Is this weather crazy or WHAT? It’s definitely a season for reading Christmas books! We had a beautiful September, a cold October (including a 9” snowfall here in Minnesota), and then it was in the 70’s again this past weekend, and now we have another winter storm watch. Like I said… Minnesota. But I think this kind of fickle weather is a pattern for most midwestern states. The nice weather was a blessing as we visited our Wisconsin kids and grandkids over the weekend. We met our newest grandson, 4-day-old Fynnigan! Christmas books are here again! I have five of them now, including Potato Flake Christmas in the 2020 Christmas Lights Collection, Hearts Aglow. Have you read it yet? All my Christmas books are available in paperback and for Kindle. The Kindle books are just $2.99 – less than the price of a peppermint mocha latte! – or you can read them free with a Kindle Unlimited subscription! Speaking of Kindle Unlimited (as I so often do), be sure to check out this super collection of Christian Christmas books. You can read ALL of them through your Kindle Unlimited Subscription! Some are novellas, some are big collections – enough that Read More
Tag: Christmas Lights
Is There a Quilter on Your Christmas List?
I’ve enjoyed writing the traditions of my own Swedish heritage into my Glory Quilts books. My fictional Anderson family are descendants of immigrant farmers in central Minnesota – just like my own family! Throughout the series, Great-aunt Violet – spinster, quilter, and genealogist – chronicles the family history in a series of quilts. There’s plenty of laughter and fun and romance in these books, along with a multi-generational mystery that dates back to before World War II. And romance, too, of course! To make it even better, there are QUILTS! In each of the Glory Quilts books, the heroine and Aunt Violet make a quilt together. Those quilts are featured on the cover of the books, and you can get the patterns to make your own. You can find those on Amazon, Etsy, and my website, in digital and paper formats. The Glory Quilts Christmas Gift Set So… just the other day, I had a brilliant idea: I put together a Glory Quilts gift set with The Christmas Glory Quilt and The Swedehearts Glory Quilt and their patterns. It’s the perfect Christmas present for the quilter or reader on your list! I’ll inscribe and sign the books if you like, Read More
Comfort & Joy ~ The 2018 Christmas Lights Collection
It’s here! Comfort & Joy, the 2018 Christmas Lights collection, has four brand-new books from Chautona Havig, Toni Shiloh, Alana Terry — and me! My contribution, The Christmas Glory Quilt, features all the most heartwarming things I know: quilts, family, sewing, Minnesota winters and Swedish traditions. Add in a large homeschooling family with fun characters of all ages, a great aunt with an interest in genealogy, an old family farmhouse, and a unexpected family heirloom… what more could you want in a Christmas romance? Oh right… the romance! That’s sweet and heartwarming, too. The Christmas Glory Quilt Pattern Do you like to make quilts? I’ve been teaching quiltmaking for over 25 years, but this is the first time I’ve featured quilts in a book. It was fun! You can purchase the quilt pattern for The Christmas Glory Quilt in the GloryQuilts Etsy shop. The pattern is clear and simple, but if you like to have even more illustrations, I’ll have step-by-step photo tutorials on my GloryQuilts website soon, and I’m also working on a YouTube tutorial series to go with the quilt pattern. You can follow me HERE on YouTube to get a notice when I upload the tutorials. Read More
Comfort & Joy
This week, I’m finishing up my Christmas novella, The Christmas Glory Quilt. It will be my contribution to the 2018 Christmas Lights novella collection: Comfort & Joy. This year’s collection is going to be bigger and better than ever before, with contemporary Christian Christmas stories from Alana Terry, April Hayman, Toni Shiloh, Chautona Havig and me. Isn’t it a beautiful cover? Frost Heaves by Alana Terry The Trouble with Christmas Cheer by April Hayman Deck the Shelves by Toni Shiloh The Christmas Glory Quilt by Cathe Swanson The Ghosts of New Cheltenham by Chautona Havig The Christmas Glory Quilt The Christmas Glory Quilt will be the first in a series with a seasonal quilt theme – Autumn Glory Quilt, Easter Glory Quilt, etc. (I still need to work on those titles!) Being an overachiever, I designed a quilt to go with the book and plan to offer the pattern as a bonus for early purchasers of the book. It was a busy summer – and I had to write the book! – so it took a long time just to get it pieced. Yesterday morning, my good friend and book cover designer, the multi-talented Chautona Havig, said, “I Read More
Read Snow Angels – just in time for the sequel!
Snow Angels is on sale this week, just in time to read it before you get the sequel in Making Spirits Bright ~ the 2017 Christmas Lights Novella Collection. The collection will be available on Amazon on Wednesday, November 1st.! On Monday and Tuesday, Snow Angels is only 99 cents for Kindle on Amazon! Snow Angels on sale this week! My new Christmas novella, Hope for the Holidays, is a sequel to last year’s book, Snow Angels. It isn’t necessary to read Snow Angels first, but I think you’d enjoy it. So on Monday and Tuesday, you can pick up the kindle version of Snow Angels for just 99 cents. On Wednesday, with the release of Making Spirits Bright, the price goes up to $1.99, and then on Thursday, the sale is over and Snow Angels returns to its regular price. Newly arrived from her home in the Congo and armed with a brand-new degree in nonprofit management, Carrie Strough is eager to organize and improve the Unity Plenkiss Community Center. Unfortunately, no one wants to be organized, and only Micah Neresen, the charming and handsome pastor of the local church, is interested in her plans. Read More
Snow Angels and Christmas Stalkings Christmas Stocking MASH-UP
Last month, I was blessed with a visit from one of my favorite people – Chautona Havig! We have been friends for a long time, and this year, we were part of the Christmas Lights team of authors. We had a terrific time together and came up with lots of good ideas for the future. One of the fun things we did was make a Christmas stocking to give away – a Snow Angels and Christmas Stalkings Mash-up stocking! Here’s the story from Chautona’s point of view. Opinions expressed may not reflect those of the management… It began innocently enough–just two friends shopping in Michael’s. We did the usual… you know, finding cool things, spending WAY too much money, laughing! Talking! But… but then this happened: And today’s the day! Yep! It’s time! After terrorizing Michael’s with our incessant videos, we bought the stocking and filled that sucker! I’m a sucker for stockings, so that really does fit. Just sayin’. What’s in this knitted sock of surprises? Well, if I tell you, it won’t be a surprise! Oh, all right. Here goes! First a couple of pictures…. A bag of “Life Is Too Short for Bad Coffee” brand coffee! Beeswax Read More