The Making of a Christmas Anthology
By Paty Jager
Mid-summer I was contacted by Debra Holland and asked if I’d
be interested in participating in a historical western Christmas anthology. I
like anthologies, and I like projects that can help with cross-promotion. My
answer was yes.
Debra said the story had to be set in her fictional town of
Sweetwater Springs, Montana. Which meant reading her books and getting to know
her town and characters. She also said we could use some of our characters or
completely new ones. The other catch; all the stories happened on the same year
at Christmas time.
Debra, myself, and nine other authors are in the anthology.
We set up a FB page just for us where we could discuss what our characters were
doing, what their names were so we didn’t double up names, and ask questions
about the town and people. All this chatting made the stories meld together as
cohesive as we could.
I took the easy way. I brought in a new couple and also Zeke
and Maeve Halsey from my Halsey Brothers Series. As Pinkerton agents they are
hired by the main character to find his missing wife. She is in Sweetwater Springs
living at Widow Murphy’s boarding house. My easy out; was keeping most of the
scenes in the boarding house and they were the only boarders at the time of
their visit. That way I only had to deal with one of Debra’s characters,
although the heroine does have a run-in with the cranky store owner Mrs. Cobb
in the beginning of the story.
Other authors took on the daunting task of their characters
attending the Christmas celebration at the new hotel and meeting more of the
locals in Sweetwater Springs.
Reading the blurbs and the book, you’ll see that each one of
us brought our own voice to our stories but the town and atmosphere is clearly
Sweetwater Springs.
E. AYERS - A CHRISTMAS FAR FROM HOME
Frank Coleman comes to Sweetwater Springs to ask Adie Reiner
to be his wife, but things don't happen as planned. Frank has been devastated
by the plight of the Crow Indians, and when he discovers the indifference and
bigotry within the Reiner household towards the Indians, he leaves. But he
doesn't leave alone. Adie and her sister come with him. Adie is determined to
help those less fortunate. www.ayersbooks.com
LINDA
CARROLL-BRADD - WISHES ON A STAR
Free-spirit Richelle Quaid is outspoken, confident and a
little bit spoiled. She sets tongues wagging with her bloomers and bicycle but
also catches the eye of visiting rancher Landon Howard. An incident with her
bicycle causes his prize colt to bolt into the cold Montana night. As Richelle
and Landon track the animal together, they can’t fight their growing
attraction. Will a wish made on a star foretell their future? www.lindacarroll-bradd.com
MJ FREDRICK - ABIGAIL'S CHRISTMAS ANGEL
US Marshal Benedict Traylor has avoided Abigail Sinclair,
his best friend's widow, since his friend's death in the spring. Part of his
reason is guilt over his role in Marcus's death. A bigger part is his guilt
over the tenderness he feels for Abigail. But it's winter, and he knows she
needs his help. When he arrives and finds her unconscious on the floor of
her barn, his plan to stay only a little while flees. As he nurses her back to health,
his affection for her blossoms anew. www.Mjfredrick.com
DEBRA HOLLAND – THE
GIFT OF MUSIC
The holiday season
brings renowned harpist Blythe Robbins to town to perform at the newly-opened
hotel. Timid Blythe is drained from a grueling performance schedule and wants
nothing more than to rest and do some soul-searching about her future. Peter
Rockwell, shy scion of a prominent hotel family, seeks to gain his experience
managing a hotel away from his overbearing family. Can two reserved people
overcome their limitations and find love? drdebraholland.com
DEBRA HOLLAND - A FAMILY FOR IKE
Elderly hermit Chappie
Henderson rescues newly orphaned Ike Tannerson and takes him to town to find a
home. As Ike struggles to fit in with his new family, Chappie worries for the
boy. But to help Ike, Chappie will need to emerge from his long solitude, something
that seems impossible. drdebraholland.com
DEBRA HOLLAND - THE
JOY OF CHRISTMAS
The town banker Caleb
Livingston opens his new hotel, crowning the holidays with a lavish party for
the whole town. Although his intention is to advertise his business, in the
process, the banker learns that perhaps some things are more important than
money. drdebraholland.com
PATY
JAGER – A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER
Dr. Carson Raines has one wish for this Christmas; to find
his missing wife. He enlists the help of a married couple who are Pinkerton
Agents. They find his wife, Ida, living in Sweetwater Springs as a spinster. Ida
is pleasantly surprised to run into one of the new boarders at Mrs. Murphy’s
boarding house. He’s a handsome doctor who might be able to help her discover
her missing past. www.patyjager.net
JILL MARIE LANDIS - UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR
Spinster Violet Winters is
determined to make the best of spending her first Christmas alone in Sweetwater
Springs. When she slips and falls one icy cold evening, not only does Rory
Townsend, a drifter nicknamed "Tumbleweed" come to her rescue, but
the townsfolk rally to help too. Violet quickly discovers what it means to live
in a close knit community and that it's never too late to give up on love and
the surprises life has in store. www.jillmarielandis.com
TRISH MILBURN –
A NEW HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
Grace Mayfield leaves behind betrayal and heartache in
Kentucky for a new life in Montana. She'll be satisfied with a stable, happy
new home on her cousin's ranch cooking for the ranch hands. What she doesn't
expect is to find true love with cowboy Andrew Kingston, especially when she's
been failed by love before. www.trishmilburn.com
LINDA
MCLAUGHLIN - THE BEST PRESENT
Ten-year-old Allison Harcourt's life has been turned upside down since her father lost his job and her beloved grandmother died. She's not looking forward to Christmas, especially since she can't figure out how to finish the scarf she's making for her mother. An unexpected stop in Sweetwater Springs brings her and her parents to the boarding house of the widow Murphy. Sometimes sweet things can be found in the most unexpected places. www.lindamclaughlin.com
Ten-year-old Allison Harcourt's life has been turned upside down since her father lost his job and her beloved grandmother died. She's not looking forward to Christmas, especially since she can't figure out how to finish the scarf she's making for her mother. An unexpected stop in Sweetwater Springs brings her and her parents to the boarding house of the widow Murphy. Sometimes sweet things can be found in the most unexpected places. www.lindamclaughlin.com
BEV
PETTERSEN - THE CHRISTMAS CROSSING
Ellie would love to leave
her father’s peddling wagon. But spending Christmas Eve locked in the
Sweetwater jail is the bossy Cal Barrett's idea, not hers. How can she possibly
sit behind bars when snow melt threatens to wash away her beloved animals, and
her dream of finding a home? However, with a little Christmas magic, two
searching hearts discover they can bridge much more than a raging river. www.BevPettersen.com
TORI
SCOTT – A PROMISE FOR CHRISTMAS
When Rachel Tanner loses her husband two months before Christmas,
the holiday looks bleak for her and her young son, Cass. Then her husband's
brother arrives in Sweetwater Springs to help Rachel make it through the
winter, turning her life, and her heart, upside down. http://toriscott.blogspot.com
CYNTHIA
WOOLF - SUGARPLUM DREAMS
Julia Bosworth is a woman scorned. Determined to follow her
dreams and not those of her mother, she comes to Sweetwater Springs, Montana to
open a sweet shop. Little does she know that in Sweetwater Springs dreams
really do come true and Christmas miracles happen. www.cynthiawoolf.com
Buy Link:
website: www.patyjager.net
