“Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind.”
― Mary Ellen Chase
I know it's still August, but... This week I'm super excited to have the cover reveal and give a short summary of the Christmas tales included in A Novel Noel: Rikkhe St. Claire Hygge & Bisous Holiday Mysteries! Rikkhe's back for an evening of storytelling with her Mor--Anna; Papa--Henri; former nanny, current companion--Christine; and her main man--Pete.
We'll be gathering by the fire once again at Rikkhe's estate in Malibu in book 2 of the series. The holiday libations will be flowing, a chill is in the air, and Christmas tales from around the world will be told. They're sometimes mysterious, at times, a bit eerie, but all generously sprinkled with the magic of the holidays. Let's see what's on tap for this latest Christmas collection:
Krampus Wish
A movie premiere at an eerie estate in Malibu takes an unexpected turn. Will the naughty ones get a dose of Krampus fury?
Snow Globe
A thwarted love story gets a magical, second chance. Seeing is believing, or is it?
Pudding in the Mirror
A romantic rival is causing angst for a newlywed at Barrow Hall. Does a haunted mirror reveal the holiday mayhem yet to come?
Shillelagh
A last-minute job assignment in the Irish village of Moonganny leads to new friendships and an unexpected quest. Will the magic of the season prevail?
Star of Noel
Struggling, young, Parisian creatives receive a much-needed boost from a petit visitor from the spirit realm in the days before Noel. Can her kindness be repaid?
And now to the marketing... #HoHoHo
#SoundUp I just love the lights and music in this promo trailer designed and produced by the fabulous Kathleen Harryman! A perfect combo for Christmas cozy mystery vibes!
Now, for the global, book trailer premiere... May I present, A Novel Noel! #SoundUp
My head is spinning with delight with the lights and magic of Christmas in this book trailer designed and produced by Bibiana Krall's Compass Bespoke Services. It also includes the festive, book cover animation from Kathleen Harryman. I've never seen a prettier one--Ooh-la-la! Are you feeling Christmassy? 🎀❄👠
#HoHoHo I hope you've enjoyed my sneak peek of coming attractions for this holiday season. Mark your calendars, A Novel Noel launches November 1st on a seller platform near you! For now, back to summer we go, it's Wednesday, time for #DearDiary:
If you're interested...
The edits are in for A Novel Noel and the manuscript is being finalized for publication. A huge thank you to my editor, Theresa Snyder and word refiner/proofer extraordinaire, Mark Schultz--could not have done it without their terrific support! Pssst...if you'd be interested in reading the ARC, please LMK. I truly appreciate readers who give their valuable time to take an early read--your feedback is priceless! Father Christmas might just have a few baubles in the vault for little elf readers... #MerryMerry
Witch, the final #FridayNightFrights reveal!
#Boo--the haunted tales of Wicked Mist have made their debuts! Bibiana Krall and I are counting down the days 'til our new release. Mark your calendars, Wicked Mist will be on a seller platform near you on September 6th, #LaborDay! 💀🌹 #Halloween is coming...
A visit to an enchanting town this week from the writers of Twitter...
Author Tonya Penrose, Welcome to Charm: A Charmed Life, 5⭐
A road trip takes a life changing turn when botanist Abby Drake stops for sorbet in the town of Charm. The residents are friendly and the nature-filled surroundings serene. There's just one problem, she can't seem to find the road leading out of town!
When Mayor Nash and his sister, Bella take her in, the questions run non-stop. As they, and her guide, Gita explain the power and magic of the enchanted town, Abby feels a rush of emotions that at times, overwhelm her. Will she accept starting over in Charm? Or will she return to her life in the outside world?
Author Penrose weaves a thought-provoking tale of a woman's journey of enlightenment, and the choices she faces. New friendships, romantic sparks, and the magical pull of nature make the final decision a tough one, indeed. Abby's venture will keep you glued to the pages to find out the end result. The characters and settings are a delight to get to know and experience. The reflective questions will have you pondering your own life decisions and directions--which will you choose? An entertaining, uplifting, and enlightening read, highly recommended!
Next up in the reading queue:
Time to get your Hygge on!
Candles flames, twinkle lights, tasty treats, fragrant flowers... these are a few of my favorite things! I think I've had enough of the dog days of summer, LOL--I'm ready for some cool, autumn air. I'm pulling out my Hygge books to get a refresh of the style and traditions I've come to enjoy. I've found a cookie recipe I'll share in a later post that has captured my holiday taste buds' interest---you just may see it pop up in a certain Christmas collection of short stories too!
Welcome to my world. Enjoy the rest of your week and weekend, friends!
Crowns and Kisses,
Veronica
P.S. Join us Sunday, August 28th in the #MurdersWeWrite room on the Clubhouse app at 4PM EDT! We're discussing: Upstairs versus Downstairs; What is Tabu? Mysteries and the space between social class and the invisible lines crossed in stories--what is tabu? Rikkhe and Gemma approve! 💖👑
Good morning all from my mystery spot in the mountains! What a terrific post and yea to Halloween and sparkles on, Christmas! Congrats to all the authors mentioned, ( I am reading Charm right now too!) and many thanks for the shoutout for my book trailer, side-hustle and lastly in the final countdown for our fabulous collab, Wicked Mist! 🎃🕯👻🎅🏻🎄
Good morning- I am currently enjoying South Lake Tahoe- a good place to get the hygge going! And now thanks to you, it’s Christmas! Well done Veronica!
This has put me in a great head space to get the holidays started! I'm delighted to have wonderful reads to look forward to for both Halloween and Christmas...and it's becoming a tradition. What could be better? More reasons to be happy for October, November, & December! Love all of the trailers and the Novel Noel cover is beautiful. Is it too early to shop for Christmas yet?
Good morning, Veronica! After reading this post, I feel like I'm getting my holiday on. The cover, the trailer, the teasers—they're all delightful. I can't wait to find out more! BTW, I'd be happy to read an ARC for you. Is Wicked Mist going to be available through Amazon?