I recently bought, and read, a Christmas romance novella. Yes me. I firmly believe writers can learn something from all genres, but we have to be willing to leave our comfort zones to do it. Here's how I came to choose this one:
- I've read the author before, and thoroughly enjoyed her book.
- I'm really getting into short form stuff, and this is a novella.
- This story has a paranormal element, which is in my comfort zone.
- I write a lot of animals into my stories, and I wanted to see how this author handles an animal character.
There you have it. A thread or two of common ground, and a desire to learn something. This was more than a dissection of a fellow author's work. I wound up really enjoying the story, and I think you will too.
I'm going to let the author, Mae Clair, tell you all about it.
Cats, Christmas, and Romance by Mae Clair
It’s hard to believe that Christmas is looming just around the corner. I have no complaints though, because Christmas is my favorite holiday. Not only do I enjoy December 25th and Christmas Eve, but I love the entire month of December. It’s like one long holiday with all the merriment, festivities, and spirit of goodwill that leads up to that very special day. I’m a Christmas sap.
So it stands to reason I’d eventually get around to writing a Christmas story.
Those who know me also know there are two things (other than writing) I’m passionate about: folklore and cats. When it came time to dream up a Christmas story, I decided to weave both elements into the tale. The result is FOOD FOR POE, a short Christmas novella that is also a tale of sweet romance, twined with the paranormal, and even a wee smidgen of horror (just a smidge, I promise!).
Take a look:
BLURB:
When a blizzard strands Quinn Easterly at a handsome stranger's house on Christmas Eve, she doesn't realize her newly adopted cat, Poe, is the catalyst responsible for bringing them together.
Breck Lansing gave up on relationships after his wife, unable to cope with their daughter’s illness, left him. But the pretty blonde he rescues from a snowstorm has him rethinking his stance—especially when Quinn’s arrival coincides with a dramatic change in Sophie’s health.
Unfortunately, that change also attracts something only whispered about in folklore. Together, Quinn and Breck must defeat a sinister creature intent on claiming the ultimate payment.
Warning: A clever black cat, Christmas magic and paranormal trouble
~ooOOoo~
I’m happy to announce that FOOD FOR POE has just released. YAY! In celebration of the holidays, you can grab a copy for $.99 at Amazon. If you don’t have a Kindle, you can download a FREE Kindle Reading App for your PC, MAC, iPad, iPhone, Android or tablet here. Cats and Christmas. What could be better?
Merry Pre-Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Mae Clair Bio
Mae Clair opened a Pandora’s Box of characters when she was a child and never looked back. Her father, an artist who tinkered with writing, encouraged her to create make-believe worlds by spinning tales of far-off places on summer nights beneath the stars.
Mae loves creating character-driven fiction in settings that vary from contemporary to mythical. Wherever her pen takes her, she flavors her stories with mystery and romance. Married to her high school sweetheart, she lives in Pennsylvania and is passionate about cryptozoology, old photographs, a good Maine lobster tail and cats.
Discover more about Mae on her website and blog at MaeClair.net
Sign up for Mae’s newsletter here
You can find Mae Clair at the following haunts:
Kensington Books Author Page
Goodreads
Purchase FOOD FOR POE from Amazon
Sounds like a fun read, and a novella is the perfect length for the short Christmas break! Good luck with this!
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Thanks so much, Ali. I like to do a short novella every ow and then to break things up and this was a fun one to write, especially with the holiday theme and a cat! 🙂
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Yes I imagine it was… I love cats. Have always had cats. Now I have a dog, and I’ve discovered that I’m not really a dog lover, although of course I am fond of him. I’d much rather have a moggy but my hubby is allergic, so it ain’t gonna happen. I am also currently nearly halfway through writing my first novella and it’s a lot story, although in true Irish fashion, it’s not a happy ever after. 😏
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I’ll read it. I’m getting into short form stuff.
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Great! Thanks Craig! 😁
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Reblogged this on Legends of Windemere.
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Thanks Charles.
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You’re welcome.
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Hi, Charles *waving* Thanks so much for the reblog. You’re awesome! 🙂
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You’re welcome. Happy to reblog. 🙂
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Sounds intriguing and a novella is short enough to fit into my no-time to read zone! Off to get my copy! ~Elle
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You’ll enjoy it, and I’m sure Mae appreciates it too.
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Oh, I do, I do!! 🙂
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Hi, Elle. Fabulous to hear that you’re grabbing a copy. Yipee! I do hope you enjoy the story. As Craig said, it’s a short read, ideal for a quick splurge 🙂
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Food for Poe is already on my TBR list. It sounds delightful. I’m a sucker for Xmas too. 🙂
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Awesome to hear. Thanks so much, Sue. I just love the holiday season. A lady in my writing group dubbed Poe as a Hallmark Channel romance mixed the bizarre, LOL. I hope you enjoy the tale…or tail as the case may be 🙂
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That’s a wonderful compliment, Mae. I love the Hallmark Channel during the holidays.
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That sounds great! I love a Christmas novella!
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I wound up really enjoying it.
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Which really makes my day. As does the lovely turn-out of readers on your blog. Thanks for hosting me today, Craig. I know I’m late in popping in but I really appreciate your willingness in helping me spread the news about Poe. Happy day!
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Come back any time.
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Hi, and thanks so much for your interest. Like you, I love short Christmas reads. They really put me in the mood for the season. I hope you enjoy my effort at holiday cheer!
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I have it on my Kindle now wait to be read. I hope soon.
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Thank you so much for the purchase! I’m delighted to hear you’re queuing it up for a read. December is the perfect month for enjoying this one. I do hope you like my holiday release! 🙂
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Wonderful. It was a lot of fun.
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Hi, Mae, we’re an allergy family also, but I love cats. My grandmother had twenty-eight once upon a time. I let them all in the house and stood on the kitchen table counting them when I was a little kid. Got a switching for that. Sounds like a fun book to read over the holidays. Thanks.
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Cool. It only takes about two cups of coffee to read it.
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Hi, Susan. Wow, you’re grandmother had 28 cats? The most I ever had at once was 2, LOL. I’ve got some allergies, but thankfully, none that come from cats. I had a lot of fun writing Poe, critical to the plot. And I just love Christmas! 🙂
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Your support of other authors is wonderful!!
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They are there for me. I always want to be available for them
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I completely agree with that. Craig is always so supportive. I know I am not the only author who thinks that way!
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