I'm a sucker for a Christmas romance. Are you?
This month, I'm launching my first Christmas romance, THE WINTER WIFE, as an e-novella (available from all good e-booksellers).
If you're a devotee of the MAMMOTH anthologies, many things about THE WINTER WIFE may strike you as familiar. It's actually an extended version of my story "Upon a Midnight Clear" which appeared in THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF REGENCY ROMANCE in 2010.
UAMC was my first reunion story and the characters haunted me long after I sent it in to the editor. The MAMMOTH books limit stories to no more than 13,000 words and I've always wanted the chance to give Sebastian, Earl of Kinvarra, and Alicia, his headstrong countess, a bit more room to breathe.
Not only that, it struck me fairly quickly that I'd missed an obvious chance to do my longed-for Christmas romance. I mean, come on, the title comes from a Christmas carol and our lovers meet unexpectedly in the middle of a snowstorm in Yorkshire. Transferring the date to Christmas Eve instead of some unspecified night in December seemed a no-brainer - at least in hindsight.
Then suddenly there were opportunities for indie publishing the story in digital format. My chance had finally arrived for a second bite at Sebastian and Alicia's relationship - much as they get on this snowy Christmas Eve!
So THE WINTER WIFE: A CHRISTMAS NOVELLA was born. Here is the blurb:
Will a chance meeting on Christmas Eve…
Alicia Sinclair, Countess of Kinvarra,cannot believe that fate has been so cruel as to strand her on the snowy Yorkshire moors with her estranged husband as her only hope of rescue. During their rare encounters,the arrogant earl and his countess act like hostile strangers. Now that Alicia has fallen into Kinvarra’s power, will he seek revenge for her desertion? Or does the dark, passionate man she once adored have entirely different plans for his headstrong wife?
..deliver a second chance at love?
Sebastian Sinclair, Earl of Kinvarra, has spent ten wretched years regretting the mistakes he made with his young bride,but after long separation, the barriers between them are insurmountable. Until an unexpected encounter one stormy night makes him wonder if the barriers of mistrust and thwarted desire are so insurmountable after all. When winter weather traps Sebastian and his proud, lovely wife in an isolated inn, could the earl and his headstrong countess have a Christmas miracle in store?
You can read an excerpt of THE WINTER WIFE on my website: http://annacampbell.info/books.html
Here's the Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Winter-Wife-Christmas-Novella-ebook/dp/B00AFYH7A2/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1355118660&sr=1-1&keywords=the+winter+wife
Or you can buy it on Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/262852
This is my last column here for the year. I want to thank Lee for hosting Tote Bags 'n' Blogs and everyone who swung by to read my pieces and especially to all the lovely people who have left comments. I've thoroughly enjoyed our conversations and I look forward to more next year.
So do you have a favorite Christmas romance? There's a download of THE WINTER WIFE up for grabs to someone who comments today. Good luck and Happy Holidays!
30 comments:
Hi Anna,
Thank you for the wonderful columns this year!
My current favourite Christmas romance is Eloisa James's An Affair Before Christmas.
A Happy Christmas to you Anna.
Lucy
I so hate my laptop right now as I have to write this comment now the third time, aaarrrrgggghhh - but enough of ranting against the modern age technology
Hi Anna,
can't wait to read this one. I love the I-love-you-but-I-am-too-proud-to-admit-it stories and looking forward to snowstorms and passion.
Merry Christmas
Manuela
Hi Anna, I din't really read a Christmas story until I decided to read "Twas the Night After Christmas" by Sabrina Jeffries. It's a wonderful story of mother-son forgiveness. I already bought a few days ago, The Winter wife, is next on my list to read. It sounds amazing to read Merry Christmas!
I've always love the novella of Jill Barnett "Daniel and the Angel". Such a very funny, heartwarming and romantic story. :D
Hmmm... well... I think I'll have to go with Love Actually. It's a movie I know... But I watch it every year.
Lucy, I haven't read that! Just read Eloisa's When Beauty Tamed the Beast and loved it to death - love a beauty and the Beast story and this one was fabulous. Must check out your recommendation. Thanks for swinging by and for saying you enjoyed the columns. I love coming to Tote Bags. It's got such a friendly atmosphere.
Hi Manuela! Thanks for persisting. I think there was something in the air yesterday - I had trouble commenting on a couple of blogs. When I wrote THE WINTER WIFE, I had an idea of two people who were perfect for each other who just married too early. Alicia's only 17 and Sebastian's only 21 when they marry and they just weren't mature enough to solve their problems, problems which seemed insurmountable at the time but of course weren't with a bit of maturity and understanding and forgiveness. Luckily they got a second chance. Love second chance romances!
Nicole, I love Sabrina's books - must check out the one you recommended. Hope you enjoy The Winter Wife - I told someone on a blog yesterday that it's bite-sized like a mince pie! LOL!
Lory, it's ages since I read one of Jill's - she wrote some great historicals back in the day. I must check out the one you recommended. I think novellas are the perfect length for this time of year. If you're looking for a quick, fun read with a lovely emotional heart, I really enjoyed Michelle Douglas's Christmas at Candlebark Creek and Liz Fielding's Mistletoe and the Lost Stiletto.
May, I LOVE Love Actually. I love how none of the stories wear out their welcome - and that one with Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman always breaks my heart. Great choice!
Hi Anna, what a wonderful post. My favorite Christmas story is actually a series by Debbie Macomber Shirley, Goodness & Mercy series...This year her book introduces a new apprentice angel Will. The book, Angels At The Table, was a delight to read. I love that she drew the idea from the quote "surely goodness and mercy will follow". I love upbeat stories this time of year.
Thank you for your giveaway. Have a safe and joyous holiday season. Merry Christmas :)
kcnrhtx (at) charter (dot) net
Hi Kimberley! Oh, great choice. Debbie Macomber came to one of the Romance Writers of Australia conferences a few years ago - everybody loved her! Lovely lady. I agree with you about upbeat at this time of year - it tends to lend itself to stories about forgiveness and reconciliation and happy endings and hope. You know, all the good stuff! ;-) Wishing you a very merry Christmas too! Going to be a hot one Australia by the look of it!
i like a visit from sir nicholas by Victoria Alexander or maybe his mistress by christmas by her as well
Hi, Anna! I love the excerpt of "The Winter Wife" and am sooo looking forward to reading it. I'm hoping that Santa will be very good to me this year and put it in my stocking!
Happy Christmas! ;-)
I love about all holiday stories. I can't say I have a favorite. Although there was one years ago by Constance O'Banyon Five Golden Rings that was really good.
Melissa, isn't that a great title? A visit from Sir Nicholas sounds like an altogether good thing!
Connie, thanks so much for swinging by all the blogs and saying hello. Always lovely to see you. So glad you enjoyed the excerpt - thanks for saying you're looking forward to reading it! Laughing at the stocking!
Quilt Lady, I've got a feeling I read that Constance O'Banyon. The title definitely rings a bell. Glad you're another fan of Christmas stories!
As my husband said yesterday, I am a sucker for a Christmas chick book. Who knew? I love an HEA set at Christmas. It just seems to make the season bright. I don't have a favorite but I do still love Dickens A Christmas Carol which still seems to embody the love of the season even if romance isn't involved.
Renee, you know, I've never read a Christmas Carol. I was doing some research into Regency Christmas traditions the other day and discovered quite how much ACC had to do with the revival of interest in Christmas as a major annual event (something we still live with today). Apparently in the early 19th century, there was a movement called 'Save Christmas' just because the Holiday threatened to become completely unmarked. Difficult to believe today, isn't it?
Hi Anna, have read all your books and look forward to reading your new christmas one. Christmas is the perfect time to be a romantic. If a book is historical and romantic I am happy and add christmas to the plot and I am content. All the best for christams.
Rose, how lovely that you've read all the books. Thanks so much for picking them up. It was fun doing a Christmas story - so much so I'm thinking of making it an annual event. As you say, it's such a romantic time of year! Happy Christmas to you too!
Congrats Anna on the newest release! I just started reading Christmas romances this year and nothing has really hit my fav button yet. But I've got several more to read so fingers crossed :)
Erin, how cool about starting to read Christmas romances. Have you tried The Heart of Christmas - it's 3 novellas and they're all good, especially the Courtney Milan one. Hope you soon find a few you like! There are a lot out there - Christmas romances are a whole genre to themselves!
Hi Anna, this time of the year is so busy, a novella is just the right size for me to read quickly in one sitting.
I loved THE WINTER WIFE. It was deeply romantic and wonderfully passionate. The second-chance type of love story is appealing, and you did this one so well. The setting on a snowy Christmas Eve made it all the more special. I hope you write another Christmas novella next year!
I really like holiday novels. Love to read this one. thanks for sharing the info.
Hey, thanks, Kandy. Absolutely delighted that you enjoyed the Winter Wife. Thanks so much for picking it up. Yeah, I liked the setting too. There's something really romantic about that whole snowy Yorkshire moors thing - at least when you're snuggled up somewhere warm and dry while you're reading about it! ;-)
Hi Queen of Books. What a great name! Clearly my house is part of your kingdom - there's lots of books here and most of them are in an awful mess! So glad you're looking forward to reading The Winter Wife!
Thanks, everyone, for swinging by. I'm delighted to announce the winner of the download of THE WINTER WIFE: A CHRISTMAS NOVELLA. It's Queen of Books Sue! Sue, please email me on anna @ annacampbell.info and I'll organise your download for you. And happy Holidays, everyone!
Hi Anna, sorry it didnt win but i have just downloaded the the winter wife, so am looking forward to reading as soon as i finish Brenda Joyces latest Surrender. Am having trouble getting anything done. Not good so close to Christmas.
All the best Ros
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