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Sunday, December 23, 2012

WELCOME, AUTHOR CHRISTINE LONDON! WEEK FOUR OF THE "HOLLY JOLLY BLOG TOUR"

Today I am so excited! On Week 4 of the Awe-Struck Authors Holly Jolly Blog Tour, my visitor is the fabulous author, Christine London! 

And this week you can find me visiting with the wonderful Kelley Heckhart at <http://www.kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/>



 Welcome, Christine!

 Hi Regina! Thanks for hosting me this week on your lovely blog. Some good questions this week:

How do you manage your writing/reading schedule with all the other activities around the holidays?
   There really is no magic. The things you value in life you make time to accomplish, even if done in fits and spurts. I remember when I was working as an after school curriculum specialist and driver for a church-run program. Even when I was in line waiting in the church van for the kids to get out of school, I would bring out my composition journal and pen a few lines on my work in progress.
   Perhaps Stephen King said it best: "Amateurs wait for their muse, the rest of us get up and go to work."
   The holidays should be fun. If you so over schedule your time, I believe you really ought to reexamine. Where is the joy? Nevertheless, holidays or not, one does what one values. Where you are/what you do, there lies your heart. To be an author you have to have the heart for it or it will show in your work. If you can't find time to write, perhaps you don't have the heart.
   No job is all perfume and roses. We all have to soldier on through the rough or undesirable patches. As in any job - one just does it. No excuses, move forward. Professional or amateur? Professionals show up.
   Reading is like dessert: it is my reward and relaxation before sleep. I might not burn through a book, but as in the old adage 'How do you eat and elephant? Answer: one bite at a time.' —the book eventually gets read and then I write a review on Amazon and Goodreads because as an author, I know how precious and pivotal are those reader reviews. On the rare occasion I do not like a book, I do not review it. Most readers don't realize that a three star or less review can be harmful to an author's career— especially a new or lesser known author, so I just don't do it. Sometimes what's best said is not said at all.
   Thankfully almost all works that make it far enough to be published have lots of redeeming qualities, even if they are not 100% my cuppa tea. Thank heavens we do not all have the same tastes. Most books will appeal to a group of readers and deserve to find them. I can nearly always find the good in a book and pass it on to others who might be considering it as their next read.
How about traveling during the holidays: do you go visiting or have you in the past? What has that been like? Have there been any absent family members during the holidays ? How has it effected your writing; have you used any of that in your stories?



   The holidays are almost always at home. When my parents were alive, I went to their home. Now I host family and friends in theirs, now mine. Not everyone has a place people enjoy gathering. They may not have the space or the capability. I am so grateful to have a home full of so many memories, so I love to open it to others.
   To me, it is a season for seeing people you don't get to see often enough— and reconnect. There is much joy in that.
   Absent members are keenly missed. Tears fall more easily at this time of year. Some live too far away to take the necessary time off from work or the money travel requires. Whatever the reason, those people are always in my heart.
   Yes, all my life experiences colour my stories. This year I have taken the plunge into short stories, my first Nottinghill Scrooge speaks to absence at the holidays and how profoundly it can bruise the heart.
   Sara Wright needs this holiday job at Nottinghill's historic Coronet Cinema to pay her tuition, but her handsome boss Robert is a thorn in the side of every usher who breathes. She knows there must be more to a man who breaks his own rules to rescue a child. Can she figure out the puzzle before he self-destructs along with her job?
   I hope it touches many reader's hearts.
   This will be my second Christmas without my father, my mother, my only brother. I lost them all within eighteen months of each other. Is it tough? Sure it is, but all that they were will always be with me. I have and have had so many people in my life for whom I am grateful. As some pass on, others arrive. Life is a journey. So many people to love. Every moment, every person, precious.


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Christine's most recent release: 
Nottinghill Scrooge at AMAZON for 99 cents : click 
here

Sara Wright needs this holiday job at Nottinghill's historic cinema to pay her tuition, but her handsome boss Robert is a thorn in the side of every usher who breathes. She knows there must be more to a man who breaks his own rules to rescue a child. Can she figure out the puzzle before he self-destructs and she loses so much more than her job?

   



You can find, follow and/or contact Christine London :
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Please visit all our wonderful blog hop authors. Leave a comment and be automatically entered to win a fifty dollar AMAZON gift certificate!
Thanks for reading. Now leave a comment and then hop over to the other author's sites. Every comment gives you one more chance at winning that 50 dollar gift certificate!!


 

15 comments:

  1. Welcome, Christine and thank you for visiting this week! I can't wait to read your book, "Nottinghill Scrooge". We are going to have a fabulous week together - celebrating writing, and celebrating Christmas together! Hugs, Regina

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    1. Thanks Regina. A very Happy 2013 to you and yours. I now have another short story "live" at Amazon celebrating the new life of the new year. "Happy New Year Baby" was published on my birthday, December 24th. It is another fun warm read in the 55 Portobello Road series.

      http://www.amazon.com/Happy-Year-Baby-Portobello-ebook/dp/B00ASY2P5Q/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1356543919&sr=1-1&keywords=happy+new+year+baby

      (Such a long link...lol)

      Love your welcoming blog Regina and adore visiting here. God's blessing to you!

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    2. How exciting and what wonderful timing on your release!! Congratulations, my friend!!!!! :-)

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  2. Enjoyed reading the comments. Hope all have a Merry Christmas and get a lot of time in the new year to read.
    JWIsley(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. Oh, Joye! That is my fervent dream! Thanks for stopping in and commenting. ;-)

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  3. Chritine, I loved your take on finding time to write. I subscribe to your thoughts completely. My heart goes out to your losses. My folks have been gone for years, but I just lost my closest brother in October. He was two years younger than me, but from the time of my earliest memories he was my 'big' brother, my protector. His memory hovered over our Christmas gathering, but they were all good thoughts. Have a wonderful holiday season and thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.

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    1. Hi Sharon, there just aren't enough words. Thank you for sharing and my heart goes out to you. He will always be there with you and I am glad you have good thoughts. Thank you for visiting & commenting. Hugs!

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  4. Sharon, I am so sorry for your loss. God does bless us with wonderful individuals in our lives. As we age we lose some and gain others. Life is bittersweet indeed!

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  5. Christine, I like your thoughts on reviewing books. There is no reason for a reader to trash a book just because it isn't the right book for them.

    Kelley

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    1. Kelley, you have touched upon something so important and vital in the writing world - the art of writing a fair, objective and realistic review. We could have a blog tour just on that!! Thanks for visiting and commenting. :-) Hugs, Regina

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  6. Hi Christine and Regina,
    Thanks for an interesting interview. It's nice to meet someone else who reads more than one genre. I'll read any genre as long as it's good, clean literature.

    I'm sorry for your losses over the past 18 months.

    Congratulations on all of your writing. I too recently ventured into short stories and like doing them.

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    1. Hi Gail and thank you for your kind and thoughtful comments as well as for visiting. It's always so wonderful to hear from you and thank you for your loyal friendship and supportive words.
      Best of luck with your short stories! I can't wait to read them.
      Hugs and blessings, Regina

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  7. CHRISTINE-your book looks great.Thanks for visiting Regina"s blog.
    Your new book looks very interesting and sorry to hear about your losses for the last few years.REGARDS BEN SMITH

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    1. Hi Ben and thank you for visiting and for your supportive comments on Christine's books and her experiences. Be sure to get back to us and let us know how you liked her book after you read it, ok?
      Thanks, Regina

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  8. I lost my mother on Christmas Day 2004. She was 80, and had been ill for a while. I know she's in heaven & I'll see her again! Christmas is not tough because I'm comforted by those two truths!

    andrealschultz[at]gmail[dot]com

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