Fantasy • Magic • Romance
Peanuts Christmas Tree

Scroogy McHumbug finds a wee bit of holiday spirit

Yes, I’ve probably earned that nickname. It’s not that I hate the holidays—it’s more like I’ve been indifferent to them. I’m self-employed, which just means I have freedom to work all the time. (No, it’s not always a good thing.) Weekends are often much like weekdays to me, and coming as I did from a small and not-that-religious family, holidays weren’t a big deal to me. So I wasn’t planning to do any of the usual rah-rah this time of year.

Peanuts Christmas Tree

And then, pretty much by accident, I inherited a Christmas tree. Of sorts.

My neighbors were moving, and as they were doing their final cleanup, they asked if I wanted this sad little evergreen in a pot.

I have a black thumb, mind you, and cats that have always managed to eat and/or destroy plants, so it’s usually best if I stay away from green things. But the little tree reminds me of the pathetic one in the A Charlie Brown Christmas TV special. (Did you know you could buy a Charlie Brown tree at Amazon? Heehee!)

Anyway, to my great surprise, I told the neighbors I’d take the itty bitty evergreen.

I’m surrounded by full-grown ones up here on the mountain, so this little guy has a long way to go—but he gets to stay outside on my deck (which foils the cats) and I pretty much just need to water him every now and then. Or just let the snow fall on him. I figure he and I will do pretty well for a while, until he needs a bigger pot. At which point I’ll probably just find a good place to plant him.

My tree got me thinking about celebrations in my fantasy romance novels. The celebrations in those worlds are decidedly…well, non-religious. The gods and goddesses in my books tend to be benign, with a few key exceptions—although they pay more attention to mortal affairs than the mortals might think.

And one thing that even the gods can agree on is love.

Sword and Lute is my latest fantasy romance. It’s a novelette about how true love leads a musician who’s chasing her dreams to a dying god—and to their second chance at life. There are no holidays in it, save the one new lovers make for themselves. 😉 Ahem.

If you prefer stories set in our world, peek at the books with the white covers below. You can check out all my tales at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Smashwords, Apple and All Romance eBooks.

So here’s my question for you: What’s YOUR favorite kind of celebration?

I’m participating in Carrie Ann Ryan’s Alpha Male Blog Hop, so a lucky commenter from Dec. 14-17 will win a $5 gift card at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo or Starbucks, winner’s choice—AND all commenters will be eligible for grand prizes like this:

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet
2nd Grand Prize: A $200 Amazon or B&N Gift Card
3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!

(International commenters: YES, you are eligible for Grand Prizes #1 & #2! Unfortunately, due to shipping costs, #3 is limited to those in the U.S.A.)

To be eligible for the Blog Hop’s grand prizes, you must include your email address IN THE COMMENT ITSELF so the overall Hop administrators can contact you. GOOD LUCK!

  The Source of Magic

Click here to return to the main Holiday Gifts of Love Blog Hop site.

50 Responses

  1. For Christmas we always invite friends over for dinner, and spend the evening drinking wine, eating well and playing silly games. The best celebrations are the ones that involve good food, good friends, and good times.

    Thanks!

  2. One of my favorite Christmas Romance Books is The Untamable Rogue by Annette Blair! The story is about Ashford Blackburne Fifth Earl and he has to get married and get his willing bride pregnant before Christmas or his grandfather won’t let him inherit his money. Ash truly needs to inherit the money because his late father squandered it all away and he is taking care of his mother. After getting stood up at the alter, again, Ash and his friends go to the local pub where the owner plays a drunken Ash in a card game…his consolation prize is the pubs daughter Larkin, who he wants to get ride of. Ash has to learn to forgive…Larkin has to learn how to trust…can two completely different people find love together. This is a cute, extremely funny, romantic story with a surprise Christmas ending!

    Angelheart618@gmail.com

  3. I love just being with my family , it’s one time its more than just a few minutes at a time.

    vampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com

  4. My favorite is any that involves lots of food… which seems to be all of them anymore. lol

    Good luck with your little evergreen Cate! And happy holidays whether you’re feeling humbuggy or not. 😉

  5. Thank you for stopping by, everyone. This post went up in the wee hours of Friday morning, and it became harder to think about celebrations as the morning went on. *Hugs* to each of you.

  6. We have a big family dinner sometime before Christmas but Christmas morning is very quiet for me it’s just me. Thanks for the giveaway Merry Christmas

    crystaley73 at yahoo dot com

  7. I just like to spend time with my family and watch a good movie 🙂
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    by.evie at yahoo dot com dot br

  8. My favorite celebration is the openning of the presents on Christmas morning. I really enjoy the holiday season. I enjoy the smells, the food and lights. Oh and the music too. Not much into baking anymore. But I do enjoy tasting, ask my scales. Tee Hee. Great blog. roya-clan@sbcglobal.net

  9. Miss spending time with my grandparents at christmas. Just doesn’t seem the same. I really don’t get to spend time with family anymore now that the glue that held us together is gone

    Raonaid at gmail dot com

  10. My favorite is celebrating on Christmas Eve when we go for dinner, church then to our friends to celebrate with more drinks and eating!
    Thanks for the great giveaway!

    kacidesigns AT yahoo DOT com

  11. Happy Happy Holidays! Thanks for the great giveaway!
    My fav thing about the holidays are the awesome sparkly lights! We drive around on Christmas Eve and see them all while singing along with carols on the radio!
    grapeapril75(AT)gmail.com

  12. My favorite celebration is anything involving liquor which is ALWAYS needed to deal with my family. LOL

    Thanks so much for the great giveaway and being a part of the hop!

    Happy Holidays,
    Marlena
    charmedpoms(at)yahoo(dot)com

  13. Hi Cate,
    My favorite kind of celebration is coming up. I love Christmas because the holiday puts everyone in a cloud of happiness, but I am looking forward to a New Year’s celebration. Somehow, January 1st is usually my favorite day of the entire year unless something really special happens in that year to eclipse it. January 1st is like opening a new chapter in your life. Whatever bad stuff happened in the past is behind you. I think alot of people try to start January 1st on the right foot especially if their feet have been taking them along the wrong path. New Year’s Eve is actually my favorite celebration.
    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
    susan_francesny@hotmail[dot]com

  14. I love spending time with my family, having a big dinner and opening presents.
    Thanks for the chance to win!
    natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com

  15. My kiddos excitement gives me the biggest smile!

    Thanks for the chance to win 🙂
    raynman1979 at yahoo dot com

  16. I just love being with my family. Seeing them happy
    Happy Holidays, Big Hugs
    Missie Jones
    missie25524 @netzero .com

  17. What an awesome hop!! And a fantastic giveaway! Thank you!! Happy holidays to you all! Best wishes and many blessings!
    shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com

  18. I’m spending this holiday season with my family and hoping to win so I can read more romances. I don’t have an ereader. Happy Holidays! lisarayns at gmail dot com

  19. My favorite thing about this season is cookies; I love making and eating them. Everyone is so willing to share.
    planterofhope at aol dot com

  20. My favorite celebration is where I have all my loved ones with me and there’s a ton of food 🙂
    Thanks for the great giveaway! Happy Holidays!
    laceyblossom1(at)gmail(dot)com

  21. I have that Charlie Brown tree, I won it at a fundraiser. I like to stuff all my kids stockings.
    Z
    seawitchreviews at yahoo dot com

  22. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your favorite celebrations, everyone! I hope you enjoyed the blog hop. Zina, I’m glad someone else has a Charlie Brown tree. 🙂 Charley, thanks for the compliment on my book covers!

    I’m so glad you all came by to enter. The random winner of my $5 gift card giveaway is Susan Frances. I hope each of you has a wonderful holiday season with loved ones–and a fantastic New Year!

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