"GOOD TIDINGS & TRIMMINGS" CHRISTMAS INTERVIEW WITH N.M. MARTINEZ

Thank you again for donating a book for our 1st annual "Good Tidings & Trimmings" e-book Giveaway! What book or books did you donate, tell us more about them.

I’m donating Ruin, the first book in a series of interconnected stories and novels about a world that’s in decay. The premise of the world is that humans were once experimented on granting people powers. Eventually the Experiments break free and create their own territory called the Wildlands. This first book centers on the point of view of a girl from the Neutral Territory who is banished to the Wildlands. She must learn to adapt, meanwhile discovering that everything she’s been taught in her life hasn’t exactly been the truth.

What is your favorite thing about the holiday season and what does Christmas mean to you?

Would it be bad to say my favorite thing is all the shiny stuff? Haha, I love sparkly decorations and tinsel and pretty Christmas lights. I love the chill in the air and the stinging feeling of it touching my cheeks and my nose. The season kind of reminds me what it was like to be a child. It’s a wonderful feeling.

What is your favorite holiday memory?

One of my earliest memories is of sitting in the living room staring at the Christmas tree. We used to put it right by the front window. The sunlight would hit it just so at particular times of the day, and the tinsel would light up the room. It was so pretty!

Do you still have any of the toys you got when you were a kid?

Yes, haha. I was recently cleaning up a lot of stuff, but there were some things I couldn’t part with. One of them being the Rainbow Brite doll and Starlight that my oldest sister gave me for Christmas when I was a kid. Man, those two have been through it!

How do you celebrate the holidays?

With family. That’s the best way. When I say family, I don’t mean just blood relations. My close friends are very much like my family too, so I like to have them over a few times to celebrate the holidays. This year, I might have them help us decorate the tree!

Do you still believe in Santa Claus?

Not the fat guy in the red suit, no, but I do believe in the spirit. There are lots of wonderful people out there who do a lot to ensure happy holidays for other people for no reason other than it’s the right thing to do. Those people are the ones who make the holidays.

A lot of people get that warm, fuzzy feeling around this time of year, are you one of those people?

Oh yes! Nothing gets through a cold day better than a warm, fuzzy feeling!

Have you ever gone caroling or wanted to?

I haven’t, though I might have wanted to. I’m not a good singer though.

If you had a choice of the perfect weather for Christmas would it be cold and snowy, or warm and sunny?

I live on the central coast in California, so my perfect weather for Christmas is actually the chilly, slate gray rain we get this time of year. I love sitting by a space heater, sipping cocoa and listening to it pour down.

Give us your links! Tell us where to find your books and more information about you!

My blog:http://loudquietgirl.wordpress.com/
My Twitter:http://twitter.com/loudquietgirl
The Main website:http://www.ruindestruction.com/
The facebook page:http://www.facebook.com/RuinSeries

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"GOOD TIDINGS & TRIMMINGS" CHRISTMAS INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR, M.L. HAMILTON

Thank you again for donating a book for our 1st annual "Good Tidings & Trimmings" e-book Giveaway! What book or books did you donate, tell us more about them.

Thank you for inviting me to participate. I am donating two of my books, the first in my fantasy series, Emerald, and my contemporary fiction novel, Ravensong. Emerald tells the story of Kai, a prince who loses everything he believes in and has to face an uncertain future with a group of allies who have questionable loyalties. Ravensong is about a rock star with a past drug addiction, who falls for a woman, whose past is also complicated.

What is your favorite thing about the holiday season and what does Christmas mean to you?

Like so many people, I love the time with my family. Now that my children are older, I get a kick out of spoiling the pets instead. For me, Christmas is a time to reflect on the past year and look forward to the future.

What is your favorite holiday memory?

When my oldest son was four, I took him to see Santa. He whispered his wish list to Santa, so I couldn’t hear him. Afterward, I asked him what he said, hoping to get some idea of what he wanted for Christmas, but he told me it was a secret between him and Santa. I tried and tried to get this information from him to no avail. On Christmas morning, we opened the presents from Santa, all wrapped in special Santa paper, and he looked crest-fallen. I asked him what was wrong and he told me Santa had forgotten to get him the train he wanted.

I put in a frantic call to my parents, who were on their way to our house, and told them what had happened. They said they would try to find a store that was open and see if they could find a train. I put the special Santa paper by the garage and waited with my sad little boy for Grandma and Grandpa to arrive. When they did, they called my son out of the house and my dad pointed to the roof.

“Look, Kyler,” he said, “Santa must have dropped a present when he landed on the roof.” He pulled the present down and handed it to my very excited little boy. When Kyler tore open the present, low and behold, there was a model train set.
Don’t tell me there’s no Santa Claus.

Do you still have any of the toys you got when you were a kid?

No, I don’t have any of the toys I had as a kid.

How do you celebrate the holidays?

We usually go to my parents’ house for Christmas Eve. Christmas morning is at my house with a huge breakfast. Then I always make Christmas dinner and we spend the night watching movies.

Do you still believe in Santa Claus?

I think Santa Claus lives in all of us. The spirit of Saint Nick is what matters.

A lot of people get that warm, fuzzy feeling around this time of year, are you one of those people?

I like the way people behave this time of year. They seem genial and less self-absorbed.

Have you ever gone caroling or wanted to?

Oh, I think the world would rather I didn’t carol.

If you had a choice of the perfect weather for Christmas would it be cold and snowy, or warm and sunny?

I’m not a fan of snow and I really hate to be cold, but it doesn’t seem right to have it be warm and sunny for Christmas.

Give us your links! Tell us where to find your books and more information about you!

I have two websites. My fantasy novels can be found atwww.worldofsamar.com. They are also available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. My contemporary fiction can be found atwww.authormlhamilton.com.It can also be purchased from the same locations.

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"GOOD TIDINGS & TRIMMINGS" CHRISTMAS INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR, KIRSTEN SAGE STEDMAN

Thank you again for donating a book for our 1st annual "Good Tidings & Trimmings" e-book Giveaway! What book or books did you donate, tell us more about them.

I donated Snowflake Obsidian: Memoir of a Cutter a YA dark comedy that looks at family conflict, first loves, soul mates, depression and self-injury.


What is your favorite thing about the holiday season and what does Christmas mean to you?

Christmas has always been about Christ’s birth for me. I relate Christmas presents to the Three Wise Men who brought gifts to Jesus. I like to think we’re all honoring that beautiful light of love that exists within each of us when we give at Christmas.


What is your favorite holiday memory?


Strangely enough it was the Christmas Eve that had gone to hell. My brothers and I had been rough housing with an inflatable ball and broke the chandelier. Then we decided to play games where we were less likely to destroy the house and settled on board games. One of the light bulbs had gone out in the fixture above the table so we changed the bulb. Within an hour we smelled something burning, saw a spark from the light fixture and the electricity in the house went out. Guess we put in a bulb that was too high a voltage. We had a good laugh about it and still do.

Do you still have any of the toys you got when you were a kid?

No, I’ve passed most of those down to my nephews.

How do you celebrate the holidays?

My girlfriends and I like to get together during December and have a Hideous Sweater Party. We’ve been doing it for years now. My husband and I also have a couple’s party Neck ‘n Nog: Turtle necks and eggnog. Can’t go wrong there! Christmas Eve and Christmas is always spent with family and is pretty low key.

Do you still believe in Santa Claus?

I’m actually a bit of an anomaly because I never believed in Santa Claus, and I actually hate anything Santa. So, no, I’m a definite non-believer.

A lot of people get that warm, fuzzy feeling around this time of year, are you one of those people?

I only get the warm fuzzies when I’m spooning my dog. This time of year for me is about connecting with people I love and that’s always fun and exciting.

Have you ever gone caroling or wanted to?

Yes, my in-laws are big carolers so I’ve been many a time. I can never remember the songs and I sing off key so there’s lots of loud mumbling.

If you had a choice of the perfect weather for Christmas would it be cold and snowy, or warm and sunny?

I love the cold and snow for Christmas. It’s what I’m used to growing up in Utah, but once January hits I’m so over the snow.

Give us your links! Tell us where to find your books and more information about you!

www.SnowflakeObsidianBook.com

My website has it all! Behind the scenes info, book trailers, and a free preview of the first two chapters!

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"GOOD TIDINGS & TRIMMINGS" CHRISTMAS INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR, LYNN HUBBARD

Thank you again for donating a book for our 1st annual "Good Tidings & Trimmings" e-book Giveaway! What book or books did you donate, tell us more about them.

I am donating my book "A Christmas Crossing". 'Tis the season!

What is your favorite thing about the holiday season and what does Christmas mean to you?

I love shopping! I prefer wrapping to bagging. Wraping a pile of presents while listening to Christmas Music and drinking coffee is one of my favorite things to do!

What is your favorite holiday memory?

All holiday memories are precious, especially when loved ones pass on. It is very sad seeing your Christmas list shorten, I often think of My Grandparents my Aunts and Uncles that have passed. It just makes each day more precious.

Do you still have any of the toys you got when you were a kid?

Toys no books YES! I have my entire Trixie Belden collection and then some on my book shelf.

How do you celebrate the holidays?

With family and friends, the more the merrier!

Do you still believe in Santa Claus?

Why of course! I love Santa! As I tell my children, Santa only brings presents to those who believe.

A lot of people get that warm, fuzzy feeling around this time of year, are you one of those people?

Yes! This year more so than most!

Have you ever gone caroling or wanted to?

Yes, I have gone caroling at the local Nursing Home.I'm not the best singer so it's good to have a group!

If you had a choice of the perfect weather for Christmas would it be cold and snowy, or warm and sunny?

I hate snow but I'd be willing to have a bit of snow on Christmas.(As long as it melts the next day!)

Give us your links! Tell us where to find your books and more information about you!

You can find all of my Romance books at:

www.lynnhubbard.com

Thanks and Merry Christmas!


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"GOOD TIDINGS & TRIMMINGS" CHRISTMAS INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR LISA DARLING

Thank you again for donating a book for our 1st annual "Good Tidings & Trimmings" e-book Giveaway! What book or books did you donate, tell us more about them.

Today I want to giveaway one e-book set of my "OF WAR" series. Book #1 "The Heart of War" and Book #2 "Child of War-A God is Born". This series centers around Ares God of War and Alena MacLeod a half-fey half-human woman with whom he falls in love. It's full of romance, erotica, drama, action, adventure, Greek Gods. I should say that this series is not for the faint of heart as it contains several scenes of graphic sex and violence.

What is your favorite thing about the holiday season and what does Christmas mean to you?

I'm Pagan so I celebrate Yule along with Christmas. I'm not a fan of crowds or shopping but I do love setting up the Nativity Set my parents made back in 1955 and adding my own Pagan touches to it. The Nativity Set is showing its years, Balthazar has long been lost, the donkey's missing both ears, the camel's tale is gone, and almost all of the sheep seem to have disappeared. But the "important" elements are still there. Most people wonder why I both with it and why it's so special to me now that I'm no longer a Christian but when I look at it not only do I relive every Christmas I spent with my parents I also see a very Pagan theme in it. It's simply Mother, Father, and Child to me. Yule celebrates the birth of the Sun God so it's only natural the Sun God would be surrounded by his Mother and his Father on the day of his birth, just as Jesus Christ was.

What is your favorite holiday memory?

Picking out the Christmas tree with my parents. The weekend after Thanksgiving we would head out to our favorite tree farm and find the perfect tree. We'd walk around for an hour or more looking for a Blue Spruce. At every one, my Dad would reach up to the top to see if it would fit in the house and then measure the girth with his arms open. Once proclaimed the right height and width it was inspected for bare patches and finally for the three or four upright branches at the very top. If it passed all marks; it was ours. One year, we went to our favorite Christmas Tree Farm only to find it had *burned to the ground*! I so was sooo upset, I cried! It was years before we could go back there and for years we wandered town to town to town all over Connecticut looking for the perfect tree. Skip forward fifteen years; I met the man who would become my husband and, one day he was telling me a 'funny story' of how he and his brother accidentally burned down…my favorite tree farm! He's never lived it down, after 25 years of marriage, I still remind him of that. LOL

Do you still have any of the toys you got when you were a kid?

Toys? No. But I still have plenty of the LPs I received over the years.

How do you celebrate the holidays?

When our girls were little, we would take them out on Christmas Eve and drive all over the area looking at Christmas lights, we'd stop at one special pizza place—the only time we went there all year long—get dinner, drive around and look some more. They loved it. They were always screaming out; "My side!" or "No, look my side!" For us to look out the window at either side of the backseat they were sitting on. We'd drive around for hours like that until they were worn out and go home to let them open up one gift each. Always the same gift; new PJs which they put on right away for pictures in front of the tree (measured height and width as described above, of course) then leave milk & cookies for Santa. Off to bed. We'd wait and wait until they were asleep to drag out the gifts and put some toys together. I always loved seeing their bright shining faces on Christmas morning.

Now that they're older (25 and 20) we don't do that. My parents are gone and so are my husband's. It's just the four of us and my cousin at the holidays. We get up late, take our time opening small gifts—we never spend a lot of money or buy big lavish things—just spend the day together. We have a big dinner and burn the Yule Log sending off all of our wishes for the coming year to the Heavens.

Pretty simple I suppose but we like it.

Do you still believe in Santa Claus?

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies!-- Francis Pharcellus Church, September 21, 1897


A lot of people get that warm, fuzzy feeling around this time of year, are you one of those people?

I used to be and I'm getting to be again. Christmas became very bittersweet for me when my father passed away December 17, 1987 and my mother passed December 9, 1994. They both loved Christmas and went to extremes to do everything 'right' and make it all bright and festive. I don't usually get in the "Christmas Spirit" until the week before or so and for many years I had to force it but, luckily, that's not the case any longer.

Have you ever gone caroling or wanted to?

I think we did it once when I was very little. No, I only sing in the shower, the car, and when making dinner.

If you had a choice of the perfect weather for Christmas would it be cold and snowy, or warm and sunny?

It would be a brilliantly sunny day with a foot of snow on the ground.

Give us your links! Tell us where to find your books and more information about you!

LINKS FOR THE "OF WAR" SERIES

Buy direct from Moon Mistress Publishing-http://www.moonsmusings.comand save on hard covers, paperbacks, and ebooks. Check out the fan gear; mugs, t-shirts, calendars, and more.

RETAILERS:

PAPERBACKS
http://www.amazon.com/Lisa-Beth-Darling/e/B002BMDA9I/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Amazon.com
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/lisa-beth-darling?store=book

Barnes & Noble
http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Child-War....d=5200778515850

Books-a-Million

Through the publisher at 30% off the cover price

E-BOOKS

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/lisadarling
Smashwords

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSea....sa+Beth+Darling
All Romance E-Books

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/lisa-beth-darling
Nook

http://www.amazon.com/Lisa-Beth-Darling/e/B002BMDA9I/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Kindle


Author Links:
Website:http://www.moonsmusings.com/lbdarling
Blog:http://lbdarling.wordpress.com
Facebook:http://facebook.com/lbdarling

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Book Title:"The Thirteen Hallows"
Author:Michael Scott & Colette Freedman
Published By:Tor Forge
Age Recommended:18 +
Reviewed By:Kitty Bullard
Raven Rating:5

Review:This book completely knocked me for a loop. By far one of the best modern fantasy books for adults I have ever read. The story revolves around the Keepers of the Thirteen Hallows, all of which are elderly having guarded these Hallows for generations after they were passed down from son to son and daughter to daughter, and so on. The Hallows are the most prized possessions of Great Britain and have seen much history in various fashion. They are potent and if brought together could cause untold damage to the world. There is just enough history mixed in with the modern world in this book to keep you interested in finding out exactly how these Hallows were used and how they came to be. The background of these objects is astounding and are linked to some of history's most notable people and you'll never believe just how far back the history of the Hallows goes.

This book may sound like something a child could read, but do NOT be fooled. This book is for adults and has scenes in it that should not be read by the faint of heart. The adventure to keep these Hallows safe and not allow them to fall into the wrong hands is one you will not soon forget. Murder is the hub of this novel and it's not what you'd expect at all.

If this book is destined to become a series, I'm in all the way. The collaboration of Michael Scott and Colette Freedman is astonishing and amazing, nothing short of perfection. Get this book! You will not regret it and if you enjoy it even half as much as I did you'll be clamoring for more!

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"GOOD TIDINGS & TRIMMINGS" CHRISTMAS INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR, HAZEL OSMOND

Thank you again for donating a book for our 1st annual "Good Tidings & Trimmings" e-book Giveaway! What book or books did you donate, tell us more about them.

My pleasure. I’ve donated two books…. The first is ‘Who’s Afraid of Mr Wolfe?’ Published by Quercus in April this year, it’s my first novel. I wanted to write a chick-lit that had all the traditional elements – woman who’s lost her way, sexy Alpha male, gay best friend, dash to the airport – but give it all a bit of a shake-up. In real life I tend to see the funny and ridiculous side of things, so there’s lots of humour.

The other book is a collection of short stories ‘The Booklovers’ Appreciation Society’. It was an anthology put together to raise funds for Breast Cancer Care and it features lots of authors – Sophie Kinsella, Maeve Binchy, Philippa Gregory, etc… and me. Short stories are another of my writing passions and the story I have in this book won me the 2008 Woman & Home short story contest sponsored by Costa.


What is your favorite thing about the holiday season and what does Christmas mean to you?

My husband travels a lot with work during the year, but he always has about two weeks off over Christmas and it’s lovely for us as a family to kick-back and catch up with each other. That for me is Christmas, really, getting back in touch with all those people and things that are important, and making sure you think of others less fortunate – anything else is just icing on the Christmas cake.

What is your favorite holiday memory?

I think I must have been about four or five – I remember reaching out to touch the stocking at the end of the bed and feeling the parcels inside it and hearing the paper on them crinkling and feeling such elation and excitement. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to recapture that feeling just for a few seconds when you’re an adult… a mix of wonder and magic?


Do you still have any of the toys you got when you were a kid?

A fairy dress, wand and crown my Mum and Dad made me. I remember wearing it and feeling soooooo beautiful. The wand and crown didn’t survive, but the dress is in a box in the loft, a little tarnished and faded but still magical.

How do you celebrate the holidays?

I suppose in a traditional way – try to go to some kind of carol service on Christmas Eve then have friends round afterwards for drinks; put out mince pies, carrot and sherry for Father Christmas; stockings for the girls and then up early on Christmas morning for present opening before turkey or Beef Wellington for Christmas Lunch. We do the whole charades, board games thing too … and the rubbish TV programmes.

Do you still believe in Santa Claus?

I’m going to say ‘yes’… don’t know who might be reading this and I don’t want to end up on his ‘naughty’ list.

A lot of people get that warm, fuzzy feeling around this time of year, are you one of those people?

Not always… sometimes it can feel a really stressful time… I remember battling my way round the supermarket with the other grim faced shoppers and then looking down at my supermarket trolley and seeing I’d put in about four different flavoured butters and creams for the Christmas pudding and thinking perhaps things had gone a bit too far.

Now I try and keep to the ‘good enough is good enough’ rule and I don’t start too early so that I’m fed up with Christmas before it even gets here. Warm, fuzzy feeling for me starts on Christmas Eve when, glass of sherry poured, I peel the sprouts in the kitchen with the candles lit and the carols on the radio. Yup, weird really, I don’t even like sprouts much.

Have you ever gone caroling or wanted to?

Yes, I used to go when I was at school and this year the drama group I belong to is staging ‘Christmas Carol’ so I get to sing my heart out on stage with a snow machine. How cool is that?

If you had a choice of the perfect weather for Christmas would it be cold and snowy, or warm and sunny?

Has to be ‘deep and crisp and even’…. the last two Christmases have been cold here and last year there was a bit of snow lying around. I suppose going somewhere hot for Christmas would be ok, but I dislike it when it’s a warmish day in the UK… I feel cheated somehow.

Give us your links! Tell us where to find your books and more information about you!

www.hazelosmond.co.uk
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss....olfe&x=1 7&y=21

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"GOOD TIDINGS & TRIMMINGS" CHRISTMAS INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR KATHERINE HOLMES

Thank you again for donating a book for our 1st annual "Good Tidings & Trimmings" e-book Giveaway! What book or books did you donate, tell us more about them.

The House in Windward Leaves begins Halloween night but the fantasy world is one of harvest and the children there have the gift of becoming their costumes. After the first chapters, it’s a book for any time of the year while the kids adventure in their costume identities.

Do you still have any of the toys you got when you were a kid?

The only toys that remained for me from childhood were books. Yet many disappeared over the years. As a used book dealer, I love to find the books from childhood, especially vintage editions of Grimm, Hans Brinker, Black Beauty, Pooh, Dr. Dolittle, and other memorable but less classic stories. I find a lost book and have it for someone who misses it.

How do you celebrate the holidays?

One of my favorite activities at Christmas time is touring the front yard decorations in town. From childhood, this was a magical drive, usually done after a fresh snowfall, and to this day, it’s delightful to see the lights and the yard ornaments. Here in Duluth, they have a competition for the best front yard display and there are dazzling sights!


Links for The House of Windward Leaves:
Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/House-Windward-Lea....12044995&sr=1-1
Nook:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-hous....lmes/1104118515
Smashwords:http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/74942

I began to write children’s novels after winning The Loft’s Children’s Literature Prize. In 2010, my historical novel The Swan Bonnet reached the HarperCollins Editor’s Desk at Authonomy.com. This year, I’ve won the Prize Americana for Fiction for a short story collection. I live in Duluth, Minnesota.

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"GOOD TIDINGS & TRIMMINGS" CHRISTMAS INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR,
KATHLEEN S. ALLEN

Thank you again for donating a book for our 1st annual "Good Tidings & Trimmings" e-book Giveaway! What book or books did you donate, tell us more about them.

I am donatingFITZROY: THE BOY WHO WOULD BE KING, it’s a young adult historical fiction about the early life of Henry Fitzroy, the illegitimate son of Henry VIII who was supposed to be his heir. Fitzroy or Richmond as his father called him, came to court at the age of six when he was given titles including the Duke of Richmond. I have him being a lonely, sickly boy missing his mother, and wanting the attention of his father. Due to the sweating sickness in London he is sent to Yorkshire to live until he is nearly thirteen. It is there he develops a cough that plagues him constantly. At court he meets and falls in love with his father’s mistress, Anne Boleyn. He makes friends with a court musician, Mark Smeaton, who later is accused of adultery with Anne. As Fitzroy sees his world falling apart, he retreats further and further into himself. He does not want to be king but his father insists he will be the heir.

Not much is known of the early life of Henry Fitzroy and that’s why I wrote it. I included historical facts whenever I could but the love he feels for Anne Boleyn is fictionalized.

The other books I am donating are Aine and Faerie Folk: Aine 2. I am in the process of putting both books on Amazon into one volume and if I get it up in time, I’ll send it to the winner. It’s calledTHE FAERIE CHRONICLES. Aine is about a girl who finds out she’s a faerie on her 16th birthday. And she’s not just any faerie, she’s a banshee. When her mother disappears she finds out that not only is her mother the Queen of All Faeries, but that she is a princess! All Aine wants to do is find her mother and pass tenth grade but a dark faerie named Grianne has other plans for her.

What is your favorite thing about the holiday season and what does Christmas mean to you?

I don’t celebrate Christmas but I do celebrate Yule. The holiday to me means getting together with family and friends and making good food to enjoy! I always make a cheese ball every year and only for the holidays so family look forward to it. Another tradition is to have sparkling cranberry juice to toast to our good fortune.

What is your favorite holiday memory?

The year I had my twin daughters born right before the holiday season. Another favourite memory is the year when I was eight and got a pair of ice skates. I was so excited to try them out. I thought I’d put them on and skate away. Yeah. I fell every time I tried to skate. Every time. Finally my mom wrapped my ankles to keep them stronger and I was able to skate. I got quite good at it but I could never figure out how to skate backwards. I gave up skating when I outgrew the skates.

Do you still have any of the toys you got when you were a kid?

Yes, I have several stuffed animals that I gave to my girls.

How do you celebrate the holidays?

Good food, family, watching movies.

Do you still believe in Santa Claus?

Who? Just kidding. No, I don’t. I wish there was a guy who came to my house and left me presents.

A lot of people get that warm, fuzzy feeling around this time of year, are you one of those people?

No, I am more of a “bah humbug” type. I hate the commercialism of Christmas and all the tug-at-your-heart-strings jewelry/toy commercials. Every year I threaten to turn off the TV until January but it never flies!

Have you ever gone caroling or wanted to?

Yes, I’ve gone in the past when my daughters were younger. A whole group of us went around the neighbourhood. It was fun.

If you had a choice of the perfect weather for Christmas would it be cold and snowy, or warm and sunny?

Cold, no snow. Warming up right after. But I live in Michigan so there’s no hope of that. Although sometimes we do only have cold and no snow but once the snow starts we are “blessed” with it until late March, sometimes into April.

Give us your links! Tell us where to find your books and more information about you!

I have ten novels to date. I have a YA fantasy about faeries calledLORE OF FEIcoming out in April, 2012 from Muse It Up Publishing. Faeries vs. humans, who will win?

Find Kathleen on Twitter:@kathleea
Website:www.gaelicfairie.webs.com
FB:Witch Hunterhttps://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Witch-Hunter/142372955812353
Guest blogger every Wednesday onwww.downtownya.blogspot.com

Covers:

THE FAERIE CHRONICLES: AINEand the sequel,FAERIE FOLKin one volume!



Soon to be available on Kindle!


Aine is a faerie. A banshee. When her mother disappears she finds out her mother is the Queen of All Faeries and that makes Aine the princess. All Aine wants to do is find her mother and pass tenth grade. However, a dark faerie named Grianne has other plans for Aine.

AINE book trailer:http://animoto.com/play/nm1YIUG3sgUBTBv5rEIn1w
FAERIE FOLK book trailer:http://animoto.com/play/SDOwGfK0V17Nqi1xNGslAg
Buy them here:
AINE:http://www.amazon.com/Aine-Volume-1-eboo....14027104&sr=8-4
FAERIE FOLK:http://www.amazon.com/Faerie-Folk-ebook/....4027387&sr=8-19

FITZROY: THE BOY WHO WOULD BE KING



The life and tragic death of the illegitimate son of Henry VIII of England.

Book Trailer:http://animoto.com/play/axS9ZYCkWed5q053scL2RA
Buy Here:http://www.amazon.com/Fitzroy-Boy-Would-....4027448&sr=8-22

Read more:http://www.greatmindsthinkaloud.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=interviews&thread=915&page=1#ixzz1gYyeBGQI

"GOOD TIDINGS & TRIMMINGS" CHRISTMAS INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR, KEISHA KEENLEYSIDE

Thank you again for donating a book for our 1st annual "Good Tidings & Trimmings" e-book Giveaway! What book or books did you donate, tell us more about them.

I donated the Memoirs of a Fighting Dog which is an animal biography that shows how horrible life as a fighting dog can be. I wrote it to inform others of the sub culture and try get people to understand it's unfair to the dogs. I intend to send any profits made from the short story to animal charities.

What is your favorite thing about the holiday season and what does Christmas mean to you?

Bah humbug! Nah... I actually enjoy Christmas eve the most because you feel all giddy and excited and when I was a child the stocking was always the most exciting thing to wake your parents up at 5am with. Now im older I realised that Christmas is a time to get drunk and be merry with the family. And it's not Christmas if you don't watch the Muppet Christmas Carol on Christmas eve while eating a take out with your family!

What is your favorite holiday memory?

When I was little my mum got me this dolls pram for Christmas and my brother climbed in it, he told me to push him down the stairs so I did and my brother had hit his head off the wall. I stood laughing at the top of the stairs but my mum went mad worrying more about the pram than my brothers bang to the head. It was funny, luckily for me and my brother the pram was unharmed.

Do you still have any of the toys you got when you were a kid?

Yeah my teddy I got when I just turned three. He has lost his fluffiness but I still love him

How do you celebrate the holidays?

This year, because im in New Zealand with my mum I think we are going camping somewhere so that should be awesome.

Do you still believe in Santa Claus?

Of course I do, what would Christmas be without the jolly fat man?

A lot of people get that warm, fuzzy feeling around this time of year, are you one of those people?

No if I did it would probably be sun burn from reading out in the sun to long.

Have you ever gone caroling or wanted to?

Never ever, I left Rudolph a carrot and Santa a glass of rum and a cookie though if that makes up for it.


If you had a choice of the perfect weather for Christmas would it be cold and snowy, or warm and sunny?

Definitely cold and snowy, but only from Christmas eve till new year. After that bring me sunshine!Sunny Christmas is weird I found that out the last time I was here in New Zealand for Christmas.

Give us your links! Tell us where to find your books and more information about you!

You can find the book on Amazon orhttp://www.lulu.com/spotlight/kobrakaithere you will find more info about me and the other books I've done. I have a fan page that is mostly dedicated to updates and offers on my novels but will also help push other novels and new authors forward too just go tohttp://www.facebook.com/memoirs.and.demonsand like the page.

Read more:http://www.greatmindsthinkaloud.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=interviews&thread=914#ixzz1gYSMU2uh