Christmas/Holiday Traditions – Sunday Snippet
Fun things about Christmas/Holiday traditions Around the World. Take for instance, the Land Down Under, because, well, someday I want to visit there, just probably not at Christmas. The English and Irish predominately settled Australia so it stands to reason their traditions reflect those countries. Here’s a few of of their Christmas Traditions.
Aussie’s decorate their homes with ferns, palm leaves and evergreens along with 
blooming flowers of Christmas Bush and Christmas Bell Flower. It’s summer time in December down under, when most of the United States is looking forward to big flakes and blankets of snow for a white Christmas.
Carols by Candlelight is one of the popular events in Australia. People come together under the stars at night to light candles and sing Christmas carols. Seems to me, it’s not far from our own tradition of Christmas carolers. I just can’t imagine Christmas/holiday without snow, that’s why I live in Colorado. Hehe!
Christmas Day is when families and close friends gather from all over Australia for a holiday midday dinner. Some enjoy a traditional British Christmas dinner of roast turkey or ham and rich plum pudding doused in brandy and set on fire before it is brought to the table. Other families head for the backyard barbie to grill their Christmas dinner, maybe shrimp, in the sunshine or go to the beach and enjoy a picnic of cold turkey or ham and a salad. To the delight of children, Father Christmas in shorts may appear to greet children at the beach on Christmas/holiday! If you can’t have snow, that’s the way to celebrate Christmas.
Because I am of Swedish descent, let’s take a peek at Christmas Traditions in Sweden where in December the days are quite short, the nights long and the ground is usually snow covered. The Christmas/holiday season begins at church on the first Sunday of Advent, which is the fourth Sunday before Christmas. Children use an Advent calendar to keep track of the first day of December until Christmas, just like some of ours do. Each morning, they open a flap in the calendar’s Christmas scene to see the charming picture behind it. This year, I have a Victorian Advent calendar on my computer and enjoy a surprise behind each door daily.
The festivities in Sweden really begin with St. Lucia’s Day, December 13th, a 
celebration of the patron saint of light. A Christmas market held in the old medieval section of Stockholm is where you can find handmade toys, ornaments, and candy. Sounds fun, doesn’t it? Some people write a special verse to accompany the gift and even seal the package with colorful sealing wax. I have enough trouble with scotch tape and wrapping paper, I can’t imagine what would happen with hot sealing wax. Not a pretty sight, I’m sure. A Christmas tree is selected by the whole family just a day or two before Christmas and decorated, while the delightful aroma of gingerbread cookies in the shape of hearts, stars, or other festive shapes waft through to house. Christmas 
Eve is when the main feast is eaten. Presents might be brought by Santa 
(Jultomten) or by gnomes/elves named Tomte or Nissar. Many families set out a sheaf of grain on a pole for hungry birds. My hubby and I always put out special treats for the wild birds in our Aspen grove on Christmas.
As for my family, we put up the tree, Christmas decorations inside and out, the weekend after Thanksgiving. Or try to. No it’s not a real tree, only because I’m allergic. <sigh> We watch Christmas movies throughout December and make candy such as Divinity, Fantasy Fudge and Beaver Dams. What are 
Beaver Dams, you ask. Well, take a package of butterscotch chips, melt them in a double boiler, stir in half-package of crispy Chow Mein Noodles and one half can of cocktail peanuts. Spoon the concoction onto foil in small mounds and let set. They look like beaver dams hence the name. YUMMY.
This year I’m going, to once again, try my hand at gingerbread cookies. Its become a Christmas Tradition of sorts, an make my family cringe. Why you ask? I haven’t had a lot of luck in previous years getting a good tasting cookie. But last year, thanks to a great recipe, not only did they turn out, but it’s become a beloved tradition now. Goes great with hot chocolate and marshmallows. LOL
Speaking of things that go good with hot chocolate. A heartwarming holiday tale, fits the bill! I’ve got just the one for you Meringue Snowflake Magic AND it’s on sale #99cents.
A Snippet of MERINGUE SNOWFLAKE MAGIC for your holiday enjoyment –
“What the hell?” burst from her mouth before she could stop it. She slapped a hand over her mouth and glanced around.
He took her hand. “Follow me. It’s not safe out in the open for you.”
“What the hell are you talking about? Where are we?” She stared at the surrounding area.
“I’ll explain all in good time. Right now, it’s imperative you follow me.” He started to tug her deeper into the woods.
Refusing to continue, she dug her heels in the damp ground covered with decaying leaves. “I’m not going any farther until you tell me what’s going on.”
He shrugged. “Suit yourself.” Whirling around, he slung her over his shoulder like a bag of potatoes, then sprinted into the woods.
She squealed. “Put me down this instant.”
Paying no mind to her, he set her feet on the path at the foot of a large oak tree. He pushed aside vines and plants to reveal a door in the ground. When he pressed his hand into the rough bark on the side of the tree, a keypad appeared. He punched in a number. The door sprang open to reveal steep winding steel stairs. Crouching over, he swept his arm toward the entrance. “You first.”
She stood hands on hips. “You expect me to—”
“Or I can haul your ass over my shoulder again. Unfortunately, the stairs are a bit tricky to navigate in that manner, but….” He jerked his head toward the stairs. “All will be explained once we are safe inside.”
“I’m not— ”
He took a step forward. “Your cover’s been blown. Handler is missing. Now move!”
What Christmas or holiday traditions do and your family observe during the month of December? I look forward to hearing from you. I’d love for you to tell me about your traditions in the comments!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Christmas, magic, Meringue Snowflake Magic, Mystery, Paranormal Romance/Mystery, Sunday Snippet, Tena Stetler, Witches by Tena Stetler with 1 comment.
Thankful Author
This week’s Sunday Snippet will be preempted in lieu of my Thankful Author ramblings. I hope you don’t mind. Sunday Snippet will return next week with a scathingly entertaining excerpt. So without further ado:
What am I thankful for? First and foremost, I’m thankful for the ability to record my favorite TV programs and fast forward through all the political ads! The mudslinging, public airing of dirty laundry (we all have some, but know better than publicly declare it), outright lies, and finger-pointing by all involved are fast-forwarded away.
Regardless of your candidate or their platform, we all have to pull up our big girl and boy pants and support this country. It may not be perfect, but in my book, it’s still the greatest nation in the world, just my humble opinion, and don’t you forget it. <giggle>
Jamming my soapbox back under the bed. (Whew) Now let’s get on with the other things this thankful author is thankful for. First of all, I’m thankful to have food on the table, I am nearly healthy enough to enjoy life (had a bout of health issues the last couple of years), and for the roof over my head.
Bless the hearts of my wonderful readers, I am so thankful for them. I hope my tales of paranormal creatures have helped them forget their troubles or relax by slipping into worlds of magic, fantasy, and mystery, if only for a few hours. Though it’s been nearly ten years and eighteen books published, I still wake up and pinch myself every morning, thankful to be living my dream of being a published author. A dream made possible by my supportive, extraordinary husband of many moons, and The Wild Rose Press, my amazing publisher. My editor, (though she’s retired now), well, let’s just say…she rocked! I’m so thankful for her patience and understanding. Next chapter of publishing will be with a new editor. He/she’s got some big shoes to fill, but I’m sure they’ll be up to the task. Oh, yeah, and I’m thankful for the helpful, supportive authors of The Wild Rose Press! They are always willing to lend a hand.
When my characters run amuck, the story plot flows in ten different directions and none of them what I had in mind. Like my recently completed manuscript and soon to be submitted. (Yeah, I know you plotters never have that happen, but us pansters… well just saying.) Three little words, “You’ve got this” are music to my ears from my family and friends. I am eternally thankful for their encouragement and support.
I am thankful for the unconditional love of my chow dog, spoiled parrot and box turtle. No matter how bad I feel or screw up, in their eyes, I’m darn near perfect. And I’m certainly not going to tell them any different!
Finally, a day never passes without my thanks to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces whose dedication keeps our great nation free. (Comes from living in a military town all my life & marrying a soldier.) We are one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. You may not agree with me, but that’s what is great about this nation. You don’t have to. I’m entitled to my own opinion, as are you. I can write books on any topic I choose without fear of a midnight knock on my door or being carted away. Unless of course, our characters come to life, then we’re all in trouble. ROFLOL
While this thankful author has lot more to be thankful for, those are the biggies. I wish you all love, laughter and happy Thanksgiving!
Okay, one more shameless promo for my feel-good Christmas tale, Meringue Snowflake Magic.
After being in the wrong place at the wrong time Wynter Dahl finds herself with a new name and new home. Whisked into the Witness Protection program she finds herself in the Podunk town of Raven’s Hollow, Colorado. She has more than one secret to keep and is not sure who she can trust, though the deputy sheriff is hard to resist.
Braydon “Blaze” Nightwing, owns Dragon Fire Pizza and takes his job as deputy sheriff seriously. He means to protect his town and its residents, including the mysterious newcomer. He rescues her after a tumble and finds himself in over his head. He senses she’s more than she seems but so is he.
When her cover is blown and her life is in danger, it will take the whole town to save her and their annual holiday festival and cookie contest. What is Christmas without a little magic?
Tiny Sneak Peek between the pages of Meringue Snowflake Magic
The sun was warm through her large side window as she stood sipping her tea and admiring the newly fallen snow that sparkled like diamonds on the ground. Several children were running up and down the hill diagonally across the street with old-fashioned wooden and newer sleds that looked like strips of brightly colored plastic. They flew down the hill at break-neck speed. She took another sip of tea, choked, and spit it all over the window, blinds, and herself. Did that little girl just unfurl blue iridescence wings and hover above the others, throwing snowballs? She blinked, rubbed her eyes and stared at the scene outside her window. Sure enough, there were now three children hovering in the air, waging war with snowballs on the others sliding down the slope. One had fallen off a sled and transformed into a furry wolf rolling down the hill. What kind of a place have I been relegated to?
Suddenly the doorbell rang, she bobbled her mug spilling more tea on the light gray carpet in front of the window. Geez, what now? On her way to the door, she tore off a couple of paper towels and dropped them on the stain. Pausing to look through the peephole, she hissed out a breath and yanked open the door. The children with wings, pointed ears, and fur were temporarily forgotten.
Meringue Snowflake Magic makes a great Christmas gift for book lovers kindles or other electronic devices.
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Christmas, Holiday, Meringue Snowflake Magic, Paranormal Romance/Mystery, Tena Stetler, Thankful Author, Witches by Tena Stetler with 1 comment.
Meringue Snowflake Magic- Sunday Snippet
This week we take a look at new release, MERINGUE SNOWFLAKE MAGIC, from the Christmas Cookie Series. #mystery #fantasy #romance. Join the #holiday #fantasy#adventure, download a copy or two today! Makes a great holiday gift. The people of Raven’s Hollow and Blaze have secrets of their own, will she discover them before it’s too late?
A little about Meringue Snowflake Magic:
After being in the wrong place at the wrong time, Wynter Dahl finds herself with a new name and new home. Whisked into the Witness Protection program she finds herself in the Podunk town of Raven’s Hollow, Colorado. She has more than one secret to keep and is not sure who she can trust, though the deputy sheriff is hard to resist.
Braydon “Blaze” Nightwing, owns Dragon Fire Pizza and takes his job as deputy sheriff seriously. He means to protect his town and its residents, including the mysterious newcomer. He rescues her after a tumble and finds himself in over his head. He senses she’s more than she seems but so is he.
When her cover is blown and her life is in danger it will take the whole town to save her and their annual holiday festival and cookie contest. What is Christmas without a little magic?
A new peek between the pages of Meringue Snowflake Magic:
After toting the last cardboard box into her new cottage in Raven’s Hollow, Colorado, she kicked the door shut with her foot and collapsed into the purple recliner. She’d bought the chair along with its matching sofa at a thrift store before falling off the grid. Both pieces of furniture were in perfect shape. She pushed the button, and the footrest came up. She sighed. Guess the color was off-putting to some. Resting her head against the soft back pillow, she glanced reassuringly at the 9mm pistol she’d taped under the coffee table next to the chair and closed her eyes for only a moment.
An insistent pounding startled her out of an impromptu nap. She kicked the footrest down and bounded out of the chair. Who the hell is at my door? A door belonging to her that no one should know existed. Silently padding to the door, she grabbed the weapon and stared out the peephole. You got to be kidding! She rubbed her eyes, peeked again, snapped the tape from under the table, and then tucked the gun in her waistband.
A large woman in a floral dress holding a basket stood on her porch. The woman peered over wire-rim spectacles at the door. Her dark hair wound up in a towering bun on top of her head. Glancing to the right, then to the left, she paused for a moment to glare at the pickup truck parked in the driveway, then pounded once more.
“Wynter Dahl, you in there?” The woman scooched to the left and peeked in the large bay window, and pressed her nose against the pane steaming the glass.
About the Author:
Tena Stetler is an internationally best-selling author of award winning paranormal tales. Some call her crazy others creative. She deals with the voices in her head by writing them down and creating a fantasy world and characters you won’t soon forget. Her books tell tales of magical kick-ass women and mystical alpha males that dare to love them. Travel, adventure, magic, and a bit of mystery flourish in her books along with a few companion animals to round out the tales.
Colorado is home; shared with her husband of many moons, a brilliant Chow Chow, a spoiled parrot and a fifty-year-old box turtle. When she’s not writing, her time is spent kayaking, camping, hiking, biking or just relaxing in the great Colorado outdoors.
Pssst… While you’re here, don’t forget to check out my paranormal romance/mysteries click here. Please check back next week for another Sunday Snippet!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Christmas, fantasy, Holiday, magic, Meringue Snowflake Magic, Paranormal Romance/Mystery, Shapeshifters, Tena Stetler, Urban Fantasy, Vampire, Witches by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
Curl Up With a Book Month Giveaway!
As winter approaches in the Northern Hemisphere, my inner bookaholic rejoices because that means there’s ample opportunity to curl up and read. There’s nothing better than curling up with a good book, especially when it’s a freebie. N. N. Light’s Book Heaven is teaming up with almost fifty authors to bring readers new releases and backlist plus gift cards in this giveaway that’s sure to please any booklover. Free e-copy, print and audiobooks are just waiting for readers to indulge in. You can even enter to win one of mine. The list is long and personally, I’d love to win myself but alas, I can’t. So, I’ll just live vicariously through the lucky winners. If there’s a particular book or prize you’d like to win, be sure to say which prize you want when you enter via Rafflecopter. Enter below and good luck!
Literary Giveaway Portal: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/literary-giveaway-portal
Curl Up With a Book Month Giveaway: https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/92db7750201
Don’s miss out! We all need to stretch our dollars, especially this holiday season! What are you waiting for? Go ahead and enter!
WHAT! You’re interested in my holiday tale, A WITCH’S HOLIDAY WEDDING? Let me give you a bit more info on the heart-warming holiday tale!
Elemental witch, Pepper McKay and former Navy SEAL, Lathen Quartz have built Lobster Cove Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center on enchanted McKay land. During a romantic interlude on Halloween night, Pepper happily agrees to become Lathen’s wife. What better day than Winter Solstice for their wedding in a town that loves celebrations and Christmas. However, planning a wedding and operating their wildlife center takes a toll on both Pepper and Lathen.
When the couple takes a much-needed break for Thanksgiving with family in Colorado, a Maine snowstorm fills the center with injured wildlife. Lathen finds himself drawn into a covert military mission, while trying to deal with issues concerning friends and family. Pepper wants to cancel the wedding. Is she having second thoughts? Will the nosy McKay ghosts, Lathen’s werewolf pack, Pepper’s parents, and her best friend help or hinder the wedding and holiday plans?
Happy Holidays! Good Luck!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged A Witch's Holiday Wedding, Christmas, Curl Up With a Book Giveaway, Paranormal Romance/Mystery, Win a book a month giveaway by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
