What inspired Home Sweet Christmas?
Inspiration is interesting—it can come
from anywhere, or from seemingly nowhere. In the case of Home Sweet
Christmas, the season itself inspired the story. The town of Wishing
Tree, Washington, is all about Christmas, so every book set in Wishing Tree has
a Christmas theme. (The first book in the series, The Christmas Wedding
Guest, came out last year. Each book can be read as a standalone.)
So that was my starting point, knowing that this book would
have a holiday theme. To me, it’s important for a Christmas book to be
intrinsically Christmas-themed, not just a story that could happen at any time
of year. I brainstormed lots of possibilities.
I landed on ideas for the two heroines (Home Sweet
Christmas is two romances in one). In one storyline, Camryn’s mother
passed away last year, so Camryn gave up everything—her career, her condo, her
fiancé, and her big-city life in Chicago—to move home to care for her sisters
and run the family business, a gift-wrapping specialty store called Wrap Around
the Clock. She plans to get back to her “real life” as soon as her sisters
graduate high school, so the last thing she wants to do is to fall in love.
Still, a little temporary romance with Jake, her teenage crush, sounds like a
welcome distraction.
In the second storyline, River is new in town and very shy.
To coax her out of her shell, her new friends nominate her for Snow Queen, a
crown that River is reluctant to accept—until she meets the very handsome Snow
King, Dylan. But River has been burned before by a man with too many secrets,
and Dylan is hiding something big.
You’re so wonderful at writing emotional scenes. Do you have any tips for writers who want to portray difficult issues like betrayal or loss of a loved one in their books?
The emotion springs from character. Every person will react
differently to betrayal or loss, so it’s important that you fully develop your
characters so that they essentially take over. Emotions are nuanced and
infinitely complex, and our reactions are colored by everything we have experienced
and observed throughout our lives. Put yourself inside your character’s mind
and heart fully before you start writing the scene.
If I’m not feeling something as I write the scene, readers
won’t feel it as they read. Writing these scenes is not an intellectual
exercise—it’s visceral, emotional. If the feeling isn’t there for me, I stop
writing and take a few minutes to get myself there. I have to be fully immersed
in a character’s point-of-view in order to write these pivotal scenes.
Your novels are always gripping, realistic and romantic. How do you come up with your plots?
In the world of fiction-writing, there’s a
spectrum of plotters versus those who write “from the seat of their pants,” or
pantsers. I am on the extreme plotter end of this spectrum, meaning that
I write a very detailed plot for a book before I begin writing it. Far from
limiting me, this roadmap frees me to immerse myself in the emotions of the
characters because I’ve already untangled any snags in the story.
I start to develop a story idea in my head, jotting down
notes but mostly just giving my mind the freedom to roam. At this stage, it’s
mostly about thinking about the characters and their backstory.
Then I write one scene for each point-of-view character. In
the case of Home Sweet Christmas, this meant that I wrote one
scene each for Camryn, Jake, River and Dylan. I write until that character
clicks in my head and feels like a real person with thoughts and feelings of
her or his own. Then I stop writing and plot that character’s storyline onto
index cards. I do that for each character, and then I sit down with the index
cards and weave the storylines together. Then I number the cards and start
writing.
My plotting is essentially the world’s shortest first draft.
There are bits of dialogue, but mostly it’s a scene-by-scene synopsis of what’s
going to happen in the book.
In case you’re curious, here are the first few paragraphs
from Home Sweet Christmas:
“Your teeth are lovely, Camryn. Did you wear braces as a child?”
Camryn
Neff reminded herself that not only was the woman sitting across from her a
very wealthy potential client, but also that her mother had raised her to be
polite to her elders. Still, it took serious effort to keep from falling out of
her chair at the weirdness of the question.
“No.
This is how they grew.”
Hmm,
that didn’t sound right, although to be honest, she didn’t have a lot of
experience when a conversation turned dental.
Is it difficult to come up with a specific Holiday themed novel every year?
It’s definitely a challenge! Not only because the story
needs to be holiday-centric but feel different from all the other Christmas
books I’ve written, but because of the very tight timeline. Home Sweet
Christmas starts a couple weeks before Thanksgiving, so that gave me a
little breathing room, but for all intents and purposes, when you write a
Christmas book the characters have to fall in love in about four weeks. And it
needs to happen in such a way as to feel completely genuine, so readers feel
confident that the love will last forever.
Do you decorate your writing room when you are writing a holiday book?
No, but I do pull out my Grinch ornament, which helps me get
in the spirit.
What’s your favorite holiday tradition?
I love to adopt a family through a local program. Mr.
Mallery and I take great joy in finding special gifts that are unique to every
family member—some from their wish list, and some surprises that we hope
they’ll enjoy.
Rumor has it that you’ve created a cookie cookbook that you’re giving away for free. True?
True! The Wishing Tree Cookie Cookbook is available for free
in the Members area at SusanMallery.com to anyone who wants it. It includes 160
recipes submitted by readers, with lots of pictures. It’s a PDF file, but I
will also be giving away a printed copy of the cookbook every Tuesday from
October 4 through December 20 on my Facebook page. I’ll also give away three as
door prizes at my virtual event with Debbie Macomber on November 9. Details and
registration at https://bit.ly/debbieandsusan
What’s next for you?
The Sister Effect will be coming in March.
It’s both one of the most emotional stories I’ve ever written and one of the
funniest. Finley and Sloane were really tight when they were growing up. Their
mom kept leaving them with their grandpa while she went on the road with theatre
troupes, so they had to watch out for each other. But as they grew up, they
made different choices that drove a wedge between them. The Sister Effect
is a beautiful, uplifting story of forgiveness and reconciliation and the
importance of family.
HOME
SWEET CHRISTMAS
Author:
Susan Mallery
ISBN:
9781335934000
Publication
Date: October 4, 2022
Publisher:
HQN
Book
Summary:
#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery's second book set
in the small town of Wishing Tree, Washington is the witty and heartfelt story
of two friends who expectedly find the person--and the place in which--they
belong this Christmas, for fans of Elin Hildebrand, Robyn Carr, and Susan
Wiggs.
This small-town life wasn’t supposed to be for Camryn Neff. But
after her mother died, Camryn moved home to Wishing Tree, Washington to care
for her teenaged twin sisters and run the family wrapping paper business, Wrap
Around the Clock. She loves her sisters and would do anything for them but,
when they head off to college, she’s excited to move back to Chicago and
restart her real life, completely attachment-free. So when a prospective client
schedules a meeting and announces Project: Jake’s Bride, a plot to find a wife
for her son, Camryn is completely disinterested. And when this client announces
that Camryn is a candidate, she’s horrified. Being tied down is the last thing Camryn needs right now. She
has no choice but to tell Jake what his mom is planning. But Camryn never
expected to genuinely like him so much…
River Best knows all about the danger of keeping secrets. After
all, she’s had her heart broken and her world rocked by secrets a few times now
and she won’t ever let it happen again. New to Wishing Tree and a little shy,
River is looking to get involved in the community so she lets her friends talk
her into running for Snow Queen, one of the town's honorary hosts of all
Christmas events. She never expected to be drawn to Dylan Tucker, her Snow
King. As the season progresses, River starts to trust him more and more and
wonders if he's the one. But little does River know that Dylan is keeping a
secret from her, one that threatens everything between them.
Buy
Links:
BookShop: https://bookshop.org/books/home-sweet-christmas-9781335449986/9781335449986
Harlequin:
https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781335934000_home-sweet-christmas.html
Barnes
& Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/home-sweet-christmas-susan-mallery/1140803095?ean=9781335934000
Books-A-Million:
https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Home-Sweet-Christmas/Susan-Mallery/9781335934000?id=8292090795540
one
“Your teeth are lovely, Camryn. Did you wear braces as a
child?”
Camryn Neff reminded herself that not only was the woman
sitting across from her a very wealthy potential client, but also that her
mother had raised her to be polite to her elders. Still, it took serious effort
to keep from falling out of her chair at the weirdness of the question.
“No. This is how they grew.”
Hmm, that didn’t sound right, although to be honest, she
didn’t have a lot of experience when a conversation turned dental.
She refocused her mind to the meeting at hand. Not that she
knew for sure why Helen Crane, leader of Wishing Tree society, such as it was,
and sole owner of the very impressive Crane hotel empire, wanted to meet with
her. The summons had come in the form of a handwritten note, inviting her to
the large, sprawling estate on Grey Wolf Lake. Today at two.
So here Camryn was, wearing a business suit that had been
hanging in her closet for over a year. The dress code for Wishing Tree retail
and the dress code for the job in finance she’d left back in Chicago were very
different. While it had been fun to dust off her gorgeous boots and a silk
blouse, and discover her skirts still fit, she was ready to get to the point of
the invitation.
“How can I help you, Mrs. Crane?” she asked.
“Helen, please.”
Camryn smiled. “Helen. I’m happy to host a wrapping party,
either here or at the store. Or if you’d prefer, I can simply collect all your
holiday gifts and wrap them for you.”
She casually glanced around at the high ceilings of the
sitting room. There was a massive fireplace, intricate molding and a view of
the lake that, even with two feet of snow on the ground, was spectacular. And
while there were lovely fall floral displays on several surfaces, there wasn’t
a hint of Christmas to be found. Not in Wishing Tree, eight days before
Thanksgiving. Those decorations didn’t appear until the Friday after.
“I have some samples for custom wrapping paper,” she said,
pulling out several sheets of paper from her leather briefcase. “The designs
can be adjusted and the colors coordinated with what you have planned for this
holiday season. Wrapped presents under a tree are such an elegant touch.”
“You’re very thorough,” Helen murmured. “Impressive.” She
made a note on a pad. “Are you married, dear?”
“What?” Camryn clutched the wrapping paper samples. “No.”
Helen nodded. “Your mother passed away last year, didn’t
she?”
A fist wrapped around Camryn’s heart. “Yes. In late
October.”
“I remember her. She was a lovely woman. You and your
sisters must have been devastated.”
That was one word for it, Camryn thought grimly, remembering
how her life had been shattered by the loss. In the space of a few weeks, she’d
gone from being a relatively carefree, engaged, happy junior executive in Chicago
to the sole guardian for her twin sisters, all the while dealing with trying to
keep Wrap Around the Clock, the family business, afloat. The first few months
after her mother’s death were still a blur. She barely remembered anything
about the holidays last year, save an unrelenting sadness.
“This year the season will be so much happier,” Helen said
firmly. “Victoria and Lily are thriving at school. Of course they still miss
their mother, but they’re happy, healthy young adults.” The older woman smiled.
“I know the teen years can be trying but I confess I quite enjoyed them with
Jake.”
Camryn frowned slightly. “How do you know about the twins?”
she asked.
Helen’s smile never faded. “It’s Wishing Tree, my dear.
Everyone knows more than everyone else thinks. Now, you’re probably wondering
why I invited you over today.”
“To discuss wrapping paper?” Although even as Camryn voiced
the question, she knew instinctively that was not the real reason.
Helen Crane was close to sixty, with perfect posture and
short, dark hair. Her gaze was direct, her clothes stylish. She looked as if
she’d never wanted for anything and was very used to getting her way.
“Of course you’ll take care of all my wrapping needs,” Helen
said easily. “And I do like your idea of custom paper for faux presents under
the tree. I’ll have my holiday decorator get in touch with you so you two can
coordinate the design. But the real reason I asked you here is to talk about
Jake.”
Camryn was having a little trouble keeping up. The order for
wrapping and the custom paper was great news, but why would Helen want to
discuss her son?
She knew who Jake was—everyone in town did. He was the
handsome, successful heir to the Crane hotel fortune. He’d been the football
captain in high school, had gone to Stanford. After learning the hotel business
at the smaller Crane hotels, he was back in Wishing Tree, promoted to general
manager of the largest, most luxurious of the properties.
They’d never run in the same circles back when they’d been
kids, in part because she was a few years younger. She’d been a lowly freshman
while he’d been a popular senior. Her only real connection with Jake was the
fact that he’d once been engaged to her friend Reggie.
Helen sighed. “I’ve come to the conclusion that left to his
own devices, Jake is never going to give me grandchildren. I lost my husband
eighteen months ago, which has been very hard for me. It’s time for my son to
get on with finding someone, getting married and having the grandchildren I
deserve.”
Well, that put the whole “did you wear braces”
conversational gambit in perspective, Camryn thought, not sure if she should
laugh or just plain feel sorry for Jake. His mother was a powerful woman.
Camryn sure wouldn’t want to cross her.
“I’m not sure what that has to do with me,” she admitted.
Helen tapped her pad of paper. “I’ve come up with a plan.
I’m calling it Project: Jake’s Bride. I’m going to find my son a wife and
you’re a potential candidate.”
Camryn heard all the words. Taken individually, she knew
what Helen was saying. But when put together, in that exact way, the meaning
completely escaped her.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“You’re pretty, you’re smart. You’ve done well at Wrap
Around the Clock. You’re nurturing—look how you’ve cared for your baby
sisters.” Helen smiled again. “I confess I do like the idea of instant
grandchildren, so that’s a plus for you. There are other candidates, of course,
but you’re definitely near the top of the list. All I need is confirmation from
your gynecologist that you’re likely to be fertile and then we can get on with
the business of you and Jake falling in love.”
“You want to know if I’m fertile?”
Camryn shoved the samples back in her briefcase and stood.
“Mrs. Crane, I don’t know what century you think we’re living in, but this
isn’t a conversation I’m going to have with you. My fertility is none of your
business. Nor is my love life. If your plan is genuine, you need to rethink it.
And while you’re doing that, you might want to make an appointment with your
own doctor, because there’s absolutely something wrong with you.”
Helen looked surprisingly unconcerned. “You’re right,
Camryn. I apologize. Mentioning fertility was going a bit too far. You’re the
first candidate I’ve spoken to, so I’m still finding my way through all this.”
She wrote on her pad. “I won’t bring that up again. But as to the rest of it,
seriously, what are your thoughts?”
Camryn sank back on her chair. “Don’t do it. Meddling is one
thing, but you’re talking about an actual campaign to find your son a bride.
No. Just no. It’s likely to annoy him, and any woman who would participate in
something like this isn’t anyone you want in your family.”
Helen nodded slowly. “An interesting point. It’s just they
make it look so easy on those reality shows.”
“Nothing is real on those shows. The relationships don’t
last. Jake’s going to find someone. Give him time.”
“I’ve given him two years. I’m not getting younger, you
know.” Her expression turned wistful. “And I do want grandchildren.”
“Ask me on the right day and you can have the twins.”
Helen laughed. “I wish that were true.” Her humor faded. “Do
you know my son?”
“Not really.”
“We could start with a coffee date.”
Camryn sighed. “Helen, seriously. This isn’t going to work.
Let him get his own girl.”
“He’s not. That’s the problem. All right, I can see I’m not
going to convince you to be a willing participant. I appreciate your time.” She
rose. “I meant what I said about the wrapping. I’ll arrange to have all my
gifts taken to your store. And my holiday decorator will be in touch about the
custom paper.”
“Is the holiday decorator different from the regular
decorator?” Camryn asked before she could stop herself.
Helen chuckled. “Yes, she is. My regular decorator is
temperamental and shudders at the thought of all that cheer and tradition. He
came over close to Christmas a few years ago and nearly fainted when he saw the
tree in the family room.”
She leaned close and her voice dropped to a conspiratorial
whisper. “It’s devoted to all the ornaments Jake made for me when he was
little. There are plaster handprints and little stars made out of Popsicle
sticks. My favorite is a tuna can with a tiny baby Jesus in the manger tucked
inside. There’s bits of straw and a star.” She pressed both hands to her heart.
“I tear up thinking about it.”
Baby Jesus in a tuna can? Helen was one strange woman.
Camryn collected her briefcase and followed Helen to the
front door. Helen opened it, then looked at her.
“You’re sure about not being a part of Project: Jake’s
Bride?”
“Yes. Very.” Camryn kept her tone firm, so there would be no
misunderstanding.
“A pity, but I respect your honesty.”
Camryn walked to her SUV and put her briefcase in the
backseat. Once she was behind the wheel, she glanced at the three-story house
rising tall and proud against the snow and gray sky.
The rich really were different, she told herself as she
circled the driveway and headed for the main road. Different in a cray-cray
kind of way.
She turned left on North Ribbon Road. When she reached
Cypress Highway, she started to turn right—the shortest way back to town. At
the last minute, she went straight. Even as she drove north, she told herself
it wasn’t her business. Maybe Jake knew about his mother’s plans. Maybe he
supported them.
Okay, not that, she thought, passing the outlet mall, then
turning on Red Cedar Highway and heading up the mountain. She might not know
Jake very well, but Reggie had dated him for months. Reggie was a sweetie who
would never go out with a jerk. So Jake had to be a regular kind of guy, and
regular guys didn’t approve of their mothers finding them wives.
Besides, she doubted Jake needed any help in that
department. He was tall, good-looking and really fit. She’d caught sight of him
jogging past her store more than once and was willing to admit she’d stopped
what she was doing to admire the view. He was also wealthy. Men like that
didn’t need help getting dates.
The sign for the resort came into view. She slowed for a
second, then groaned as she drove up to the valet. Maybe she was making a
mistake, but there was no way she couldn’t tell Jake what had just happened. It
felt too much like not mentioning toilet paper stuck to someone’s shoe.
If he already knew, then it would be a short conversation.
If he didn’t care, then she would quietly think less of him and leave. If he
was as horrified as she thought he might be, then she’d done her good deed for
the week and yay her. Whatever the outcome, she would have done the right
thing, which meant she would be able to sleep that night. Some days that was as
good as it was going to get.
Excerpted
from Home Sweet Christmas by Susan Mallery. Copyright © 2022 by Susan Mallery.
Published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
Author
Bio:
|
SUSAN
MALLERY is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of novels about the
relationships that define women's lives—family, friendship, romance. Library Journal says, “Mallery is the
master of blending emotionally believable characters in realistic
situations," and readers seem to agree—40 million copies of her books
have sold worldwide. Her warm, humorous stories make the world a happier
place to live. Susan grew up in California and now
lives in Seattle with her husband. She's passionate about animal welfare,
especially that of the ragdoll cat and adorable poodle who think of her as
mom. Visit Susan online at www.susanmallery.com. |
Author
Website: https://www.susanmallery.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SusanMallery
Twitter: https://twitter.com/susanmallery
Instagram: https://instagram.com/susanmallery
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/susanmallery
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