ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS - Rosanne Croft, Sharon Smith, Linda Reinhardt - One Free Book

Welcome, Rosanne. How did this book come about?

We wrote stories for 3 books and our editor/publisher creatively put all the stories in a

sparkling new edition with Shiloh Run Press, an imprint of Barbour Publishing. How exciting for us to have this book of Christmas stories available at Walmart stores as well as online.

What was your contribution to the collection?

I wrote eight stories for the book. Some are based on real life memories and others are sheer imagination. 

What other books have you written?

Our first book together was Like A Bird Wanders, a historical novel. We had such fun doing it together, with each of us starring as a sister in the book. After the Christmas stories, we moved on to individual projects and cheer for each other’s new endeavors. I think your readers may remember I was featured on your blog this past year for A Gentile in Deseret a Utah romance based on a relationship between a lovely LDS girl and a born again Christian guy. What conflict already! It’s the first in a series and the second, A Saint in the Eternal City will be forthcoming on Amazon soon.

Tell us about your favorite Christmas memory.

I’ll let you read the long version in my story, “Starlight and Snow.” The essence was a Nativity scene that we traditionally went to see at night. There was a padded kneeler in front where you could study the figures, and while there it almost came alive to me. Peace settled on me, unbelievable peace.

Tell us something about your family.

I’m married to a good man and it’s been 35 years! We have a special trip planned to

celebrate. We have a 21 year old daughter in and out of our home, although independent for the most part. Two married sons have given us five grandchildren.

Today we went to Grandparents’ Day with five-year-old Grayson and made turkeys!

Please give us the first page of one of the stories you contributed to the collection.

From “The Longest Silence” by Rosanne Croft

It was a good day. I had two letters at mail call one from my mom and one from a guy

who’d shipped out of Vietnam two months ago. I walked to my bunk and tore open the one from Charlie. Peace on Earth1968, his card said.  But the picture had nothing to do with Christmas; it was a photo of an M48 tank. We’d given Charlie a celebration barbeque at Quonset hut, our hooch. But his attitude had been so  cynical and mean; I didn’t see why we’d gone to any trouble for a selfish guy like him. Now he

sends me a demoralizing Christmas photo card.

Merry Christmas to you, too, pal , I thought gloomily.

Charlie’s sarcastic greeting threw me into a cranky mood of self pity. He was home, far

from the rocket attacks on our evacuation hospital. He’d never have to carry another gurney off a helicopter in the middle of the night, I thought bitterly. Charlie was spending the holiday at home with his family, complete with stockings on the fireplace and a decked-out Christmas tree. Oh sure, here the cooks at the mess would roast a big turkey dinner for us, I knew. But the turkey, and especially the potatoes and gravy, never tasted like home. Must have been all the insects buzzing around, ending up in the food. Extra protein, some guys said.

We medics were friends for life, most of us, locked together in mortal combat against wounds received by our fighting men in the rice patties and jungles of the Central Highlands of Vietnam. At the 71st Evacuation Hospital, our job was to save as many lives as we could, and we did it twelve hours every night shift and twelve hours every day shift. We stabilized them and sent them on.

But this December of 1968, when US casualties peaked at over 16,000 killed in one year,

I felt the same hopelessness depicted on that card. There would never be peace on earth. I tucked the card into my pants pocket with dismay and walked out of the hooch.

I almost rammed straight into Phil, the chaplain’s assistant, as he hurried back from the

direction of the sergeant major’s office. Poor Phil; he’d lost every hair on his twenty-year-old head from taking quinine to fight against malaria. We all took it, but some men had the bad luck to have side effects. Young guys look strange when they’re that bald. Talk about nerdy. That’d be Phil.

“Hey, Sergeant,” he said, “I have a surprise.”

Why did you want to write a book like this?

The stories were a wonderfully creative way to commemorate some of my best Christmas

memories. Important family stories will now be in written form, only fictionalized a bit to make them more interesting.

What do you want the reader to take away from your stories in the collection?

I hope readers who like to curl up with a book of stories will be touched emotionally and feel peace in their situations. Sometimes I read to escape and I know there are those kinds of stories here, too. Throughout human history, there have been hard times but Christmas is the time to be reminded of Jesus’ living presence. I pray readers see the reality of Jesus’ coming at Christmas and feel his love for them.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

I would love to be friends with readers on Facebook under Rosanne Croft. My blog is alas, not updated, but it’s at rosannecroft.wordpress.com. Thanks for the interview, Lena!

Now we'll meet the second author in the collection.

Welcome, Sharon. How did this book come about?

I had so many  story ideas in my head and knew for sure I'd never be able to write novels from them all, so when the short story concept clicked, I was on a roll.

What was your contribution to the collection?

Twenty-seven of the stories are mine.

What other books have you written?

My first book was a historical novel written with Linda and Rosanne, titled Like a Bird Wanders. The sequel, Old Sins Long Shadows was my own endeavor. My next book, The Train Baby's Mother, is a Holocaust survivor's story and won first place in the 2013 Oregon Christian Writer's contest. The three Christmas books contained in this anthology followed. The Short Life of Moths, a book of hope and healing after domestic violence came out in 2013 and spawned a ministry to prevent violence against women through education. Last year, Barbour books published a compilation containing The Train Baby's Mother and two titles by Bruce Judisch.

Tell us about your favorite Christmas memory.

 I love Christmas and have many wonderful memories, but my first Christmas with my first child stands out as one of awesome wonder.

Tell us something about your family.

I'm married and have two grown sons. They each have two incredible daughters who fill my life with joy and laughter. Right now, we're looking forward to a new grandson after the first of the year. I also have a huge extended family who loves to celebrate everything. 

Please give us the first page of one of the stories you contributed to the collection.

 “The Train Baby”

Somewhere in Germany/1943

“Listen!”

“I hear nothing, Ellie. Your imagination once again is getting the best of you.”

“I tell you, I heard something, Fritz. What if it's a wounded animal caught in a hunter's trap?”

“They hunt only for food. How many times must I tell you this?”

“Tell me a thousand times, and I will think it cruel.”

Another sound rises from the direction of the rail tracks running through the back of their grandparent's property.

“Fritz!” Ellie's head jerked in the direction of the wail.

“I heard it. Maybe the train hit an animal.”

They moved as fast as the knee-deep snow would allow, straining against the heavy restriction. Cousins brought together by misfortune, living in the country for safekeeping while their fathers fought for the homeland, they found comfort in the camaraderie that kept fears about war at a distance.

Fritz, whose long legs gave him an advantage over the younger Ellie, arrived first. “I see nothing Ellie. Winter plays a trick on us.”

Ellie, her braids now loosed from a red stocking hat, grabbed her heaving sides. Misting breath crystallized in the fierce December cold. “Oh, Fritz, you are always so wise, far and above any boy in all the land.” She waved her arm, bowing in mockery.

Suddenly, the stillness collapsed with a cry, plaintive and intense. 

I read the collection written by you and Bruce. Your story lingered in my thoughts for many days. Why did you want to write a book like this?

The birth of Jesus is the most loving gift from Heaven. My intention was to draw people back to the real meaning of Christmas. 

What do you want the reader to take away from your stories in the collection?

Jesus is real. I want my readers to realize the love that God has for them.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

All my books are at the usual sites. And please look for me on Facebook.

 And now we'll meet the third author, Linda Reinhardt.

How did this book come about?
Sharon put together the original book, Once Upon A Christmas.  It needed some more stories so she invited Roseanne and me. The publisher liked it so much she asked us to put together another one the next year and then the next. And now they are compiled together in this edition.

What other books have you written?
I co-wrote Like A Bird Wanders with Sharon and Roseanne, along with Starry Starry Night, Once Upon A Christmas, and Always Home for Christmas.
I also wrote the Sister Blue Thread Series, Hidden Song, Silenced Song, and soon to be released Lost Song.

Tell us about your favorite Christmas memory.
My favorite Christmas memory - that is hard to answer, there are so many, my first with my husband, my daughters first, times with family and friends, but one memory creeps into my mind every year...When I was young, I always sat next to my Dad at church. He loves hymns and Christmas music. I loved to sit next to him on Christmas Eve and sing Christmas hymns. He has a beautiful voice. Although we don't go to church together right now, I can still hear him singing every Christmas Eve. The memory will literally bring tears to my eyes remembering him singing the songs.

Tell us something about your family.
I am married to a wonderful, Christian man. We have a beautiful, miracle daughter who is now in middle school. I also am blessed to have most of my extended family living nearby.

Why did you want to write a book like this?  
I had some Christmas stories I had written tucked away in files. I had no idea what I was going to do with them. Except one, “Only One Gift For Me,”  which I had also written a screen play for, and it was performed at a church I attended a few years ago, and also at retirement  homes for a couple of years. So ... when Sharon invited me to join her I was more than excited to join the project. 

What do you want the reader to take away from your stories in the collection?
It hit me one Christmas that not everyone I loved believed or were following Jesus, so I wrote a story and passed it around hoping it would lead them to Jesus. I still hope that just maybe, when a person nestles in to read these stories in the middle of the Christmas rush, they might have a few moments of reflecting on the goodness that Jesus brings. And that’s really what this holiday is all about, Jesus, and Him coming to earth as a baby....

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?
I would love to connect with readers on facebook! Or they can find me on my blog, lindajreinhardt.blogspot.com.

Thank you, Rosanne, Sharon, and Linda, for sharing this wonderful book with us. I've read a few of the stories so far and loved them. I know my readers are eager to read the book, as well.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.

Once Upon a Christmas - Christianbook.com
Once Upon a Christmas: 55 Heartwarming Short Stories Bring Meaning to the Season - Amazon
Once Upon a Christmas: 55 Heartwarming Short Stories Bring Meaning to the Season - Kindle

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