Cheer Up, Christmas Grumps!
For those of you who do know me, it's no surprise that I'm fond of Christmas books. In fact, I love romance novels focusing on all holidays - I've written about at least five holidays, myself, and I keep going back to the well of seasonal wonder. I used to love reading holiday books as a teen, and still do. I have a big pile of Christmas romances to burn through this vacation.
One of the things I like best in my holiday romance is the misanthropy. Yes, I know what that word means, and no, it's not a typo.
Misanthropy (noun): The dislike of humanity; the opposite of philanthropy.
So, basically, there's Nephew Fred (philanthropist) and Uncle Scrooge (misanthropist) - until he was reformed, that is.
And that's the part I love most! I love grumpy characters in Christmas books. I love watching them squirm and sneer when confronted by some disgustingly cheerful Christmas-lover-do-gooder, and I love watching them melt. They just seem so realistic to me, since I see this happen over and over again as the people around me adjust to the whole "peace on earth" atmosphere every December.
In my book Unwrapping Scrooge, I have a rumpled and grumpy reclusive writer - sexy, sure, but also fairly eccentric and cynical (which, to me, makes him even sexier, but I'm weird that way). Instead of growing cold through the pursuit of wealth, he's been made cold growing up wealthy. He's all too certain that all interaction has a bottom line to it some place, and he's decided to have no part in it. That is, of course, until he meets a cheerful young Canadian Christmas-lover who melts him (and unwraps him). Gee, I wonder who she's based on...? *ahem*
Yes, I know real life doesn't have many easy, long-lasting transformations, sadly. But one of the great things about fiction is that we can fix the things we don't like about real life, right? And think how great it would be if those holiday reformations would last 364 days a year!
So, happy holidays, and try not to get bogged down in buying stuff and cooking stuff, and meeting family members who seem designed to destroy your cheer. Tell someone how special they are, focus on what actually matters, and restore/renew for 2012.
ETA: New SAMPLES of my Christmas stories on my holiday website for Sample Sunday!
My question to you - what gets you in the holiday spirit? Comment before the end of the blog hop on December 18 for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card from me - to spend on yourself, mind, so don't go blowing it on stuff for other people. Your uncle really doesn't need a set of digital golf tees.
Then follow on to meet the nearly 200 other bloggers giving stuff away, and have yourself a wonderful holiday!
*
Anne Holly is a Canadian writer of romance and erotic romance, and author of Strings Attached, Unwrapping Scrooge and a five-story holiday series from Rebel Ink Press. You can visit her website, her holiday story website, follow her on Twitter or on FB, or sign up for her monthly newsletter to keep in touch.
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79 comments:
My kids' excitement gets me in the holiday spirit every year. I love seeing them anxious with anticipation, it puts a smile on my face. Thank you so much for taking part in this hop and for the wonderful giveaway!
jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net
Your book Unwrapping Scrooge sounds good! I love Christmas stories too. I'd love to win the gift card and buy your book. Reading Christmas stories, especially romances, as well as watching Christmas movies, are my favorites ways to get into the holiday spirit.
Merry Christmas!
Best, Alison
birdmad9 (at) yahoo (dot) com
The music, the decorations, and my daughter's Christmas wish list get me in the holiday spirit....
koonie2888 at yahoo dot com
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
The Christmas lights, music and the tv movies get me in the Christmas spirit.
jmesparza821(at)gmail(dot)com
Lots of things get me in the holiday spirit, but I think the main one is the people all around me, they all are a bit happier and there’s an overall feel that you get during the holidays that’s absent the rest of the year…
Thanks for the giveaway!
brie.clementineATgmail.com
It takes a long time for me to get in the holiday spirit, but I usually get in the groove by the week before. Sometimes I'll even start shopping then (and sometimes later--LOL).
Listening to Christmas music and watching holiday movies get me into the holiday spirit.
Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot]com
Christmas lights at night :)
Thanks and Happy Holidays!
talia628@yahoo.com
Thanks for the comments, folks. Keep em coming!
Hope everyone has a safe, happy weekend. We're getting snow here now - very Christmassy.
what gets me in the spirit is seeing all the beautiful holiday lights that people put up on their homes. It makes the fact it gets dark early actually something to look forward to
I hope your holidays are good ones. Please enter me in your contest
thanks
yinyang1062@yahoo.com
Cookie baking and thinking of all the good food we will eat
I live in Florida, it is so hot, never the White Christmas from the movies. I almost never get into the holiday spirit. I hate the shopping, decoration the tree, etc. I feel bad having family spend a lot of money on me so I don't ask for much. It is a letdown. The only thing that really is good is the honey baked ham... Bah Humbug! I'm such a downer!
OceanAkers@aol.com
Great post! I like those kinds of characters too! Christmas carols and seeing lights really get me in the Christmas spirit!
Thanks for the chance!
laurakayeauthor @ gmail.com
Once I actually start deciding what I want to get my loved ones and wrap my first gift, i feel in the holiday spirit. Happy Holidays to you!
nayjf at yahoo dot com
I like the idea of your Christmas 'Scroogy' romances and the 'Unwrapping Scrooge' sounds good.
I get in the mood by doing a little at a time starting with the day after Thanksgiving: music, decorations, baking, gifts, cards, activities. I have learned to say 'no' and to go to bed when I am tired. The biggest thing is I find some project to give back either time or money too. This year it was a food pantry and overseas soldiers.
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
sophiarose1816@gmail.com
Happy Holidays!
The holiday decorations and the movies get me in the holiday spirit.
Thanks for being part of the hop and for the chance to win such a great prize! <^_^>
reneebennett35 at yahoo dot com
Christmas music and seeing beautiful decorations gets me in the holiday spirit. My email is ebonyeyes1968@aol.com
Working in retail it's right after Halloween that they try and put you into the Christmas spirit! LOL. But I'd have to say when I start seeing the Christmas lights up is when I start getting there.
-Amber
goodblinknpark@yahoo.com
eggnog or Christmas fudge...mmmmm!
christinbanda at yahoo dot com
my nephews and nieces when the little ones get excited it kind of rubs off on you
helldog3 at aol.com
Christmas music. It's hard to be in a bad mood with it filling your mind. Thanks for the giveaway! Gloria
geschumann at live dot com
I get into the holiday spirit when I go shopping for Black Friday. Then I know it is the offical start of the holiday season.
Megan G.
megonski216@yahoo.com
Reading holiday books gets me in the holiday spirit usually. Thank you so much for the giveaway! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
June M.
manning_j2004 @ yahoo dot com
i love the way you did your page and then i love to read a lot
and would love your
desi the blonde@ msn.com
I get in the spirit when I begin shopping!
celjla212 at aol dot com
It's never Christmas until Elvis sings "Blue Christmas" and on Christmas Morning, Manahiem Steam Roller does Silent Night.
angel.graham.1 (at) gmail.com
I have to say what gets me in the mood for the Holiday season is my christmas tree. Once I choose my color theme & decorate it then I am officially in the mood!
Greeneyez2340 at AOL dot Com
Christmas shopping for other gets me in the holiday spirit. I love finding the right gift for each person on my list.
Happy Holidays!
Its when I start wrapping the gifts. All of a sudden it just hits.
bacchus76 at myself dot com
Hearing the Christmas music really puts me in the spirit, seeing all the houses lit up in my neighborhood and putting up my tree with my niece. Happy Holidays to you!
Eva
evitap67(at)gmail(dot)com
Hearing the Christmas music really puts me in the spirit, seeing all the houses lit up in my neighborhood and putting up my tree with my niece. Happy Holidays to you!
Eva
evitap67(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks for the giveaway.
We have a tradition of putting all the gifts under the Christmas tree and then the youngest person there has to take each one to the recipient.
The kids enjoy it and their faces are a picture and that is what puts me in the holiday spirit.
Have a happy and relaxing Christmas season.
Carol T
buddytho {at} gmail DOT com
Decorating the tree and listening to Christmas songs puts me in the holiday spirit.
Thanks for the giveaway!
throuthehaze at gmail dot com
Christmas music really makes me happy and I love to listen to it from the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas Day. I always listen to Elvis first! Have a wonderful holiday
Christmas music, lights, & movies do it for me. Really want to read Unwrapping Scrooge. Sounds like a fun book.
Wolphcall(at)bellsouth(dot)net
i think my kids being excited about putting up the tree. christmas music is always good. ;-)
Terri M
oklahomamommy0306@gmail.com
The grandkids are usually the ones that get me excited. They are off the walls right now waiting for the day. I also like Christmas carols, they usually help. Not the shopping though, I hate the shopping in person. I buy a lot online so I don't have to fight the crowds.
seriousreader at live dot com
All the holiday specials and movies get me in the Christmas spirit. Thanks for the giveaway.
e.balinski(at)att(dot)net
I'm not sure what exactly gets me in the spirit, but by the end of Thanksgiving, I'm already pulling out the Christmas tree and decorations. I think just knowing Christmas is on the way gets me in the spirit. It's such a beautiful time of year and everyone around me is usually so happy. So, really I think how other people react is a big factor for me!
Happy holidays!
stacy1663@gmail.com
Right after Thanksgiving I put up all my Xmas decs and then I listen to xmas music all of December :-) Merry Christmas!
smaccall AT comcast.net
It doesn't seem like Christmas until I pack all my kids in the car, turn up the Christmas music, and drive around at night looking at all the Christmas lights! That's when I really get into the holiday spirit!
jwitt33 at live dot com
I am lucky enough to have a pretty wonderful family, so hanging out with them, baking and shopping together, always keeps me in the holiday spirit.
caity_mack at yahoo dot com
Nothing makes me feel the Christmas spirit as much as making Christmas decorations from rowan berries, pine needles, cones and mistletoe.
Happy Holidays!
jutrznia(at)gmail(dot)com
The lights and the music. I love to dig out my holiday CDs. Thanks!
moonlightvirgo(AT)yahoo. com
My two little four year-olds, without a doubt. I also got very Christmasy this year while I was baking, because outside my huge window was nothing but snow, snow, and snow. With the candle light on the table in front of it, it was kinda romantic!
Erica Pike
eripike at gmail dot com
When I start baking cookies is when I get into the spirit. It helps that I usually put on Christmas music to listen to during the bake-fest
I really don't enjoy the holidays. We go out for Chinese food, and we celebrate New Years Eve. Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust
@fangswandsfairy
steph@fangswandsandfairydust.com
Christmas songs!!!!
Happy Holiday!
Aramis_blue@gmx.de
i loved reading christmas books to get into the christmas mood... =D
jessica
jessica_klang(at)hotmail(dot)com
Getting closer to finishing marking for the term is certainly helping improve my holiday spirit!
Thanks for the comments, folks. :)
Love your blog!!! and I agree...the thing that gets me in holiday spirit this year is the fact that the year is almost over....bring on an even numbered 2012 <3
Merry Christmas <3
bakinstuff@yahoo.com
What a great giveaway thank you very much! I love everything about christmas Love the lights and my christmas village houses!
Happy Holidays!
tishajean@ charter.net
The weather being cool and providing encouragement to just stay inside, read (romance ebooks of course), or spend time with family playing board games, etc.
All the Christmas movies on TV and the Christmas music on the radio gets me in the Christmas spirit.
Hot chocolate, fire in the fireplace and making s'mores with the grandkids, gets me everytime.
Thanks for the giveaway!
What gets me in the holiday spirit is my kids anticipation and also baking cookies!
Happy Holidays!
pkbw28(at)gmail(dot)com
Looking at the houses all decorated with lights. Getting out our tree and decorating it and the house while listening to caroles.
luvfuzzzeeefaces at yahoo dot com
Merry Christmas
You can keep the comments going until midnight tonight (EST). I'll pick a winner at random, and email you if you left your email. I will post winners tomorrow evening.
Thanks for all the comments, folks!
(My giveaway at 30 Days of Decadence is ongoing until Jan 2, and I have three other bloghop/blogfest contests coming up this month, as well - also one in my next newsletter!)
Happy holidays!
What gets my into the christmas spirit is seeing all of the christmas decorations, the trees, the music and movies. ;) The festive atmosphere. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway! Happy holidays to you!
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com
Decorating the Christmas tree, we are doing it this week and the advents calendar, Christmas Carol movie.
Happy Holidays!
gardemarin(at)gmx(dot)de
I love decorating the tree with my family.
Happy Holidays
judithhulleyathotmaildotcom
A good glass of wine and snogging my fiance under the mistloetoe gets me in the holiday spirit
teressaoliver at gmail dot com
Seeing the Christmas lights and watching Christmas movies.
spav05(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Baking Christmas cookies & decorating the house always gets me in the spirit!
Happy Holidays & thanks for the giveaway!
elizabeth@bookattict.com
Wrapping gifts gets me in the Christmas spirit.
books4me67 at ymail dot com
See the generosity of other people towards others in need gets me in the holiday spirit--seeing how others show the love of the season is truly inspiring!
f dot chen at comcast dot net
Listening to Christmas music gets me in the spirit of Christmas. It can be the old classics like White Christmas by Bing Crosby or something more up to date like All I Want For Christmas is You by Mariah Carey.
Hope to win something!
mcv111@hotmail.com
Generally wrapping presents and shopping gets me in the spirit, especially since I mostly just buy for the kids now :)
I love Christmas music, always have! Plus I love the Eggnog Latte at Starbucks so it's become a Christmas season staple of mine!
hhollyhal at gmail dot com
Music puts me into the spirit. I love listening to the traditional music. It is the best part, along with all the twinkling lights. I would love to be added to this giveaway! Thanks for the opportunity and happy holidays!
m.lanz28@ymail.com
Happy Holidays! And thanks for the great giveaway and for participating in this blog hop! Nothing gets me more in the holiday mood than holiday music and "It's a Wonderful Life".
BornajhawkATaolDOTcom
christmas songs do it for me every time.
jslindzy@hotmail.com
christmas songs do it for me every time.
jslindzy@hotmail.com
Putting up the Christmas tree with my daughters. Just love it!!
Thank you participating in this.
Happy Holidays!
Sonia
mamaelk1113 at gmail dot com
MAMAELK1113 Twitter
GFC Mamaelk
FB sonia remo ait
i usually do alot of baking and candy making to get in the Holiday spirit. my nieces and nephew help so that helps me too.
thank you so much for the chance at such a great giveaway. i hope you and your family have a very
Happy Holiday Season.
trvlagnt1t@yahoo.com
I get in the Christmas mood when I go with my neighbor and her daughter's and daughter in law, on the Christmas Tour of Homes. Always fun. Thanks for being part of the hop. lisagk(at)yahoo(dot)com
Listening to christmas music all day puts me in the holiday mood. christina_92 at yahoo.com
Sophia Rose was the winner, and she accepted the prize. Thanks to everyone who participated (particularly to those who signed up for my newsletter and subscribed to the blog!)!
I have giveaways going on all over the place in the next while - the 30 Days of Decadence contest is still open, and I'm at Whipped Cream today giving away a book, and at Long and Short Reviews and RomFan Reviews next week giving away books, as well.
Thanks, all, and happy holidays!
- AH
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