And now it's time for the final festive feature for 2021 and it's my pleasure to welcome Annette Hannah back to the blog.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Hi, I’m originally from Liverpool but moved to Hertfordshire in the 80’s but as you know Sharon I kept my accent even after all these years. I have three grown up children and a husband and a cheeky cocker spaniel called Toby. I’m an author of three published books, Wedding Bells at the Signal Box Café, The Cosy Little Cupcake Van and Poppy’s Christmas Wishes which has only just come out.
What are you most looking forward to this Christmas?
I’m mostly looking forward to having all my family under one roof as two of them live quite far away from home.
Do you have any favourite family Christmas traditions?
My grown-up children still bring their present sacks into our room and open them on our bed which is a tradition I got from my mum and I love that they indulge me in this
What is your best Christmas memory? The Christmas before last we went to visit my Uncle and Auntie in Australia and were able to walk along the beach in the glorious sunshine on Christmas morning and we had an amazing dinner with their family and friends.
Describe your ideal Christmas
Well after we’ve opened the sack presents we then go downstairs where the main presents are and the children usually give us and each other presents from them. Then we have cinnamon rolls straight from the oven for breakfast. We then go for a Christmas walk and when we get back we have our starter of prawn cocktail for lunch as we find it too much to eat it all at once. We usually spend a couple of hours with our new gifts then we pull our crackers and have our turkey dinner with all the trimmings. We then usually settle down with a film and then open other presents from under the tree usually from friends and neighbours.
If you could choose one person, dead or alive, to celebrate a one time special Christmas with, who would you choose and why?
That would have to be my beloved mum who was taken from us very suddenly ten years ago. We were very close and spoke almost every day, she was not only mine but also my children’s best friend too. She was taken far too soon and has missed out on so much, although I do like to think she is always with us and guiding the way.
What is your favourite festive book of all-time?
I don’t know if I have a favourite festive book of all time as I’ve enjoyed so many of my friends’ Christmas books but one that I remember having an effect on me was The Christmas Cookie Club by Ann Pearlman. It was about a group of women who meet every year in December with a bag of Christmas cookies for each of them and one each for charity. Each woman had a different recipe which was included in the book and it just fascinated me. I read it a good few years ago and it inspired me to have a couple of friends round to make Christmas cookies in the shape of Christmas trees, this became an annual tradition and included my daughter who loved it. We call it our Angel Bakeathon.
What Christmas book would you like to see turned into a film?
If I’m being totally honest, I would have to say Poppy’s Christmas Wishes as when I write I see it playing out in my mind like a film so I think it would be fascinating to see it on the screen, especially as it’s quite theatrical. But if I wasn’t allowed my own then I think Underneath the Christmas Tree by the fabulous Heidi Swain as I’ve not long read that one and loved it. It was just so wonderfully Christmassy.
If you could spend Christmas with any fictional character, who would you choose and why?
It would have to be the Gilmore Girls so that I could step into the wonderful Christmassy world of Stars Hollow. My daughter and I watched the Gilmore Girls together before she left for Uni and then when she left for Uni we would watch it together over Facetime. It just gives me a warm comforting glow thinking about our time together even though we were physically apart.
Do you have a favourite Christmassy cover?
I have to say Poppy’s Christmas Wishes as I think it’s the most beautiful cover I’ve ever seen and I’ve been so lucky with Orion Dash as I’ve been thrilled with all my covers. But if I’m not allowed my own then I did fall in love with Sarah Morgan’s A Christmas Escape which I saw in Asda a few weeks ago.
Do you have any Christmas book traditions?
Apart from devouring as many as possible in the lead up to Christmas, no. Although I do have plans for writing more Christmas books so that could be a new tradition.
What 3 books would you love Santa to have in his sack for you?
I always used to get a Jackie Collins book for Christmas which I obviously can’t get any more so I would say any book by Milly Johnson, Dorothy Koomson and Heidi Swain as I’ve loved every one of theirs.
What is your favourite Christmas song?
It has to be All I want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey
What is your favourite Christmas film?
Oooh that’s a hard one because I love them all and will shortly start watching them again but I really did love Last Christmas as I think Emilia Clarke is fabulous and I fell totally in love with Henry Golding.
And finally, what are your hopes for 2022?
I hope the world can get back to some sort of normality and I would like to hope that my writing can continue to improve and develop as I have a lot more books to write.
Quick-fire questions
Roses or Quality Street? Roses as there are too many toffees in quality street
Mince pies/Christmas cake or Yule log? Definitely Yule log for this chocoholic
Turkey or ham? Turkey
Brussel sprouts or roast parsnips? Ooh I’ll go with the brussels just incase the parsnips aren’t cooked enough as they can be tough
Gravy or cranberry sauce? Gravy with cranberry sauce in it?
Fake or real Christmas tree? Fake as long as it’s realistic
White or coloured lights? White for all year round and coloured for Christmas
Giving or receiving presents? Giving
Thank you so much Sharon for having me on your lovely blog again and I hope you have a very Merry Christmas.
Annette x x
Website: www.annettehannah.com
Blog: www.sincerelybookangels.blogspot.com
Twitter: @annettehannah
Facebook: Annette Hannah Author
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