One thing authors are known for are active imaginations. Before starting out, I’ve heard confessions about book signings with long lines and a cramped hand, a cardboard cutout of them holding their bestsellers on display at Barnes and Noble, and of course, Oprah calling.

Me?

I dreamed I would be part of a collection.

A Christmas collection.

Not that I would have said no to the other things I’ve heard, but I loved the idea of participating in a set filled with mistletoe and Christmas surprises. Early in my author journey I thought it was happening. A group formed, some ideas were tossed, and the project fizzled. It never got off the ground.

I was disappointed, but I stayed busy finishing the Surrendering Time series, participating in a different collection that was so satisfying (A Walk in the Valley,) and recently, published a novella with our teen daughter called You’re Beautiful. I forgot about the dream as I completed these projects and started researching my new Surrendering Opinions series and plotting the first book, Anchored.

On a spontaneous visit to Castle Noel in Medina, Ohio, I was overcome by the romance Christmas brings. The place was simply magical and my author imagination started. What if someone worked at a place like that and hated Christmas?

It was fun to play with the idea as I drove or had downtime, but to me, it was a fun hobby. I didn’t think I’d ever write it, I had enough going on. Imagine my surprise a month later when Kimberly Rose Johnson from Inspy Romance asked the other IR authors if we’d be interested in creating a boxed set together.

A Christmas boxed set.

I answered back, but I remember I kept the excitement contained. I’d been down the road before, and it only brought disappointment. It didn’t take long before I realized this project was different. We established great guidelines and deadlines, and I was off and writing during the winter.

The great news, for me anyway, was spring was more like winter, and I really dug in and wrote. The story was easy to write, but I struggled with the title. Once I finished and it went through critique groups, it was fellow author, friend and critique member Laura Hilton who helped me find the best title: Restoring Christmas.

That boxed set is A Christmas to Remember and it’s now available for pre-order. I’m so excited to be a part of this. The other authors are Kimberly Rose Johnson, Valerie Comer, Elizabeth Maddrey, Ginger Solomon, Lindi Peterson, Deb Kastner and Janet W. Ferguson.

Eight Christmas-themed novellas for .99. It’s a dream come true.