WHY I WROTE A CHRISTMAS STORY

 By Caroline Clemmons

Hooray! It’s officially the holiday season! This is my favorite time of the year. After a delicious meal prepared by our youngest daughter, I’ve retreated to my office for a couple of hours. Sadly, our eldest daughter is ill and couldn’t join us.

We watched the Thanksgiving parade. My mom loved watching Macy’s parade on Thanksgiving morning and the Rose parade on New Year’s Day. Seeing these parades reminds us of her, and that’s one of the reasons we enjoy them.

Years ago, my daughters each asked why I hadn’t written a Christmas story, since I loved Christmas so much. So, I wrote my first one, STONE MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS. This is set in Texas, not in Georgia. The mountain is named after a family named Stone. I was pleased at the result of this novella. If you haven’t read it, please join me for a sweet Christmas novella in my Stone Mountain Texas Series of western historical romance.

Christmas has been Celia Dubois’s favorite time of year as long as she can remember. When she moves in with her parents a year after the death of her husband, the young widow is appalled at the town’s lack of Christmas spirit. Two months earlier, bandits had burned the church and crushed the townspeople’s will and determination. Celia vows to return holiday joy to the town. Perhaps doing so might help mend her aching heart.

Rancher Eduardo Montoya knows Celia is the woman for him from the first moment he sees her. She enchants him with her winning smile and vivacious nature. When her father warns Eduardo away from Celia, Eduardo is both angry and frustrated.

Will Celia’s plan work magic? How will Eduardo change the minds of Celia’s parents about him?

USA https://www.amazon.com/Stone-Mountain-Christmas-Novella/dp/1502948001/

CA https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=Caroline+Clemmons%2C+Stone+Mountain+Christmas&i=digital-text&crid=HY2BM0O2SZN9&sprefix=caroline+clemmons%2C+stone+mountain+christmas%2Cdigital-text%2C87&ref=nb_sb_noss

UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stone-Mountain-Christmas-Texas-Novella-ebook/dp/B00OQUTDXA/

AU https://www.amazon.com.au/Stone-Mountain-Christmas-Texas-Novella-ebook/dp/B00OQUTDXA/

 

Enjoy an excerpt from a welcome party given Celia by Rosalyn and Joel Stone:

On the evening of the party, Celia wore her favorite dark green silk faille gown. The color flattered her skin and red hair. She stood where Rosalyn suggested and was introduced to each person or couple who arrived. She lost count of the number, but she suspected at least a couple of dozen attended. Little dinner party, my eye.

The handsome man who’d watched her a few days earlier showed up with an older couple who could only be his parents. The father was dressed much like the son. Mrs. Montoya wore a lovely dress of burgundy taffeta trimmed in black lace. In her ebony hair she wore beautiful combs of ivory and silver.

“Sofia and Jorge Montoya, may I present Mrs. Celia Dubois, daughter of Harriett and George Sturdivant? And this is their son, Eduardo.”

The senior Montoyas offered the standard greetings and stepped back to await their son.

Eduardo took her fingers in his, bowed low, and kissed her hand. “Enchanted, Señora Dubois. Welcome to our town.  I look forward to becoming acquainted.”

When their gazes met, his smoldering eyes surprised then paralyzed her. You’re not a schoolgirl, say something. Anything. “T-Thank you, Señor Montoya. I’m pleased for this opportunity to meet so many leading citizens at once.

The Montoyas moved into the spacious parlor to make way for other guests. Celia sensed the heat of Eduardo’s stare. Whenever she glanced his way, he watched her no matter to whom he spoke. His scrutiny was in no way menacing, but as if he found her fascinating. Still, the attention added to her discomfort.

Too many people filled the space. The room closed in around her. Air, she desperately needed more air. Rising dread threatened to cut off her breathing.

Fortunately, Rosalyn diffused the panic when she clapped her hands for attention. “Please go on in and have a seat where you find your place card.”

Eduardo appeared at Celia’s side. “May I escort you?”

She laid her hand on the arm he proffered. “Thank you, Señor Montoya.”

He guided her straight to where her place card assigned her.

She looked up at him. “You knew where I would be seated?”

His smile flashed beneath sparkling brown eyes. “But of course. You are the guest of honor, are you not? You will be at your host’s right.”

She was being a suspicious ninny. After hundreds of dinner parties in her lifetime, how could she have forgotten where she would be seated? When he’d held her chair, she spotted his place next to hers but she said nothing.

 

Stay safe and keep reading!

NEW RELEASE -- MAIL-ORDER MORIAH!

I’m so excited to announce my new release, MAIL-ORDER MORIAH, which is a Brides of Beckham romance and the first of my new Pearson Grove Series. Beta readers have told me this is their favorite of those I’ve written. I hope you’ll read and enjoy this sweet western historical. Here’s the mini-synopsis:

Moriah Singleton faced hardship to get from England to America but met more problems once she arrived. The only apparent honorable solution was to become a mail-order bride in far away Texas. How will she ever save enough to bring her sister to America?

After a disastrous brief engagement ended badly, Scott Ferguson sent for a mail-order bride. He needs her help in his mercantile. He hopes his wife will also be his life’s helpmate.

Danger, family entanglements, and disaster await the couple. Will the problems bring them closer or drive them apart?

The universal Amazon buy link is http://getbook.at/MORIAH

MAIL-ORDER MORIAH is free on Kindle Unlimited and is available in paperback.

Here’s an excerpt from MAIL-ORDER MORIAH: (they're having dinner after their wedding)

Everyone stared at them, even more than the previous evening. Moriah thought they might as well be specimens on display at a museum. To make things more uncomfortable, Scott didn’t speak and she couldn’t think of anything to say either.

By the time their food arrived, she thought she would explode from tension. “Tomorrow I’d like to mail my parents a letter. Where’s the post office?”

His eyes held a glint of humor. “The store is the post office. I’ll give you a tour when we get home.”

“That will be helpful.”

“Do they know you’ve come west to be married?”

“I sent them a letter the evening before I left Massachusetts. In case they’d mailed me one before it reached them, I left postage, an envelope, and your address with my landlady at the boarding house where I stayed. She promised to forward my mail here.”

“You said you’re from Kent, but I don’t know how far that is from London.”

“The village where my family lives is about thirty miles south of London. My father grows hops. Where is your home?”

“If you mean my parents’ home, it’s about a hundred and fifty miles south-southwest near the Brazos River in McLennan County. My older brother helps our father farm.”

“Do they know you sent for a mail-order bride?”

Scott shifted on his chair. “I’d give anything if I hadn’t written them I was engaged. Now I don’t know how to explain what’s happened.”

His attitude annoyed her. “How hard could it be, Scott? You just write them and tell them the facts. Are they likely to visit?”

He rested his wrists on each side of his plate. “They plan to now that cold weather is here. Hard to leave the farm most of the year.”

“Don’t you think you should warn them?”

He toyed with his fork. “I thought maybe you could write them and explain.”

“Me? Is it a coward I’ve married? Are you afraid to tell your family the truth of your situation?”

He held up his hand. “No, that’s not the problem. My older brother Sean is always lording it over me about how much better he is at everything than I am. He’s one of the reasons I chose to buy a business away from where my folks live. Sean will lap up the news that I sent for a mail-order bride like it’s a gift from heaven.”

His eyes widened. “Not that there’s anything wrong with a mail-order bride, mind you. That’s not what I’m saying.”

She spoke very quietly. “Exactly what are you saying, Mr. Ferguson?” Her facial muscles ached from keeping a pleasant expression when she wanted to toss her coffee in his face and storm off.

“Look, all I’m saying is… well, you see… I might have bragged about my fiancée being from the wealthiest family in town and how she’d chosen me even though there were other eligible bachelors here.”

She met his gaze and arched an eyebrow. “And now you have to eat humble pie and it’s not going to taste good, is it?”

“You’re right. I don’t know how to go about wording the letter. I don’t want to seem ungentlemanly toward either you or Alexandra. I can’t explain why she broke the engagement without putting her in a bad light.”

“And you’re ashamed to admit to your family you have a mail-order bride.”

“No, no, I’m not ashamed of you or sending for you. All right, I admit I’m embarrassed in light of the bragging I did, but there’s nothing wrong with my having sent for you or your having come.”

She offered her sweetest smile. “I’m glad you feel that way, dear husband. When we get back to our rooms, we can both write letters to our parents. I’ll let you read mine. Do you dare let me read yours?”

Muscles clenched in his jaw. “You have a bargain, Mrs. Ferguson.” He scooped up the last bite of his apple pie then dabbed his mouth with the napkin.

She took her time dawdling over her dessert, more to annoy him than for any other reason. He was one of the best looking men she’d ever met and he had manners outwardly. Inside, she was afraid he had no spine. He’d soon learn she meant what she said. 

Do you read seasonal stories year round or only at a particular holiday? I read them all year, especially Christmas books. I didn’t write a Christmas story this year because I had too many other projects going. I have three from past years, though. If you haven’t read them yet, please do! Each is a fun read and the last two are heartwarming as well.

Here are the mini-synopses and buy links:

MISTLETOE MISTAKE is a humorous historical novella in which Riley McCallister, a Montana sheriff contracts for a doctor by mail. The doctor who'd passed away was a mentor and close friend and Riley hopes to find the same camaraderie in the new one. When the doctor arrives, he turns out to be she, Shannon Callahan. This Old West sheriff feels women are supposed to tend the home and raise the children. Seeing his struggle to accept this woman doctor is fun. Unfortunately, Shannon is used to being criticized for her role in what is often viewed as a man’s profession. She proves herself to be an excellent doctor but is this enough to win the town’s respect?

http://getbook.at/mistake

ANGEL FOR CHRISTMAS is a contemporary story about Jacob, a dot.com billionaire who crashes his fancy sports car and meets St. Peter and St. Michael for a last chance assignment on earth. Help Susan Stephens save her family’s orphanage by Christmas Eve… or else. Many fans have told me this should be a Hallmark movie. Wouldn’t that be lovely? Sigh.

http://getbook.at/Angel

STONE MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS is part of the Stone Mountain, Texas series. Christmas has been Celia Dubois’s favorite time of year as long as she can remember. When she moves back with her parents a year after the death of her husband, the young widow is appalled at the town’s lack of Christmas spirit. Two months earlier, banditos had burned the church and crushed the townspeople’s strength of mind. Celia vows to return holiday joy to the town. Perhaps doing so might help mend her aching heart. Eduardo Montoya is determined to do whatever he must to capture Celia’s love.

http://getbook.at/StoneMtn

If you're kind enough to read and enjoy one of these books, please leave a review on Amazon.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO READERS!

This is the time of year people start mentioning those things for which they’re thankful—not that this is the only time of year we have those thoughts. I’m especially happy because this last release means I have twenty-five titles for download. Some are books, some novellas, and some boxed sets that duplicate some of the first two. This might not sound like a big deal to readers, but this is an accomplishment  that reassures me I won’t run out of ideas—or readers.

I love, love, love readers. If I could, I’d thank each person who’s ever bought one of my books. I can’t, so please know that I appreciate each time you read one of my books. You give meaning to my job. There are millions of books online. Thank you for choosing one of mine. Bless you!

Although my pocketbook doesn’t show I’m a success by any means, at least I know I can produce titles that some readers enjoy. Writers want readers to love our books. Yes, we crave your approval. We want you to buy title after title and prove you enjoy our writing. That’s certainly true for me. And if you leave a review, that’s even better!

Most of us sit alone at a desktop or laptop for countless hours creating our stories. Then we pay someone to edit them, someone else to create the cover, and some people pay another person to format and upload their books. I’m fortunate that my husband formats and uploads my books for me, and that reduces a part of my cost. Kim Killion does my covers now and she is a very creative professional.

Some authors may have a thousand dollars or more and hundreds of hours invested before their book ever becomes available online. And then there are the ads and marketing costs, prizes, and the investment of time in social media or cost of paying an assistant and/or promotion person. Hear the costs rising? See me cringe and shiver? Decidedly, I’m a low budget operation, but I do have my share of expenses.

Honestly, all I wanted to do was write my stories for readers. And I do, day after day. I love my job. After all, I can come to work in sweats and no makeup and still travel to other places and times. What a job!

But here’s the thing, some readers expect that work for free or 99 cents every time. Authors might experiment with those prices to promote a series or for a special promotion, but you can see that we can’t stick with those prices for the long haul. Nope, can’t do it. Have to recoup some of our time and expenses. Writers have to pay bills, too.

Still, I’m not complaining. I love what I do and hope readers love my writing. I want to entertain readers. I don’t resent people accusing me of writing mind candy. Since most of my books are historical, I intend that taking you to another time removed from ours will amuse you and provide an escape from whatever is troubling you or making you weary. Everyone deserves a happily-ever-after, even if it’s only for a few hours.

I intend to continue writing stories involving characters I love. Right now, I have two releases about which I’ve told you recently:

STONE MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS is my first Christmas novella. Christmas is my favorite time of year. Not the day, but the anticipation leading up to the day. I love shopping for the perfect gifts to please those on my list, the decorations, the carols, the festive spirit of the season. Buy links for this novella are:

Amazon http://amzn.com/B00OQUTDXA

Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00OQUTDXA

Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/stone-mountain-christmas-1

iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id932587647

Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stone-mountain-christmas-caroline-clemmons/1120622158?ean=2940046278842&itm=1&usri=2940046278842

WILD WESTERN WOMEN is the other recent release. Kirsten Osbourne, Callie Hutton, Sylvia McDaniel, Merry Farmer, and I each have a novella in this boxed set plus two short stories. My book is SAVE YOUR HEART FOR ME and my short story is "Stone Mountain Reunion".Buy links for this boxed set are: 

Amazon USA http://amzn.com/B00O35YY0U

Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00O35YY0U

Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wild-western-women-kirsten-osbourne/1120671175?ean=2940150665682

Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/wild-western-women-box-set

Now I’m at work on WINTER BRIDE, but don’t yet have the cover back from Kim Killion. It’s one of the Stone Mountain series and features Sheriff Butch Parrish as the hero. What a guy! I can’t decide when to release this book. Probably I’ll wait until the middle of January. What do you think?

If you want to be kept up to date about new releases and contests and giveaways and launches, please subscribe to my newsletter. You’ll find the entry if you click on the envelope at the top of the blog's right sidebar. I don’t send frequent newsletters, just when I have a release or contest. No salesman will call. Really.

In the meantime, thanks for stopping by!  

#NEW RELEASE #STONE MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS - A #SWEET #CHRISTMAS #NOVELLA

If you’re like me, you're already eager for the days from Thanksgiving up to Christmas Eve. That’s my favorite time of year. I love the decorations, the songs, the anticipation associated with choosing gifts for my family.

I confess to feeling letdown once the gifts are opened and the dinner eaten. The tree looks letdown, too, with no gifts underneath. I can’t explain why Hero and I leave our tree up until after Twelfth Night, but we always have. Probably this year will be no exception.

You can see why I love reading Christmas stories at any time of year. In fact, I read them all year, but especially from October until Christmas. However, this is the first time I’ve written a Christmas story.

For this novella, I blame Darling Daughters 1 and 2. Each of them asked me to write a Christmas story. Guess the Christmas spirit is genetic, right?

Kim Killion did the perfect-for-the-novella cover. I chose the woman's photo from Kim’s studio stock, but there was no background. Kim used the photo to create exactly what I had in mind. Don’t you love when that happens?

Here’s the blurb of STONE MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS:

Christmas has been Celia Dubois’s favorite time of year as long as she can remember. When she moves to her parents' home a year after the death of her husband, the young widow is appalled at the town’s lack of Christmas spirit. Two months earlier, banditos had burned the church and crushed the townspeople.  Celia vows to return holiday joy to the town. Perhaps doing so might help mend her aching heart. Will Celia’s plan work magic on the town?

Rancher Eduardo Montoya knows Celia is the woman for him. She enchants him with her winning smile and vivacious nature. When her father warns Eduardo away from Celia, Eduardo is both angry and frustrated. After he stops a robbery in the mercantile, will Celia’s parents change their minds about him? Can handsome Eduardo heal Celia’s sorrow?

Here’s an excerpt of STONE MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS:

Radford Crossing, Texas, November 1874

Eduardo Montoya focused on the beautiful redhead who swept the walk in front of Sturdivant’s Mercantile across the street. He turned to speak to his friend. “She is a vision, is she not?”

Micah Stone, his cousin’s husband, asked, “Have you met her or spoken to her?”

Eduardo’s gaze returned to Celia Dubois. He refused to let anyone shatter his dreams. “See how graceful she is even when performing a menial chore? When we are wed, she will not have to be concerned with such things.”

Sounding incredulous, Micah said, “I repeat, have you even met or spoken to her?”

Eduardo had no doubt his friend believed he had taken leave of his senses. He wasn’t so sure he hadn’t, but he placed a hand over his heart. “In good time, my friend. All in good time.”

Micah clapped him on the shoulder. “Come on, Romeo. We’ve finished our business with Joel. Hope’s expecting us for lunch. You can daydream about the pretty widow on our way home.”

“I suppose we must go.” He exhaled, reluctantly willing to leave town but unwilling to let anyone derail his plans.

Micah untied his horse from the hitching rail in front of his brother’s law office and mounted. “Have to say this is the first time I’ve known you to be shy about flirting with a woman.”

Determination steeled Eduardo’s resolve as he swung onto his gelding. “Never before has a woman been so important to me. You will see. One day, she will become my wife.”

The two rode toward Micah’s ranch.

From where she stood on the walk, Celia had known the men watched her. One was the youngest Stone brother. Identifying him was easy because the three Stone men looked so much alike.

But she hadn’t yet met the handsome man dressed as a Spanish Don. He fit the description she’d been privy to of Eduardo Montoya, one of the wealthiest men in this part of Texas. At least, that’s what she’d overheard while helping in her parents’ store.

He certainly cut a dashing figure in his black clothes trimmed with silver buttons. She wondered if he was entitled to dress like Spanish nobility or if he merely played a part. The silver on his saddle flashed in the sunlight and she questioned the safety of such a display.

One thing she’d noticed in her few days in town and working in her father’s mercantile, she heard tidbits of local gossip whether intentionally or not. She wondered what the gossips had to say about her. Probably best she didn’t know. Most people she’d met were friendly but there were a few prunes eager to criticize everyone.

Wasn’t that true everywhere? Yet she thought an unusual pall lay over Radford Crossing. The town definitely needed a large dose of cheer. As a matter of fact, she wouldn’t mind a measure for herself. With a sigh, she went back inside the store.

You can purchase STONE MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS here:

Amazon http://amzn.com/B00OQUTDXA

Amazon UK  http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00OQUTDXA

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/stone-mountain-christmas-1

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id932587647

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stone-mountain-christmas-caroline-clemmons/1120622158?ean=2940046278842

Thanks for stopping by!