Festive Fun with... Annette Hannah

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.

Festive Fun with... Lauren Emily Whalen

It's the penultimate day and it's my pleasure to welcome Lauren Emily Whalen back to the blog for today's Festive Fun with... feature.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
My name is Lauren Emily Whalen, and I write a little bit of everything! Right now I’m concentration on queer YA reimaginings of Shakespeare plays. My third book TWO WINTERS (inspired by The Winter’s Tale) was released on September 14 by Bold Strokes Books and is now available in print and digital wherever you buy books! I also have a female-driven Julius Caesar reimagining, TAKE HER DOWN, out on March 15, 2022 (the Ides of March!) and it’s available for preorder now.

What are you most looking forward to this Christmas?
I really love hanging out with my family, but this particular Christmas I’m looking forward to seeing live Christmas shows again! I live in Chicago, and there are amazing professional productions of A Christmas Carol and The Nutcracker each year. I’m so happy they are back this year!

Festive Fun with... Karola Gajda

I can't believe how fast this month has flown by and that there's only a few more Festive Fun with... posts to go. Today it's my pleasure to welcome Karola Gajda to the blog.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m a comedy writer and performer. Making people laugh is what I love most. I live in Birmingham but am from Yorkshire and have Polish roots. I’m married and have a dog. I have a novel out, Are My Roots Showing? set in Warsaw, but to be honest, I’m more of a script writer and performer than a novelist. I wanted to get my (serious) family history out within a (funny) storyline.

What are you most looking forward to this Christmas?
Dressing up my dog Pluto in his Santa outfit and eating nice food. I also enjoy going to church on Christmas Day as for me that’s what it’s all about.

Do you have any favourite family Christmas traditions? 
My parents were Polish, so I remember Christmas Eve going out to look for the first star, then we’d have our Christmas meal. Also we’d open our Christmas presents then, not on Christmas Day!

What is your best Christmas memory?
Dropping the turkey on the kitchen floor at mum’s and quickly shovelling back onto the tray - it was so funny! No one knew about until much later!

Festive Fun with... Jason Cobley

Next up it's my pleasure to welcome author Jason Cobley for this latest Festive Fun with... feature.  

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I live in Warwickshire with my wife, daughter, two rabbits, dog, and a huge mortgage. I’ve been a teacher since I left university many moons ago and I’m currently the Head Teacher of a school in an SEMH hospital. ‘A Hundred Years to Arras’ is my first proper novel, published by Unbound.

What are you most looking forward to this Christmas?
I always say a smile and a mince pie. That’s all I want – for the family to be happy, for my wife to get the tree she wants again and to be able to get it in and out of the house without shedding too many needles. It bungs up the hoover and gets in the dog’s paws.

Do you have any favourite family Christmas traditions? 
Getting up before it’s light, sitting on the sofa taking turns to unwrap presents, then tripping over all the tat for the rest of the day whilst nobody bothers to pick it up or put it away; running out of bin bags to shove the piles of wrapping paper into; eating a massive dinner at lunchtime; lamenting the fact that Dr Who isn’t on Christmas Day anymore.

Festive Fun with... Lisa Hofmann

It's the final week of these Festive Fun with... features and today it's my pleasure to welcome author Lisa Hofmann into the hotseat.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Hi! I’m Lisa, and I live in Germany with my family, my cats, and an absurd number of ancient pet hens. When I’m not working in my day job as a primary school teacher, I write medieval fantasy for adults (English language). For some reason, this baffles most people who know me. I have to assume I rather give the impression I should be writing children’s books. Or horror. Also, I probably qualify for the title “Crazy Cat Lady” because when I call, “here kitty, kitty, kitty”, they all herekittykittykitty.

What are you most looking forward to this Christmas? 
Just spending a few quiet days at home with my family, good food, and a few board games and books. I am SO boring that way. I don’t know why anyone puts up with me.

Do you have any favourite family Christmas traditions? 
Lots! Generally, in normal years, we like going to the local Christmas Markets at the weekends, but they were cancelled last year, and it might not be such a good idea this year either, unfortunately. But we love baking biscuits, and we often start early, right around the time we begin decorating the house in November. We always set up a nice Advent wreath in the living room, and light one candle each Sunday in December. The Christmas tree only goes up a few days before Christmas, though. Also, we actually still enjoy singing Christmas carols, even though my kids are all teenagers now. Friends tell me this is a bit unusual, given their age, and the fact that we live in the age of Spotify and internet gaming. But I have to admit that two out of three of my children very obviously come after me. They’re history geeks, they play instruments, read huge books, drink cocoa, and they know things. The youngest doesn’t like history, but she’ll still sing Christmas carols with us. Peer pressure, I suppose. On Christmas Eve, we all go to Mass.

Festive Fun with... Pam Lecky

Next up into the Festive Fun with... spotlight it's my pleasure to welcome Pam Lecky to the blog. 

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m an Irish historical fiction author who is somewhat obsessed with the past. This most likely stems from a lifetime of consuming historical fiction (crime, mystery and romance), and crime novels from the likes of Dorothy L Sayers, PD James and Agatha Christie. I’m married with three children and live in a small town north of Dublin city.  

My father was a ferocious reader and a lover of history; something he passed on to me at any early age. A special gift from him when I was about 12, the complete works of Jane Austen, firmly set my sights on the 19th  century. My love of reading grew to encompass many genres and I read my way through classics, historical fiction and crime (both modern and set in the past). But I found myself always returning to the 19th  century as I was fascinated by the speed of social and political change, the fashion, architecture and the way people behaved. But in the end, it was another author who inspired me to put pen to paper: a historical mystery with a disappointing ending sparked the mad idea of actually writing my own. Now, my writing world has expanded to encompass WW2 – a nice challenge for me and an enjoyable one to boot.

My first novel,  The Bowes Inheritance, was published in 2015 when I was 50 and I carry that as a badge of honour for I do not believe I could have written it as well at a younger age. Life experience has to colour your writing and I hope my work is the richer for it. Of course, what I didn’t realise is that writing can become addictive. Bowes did very well, being longlisted by the Historical Novel Society and shortlisted for the Carousel Aware Prize. That success gave me the confidence to keep writing and so here I am six years later, earning my living as a fulltime writer. 

My writing career took a great leap forward when I signed with the Hardman & Swainson Literary Agency in London in 2018. And it was through my agent that I signed a two-book deal with  Avon Books UK/Harper Collins at the end of 2020.  However, I will continue to be a hybrid author, with my popular Lucy Lawrence Mysteries (Victorian mysteries) being independently published and the third book in the series, The Art of Deception due for release in December.

Festive Fun with... Jordan Bell

Time for the next Festive Fun with... feature and it's my pleasure to welcome Jordan Bell back to the blog. 

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
My name is Jordan Bell, I live in Adelaide, Australia, with my husband and daughter. I work with university students as my day job, but writing about science for children is my vocation! I took up cross-stitching during the pandemic and it remains a really relaxing hobby for me. I’m currently wearing a moonboot to recover from a fractured 4th metatarsal in my left foot, which has slowed down my other main hobby, listening to podcasts while I go walking in the horse paddocks near my home, considerably!

What are you most looking forward to this Christmas?
Seeing some family members who I haven’t been able to catch up with for two years because of COVID restrictions. 

Do you have any favourite family Christmas traditions? 
We give my daughter a new pair of pyjamas on Christmas Eve and then we all watch a Christmas movie together. “Arthur Christmas” is one of our favorites. 

What is your best Christmas memory?
Singing Christmas carols with my mum’s extended family – we all love to sing and it’s a special time.

Festive Fun with... Camilla Downs

Today it's my pleasure to welcome Camilla Downs back to the blog for the latest Festive Fun with... feature. 

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m mom to two beautiful people, 20 year old Lillian, and 16 year old Thomas. We live in the high desert of Northern Nevada, USA, next door to Northern California, and about 20 minutes from gorgeous Lake Tahoe.

I love going for walks, taking nature photographs, reading, and going for swims and soaks in our community’s year round pool and jacuzzi. I’m a Shared Living Provider for my special needs daughter, and volunteer 18p- Coordinator for The Chromosome 18 Registry & Research Society. 

My son and I are fans of the Star Wars and Marvel movies and series. We have movie night at least once a week, using a projector, and projecting onto our living room wall. It’s like being in a theater in the comfort of our own home. Lillian enjoys taking nature photographs with me when we’re out for walks. We have many memories of walks, with hundreds of nature photographs. 

Describe your ideal Christmas.
My kids and I would spend Christmas week in a cozy cottage in the forest. I would wake to find a steady flow of plump snowflakes falling, the ground covered in a sparkling, thick layer of snow. While the kids are still sleeping, I sit in front of the fire, with a view of the trees, my hands wrapped around a mug of hot coffee, made from freshly ground beans. I spend time reading while taking in the beauty of the moment. 

Later in the day, after gifts have been exchanged, we bundle ourselves, going for a breathtaking walk amongst the snow covered trees. When we return we unbundle, slip into bathing suits, and have a soak in the warm, relaxing jacuzzi. We end the day by watching a favorite movie before drifting into a peaceful, restful sleep.

Festive Fun with... LM Milford

It's my pleasure to welcome author LM Milford back to the blog to take part in today's Festive Fun with... feature.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
By day I work in communications but by night/weekends, I’m a crime writer. So far I have two novels out there – A Deadly Rejection and A Deadly Truth - and a novella just published last month (November) called A Killer Christmas, all part of the Allensbury Mysteries series. I’m a big fan of steak, red wine and cheese and all three together is just heaven. I live in Kent with my incredibly patient husband, who is also the tea boy.

What are you most looking forward to this Christmas?
Seeing my family. Last year we were locked down and so we couldn’t visit mine or my husband’s family. While it was lovely to spend the time together, we both really missed our family. Watching Die Hard and eating too many mince pies are also on my wish list.

Do you have any favourite family Christmas traditions?
We go to my sister’s house for Christmas dinner. She doesn’t do turkey, which is a nice change, but it does mean a second dinner is required on Boxing Day. I’ll also be making the mince pies, which I do every year, and preparing a cheese board. I also have a few personal traditions – I’ll always make time for The Muppets’ Christmas Carol because it’s just fantastic.

Festive Fun with... Jackie Baldwin

Today it's my pleasure to welcome author Jackie Baldwin back to the blog for another festive feature. 

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Hi there, I’m a Scottish crime writer who lives in a rural town in East Lothian. 

What are you most looking forward to this Christmas?
Seeing my family on Christmas morning followed by a long walk through the woods and along the beach.

Do you have any favourite family Christmas traditions?
These have changed over the years as my kids are now grown but when they were younger they had a stocking each which they used to open together on the couch before we got up. Then we’d all have breakfast and hand round the presents including those for the pets who would be hyper by then. We’d walk the dogs, have lunch and then play a Board game, usually Cluedo or Monopoly before settling down to watch a film. I now have a two year old grandson living locally so looking forward to seeing the shape of Christmas Days to come. 

Festive Fun with... Sarah

Today it's my pleasure to welcome regular blog follower Sarah to the blog for the next Festive Fun with... feature. 

Tell us a little bit about yourself. 
I am 48, I grew up in Nantwich but have lived in Crewe, Cheshire since '93.

I always wanted to be an Air Hostess but I wasn't tall enough so I became a Hairdresser instead.

My children are grown up and they keep me going, along with my precious 6 Grandchildren. And not forgetting my furbaby girl, Angel.

I have always enjoyed books and it grew from when my Nanna and Great-Aunty bought them for me, weekly, and they always read to me.

I love anything Paranormal and love hearing peoples experiences even though I haven't experienced anything myself!

What are you most looking forward to this Christmas? 
I am looking forward to (hopefully) seeing my family. Family time is so precious, making new memories, and my grandchildren give me so much joy. 

Also, reading and watching some Christmas Films. I do prefer the older films to cartoon types.

I always used to watch and LOVE 'Digby The Biggest Dog in the world', with Jim Dale and Spike Milligan. Watching that every year made my Christmas complete.

Festive Fun with... Judy Stanigar

Today it's my pleasure to welcome author Judy Stanigar to the blog for the latest Festive Fun with... feature.   

Tell us a little bit about yourself. 
I was born and raised in Israel and in my teens, we moved to the U.S. Having lived through the trials and tribulations of being a foreigner in a new land, I survived teenagerhood and eventually grew up and became a psychotherapist. And now with the publication of my novel Marika’s Best Laid Plan, I’m an author (yay). That this should happen now, in my ‘mature’ years, is a miracle in itself, at least to me. Exciting times. I’m a bit of a gypsy, having lived in many states, but finally settled in the land where the sun shines almost endlessly, San Diego, CA. Love all that beautiful weather, but we need rain, desperately.

Do you have any favourite family Christmas traditions? 
As an Israeli, I grew up without ever knowing anything about Christmas. And the irony of it is that I grew up in a land that gave birth to the story of Christmas. When I was around 10 my aunt gave me Little Women for a Hannukah present, and that’s when I learned about Christmas: “Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents.”  What a lovely holiday I thought, all those presents. As a young newlywed we lived in New York City and my favorite tradition was on Christmas Eve. We’d first go to see all the store front decorations at Macy’s, Sake’s Fifth Ave, Neiman Marcus, then off to see The Nutcracker at the NY City Ballet. We ended the evening with dinner at the Russian Tea Room. Perfect. 

If you could choose one person, dead or alive, to celebrate a one time special Christmas with, who would you choose and why? 
If I could spend a one-time special Christmas, I think if would be with those Little Women. Yes, I know they’re only a figment of the author’s imagination, but that’s why it would be perfect. A beautiful, loving family, celebrating Christmas before it became so commercial. Anyway, it’s a fantasy question and that’s my fantasy answer. And yes, to meet Marmee, what could be more perfect? Or perhaps a Christmas with the Bloomsbury group? But I think I see a theme here.

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? 

Festive Fun with... Lia Ginno

Today it's my pleasure to welcome author Lia Ginno to the blog for the latest Festive Fun with... feature.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. 
I am a retired child development lecturer who lives with my husband in sunny Spain in the winter and UK in the summer. I write childrens books and romance books for adults. I love swimming, dancing and evenings out dinning with friends. I have two wonderful daughters that I am very proud of as they are strong, kind, caring people. My eldest daughter is a nurse and my younger daughter a primary teacher.. I have five grown up grandchildren, who I miss as they are either at uni or busy working and not so much fun now they have phones. LOL

What are you most looking forward to this Christmas?
Seeing all my family.

Do you have any favourite family Christmas traditions?
We go to the local pub for a drink in the morning then have dinner and do not open our presents until after dinner. The youngest giving out the presents.

What is your best Christmas memory?
Oh, too many. The one that comes readily to mind is when my daughters were little and we bought them big presents that came in two large cardboard boxes.  They discarded the present and played with the boxes.  They had them as ‘homes.’ 

Festive Fun with... Laura

Today it's my pleasure to welcome Laura into the spotlight for today's Festive Fun with... feature. Laura is another fellow blogger who I met a few years ago at a book event and I'm pleased that we've kept in contact ever since. 

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
My name is Laura and I live in London with my husband and 2 cats. I ride a motorbike, enjoy reading (obviously!), crafting, seeing theatre shows and I’m a big Christmas fan.

What are you most looking forward to this Christmas?
Spending time with family, just chilling out and watching festive films

Do you have any favourite family Christmas traditions?
On Christmas eve, we get fish & chips from the chip shop. We’ve done this for years, as originally, I used to wrap loads of presents on my Grandma’s behalf on Christmas eve and there wouldn’t be time to stop and cook, so someone would nip to the chippy. Now we do it in her memory and it’s a nice way to include her still.

Also we have borrowed the Icelandic tradition of exchanging books with each other. I try and alternate my choice between fiction and non fiction each year.

Boxing day (unless it’s raining), we get the BBQ out and cook pizzas on it, using the leftovers from the roast as toppings. The neighbours think we’re odd, but it’s great fun.

Festive Fun with... Rachel Sargeant

Today it's my pleasure to welcome author Rachel Sargeant back to the blog for this latest Festive Fun with... feature post. 

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Merry Christmas, Sharon, and thank you for inviting me onto your blog. I’m the author of three thriller/crime novels published by HarperCollins (The Roommates, The Perfect Neighbours and The Good Teacher) and I live in Gloucestershire. On my blog (https://www.rachelsargeant.co.uk) I review books I’ve enjoyed, and I tweet (@RachelSargeant3) about books and the telly. I’ve recently contributed a short story to the Everyday Kindness anthology in aid of Shelter. Currently I’m studying for a full-time research degree at the University of Birmingham.

What are you most looking forward to this Christmas?
Fingers crossed, both our children will be home. Son returning from his job in London, daughter flying in from hers in Germany. 

Do you have any favourite family Christmas traditions? 
A recent lovely one that has evolved is that all four of us help get Christmas lunch ready while listening to the radio. No one has an assigned role but it seems to work nicely. We alternate the radio between Classic FM, Radio One and Radio Two to cater for all family Christmas music tastes.

Festive Fun with... Rea from Rea's Book Reviews

One of the first blogs I ever visited was Rea's Book Reviews and I'm thankful for the years of friendship and support that have followed since and here's to hopefully being able to meet up again in person next year. 

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I wear my heart on my sleeve and love to do what I can to make everyone I come into contact with feel happy and appreciated. I find reading a good way to escape and also to make friends. I have a habit of not being able to read with out a cup of tea and a biscuit or cake so the waistband has grown drastically over the years thanks to my reading habits but I am taking it as a bonus as it means I am harder to kidnap.

What are you most looking forward to this Christmas?
Hopefully having the first happy Christmas with my family since 2018. As lovely as all the presents food and decorations are there is nothing I appreciate more than spending time with my loved ones and having a day with no worries.

Do you have any favourite family Christmas traditions?
Get up in the morning stick on happy elf and eat the chocolate orange 🍊 from my stocking! 

Festive Fun with... Val Portelli

Today it's my pleasure to welcome author Val Portelli back to the blog for the latest Festive Fun with... feature. 

Tell us a little bit about yourself. 
I live in South east London in a borough which used to be Kent, and still causes healthy disputes amongst the locals, and confusion to everyone else. I have seven books published (eight if you include my first book which was republished with a new cover, a new author name and a new publisher), plus have contributed to several published anthologies, with another charity one due out shortly.

I breed unicorns in my back garden.

What are you most looking forward to this Christmas? 
A return of the original spirit of what it was all about-friends, family, joy and peace.

Do you have any favourite family Christmas traditions? 
I know they’re really old and tatty, but come to my house and you will find the knitted Christmas tree on the banister, a row of Santa’s little red boots going up the stairs, Father Christmas sitting on Rudolph’s back looking out the front room window, and similar things which are already making me smile remembering them.

Festive Fun with... Kerry Parsons

Today it's my pleasure to welcome blogger Kerry from Chat About Books to the blog to find out what she likes to do at Christmastime. 

Tell us a little bit about yourself. 
Hi Sharon, thanks for having me on your blog. I’m Kerry. I’m 44. I have been married to Steve for 19 years and we have two grown up children together (21 & 20). We also have a 10-year-old Shih Tzu called Bella. I started my book blog, https://chataboutbooks.blog in October 2015 and I love it! I set up a little freelance book promotion service in June 2020, https://bowensbookpublicity.com . I have had the pleasure of promoting some fabulous books over the last year or so and I look forward to what the future might bring. I love nothing more than to spread the word about books! I have also been our church treasurer on a voluntary basis since July 2014.

What are you most looking forward to this Christmas? 
I am most looking forward to being able to have my Mum and my Mum-in-law (both widows) over on Christmas Day for dinner. Last year we all kept to our own households, despite restrictions being lifted just for the day, and our Mums both spent the day alone. 

Festive Fun with... Caron McKinlay

Today it's my pleasure to welcome author Caron McKinlay whose debut novel The Storytellers is being published in May 2022.  

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m Caron and my debut novel The Storytellers is out May 2022.  It has been described as The Midnight Library meets Mhari McFarlane.

Love can blind you. Will death open your eyes?

Three women trapped between life and death are forced to revisit the memories of their toxic relationships in order to unravel a haunting truth.  

Ronnie pushes the boundaries of her own sexuality to get Graham to commit to her. Nikki comes second to Giovanni’s gambling addiction. Mrs Hawthorne knows Charles will always love his first wife more than her. 

From the genteel parks of Edinburgh to the backstreets of Liverpool, from gaudy Blackpool to sultry Palermo, they share their stories.

As the Gatekeeper listens and decides their fate. 

What are you most looking forward to this Christmas?
To having all my family around on Christmas Day instead of zooming. 

Do you have any favourite family Christmas traditions? 
Not really except I am rubbish at keeping gifts secret because I get too excited and usually make my daughters open them early and then have to go buy more for Christmas Day!