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January Snow Days
We’ve been having some winter weather in Oregon. A little snow on Saturday which quickly turned to sheets of ice in Portland. And an ice storm on the North Oregon Coast. In December, I joked with my sister that all I wanted in January was a snowy cabin where I could write and read. I got my wish the last four days, and it was my own home in Portland. Schools have been canceled–even mine where I teach remote classes and it looks like with another storm bearing down on us, a few more no school days are coming. We don’t handle snow well in Portland–the city has two snow plows and we don’t salt or sand, so any type of snow event shuts the city down until the temperature warms up.
This month, I am drafting my next holiday romance which will be out this October, Sweetheart Santa. I’m knee deep in the reshaping draft which is where I take the fast draft and mold and shape it into a story. The manuscript will go to my developmental editor at the end of January. Sweetheart Santa is the story of bakery owner, Sasha and her ten-year-old son, Tyler’s Dad, Greg, who wants to buy the crumbling Cranberry Bay marina as an investment. The story uses the secret baby trope and has been one of my most challenging to plot in the Cranberry Bay series. It’s hard to keep babies secret in this era of technology! I’m sure my developmental editor will have a few plot suggestions!
I did get out one day between storms to walk to my local coffee shop. After I discovered I don’t own winter snow boots only fashionable boots which work great in the rain but have no grip, I hoped my tennis shoes would work, and took a very careful walk along slippery sidewalks. I made it and enjoyed working on my next chapter while sitting in a warm and cozy coffee shop surrounded by a lot of other people who enjoyed getting out there!
I also spent some time during the snowy days working on watercolor cards which I send to my students throughout the semester.
And of course, I’m reading. One book on my snowy days reading pile is, The Heroine’s Journey by Maureen Murdock. Murdock’s Heroine’s journey focuses more on the internal journey of a character than the traditional hero’s journey which is externally focused. The heroine’s journey is actually the struggle for both my hero and heroine in my current work in progress, something which I didn’t realize until I started reading this book. Both have accomplished external achievements but are missing love, belonging and connection. There is also a workbook which is helpful for those working through this book for a personal heroine’s journey.
The other book I’m reading is, The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren. I bought this book last summer and hadn’t gotten to it yet. My sister challenged us in our Mother/Daughter book group to read a book we wanted to read in our to-read pile. So I chose this one. I’m a fan of Christina Lauren’s books. They are usually fun, light and quick to read. This book is the story of a romance author who has lost her ability to write romance due to her own disillusionment with romance. (Something I have been able to relate to at times!) She is cast in the lead role of a reality TV show in which she is supposed to find the perfect match. Of course, her true love match is the producer of the show–someone she is not supposed to fall in love with! It’s a perfect read for snowy, stay-at-home days!
More Holiday Markets
This weekend, I spent Friday afternoon at the Sellwood Senior Living Holiday Market. (Portland, Oregon) The residents were so excited to have a Holiday Market come to them and sales were brisk!
On Saturday, I participated in the Willsonville High School Holiday Market (Portland Metro Area). A group of high school students met me at the entrance and helped me carry in my books, table and bags. During the event, they circulated around the booths, asking the vendors if we needed food, coffee, or a break. It was a very organized event and I sold a lot of books!
Santa paid me a visit and helped me sell Kids in Orange: Voices from Juvenile Detention to the high school AP English teacher. Thanks Santa!
This weekend, I will be in Cannon Beach at a couple private events reading and signing copies of my holiday romance, Sweetheart Christmas. Santa told me there will be copies of Sweetheart Christmas in all the Little Free Libraries in Cannon Beach thanks to a generous donor!
Holiday Markets
I had a great time at the Gresham Holiday Market last weekend. There were a lot of fun vendors sitting near me and we all supported each other throughout the day. I brought two holiday decoration items that I have owned since my early years of teaching seventh grade. One is a dancing Santa and one is a dancing tree. I forgot the batteries and the vendor next to me was gracious enough to loan me a few.
The World Is a Sniff was the best selling book with Sweetheart Christmas a close second. You can purchase both at Amazon, Barnes and Noble (They may need to be ordered), or your favorite independent bookstore. The Cannon Beach Book Company has signed copies and they will mail books!
I will be at the Wilsonville High School Holiday Bazaar this weekend from 9 am to 2:30. If you are in the Portland, Oregon metro area, I hope you will stop by!
And finally, my Mom, sister and I meet once a month for a Zoom Mother/Daughter Book Group. We’ve been having a good time changing the backgrounds of our Zoom screens for the holidays!
December Author Events
I will be participating in a couple different Holiday Markets/Bazaars in the Portland, Oregon area in December.
On December 8 from 3:00 to 5:00 PM, I will be at the Sellwood Senior Living Holiday Market. This is a special event for the residents of Sellwood Senior Living and local to my neighborhood in Portland, Oregon. I am excited to bring The World is a Sniff to this market as seniors have been a big audience for Stormy’s story!
I will also be at the Holiday Market at Gresham High School and the Holiday Bazaar at Wilsonville High School. Both of these are in the Portland, Oregon Metro Area.
I will have all my books to sign and sell, and especially copies of my newest romance, Sweetheart Christmas.
And I am lucky to live in a Portland neighborhood with so much holiday spirit. Yesterday on my walk to yoga, I noticed the bears had arrived at the Portland Puppet Museum! This is a charming puppet museum that hosts holiday puppet shows and others all year round. If you are in the Portland area over the holidays, it is worth a visit.
Sweetheart Christmas Available
Sweetheart Christmas is now available in both print and ebook. You can find Sweetheart Christmas at Amazon or your favorite bookstore. (You may need to ask them to order it for you)
Blurb: Ivy dreads the holiday season. But this year promises to be even worse as her brother, and only family, will not be returning home for the holidays. Ivy is doing her best to avoid all festivities. But with the tree lighting, a holiday homes tour, and the downtown businesses door decorating contest, it’s hard to skip the holidays in Cranberry Bay. Meanwhile, after his grandfather dies, Josh must step into Cranberry Bay’s beloved holiday tradition to drive the Holiday Express Christmas Eve train. When he asks Ivy to play the role of Mrs. Claus neither expects their long-time friendship to turn into love.
Erin’s Choice Now Available
Erin’s Choice: A Young Adult Novella is now available. The novella is only available as an ebook.
Erin hopes to fulfill her mother’s dying wish to champion in the upcoming Irish Dance Competition, but when she meets bad boy graffiti artist, Michael, sparks fly. Soon Michael is helping Erin add a few passionate dance steps to her routine and the two find themselves falling in love. But when Erin and Michael are faced with an unexpected pregnancy, will their first love survive the choice?
You can purchase Erin’s Choice for your Kindle here.
Sweetheart Christmas Pre-Order
Sweetheart Christmas is available for pre-order as an ebook. Both print and ebook will be released on October 28. The book will be available at your favorite bookstore.
YA Romance Novella Available for Pre-Order
My YA romance novella is now available for pre-order. The novella will release on September 30.
Blurb: Erin hopes to fulfill her mother’s dying wish to champion in the upcoming Irish Dance Competition but when she meets bad boy, graffiti artist, Michael, sparks fly. Soon Michael is helping Erin add a few passionate dance steps to her routine and the two find themselves falling in love. But when Erin and Michael are faced with an unexpected pregnancy will their first love survive the choice?
Cover Reveal
I’m happy to reveal the cover for my upcoming holiday romance, Sweetheart Christmas. This is book three in my sweet, contemporary small town romance series Cranberry Bay. The series can be read in any order and there will be two more coming–another holiday romance and a wedding story. Thanks to my fabulous cover artist, Su at Earthly Charms and Design for another great cover! The book will release in October 2023. And I finally have a holiday romance story!
Mindy Hardwick's Blog 