Friday, November 14, 2014

CHRISTMAS TREASURES: A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES Part 3 of Interview





The anthology has been released!! CHRISTMAS TREASURES: A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES now can be purchased directly on Amazon at this link.

This week, Elaine Stock and Anne Garboczi Evans share their thoughts on music, and plus! Be sure to leave your comments for a chance win for the BookGiveaway offer below. Ho Ho Ho


I'm Elaine Stock, host of this blog, Everyone's Story. Both fiction wise and blog wise I enjoy writing and sharing stories of faith's role in life. From an early age I believed in God, though I was first baptized at the age of 22. Christmas is a beautiful holiday for me, one I'd really like to see celebrated more on a religious level than the on the commercial level it's spun on these past decades. As someone who hasn't spent her childhood worshipping with others, let alone celebrating holidays and sharing family traditions, I understand how, for some, the holidays can be a very lonely time of the year. Having little of family and friends doesn't help. That is how I came to think of my Christmas anthology story, THE FOREVER CHRISTMAS GIFT. When neighbors, Nevaeh--a young woman thousands of miles away from family--and Russell--an older man without family face celebrating Christmas by themselves, they wonder whether they are being asked to try out a forever gift that might possibly change their lives.

Music has always been a huge part of my life. I remember my mother playing her treasured records of show tunes, which I'm sure influenced me to love, love, and love both Broadway hits and classical music. Too shy to try out for choir, I played viola in junior and senior high school, only putting it aside to develop my passion for writing.

In THE FOREVER CHRISTMAS GIFT, which takes place in San Francisco, Nevaeh believes it is in her best interest to protect her heart by "escaping" from all things Christmas. Yet, she can't dodge the sights and sounds of Christmas joy and en route home, stumbles across carolers singing “Hark The Herald Angels Sing.”

It is my wish for all of you to be blessed with God's love and all the joy of Christmas--Christ's birth--year round.

You can visit more with me on Facebook. I'd love to see you!


I'm Anne Garboczi Evans, and you can find out more about me on my website. When I was first asked about the role of music in my short story for the anthology, I HATE CHRISTMAS, I responded by saying that there is an obnoxious reindeer decoration outside the story's coffee shop plays Jingle Bells.

To be honest, Christmas has never been a favorite time of year for me. I love summer, beaches, and sun-bathing much more than snow and fires. But one Christmas tradition strikes a special place in my heart as an author. Christmas Eve we always went to church. My favorite part of the ceremony was lighting the candles for "Silent Night." (Yes, I still behave like a 5 year old and refuse to blow out my candle until several minutes after everyone else's candle is extinguished. ;)) As a teenager, I went to church with another teenage aspiring author. Every year she'd finish at least one novel. And every Christmas Eve she'd print out a copy of her manuscript on an old inkjet printer and hand it to me. Invariably, I'd stay up to the wee hours of the morning reading her novel.


 Now, over a decade later, my friend has a book in print and I have a literary agent and am working on that elusive first book contract. I'm excited to see where the next ten Christmas Eves will take my friend and my publishing careers. ;)

I currently have two clean historical romance novels and six women's non-fiction proposals written. The book I'm passing around to publishers right now is about world religions. For No Fear: My Tale of Hijabs, Witchcraft Circles, & the Cross, I visited my local mosque, Hindu temples, Wiccan rites and more, and then wrote about what I learned at these places of worship and why I believe Christ is the one and only.

If you like the idea of No Fear and want to know when it comes into print, please visit my Facebook page.

BookGiveaway:
Readers, whether it is traditional hymns or the Chipmunks singing, how important is Christmas music to you? 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. The winner will be announced on November 21st We're looking forward to hearing from you ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤  

Tweet These:
Like #Christmas? Author Interview: Christmas Treasures: A Collection Of Short Stories. #BookGiveaway (Tweet This)


It’s out! It’s out! CHRISTMAS TREASURES: A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES is on Amazon! (Tweet This)


14 comments:

  1. I love Christmas music. To me, Christmas wouldn't be the same without it.
    susanmsj at msn dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susan, thanks so much for visiting and sharing this evening. I always love seeing you here!

      Hard to believe the holidays are around that proverbial corner, but I gotta tell you, working on this Christmas anthology sure has me gearing up for Christmas. May you enjoy the holidays.

      Delete
  2. I love Christmas music. I started listening to my digital station yesterday of soft rock Christmas music. I like to turn it down low and keep it on all day. It cheers me, soothes me, and gets me in the spirit of Christmas and the long holiday season. I always look forward to the Christmas cantata at church, in which I have often participated through the years. My favorite thing to do, concerning Christmas music is to sing the old Christmas carols like Silent Night.
    may_dayzee(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kay, nice to see you! I have to confess that when I walked into the bank this afternoon and heard Elvis belting out a holiday tune, I was a bit frazzled. LOL. But a cantata--yes! Now we're speaking. May you have a lovely holiday.

      Delete
  3. Christmas music - yes, please! Except the singing, Santa-suited gorilla my husband's aunt gave our children one year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A fond hello, Davalynn. Yeesh. I'm not sure whether I could stomach a singing gorilla, Santa-suited or not. LOL. I hope you've used that one in one of your stories!

      Delete
  4. Christmas music is the best music there is. Great post!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Karla, thanks for visiting. I believe that's you I hear singing right now :)

      Delete
  5. At my house, we always listen to Christmas music while decorating and once the radio stations starts playing Christmas music we tune in as much as possible. And every year, on Christmas day we get our Christmas karaoke and sing to it :)
    So I guess we could say that Christmas music is pretty important to me and my family.

    ReplyDelete
  6. oh no I forgot :O
    sbissonnettes_23 at videotron dot ca

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Samantha, thanks for taking the time in this busy holiday season to visit--that means a lot to me. Christmas karaoke--wow! Love that image playing out in my mind right now :)

      Hope to see you again. May your holidays be joyous.

      Delete
  7. I am so excited for you guys. It looks spectacular and I am sure it will do great! Jacqueline

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Jacqueline for both your visit and excitement!!

      If you have a chance, leave another comment with your contact info.

      Delete
  8. What an exciting time… both the printed and e-version of the Christmas Treasures is available for sell on Amazon; I have my own printed copy on my coffee table and my e-book on my iPad; so many have already purchased the collection of uplifting stories and expressed excitement about it; and we have a winner of this week's Giveaway of CHRISTMAS TREASURES…

    Susan!! Congratulations, Susan. Anne, the other featured author in this interview and who is generously sponsoring the Giveaway, will be in contact with you shortly.

    May everyone's holidays be blessed.

    ReplyDelete

Add This