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Friday, November 09, 2012

A Modern Christmas Tale

Down here, in Australia, November means the shops deck their halls and the junk mail/mail box flyers quadruple in volume. Christmas is truly on the agenda. Magazines are filled with home-made gift ideas and despite part of me thinking, 'Noooooo, it's too early to think about Christmas' I know that really it's not.


This year, things are busier than normal because between now and Christmas I have a son writing his final Year 12 exams (all 13 of them) and an insane bike ride to complete, so I am starting to feel the pressure to ‘get organised.’  

The first week of November means I have to soak the dried fruit for my Christmas cake in whiskey, rum, brandy, vanilla and lemon essence. It soaks for a month and I bake it at the start of December. This cake featured in my RITA award-winning novel, Boomerang Bride.  It also means that any gifts I want to order from the USA, like Lego...it is HEAPS cheaper on your side of the world...then I have to do it know so it arrives by December 25th.  November also means its time to plant the tomato seedlings and the basil...yes, it's spring 'Down Under.'




This year, November also means Newborn Baby for Christmas is out in the UK and the USA. I love Christmas and I loved writing this book. The idea came from the original Christmas story, starting with the virgin birth. Almost all the elements of the original Christmas story are in my very modern, 2012, Christmas tale, although no camels. ;-)

Reviews for this story have been very positive, "Mrs Lowe is on top form in this captivating story of long term friends progressing into lovers. The characters are normal everyday people whom you can easily identify with. " "There is only one word to describe this story;fantastic!"
So what's it about?
Hamish and Georgie have been friends for 14 years and now, both in their thirties, one of them is very keen to settle down although not with the other. Like many modern women, Georgie's biological clock is ticking and in 2012, women are not dependent on having a man in their life to have a child. When Georgie asks Hamish one of the biggest favours a friend can ever ask, he reluctantly agrees. He has one caveat- his family can never know.
Both Georgie and Hamish have totally different plans for Christmas but the universe has another idea. Hamish finds himself living his worst nightmare. He's in the heart of his extended family at Christmas, and Georgie and their secret is there too.
I hope you enjoy spending Christmas at Weeroona with the Pettigrew family and if you want to drink the wine they drink in the book, then check out Leura Park Estate whose motto, Life is short, celebrate well, is one we should take on board!
I set this book very close to where I live, which is a beautiful coastal part of the world and it's full of Australian Christmas traditions. What is your favourite part in the run-up to Christmas? Leave a comment to do into a draw for an eBOOK editions of Newborn Baby For Christmas
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I hope you enjoy reading Newborn Baby For Christmas as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Fiona x
Newborn Baby for Christmas is out now and available  as a physical book or an eBook. It's available Amazon UK & USA and from Harlequin.
 Fiona Lowe is a RITA® and R*BY award-winning, multi-published author with Harlequin and Carina Press. Whether her books are set in outback Australia or in the mid-west of the USA, they feature small towns with big hearts, and warm, likeable characters that make you fall in love. When she's not writing stories, she's a weekend wife, mother of two 'ginger' teenage boys, guardian of 80 rose bushes and often found collapsed on the couch with wine. You can find her at her website, facebookTwitter and Goodreads.



15 comments:

Mary Preston said...

I'm already stocking up the pantry. No last minute rush for me, I want to enjoy it.

I love wrapping gifts & because I post some away they are done.

I LOVE everything about Christmas, including all the Christmas reads. NEWBORN BABY FOR CHRISTMAS looks just wonderful!!

Eli Yanti said...

I already have this book, louisa george is very generously send her book that included this book (2 in 1) and i will read this 2 in 1 soon :)

Pat Cochran said...

Every thing about Christmas is so blessed
and exciting. The most enjoyable is the
family time, especially as the children
share the story of the Holy birth. Our
special tradition is singing "Happy
Birthday" to "Baby Jesus" and the grand-
children blow out a candle on a special
birthday cake!

Pat C.

Fiona Lowe said...

Mary, so great to meet someone who loves Christmas!

Fiona Lowe said...

Eli, I must read Louisa George's story! I plan to at the beach this summer...down here that is only two months away!

Fiona Lowe said...

Pat, that sounds like a lovely tradition.

redjuliet said...

There are so many things I love about Christmas! The best part for me is spending time with family & friends. Talking, eating, playing games & going to the movies. I love putting up a tree & enjoying all my ornaments. I also like the challenge of finding great gifts for those I love. It is a great time of year! Thanks for the giveaway!

girlygirlhoosier52 said...

The only thing I dislike about Christmas is the non-stop canned music everywhere... I pity those poor retail clerks that hear it loop over and over and over and over... Love Christmas themed books.... and would love to win yours for the Oz Christmas traditions!!

Fiona Lowe said...

Juliet it's interesting you associate Christmas with going to the movies. I am hanging out for a good Christmas romance movie. I think the last one I saw was The Holiday and that was aeons ago!

Fiona Lowe said...

Girly-Girl, I'm guessing you're from Indiana ;-)I hear you on the canned music. My husband is a grinch when it comes to the music and he HATES Jingle Bell Rock. Ironically, my eldest son has had to play it on the piano at two concerts over the years which involves practising at home LOL!

Melanie Milburne said...

I did my pudding and cake three weeks ago when I was procrastinating on my WIP!
Can't wait to read this one, Fiona. xx

Kandy Shepherd said...

Hi Fiona, you look like you mean business on your bike! You must be very fit!

I love Christmas, and always have such great plans to be organized that disintegrate into a last-minute panic.

Don't put me in the draw for Newborn Baby for Christmas as I am fortunate to already have a copy. Your readers are in for a treat with this book, it is a heartwarming story with characters who truly feel like friends by the time you reach the end of the story. Definitely one for the keeper shelf!

Fiona Lowe said...

Ah, the pudding, Melanie! Lovely. My mum is still making the pudding but I have made a couple when I lived in the USA and mum wasn't around to do it. It's a process for sure!

Fiona Lowe said...

Aw, thanks, Kandy!
That photo on the bike was taken just after a HUGE rain storm had drenched me and yet I don't look wet at all! This time in two weeks I will on the 9 day bike ride.

Fiona Lowe said...

Hi, Everyone.
I put your names in a hat and my eldest son, who is doing his Year 12 exams and his currently studying for history this afternoon, pulled a name out of the hat.
The winner of Newborn Baby for Christmas is.....drum roll.... Girlygirlhoosier52! If you can email me please at fiona@fionalowe.com I can find out the format you require the book in and email it to you.

Thanks everyone for joining in. Remember, you can grab a copy of Newborn Baby for Christmas now from Harlequin.com for around $4.80 ...cheaper than coffee and cake, lasts a lot longer and is better for you!

See you in December!