When my three friends
and I geared up to write our novellas for the Christmas in New York anthology,
we were all excited. None of us had ever written a Christmas story before, and
it was also our first time writing for Tule Publishing. And there we were, writing
about Christmas, winter, snow... in July. Yup, we wrote our holiday tales
during the sweltering summer months. It was strange to get my mindset into
cold, snowy days when I had the windows open, the heat and humidity floating
into my room along with the sounds of crickets chirping.
But what it cemented
for me was how much I really love winter. I had to conjure up all the things I
love about it, since they weren’t around me, and it wasn’t hard. My friends who
love warm weather—which is the majority of them!—think I’m crazy, but I do love
winter. I hate sweating, so right there, winter wins. I love the cold, brisk
air (when it’s not subzero polar vortex kind of temperatures, mind you). Winter
air wakes me up and makes me feel alive. The air feels clearer, sharper, and
pulls me into focus. I love burrowing into cozy clothes—soft fleeces and
flannels, thick wools, heavier cottons. Layering in them, then wrapping an
extra blanket around myself for ultra-coziness, preferably in front of a
fireplace. I love enjoying hot cocoa or tea and comfort foods like soup and
other warm, delicious things. Most of all, I love watching snow fall. It softly
turns the landscape into a magical realm of pristine, sparkling whiteness.
Beneath newly fallen snow, the world is transformed into a breathtakingly
beautiful place.
And of course, I love
the holidays! December has a vibrant energy all its own. I tried to describe it
in my novella, ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS, but I don’t know if I did it justice.
Think about it... how everyone you see seems to be revitalized, a little
bouncier, a little brighter. The decorations everywhere, the lights and
colors... the music! Songs that everyone has heard so many times they know all
the words and still sing along. The holidays end the calendar year with a
wonderfully festive feeling, the year’s grand finale. And for me, growing up on
Long Island, there really is something unique about Christmastime in New York.
I was thrilled to be able to write a story in that setting. Now that the
holidays are here, I’m so enjoying all the things I mentioned, instead of only
having to daydream about them. I hope you all are too.
Jennifer Gracen
1 comment:
There's something special about Christmastime in NY!
Denise
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