Sunday Snippet: The It’s Not Christmas Yet, But…Edition

It is only September, but for me, for River’s Edge, it’s almost Christmas! When I write a holiday-themed romance, it’s usually during the gray days of February or the cool rainy days in early April. That’s because for a book to be released during the holidays, it has be done and ready for production by May. So am I feeling the holidays at those times? Not so much. I’m just over the holidays at that point.

But I sit down at my desk, close my eyes, and take myself back to River’s Edge in December. The shops are all decorated with twinkle lights and green and red garland. Carly has retired Mac’s old aluminum Christmas tree and now a lovely green tree covered in multicolored lights is in the window of the Riverside Diner, garland drapes the back wall, and a waft of cinnamon blends with scents of bacon and burgers. Mac did make her hang up the mistletoe ball, though, because it’s tradition. Couples coming in for breakfast or supper always stop for a quick smooch and a round of applause from the other diners. Mac loves romance.

The showboat is in dry dock, but Aidan, Holly, and Matt and their friends have wrapped the rails of the deck with evergreen garland and lights that come on each evening at dusk. They’re getting ready for their big Christmas Eve pitch-in and holiday talent show that Aidan began the first year he was home from Hollywood. He and Matt will sing and dance, Noah Barker will read T’was the Night Before Christmas, the kids from the elementary school will serenade guests while they enjoy lunch, and Santa will make an appearance.

There’s the tree lighting on the square, the lamp posts along the river walk shine with colored lights, and the redbuds magically glow with white twinkle lights. The Christmas parade welcomes the holiday to River’s Edge with the high school marching band leading Santa on his special ride–the vintage firetruck driven by Fire Chief Becker Lange. The candlelight walk is gorgeous and the midnight service at St. Agnes church hushed and lovely.

This Christmas, in Made for Mistletoe (which, ahem, releases October 24), widow Harper Gaines is experiencing the holidays in River’s Edge for the very first time and Cameron Walker is determined for her to know every joyful moment. She’s reluctant at first, but his Christmas spirit is infectious. Lest you think writing infectious holiday spirit is easy in February when the snow is gray and the sunlight is thin and chilly, I assure you it is not. I reread the holiday books from previous River’s Edge series,  take my imagination back to my own special Christmases, play holiday music (my favorite is James Taylor at Christmas), and suck on months-old candy canes to get in the mood.

But I get there, as do all the other romance authors who write holiday stories. It’s what we do. Oh, and just for the record, when the real world is wrapped in garland and twinkle lights in December, and hearing holiday music in all the stores, baking cookies and pies, and decorating their trees, I’m writing about summer in River’s Edge. My characters are in shorts, tank tops, and sundresses, taking in the summer show on the River Queen, jogging on the River Walk, and eating al fresco at Mac’s… Writer life… always an adventure, just out of season.

Gratitude for this week: Great time watching Son and The Mission Hills Band play a charity gig; got to dance with Grandboy to some great music; Husband and I cut back some of the dying plants in the gardens and got the gutters cleaned out–bittersweet, but they’re looking tidy for fall; my mums are lovely; the lavender is blooming again and smells divine!

Stay well, stay safe, choose kindness always, and most all, mes amis, stay grateful!