What do I have to be thankful for?
This is a frequent theme in my books, especially my Christmas books. Most of my
characters face difficult challenges—some painful and some more of an
annoyance, but they always have plenty to be thankful for by the end of the
book.
This stems from the secondary
characters. They're the ones who advise and encourage the hero/heroine. These
are the characters who are always there for my h/h when the going gets tough.
It could be a husband, parent, children, siblings, grandchildren, or friends.
Just having these people in their corner is the best gift in the world. Kids,
in particular, have such a unique way of making someone feel special and
needed, and that is an incredible gift, in my opinion.
What I love most about romance is
that connection between the h/h and the secondary characters. Even if the h/h
don't have that special someone in their lives—yet—they still have a lot to be
thankful for.
I also think romances get us through
the hard times. I've heard of so many readers that say an author's book has
helped them through serious illness and death. Sure there's a happily-ever-after
in the end, but when real life is unbearably hard, it's nice to read something
uplifting with a guaranteed happy ending.
I write small-town romances, and
I’ve always preferred to set my books in winter, but
I’ve never
written Christmas books—until last year. I've discovered I really, really like
writing holiday romances. I think a major reason for that is the thankful theme
fits so well with Christmas since the holiday is all about being grateful and
helping others. That theme really resonates with me.
Last year I wrote
the Crooked Halo Christmas Chronicles—The Murphy Clan. Each story is about 100 pages and they have guardian angels watching over the couple in need of assistance on
their journey to finding true love. The angels sent to guide them are also
attracted to each other, so there is a dual romance going on in each
story.
Last year there
were three stories in the Crooked Halo Christmas Chronicles—The Murphy Clan
that concluded with a happily-ever-after for the angels, too. I’m currently
working on a new Christmas chronicle with two new angels helping bring about a
Christmas romance while fighting an attraction to each other.
I just finished Santa
Comes to Snowside, a full-length holiday romance that is with my editor
right now, with a November release date. After I lost a dear friend last
spring, it motivated me to write this book. She loved Christmas and every year
her house was a Christmas wonderland. She was one of my biggest supporters—my
critiquer, my beta reader, my everything for writing and friendship.
I was so thankful
to have known her, and that's part of what drove me to write this book and
start a new Christmas series (series title pending) that gives her a recurring role
as Jody Claws, and her husband, Nick. Every Christmas they help bring a couple
together and spread the Christmas spirit. I hope Jody loves these characters
and the story as much I’ve enjoyed creating and writing them.
I look around at my life, and I
truly have so much to be thankful for. My husband, children, and grandchildren
have all made my life deeper and more meaningful, filling it with joy and
happiness. I'm also grateful for the readers here today—for all my readers, in
fact, because I love sharing what comes from my heart.
Here is a sneak peek of Santa
Comes to Snowside:
Prologue
Snowside, Vermont
When humor exists, love isn’t far behind
“Well Nicky, where
are we off to this Christmas holiday?”
Nicholas Claws
arched busy brows as he glanced at his wife, Jody, seated beside him in their
candy cane red Mini Cooper convertible. He shifted into high gear and punched
the gas just enough to throw her head back. The wind tossed her silver curls,
producing the tinkling laugh he loved.
“One of our worker
bees found a place I think you’ll love. It’s called WorkForce, and Jack
Davidson, the man who started the nonprofit has the kind of giving nature
that’s right up your alley. He helps the low income and unemployed find work by
providing them with work clothes, write resumes, and even has a hair salon
onsite.”
Jody’s smile warmed him through
and through. “I love it! Tell me more.”
“Well, our visionary,
Mr. Davidson, saw a need in the community, gave up a lucrative career and
swanky high-rise apartment on the eastside of Snowside, invested his savings
and retirement to buy a rundown warehouse in the industrial section. He’s
currently living above it to save money.”
Jody’s blue eyes
rounded beneath wire-rimmed glasses. “And he’s doing this all on his own?”
“Not totally. Mickey Roberts, his
uncle, supported his vision from the start, and he manages the hair salon at
WorkForce. The downturn in the economy several years ago started Jack on his
path to enlightenment. White collar workers were laid off, including his best
friend who almost lost everything. Then Mickey struggled after returning from
Iraq, and if not for family support he could have ended up on the street three
Christmas’s ago.”
Jody stroked
Prancer, the miniature poodle asleep on her lap. “Well, color me intrigued.
This sounds like a perfect Christmas project for us, but will we be able to
make it home in time to finish our Christmas village?”
“It might be tight,
but we’ve always made it home for Christmas, and WorkForce could definitely use
some volunteer support to keep it up and running. I don’t see how we can pass
this up, do you?” He flipped the blinker to the left and pulled onto the
freeway, heading south.
“No, we can’t. This
project is just what we’ve been looking for. We’ve got a nonprofit that needs a
bit of assistance, and we can’t walk away from that, but you haven’t told me
much about Jack.”
Nick might have
found the perfect nonprofit for them, but Jody always wanted to know about the
people—in particular their relationship status. “Jack’s single, estranged from
his parents, and at the moment unattached, but I think there’s a prospect that
with your special touch could bring about a holiday romance.”
Jody lifted her
face to the unseasonably warm sunshine, the bare trees marking the beginning of
the holiday season.
“Then we not only
need to work on the romance but also bring Jack back together with his
parents.”
“There’s also a
teenager named Tony who needs our help, too. He’s a non-believer.”
“Oh my, we can’t have that. We’ll
have to come up with a Christmas miracle or two to get him back on track.”
“You read my mind.”
“Oh, I do love the
challenge of a new project. It’s like the first flush of love. Do you remember
when we first met?”
His wife looked
over at him, rosy cheeks and blue eyes twinkling as bright as the silver bells
dangling from her earlobes.
“How could I
forget? You bring it up every year when we start a new project.”
“So what attracted
you to me? My cookies or hot chocolate?”
A loaded question
that he wasn’t about to debate again. There was only one correct answer.
“Both.”
Jody winked at him.
“Good answer.”
Nick pressed down
on the accelerator and headed toward Vermont, where they would spend the
duration of the Christmas holiday.
#
Thank you all for
being here today. As a special thank you, you can get the first book Be My Santa Tonight, The Crooked Halo Christmas Chronicles—The Murphy
Clan, for free at https://tinyurl.com/3t84zp86.
You can find me at
my webpage and sign up for my newsletter to get more free reads at: https://www.kathycoatney.com.
I’m also on Facebook and Twitter at:
https://www.facebook.com/kathycoatneyauthor
and https://twitter.com/kathycoatneykat.
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