Dear Readers, The Gift of Christmas Past, is my favorite among all the Christmas
books I’ve read this year. It’s poignant, and it stayed with me for days after
I read the last page. I’ve loved Cindy’s writing for a long, and with the
addition of her daughter, this book continues the tradition of stories that
really grip your heart, characters who pull you into their world, and both a
strong romantic thread as well as a strong spiritual thread. A very satisfying
read.
Welcome Erin ,
and welcome back, Cindy. I know that this is a collaboration. How did this story
come about?
Cindy: This story began in November 2016. Erin and I had written
another Christmas novella together, but it wouldn’t be released until 2018, so
there was a chance to create something new and different. We brainstormed
during the holidays, working around the birth of Erin ’s
third child, Silas. Then we put our feet on the ground in Asheville for the research and got to work!
Did you find it easy to work together on
it?
Cindy: Definitely easy. Moreover, the brainstorming and writing
together brought new and unexpected excitement to my workday.
How did collaborating with this team
impact you?
Cindy: It’s hard to explain—we went from understanding each other
on one level to understanding each other on a much deeper level. Collaborating
means I have someone close to me who gets what I do, who is excited about the
process of writing, and who knows what it takes to get the story from the
“drawing board” to the written page. Going places to research has been so much
fun, and we’ve made memories that will last a lifetime. We have our
brainstorming sessions at our favorite coffee shop. I’ve never experienced
anything like this, and I never expected to, so it’s changed me. (As of
November 2017, we’ve written three books together, two for Random House.)
What is the hardest thing about writing
as a team?
Cindy: Computers. Don’t get me started on my propensity for
technology glitches! Sharing information and making sure each person has the
most updated files is so important. For all documents that aren’t actual
chapters or the master copy, we figured out that Google Docs is a good
solution.
What are you reading right now?
Both: Edits for next year’s novel!
Cindy: I love Katie Ganshert’s work. I’ve just cracked the first
pages of Life After.
How did you choose your characters’
names?
Cindy: Typically, I go through an Amish address book, so it was a
lot of fun that we were able to hash out contemporary names. I just love the
name Elliott for a girl.
Would you want to work on another book
together?
Both: We already have! We feel like we’re just now getting really
good at it. Next year we have two coming out through Random House’s WaterBrook
Press imprint, one in August and one in October. The tentative titles are Ocean Roads and A Spoonful of Christmas. And we have at least three more ideas for
future books!
I’ll want to feature both of them on my
blog. What do you want to tell us about The
Gift of Christmas Past?
Cindy:
Promises
made.
Lies spoken.
Lies spoken.
Dreams
shattered.
She was arrested.
He returned to the safety of his wealthy parents.
Almost ten years later, Hadley and Monroe are both specialists in the field of speech therapy. They meet again . . . thrown together to help a four-year-old-girl rendered mute after being rescued from a fire.
Years of secrets and anger beg to be set free as Hadley and Monroe try to push aside past hurts and find common ground in order to help the traumatized child and her family.
Can the love of Christmas past drift into the present, bringing healing and hope for all?
She was arrested.
He returned to the safety of his wealthy parents.
Almost ten years later, Hadley and Monroe are both specialists in the field of speech therapy. They meet again . . . thrown together to help a four-year-old-girl rendered mute after being rescued from a fire.
Years of secrets and anger beg to be set free as Hadley and Monroe try to push aside past hurts and find common ground in order to help the traumatized child and her family.
Can the love of Christmas past drift into the present, bringing healing and hope for all?
Please give us the first page of the book
for my readers.
Hadley’s mind
reeled with disbelief as her foster mom shoved her clothes into an old
suitcase. “But…but I’m innocent.”
“Maybe.” Dianna
gave a half-hearted nod. “I hope so. It’d be an awful thing to squander the
opportunities we’ve offered you.”
“I…I am. The
investigation will prove it. I promise. You’ve got to believe me. Please.”
“Like I said,
maybe you are innocent…of this incident. You had seemed to be making great
strides since you went to anger-management classes. I’ll give you that, Hads.”
“Then don’t send
me back. Please. My friends are here. Monroe
is—”
“Decision’s
made. You made it when you broke curfew for the third time.”
“But I was only
a little late and for good reasons. You said so—”
“I’m aware.”
Dianna didn’t pause her movements as she packed Hadley’s toothbrush.
Hadley bit back
tears, hating any sign of being vulnerable. “Then why?”
“They’ve found
two witnesses who place you in the Reeds’ yard.”
“What?” Hadley’s
knee-jerk gasp was the totally wrong response. Stay cool. Remain calm.
“Yeah,
apparently you were there.” Dianna released a slow sigh. “Imagine that.”
Regret twisted
through Hadley. She never should’ve set foot on the Reeds’ property. “Okay, I
was at their place, but I never—”
“Interesting.”
Dianna stood up straight, the top of her head now even with Hadley’s nose. She
yanked a beautiful red sweater off a hanger, a Christmas gift from Scott and
her to Hadley a mere three weeks ago. “You’ve denied being anywhere near there
until right now. They said they saw you start a fire using leaves, sticks, and
what appeared to be some kind of accelerant.” She shoved the sweater into the
suitcase with the other clothes as if it and Hadley no longer mattered.
Should she
explain her actions? The moment the question came to her she knew the answer.
No matter the subject or the situation, adults couldn’t be trusted. Anything
Hadley said would be passed along to the authorities, distorted, and used
against her.
Dianna jammed
two pairs of wool socks into the suitcase. “Anyway, Scott and I think it’s in
everyone’s best interest if you don’t live here anymore.”
(To read the
rest of Chapter One, go here: http://www.cindywoodsmall.com/excerpt-the-gift-of-christmas-past/
Where can our readers find you on the
Internet?
We can be found
on Cindy’s Facebook, where we both answer readers. https://www.facebook.com/authorcindywoodsmall
Also on Cindy’s
website and blog: www.cindywoodsmall.com
Thank you, Cindy and Erin, for sharing
this book with me and my blog readers. I know they will love it as much as I
have.
Readers, here are links to the book.
The Gift of Christmas Past - Christianbook.comThe Gift Of Christmas Past: A Southern Romance - Amazon paperback
The Gift of Christmas Past - Kindle
Leave a comment
for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions
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The only
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I am looking forward to reading "THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS PAST by Cindy and Erin Woodsmall. Thank you for the opportunity to win.I enjoy reading your books.
ReplyDeleteI too love Cindy's books, anxious to read this one that she wrote with her daughter. It's wonderful that they work together like this for us readers!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the chance to win a copy. Wendy from South Sioux City, NE.
wfnren at aol dot com
This sounds like an interesting story. I like when authors write outside the genres they are well known for. It shows their creativity! How wonderful that Cindy wrote this with Erin.
ReplyDeletemarypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
Maryann in New York
I'm guessing foster kids must hear those words far too often. I wish I could have been a foster parent. But, for various reasons, I couldn't. I'd love to read this story.
ReplyDeleteLinda in CA
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I love Christmas stories and would truly love to win this one. Thank you for the chance.
ReplyDeleteSmiles & Blessings,
Cindy W. from Indiana
Oh my...I loved the interview, love the cover, love the synopsis, love Cindy Woodsmall, love Christmas stories, and would love to win a copy of this book!!! 😊 I have yet to read one of Cindy’s books where she collaborated with her daughter. Thanks for a chance to win this giveaway. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 VanG in NC
ReplyDeleteThank you for the interview and excerpt from THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS PAST. I love Christmas stories and this one sounds amazing - especially with your great recommendation. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
ReplyDeleteKay from Mountain View, AR
2clowns at arkansas dot net
Cool cover. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom
ReplyDeleteThe Gift of Christmas Past sounds like a wonderful book! It's been on my list to read. The cover is really cool! Becky from Kansas City, Missouri
ReplyDeleteWhat a heartbreaking opening scene!
ReplyDeletePatty in SC
I love Cindy Woodsmall's books, and can't wait to read this!
ReplyDeleteMinnesota
I have read several of Cindy's books and it will be interesting to read one that is non Amish!
ReplyDeleteBeth from Iowa
Emma said...
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to reading "THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS PAST by Cindy and Erin Woodsmall. Thank you for the opportunity to win.I enjoy reading your books.PA.
I loved another Cindy woodsmall book I read recently. It was my first one. I can’t wait to read this book. I’m from the suburbs of Chicago!
ReplyDeleteI love Christmas books and this sounds like such a good book! Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!
ReplyDeleteTiffany from Louisiana.
jtabalk(at)hotmail(dot)com
I want to read this because I've never seen a book with a character who spells her name the way I do!
ReplyDeleteDianna G. (TN)
I've read many of Cindy's books and I love the way the characters touch my heart. they seem so real. Would love to win this book. Vivian of Colorado.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview. Looking forward to reading this collaboration of mother- daughter. Thanx for the giveaway!!!!
ReplyDeleteI am a Michigander living in the Flatlands of Lubbock, Texas.
Deletesounds like a great book! Shelia from Mississippi
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI'm from Herriman Utah.
Thanks for sharing a piece of the story.
Kristina Kohler
Thanks for a chance to win
ReplyDeleteThe Gift of Christmas Past sounds like the perfect Christmas read. Thank you for sharing Cindy & Erin's interview and for this chance to win.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
I live in the Chattanooga, TN area. 😁
ReplyDeleteHello, from Dothan, AL! Thank you for doing a wonderful giveaway and promoting such great authors!
ReplyDeleteEnter me in your awesome giveaway!!
ReplyDeleteConway SC.
I have a couple of Cindy's books, and think she tells great stories. I am now looking forward to reading this Christmas one to see how the collaboration with Erin works out. Think it will be great.
ReplyDeleteDonna from Jones OK
donna (dot) durnell (at) sbcglobal (dot) net
I love Cindy's books. I usually read digitally, but would love a paper copy. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteMarcia from Gardner MA
Okay, so that tease did its job. Now I want to read the book, well done! Roseanne from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
ReplyDeleteLove Cindy’s books and can’t wait to read this one.
ReplyDeleteDenise from Bluefield WV
Sounds so great. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHope to read soon.
CINDY I have read almost all your books! I just love them! THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS PAST SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT READ! please enter me in the drawing!
ReplyDeleteI would love to read your books, Jamie from Alabama
ReplyDeleteHello from Austin, TX! I loved the interview and the new book sounds really good. Congrats on the new baby/grandson! Thank you for the giveaway opportunity.
ReplyDeleteperrianneDOTaskewATmeDOTcom (no google acct)
My mom and I are big fans of Cindy Woodsmall. I know my Mom would be thrilled to receive "The Gift of Christmas Past" under the tree Christmas morning. I live in Leamington, Ontario. Canada.
ReplyDeleteLinda Fast
lindacfast@hotmail.com
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete"The Gift of Christmas Past" definitely goes on my to read list. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteI live in Citrus Heights, California.
I can't wait to read her newest book.
ReplyDeleteNoelle from Florida
I love all your books and can't wait to read this one by you & your DIL.
ReplyDeleteRhonda in Virginia