmas. I can’t think of anything better than starting now.” Jody clapped her hands, excitement pulsing through her. “So, tell me where we’ll be volunteering.”

       He helped her into the car, and they set off. “As you know, we’re returning to Snowside, and there’s the sweetest woman, Sadie McCluskey. She runs McCluskey River Farm right in downtown Snowside. It’s only three acres, but it’s got all the charm of the Old Time Christmas Tree Farm and Enchanted Inn that Jeremy and Marilyn Clark own. It’s the place we gave Jack and Annie Bradshaw the sleigh ride and romantic dinner almost four years ago. Sadie grows every crop imaginable and does all kinds of weekly events, from brunches to movie nights, crafts for kids and adults, tours of the farm, and she teaches classes on growing successful gardens. But she desperately needs help with the events, which is where you come in. I know you’re going to love it!”

       “I can’t wait to get started. And what about the other place?”

       “It’s a kindergarten classroom, and the teacher is Hank Dabrowski. His hands are full, and he really needs more help in the classroom. He’s dedicated to these kids and their families and wants to do more than just teach them. Many of his kids’ families are living hand-to-mouth, so he’s determined to not only educate the kids, but improve their lives.”

       Jody faced him, her reindeer earrings swaying against rosy cheeks. “So, I assume there’s a connection between Sadie and Hank?”

       Nick cast a side-long glance at his wife, then focused on the road. “Yes. The land Sadie farms is owned by our old friend Elroy Murphy—one of our first holiday matchups and Hank’s great-uncle. Elroy actually wrote to us about them. From what he said, he promised Sadie that he will never allow the land to be anything but farmland, and he’s waiting for her to come up with the financing to buy it. She’s applied for numerous loans, but keeps getting turned down. Hank’s been trying to convince his uncle to contact a lawyer to ensure he gets fair market value for the land, which could mean Sadie would lose her farm.”

       Jody clapped her hands over her mouth, shaking her head. “We can’t have Sadie lose that farm. It’s too important. We’re going to have to convince Hank to change his mind.”

       Nick nodded in agreement.

       “Are Hank and Sadie our holiday matchup?”

       “They are, but it’s going to be a challenge. Hank is driven to make a difference for his students, but he’s suspicious of Sadie, especially after a bad breakup. Sadie is committed to her farm, but her resistance goes deeper. Her parents died when she was in high school, and she went into foster care. Then she married young and her ex-husband hurt her deeply. Now, she’s afraid to love and she’s lost her Christmas spirit.”

       Jody tapped a finger to her lips as she thought over the problem. “Well, we’re going to have our work cut out for us, but we will find a solution.”

       Nick reached over and squeezed her knee. “That’s what I love most about you—your optimism. You don’t believe in can’t.”

       Jody winked at him, tracing her fingers over his cheek as she stared into his face. “I couldn’t do it without you.”

       Nick punched the gas. Jody’s laughter floated on the air again as they jetted down the highway.

***

The Christmas books are part of The Murphy Clan series. The Murphy Clan has four series within it, Falling in Love, Return to Hope’s Crossing, The Crooked Halo Christmas Chronicles, and Vermont Christmas Romance for a total of 13 books.

 I also have a short story Angels R Us you can only get it by subscribing to my newsletter.

 Thank you all. It was lovely spending time with you. I look forward to meeting up with you on:

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A Novel Notion: the Novelette by Eleri Grace

 One of our themes this month is "what's new in publishing." While it may not be new to publishing -- and if our dear friend Merriam-Webster is to be trusted, it's not a new concept generally -- the novelette is new to me. 

Since the pandemic has been a strain on my creativity, my editor suggested I pursue writing a short. "A short story?" I asked. "No, no. A short," she replied. "A novella?" I queried. She patiently explained the concept of a story that is longer than a typical short story, yet shorter than a traditional novella. She called it a "coffee cup read." It wasn't until I was musing about writing about this overall topic this month that my google searches revealed that I could be calling my latest release a novelette, which sounds so sweet and dainty. A novelette, I've learned, is often light and romantic or sentimental. And indeed the novelette I released in late October for the holiday season is both romantic and sentimental. It is meant to hearken back to a simpler time and provide readers with a cozy, nostalgic holiday story. 

I wasn't sure a shorter format narrative arc -- whether short story, novelette or novella -- would suit my style at all, as I tend to write long (read: verbose and prone to using complex sentence structures). To my happy surprise, it did. As it's set in Iceland in December 1944, it's also perhaps appropriate that I wrote the first draft during Texas's Winter Storm Uri (I thankfully never lost power, but did lose water for several days). They aren't yet written, but the other three novelettes in this series are generally plotted, and I'm ready to dive in with the next one. This will be my Arctic quartet in time -- each of the four Macalester sisters serves as a Red Cross Girl in a different Arctic location, with the story centered around a different holiday. In this first novelette, my heroine Elise is serving in Iceland at Christmas time in 1944. 

Elise Macalester is convinced her shy, girl-next-door personality prevents her from being the kind of Red Cross Girl that helps soldiers forget war and guarantees she’ll never be open enough to fall in love. In a moment of uncharacteristic boldness to reunite brothers torn apart by combat, she reconnects with a handsome stranger with whom she shared one enchanting dance months earlier. But self-doubt and unspeakable tragedy prove formidable enemies to the heart.

Tommy Towson believes his service as an Army radar technician at an Icelandic weather station is less noble than that of men serving in combat -- men like his beloved older brother, Mike. Their bittersweet reunion, along with a second-chance encounter that challenges him to hope, proves a bigger test of Tommy’s courage than anything on the battlefield.

The first in a planned quartet of Clubmobile Girls Shorts set in the Arctic, At His Side for Christmas transports the reader to an often-overlooked wartime locale, in an era that continues to exert a hold on our hearts during the holidays. Fans of “A Christmas Story,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Miracle on 34th Street” and old television favorites such as “The Waltons” will enjoy this nostalgic and festive step back in time.

You can find At His Side for Christmas, and my other Clubmobile Girls novels, on Amazon. You can learn more about me and my writing on my website or by following me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. 

Don't Fence Me In by Eleri Grace

Cole Porter's "Don't Fence Me In" is seemingly about physical freedom in a wide-open landscape, and the recording by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters in late 1944 was not inspiration to the women who answered the call to duty after Pearl Harbor. But the phrase "Don't Fence Me In" is in some ways a very accurate reflection of the attitude many of the Red Cross Girls held. They were trailblazers, independent thinkers, and pushed up against and beyond barriers on many levels in their lives -- both before, during, and after the war. Freedom undergirded it all. 

Camouflaging the Clubmobile - Normandy 1944

All the women the Red Cross selected through a rigorous interview process for overseas service were resilient and fiercely independent self-starters. Many were single and had been working in a professional capacity for several years (which was one of the Red Cross requirements). Most craved even more freedom and autonomy -- perhaps escaping family members who were pressuring them to settle down into domesticity or seeking the lure of adventure and duty in the thick of the action. And as the war wore on and the Red Cross Girls increasingly recognized their own worth, many dreaded returning home, fearing that they would face pressure to give up their careers or that the opportunities in post-war America would go mostly to the returning male soldiers. One Red Cross Girl wrote her boyfriend that he should understand that she could no longer see herself ever being happy as a housewife and that he should be prepared to carry some of the domestic load because she intended to continue her career. 

Florence, Italy 1944

They experienced unprecedented responsibility and freedom during the war, and many were concerned about adjusting to post-war realities. Based on the numerous memoirs and oral history interviews I used in my research, many of them refused to scale back their aspirations or relinquish the additional freedom they experienced during the war years. Many of these women went on to resume their careers or pursue a new profession, learning how to balance their professional and home lives. I like to think that the daughters of these trailblazing WWII heroines led the charge for women's rights in the 1960s. But the Red Cross Girls (and many other women in the era) played a large role in pushing boundaries and resetting expectations. 

I have a new release coming out this month -- a Clubmobile Girls "short" for your holiday reading. This is the first of a planned anthology of stories set in the Arctic locales of Iceland, Greenland, Alaskan Territory, and the Aleutian Islands. In At His Side for Christmas, Elise Macalester, serving as a Red Cross Girl in Iceland, puts aside her shyness to help reconnect two brothers torn apart by combat. Can she overcome self-doubt and tragic circumstances to find her way to love and happiness? 

You can learn more about me on my website or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. 

You can find my Clubmobile Girls series on Amazon. At His Side for Christmas is available for pre-order now!