I love Christmas.
That said, I am aware that many people don’t love Christmas and, for some, it’s a really hard time. If you’re one of these people, I’m sorry, that’s super shitty; I hope you get through it okay. And I also advise that you skip this first part and go right to the updates.
My family has a lot of traditions, especially me and my mom. It’s because of my mom that I read and love Christmas romance novels. It’s because of my mom that I love and devour Hallmark movies. My mom has always made the very best nuts and bolts.
Every year I send out Christmas cards, put up a tree, decorate the crap out of my house and buy boxes of Christmas oranges. That’s all because of my mom.
On Christmas Eve, my dad joins in and we drive around and look at the lights. Then we go back to their place and exchange tree ornaments and play a game where we read A Night Before Christmas and pass $10 gifts around a circle whenever the word “and” is said. Or sometimes “the.” At the end, the gift you have is the gift you get to keep.
We’ve done this since I was a kid and continue to do it even though it’s just the three of us and, by this point, we all know we’ll get the gift from whoever is sitting to the left of us and my dad will often just buy what he wants and trade with whoever gets his. Why do we still do it? Because it’s tradition. And, more importantly, because it’s still fun.
Finally, we sit around the table and stuff our faces with cinnamon buns. This tradition came from my Grandma Molly and I still think of her every Christmas Eve.
Christmas Eve is my favourite — and I’m pretty sure it’s my dad’s — which makes me love it even more. When I was a kid Christmas Eve was always the best. The rare time when we all got together as a family and had fun and my brother and I didn’t fight. Much. A time when the expectation of Christmas morning was still buzzing in the air.
On Christmas day we open stockings. (Why, yes I am 48, why do you ask?) And pass around the few presents underneath the tree. Then we hang out and read and watch HGTV or hockey and chill until we gather in the kitchen to make a simple Christmas dinner.
Christmas day was always hard for me as a kid. I would rarely sleep and I would often get depressed that everything was over. (Yes, even as a child I was neurotic). But now I enjoy the calm. I enjoy the quiet. I enjoy putting things back in their proper places until next year.
Whether you celebrate Christmas or not. Whether you love it or are just barely getting by. I wish every one of you the best over the holiday season and into the new year. Thank you so much for reading.
Do you have any fun holiday traditions? I’d love to hear about them — reply to this email or comment at the end of the newsletter.
Updates
Website
I only have one update this month and it’s only because I forgot to mention it last month. I am working on a website which I’m hoping to have ready early in the new year to coincide with the Love, Julie promo extravaganza. Keep your eyes on this newsletter if you want to see it first!
What I read
I really enjoyed this one. It was Christmas romance meets the movie Groundhog Day, and I love me a good “learn a lesson through messing around with time” story. I really enjoyed the writing and characters as well. I recommend it for a cute Christmas read.
This one was not what I expected but I liked it. It was basically a behind-the-scenes look at how a show like Saturday Night Live works with some romance thrown in. I didn’t find it to be like a typical romance, even though it was based on a trope. It was written more like upmarket fiction and I found it to be really well done. Curtis Sittenfeld is a woman, by the way, which doesn’t matter, but I didn’t know.
What I’m Reading
I’m only about a quarter of the way through this one, but it’s good so far. It’s well-written, and I like the characters. A couple of the review blurbs on the back, however, have the words “bittersweet” and “heartbreaking” in them so I’m preparing myself for whatever that means.
Resources for writers
Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers 2023 - I have found a ton of gems on this bad boy. I’m actually still going through it, TBH. If you’re a writer, I would highly recommend checking it out.
Fox Print Editorial - Not only a great newsletter with helpful advice, but I also really enjoy the design of her website.
The Shit No One Tells You About Writing Newsletter - I know I’ve shared the podcast on here about a billion times, but I’m not sure if I’ve shared the newsletter. Either way, it’s great.
Have you read Running From Christmas yet? If not, what better way to get into the Christmas spirit? And, best of all, it’s free!
The last thing Charlotte wants to do this year is to celebrate Christmas. With her beloved mother gone, all she wants is to curl up and wait for the day to be over. But when a chance encounter sees Charlotte team up with a group of feisty ladies for a 5K Christmas run—can Charlotte let go of her grief and finally stop running from Christmas?
A heartwarming festive tale about overcoming grief with the power of friendship, family and of course love!
What people are saying about my debut novel Someone to Kiss:
“This book is about so much more than dating in your 40s. It's about Friendships, family, acceptance of who you are, knowing your worth, and never settling for less. A very funny, yet moving story.” - Kate's A Bookworm
“I didn't know what to expect when I started Someone to Kiss but I am still reeling from the emotional rollercoaster it took me on. Yes, you will laugh but you will also gasp, tear up, get angry, (like wanting to cause bodily harm type of anger), feel your heart strings be pulled, and just about every feeling in between.” - The Romantic Comedy Book Club
(Books make perfect Christmas gifts, hint, hint.)