I wanted to wish everyone a quick Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays, if you celebrate. We did the whole “making the rounds” thing today. It is super exhausting, but worth it. Kiddo is now crashed out on the loveseat (I am still not sure why she isn’t on the couch…but…my house is QUIET! And it isn’t even 8 pm yet!)
She also celebrated her 14th birthday this week. It does not seem possible that she’s 14. It really doesn’t. I’m hoping to spend as much time enjoying the next four years with her as I possibly can. (If we don’t clobber each other first. There is nothing more terrifying than a hormonal teenage girl who knows everything!)
I’m still recovering.
On the home front…
No one claimed the rabbit. The rabbit got Christmas presents. Apparently, it is now OUR rabbit.
He/She? (we haven’t figured that part out yet) is getting a better rabbit hutch as soon as Hubs can get the truck over to Rural King to get it home. She utterly adores that little thing, and is taking care of it entirely on her own. So…I guess instead of the frog I was planning to get her, she got a rabbit instead. O.0
Now, we are all going to just sit back and relax!
I did do a few Christmas stories and I’m linking to the collection here. It features 3 stories, two are flashbacks, and one is my “attempt” at some Wonkus McBubbles Christmas fun. One day, when I have tons of free time, I hope to do a fully illustrated version. Or…hire someone to illustrate. It just depends.
I also have one Christmas story that turned out to be WAY longer than I anticipated–over 40,000 words long! It started off last year and I’d play with it over the last twelve months. A line in last year’s Christmas story (You’ve Found the Stars) triggered it. I found I just had to tell it! (If you missed last year’s Christmas stories, they are available again. More information is down below!)
So…this new book is set in 1910 Coleson Hollow, and will be a part of the Finley Creek: Vintage book series when it goes live. I do hope to eventually write more historical Finley Creek novels. You know, after I clone myself!
I was a week later than I anticipated getting it ready for publication–I blame sudden softball practices in the middle of December when I was expecting January!–so am putting up the BONUS EDITION tonight as a free download for the next three days.
Sometime this week or next (depends on holiday retailer schedules, honestly), the regular version will be live on Amazon/other retailers for purchase.
The regular version is just the historical romance, with no intro/closing set in present day Finley Creek.
The BONUS EDITION, which will be available only through my website store (I’m working on the store this week), is the same historical romance, but features intro and closing chapters with Dr. Anthony Lake and Dr. Samia Coleson. You can get a free copy of the bonus edition by downloading direct at the following link. The Bonus Edition link expires 12/29, as it is a very limited time offer. The Christmas Time is Here collection expires 1/31/25! (As does the Christmas In Finley Creek!)
For now, Merry Christmas and please enjoy Christmas Time is Here and If You Remember When!
*********IF YOU MISSED LAST YEAR’S CHRISTMAS COLLECTION, IT’LL ALSO BE AVAILABLE FOR A FEW DAYS!
As always, thanks for reading! I hope the rest of your 2024 is filled with great things, and 2025 brings even more wonderful things! (and watch for more info on the next Hiller book The Chance sometime next week. I’m still working on getting the release date figured out!)
Merry Christmas,
C.J.
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