Back to Holiday Cheer!

Christmas traditions at our house:

Trimming the tree to Christmas carols (with egg nog and cocoa), two-three weeks before Christmas.

Watching Year without a Santa Claus, Rudolph, and Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, on December 23 (to get that last minute jolt of holiday spirit).

Finishing up the shopping on December 24. There's a certain feeling of triumph and accomplishment you can only get from braving stores so close to Christmas, and finding exactly what you need-- on sale!

Making sure the stockings are hung by the chimney with care.

Going to a Christmas Eve movie and out to dinner with the kids (now 18 and 16), a tradition we established when we moved to Michigan away from family for a few years. The dinner-and-a-movie continued once we moved back to remind us to make time to appreciate our own little family unit in the chaos (and joy) of all the holiday visits to extended family and friends.

We each open one present on Christmas Eve (and it's usually new pajamas). Santa brings the rest over night.

Getting the kids to bed early (did I mention they're teenagers? this used to be much easier) to make sure Santa will come and bring all the gifts. Because Santa doesn't come until kids are sound asleep.

Waking up early to open the gifts and eat my homemade cinnamon rolls before getting ready to visit family for dinner. We host Thanksgiving and New Year's Day dinners. We're guests at other houses (my sister's or my in-law's) for Christmas dinner.

I'm looking forward to it. Merry Christmas, all! What are some traditions at your house?

Survivor: Samoa-- the right winner?

I'm a Survivor fan. I believe I've mentioned it. I've watched every season since the beginning. I even wanted Rich Hatch to win. I have a soft spot for villains. Weird, right? Even weirder-- while I eventually fell for evil Russell's strategic game play (along with almost every other Survivor fan), I did not think he deserved to win. He had no end game. I think Natalie played a better game than a lot of people are willing to admit.

The biggest move? Russell wants to say it was ousting Laura, and that was pretty important. But Galu was already falling apart and the numbers were even by then. The real big move of the game was the idea of getting rid of Erik (Jaison's idea) and convincing Galu to actually boot one of their own-- and that was all Natalie, working her way into Laura and Monica's good graces and charming the Galu into thinking Erik was a real threat. That's the week that Russell had no control of the game, no faith in his Foas, and was scared enough to play his idol.

Ironic, then, that Natalie failed to make a strong case for herself at the final Tribal Council and Erik charged to her rescue, making the case for her. I think it is Erik's final jury speech that swayed the vote to Natalie. My husband thinks Natalie had it wrapped up anyway because Russell failed to charm.

In the end, major player Russell was lacking that human connection, the insight into his fellow players that would have helped him to see this was not a jury to put their own egos aside and vote for superior game play. This was a jury that felt played and would vote against the one who played them. Had he tried to get to know his fellow players instead of discrediting them and patting himself on the back, he might have caught on early enough to win the title he craved. Survivor is a social game as much as it is about strength and skill, and Russell failed on that end. Natalie made those human connections, turned on the charm, and took the title from the self-perceived master. She deserves more credit for playing her own game, and playing it well. She didn't just ride coattails to the end. She made some major moves in her own right, moves that set up to keep Russell in the game as much as it worked the other way around. Congratulations, Natalie! And I'm pretty sure we haven't seen the end of Russell.

Survivor fans, what did you think of the final?

Christmas with the Erwins: Trimming the Tree

This is the view from my office window. The snow in the road is melted now, fortunately, but it remains on the grass. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

The first or second weekend of December, we go pick out and bring home the Fraser Fir. We used to get big ones, but I have gone smaller through the years (because I'm the one who strings the lights). I have to rearrange the furniture to fit it in to the place of honor between the picture window and the French doors. I play Christmas carols and sip egg nog. My daughter delights in going through the ornaments with me and deciding which order we'll put them on. We assign a few ornaments to the family Scrooges (my husband and son) so that they can say they helped.

We don't decorate with glass balls, a tradition going back to my childhood. We had a "Little House on the Prairie" Christmas one year. We got rid of the artificial tree and got a real one. We hand-strung cranberries and popcorn for garlands, and we had a chain made out of ribbon. And we made yarn dolls to put all over the tree. I made the same kind of yarn dolls with my children when they were little, and they still grace our tree together with the ornaments I've bought to represent each one of us every year. When my children have houses of their own to decorate, they will take their own ornaments with them to start their own traditions. For now, they're still home with me.

What is your tree like? Real or artificial? If you're celebrating Chanukah, do you have a traditional menorah, maybe a family heirloom, or something new that's all yours?

Victorian Christmas

Charlotte Bronte's Christmas celebrations were probably comfortable but not lavish affairs, though many new Christmas traditions were introduced in the UK during Charlotte's time with the reign of Queen Victoria.

Christmas trees became popular. Father Christmas became a celebrated figure. Christmas crackers added livelihood to Christmas dinner, which was probably a Christmas goose or turkey for Charlotte. In Jane Slayre's time with the vampyre Reeds, the holiday guests doubled as the meal-- now that's household economy. And of course, who didn't look forward to Christmas pudding, and finding the silver sixpence and thimble for luck? (If you were Jane Slayre, you needed it :))

L'ORA DEI VAMPIRI

Today, I had a surprise in the mail from Trisha Telep, of London's Murder One Bookstore, editor of the Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance, which features my short story Fade to Black. She sent me the Italian translation: L'ORA DEI VAMPIRI. Fade to Black is Stingersi di Nero. Ooooh.

There's even a sexy book trailer:

Watch it on YouTube.

And remember, commenters are entered in a drawing to win a signed Naughty or Nice.

Ciao, Bella!

And the winner is...

It's a tie. People seem mostly torn between the two (photos by Andrea Burns). I'm playing with both of them on my websites and social networks and you'll just have to wait and buy JANE SLAYRE on April 13 to find out which one made the final cut.

Speaking of winners, I think it's time I gave something away. All commenters in the next week are eligible to win a copy of my Christmas paranormal romance, NAUGHTY OR NICE. I'll choose a name and announce on Dec. 18.

Happy holidays!

New Pictures: Which to Choose?

Time for New Author Photos!

Oh-oh. I hate posing for the camera. But it must be done. Gallery needs a new author photo for JANE SLAYRE . Charlotte obviously won't be joining me in this, unfortunately. Misery loves company.

So I have been warming up with Apple Photo Booth. What do you think? Hair straight or curly?

That Is All

JANE SLAYRE available for pre-order.