My dad sent me this while I'm waiting for the guys to wake up!

Like I mentioned Monday, I've known Janet all my RWA career. I read this book in manuscript form a few years ago and I read it again this weekend. It's just the most adorable Christmas story, with characters who really came to life for me and put me in the Christmas spirit! Remember, I'll send a copy to one lucky commenter, so you can enjoy this story, too!

Now, welcome Janet!

You've had a long road to publication, including some children's books (which I have in my class library.) What kept you going when the business got you down?

Getting the children's books published really kept me going. The first came out in 1998, the two reading resource books in 2001, then the sequel to the first book in 2005. In between, I kept writing romances, entering contests, sending Santa's Angels to agents and editors. Although, up til a couple of years ago, Santa's Angels was rejected, I kept getting positive feedback on the book. The "good" rejections and encouragement from other writers (like you!) gave me the courage to keep sending the manuscript out until it found a home.

What is your writing routine like?


You know, I gotta get me one of those. I'm a seat-of-the-pants writer, but a strict reviser. When I'm in the writing groove, I find I write a couple of hours every day--I estimated once I can complete about 4 pages an hour. After an hour, I need to get up and move around. I make handwritten notes in a spiral as new thoughts come to me, then work it in to the manuscript on the laptop next time I sit down with it. That way I reassure myself I'm still working on the novel even if I haven't opened my laptop in days.

What was your inspiration for Santa's Angels?

I used to be a teacher, and every year at Christmas, the staff would play Secret Santa, where we'd draw names and do fun stuff for each other in the weeks before Christmas Holidays. One year, the person whose name I drew said she liked reading "hot and steamy" stories. Being a writer, I figured I could come up with something, a story with a Secret Santa. It started as a short story, and ended as a novel--sweet, rather than "hot and steamy," but there's still a Mystery Santa.

You have other creative outlets - tell us about them!

I play keyboard in a band, The Seven Dutchmen Orchestra. My husband is the leader. At this time of year, we're playing a lot of Big Band music. We'll be playing on New Year's Eve. We play at some German festivals, including the Oktoberfest in Fredericksburg, TX and Wurstfest in New Braunfels, TX. I also like to crochet. I still write poetry and children's books. I l-o-v-e baking.

What has meant the most to you since your sale?

There is nothing like seeing my story as a book. The cover is lovely. I was surprised and delighted by my first fan letter! Especially since the book had been checked out from a library and recommended to the person who sent me the email.

Can you give us a quick blurb about your book?

No one knows the local celebrity who is playing Santa Claus at Filmore's Department Store in downtown Dallas, Texas. Not even Janie Langston, the "elf" who takes pictures of the kids with Santa knows--and she's falling in love with him!

Lastly, do you recommend reading this book with eggnog or hot chocolate?

Hot chocolate! With cinnamon and lots of marshmallows.

Here's where you can get this awesome book: Barnes and Noble

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I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! I got four - count 'em, four - necklaces. I promptly broke one and burst into tears. It was a glass heart and when I tried to thread it on the necklace, I dropped it and the loop broke off. Sigh. My son gave me a gorgeous ring that needs to be sized (along with my wedding ring, and that's been waiting 18 months.) And I need to hit Macy's with returns. Did I mention I don't like shopping?

BUT the boy LOVED his George Orwell t-shirt and book of essays, as well as his Hitchcock videos. The mandolin surprised him, though. The dh wasn't as surprised by his new iPod as I hoped. His old one was 3rd generation, and he called it the caveman iPod. This one's 6th generation Classic. Maybe he wanted a touch one.....but I went for memory over new technology.

Meanwhile, I'm babysitting my mom's dachshund while they go to Arkansas to visit her MIL. My dh put the dog in the crate last night without her bed, poor thing!

Christmas dinner at my brother's was huge - a turkey, a ham and tamales, plus more desserts than you can imagine. I really cut back on my baking this year and still have 4 tins of food AND a plate of brownies AND 1/3 of the coffeecake I made for breakfast yesterday.

Okay, I'm starting my Top Ten Lists for 2007 with the easiest one....TV!

Top Ten TV Shows in 2007

1) Supernatural (duh) - Season 3 more than season 2
2) Men in Trees, which I got into after reading the Virgin River books - I love all the different relationships, but especially Jack and Marin.
3) Friday Night Lights - season 1 more than Season 2, though I'm glad that "body" storyline is done. I love all the complexities, and I hope they smooth Julie out a bit.
4) Moonlight - not at first, but the romance is REALLY compelling
5) Heroes - Season 2 more than Season 1, believe it or not, though I agree it started slow.
6) The Office - Jim and Pam - YAY!
7) Jericho - starting again in February
8) My Name is Earl - this season, with Earl in prison? Priceless. Really really excellent writing
9) Grey’s Anatomy - this season more than last, though I miss Burke. There, I'll say it. He and Cristina were my favorite couple. I do like the new surgeon, though.
10) Lost - can't WAIT to see what they're going to do this year!

What shows did you love this year?

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Not really my sentiment, just thought it was cute. And I do love stretching out the holiday season.

Thanks for your concern, y'all. I'm MUCH better today, a little stiff, but I should be able to drive. I hate this computer chair because it pressed right against the back of my thigh. And I hate changing positions still. I did manage to get my cookies done, and the guys rolled out my sugar plums (whose recipe I halved.) I didn't go to the boy's gig last night and I feel really guilty about it, but he didn't really want us there. I watched a lot of Tivo yesterday, and the Friday Night Lights movie, which was no where near as good as the show!

I read a review for PS I LOVE YOU yesterday where the reviewer said s/he wished the writers had played up how Holly had lost herself in Gerry and now had to find herself again. I felt like they did do this, but what struck me was that I used that theme in my WIP. I've never used it before, don't remember really seeing it before, but it's my hero's sister's concern - he'd lost himself in his first wife and now she's afraid he'll do the same with the heroine. So definitely need to bring that out.

I had the worst time keeping my h/h from kissing yesterday. I let them, then deleted the scene ;) Seriously, I HATE using the phone-callus-interuptus ploy, but I did.

Christmas Eve was always a big deal when I lived at home. We would always celebrate on that night. I remember my grandfather "distracting" us while Santa came, and one time he even dressed as Santa. Every year we eat sandwiches, and back in the day, Handy Andy would sell red and green bread. I would always pass out the gifts and eventually loved seeing others' reactions to my gifts more than opening my own.

We've gone the gift card route the past couple of years, so the unwrapping doesn't take as long. And my little family opens our gifts Christmas morning. I can't wait to see my guys' reactions to their gifts. I just need one...more...thing....

What are your family traditions?

Merry Christmas, y'all!

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So I got my presents wrapped and finished Cindi's scarf last night. I found some I'd made already that I can give to my Secret Santa. I stopped and got my uncle a gift card to Olive Garden for his birthday, which is tomorrow. And I got gift bags for the white elephant gifts (though my gifts are GOOD.) I also figured out the dh can brave WalMart to get his own mother's gift, since he's off next week. And I did the newsletter, the parent letter and the make up work, and turned in the GT nominations and the textbook stuff.

I need to get cash for me and the boy tonight....he's going to the movies with a friend while I go to the Christmas party. The good thing is, I'm riding with Cindi and Lucinda, who live out there by his friend. So as soon as we're done partying, I pick him up and we come home. The bad is that I come home from school, get dressed for the party, go pick the boy up from UIL (crossing the highway) then take him to the friend's, then go to Lucinda's. Not much time to breathe!

Yesterday one of the teachers walked in with a bag of Mint M&Ms. I'd never had them, wasn't all that excited about tasting them, but...oh, my God. I kept finding excuses to go to her room for another handful. They are SO good, and only available this time of year.

My Baby Brother asked me if I was making molasses cookies this Christmas. It's a tradition in our family that I took over YEARS ago. I didn't make them last year and never heard the end of it. So I suppose I will.

When I was a girl, I would make sugar plums. The recipe I had was mostly butter and powdered sugar, with cocoa and oatmeal and golden raisins. The recipe was called Sugar Plums from Sugarland (Texas, you know) It was in an Imperial cookbook. Mom lost it (it was a little cookbook) and a couple of years ago, Baby Brother found the recipe on the internet. Again, OMG, but so rich you can't eat very many and they get thrown out, and have to be refrigerated because of all the butter. But I suppose I'll make those.

I also love iced sugar cookies this time of year. They aren't pretty like the ones Robyn DeHart makes (completely from scratch). Mine are Pillsbury dough and colored Duncan Hines frosting, but yummy.

What are your favorite Christmas treats?

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First of all, a big WOOT to my dh for getting advance screening tickets for PS I LOVE YOU on Monday. The good - he's on vacation, so we can get there early. The bad - that's the third night we'll be leaving the ds alone. I know he's 16, but hey.

Second WOOT - I'm on the Coming Soon Page at The Wild Rose Press!!!! I don't know when soon is, but I'm there!!!!

Third woot - a partial request from Jenny Rappaport on last year's GH finalist. Need to dust that puppy off!

Last night, the boy played at the high school, which is across the highway from our home. (Okay, across the highway and a few miles, but...) Apparently, though, crossing the highway is now akin to crossing the border. It took me FIFTEEN MINUTES to get 3 miles because of construction - AND I HAD TO DO IT FOUR TIMES YESTERDAY!!!! I had to pick the kid up, bring him home, take him back for the gig and bring him home. EVERYTHING is one lane. ARGH! I remember when all the construction was on the OTHER side of town.

THEN, I FINALLY got my Pirates DVD from Best Buy Tuesday. It had shipped TWELVE DAYS before that. It went from Austin (an hour down the road) to Dallas (3 hours away) to OKLAHOMA CITY, then BACK TO DALLAS. A movie I ordered the ds that was mailed after that, I got a week before. I presume I'll get Harry Potter around Christmas.

What's up with the UPS man delivering in the middle of the night? The other night, the dh came home at midnight, and we had a package!

OKay, what needs to be done before I get out of school:

Progress reports, which means grading and entering grades

Make up work over the Christmas break for failing grades on the progress reports. I NEVER give homework over breaks, but these kids are just....so not motivated, and their parents don't help.

Choose a math textbook for the district to adopt (this is not my job alone, but paperwork is involved.)

Turn in nominations for the gifted and talented program.

Christmas letter about Christmas activities to parents.

Newsletter

lesson plans x2

Finish Cindi's scarf and wrap her kids' gifts so I can give them to her before we get out.

Make a scarf for my Secret Santa. And maybe 2 for the ladies in the office. Lord knows I have the yarn.

What has to be done before Christmas:

Get gift card for MIL at WalMart. I go to WalMart like 3 times a year, and this is NOT a good time. But I need to do other shopping there, too, so it can't just be a guerilla trip.

Gifts for brothers, Mom, stepdad

Find out where Christmas is going to be.

Bake

Wrap

Two Christmas parties, and I have to take food to one of them.


Are YOU ready????

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Another one of those days where I didn't want to get out of bed. Another front blew in last night, I didn't sleep good because the dh went out with his band....I'm not ready for Christmas, but I'm ready for Christmas break!

The night before last, we watched The Year Without a Santa Claus. (Remember, my son is 16. He rolled his eyes all the way through.) I love the Heat Miser and Snow Miser scenes. The rest I could do without. But we were explaining to this child, who has had VCRs and now Tivo his whole life, what a big deal it used to be when the specials would come on.



Rudolph, Charlie Brown, The Little Drummer Boy...now THAT was appointment TV, because if you missed it, you didn't see it for another year!







There was one, though, that I remember. We just HAPPENED to see it on Christmas Eve when we were eating dinner when I was a kid. It was called The Night the Animals Talked. I've seen it once since, and have only ever met one person who saw it. Have you seen it?

Other than that, my favorite is The Grinch, the cartoon. I can recite it, because the ds watched it so much as a kid.



What's your favorite Christmas special?

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I love Christmas songs. One of my favorite Christmas albums is this one:



Another is this one. For years, it was the only Christmas album we listened to.



This is one of my favorite songs. I LOVE the harmony, and I actually remember seeing it on TV when it first aired.



When I was music teacher, I always had my kids do "Do You Hear What I Hear?" I love how that song builds.

When I was in choir, I loved "Carol of the Bells" and the Hallelujah Chorus. For years I remembered my parts.

I love "O, Holy Night," too.

My students loved "Nuttin' for Christmas."

I adore Madonna's "Santa Baby."

What Christmas songs do you love? Which ones drive you screaming crazy? ("Christmas Shoes," anyone???)

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I'm doing this blog on the dh's new laptop because he installed the Leopard OS on the desktop and so it keeps telling me to restart, which I have done. I'm glad I didn't wake up early to write! The bad is I can't recharge my iPod. I'm in the middle of listening to The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo because my ds LOVES that book. So far I find it weird.

I've seen other bloggers do this, so I thought I'd put in my two cents:

Dear Santa,

Yes, I know I've had a VERY good year, this fall especially, so I won't make my list very long.

This year, I would like a FANTASTIC cover for Hot Shot. I know, I was lucky with Smoke because I know the artist, but she still nailed it with the first shot.

I would like some movie money, with all the good movies coming out - PS I LOVE YOU, the new Will Smith, the new JDM in February.

I'd like the Writer's Strike to end so we can look forward to more quality TV when Christmas is over.

I would like more patience. I know you've heard that before, but I hate always looking toward the end goal. I'd like to enjoy my path a little more.

Keep feeding my muse. I love my new book and want to continue doing well with it. But 2008 will be the Year of Revisions and I want to do well on those, too.

I would like more time. I was able to find balance earlier this year, and I've lost it the past few months. I wish I wasn't in a hurry all the time! And all these books - I want to read them!!

I would like more time with my family, too. My son is growing so fast and he'll be gone before I know it. Even now nights with the whole family together are fewer and I hate that. As much as I want him to be independent and his own person, I know our time together is short and I want to enjoy him more.

Not too much to ask, is it, Santa?

(Oh, and if you can find that Supernatural watch I saw online a couple of months ago, that would be great, too!)

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Nano, I mean. Four more days. 9200 more words. I'm actually at the climax of my story, so I'm wondering how much farther I can go.

Did finish Christmas shopping for Cindi's family yesterday while waiting to pick up the boy from school. Also wrote the Christmas letter and stuffed it in cards, just waiting for the boy's school picture to come in. Seriously, we took them in AUGUST.

Cindi's baby is one year old today. Today was also the day I finished Nano last year.