This is my first post here, so I'll make this my introduction and a chance to get to know you all. My husband and I live out in the country in the Upper Midwest, on an acreage with our three horses, Elmo the dog and five friendly barn cats.
We've usually got snow on the ground by Thanksgiving--sometimes even by Halloween. I adore heavy snowfalls and sitting by the fire with a cup of cocoa and a good novel while a heavy blanket of white builds up on the trees outside. The silence of it--the incredible beauty--just takes my breath away. Of course, when it's time to go out to do my horse chores or help clear the driveway and I'm bundled up like the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man (anyone remember the movie Ghost Busters?) then maybe it isn’t quite as fun! But this year we're still enjoying warm weather--today is a balmy 62 degrees. When I finish writing this, I'm going outside to saddle up a horse and enjoy the sun!
What are your favorite Christmas memories? I would so love to hear them! I guess my own favorite, hands down, was the Christmas Eve when our son Brian was born unexpectedly early. His brother wasn't quite as excited at finding Christmas and Santa were delayed because of a baby!
Our two youngest kids are now married (both in 2012--a busy year!) and live close by, and the oldest lives with his young family five hours away. I feel so blessed, knowing that my family will all be home this holiday season--with a new grandbaby! --and because another year has passed with all of us in good health. And I also feel blessed to have had another year of doing the things I love most--enjoying the beautiful countryside on our horses, writing my books, pursuing my dreams. I love writing romantic suspense! With over thirty books published, only three have not been a suspense. And believe me--it took a lot of concentration to change gears and try to weave those three stories without the usual suspenseful twists and turns. My editor is a wonderful and very patient woman! :)
If you post a comment, with contact info, you'll have a chance to be one of the three people to receive free books. I'm offering each winner copies of my recent releases: Duty to Protect and When He Came Home (or two different books from my backlist if you've read those two.)
My wish for all of you is that your holidays, in whatever way you celebrate them, are happy and that you have a wonderful, successful and joyous New Year.
Peace to you all,
Roxanne Rustand
Favorite Christmas memories are ones about gatheing around the tree on Christmas Eve with family, singing Christmas songs, sharing snack and exchanging gifts.
ReplyDeleteWould love to be entered in the draw, have never heard of those books! Thanks!
Hi LInda, It all sounds lovely. It means so much being with family, doesn't it? I always love to hear about the special snacks and other foods people enjoy at Christmas. Do you have a favorite?
DeleteI look forward to reading some of your books.Love a good mystery where God is honored.I would have to say that my favorite memory is when I was younger and my parents on Christmas Eve would make sherbert punch and set out all goodies mom had made and also what others brought in.Friends and family would gather around that Kitchen table and enjoy food and fellowship.It was a precious time.Both are gone now and my dads favorite candy at Christmas was either sponge candy or cream drops.Everytime i see those candies I feel a bit nostalgic..Such good times.. donitacorman@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteSherbet punch--what a great idea! I think I'll add that to our Christmas Eve. What are cream drops?
DeleteI associate foods with the holidays, too, and feel nostalgic. We're Scandinavian, so my mom always served Swedish foods on Christmas Eve, and my husband's family is Norwegian, So it's just not the same without a lot of those favorites!
Thank you for the introduction. I grew up in the Midwest also, and liked the change of seasons.
ReplyDeleteI would love to win one of your books. I'm a voracious reader.
Kaye Whitney
I love the change of seasons too, though this year we're starting to wonder about winter ever arriving! :) Best wishes to everyone in the drawing!
ReplyDeleteWould really LOVE to win your book! Looks wonderful! I think my favorite Christmas memory was when I was a child, we were very, very poor. Yet my mom went to garage sales all year and tucked away gifts so that on Christmas morning the living room overflowed with gifts! I knew we didn't have money so it was like a miracle to me!
ReplyDeletenysunnyglade at gmail dot com
Your mom sounds wonderfully resourceful and loving. I bet she really enjoyed her treasure hunt during the year and couldn't wait for the big day to arrive! She created a Christmas miracle that still warms your heart, and it has warmed mine too. What a treasure!
ReplyDeleteOh getting so excited about reading Roxanne Rustand's new books........and I love giving and recieving books at Christmas...its such a wonderful way to relax....a favorite way to destress......Happy Holiday to you and your family
ReplyDeleteBooks are a great gift, aren't they? I've got two for my dh so far, and now need to start checking our the family's Amazon wishlists!
DeleteI must of forgot to add my e-mail.....babyruthmac16ATyahooDOtcom
DeleteOn the farm, my mom used to invite both sides of the family and friends. There could be more than 50 people!! So now with just my sister and a couple of her kids and gkids and me and my son and gkids, it seems very subdued. :) And I don't remember a lot of drama either.
ReplyDeletePen
pmettert @ yahoo dot com
Wow--fifty! Growing up, we rarely had more than my parents, brother and me, and sometimes a spinster nurse who was a close family friend. Your childhood festivities sound like a lot of fun!
DeleteLoved your book "Duty of Protect" and would love to get a copy of "When He Came Home".
ReplyDeletedoparker50@gmail.com
Hi, Donna. Thanks so much--and best wishes in the drawing!
DeleteI'm in the Midwest too -- Ohio. At least we don't get snow by Thanksgiving. We haven't had any yet, except for a few flurries. I don't even like getting snow in November!
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite Christmases was when I was ten years old and I got some Smurf and Garfield stuff, including stuffed animals, a giant Smurf comic book, and a Garfield book about cats.
I'm an only child so it's just me and my parents for Christmas and that's the way it's always been.
catbooks(at)rocketmail(dot)com
I'll bet you have a lovely celebration together. And your Smurf and Garfield Christmas sounds like fun!
ReplyDeleteI wish we would have some of those flurries, so it would seem more like December! :)
Sounds like some more wonderful books. This is so exciting to find authors new to me all the time. I was starting to get a little panicked as I was running out of authors. I read everything I can by an author that I can get my hands on it. So again thank you for introducing me to Roxanne Rustand. Blessings, Susan Fryman susanngarrylee@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThank you for your note, Susan! i can so relate. I read just nonfiction for years, until a friend introduced me to a wonderful fiction author. I devoured all of her books, and then was lost, until I started finding others that I loved. Word of mouth, and a good bookstore with a knowledgeable staff, made all the difference. of course now, we can look at Amazon reviews, too!
DeleteI would love to read any of your books. My fave christmas memory is hard to choose I have so many. They all include lots of family all in the same place.
ReplyDeleteMany blessings, inspiremichelle@yahoo.com
Family, whether small or large, does make all the difference, doesn't it? Ours is growing now, with our three kids married and some grandchildren as well. I love having everyone home over the holidays.
DeleteI remember as a child waking up in the middle of the night too excited to sleep, waiting for santa and finding my Dad sitting in his favorite recliner. I would scold him for being up, saying santa won't come until the whole house is asleep. I wouldn't go back to bed until he did. It's good Mom got up early or santa never would have came. Dad died when I was nine and every Christmas I remember that last one with him, trying to get him to go to bed so santa could visit. I wasn't able to have children, so I couldn't pass on this tradition, but I do give my Mom books for Christmas every year and would love to share yours with her. C arolyn. J-coverholser at sbcglobal dot net
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear that you lost your dad at such an early age. But what wonderful memories you have of him...and what a lovely tradition you established, giving your mom books for Christmas!
DeleteHappy holidays to everyone here!
My favorite Christmas memory was last year. My brother's family, my sister, myself and my husband all gathered to spend Christmas with my Mom as we did every year, but this Christmas was different. Little did we know that Mom would pass away a month later on January 27th. This will be our first Christmas without Mom. I will always cherish last year's Christmas memories.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Judy
judyjohn2004(at)yahoo(dot)com
Oh, Judy. I am soooo very sorry to hear about your loss. I truly know how you feel, because I lost my own mom two years ago, and every memory is so precious. I wish I could give you a big hug.
DeleteBlessings and peace to you and your family.
I was born and lived in England for half my life then moved to the desert of California. Having 70 degree weather during the Christmas season is still something I can't quite understand. But I love it, since cold is not my favourite season.
ReplyDeletelynfordshire@gmail.com
I've always loved snowy winters and it would feel strange to be in a warm, sunny climate for the holidays. This year we might find out, though, because we still have no snow and most days are in the fifties....warm for us!
DeleteMy favorite Christmas tradition is going to candlelight communion with my family. I just love the peace that I feel when we sing Silent Night by candlelight. Would love to read your books. Merry Christmas! Chris
ReplyDeletefotofanatic@hotmail.com
I love candlelight services too, and singing Silent Night with the candles flickering always makes me teary-eyed, with all the memories of so many Christmases past.
DeleteI love the years that we get a nice surprise of being snowed in! It's one of the best parts of living in Kansas! I'm excited to read your works!
ReplyDeleteSarah
Sjcarson_287@hotmail.com
Have you had any snow yet this season? I was never in kansas for Christmas,. but we went there for most Easter holidays when I was growing up. My mom was from the Canton area, near McPherson and Lindsborg. It was always sunny and windy at Easter!
DeleteI know right where Canton is, I went to college in Lindsborg! We have not had snow yet, but today it's only about 12* out so far, wishing we had snow to go with it!
DeleteMy favorite Christmas memory was when my Grandfather got snowed in with us. It made the last Christmas we had with him extra special!
ReplyDeleteI have never read any of your books, but I am always look for another author to add to my stacks!
tn_raider_35@yahoo.com
Wasn't that a special memory, having the heavy snow, and having him stay with you longer? I love being snowed in....there's such an element of adventure.
DeleteMy favorite Christmas memory ~ three of our four children and two grandchildren being with us for Christmas three years ago. My son passed away June 3, 2011; so thankful for that memory. Watching the stars, the older ones enjoying their time together, and the little ones playing. God is so good. And... it snowed Christmas Eve as they all were arriving. Kathleen
ReplyDeletelanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net
I was just checking the blog to make sure I answered everyone, and can't figure out what happened to my response to your note I know I answered, but it isn't here.
DeleteI am so sorry to hear about your loss. Those Christmas memories must be very, very special to you now. How lovely it must have been when they were all arriving, with snow falling, and how wonderful that that most of your children were able to be home!
We had a very blessed Christmas a few years back when my husband's only sister and her three kids were able to come spend Christmas with us. We do not get to see them often, and it was so much fun baking cookies together and spending the Christmas season with them.
ReplyDeleteI have never read any of your books, but I love Romantic suspense. I would really love to win a book. I look forward to start reading your work. Be Blessed.
Gail Earwood : e-mail: gailearwood@yahoo.com
I'll bet your sister's children will always have very fond memories of that Christmas with you!
DeleteI love the Christmas season as a time to reflect the wonderous gift that God has given us. I am thankful this year that I do not have to work Christmas. I will be able to stay home and celebrate the season with my mom.
ReplyDeleteYour books sound very interesting to read. Thank you for sharing your gift with us.
Have a wonderful Christmas season!
Kristen Billings
kleighbca@yahoo.com
I'm so happy that you'll get to stay home to celebrate with her.
DeleteI hope everyone here has a wonderful Christmas!
Hi again everyone, I have the winners! To be as fair as possible, I numbered each response, then went to random.org and used the random integer selection tool to choose the winning numbers. The winners are Shirley, Judy and Sara. I will email each of you, so you can respond with your mailing addresses. If the winners have read one (or both) of the titles I've offered, you are welcome to check my backlist titles at my website below for another option. I don't have copies left of all my books, but perhaps I'll have some of the titles you prefer.
ReplyDeleteThanks so everyone who stopped by with such great comments!
Roxanne
www.roxannerustand.com
My most favorite Christmas was Dec. 25. 1958 when a beautiful daughter was born in the middle of the day. I told my family I finally got a real life baby doll that could cry, wet it's diaper, and take a bottle. I was one happy mother. And, when the kids were small taking turns having Christmas with my siblings. I would love to win your book, but probably too late. Maxie ( mac262@me.com )
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful memory! One that we share, since I have a Christmas Eve baby!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to say that the drawing is over, but I know there will be lots more here on the suspensesisters blog, and hope you will come back often!
Love your books, Roxanne! Have read the Suspense ones; the Lord is using you in a great way! Blessed Christmas, and blessings on your continued writing! I can be contacted at jeaniedannheim@ymail.com
ReplyDelete