Wonderful Winter Smiles, Stories, and Fun with Julie Lessman (Plus Giveaway!)

Well, you all made it through yet another Wednesday! How do you feel? I'm feeling happy that we're one day away from Friday! I am even MORE happy, however, that my dear friend Julie Lessman is visiting us! Lemme tell you, this lady needs no introduction, but since she sent me her own introduction....I guess we'll let that speak for me ; )

Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. Winner of the 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers Debut Author of the Year and Holt Medallion Awards of Merit for Best First Book and Long Inspirational, Julie is also the recipient of 13 Romance Writers of America awards and was voted by readers as “Borders Best of 2009 So Far: Your Favorite Fiction.” Chosen as #1 Romance Fiction Author of the Year in the Family Fiction magazine 2011 Readers Choice Awards, Julie was also awarded #1 Series of the Year in that same poll and #3 Author of the Year, #5 Novel of the Year and #4 Historical Fiction Author of the year.

Hannah: Jules!! You FINALLY managed to make it onto my blog :D Woot woot lol! Was so bummed last year when you couldn't make it, but thanks for joining this year *hugs* When does the Christmas season officially start in your household? What is the first thing done that marks the start (i.e. putting up Christmas tree, baking first gingerbread men, etc)?

Julie: For the Lessmans, the Christmas season officially kicks off the weekend before Thanksgiving when I put up our Christmas tree and decorations. You see, we split holidays in my family, and I have Thanksgiving, so it just makes sense to put up my decorations prior to so my family can enjoy them as well. Besides, it makes the house SO festive and fun and especially romantic when my hubby and I watch Christmas movies Thanksgiving weekend. Nothing says “romantic” to me quite like snuggling in the glow of the Christmas tree and a crackling fire in a hearth decorated with greenery and lights!

H: Oh you have NO idea how much I can't wait to have what you have with your special hubby, Jules. I know I'm young and definitely not looking for marriage yet, but someday....it's gonna be amazing, I can imagine : ) In the meantime, a boyfriend might be nice! :P In a Christmas fantasy land – who would be the famous figures, past and/or present, at your dinner table and why?

J: Well, Jesus is a given, of course, along with his folks! :) But then I would LOVE to see Margaret Mitchell there along with Harper Lee, Audrey Hepburn, Doris Day, Marilyn Monroe, Cary Grant and Clark Gable.

H: Should've known about some of those people, especially Margaret Mitchell and of course Jesus! What did you ask Santa for Christmas this year? *wink*

J: Oh, I am SO easy to buy for, it’s downright disgusting and I ask for the same things every single year—a favorite book, flavored coffees, fun and sexy tops and cheap costume jewelry. Heaven help me, I am a glutton for cheap costume jewelry, and the more dangle, the better!!

H: :O Sexy tops? I'm surprised! LOL! Would've never expected that one out of you ; ) Sounds fun, though! What is one unique tradition for your family during the month of December to celebrate Christmas?

J: As one of thirteen kids, I’d wake up Christmas morning to a wall of presents halfway up our ceiling-height tree. I remember it being pure chaos with everyone opening gifts at the same time, paper flying and everything over within minutes. It wasn’t until I married and we adapted my husband’s family tradition of sitting in a circle while each person took their turn opening one present at a time that I realized how magical and peaceful Christmas could be. Lots of ooohs and ahhhs laced with love and gratitude while we enjoyed the unwrapping of other’s gifts as well as our own. Pure bliss!!

H: Oh man.....that would probably give me an anxiety attack. All unwrapped at once in minutes!? Eeeeeeeek! There's only my sister and I that have ever lived together (I have 5 other siblings) and so it's always been a fairly slow pace. We have been taught to cherish every gift given and usually Mom has to shoo us onto the next one or it'd take too long! LOL! How will you be spending your Christmas day this year?

J: Years ago when the kids were about eight and fourteen, my husband and I awoke early to the smell of fresh coffee and bacon. To our complete surprise, our kids had gotten up early to fix us the same breakfast I’d fixed for them every Christmas—scrambled eggs with cheese, bacon, biscuits, hash browns, coffee and juice. What a treat!! This went on for years until my son moved away and got married, but now my daughter gets up to fix the breakfast for all of us along with help from my son and daughter-in-law when they arrive. So we start the day off with breakfast, followed by presents opened one by one, all wrapped up with a reading from the Bible. Then we dress up in our Christmas best for an afternoon of appetizers and fun at my sister-in-law’s followed by dinner. The day concludes with a Christmas movie with just my kids and us or just my hubby and I. Very nice.

H: This is one of my all-time favorite reasons for doing this blogfest - truly hearing how my friends spend their Christmas day. On such a celebratory and reflective day as well, it's amazing to hear of all the different traditions incorporated. Thank you for sharing those memories with us : )What have been the highlights throughout 2011 for you?

J: The number one highlight would be my new granddaughter, Aurora Grace (Rory) Lessman, who is now almost three months—OH MY, what a blessing!!! Following on her heels would be the Seeker get-together at my house during the ACFW Conference in St. Louis (where I was blessed to meet Casey Herringshaw!!) and the “A Kiss is NOT Just a Kiss” workshop that Ruth Axtell Morren and I taught—SO much fun!!

Career highlights would have to be A Hope Undaunted coming up #5 on Booklist's Top 10 Inspirational Fiction 2010 and Family Fiction magazine 2011 Readers Choice Awards of #1 Romance Author of the Year, #3 Author of the Year, #4 Historical Fiction Author of the Year, #1 Series of the Year and # 5 Novel of the Year for A Hope Undaunted.

H: Ohhhhhhh I LOVE your new granddaughter's name!! Truly love it :D It's gorgeous! You sure have a busy year, girl! What I would give at the chance to meet you....very jealous of Case on that one lol. Do you have any New Years resolutions for the upcoming 2012?

J: YES!!! Write more, get back on the treadmill and lose five pounds!!

H: I WISH five pounds was all I had to lose *groan* These are some “short answer” questions. You can answer them in as few words as possible, if you want.

Favorite Christmas book read this year? Movie seen?

Ooops … haven’t read any Christmas books … yet!! Favorite Christmas movie? White Christmas.

Last Christmas song you heard? Emmanuel by Amy Grant

Favorite food to make or eat during the season? Shrimp cocktail, turkey and dressing, and my mom’s Bourbon Pumpkin Pie.

Briefly describe your favorite ornament.
What else??? Scarlett O’Hara in a red dress … : )

(Okay, I know it's not the red dress, but I just LOVE this picture! :D)

Anything else you would like to say? : )
Thanks SO much, Hannah, for hosting me on your blog this week. I want to wish you and your readers a most BLESSED holiday season and an even better new year! I LOVE to hear from reader friends, so they can feel free to contact me through my website, either by sending an e-mail via my site or by signing up for my newsletter. My newsletter is chock-full of fun info on my books and there’s always a contest featuring signed book giveaways including one right now to have a character named after you or a loved one in my next book. Also, I have a cool feature on my website called “Journal Jots”, which is a very laid-back, Friday journal to my reader friends that would give your readers an idea as to my relaxed style of writing. Then finally, I can be found daily at The Seekers blog, a group blog devoted to encouraging and helping aspiring writers on the road to publication.
Hugs,
Julie

Julie! I was going to add all that info on you at the end; you just made my job a little easier! Lol! Thanks ; ) I sure hope you have a spectacular season as well. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you joining me here on my blog. I can't wait to finally have my hands on a copy of A Heart Revealed - nooooo, I still don't! *big hugs*

IT'S GIVEAWAY TIME! Everyone, you are in for a treat!! Julie was in the Christmas spirit when she answered my email ; ) She is offering winner's choice of any of her books AND a copy of "A Kiss is NOT Just a Kiss" that her and Ruth Axtell Morren taught at this year's conference! Wow! What a prize package!

Rules:

~ Leave a comment for Julie here

~ Include a valid email address so I can contact you if you win

~ Must have US mailing address for this giveaway

+1 For becoming a new follower of my blog

+1 For signing up for Julie's newsletter

+2 For being an old follower : )

Okay so for today's song, I stumbled upon these two singers recently on Youtube. They do not post songs terribly often, usually more podcasts and vodcasts. However, I found this AWESOME Christmas song they posted!!! Enjoy!

Happy Thursday, friends! Jules, thanks again for joining us! See you tomorrow,

Hannah