Author to Author Interview: The Ladies Of “Our First Christmas,” An Anthology For All Elves Who Need A Break This Holiday Season
I love writing short stories for anthologies. 35,000 words, quick and sweet, quirky characters, believable plots with a twist and a skip, and a happy ending.
In “Our First Christmas” I am delighted to be in the same book with Lisa Jackson, Mary Burton, and Mary Carter. If you need a Christmas treat, of course I would highly recommend this book to you and any of your elf friends for a little cheer, a little escaping, and a little Christmas literary magic.
I recently interviewed Lisa, Mary, Mary, and myself…Yes, as strange as that sounds, I interviewed myself. Here we go.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. May you always have the perfect book to read.
Cathy Lamb
LISA JACKSON
Cathy Lamb: Tell us, Lisa, the title of your story in Our First Christmas and what it’s about.
My story, UNDER THE MISTLETOE is about first love. Originally the story was about teenagers, Megan and Chris, and how they met at Christmas, but I modified the original tale, adding a beginning and end set in “real time”, so that the reader could see what happened to the characters years after they first met and are dealing with a family crisis. Their first Christmas happened years before.
Do you believe in Santa? Why or why not?
I believe in the spirit of Santa and the fantasy surrounding him. I love the idea of Santa and his reindeer at the North Pole. The myth and mystery of Santa creates such joy and magic for children, so yeah, I believe.
If you could skip Christmas, would you? Be honest. Where would you go and with who? If you wouldn’t skip Christmas, why not?
Oh, no, never (though I love Halloween much more than Christmas.) In my fantasy world, I’d spend the weekend around Christmas without all of the trappings. My kids and grandkids would hole up in a cabin in the mountains playing games around a fire while snow falls outside. We’d have a tree and each person would get one present. We’d eat, drink and be merry, sipping hot spiced wine and cocoa while nibbling on cookies.
Do you have any Christmas traditions? What are they?
When I was a kid, Santa came to our house on Christmas Eve Eve, on the night of the 23rd. Our little family had places to go on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day so Mom and Dad decided Santa would arrive a day early on Berkley Street. Of course our tradition was confusing to the neighborhood kids. My best friend, whose house was next door, rationalized that the line separating the night’s nocturnal visits from Santa was between our houses and it bummed her out that she had to wait a whole day before Santa resumed his ride and started sliding down the chimney at her house.
What are your writing goals for 2015? Do you have a book coming out?
Oh, gee, I don’t even want to think about it. I have to finish a couple of books in 2015 and write one with my sister, Nancy Bush. NEVER DIE ALONE, the 8th book in the New Orleans Series with Detectives Bentz and Montoya, will be available next summer, in August. AFTER SHE’S GONE, featuring the characters in DEEP FREEZE and FATAL BURN will be in the stores at the end of the year. (I’d better get crackin’!)
WICKED WAYS is on sale as of today!
MARY CARTER
Cathy Lamb: Tell us, Mary, the title of your story in Our First Christmas and what it’s about.
My novella is A Southern Christmas. Reporter Danielle Bright returns to charming Wilmington, NC, to do a feature on a Southern Christmas, and hopefully reconcile with the love of her life. But Sawyer, the sexy photographer who accompanies her, has other plans to make her season bright.
Do you believe in Santa? Why or why not?
I believe in the spirit of Santa. He represents, giving, magic, joy, and reliving Christmas through the eyes of children.
If you could skip Christmas, would you? Be honest. Where would you go and with who? If you wouldn’t skip Christmas, why not?
I’ve always loved Christmas, but have had loved ones who at times wanted to skip it. I used to be the one “forcing” everyone to enjoy Christmas. One year I even dragged home a tree as late as Christmas Eve. As I get older, I’ve let go of pressuring others to celebrate and have even spent a few Christmases alone by choice. But now, no, I want to spend every one I have ahead of me with the people I love. The years I skipped Christmas were too lonely.
Do you have any Christmas traditions? What are they?
My mother, sister, and I used to go to a movie every Christmas afternoon. It was just the three of us, and after opening presents and eating, we’d be off to the cinema. I really loved it, mostly because it was the three of us making the best of the day. There’s always a bit of a letdown after all the hoopla is over, so the movie was always a nice topping. Even picking out our “Christmas movie” and discussing it afterward was fun. Now that my sister has kids and a husband we don’t do that on Christmas day anymore, but I’ll always cherish the memory.
As kids we also were allowed to open one gift on Christmas Eve, and my mother often gave us a gift from “Santa Mouse.” Of course decorating the tree was always a thrill, and setting up the Lionel train from my grandfather. Ah, I really do love Christmas!
What are your writing goals for 2015? Do you have a book coming out?
My next novel will come out in August of 2015, it’s called London From My Windows. I will also be working on two additional novels, an Irish murder mystery, and ironically, my 2016 novel will be one with a Christmas theme.
Thank you for the interview, Cathy, and thank you, readers! I wish all of you a wonderful Holiday season!
Cheers,
Mary Carter
http://www.marycarterbooks.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MaryCarterBooks
https://twitter.com/marycarterbooks (@marycarterbooks)
MARY BURTON
Cathy Lamb: Tell us, Mary, the title of your story in Our First Christmas and what it’s about.
My story is “A Ranger for Christmas” and tells the story of Texas Ranger Lucas Cooper and anthropologist Marisa Thompson. Smugglers are using an ancient language as a code and Texas Ranger discovers Marisa is the only one who has the expertise to decipher it. When the smugglers realize Marisa is working with the Rangers, she’s injured and Lucas must come to her reuse.
Do you believe in Santa? Why or why not?
I sure do believe in Santa! He is the spirit of giving.
If you could skip Christmas, would you? Be honest. Where would you go and with who? If you wouldn’t skip Christmas, why not?
I would skip all the hype of Christmas. I’ve never been a fan of the chaos and the extra stress and work we put on ourselves. But I do love having a day when I can give gifts to others. That’s always very exciting to me.
Do you have any Christmas traditions? What are they?
My husband, kids, and I always open presents and then we head to my mother’s house for lunch. Mom is a gourmet cook so each year it is always a treat to see what exotic meal she will be serving. Thanks to Mom’s influence, my kids are adventurous eaters and so far the favorite meal for the kids at Mom’s was bouillabaisse.
What are your writing goals for 2015? Do you have a book coming out?
I have two suspense novels out in 2015 including BE AFRAID in May and I’LL NEVER LET YOU GO in November. And under the name Mary Ellen Taylor I’ll have a women’s fiction novel AT THE CORNER OF KING STREET in May.
CATHY LAMB (This is where I’m interviewing myself. Argh. Well, first time for everything!)
Cathy Lamb: Tell us the title of your story in Our First Christmas and what it’s about.
My story, Christmas In Montana, is about a woman named Laurel Kelly. She has recently quit her job as the manager of the hard rock group, Hellfire, and is returning home to Kalulell, Montana to figure out Plan F, which stands for My Future. She has a crazy family and they are all coming to Christmas dinner, including her father, who has had a total of four wives, and many children and step children.
Laurel has a huge regret, a past she struggles with, and memories that she can’t let go of. She needs to help her mother and aunt launch a new and budding business selling sexy aprons, and get the land and her family’s home back from the man she’s loved her whole life. That man, Josh Reed, is going to be the impossible part. She’ll need a Christmas miracle.
Do you believe in Santa? Why or why not?
No. I don’t. But he sure is a lot of fun. When I was a little girl I asked my mother if there was a Santa and she said no. She didn’t want to lie to us. We still loved all things Christmas. What kid doesn’t hyperventilate at the thought of Christmas presents, no matter who’s hauling them in?
Oh, wait, in real life that actually did happen. My brother, Jimmy, who is now a strapping firefighter, was so excited one Christmas, he couldn’t sleep the night before. He hyperventilated and passed out in the bathroom. Gave my mother a huge fright. I have been teasing him about it ever since. Hey, Jimmy – are you going to be up all night Christmas Eve again?
If you could skip Christmas, would you? Be honest. Where would you go and with who? If you wouldn’t skip Christmas, why not?
I would never skip Christmas. I love the entire season. I love the parties, food, lights everywhere, and buying presents. I love going to my brother in law and his husband’s house on Christmas Eve, (they cook soooo well) being with my kids and Innocent husband, other family, including the Fainting Jimmy, and Christmas day itself.
Do you have any Christmas traditions? What are they?
Every year Innocent Husband and I buy the kids, and each other, an ornament. This tradition started when I was still dating my husband. We also give the kids a book. We let the kids open their stockings and one present before breakfast, then the gift getting resumes after we eat. NO ONE is allowed up before nine on Christmas morning. We do not do “early” in this house. Is that a tradition? Probably not. No one wants a cranky momma in this house.
What are your writing goals for 2015? Do you have a book coming out?
I do have a book coming out in August of 2015. It’s called My Very Best Friend. Here are a few hints: It’s set in Scotland. Kilts. Tartans. A romance writer who has no romance. Best Friends. Letters. Lies.
Merry Christmas everyone!
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CathyLamb@frontier.com
