It’s the second week in December. I just finished a joint Ali/Joanna novella called Random Acts; I’m doing copy editing on next spring’s Ali book, Clawback; I have a short story, jointly written with Eric Van Lustbader that needs to be completed; bookmark requests need to be sent; as well as Christmas cards. In other words, it’s busy around here—very busy.
But Christmas is coming into focus at our house. Our very talented decorator, Jim Hunt, has been here working, not quite round-the-clock but close. With the help of his very industrious elf, Robin, the house is gradually taking on its holiday trappings. It’s a slow but steady process that moves from room to room.
Over the years we’ve amassed a collection of decorations that resembles a Christmas supply warehouse. Each year Jim comes, adds a few items, sends a few items hence, and does his thing in a unique way that eventually brings order from chaos. The process takes time—close to two weeks—but it’s also a miraculous undertaking that resembles unwrapping the whole house.
When the decorations come out each year, there are, inevitably, a few losses. We’re down to nine of the original twelve ornaments in The Twelve Days of Christmas set. In the creche by the front door, St. Joseph’s head—which Bill glued back in place five years ago—is still hanging in, but the Angel’s horn disappeared this year. It may have rolled under a piece of furniture. Good luck getting that back!
I’ve learned that if a favorite decoration doesn’t make the cut one year, keep the faith. It’ll be back next year—or even the year after that.
Right now I’m upstairs working and staying out of the way. Christmas music is playing softly in the background.
And so, if you happen to have time to read a blog during these very busy December days, thank you. And once the house is dressed, I’ll send some photos.
In the meantime, be safe as you venture though these cold, dark, and—in Seattle—very rainy days. And even if your heart happens to be broken right now? Try to find one small piece of joy in the season, because joy is a very effective remedy for broken hearts.
It’s not the ONLY remedy by any means, but it’s one that works.
I just finished the novella. It was way too short. I know novellas are shorter but I wanted to keep reading.
Thankfully, I have the time for reading this time of year. Done with the candy, shopping, wrapping, decorating and sending of gifts. I’m also on the temporary DL for walking so my Fitbit is very sad! Merry Christmas.
I just finished Cold Betrayal. I would have finished it last night, but I don’t function too well on little or no sleep! It was great!
Wishing you and your whole family a very Merry Christmas! I also have elves who decorate my house they are my grand kids 6 and 7. I give them free rein and they do a great job!
Merry Christmas / Happy Holiday. You bring me joy reading your books.
I’m 67 this year I have alway had my health until this year. When we lived in Washington it used to take me a month to get all the Christmas village and tree up and running. We used to start the week before,Thanksgiving ( +with 21 guest) plus I sold shoes at Lamonts. I never ran out of energy until January 3..
If you have your health you are the riches person in the world. I admire you for taking that step and making your lifestyle a healthy one.Looking forward to all your new books in the coming year.
Have a wonderful Christmas Season with your family and friends. Hug the kids and Grand kids tight. Thank you for not forgetting your fans this busy time of the year…
MERRY CHRISTMAS. . JAN
Small pieces of joy?
Well… This blog is one of those 🙂
Your books are bigger pieces of joy 😀
Regarding the weather, I prefer below the freezing point at winter.
-5Celsius or so. 22Fahrenheit I guess.
Any clue when the novella ‘Random Acts’ is buyable from Amazon.com?
Please don’t ever refer to people in Minnesota as having accents equivalent to the one used in the movie Fargo. It is an insult to 99% of the state. I was furious when I read that refence in your last Walker book. And BTW, you can quit writing those. They really aren’t worth the paper they are printed on. And we don’t say tree for three anyore.
I have read all of your books, some of them twice, but I won’t bother with another Walker book.
Marry Christmas from Minn-e-soda. Yeah. Sure, You betchya.
I am always sorry when one of my readers is disappointed. Some people actually prefer the Walker stories. You don’t happen to be one of those, but as a friend told me once, “Thank God we’re not all alike. Otherwise we’d all be married to the same man and drive a Mustang.”
So I’m passing along the same wish for you I did before. May the joy of the season find you wherever you are—even in Minnesota.
You are one cool lady. Your like my husband, he can tell someone to go shoot themselves and they don’t realize it for 2 weeks… lol.
I had not really read the Walker books in real time and all together. I really came to enjoy going back and forth between the story and the legend. In fact really enjoyed the legend as much as the story. Maybe you could do a book of Legends.
Merry Christmas. .. Jan
Your walking regimen is very inspiring because you have made it sound doable. I wish you would elaborate more about these “cold, dark, and very rainy days.” Where I live has as much annual rainfall as Seattle. On some days it rains all day long with no let-up. More frequent are days where there are only 30 minutes or so when the rain stops. How do you keep up your walking routine around your yard during the rain, especially during so much rain? And when it is not raining, how do you stay warm? Thank you for your example.
I sometimes walk inside the house. I just added 200 steps walking around the kitchen island while the coffee was brewing. There’s a 110 step lap from the far end of the house to the kitchen and back. When it’s cold I wear a cap over my ears. When it’s raining, I wear a golf-visor over the cap to keep the rain off my glasses. I wear gloves. I layer sweaters under my water-resistant (not water-proof) jacket. But I walk. And last week I got to buy a size 14 dress with no alterations required. And it is doable. When I started I could only do 2000 steps or so without sitting down to rest. Now I can walk for an hour without having to stop. And every bit you add every day counts.
I love reading your blog. I just finished reading “Cold Betrayal” and I loved it. Congratulations for your new health! Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you & your husband.
Merry Christmas! Your books are special..the characters feel like family!!
Unfortunately (or fortunately whichever way you look at it) right now I don’t have time to think about Christmas. My older daughter is getting married the 19th and that’s all I can think about. Once Sunday the 20th rolls around, then I’ll start thinking about Christmas (except at church where we’ve been celebrating Advent since Nov. 29).
Merry Christmas to you and yours, J.A., and thank you for all the stories. There are moments of stress and distraction when I say to myself, “I need another J.A. Jance novel.” Your tight, suspenseful plots and very human characters are a marvelous distraction from trying times.
We’re celebrating a simplified Christmas this year, as my husband’s total knee replacement on the 7th has kept us mostly at home. Thank goodness for online gift shopping. Still, the lovely Christmas lights and decorations add a note of joy while we wait out his recovery.
I hope your husband’s knee replacements is as successful as my husband’s. Tell him I said to do the PT!
I’m charmed by the thought of the Christmas ornament progression. Smiling. I’m afraid ours got done in a two day burst. Thanks for being here.
Just finished the novella, only one complaint it was too short. Looking forward to the next publication early in 2016
Season’s greetings and thank you for hours of reading pleasure
Ints fully understand the demands and confusion for “where to spend Christmas”! Our family used to have that problem, but our son remarried last spring, and the WHOLE family now spends the holidays together! There’s no complaints if someone has a prior commitment and chooses not to attend. Since we are all so close, we will be spending more time together with the new twins due in January. Have a GREAT Christmas and the happiest and very productive New Year! God bless you and yours!
Oh, by the way, the novella was great. I really enjoyed it.