I love Christmas. Always have. I love selecting the perfect gift for a special friend, looking for ways to bless a family member secretly, going over my Christmas card list, baking up some sweet holiday magic, and paying one of my children to do all the wrapping. (Hey, I can’t do it all!) When I sat down to write my latest novel, A Christmas Gift for Rose, I thought about the message I wanted my readers to take with them after turning the last page. What is that message? ”As we discover our true selves, we also begin to understand God’s plan for our lives.”
I’ve been living out this message for the last decade as I’ve written dozens of books. True stories inspire me—stories from World War II veterans, stories from Amish friends. In A Christmas Gift for Rose I was able to combine these stories. How wonderful is that?!
This Christmas novella takes place in 1946, right after the end of World War II. My grandma Dolores has told me a lot about those years. Many times she’s told me about what it was like living in a boxcar, only having one dress, and eating simple foods, yet still never feeling full. It was important for me to step back into this time in history and share about the struggle and sacrifice. Why? As we understand our past and the challenges of others, it helps us appreciate what we have even more. It also makes us consider what we can do to help those around us . . . just as the Yoder family helped Rose.
On Saturday, December 7th, in honor of the publication of A Christmas Gift for Rose—and Pearl Harbor Day!—I’m throwing a Christmas Brunch Book Club Party: 50 parties in one day! And you’re invited!
I won’t personally host all those parties, but my festive team at Zondervan and I have figured out a way to make it happen. And what’s a party without guests? This is where you come in. I’m inviting you to apply to host one of the 50 Christmas parties across the country so you can have fun sharing my books with your friends and celebrating the holiday season.
If you are selected to host a party in your home, you will receive a party kit loaded with all you’ll need, plus something JUST FOR YOU! Each party host will receive a copy of A Christmas Gift for Rose and pack of books. (Included will be The Memory Jar, The Promise Box, a sneak peek excerpt of forthcoming The Kissing Bridge, and Christmas Stories by Max Lucado!) You’ll also receive a leader kit complete with recipe cards, bookmarks, and signed bookplates from me to offer to your friends, as well as discussion questions and a Gathering & Giving handout.
But there’s more! (Yay more!) I will also send you some simple brunch recipes and A Christmas Gift for Rose trivia game to play during the party.
Could it get any better? Yes! The host’s kit will also contain details about the LIVE webcast message I’m putting together that will be broadcast on December 7th during your brunch. Connect with your friends, host a book discussion, play a little trivia, and then gather around your TV, laptops, or individual tablets or phones for a short Christmas greeting from my heart to yours.
Only 50 people will win a party, but I’m so blessed by your excitement for sharing my books and hope you’ll apply by the November 5th deadline. Visit this page to apply (scroll to the bottom to see the form).
Good luck, and may your Christmas be so very merry and bright!
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