The short story anthology, CHRISTMAS TREASURES: A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES, is shaping up nicely. The details for both the e-version and print version will be shared shortly, as well as the book cover. Exciting! And to add to the excitement, check out the BookGiveaway offer below. Ho Ho Ho.
I thought if would be interesting to ask my co-authors an interview question every Friday leading up to the release of the book. This Friday's questions is:
What do you hope your
reader will be blessed with upon reading your story?
My (Elaine Stock) story, THE FOREVER
CHRISTMAS GIFT, wraps around the themes of peace and hope when an unexpected
friendship develops between a young adult woman, who has just about given up on
these feelings, and an older man, who has grown accustomed to loneliness. They
learn that peace and hope can bring joy, and that is what I hope my readers
will be blessed with upon reading this story. http://elainestock.com
Patty Wysong: Sometimes we get so
caught up in how we think God should work in our lives that we forget He’s not
tied down to working in normal or traditional ways. There are times
when how He chooses to accomplish His will makes us think a mistake has
been made or we wonder what we’ve gotten ourselves into. In my story, A HUSBAND
FOR CHRISTMAS, Cassie’s meant-as-a-joke comment to her father unleashes
more than she knows. As a result, she gets to see God work in a totally
unexpected way and it more than she ever dared to hope for. It’s a reminder to
me to let God work, even if…especially if it’s in ways that I would never think
up on my own. www.pattywysong.com
Susan F. Craft: I hope to show that in my
story, HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARRAH (intentional spelling), God
doesn’t want for us to fear for anything. He is the God of the large and the
small – even to a lowly sparrow. If God is concerned about the tiny sparrow and
notes its fate, how much greater must His concern be for man.
In Matt. 10:29-31, Jesus talks about sparrows that
were so insignificant that if you bought four of them, the seller would throw
in one more for free.
In her beautiful song, “His Eye Is on the
Sparrow,” Civilla Martin says it best. “Why should I feel discouraged? … When
Jesus is my portion, a constant friend is He. His eye is on the sparrow and I
know He watches over me.” http://historicalfictionalightintime.blogspot.com
Joanne Sher: At Christmastime, we think
about the gifts and the baby in the manger - I hope, after reading my story WITH
HER OWN EYES, folks will rediscover the wonder of some of the first people
outside His family to see the baby Jesus - those who had been waiting for Him
all their lives. www.joannesher.com
Linda S. Glaz: I
want my readers to never give up hope. In PART-TIME JOB, a Santa style story,
it seems like I'm putzing with miracles, but isn't hope a miracle? Our faith
keeps us moving forward no matter how difficult our circumstances. We just keep
hoping! http://lindaglaz.blogspot.com/
Karen Wingate: I hope my story, THE
CHRISTMAS GIFT, will be a reminder that even when Christmas doesn’t meet our
expectations, it can still be a wonderful Christmas; in fact, it is when
everything else seems bad that we learn to focus on Christ and the blessings He
has waiting for us. www.graceonparade.com/blog
Christina Rich: In my story, A
CHRISTMAS FOR MADDIE, I hope my readers will be blessed by my characters' heart
posture, their willingness to go the extra mile to bring joy to others. http://threefoldstrand.com
Karla Akins: I hope my readers will enjoy
a giggle in BANKING ON CHRISTMAS. Christmas can be stressful for some folks,
and laughter is good medicine. http://karlaakins.com
April Strauch: There are bright spots even
in the darkest times. God never stops surprising us. Especially at Christmas,
and that’s what I hope my readers are blessed by in my story, LOVE IS THE KEY.
Kathleen Rouser: Life
isn’t easy. Sometimes we are put in unique situations, which are out of our
comfort zone, but the Lord uses those very things to stretch and grow us. Also
in my story, SPECIAL ASSINGMENT, I would like readers to see that God is at
work in mysterious ways that we can’t always see—whether through other people .
. . or angels. www.kathleenrouser.com
BookGiveaway:
Readers, when you read a Christmas story, what do you wish as a take-away value? One randomly chosen commenter will receive, upon release, an e-version of CHRISTMAS TREASURES: A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES. Please leave your contact information within your comment.We're looking forward to hearing from you ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
Tweet These:
Interview
with the authors of Christmas Treasures: A Collection Of Short Stories.
#BookGiveaway (Tweet This)
Readers:
Share what you enjoy the most in Christmas stories. #BookGiveaway (Tweet This)
I want to feel like a child on Christmas morning when I'm done. Full of awe and delight.
ReplyDeleteDiana, you made me smile. And may every story you read this Christmas season make you feel forever young and hopeful.
DeleteThanks for visiting.
I want to feel the joy of the season and true meaning of what it is all about. This sounds like a wonderful collection of stories - some by authors I am already read and love. Thanks again for the chance to win a copy of a wonderful sounding read.
ReplyDeleteAnn Ellison
abilene_nana@yahoo.com
Ann, I know you will enjoy these uplifting stories. We've really tapped into our hearts to write them… can't wait until the collection is out for sell.
DeleteWhat I wish for take-aways in Christmas stories depends on the type of story I'm reading, but generally, I want to be drawn closer to the Christ of Christmas while I'm entertained. I expect happy endings. Thanks for entering me in the drawing, Elaine. If I win, please contact me through my website. http://www.derindababcock.com/contact/
ReplyDeleteI agree, Derinda. The history of story-telling focuses on entertaining, but Christ used stories Himself to bring us closer to our Father. And that's what Christmas is all about!
DeleteThe winner will be announced next Friday.
I love reading about holiday romance! The Christmas season makes the setting more magical.
ReplyDeletecolorvibrant at gmail dot com
Heidi, thanks for visiting. I think one of the most wonderful things about the holidays--aside from God and His love for us, of course!--is that when we focus on the Christmas cheer of love, good company, food, music, and even the giving of a gift to another, we push aside the cold of the season and other pressing earthly demands, making it a most magical season indeed.
DeleteThe winner of this book Giveaway will be announced next Friday.
Hope to see you again.
I'm a sucker for Christmas stories! I love them, I give them, I buy them, I devour them!! :o) ane [at] anemulligan [dot] com
ReplyDeleteThen do we have a bunch of awesome stories for you, Ane :) Thanks so much for visiting today… always appreciate your visits.
DeleteChristmas is the greatest love story written to us by God's greatest Gift--His Son. I love to read Christmas stories and watch Christmas movies that reflect aspects of God's love--with a lot of romance thrown in. And I want happy endings! Your collection of Christmas stories sounds intriguing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting, AnnaLee. I think we all want happy endings--and that's indeed what Christmas is all about.
DeleteSorry for the confusion about posting your comment. I have it set on Comment Modification so I scan all incoming comments first before posting them.
Thanks for putting these all together, Elaine.I look forward to the
ReplyDeleterelease of all our stories. :)
Oh, you're welcome, but it's all of us working together. I am so eager for the big news from our fearless anthology editor, Patty… and from the looks of it, so are many others. Thanks be to God.
DeleteLooking forward to reading this! My favorite thing about Christmas stories is that everyone has a forgiving heart and the love that is shared among family and friends.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you visited, my new Twitter friend!
DeleteGood cheer definitely makes more good cheer, and warms the heart. You're so right.
Hope to see you again.
Thank you to all the viewers and commenters who have expressed excitement over this upcoming Christmas anthology. You are definitely helping to ignite holiday cheer. And thanks to my fellow co-authors who have contributed to the anthology and to this interview.
ReplyDeleteThe winner of the e-book of CHRISTMAS TREASURES: A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES is AnnaLee. I will be contacting you via direct email.
Blessings to all.