I've had back- to-back visitors for six weeks. My Fey Godmother, Alix Rickloff, has given me the night off with a guest post!
IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!
Ahhh, January. Dull, dismal, blah weather, weeks with
nothing on the calendar, and only one holiday which thankfully does not involve
meals, family visits, gifts, or more than a single day off school. And even
better…it leads into February which is exactly the same if not ickier and
duller and then comes wonderful beautiful March where the weather may be
slightly warmer but certainly not enough to tempt me for long periods
and—Yay!—still no holidays.
Nothing in these three months to distract, delay, or draw me
from my desk and my computer and my writing.
Spring is tough. Sports begin; swimming, lacrosse.
Weeknights grow busy with practices and weekends are spent traveling to games.
Spring break disrupts my normal routine and even if kids aren’t knocking on my
office door, just having them in the house is enough to distract me.
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| Kilronan Castle for a Spring Wedding! www.irishweddingvenues.com |
Summer hits, and the kids are home from school. It’s three
months of minutes caught here and there as I play taxi driver and social
secretary. Plus there’s the pool and the beach and vacations and camps. Is it
any wonder “butt-in-chair-hands-on-keyboard” becomes a hard resolution to keep?
Fall rolls in, and writing is steady. Chapters roll off my
fingers and into my hard drive, but it’s jammed between soccer and school
appointments and newly restarted community meetings. There’s a birthday to plan,
chores indoors and out as we prepare for the coming cold, and, of course,
football to watch. Then comes Halloween, and suddenly Thanksgiving is bearing
down with meals to prepare and purchase, family obligations, and the specter of
the holidays looming in the not too distant future.
Need I explain about Christmas? I think not. We’ve all just
lived through it. We’re all wearing the same slightly dazed wide-eyed, muddled
expression; a combination of over stimulation, lack of sleep, and way too much
sugar.
And so we come to January. Sweet, beautiful, quiet January.
A writer’s paradise of empty days that roll one into another with no
distractions and nothing to pull us away from our desks and our works in
progress.
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| Kilronan Castle in snow www.tripadvisor.com |
I need these precious weeks to pull myself together. I savor
the slow drip of icy, gray days and long silent hours spent curled on my couch
in front of my fire, just me, my cat, and my cast of characters wondering
what’s going to happen to them next.
Are you still recovering from the holiday rush? Catching up
on lost sleep? Packing away the decorations? Throwing out the last few boxes?
Finding space in your crammed closets for the new gifts you just received?
What do you love best about these winter months? The fun of
skiing or the calm of cocoa and warm fires? Write and let me know!
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| Inside Kilronan Castle - the armor reminds us of turbulent times. blog.travelpod.com |
Mahalo, Alix, for reminding us it is the most wonderful time of the year! It is also wonderful because Alix is celebrating the release of HEIR OF DANGER - the third book in her HEIRS OF KILRONAN trilogy:
After seven years outrunning enemies, friends, and his own soul-crushing memories, Brendan Douglas is risking everything on a desperate mission. He has vowed to thwart the evil mage Máelodor’s plans to unlock the past and reshape the future . . . unfortunately the precious treasure that is the key to success lies with a woman he jilted seven years before.
A woman determined to find a life of her own. . .
When her golden-eyed childhood hero abandoned her at the altar—disappearing in a storm of magic and mayhem, destruction, betrayal, and disaster—Elisabeth Fitzgerald struggled to overcome her humiliation and loss. Finally, she has found a new fiancé and a comfortable future. Then, the one man she thought she would never see again appears—among her wedding guests. Brendan Douglas has returned.
An inescapable destiny. . .
It’s not just that Elisabeth is promised to another; Brendan knows he is drawing her into terrible danger. But he cannot resist the bewitching, brave, wholly unexpected woman his youthful nemesis has become. He promised to sacrifice everything, but is he willing to sacrifice Elisabeth?
I am giving away a print copy of HEIR OF DANGER to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,
1. Leave a comment about what you love about this time of year!
2. This giveaway is open to all readers.
3. Comments are open through Saturday, January 14, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Sunday, January 15.
Mahalo,
Kim in Hawaii
To learn more about Alix and her books, including links to purchase, log onto her website at www.alixrickloff.com.
Check out my review of HEIR OF DANGER on Goodreads at this link.
It's funny, really, but this winter has been so un-wintery that I never got into the drinking hot cocoa at an open fire mood. We had no snow where I live, not a single flake (I live in Austria, so this is quite unusual - to be fair though, a lot of snow has been dumped on all those ski-regions farther west). I can hear the birds singing outside and you could almost believe that spring will be here soon. Of course it's more likely that I'll be hip-deep in snow in April. Crazy weather!!
ReplyDeleteOther than that ... winter is time for hibernation (at least I wish it was) and reading even more books than I already do :-) !
I do not mind when the snow first falls and it is is white and undisturbed. So beautiful
ReplyDeleteThere are lots of things that I love about this time of year here in Southern Florida. I love the fact that we don't have to deal with high humidity, and also the extreme heat. Now, it's beautiful, temperatures in the mid-70's and, sometimes, dropping down to the 50's. I say "bring it on". Winter is my favorite time of year here. I just wish that it was like this all year round.
ReplyDeleteI love finding new Authors. I haven't read anything by you yet Alix.
dpd333 (at) aol dot com
I live in the Midwest -- I do enjoy watching the snow fall if it's only a couple of inches. But I really enjoyed curling up on the couch with a good book and drinking a mug of hot chocolate with whipped cream on top!
ReplyDeleteI live in Las Vegas for those of you that don't know. We don't have much snow...if any at all during the year. Little rain and the temps are rather mild. This week the high has been in the 60'sF. I like that it's cool but not so cold I have to turn on the heat and in the afternoon I can have the doors and windows open.
ReplyDeleteI like that if I do want to see snow all I have to do is go outside and look towards the mountains, which are all covered with snow. And that if I wanted to we could get to the mountains with a 45 minute drive...but why would we do that...lol
I live in the Northeast and around this time of the year there is no yard work to do. This is a nice break where you don't have to worry about grass needing to be cut or bushes trimmed.
ReplyDeleteBirgit,
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about an un-wintery winter. It's been abnormally mild here as well, though we did have a few flakes last night. Nothing that stuck to the ground much to my children's disgust.
Debby,
I love the snow as it's coming down. The streets are quiet and a hush seems to fall over everything. Again, no snow yet here, but fingers crossed, although maybe not yet. I still need some quiet before the chaos of a snow day.
Diane,
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to introduce myself to a new reader and really hope you take the chance on Brendan and Elisabeth. As for that lovely mid-70's weather - it sounds wonderful to me and my electric bill. :)
Danielle,
I like hot chocolate but give me a cup of steaming earl grey tea with enough sugar to rot my teeth and I'm a happy camper.
I love this time of the year because living in Florida it finally cools down. You can actually go outside and not sweat to death.
ReplyDeleteiqb99@yahoo.com
Mary,
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that you're able to have both the warmth of LV with the closeness of snow when the itch to see some white stuff strikes. And yes, there comes a time during the long winters when I can't wait to throw my doors and windows open and clear out the mustiness of winter. But that time has not come yet. :)
Maureen,
I'm a fellow north-easterner, though my dh is the one who breathes that sigh of relief come fall, although give him a few months and he'ds itching to get back in the yard and putter.
But see, Danielle, going outside is just what I don't want to do this time of year. I like the fact that I'm stuck inside with absolutely no incentives to leave my office and my w-i-p. Maybe down there my favorite time of year would be summer when I'm trapped in my air-conditioned house. :)
ReplyDeleteI love having a wood fire to curl up by and read a good book.
ReplyDeleteI live in PA and we had a week of snow in October and the rest hasn't been much of anything. It was in the 50's all last week. I do hear we are suppose to get some at the end of the week. If I don't have to go out in it or shovel snow, then I love the beauty of it. I much prefer spring though lol.
ReplyDeleteI live in Florida. Sometimes it get cold enough to break out a sweater, reminding me who fortunate I am to live in the Sunshine State!
ReplyDeleteHeir of Danger sounds great - I appreciate that it is "out of the ballroom".
Barbara
Hi Estelle,
ReplyDeleteI agree there's something about reading beside a fire that puts you in the mood like nothing else. I write by the fire a lot in the winter, and find I get into my story more easily there than in my office.
Hi Alex,
ReplyDeleteThe cold weather sucks, but at least we can go ice skating at Rockefeller Center and the new year is a time to feel optimism about resolutions.
Hot Chocolate hot tea hot book like the ones above curled up on my big comfy chair with my snuggle blanket fire going quite in the house now if i did not have to go to work I would be in that spot every day.
ReplyDeleteAlix is a new to me author i will be adding her to my list.
We have had sunny days since Saturday Spring like weather which is VERY unusual I see we are in for snow by Friday(shivers)
Have a good one Ann/alba
BTW how beautiful are those blossom trees :)
ReplyDeleteLove the wood stove!
ReplyDeleteOur weather can be so unpredictable. The past weekend it felt as if spring had arrived. So, as usual, I was able to prune back all the roses and I move the day lilies (which I put off from last year). This weekend, back to the 40's, but it's typical for Upstate, SC.
ReplyDeleteI usually find this time of year to be a cleaning out time too. How do two people manage to accumulate so much stuff! It's beyond me. It's all his - not mine!
Alix, you are blessed by the cover goddess! Of course, Paul is my fav!
I hate to say it but I love having to stay in when it snows here in New Jersey. I really can't take the winter. Mainly for back problem. But I think it's a beautiful sight to look out the window when a gentle snow is falling and starts covering everything insight. I also love sitting in a comfy chair with hot chocolate and a great read. Pure Bliss for me. :) This trilogy is on my TRL right at the top. The covers are beautiful . Thanks for this opportunity.
ReplyDeleteCarol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
Catslady,
ReplyDeleteI'm not far from PA. I really hope we're in for some good cold weather. The kids got sleds and boots for Christmas so I've basically ensured we won't have any snow this season.
Thanks, Barbara! I told Kim already how much I loved her comment about "out of the ballroom". That sums up my take perfectly. After all, what's a good regency without a few sword-wielding sorcerers and Fey magic?
Jane,
ReplyDeleteSkating in Rockefeller Center sounds great! I'll be in your neck of the woods later this winter, but hopefully without the mess of snow to complicate things.
OK, Alba. You had me at comfy chair and hot tea.:) I'm reading Garth Nix right now and would love a few cozy hours curled up with Lirael and her disreputable dog.
Thanks, Liz. Me too!! Though the hauling wood, not so much!
ReplyDeleteArtemis,
I would love to clean stuff out, if only to fit the new stuff we accumulated over the holidays. As to my cover luck, Pocket has been absolutely brilliant with the art for this series. Paul is my favorite but the model they got for HEIR OF DANGER is really growing on me. He's just how I imagined Brendan. I wish I knew who he was.
Carol,
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing more beautiful than snow falling, especially when you're inside where it's warm.
I like that there are more chances to cozy up at home with a good book when it's cold outside.
ReplyDeleteI guess the thing I love about this time of year is that I can wear baggy sweats or flannel jammies and just be comfortable!
ReplyDeleteI am sweltering here in the middle of Summer, so I guess Winter always looks inviting when I'm this hot. I do love snuggling in when it's cold. Right now I think snuggling would just about do me in.
ReplyDeleteso many i love about this year : many good friend, job is going smoothly and so many luck ;)
ReplyDeletethis series sounds great and love the cover of lord of shadows - paul ;)
I love the beginning of the year. It makes me think about what I want to accomplish in 2012 and since it is only January, it makes me happy that I still have a lot of time to procrastinate getting some of those things done. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm really looking forward to your book, Alix :)
ReplyDeleteWhat I love abou this time of year is that everything feels so fresh. New year, season and month. It motivates me to take on a new challenge. I like learning new things.
that spring is close :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for a wonderful post! I just got Alix's first two books in the series and I can't wait to get started! I love January b/c it's usually cold and perfect reading weather! Nothing better than curling up in my recliner with my puppy in my lap, a warm blanket over us, a cup of hot chocolate and a good book :)
ReplyDeleteThis series sounds lovely. Thanks so much for great post. I cannot wait for Spring to get here. I hate the cabin fever I get during the Winter.
ReplyDeleteGeishasmom73 AT yahoo DOT com
What I love about this time of year is after the New Year's and reflecting on the past year, there's usually a new outlook on things :)
ReplyDelete