You heard it here first...
Friday, December 12, 2008
Happy holidays!!
Well, it's bearing down on us, ladies, isn't it? Thanksgiving is over and the holidays are headed this way. While I sit here in my living room, with my laptop open and my Christmas spice tea at my side, I can actually see the weather turning cold outside. The first snowfall of the year is minutes away--or so the newscasters keep telling us. We here in Western Washington don't get a lot of snow, so it's a big deal, and nothing puts me in the holiday mood like seeing my horses standing at the fence in a white field. It reminds me instantly of those days, long ago now, when my son prayed for snow (and school closures). It always seemed to come when I had a book due, but none of those real world concerns mattered around the Hannah household. When the snow fell, it was a play day. I kind of miss that...
But you don't want to hear about how much I love the snow. You're waiting for the early scoop on the contest, so here it is. I'm telling you guys first. :) As I told you before, Hallmark magazine is doing a big promotion in February, and they have chosen sisterhood essays as their theme. Great minds think alike, I guess. Anyway, so I've had to change my own contest, but actually, I think it's a good thing. Let's face it, these are crazy busy days and taking the time to write a contest entry is just one more thing to do. So the contest starting tomorrow is easy, easy, easy. All you have to do is read a short excerpt of TC and answer a question. Then you'll be entered in the contest, and the prize is an advance copy of the book. As I promised, a couple of the arcs will be earmarked for firefly entrants only, so be sure and identify yourself in the entry. The details will be on the website today or tomorrow. We'll be gathering entries until Jan 4, I think, and choosing the winners by the 8th. So if you enter, TC might be in your house when the holidays are over. And here's something else cool--we're going to have an "early readers" forum link on the site, so if you win and read it, you can post your thoughts on the book for everyone else.
We'll still be doing an essay contest, don't worry. I just don't know what the prize will be. All I really know is that I LOVE reading your essays and I can't give that up. So, what do you all think? those of you who have already written your essays can enter in Hallmark, but what should we do with the essays on this site? I know there's a great idea out there...
I had another idea just a few minutes ago, when I was answering the blog. I think we need a "firefly recommends" list that encompasses tv shows, movies, books, cds, even recipes. What do you think?
Now, I have to run into the city to get my hair done. Yep, it's that time of year... :)
Happy holidays everyone--
Kristin
Well, it's bearing down on us, ladies, isn't it? Thanksgiving is over and the holidays are headed this way. While I sit here in my living room, with my laptop open and my Christmas spice tea at my side, I can actually see the weather turning cold outside. The first snowfall of the year is minutes away--or so the newscasters keep telling us. We here in Western Washington don't get a lot of snow, so it's a big deal, and nothing puts me in the holiday mood like seeing my horses standing at the fence in a white field. It reminds me instantly of those days, long ago now, when my son prayed for snow (and school closures). It always seemed to come when I had a book due, but none of those real world concerns mattered around the Hannah household. When the snow fell, it was a play day. I kind of miss that...
But you don't want to hear about how much I love the snow. You're waiting for the early scoop on the contest, so here it is. I'm telling you guys first. :) As I told you before, Hallmark magazine is doing a big promotion in February, and they have chosen sisterhood essays as their theme. Great minds think alike, I guess. Anyway, so I've had to change my own contest, but actually, I think it's a good thing. Let's face it, these are crazy busy days and taking the time to write a contest entry is just one more thing to do. So the contest starting tomorrow is easy, easy, easy. All you have to do is read a short excerpt of TC and answer a question. Then you'll be entered in the contest, and the prize is an advance copy of the book. As I promised, a couple of the arcs will be earmarked for firefly entrants only, so be sure and identify yourself in the entry. The details will be on the website today or tomorrow. We'll be gathering entries until Jan 4, I think, and choosing the winners by the 8th. So if you enter, TC might be in your house when the holidays are over. And here's something else cool--we're going to have an "early readers" forum link on the site, so if you win and read it, you can post your thoughts on the book for everyone else.
We'll still be doing an essay contest, don't worry. I just don't know what the prize will be. All I really know is that I LOVE reading your essays and I can't give that up. So, what do you all think? those of you who have already written your essays can enter in Hallmark, but what should we do with the essays on this site? I know there's a great idea out there...
I had another idea just a few minutes ago, when I was answering the blog. I think we need a "firefly recommends" list that encompasses tv shows, movies, books, cds, even recipes. What do you think?
Now, I have to run into the city to get my hair done. Yep, it's that time of year... :)
Happy holidays everyone--
Kristin
6 Comments:
You are TOO funny... great minds do think alike, and I love to read anything you write, including horses with snow!!
About your "Do I have to cry?" question, the answer is I think if I cry at the end of a novel, that is a testimony to how real the characters were for me. I realized that just this past May (before the broken wrist drama) as I finished Twenty Wishes by Debbie. You know her, right?
And the Delinsky book I love the most is probably For My Daughters. Although Flirting with Pete was right up my alley too. Speaking of which, this is my newest reccomendation: The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks.
I entered! I can tell you from this excerpt that I don't think I am going to be liking their father too much. I could feel Winona's hurt by his comments on the saddle fitting. Nothing like having to deal with comments like that from your father all of your life. Been there, done that, wear the emotional scars! I hope he does become better and make it harder for me to dislike the character.
Why oh why do we have to wait until all the way in January to find out who won?:)
Kinda makes for an interesting change of subject: from the heat of Africa back to the snow in Washington! I agree with Michelle, though... any kind of story you tell, makes me wanna read more, more, more!
Personally, I don't like the snow all that much. I'll admit to going back to Canada for Christmas this year to finally see some real snow (we get about 2 inches here on average each year), but if I'm really honest, I'm going even more because I love spending time with my Canadian "family" and I prefer the way they celebrate Christmas over the way we usually do it at home. As in: we don't make a really big deal about it.
I personally really love the sun. I was born in the middle of a warm summer, so I guess that might explain why. Winter is ok, as long as I don't have to go out in the cold too much. I don't mind taking pictures of beautiful snow scenes, while I'm in the house correcting my students' exams. If I have to drive on slippery roads, I'm more in a mood for cursing the whole idea of dark, short days with low temperatures.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year back at you, Kristin. I hope you get to celebrate the holidays together with those who are dearest to you and may 2009 be fruitful (what are we supposed to read when we're finished with True Colors if you don't have anything new out yet? ;)) and filled with love and friendship, luck and good health.
And to all my fellow fireflies: have a wonderful holiday season too!
Love,
Leen
Kristin wrote and asked us what we thought of a Firefly recommends list that encompasses tv shows, movies, books, cds, even recipes.
Hmmm, I really like that idea, Kristin!
For TV: Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Privileged, Desperate Housewives, Brothers & Sisters, Boston Legal (gone now I think), The Starter Wife, House, Ghost Whisperer.
For Movies: The Notebook, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, The Family that Preys, Madea's Family Reunion, Heart and Souls, Save the Last Dance, Take the Lead, Grease, Michael, The Pursuit of Happyness, and the Color Purple.
For Books, anything Nicolas Sparks writes has been phenomenal. Nora Robert's Key trilogy, Three Sister's Island trilogy, the Dream trilogy, and Blue Dahlia, Black Rose, and Red Lily. Anything that Kristin Hannah writes, but most especially The Magic Hour and Firefly Lane.. ;) I like most of Janet Evanovich's Plum Series, I like the Fern Michael's sisterhood series, What You Wish For, Yesterday, Alone, Hide, Say Goodbye (really, really creepy but excellent) by Lisa Gardner.
For CDs: I have a LOT of those, and way too many favorites to list them all.. However, a Dutch artist by the name of Ilse De Lange is really good! Arno is from the Netherlands, and he brought me her first album World of Hurt, and I have gotten his mom or brother to bring all of the rest of them to me when they come to visit. The Eagles are great, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Enigma, Anita Baker, Melissa Etheridge, Sarah McLachlan, Enya, Elton John, Pink, The Manhattans, Shelby Lynn, Garth Brooks, Alabama, Reba, really old R&B..
For Recipes.. I have a good collection of recipes that I have changed or adapted, plus I have quite a few handed down from my grandmother. She could bake the best cakes ever, and I have her gift of baking. Do you want the recipes or just the names of them?
Okay, I am outta here.. Gotta go work now.. ;)
Linda
Dear Kristin,
I want to wish all my firefly friends a MERRY CHRISTMAS and to you Kristin and all the family.I did very well in my U.B.C. course.I hope Sheila did well.I worry about her.Sorry I can't enter the contest--U.S.A. only.Maby next yearI also love the snow,but its cold,and I have old bones.I am reading Patricia Cornwells Scarpetta,Favorite tv Grat Anatomyand Brothers and Sisters.
Best Wishes
Merry Christmas
Love and Hugs
Sharon
Hi Again.
Guys (girls), I'd like to weigh in here with my faves. Oh, this is great!
For TV, anything reality is great. I'm being serious! OK, well, maybe not ANYTHING, but Dancing, Idol, Survivor, Bachelor/ette, you know, fun stuff.
I used to like bros and sisters until they started portraying things I really don't like as a conservative Christian. Same with Grey's Anatomy. Private Practice is great, and Boston Legal was funny.
My favorite authors: Kristin Hannah, Susan Wiggs (some of her stuff), Debbie Macomber, Fern Michaels, Belva Plain, Barbara Delinsky, LaVyrle Spencer, and that should keep us busy reading for a while ;)
Music: Country, I'm a Country girl, Oldies, Soft Rock, Contemporary Christian, but mostly Country.
Movies- pretty much romantic comedy or drama.
Recipes- well, I seem to mess up some stuff that I cook, but I do have this Pineapple Souffle stuff that's out of this world.
Merry Christmas Kristin, Kim, and Fireflies!
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