Author Spotlight: Sarah Vance-Tompkins Is Here with Holiday Fun!
We have a winner! Marie-Claude Arnott, your name was selected at random to receive Sarah’s giveaway prize of a $10 gift card. Marie-Claude, Sarah will be in touch with you! Thanks to everyone who stopped by–we do love talking to our readers!
I’m so excited to have Sarah Vance-Tompkins with me today. We met at the Tule Author Retreat in July and she just utterly charmed me–an immediate kindred spirit. Not only was she fun and lovely, but she’s from my favorite state in the union–Michigan!
Sarah Vance-Tompkins was born in a small town in northern Michigan. She received an MFA in Film Production from the University of Southern California, and went on to work in feature film development for ten years. Prior to film school, she worked as an on-air radio personality. She is a lifetime reader of romance and is excited to be writing in the genre. She and her husband live in Southern California with a glaring of unruly cats.
Her new Christmas romance released yesterday and I am crazy about this cover! Can’t wait to read this one.
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Sarah, the floor is yours…
Making Christmas Magic
My first job out of college was working at a local radio station. I had the midday shift, but on holidays they gave the morning disc jockey the day off, and so I was given the early shift on Christmas morning. Seems reasonable until your alarm goes off at 3 a.m. on a cold snowy middle of the night.
There were no other cars. And the snowplows hadn’t been out to clear off the road. All the houses were dark. The few convenience stores were closed for the holiday. There was no place to stop and get coffee. The small-town radio station where I worked didn’t stay on the air overnight. There wasn’t even any music on the radio to keep me company. It was a long, lonely drive with a lot of time to wallow in the fact that I was missing loved ones for Christmas.
My grandma had passed just before Thanksgiving, leaving me with a gaping hole in my already tattered heart. She was a force. Full of joie de vivre and a source of impish devil-may-care charm. She loved the holidays. Her death came as a surprise soon after my dad died due to a brutal battle with a heart condition. I was still hardly able to cope with his death.
I got to the radio station and hustled inside to get out of the cold. I turned on the transmitter to warm up all the equipment. I wasn’t feeling the Christmas spirit, but I flipped the switch and greeted my audience with the warmest holiday wishes before starting the turntable for what would be the first of many Christmas songs I’d play during the shift.
Within a few minutes a listener called to wish me a Merry Christmas while waiting on family to arrive. An advertiser dropped off breakfast, after hearing me wish everyone a Merry Christmas. One of my work colleagues stopped by on his way to the nearby sledding hill with his kids. He was feeling lucky that he had the day off, so he brought me Christmas cookies. By the time my shift was over, and I was headed home with a backseat full of gifts for my family, and cheerful Christmas music on the radio and I was looking forward to spending time with my family.
That’s the thing I’ve learned about Christmas. Sometimes you’re the person surprised by a bit of Christmas magic. Other times, you’re the person making the magic that provides someone with Christmas joy.
My new book from Tule Publishing, The Christmas Dilemma, is about being able to find joy again after a loss. And making the choice to be the person who makes magic for someone else, even when you believe you’re the one in need of Christmas magic. That’s Eli’s dilemma.
GIVEAWAY! In the comments below, tell me which role you prefer: to be the subject of Christmas magic made by someone else. Or to be the person who makes the holiday magical for someone else. I’ll choose one at random to be a winner of a $10 AMAZON gift card. We’ll announce a winner on Saturday morning.
Thank you and happiest holiday wishes to you and yours. xo,
Sarah
The Christmas Dilemma
Skipping Christmas is easy. But it’s impossible to deny your heart…
Eli Adair is the first call whenever his family and friends need a hand. But this Christmas, he has no obligations, so he’s taking a break from the stress of big family celebrations. No presents under the tree. No stockings by the fireplace. No twinkling lights.
All he wants is to be home alone at Hillcrest House.
Travel nurse Audrey Elliott is returning to Christmas Tree Cove hoping for a big holiday celebration like the ones on her grandparents’ farm—all she has left of happier times before her mom’s condition lost those memories. Candy canes. Gingerbread houses. Holiday carols.
All Audrey wants is a place to call home for Christmas.
When a high school friend assures her there’s plenty of room at Hillcrest House, it seems like all her Christmas dreams are coming true until she discovers she’ll be living with Eli, the boy she’s never forgotten. Or the first kiss they shared.
Eli and Audrey are about to discover whether December is about reliving traditions—or making new ones.
23 Comments
VickiB-Calif
I know I’m too late in my response for the Saturday drawing, but I want to still respond. I would prefer to be the person providing some Christmas majic for others to enjoy. I too grew up in Michigan, so still consider that “home”, my roots. I am glad my friend, Nan, shared about your book, I may just have to start reading you, that can probably help me during the times between Nan’s new book releases.
Marie-Claude ARNOTT
Thank you for the surprise!
Roseann Brooks
I like what some others have said about enjoying the balance of both sides: giving and receiving with grace. Congrats on the book launch, and I agree with Nan about the great cover!
Sabrina Templin
I like to make the Christmas magic for others
Kimberly Field
I love being the one to create the magic, but somewhere along the way, I kind of lost that and lucky I have friends that have reminded about that magic. I think it is hard for some, like myself, be on the receiving end sometimes. But I do believe, we should try and find a balance.
Glenda M
Happy Book Birthday Sarah!! The Christmas Dilemma sounds wonderful! There’s no question, I would much rather be the one bringing the joy to others. It is much more rewarding for me.
Latesha B.
Happy Release Day, Sarah! I prefer to make the day special for others.
Debra Pruss
Happy book birthday. Thank you for being here. I would like to be the one giving the holiday magic. God bless you.
flchen1
Honestly, I love when it’s a mix. I love having the chance to make magic happen for others, and other times, it’s a special lift when others surprise you with a little loving magic too!
Love the sounds of your series and this latest release, Sarah!
Cherie J
I would love to be the one that makes it magical for someone else.
Sue Farmer
I love being the one to create the surprise. It gives me such a good feeling to do something special for my loved ones.
Shari Bartholomew
I love the gift giving.
Debbie Tyler
I want to make the magic for someone else
Janine
Congratulations on your latest book! I would rather be the person making the holiday magical for someone else.
bn100
both
Mia
Congratulations, Sarah!
Kate Hoime
I like to be the one who makes magic for someone at the holiday time (or anytime ) I love to see the heart felt thankful person who’s very grateful ❤️
Julie Sturgeon
Every few years or so, I would choose to be the recipient, because it keeps my focus fresher on the meaning of the season. It’s easier to give back tenfold when you’ve had a touch of that magic to remind you of how important giving is in the world.
Humans forget, and like anything else, creating Christmas magic for others can grow stale unless you have a personal relationship with why you are doing it!
Denise
Happy Book Release!
I love creating the surprise.
Marie-Claude ARNOTT
As a recent addition to the Tule family and with the publication of my first book in the works, I am paying great attention to… blurbs. Yours promises a lovely story: Who wouldn’t want to be Audrey about to live a romantic Christmas? Yet it would be nice to be Eli… not to mention that watching love do its magic around a Christmas tree must be a great feeling too. Your blurb is too good: I can’t choose and want to know more.
Joannie Sico
It’s always nice to spread the magic because that’s what Christmas and the spirit of Christmas is all about. Of course, who wouldn’t want to be the recipient of some Christmas magic too.
Doris Lankford
I like to be the one making the magic happen. I love giving gifts and seeing the reactions as the gifts are opened. I also like being the recipient of magic but the good feeling comes from the giving.
Doris Lankford
Liz Flaherty
The story sounds wonderful, and I loved reading about the magic you experienced on what could have been such a sad night. As far as whether you’re giving or receiving the magic…it’s a win-win situation; there are no losers.
Good luck with your release. It has a beautiful cover!