CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA: Anna Campbell
Mistletoe Madness with Anna Campbell
What are your plans for Christmas 2014?
I’m having one of those major change years, including putting the house where I’ve lived for ten years up for sale. At this stage, I’m not sure where I’ll be for Christmas. I just hope there’s room at the inn!
Tell us about a usual Christmas in your home?
These days Christmas is fairly quiet, although most of my Christmas memories are from the rambunctious family Christmases when I was younger. It’s a time for close friends and family and taking a moment to be grateful for all the blessings in my life. Oh, and because it’s midsummer, there’s definitely some pool time included!
Any gift in particular that you’d love to see wrapped under the tree?
Hmm, can I have a Tom Hiddleston in my size please?
What is a typical Christmas lunch and/or dinner at your house?
We used to do the whole traditional Christmas with turkey and every trimming under the sun. These days, we usually go for seafood or something yummy like rack of lamb. And ice-cream for dessert.
Tell us, what is the one dish that gets served every single year? Is there a story behind this?
Not so much these days. When I was a kid, my poor mother used to roast both pork and turkey for Christmas lunch because my brother absolutely adored roast pork and wasn’t so crazy on turkey. As you can imagine, we lived on cold meat sandwiches for days afterwards.
Essentials for an Aussie Christmas…
Sun. Kookaburras. Lots of good local wine. Family and good friends.
Your best Silly Season survival tip?
Hmm, note the mention of lots of good local wine in the previous question.
What will you be reading this Christmas?
After the Christmas madness is over, I settle down for a week of complete downtime every year. It’s my present to myself for all my writing during the year. I’m currently on a Nora Roberts kick so I suspect she’ll get a look-in and I’ve just discovered M.C. Beaton’s delightful Regency romances (originally published under her Marion Chesney name) so I’ll be reading more of those.
What have been your big achievements in 2014?
Clearing out three generations worth of stuff from the family home.
What are your plans/goals for 2015?
Hopefully settling into a new home. Getting over to the U.K. for an extended period for research and R&R. Starting a new historical romance series. Self-publishing at least one more novella.
Her Christmas Earl
Anna Campbell
No good deed goes unpunished…
To save her hen-witted sister from scandal, Philippa Sanders ventures into a rake’s bedroom – and into his power. Now her reputation hangs by a thread and only a hurried marriage can rescue her. Is the Earl of Erskine the heartless libertine the world believes? Or will Philippa discover unexpected honor in a man notorious for his wild ways?
Blair Hume, the dissolute Earl of Erskine, has had his eye on the intriguing Miss Sanders since he arrived at this deadly dull house party. Now a reckless act delivers this beguiling woman into his hands as a delightful Christmas gift. Does fate offer him a fleeting Yuletide diversion? Or will this Christmas Eve encounter spark a passion to last a lifetime?
Keen to keep the Christmas fun going?
Come over and try your luck at cracking an AusRomToday cracker. There’s books, book packs, Amazon gift cards, and heaps of other fun Christmassy prizes to win!
I hope you have a great Christmas, Anna. I love the idea of you taking a week out for yourself. Maybe I should try that as I’ve got a lot of reading to catch up on. Then again, deadlines wait for no one.
Have a happy Christmas!!
Noelle, a couple of years I had revisions on a short turnaround at this time of year – I’m so grateful this year that I don’t. There’s something in the Aussie psyche that says Dec/Jan = holidays! Happy Christmas!
Noelle, a couple of years I had editorial revisions to do at Christmas time which meant not much of a break. I’m so grateful this year that I can take a bit of a break. There’s something in the Aussie psyche that says Dec/Jan = Holidays. Happy Christmas!
It’s a huge thing, selling up and moving house, especially at this time of year, Anna. Good luck with it all 😀 and Merry Christmas. xx
Thanks, Marilyn. Back when I wrote this, I thought I was moving house. But it didn’t sell, so I’m still in the same place! Merry Christmas to you.
Selling up at any time in your life is daunting, but at Christmas, it would be especially difficult I would imagine.
I also adore Nora Roberts books. I have two long shelves full of her novels, in my bookcase. I love a series, and she has many trilogies and boxed sets. Divine! Enjoy your downtime reading and relaxing over Christmas.
Merry Christmas, and enjoy your Seafood Christmas lunch. xoxo
Savannah, I’ve always liked Nora’s books but this year they just seem to have hit a real chord with me. Got some anthologies of her old Harlequin romances waiting for me for my break. Actually the house didn’t sell which I think might be a good thing after all. Merry Christmas to you too.
Thanks, Marilyn. Back when I wrote this, I thought I was moving house. But it didn’t sell, so I’m still in the same place! Merry Christmas to you.