Festive Fun with... Anne Williams

This morning it's my pleasure to welcome blogger Anne Williams to the blog for the latest Festive Fun with... feature. 

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’ve been blogging about books at Being Anne for almost nine years now - and have over 11,000 followers (which always rather amazes me!). Originally from a village near Bangor in North Wales, I now live in Wetherby in West Yorkshire, and took early retirement seven years ago to do everything I enjoy – including reading and reviewing as many books as I possibly can, and indulging myself with exotic holidays. Life did change rather a few years ago, when I became carer for my mother: the travel had to stop for a while, but nothing can come between me and the reading. My blog won the Best Pal award at the Annual Bloggers’ Bash for three years running, and I was over the moon to win the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Media Star of the Year award in 2019. 

What are you most looking forward to this Christmas?
Last Christmas was a particularly difficult one - I’d lost my mum in July, and as it drew closer I was dreading it a little. Also, I really wasn’t very well. So this Christmas, I’m very much looking forward to enjoying it again. I’ll be spending it on my own (not “alone” - that always sounds so sad and miserable!), my lounge decorated like a Christmas grotto - I’ll open the presents I’m giving myself, cook myself a spectacular traditional dinner, and watch back-to-back Christmas movies on Netflix. Perfect!

If you could choose one person, dead or alive, to celebrate a one time special Christmas with, who would you choose and why?
It really has to be my mum, doesn’t it? 

What is your favourite festive book of all-time?
I absolutely love my Christmas reading - these days, I tend to start in August! - but it’s so very difficult to choose a favourite. I think my all-time favourite might just (by a whisker) be Notting Hill in the Snow by Jules Wake - it’s the loveliest story, full of laughter and tears, just oozes everything Christmas, overflows with love, and I adored every wonderful moment. 

If you could spend Christmas with any fictional character, who would you choose and why?
Not a who, but a where - I’d like to spend it in Sue Moorcroft’s village of Middledip, and I’m sure I’d have a warm welcome. Sue writes the most wonderful Christmas books (although I equally love her summer ones) - if you’d like to try one, I’d thoroughly recommend Christmas Wishes, A Christmas Gift, or this year’s book Under the Mistletoe.

Do you have a favourite Christmassy cover?
Because I usually read on my kindle, I’m not always very aware of covers - but I do love the Christmassy ones! They need lots of snow, romance, maybe a bit of glitter… I think one of my favourites might be the cover of Christmas at Frozen Falls by Kiley Dunbar (and it’s a lovely read too). 

What 3 books would you love Santa to have in his sack for you?
I’ve already bought all this year’s Christmas reads - I have a list of 15 that I’m really looking forward to devouring, from many of my favourite authors but a few new ones too. So I’m ok if Santa passes me by this year!

What is your favourite Christmas song?
I will confess to a soft spot for anything by Michael Buble - but I think my all time favourite song is O Holy Night. Both Mariah Carey and Josh Groban have done lovely versions, but the one by Il Divo gives me the shivers. But for something more jolly, you really can’t beat Wizzard’s I Wish it could be Christmas every day, can you?

Quick-fire questions

Roses or Quality Street? Either (or both) - but not this year, if I’m going to keep the weight off
Mince pies/Christmas cake or Yule log? Definitely mince pies…
Turkey or ham? Turkey - tasty and traditional
Brussel sprouts or roast parsnips? Sprouts - love them, and eat them all year round 
Gravy or cranberry sauce? Both!
Fake or real Christmas tree? Fake - can’t do with all those dropping needles
White or coloured lights? Coloured - my tree’s a throwback to the 70s
Giving or receiving presents? Both!