Scorching Heat; it must be Christmas! by Fiona Lowe

I am just back from my first foray to the shops for Christmas. Usually, I start in November but this year I was on a nine day bike ride (300+ miles!!/591km) and I have come back to discover I usually do a LOT of preparation during that last week of November.

My key to Christmas shopping is two-fold. 1. On-line shop as much as you can. 2.If I need to go to the mall I go early ; in by 9AM and out by 11AM. As The Lad (18 year old son) and I walked out of the mall today, we walked into a wall of heat. Ah, it must be Christmas.

My husband and Boy Wonder (14) made an early trip and bought the Christmas tree because tomorrow they will all be wilted after today's scorcher of 102F. The house smells of pine and again, I know it must be getting close to Christmas.

I've shared three phone calls and five text messages with my sister so far today...again, another sign Christmas is coming!

I also have a Christmas novel out! Newborn Baby For Christmas which is a modern take on the original Christmas story. It's lots of fun...there is a family reunion (census), no room at the inn, three wise men and a virgin birth ;-) It's got it all and it's set in Australia so a heap of Aussie Christmas traditions are thrown in there as well. Please do check out the link because 'Down Under' our Christmas is a little different from friends who live in the northern hemisphere and I've described them along with some recipes!

Of course, I PINE for my northern hemisphere Christmases where all the traditions made made sense. I wrote about them in my Rita winning novel, Boomerang Bride, which is coming out in trade paperback in the USA on December 18th! just in time for Christmas :-) It's on sale right now at Amazon.

Also, talking recipes, the wonderful folk at Carina Press  who published Boomerang Bride have put together a holiday recipe book and it's free HERE as a pdf so Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a happy and healthy festive season and I hope you get to spend time with the people you wish to spend time with!

Please take care, travel safely, hug the ones you love, spare a thought for those less fortunate and I hope your stockings are overflowing with great books!
Fiona xxx