Holidays With Beachwalk Hop

In our house, Christmas is an especially busy time. DD#1 celebrates her birthday on the 30th December and DD#2 celebrates hers on the 23rd December. Not the best timing considering in Australia it's summer. So for the first 3 Christmases we didn't travel to family. The first year I was very large and on bed rest. The second year I was still in hospital. The third year, DD#1 broke her arm and was only out of hospital on Christmas Eve.  Given that we lived nearly 20 hours away from family at that stage, well... you can no doubt guess.

So we created our own family traditions. Ones that continue to this day. (DD#1 turns 18 this year, so they've been going a while.)

In November, I design our annual Christmas Card, order everything and cut out whatever is required. Then one night, we set up at the table and make our cards. It's precision but fun. Everyone jokes about their particular card. It's also a nice way to share the lead up to the festive season.

Last year we made these natty little Plum Pudding Cards. Alas this year, I think we may need to forgo that.

Our Christmas build up starts on the 24th, when we clean like mad things. Everything (and I mean everything) is washed and we have been known to even approach the dog with the vacuum (Just kidding!). Sides and windows sparkle like glass.

By five in the afternoon, I'm ready to settle in with a glass of wine downstairs and salad and chicken, ham and prawns. We decided many years ago that we couldn't face making a mess on Christmas eve after all the cleaning so it's throw away plates and only enough to use in one go.

The kids watch the NORAD Santa Tracker (http://www.noradsanta.org/) But by about 10.30 we all just want to go to bed. Mind you, the parents need to hang out just a little longer. Cherry Ripe, Cherries and Coke go on the side for the Jolly Father Christmas... We want him refreshed but still within the legal limit! 

Now over the years, we've found Father Christmas to be a seriously mucky man. He comes in, shedding "snow" everywhere that has magic properties... But there is a rule. Santa Sacks first, so as we settle in with coffee and glasses of icy orange juice, around the lounge, the sacks are handed out. 

We still live a long way from family, so we video the presents, talk to the viewers (usually family) and share the tidings.


For us, it's a cooked lunch of roast duck, pork and our favourite veggies. Brussel Sprouts, Potato, Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, peas and carrots. The meats Mr Nix cooks on the BBQ (I'm in charge of breakfast only... consisting of Croissants, Bacon, Eggs, Tomatoes and Fried Mushrooms.) Of course, in Australia, there are a multitude of ways to celebrate Christmas and I hope you've enjoyed looking in the window of our Christmas celebrations. 

But I can't help wondering... I wonder how Johnathon and Davina would spend their Christmas? Maybe that's a story for another day? Would they be in Paris? Or London?  It's interesting to think how the characters that we create would pass the special day? 

Anyway, don't forget to check out my latest title - In fact, if I get say 30 comments, I might write a short vignette about their first Christmas and upload it to my blog here on Christmas... as a gift to you, my readers.

A Bar In Paris

Ever considered a naughty weekend?  A “Hook-Up” with no strings?

What does a woman do when she’s turning thirty? She takes a sexy weekend trip to Paris looking for commitment-free sex. Or, that’s what Davina Chalmers does, anyway.

Enter Johnathon a tall charming Englishman. How can she possibly resist his charm and that dimple?

But what starts out as a lark quickly becomes so much more. But how does

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Merry Christmas

I'm about to log out for the night and it occurs to me I should share some good wishes.

So, here's hoping your Christmas is happy and safe.

And to 2013.  I hope it is filled with all the wonders, excitement and great opportunities that you look forward to.

Imogene

Christmas Hopping Winner

Congratulations to Khloe Wren.  You just got a $10 Amazon gift certificate!  Thanks for entering!

Christmas Hopping

Welcome to my Blog Hop entry :)

I decided to focus on my Queensland Christmas adventures, just to give you a taste of what we usually enjoy here in Summer :)

Because I live in Australia, it seems odd to hear so many of the followers talking about White Christmas, plummeting temps and staying warm.  Our problem is quite the opposite with the hum of air conditions cooling the rooms :)  Where I live, the temps can and regularly are in the mid to late 30's  or even 40 degrees (between 95 & 104F)

The madness begins the day before, when I clean like a demon.  Every window and screen is scrubbed, the floors are swept and mopped.  Not a dust bunny is to be found in our house on Christmas Day.  Every piece of dirty clothing is washed, folded and put away...  Then I do the tables after lunch on Christmas Eve.  (Dinner on Christmas eve is something either takeaway or cold, so that it involves no cooking and throw away plates... leading to no washing up.)  The table is decorated differently each year... with snowy white cloths, gold or blue tasseled runners and the best silverware and china.  The middle either has a tree or something special...

We are traditionalists, so it is still bacon and eggs with mushrooms and croissants for breakfast, real coffee and juice, before we head into the cool lounge (aircon humming away) and set up the recording equipment.  Because we have always lived so far from family, we video proceedings and send them to family).  So we settle in with Santa Sacks to begin with... then comes the presents from family and friends.

Hubs cooks on Christmas Day (Well... I do breakfast...) So downstairs he goes with Duck, Pork and vegetables (all lovingly prepared) and they cook away merrily for hours.  Meanwhile we lounge around, enjoying your new goodies, talking (and in some cases) snoozing the day away.

Them main meal usually takes place around 2pm, piping hot and enjoyed under fan in the middle of the house... We have crackers (bonbons) glasses of good champagne and sparkling non-alcoholic for the kids) as we tuck in.  Afterwards, we wash up and wait until around 7pm before eating either pudding, trifle or fruit salad, depending on whether we are hungry or not (so far, not has outweighed hungry 95% of the time)

Then we do something family like... a joint movie, game etc.

I do know families that go to the coast, each prawns (shrimp) and have summery Christmas fare, but for us, we still enjoy the hot fare and family time.

But all in all, the best part about Christmas is being together.  Just the four of us.

Giveway Time

So now that I have told you about our Christmas, tell me what you and your family enjoy most about your Christmas Day.

Prize:  $10 Amazon Gift Card

To Enter:  Leave your comment, your email address in the comment (remember to leave spaces) and sign up for my blog.  Simple :)

Imogene

Middle of December Blues

Well, here it is the middle of December, and I bet you thought I'd forgotten all about my blog?  Yes?

Well, I haven't.  In fact this weekend kicks off 2 more blog hops I'm participating in!  Yes, I know, most would think one would be enough.  But no, I went and signed up to 2.

Between that, writing a very short 3K manuscript and trying to finish another novel, which I am so totally enjoying.  But its keeping me on my toes.

So why do I say blues?  Well the present shopping is nearly complete, the cake is made.  However, the pudding isn't and neither is the trifle base.  It's hot and sweaty weather and I'm trying to finish this manuscript by Christmas with 2 girls at home.  That's my blues.  *sigh*

My 2 girls and each working part time, I'm finding time is at a premium.  However, having said that, you will find I am still doing my challenges with the Hotter Than Hades blog.  :)  And there are some great stories going live this month.

Okay, apart from that, I will probably be offline for the next couple of weeks.  Hesparia's Tears, my new SciFi is moving well and with Christmas and two teenage daughter birthdays in December, I'm planning on being very very busy.

So... Let me wish all my lovely readers the very best of the holiday season.  I hope Santa visits in his big red sleigh and fills your stockings with cheer, great books and the goodies you are hoping for.

Take care.  I look forward to chatting with you all next year.

Merry Christmas!
Imogene

Summer Is Nearly Here!

Summer is on the way.   

I can’t believe the amazing change in the weather over the last few weeks.  It went from brutally cold every night to so hot, that we need to water to keep the vegetables in the garden alive…

Summer storms are coming with increased frequency and it’s hard to get by, already without an air conditioner.  But this also means the lead up to the festive season.  So in honour of that, I made the Christmas cake last weekend.  It’s now sitting in the fridge and in a week or two, it’ll go into an airtight container with a fair dollop of brandy to soak in.  Never say my cakes aren’t horrendously alcoholic. <g>

It also means a short term of school for my girls and Christmas parties, Secret Santa’s and all sorts of “leading up to Christmas fol-de-rol”, ordering presents and house cleaning.  (Not my favourite job)

 

One fun thing though, is I signed up for another Secret Cravings Publishing blog comp.  So in the next few days, you too can go into the running to win a copy of my latest title – Star of the Fleet, featuring Kera and Gustav. 

How do I win that awesome prize I hear you ask…?

Answer my riddle, with the name of where I live…  Leave your answers together with your email address.

I live in the land of the Snowy River (Now there is a massive hint)

In the state that is always sunny and it has a royal connection (Another huge hint)

They tell us the sun is always shining in my state

My town is known for citrus…

So, just where do I live?

Remember, comment in the box with the correct answer , to go in the running.

Rules:

(a)The winner will be announced on the 8^th October, so please remember to leave your email address for me.    Remember to also leave a comment on the blog, to say you have visited. 

(b)Only your first entry will count. You could enter five or six times, but we will only accept your first entry, so think hard before you email your answer J

(c)We are strictly closing entries at 12.00pm (midnight) on 8^th October (EST – that is AU)

(d)Visit www.secretcravingspublishing.blogspot.com for the list of other participants.  Remember, the more blogs you visit, the better your chances of winning prizes… and there are a few of us running blogs.

(e)The winner is the one who either correctly nominates the Town or the town nearest to where I live.  The answer will be chosen at random from correct entries. 

I'm bouncing, I'm jumpng...OMG I'm so excited.

With less than two weeks to release, things are getting really exciting here.

Earlier this week, my business cards with Imogene Nix turned up, and they looked fabulous. Of course so did my first batch of bookmarks...yes here is an image. They look seriously sweet - I was so pleased with them, as I designed them myself. Took many hours, but worth the pain, sweat and yes, even tears!

I was also thinking I was beginning to feel like I stalked the Secret Cravings website, looking for the book to be listed, visiting 2 and 3 times a day, not to mention Amazon, the Kobo store and even Barnes and Noble. Sad huh? Yep, I will be the first to admit to that!

No one ever told me that it went with the territory. Lol!

I am keeping busy, working on other projects, hoping they will help me to get to the 23rd, but really I'm kidding myself. I'm a bundle of nerves! And excitement. And anything else you care to mention, at that rate!

Then something comes along and heightens my excitement. My darling husband (dh) bought me a Kobo for Christmas and I have been soooo good. I started uploading my 150+ ebooks to it.

Then today in the mail, comes the most exciting gift from my friends. They do skins for computers, ereaders and phones. But they created a skin, just for me...with my cover art. Now I don't know about you, but I am soooo over the moon, I have this silly little lopsided grin thing happening. So I thought I would share it!

Life doesn't get too much better than this!

Well, another visitor will be along next Wednesday, and of course don't forget the drawing of the grand prize of the Kindle from Secret Cravings for the birthday blog hop. You have until the 17th to visit EVERY blogger who participated to be in the draw.

Imogene

Snakes, Kids, Christmas and Editing...what else can happen?

The title says it all, I think. :( The week has barely begun and I am running behind. A million miles behind.

Last night, I was editing chapters 13 & 14 until about 11'ish. I finally finished, saved and packed up for the night. Crawl between the sheets and hubby says, "Gee, I hope you're doing it right." Heart failure nearly ensued. That is NOT the question an aspiring author needs when she is running on not enough sleep, during edits. Let me assure you of that immediately. :) The funny thing is, I got the gist of what he meant, but, you know what? It's summer holidays here in Australia. My teenaged daughters are BOTH on holidays, less then 2 weeks to Christmas (so no cooking is happening just yet) and yes, knee deep in edits. My head is literally a mess. I haven't even finished the shopping...oh and one daughter has a birthday on the 23rd and the other on the 3oth of December. I really didn't plan that one well at all. Oh and I haven't made an appointment to see the hairdresser for Christmas. Think I might luck out on that.

Today, I needed to look through and finalise chapters 15 and the conclusion. Simple? No.I

n case you can't tell...this is so much harder than I expected. I'm not really sure what I thought edits would be like. I edited before submitting, so yeah, I thought I had a great handle on what I was doing. Now? Not quite so sure.

My editor is great though. She said she is going through and loving the story. That helps. LOTS. The other nice thing is, once this is cleared off my desk, I have 2 stories waiting for me to pre-submit edit them.

So, here I am, tapping out my blog, finally finished the edits and sent them through, waiting for hubby to come home and deal with the crisis of the snake, the kids are busy (the house is quiet - I probably should be worried, but peace is reigning supreme) so I am going to take the chicken route. Wait til I'm needed. Lol!

Emails, telephone and kids. Editing love scenes with kids wandering into the office is not easy. :) But the crowning glory? A snake. In the laundry. Long and gray and just sitting there. Right. Not doing ANY washing until it is gone.

Bright notes? Lots!

I'm visiting Barbara Westbrook for her Christmas Recipe Blog on the 15th December...

I'm blogging for the Secret Cravings Publishing 1st Anniversary Blog Hop on January 5 - lots of great giveaways and prizes, including a Kindle Fire.

January is also Choc Block full of visitors including:

• Dawne Prochilo
• Shannon West
• Raine Delight
• Natalie Bates

Oh and Australia Day (26 January) I have an Aussie SCP author Jan Graham

So, signing off for now. Remember to stay calm, eat lots of chocolate...and above all, have fun!

Imogene

Ruminations from the basement of my mind...

Welcome back to another ramble through my mind! It is a little less cluttered than it was, say yesterday. I finally finished my first draft of The Blood Bride. Truth be told, I want to change the end already - not a lot, but a few tweaks here and there. I will print it out after this weekend - work that I have been avoiding has to come first though.

Great things happened this week, I agreed to be a blogger on Barbara Westbrook's Christmas Recipe blog... You can check it out here - and I turn up in the middle of the month on the 15th (US time remember!)

I also have my editor for Secret Cravings. This was a biggie.... So that means some serious editing for me, and a lot less time to skive off.

Now...on a sober note, I challenged a group of my friends to a challenge regarding presents. What would they wish for this Christmas? We decided to start with the ridiculous and work towards the achievable...

The one thing that came across clearly was we all wanted to escape the daily 9 to 5 grind. Funny that. It included the money to make the things we wanted to happen ... well, happen, of course. Trips and the ability to explore, things that showed us what close relationships we had with those closest to us. And last but not least, most said a change in their size...if you will downsizing (me included there). We are so busy running around we don't treat ourselves with the love and affection we deserve. Maybe that is one of the reasons we love Romance Reading?

So my challenge to you....starting with the ridiculous to the achievable... What would you ask for this Christmas?

I look forward to hearing your ideas!

Imogene