Well, I can think of a few books to recommend. <<wink, wink>>

And if Mom is going to get a book, it might as well be autographed. How can we make this work?

1. Snap a picture of the receipt showing where you bought your book (Dated April or May 2015) or a screen shot will work, too, if it was purchased online. The book has to be one of mine, because I can’t really sign someone else’s book, can I?

2. Email me at reginajenningsauthor@yahoo.com with the picture, the name you’d like the bookplate signed to, and your mailing address.

3. I’ll get the bookplate in the mail to you as soon as possible.

A few rules, here, please. This offer isn’t good on books that were complimentary copies, only purchased copies. U.S. addresses only, and if you bought the book for yourself, who am I to judge? I’ll sign it to you, too!

Thank you for sharing my stories, and Happy Mother’s Day!

Love,

Regina

The post How To Get An Autographed Book For Your Mom appeared first on Author Regina Jennings.

Shanna, thanks for taking time out of all the baking to write my blogpost for me…I mean, to do an interview! Tell me about your Christmas cookies and how this tradition got started.

Shanna: I have always been fascinated with my heritage.  I wonder what my ancestors’ lives were like in the ‘old’ country, what did they do?  What did they wear?  Where did they worship? What did they eat?  I decided to find a Christmas cookie/treat from the countries of my heritage:  Denmark, Norway, Sweden, England, Scotland, Ireland, & Germany.  My husband’s grandfather was Polish, so I also added Poland.

I should’ve known you were Scandinavian. I could almost tell just by looking.

Every Christmas you introduce us to some new cookies as well as some old favorites. What was on the list this year?

I have changed it up from year to year, some cookies are not favorites, so I look for others.  The Polish Almond Cookies have become a family favorite.  Scotch Shortbread & English Toffee Squares are fairly similar, so I may change things up next year.  The Irish Cookies seem to come out flat, I don’t know if Oklahoma humidity has anything to do with it.  Is it humid in Ireland?  As I was getting my Norwegian Wreath Cookie ingredients together, my husband said, that he wasn’t a fan of them.  So, this year I made Norwegian Christmas cookies, he approved so I think those will be back next year.  From Germany I make Caramel Almond Wafers, but for some reason they bake flat.  The flavor is good, but they don’t look right.  I may have to figure out a different recipe, but I hate admitting that a recipe beat me!  I ended up making two cookies from Sweden, Pepperkakor, which is a type of Gingerbread & Swedish Dream Cookies.  This year I made three Danish cookies:  Danske Smakager, Musner & Danish Pastry Cookies.  I will probably get it down to one Danish cookie, but I don’t know which one. What were your favorites?

I don’t care how the German Caramel Almond cookies looked, they were my favorite this year! Of the three Danish cookies the Smakager is my favorite. They are so moist and have great flavor, but of course they are all good!

So, if you could eat foreign cookies in a foreign land, where would you go?

Scandanavia, I would love to visit Norway, Denmark & Sweden.  I had a Swedish Great-Grandmother & a Danish Great-Grandmother, ever since I found that out, I have been fascinated with the countries.  I love cold & snow (many of my Oklahoma friends want to disown me), I tell everyone it is my Viking heritage!  I keep thinking that I can find a cheap flight in the middle of winter.  Who knows, one day all my friends might get a postcard from Scandinavia at Christmas instead of my Christmas cookies.

I’m torn. Usually I’d insist on going with you, but I’m not a fan of sub-freezing temperatures. If we can plan a trip for the summer, count me in, but Christmas will find me further south. Speaking of location, what are some of the more unusual ingredients you’ve had to find and have you had trouble getting them locally?

The ingredients have not been too difficult, although, I have not been able to find Candied Citron in Oklahoma.  I substitute Candied Orange Peels, but I think next year I will actually order some online.  I also usually, substitute dried cranberries for dried currants (I don’t even know what a currant is).

Were there any unexpected difficulties in making these recipes?

The most difficult thing for me is understanding the instructions.  Many recipes use the metric system, so I have to convert that and there are other issues, too.  Did you know that a hard-cooked egg is the same as a hard-boiled egg?  Apparently, it is common in European recipes to use hard-cooked eggs instead of raw eggs. I spend a lot of time looking up cooking terms (I should have paid more attention in Home Ec.) Maybe making these cookies will make me smarter?

Metric conversions? I should send the kids over for math. And you might get smarter cooking them, but eating them improves my attitude.

So this year you made eleven different kinds of cookies – not to mention Uncle Guy Candy, but that’s for another post—how long does it take you to make all the cookies?  

It usually takes 2-3 days of all day baking.  First I lay out all the ingredients on the kitchen counter.

Some cookies have to be chilled overnight, so I try to mix them first.  Then I arrange the cookies by oven temperature.  The cookies that have to be baked on a lower temperature go first, then I increase the oven temperatures.  Thankfully, I have a double oven, so that helps with the time.  If my family did not insist on eating breakfast, lunch & dinner, I could probably get everything done faster.  Although, during my baking marathon, we do visit other countries for Pizza & Chinese Food.

Which cookies are your favorites? 

I don’t know if I have a favorite, I really don’t eat a lot of cookies.  I just love making them & giving them away.  I wonder when I am making the cookies if my ancestors made the same cookies?  What were their favorites?

Isn’t it fun to speculate about people from the past? It’d be so cool to spend a day in their kitchen, wouldn’t it? Well, thanks for the great interview and thanks for all the yummy cookies! Everyone at my house has their favorites—it’s like a smorgasbord. Can you share a recipe with us?

The post The Best Cookie in the World appeared first on Author Regina Jennings.

In the hopes that there might be a few kindred spirits who appreciate this, we present:

Twas the Night Before a BBC Christmas

T’was the night before Christmas and all through the house,

Not a child was scrolling, not even their mouse.

The school books were stacked on the shelves without care

In hopes the next school day would never be there.

The children were muzzled and flung in their beds

While visions of Minecraft danced in their heads.

With dad in his recliner and no one in my lap,

I was finally taking my long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Stepped on a Lego and tripped over trash.

With the moon shining in on the toys strewn about,

I crawled to the window to take a look out.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a magic blue box and my BBC dears.

When a spry Scottish driver came out in a minute,

I knew right away it must be David Tennant.

More proper than tea time, his colleagues they came.

I whistled and shouted and called them by name!

Benedict Cumberbatch, Matt Smith, Hugh Grant, Colin Firth

Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Tom Hiddleston– WHAT MIRTH!

Come up on the porch! Come into the hall!

I have cookies and egg nog to share with you all.

Don’t slip on the diaper, don’t step on the cat.

Oops! Mind the puddle. I meant to mop that!

Please, pay no attention to the rancid laundry pile.

Let’s pretend it isn’t there, and just chat awhile.

Tell me about Baker Street, Pemberley and Gallifrey

London and Rivendale and other galaxies far away.

I hear the kids stirring, the husband still snoring

While visions of palace life I am adoring.

The conversations flowed lightly with laughter and glee

Until I heard a voice down the hall cry “Mom! I gotta pee.”

Here I sit with a Time Lord, a Sleuth, and a Duke

When echoing down the hall comes the cry “I’m gonna puke!”

I looked at my guests and sighed in despair,

Torn between my children and all this stunningly crafted hair.

I spoke not a word, but went straight to my work,

Cleaned up the vomit and came back to Colin Firth.

His eyes how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry.

His cheeks were like roses, his nose wasn’t hairy!

And Matt’s shirt was tied with a cool little bow.

Then number Eleven said, “Darling, it’s time that we go.”

They said, “Come away with us, there’s much we could show.”

I sighed sadly and said, “I can’t. Ninety school days to go.”

I look ‘round my house, moonlight fell on the walls.

The pictures of children, to my heart they do call.

No tea time at noon, no audience with the queen.

My mornings are in yoga pants and on good days, blue jeans.

My life is not filled with breathless adventure,

Instead I haul kids in my old Chevy Venture.

I looked at my husband, my own handsome elf.

I smiled when I saw him, in spite of myself.

The BBC dears called out, “We must depart.”

Please go on without me, this place has my heart!

They stepped into the Tardis and closed the blue door.

I thought “Alas! I will see you no more.”

But David exclaimed as they flew out of sight,

“You can watch us on Netflix every single night!”

-Regina Jennings, Carol Leeth, Heather Fowler, Amber Parrow, 2014

The post Twas the Night Before a BBC Christmas appeared first on Author Regina Jennings.

To read more about the project and enter for a chance to win the fresh evergreen wreath which represents the gift of eternal life, click here.

To find your way to the other four blog posts and enter each of the five Christmas Chronicles individual giveaways, read on! We have a list for you at the bottom of this post.

A Letter from Abigail Calhoun

A Most Inconvenient Marriage

Hart County, Missouri 1865

Dear Romeo,

You’re dead. I thought I’d mention the fact in case you’d forgotten. And while I’m not in the habit of writing to dead people, I’ve decided to make an exception for my dearly departed husband.

You were so many things to me—the one who banished my dread of the sick ward, the one who sent me here to Missouri, the one who gave me this challenging job—that I forget who you weren’t. You weren’t my husband really—only in name. You weren’t even Romeo, but the name Jeremiah doesn’t fit you either, so I’ll keep Romeo if you don’t mind.

How I wish you had been here to make the introductions to your family, but if you’d survived then our arrangement would’ve been unnecessary in the first place. Your mother is well and missing you terribly. I’d like to say the same for your sister, but you’d immediately recognize it for a falsehood. Seems there was much you forgot to mention when discussing her condition. A very wise decision.

I do want you to know that I’ve fallen in love with the mountains. Their craggy beauty inspires…and intimidates. Knowing that you’re already in the presence of our Savior, I have to wonder if you’ve asked Him how exactly He created these hills. Did their dark recesses appear only after sin entered the world, or are they a part of their original beauty?

Sometimes the brutality of the wilderness astounds me, and then I think of our Lord who left the glory and comforts of heaven to come suffer with us and for us. How primitive and harsh this world must have seemed. How sharp the rocks to his little feet. How cold the winter gales against his tender cheek. What He endured to bring us joy. Such thoughts embolden me to persevere and protect this plot of earth you left in my care. I’ll do my best to restore it to the prosperous farm you’d remember.

So that’s all I have to say. A pity that in all my acquaintances, the only one I feel like I can truly share my thoughts with is…well, no one really. You are dead and will never read this letter. I’m here alone, just pretending that you, that someone, cares.

But God cares. Even though He feels far away now, this missive is ultimately addressed to Him. If He’s all I have, then it’s enough. Still, what would it be like to have someone here, in the flesh, to share this burden with? Someone who would hold me up when I feel like folding? Someone who could love Ma, Rachel and this rocky farm just as much as I do?

But where would I find such a man? The only one who cared is dead, and that’s why he sent me here. To do what he could no longer do.

Enough ink spilt on fruitless ponderings. This paper is destined for the fire and can take no more of my time, not when I already hear Rachel calling for her breakfast. I’ve found my place in the world and with that I’ll be content.  And I’ll pray that they’ll learn to love me as much as I love them. Thank you again for this charming, inconvenient gift.

Yours truly, although ever so briefly,

Abigail Stuart Calhoun

Thank you for reading Abigail’s letter and for sharing this Christmas celebration with us.

To keep the celebration going we’re having a giveaway. One lucky winner will receive an autographed copy of A Most Inconvenient Marriage, a handwritten copy of Abigail’s letter, and these lovely Christmas ornaments.

To enter, please comment below sharing your favorite Christmas Carol. (And yes, I suppose I’ll be humming them all day long!) For an extra entry share this post on your social media hangouts with the #christmaschronicles tag and then comment here again letting us know where you shared it. Post separately for each share, so I catch each of your entries! A winner will be chosen randomly on December 7th.

And that’s not your only opportunity to win.

We invite you to join us each weekday this week as we hop through cyberspace and history, gleaning the love and joy of the Christmas season from each heroine’s journey.

Monday, December 1^st: Regina Jennings  (Heroine: Abigail Calhoun, A Most Inconvenient Marriage)

Tuesday, December 2^nd: Joanne Bischof  (Heroine: Sarah Miller, This Quiet Sky)

Wednesday, December 3^rd: Amanda Dykes (Heroine: Aria St. John, Bespoke)

Thursday, December 4^th: Karen Barnett (Heroine: Abby Fischer, Out of the Ruins)

Friday, December 5^th: Sarah Sundin (Heroine: Grace Kessler, Where Treetops Glisten)

And don’t forget the Grand Prize Christmas Wreath! Instructions for entering are up there at the top!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Love,

Regina

The post Christmas Chronicles appeared first on Author Regina Jennings.