Jane Wakely, Christmas Hope

AUTHOR:  Jane Wakely

BOOK TITLE: Winter Wonders (Winter Anthology 2011), contains my story, Christmas Hope

PUBLISHER: Whimsical Publications

BUY LINK: http://www.whimsicalpublications.com/Winter_Wonder_2011.html (print); http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/114132 (e-book)

DO YOU HAVE A GIVEAWAY?: Yes

WHAT IS IT?: $10 Amazon Gift Card

HOW IS THE WINNER TO BE CHOSEN?: Jane will choose the winner using Random.org.

WHO WILL DELIVER THE PRIZE TO WINNER?: Jane will send a gift card through email after she notifies the winner!

Tell me a little about your book.

Winter Wonders features nine short stories, in a variety of genres, all with a winter theme. 

Authors include: Regina Puckett, Jenny Twist, Sharon Donovan, S.M. Senden, Paul McDermott, Angela Adams, Melissa Hosack, Janet Durbin and Jane Wakely.

My short is called, Christmas Hope.  Here’s the blurb:

Karen loves Woodland Springs, the town she grew up in.  While her dream of owning a bakery in her home town came true, she doesn’t know if she will ever reach her dream of having a family of her own to share it with.  After the humiliation of her ex-boyfriend, she doesn’t think she will ever find someone to love.

Jason Matthews moved to Woodland Springs to fill a veterinarian vacancy.  After years of school and interning, he is ready to start a family.  When he meets Karen, he knows she is the one.

After a misunderstood Christmas present, will these two be able to have the family they both hope for?

What gave you the idea for this particular story?

Hmmm…I’m not really sure where I got the idea for this story exactly, but I’ve always liked the idea of living in a small town; Woodland Springs was an easy setting to create. I answered a submission call and the story had to have a winter/Christmas theme. I knew my story would focus around Christmas, and a small town bakery owner.  The rest of the story sort of wrote itself.

Is there anything in your story based upon a real life event? If so, tell me about it.\

LOL…Yes there is.  In Christmas Hope, my heroine has a pet Dachshund that gets sick from eating too much paper. I got the idea from our Dachshund. She got sick from eating too much cardboard when she was a puppy. 

Why did you choose to write a story with a Christmas theme? 

I saw a submission call for stories with a winter or Christmas theme. 

Do you see special challenges to marketing a book with a seasonal theme?  If so, what are they? Typically, most readers only read holiday stories during the specified holiday.  Once the holiday passes, sales slow or stop and you have to try again the following year.  I think that’s the biggest challenge.  Otherwise, most readers seem eager to read holiday stories, especially those with a Christmas theme.

How long before Christmas did you submit to your publisher? 

Almost three months.  The submission call had a deadline of the first week in October.

How and why did you choose this publisher? 

I chose this publisher specifically for the themed submission call.  I had seen it in an email on one of the yahoo groups I belong to.   

What about your book makes it special? 

Lots of things!  Aside from being my first published story, it is a sweet romance that takes place in a small town.  I finally moved to a small town in January, but didn’t see it until the end of November—after I had written my story.  The similarities are amazing, right up to the Christmas tree in the center of town. I like it so much, I think Woodland Springs needs expansion and I am planning at least two more books in the same setting.

What does Christmas mean to you? 

Christmas means happiness to me.  I love the whole festive frenzy of the season…decorations, Christmas music, cookies, friends, family…it really is the season of Joy!

What is your favorite Christmas memory? 

I have a memory from when I was little of going to our local outdoor mall and being amazed by the decorations.  (This was many years ago—there was still a Woolworths there!)  That feeling has always stuck with me and one of my fave things about Christmas is to see everything decorated. 

What was your favorite stocking stuffer? 

Chocolate!  I had chocolate in my stocking every year! :)

What was your favorite Christmas present? 

I can’t think of one present that stands out from the rest, but I love receiving gift cards for books, craft supplies or coffee!

Where can people learn more about you and your work?

Visit my blog: www.janewakely.blogspot.com

Friend me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/janewakely

Follow me on Twitter: @JaneWakely

Friend me on Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/janewakely

Jane Wakely—Excerpt from Christmas Hope (Winter Wonders, Winter Anthology 2011)

Thankfully, the weekend was finally over.  Thanksgiving weekend was always packed, so she was extra tired.  Delightful was only open in the mornings from seven to noon and then again in the evenings from five to eight, but sometimes she had to bake during her off hours.  Usually she baked in the mornings when she had Janice out front helping, but over the busy holidays, they were always empty up front by noon. 

           

She sat down with a cup of coffee, doing a mental inventory in her head and planning out her Monday.  She was happy Delightful was closed on Mondays and Tuesdays; she could sleep in tomorrow.  She closed her eyes thinking about it and heard the bell on the front door ring.

           

She must have been really tired; she’d forgotten to lock the front door.

           

Karen opened her eyes, and her heart skipped a beat as she looked at the most handsome man she had ever seen.  He was tall, she could tell from her sitting position, and he had hair so black it reminded her of the wigs the children had worn on Halloween.  His eyes were a smoky grey, and when he smiled, she saw a dimple on his right cheek.  Though covered in a jacket, she could tell that he was lean and muscular.  She opened her mouth to say something and nothing came out.

           

He smiled. “Hi.”

           

Somehow she found her voice, though she didn’t take her eyes off of him. She had never seen him before, and she liked the view.  “I’m sorry, we’re closed. I--I forgot to turn the lock.”

           

“Oh.  Do you think I could get a quick cup of coffee?  I just got into town, and I don’t have a coffee machine yet.”  He smiled again, his expression hopeful.

           

“Okay.  Why don’t you sit down, and I will pour you one to go.”

           

“Thank you so much.  It’s really cold out there.  I think I need a warmer coat.” He laughed as he said it, and his dimple showed prominently. 

           

She looked at his coat as she made her way back to the table.  It was thin, especially for this weather.  He hadn’t been wrong when admitting he needed a thicker one. “It’s going to get colder. You really do need to get a warmer coat, and fast.  Cream and sugar?” 

           

“No, black is fine.  Thank you so much.  I’m Jason,” he said as he stood and pulled out his wallet.

           

“Don’t worry about it.” She waved her hand. “This one is on the house.  I’m Karen.” She sat down at the table as she said it, and he sat down too.  Delightful was closed, and she was tired, but she didn’t want him to go just yet.

           

“Are you visiting family?” she asked as she sipped her coffee, curious about where he came from. 

           

“No, I just moved here for work.  I don’t know anyone in this town.  Well, except you.”  He smiled again.