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December/January 2004
Newsletter
The Grand Prize winner of Debbie Macomber's Angel Series is Kathy
Bennett from Tacoma, WA. I wish to thank Debbie Macomber for her
graciousness in providing her entire series. Debbie is not only a
great author, but personally a very giving and warm person. Thanks
Debbie!
I wish to thank Debbie Macomber for her
graciousness in providing her entire series. Debbie is not
only a great author, but personally a very giving and warm person.
Thanks Debbie!
Did you ever wonder just who answers those letters to Santa
Claus? Would you believe Air Force volunteers from the combat
weather flight at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska?
The Santa's Mailbag program started 50 years ago by 58th Weather
Reconnaissance Squadron Airmen, and it has been carried on by those
of the 354th Operations Support Squadron.
Each year, the unit receives thousands of Dear Santa Claus letters
and Christmas-wish lists. Volunteers in the weather flight sort and
read the letters, select an appropriate reply from Santa Claus and
mail the letters with an official North Pole postmark. Last year,
the program received about 4,000 letters.
So, the next time you help your children send their Dear Santa
letter, please remember not only all the Air Force volunteers, but
also keep all of the rest of our military in your thoughts and
prayers this holiday season.
Wishing you and yours a very happy holiday season.
Sandi Price
sandi@romanceauthorspage.com ps. The next Romance Authors
Newsletter will be issued in February. We're taking a holiday
vacation into the New Year.
Dear Reader Friends,
The trees are decorated, the boughs are hung, and the swags are in
place. Christmas is definitely in the air. Don’t you just love this
time of year?
If you’ve read any of my Christmas books – I’ve had one out each
year for the last ten years or longer – you know how I feel about
the season. It’s such a joyful time of year, with music and laughter
and fun with family and friends. Perhaps because Thanksgiving and
Christmas are only a month apart, my thoughts are filled with
gratitude this month. I’m especially thankful when I think of you,
my readers, who have made my success possible. As I write this, my
Christmas wish for you is that behind the hectic schedule of this
month – shopping, parties, social events, children’s programs and
general chaos – that you will discover peace and joy.
Have a glorious Christmas and a Happy
New Year!
Debbie Macomber
Happy Holidays,
Y'all, from down on the farm
One of my favorite seasons has arrived! Turkey dinners and family
gatherings are always a treat. I hope you and your family will enjoy
the upcoming holidays. And to all of our military troops I wish I had
a way to contact each one of them and let them know how much they are
admired and appreciated. May their noble sacrifices and efforts never
be taken for granted or easily forgotten. I am so grateful to all of
them.
As for writing, I just started the third book on contract. I hope to
have the first draft well underway before I take off several days for
the holidays. The new story tosses a down-on-love who has sworn off
men in the path of a half-breed Texas Ranger that has never had time
for love. And boy are they in for a rude awakening when they have to
join forces to escape from a gang of desperadoes that don't make a
habit of leaving eyewitnesses behind. This book has all the makings of
an adventurous romp through Texas in 1880.
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December 2004
The Last Honest
Outlaw
Harlequin Historical
Western
December 2004 |
In the meantime the newest historical romance--THE LAST HONEST
OUTLAW--will be out in Dec. It has a unique cover and I hope
you'll like it! CUPID AND THE COWBOY, the Harlequin American, will
be published in February and another historical--THE RANGER'S
WOMAN--will be out in April. I will also have another historical
out in Dec. 05. It's my fondest wish that each book will bring you
a few hours of reading pleasure and a few amused smiles.
All the best during the holiday season, Carol Finch, Connie
Feddersen, et al.
Dear Readers,
This month I wanted to personally send you all my sincere wishes for a
wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year filled with peace, love and joy.
As I walked along the beach yesterday, I watched the sun sink into the Pacific
and realized how amazingly quickly the days have grown shorter as the Winter
Solstice nears. This season inspires all manner of celebrations of light that
bring us together to feast, to share, to fill our hearts with generosity
toward all.
I'll be gathering friends and family together for our annual Christmas Eve
gala, where we sing off-key, wear funny hats and so enjoy being together.
Whether you celebrate the season alone or with loved ones, bring a sprig of
evergreen indoors, light some candles, stoke up
the fire, curl up with a pile of good books and remember that Spring is just
around the corner. And if you should happen to curl up with one of my books,
do let me know via the guestbook on my website.
Until next time, my wish for you is that all your wishes come true.
Love,
Jill Marie
Dear Readers,
It's my favorite time of the year and I'm so busy trying to finish
books (note the plural of the word book) that I don't have time to
enjoy it as I would like. However, I will do my best. Four
grandchildren demand Grandma/Grammy's participation in the event,
and I wouldn't want to miss a bit of it.
Had my knee surgery three weeks ago. Fixed a torn cartilage and
removed a little arthritis damage. works almost like new again,
praise the Lord.
My grandson Daniel, who's three, was taken to see his first Santa
Claus in a local mall near where he lives. They'd talked about it
for days. Planned what he was going to wear. Did a run-through on
what he was going to tell Santa he wanted for Christmas. Waited for
Daddy to get off work. (first mistake) Drove to the mall and found a
line about a quarter of a mile long. got in line to wait their turn.
(second mistake) Daniel could "see" Santa from time to time,
especially when Daddy held him up because Daddy is six feet, five
inches tall. He kept trying to tell Mommy and Daddy that Santa was
right there and to get him closer. They tried to explain about
waiting their turn. (third mistake) No explanations ever sink in
after five o'clock in the evening.
Within thirty minutes, he went from angry to melt-down, and as my
daughter explained, "squalling like a stuck pig".
At that point, they warned him if he didn't calm down they would
have to leave. (fourth mistake) Never threaten something dire that
you have to make good on unless you're willing to back it up. Of
course the warning didn't work and they stepped out of line and
started for the car in the parking lot.
HUGE MISTAKE, but one that was inevitable. Daniel is now begging and
sobbing to don't take him away from Santa, that he NEEDS to tell
Santa what he wants for Christmas, that Santa will be mad at him if
he doesn't get to say hello.
Poor daughter relates to me how everyone is giving them horrible
dirty looks for depriving poor little innocent boy of a trip to
Santa's lap, although the people with whom they'd been standing in
line were heartily glad to see them go.
She said he cried about the missed visit off and on until bedtime,
even though they explained he could write Santa a letter, etc. Three
year olds are not much into letter writing and it didn't seem like a
good idea to him. Poor daughter says she even slept with him, trying
to console his tears. Said he woke up three times in the night
crying because he didn't get to see Santa.
At this point, Grammy buts in and tells her what went wrong.
First mistake. Taking him to a mall that only has a Santa on duty
once a day for three hours only... and at night. What in the world
was that mall director thinking?
Second mistake. Waiting for Daddy to get off work to take him. I
said, find a mall that has one on duty all day and go during the day
when there are no lines. I see them all the time when I'm shopping.
If Daddy wants to see the visit, HE can take off work. Night time is
no time to take a three year old to an EVENT like a first visit to
Santa.
Third mistake. Don't prep him for what's going to happen other than
if he wants to, he can sit on Santa's lap and Mommy will take their
picture. Then he can look at the picture whenever he wants and
remember what a fine time he had with Santa.
She laughed. Said she knew there was a reason why they hadn't put me
in an old folk's home just yet, and told me she loved me. A LOT. We
said our farewells to some chuckles and promises to call. I can't
wait to hear about the second trip to visit Santa. I can guarantee
it will be a much happier one than the first.
So, here's my holiday tip to all of my younger readers. Live long
enough to prove to your children that you ARE smarter than they are,
and that growing old is nothing more drastic than accumulating more
life experiences.
Oh.. and by the way, thank you for putting my November release from
Mira Books on the best-seller lists. MISSING debuted at #11 on the
New York Times list, at #16 on USA Today, at #8 on Publisher's
Weekly and at #3 on WaldenBooks single title best seller lists. At
this writing, it's still on the NY Times extended list at #21.
That's four weeks on that list, and don't think I'm not proud.
Thank you so much for your constant support of my work and the
endearing letters you send to me via email on my website.
Happy holidays,
Sharon Sala
aka
Dinah McCall
This is my favorite time of year! The garland and stockings are
already hung, the trees (I have two in my living room this year and
two in my den!) are decorated and the lights are up. We live in a
neighborhood famous for its decorations and people come from all
over to drive by the beautifully decorated houses. Some people have
the most magnificent displays! We aren't quite so elaborate, but we
have moving reindeers and a little house with Santa's feet sticking
up out of the chimney. I love hearing the children laugh and yell
"look at Santa--he's stuck!" It gets a little crazy as Christmas
gets closer (on weekends, the traffic backs up and if we go out, it
can take thirty minutes or more just to get back in our house!)
Still, it's great fun!
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December 2004
Blackhawk Legacy
Silhouette Books
December 2004
ISBN 0-373-21849-4 |
This December is especially exciting to me because my first single title,
BLACKHAWK LEGACY, will hit the stands! 4 1/2 stars! Susan Mitchell at Romantic
Times, says "...not to be missed...absorbing tale grabs the reader from the
beginning and doesn't let go until the last startling secret is revealed..."
Dillon Blackhawk continues my Silhouette Desire SECRETS! mini-series. This is
one man who can keep you warm this winter! Dillon had vowed never to return to
Wolf River, Texas, the home of all his heartache, and when Rebecca Blake
confronts him with dark secrets from his past and asks for his help, he
refuses. But the lovely Rebecca wakens a passion in Dillon, and when someone
tries to silence her, he can no longer deny his past.... For an excerpt, visit
my website.
This month I'll be giving away a Holiday Basket filled with goodies and an
autographed book! Everyone signed up in my guestbook has a chance to
win--winner to be drawn on December 18. I'll also be giving away three
autographed books! Good luck to everyone!
I'll be updating my website this month and adding some new pictures and other
things. I know how busy December is, but I do hope you'll all stop by and say
hi!
MAY THE GLOW OF THE SEASON BE WITH YOU NOW AND THROUGHOUT THE COMING YEAR, AND
MAY ALL YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE.
BARBARA MCCAULEY
Usually I am organized.
Prepared. On top of things. Customarily I have my shopping done by
mid-November. But this holiday season blindsided me and started
happening long before I was ready. I keep telling myself that
Christmas will happen whether or not I am finished with my
preparations. After all, it always has. So what happened to me this
year?
November passed in a flash while I worked frantically to meet the
deadline for my Harlequin Superromance, due out in September of
2005, and while we took a week-long trip for Thanksgiving to visit
my brother, who lives in Cleveland, OH. When we arrived back home,
the enormity of it all hit me: I had done no shopping, written nary
a Christmas card, and decorations consisted of a Halloween witch I’d
forgotten to put away.
As I write this, I am cautiously optimistic, though. The cards are
done. My darling husband is putting the finishing touches on the
Dickens Village. Imagine, today I even baked Christmas cookies for
an outreach of our church! The shopping? Er, uh, let’s not go there.
The important thing, however, is the magic and mystery of this
blessed season. May each of you find a quiet moment to savor the
gifts of family, friends, and the miracle of Christmas!
Blessings to all of you for 2005!
Laura Abbot
Paperback
Georgina Gentry - TO TAME A REBEL
Karen Hoover, Bremerton, WA
Barbara McCauley - Miss Pruitt's Private Life
Janice Bryant, Upper Marlboro, MD
Sharon Sala - MISSING
Mary Ann Kornau, Beach Park, IL
That's All for
this month, Sandi |
