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GIVEAWAY ENDED
OVER THE HOLIDAYS
BY SANDRA HARPER
It's only December 1, and Vanessa Clayton has been dreading Christmas since she spotted tinseled trees at her local mall in September. Thankfully, she and her husband, JT, can't afford to drag their twin boys across the country to New England for the annual celebration at her stuffy sister-in-law Patience's home. Not that Vanessa has prepared a proper Christmas for her family in years, and she has less time than ever since she agreed to consult on the script of a local play. Her older sister, Thea, is no help -- she'd rather make art and flirt with surfers than babysit her nine-year-old nephews. Then Patience drops a holiday stress bomb: Her family will come to California instead.
In between "baking" cinnamon rolls for the school potluck and overbearing Patience testing her patience, Vanessa can't stop thinking about the difficult but charming playwright at work. Meanwhile, Patience's teenage daughter, Libby, obsesses over a college boy she has met by the pool, and Thea searches desperately for the meaning of Christmas -- for her latest installation, of course. As their holiday plans go comically awry, these four women discover the true spirit of the season is hidden in every festive surprise.
Sandra Harper is the author of the play, Magpie's Tea Room, which enjoyed a successful run in Los Angeles at The Ventura Court Theatre. She has written a cooking column, "The California Cook" for the newspaper, Skirt. A script reader for Pathe Studios and Springcreek Productions, she also wrote and produced fashion and rock videos for Elvis Costello, Chaka Khan and Vidal Sassoon, among others. Ms. Harper received her B.A. in Journalism from the University of Southern California and has completed a children's book, The Witches Club.
I HAVE ONE COPY OF THIS
BOOK AND WANT TO SHARE THE JOY
WITH ONE SPECIAL WINNER!
RULES:
--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY (SORRY)
--NO P. O. BOXES, PLEASE
--EMAIL MUST BE IN YOUR COMMENT
HOW TO ENTER:
(THE EASIEST YET!)
WATCH FOR MORE ENTRIES WHEN I POST THE REVIEW AND AUTHOR INTERVIEW TO KICK OFF HOLIDAY FUN IN NOVEMBER!
NOON ON NOVEMBER 8!
HOLIDAY HAPPENING IS COMING!
WATCH FOR SANTA'S SPECIAL CHILDREN'S SECTION OF WONDERFUL NEW BOOKS.
DECEMBER WILL BE FULL OF IDEAS AS WELL AS CHANCES TO WIN THESE BOOKS TO GIVE AS GIFTS.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
"BINGO'S BINGLE BELLS
HOLIDAY HAPPENING"!
COMING TO A BINGO BLOG NEAR YOU!
54 comments:
Sounds like your blog might be one of the things I'm most looking forward to this holiday season!
In all seriousness, I absolutely love spending time with my family. I love seeing four generations together on Christmas Day!
bookingmama(at)gmail(dot)com
I love Christmas, and I try to keep the spirit of Christmas in my heart all year long. I love to put together gift baskets and goodie bags, so I collect gift items all throughout the year. When I give someone their package filled with special things just for them, they are truly delighted. Most of my family has passed away, but I have very, very special holiday memories from my childhood. Those memories carry me through the holidays and help me in my everyday life.
gcwhiskas at aol dot com
Watching my kids Christmas morning. It'll be my youngest's first christmas, my middle daughter will finally be old enough to care and the only think my 9 yr old isn't too cool for is santa.
jennsicurella at verizon dot net
My favorite part of the holidays is getting to spend special time with my family like going out to see Christmas lights, and watching the joy on my son's face when he opens his presents.
donny and shelly at yahoo dot com
Please count me in. Thanks for the chance. My fav part of Christmas is decorating the tree.
lizzi0915 at aol dot com
This looks like a cute book-I love fun, holiday stories!
Can't wait to be around for the holidays around here!
It's great to see the family at Christmas, plus I host Christmas Eve and I love getting out our holiday dishes to use...quite the tradition.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com
My favorite part of the holiday is a tradition I started with my daughter growing up. Every year we would go to the "Hand of Man". It's a Christmas boutique where they carry all the old glass and breakable ornaments our grandparents use to have on their trees.
Each year we pick out one or two ornaments that symbolize that years memories or events. My daughter is so fond of the tradition she keeps this tradition going in her own home now that she's married.
I truly believe the traditions we instill in our children carry on to become a lifetime of memories. (Hugs)Indigo
Sorry forgot my email address. I was so caught up in the telling. (Hugs)Indigo
ravensquietscreams@gmail.com
My favorite part would definitely be the family. I see people I never get to see otherwise, and it's nice to be all together. The food is a plus too!
caitlin(dot)burke(at)live(dot)com
I am looking forward to Christmas this year, last year was a tough year emmotionally for my family so I am in general looking forward to spending the time with family and especially watching my 2 1/2 year old son experience Christmas! Please enter me in for this fantastic sounding book
Erica
The best part of Christmas is being with my family and friends. milou2ster(at)gmail.com
I just love my family all together. That is the simple and favorite thing.
fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail.com
Decorating the house and baking cookies are my favorite parts of the holidays...living away from family, I don't always get to see them for Christmas, but I know they love my cookies, so I can be there in spirit.
This book sound right up my alley.
My favorite part of the holiday season is decorating the house with my family!
heatheranne99 at hotmail dot com
I don't know how you keep up with everything!! You are amazing! You're going to need your own elves to help you out with the holiday season on your blog. I love it!
This book sounds so good. I love holiday books and for Christmas I read as many as I can through the month of December. Kids books too! My favorite thing is spending time with my family. Even when I was a kid that was so exciting to be able to see everyone. Our routines change but we still do something together. I enjoy giving most of all, especially to the kids. We don't spend a lot or give a lot but we try to make it special and thoughtful. We also have all of the kids exchange names and shop for an inexpensive gift. They enjoy doing something for someone else. There, now you know my life story! Sorry to carry on but it is fun. :) Thanks for your giveaway!
5wrights1[at]verizon[dot]net
Favorite part: people get nicer!
nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
p.s. LOVE all the holiday sparkle on the blog!!!
My favorite about the holidays are gifts, food and no school!
kalynnick AT yahoo DOT com
Being with my family is what I look forward to most. I also love having the time to be with just my son and my fiancee as well.
bekki1820cb@gmail.com
One of my favorite parts of the up-coming holiday season is seeing all of the Christmas decorations in NYC: the tree at Rockefeller Center, the department store display windows, the Christmas Tree at MMoA and more!
Aimala127@gmail.com
My favorites are the many activities at church - the Sunday school programs and the Christmas carols and reading of the Christmas story.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
I am looking forward to my son and daughter in law's excitement and her baking!
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
My favorite part is all the yummy food!
throuthehaze at gmail dot com
I love shopping for my grandchildren's presents!!
mlawson17 at hotmail dot com
My favorite thing to do during the holiday season is to go out and drive around looking at the Christmas lights. This was a family tradition when I was growing up, it was the last thing we did before going to bed on Christmas Eve to wake up and find what Santa had brought us the next morning. I haven't been able to do this as much in the past, but have made a vow to do so this year and enjoy every minute of it.
Sharon
belchers@jccal.org
Of course the whole family togetherness thing is my favorite thing about the holidays, but reading holiday books come in somewhere around the top. Would love to win this.
bookloverlisa@gmail.com
I enjoy watching the snow curled up on the couch with a book and a glass of wine or hot chocolate.
jasmyn9[at]hotmail[dot]com
The holiday movies on tv!
delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com
I love spending time with my family. The truly best part! Watching the little ones open their presents.
Dutchlvr1(at)aol(dot)com
I enjoy family being together of course but also the traditions that continue from each generation like midnight mass and Santa in the morning...but only after breakfast
anjamie4 (at) gmail (dot) com
Love making cookies for the tree with the kids
copperllama at yahoo dot com
I love the candlelight service at church and watching the kids open their presents.
dlodden at frontiernet dot net
I love the Christmas season. It makes for a beautiful landscape, snow, glitter, sparkle, Christmas ornaments. Indoors, the family and a warm fire, gifts, and Christmas tree lights.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
My favorite part of Christmas is going to Midnight Mass with my family and then coming home and opening our Christmas stockings.
Mytyme2 at gmail dot com
Lynnie
My favorite part of Christmas is decorating the tree with my kids--and turning all the house lights off when we are done to stare at our tree all twinkley. We then share which ornament is our favorite and why--and sing a couple of Christmas carols!
kimmery4(at)yahoo(dot)com
One of my favorite holiday things is eatings sweet treats.
Jolynn_Reads@yahoo.com
My favorite part of the holidays is entertaining family and friends in our home. I love decorating and feeding people :D
Thanks for the giveaway!
meah56 at gmail dot com
I love Christmas parties! Everyone gets together and shares their busy lives.
lag110@mchsi.com
We always adopt several kids thru local programs to buy gifts for; and an entire family through a local charity. It really adds to our enjoyment of the holiday, especially because it gives me the opportunity and excuse to still buy sweet kids books, toys, clothes, etc. My daughter is 26, and we don't have grandkids yet, so I miss not having any little ones around for the holidays.
crazypsychbooklover@charter.net
This really sounds like a fun holiday read!!!!
My favorite part of the holiday season is baking christmas cookies with my boys, watching my boys open their gifts and the special memories that are made each year. They are getting older now and I know it wont be same soon so I cherish these moments now.
misty_labean@yahoo.com
Harper sure is a California girl, going to USC is no small feat! And I love that she likes to read cookbooks, I do too! Don't always make everything, but find lots of interesting recipes that way.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com
I am looking forward to reading a good book, drinking peppermint hot chocolate during a snowy night.
Bonus Entry
I liked her age comment on #4 about being 25 I feel the same way.
I also found it interesting that she'd try medical school.
misty_labean@yahoo.com
If Sandra Harper could only have 1 food she would pick peanut butter. She likes to reread her cookbooks.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
To everyone who knows me, I'm a big time Christmas fanatic so I look forward to Christmas all year long. I listen to Christmas music every 25th of the month and all of July (no judging!). To say I'm looking forward to everything this holiday season is no surprise. I especially look forward to the music, the holiday movies (Disney's A Christmas Carol anyone?), the Christmas books and my annual trip to the Chrismas Carol play at one of our local theaters. Christmas truly is my most favorite time of year! Can't wait to start decorating. Also, be watching for my new Christmas blog. I'm moving my Christmas MySpace page to a Christmas blog in the next week or so! Sorry this was SO longwinded!
Thanks for the giveaway!
miller4plusmore(at)bellsouth(dot)net
I found out that Sandra has two favorites in common with me. One of her favorite ficitonal characters, Jo March and one of her favorite books, The Mists of Avalon. A small world!
miller4plusmore(at)bellsouth(dot)net
I always look forward to the good homemade foods that our family shares! Christmas food is great!
Darlene
wrig9945@charter.net
Bonus entry-I learned that Sandra likes to read cookbooks, and that Edith Wharton was one of her favorite authors.
Darlene
wrig9945@charter.net
I love Christmas and spending time with my grandchildren is the best way to me :)
deb55106(at)gmail(dot)com
I learned that she likes to read the NY Times even tho it is so big and I she says writing comedy is harder than people think because you have to polish it just so for it to be funny
anjamie4 AT gmail (dot) com
I love the cookies! Yum!
BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com
My favorite part of the holidays is family time. My brother & his family come to visit. We have family gatherings of aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.
megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com
BONUS ENTRY:
I learned that Sandra's favorite job is selling cookbooks at The Cook's Library in Los Angeles & her motto is "She who perseveres wins".
megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com
Bonus entry- I am amzed that Sandra gave med school a try!
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
My favorite part of the holidays is spending time with my family! My husband and I live alone now that our four kids are grown and live away. Some live in the same state but are still several hours away and one lives in Calif. which is many hours away. It is so special that all 4 of them want to come to our house for Christmas! I try to make it as enjoyable as I can each year - with lots of goodies to eat, decorated house, all the ornaments on the tree that we have all collected through the years, and nice warm beds and a pot of coffee ready no matter when they arrive! It is even more fun now that I have a DIL and two adorable grandchildren to join the bunch. Even their pets come to join us and our own pets! It is a lively and happy place and I love every minute of it.
Cindy
Socmom213@aol.com
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