It's officially the Christmas Season

Liz Johnson here, writing from frigidly cold Nashville. If you consider the necessity for winter-weather outerwear, the pervasive use of twinkle lights in my apartment, and the hot apple cider being made in my microwave ... well, there's no other possibility than the arrival of the Christmas season.

For most this season is filled with shopping, parties, travel, and family bonding. My life is no different. As I write this, I'm waiting to get on a plane for 3 days of travel for work. I'm still trying to decide what to get my dad. I haven't even started the family Christmas letter (one of the perks of being the writer in the family). Oh, and let's not forget that proposal my editor asked for and the novella that's due in February. It's a plumb busy season.

But as I think about the rush and tumble of these coming weeks, I'm encouraged by a single verse from the book of Matthew.

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” – Matthew 1:23

Not only is Christmas a reminder of Jesus' birth and his death and resurrection that saves us, but it's also a reminder of the promise that God is with us in the good and bad days of our lives. It's a reminder that through the grace of God we have the strength to make it through every day--even the crazy holidays.

So the next time you're feeling a little bit worn out, remember that God is with you, giving you the strength you need. And I bet there's someone else you know who could use a reminder that they don't have to just suffer through another hectic holiday season. This is a time to be merry because the grace of God came to earth in the form of Jesus Christ. And that God is with us every step of the way.

So, here's to a Merry Christmas. I hope you enjoy the season and find a renewed strength to enjoy every moment of it.

Holiday Stories

Terri Reed here on my regularly schedule blog day.
I received the eHarlequin newsletter in my inbox this morning and to my delighted surprise saw that Love Inspired Suspense novella collection Holiday Havoc, for which I have a story in along with Stephanie Newton, is listed on the top ten holiday stories. I also see that a Love Inspired Romance Novella collection Mistletoe Prayers by Marta Perry and Betsy St. Amant is listed as well. What fun to be listed with some of my favorite Harlequin authors.
Yea! for Love Inspired!

So for you Christmas shopping pleasure here is the list:

Top 10 Holiday Stories

1. A Chesapeake Shores Christmas
by Sherryl Woods
2. High-Caliber Christmas
by B.J. Daniels
3. Mistletoe Prayers
by Marta Perry and Betsy St. Amant
4. Regency Christmas Proposals
by Various Authors
5. Home in Time for Christmas
by Heather Graham
6. 'Tis the Season
by Various Authors
7. A Creed Country Christmas
by Linda Lael Miller
8. Shameful Secret, Shotgun Wedding
by Sharon Kendrick
9. Holiday Havoc
by Terri Reed and Stephanie Newton
10. One Winter's Night
by Lori Borrill

I Believe

Pamela Tracy here. Okay, so it's dark outside and I'm sitting in front of my computer after a three day Internet absence. Christmas is sooooo fun. Friday night we loaded up Grandpa, Grandma, hubby, four-year-old, me, and headed for Williams, Arizona, and the Polar Express.

It's great fun. They take the Grand Canyon Railroad train, stick a wreath on the nose of the engine, and make magic for kids. We were on car J.Our train was supposed to leave at 8:00, but for some reason, there was delay. I overheard one of the elves (train employee dressed up) on his walkie talkie: Clean up on car M.

The mom in me thought, "Oh, no. Some kid drank too much hot chocolate." The worrier in me thought, "Oh, no. Someone is hurt." The suspense writer in me thought "There's been a murder!"

In real life, the engine broke. Nothing magical like Caribu on the track. After an hour wait (we spent it freezing, getting Mikey's picture taken with Santa, and freezing some more), we got on the train. It's about a fourty minute ride to the North Pole. The waiter and elve serve cookies and hot chocolate, and over the loud speaker they read the book (we brought ours so Mikey had the pictures). Then, it's the North Pole! It's about a block long and Santa is outside on his sleigh waving. The train then heads back to the station and Santa is on board. He gives all the kids a hug and a bell and asks them to believe.

With So Much Talk of Tiger Woods...Where is Christmas?

Are we missing the reason for the season?

I don't know about you, but it's always been hard for me to get into the Christmas spirit until the week of Christmas. I put my Christmas tree up, decorate the house a little with some Christmas decorations and turn up the volume on the CD player as I listen to Christmas Carols.

This is my Christmas Tree in my living room. Okay, it's not as grand as the White House Christmas Tree or the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center. But in the coming days I know I will enjoy looking at it more and more because I will find the meaning of the season that always escapes me this time of the year when I'm walking through the mall with the kids or going through the motions. Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. And oh, what a splendid birthday celebration that is. It saddens me that we forget that when we become so wrapped up in buying presents and...well, wrapping.

But my Christmas spirit will come. It always does. And by the time Christmas Day arrives, my heart will be overflowing with Christmas cheer. I hope all of you are filled with the spirit of Christmas while you go through your daily lives. Tell me, what do you do to get into the spirit of Christmas? Do you have a favorite holiday tradition? If so, please share it with us.

If you're still looking for a great stocking stuffer, please visit your local bookstore or Amazon.com for Yuletide Protector, my December 2009 release from Love Inspired Suspense.

Until next time, many blessings to you all, Lisa Mondello

Christmas Gift Ideas for Writers

I love books. Step into my house, and it's obvious, because they are everywhere! And my office--oh, my! Every inch of wall not covered by windows, doors, or the huge bulletin board above my desk is filled with overflowing bookshelves. Fiction of all kinds, of course, and also evidence of my passion for books on writing. I really, really need to stop collecting every book on writing that I see! I could probably weed all of them down to a dozen favorites...though I'm always on the prowl for new titles that offer something special. And boy, have I found some great titles lately!

I recently came across two new ones that are truly excellent--both by members of ACFW.

I've come to realize that if James Scott Bell pens a book on writing, I want to be first in line at the store. His Plot & Structure and Revision & Self Editing are two titles that I'd pack if I knew I was going to be stranded on a desert isle. I can't recommend them highly enough. And now, he has come out with a third-- The Art of War for Writers: Fiction Writing Strategies, Tactics and Exercises with perhaps the most unique approach ever--and packed with excellent information and advice. I love this book! And it's just the right size and price to be a perfect gift for my critique buddies. But shhhhh....don't tell!

The other new title that I love is The Art & Craft of Writing Christian Fiction by Jeff Gerke, and it is absolutely packed with wonderful information for anyone who hopes to write Christian fiction, or even if s/he has a dozen books written. Reading it was like sitting down with the author and receiving an in-depth workshop in my home.

So now...I would just love to hear about your favorites!

Wishing you a blessed Christmas filled with joy for the true reason for the season, and a wonderful coming year,

Roxanne