Second verse, same as the first. This didn’t get quite the response I’d hoped, so I can only assume people didn’t see it. So I’ll be re-running this until the contest close next week.
My favorite part of the holidays is that I have an excuse to buy things for people. I’ve always enjoyed giving presents, much more than I enjoy shopping for myself. Apart from handbags, I don’t suffer from acquisitiveness. I rarely see something that I have to have, which makes Christmas shopping a blast.

I love finding the perfect gift for someone. Last Christmas, I bought mi suegra (my mother in law) a blue crystal Italian lamp. When it’s switched on, the light pours through the crystal and creates the most beautiful icy refractions — even the shade is crystal. It’s a lovely piece, and since she adores Tiffany lamps, I knew she would be delighted with it. I found it in a little antique store around the corner from my house.

This year, I’ve already started the season of giving. The policeman who works security on my block, keeping all of us safe through the night, reported a fire in his home. It wasn’t destroyed, but they lost a lot of their personal belongings. On Friday, my daughter and I went through her closet and got together a backpack full of clothing for his daughter, and then found some toys in good condition that she might enjoy. Then on Saturday, we went out and bought a gift card, which is good at a number of stores in the area, so they can shop for themselves and get what they need most.

There are a lot of great charities, but I like practicing philanthropy closer to home too. I like doing things for people myself. And anytime I help someone, my own problems seem to melt away, because I see that they’re just not that significant, compared to challenges that face other folks.

It’s good to step outside yourself this time of year, and not let yourself stress over presents, holiday meals, travel plans, or any other fairly trivial thing you can imagine. I used to stress over presents. What if they don’t like them? What if they think they’re stupid, cheesy, or worthless? Now I don’t care. I take my time and try to make the gifts personal and meaningful. Beyond that, there are no guarantees. And my personal yardstick is a different than it used to be.

This time of year, I ask myself: Do you have a warm house? Food to eat? People who love you? Then you’re doing okay.

My kids are starting to learn the value of giving as well. They teach philanthropy at Greengates School. We participate in all disaster relief efforts, and each year at the holidays, they donate gifts to people who would not have a Christmas otherwise. My daughter really enjoys putting together a gift box, picking out each item with great care and saying, “I would really like this, if I received it.” Then she gives all the things she liked away.

Go to www.familygivingtree.org and read. Up to speed? This organization makes sure that children who otherwise would have no Christmas at all get some presents this year. I always felt terribly sorry for poor kids, given the story of Santa Claus. I mean, they’re told they’ll get presents if they’re good. And if there’s no money to buy them, what can they extrapolate, year after year, except that they’re bad kids. That breaks my heart.

The Family Giving Tree helped over 68,000 kids last year, and this charity passes more than 90% of donations on to the children, which means I can get on board with it. This is going to be a different sort of contest, but if my readers are the people I think they are, then this will be one of the most commented posts of the year. I’m going to pick one lucky winner next Sunday, and I will donate on your behalf, so that seven kids have Christmas presents because of you.

So tell me what you’re doing to make the holidays better for someone else. Tell me how you’re trying to make the world a better place, even in a small, quiet way. How are you paying it forward? Sharing your blessings? Seven needy children will thank you for it.

My current musical obsession is Depeche Mode’s Songs of Faith and Devotion - so much dark emotion in that CD.

I finished the last Cascadia Wolves book last night. I thought I’d be sad, in truth I made myself cry three times as I finished it. But I feel like I’ll be back at some point because I need to know what happens to Megan, Dave and Jack.

I do have that post book mushbrain thing going on. I’m sort of forgetting words like salt and button. But as it happens, I received second round edits for Wolf Unbound and first round on Celebration for the Dead so that’s a good break for my brain, a wholly different type of writing. I find that’s the best way to break between two books, edits clear the decks in a sense.

And then it’s on to Battlefront. Just a while after my entry got posted last week my agent called to tell me I’d sold my futuristic, bdsm flavored, menage erotic romance to Berkley Heat along with a second novel! I’m so excited and happy and well, relieved. There are days as a writer when you really, truly wonder if you’ll break at the next level. The sale came exactly when I needed it and I’m so grateful for it and for Laura, who just kicks butt and is the best agent anyone could ask for.

Battlefront is due at the end of January so while it feels far off, it’s really not at all! I’ll spend this weekend getting back into it, finding my path back into Sera’s head and into the heart of the story again. I like this story a lot so I’m pretty excited I’ll be finishing it.

Um, yeah, babbling at this point really. Last week I was a good girl and I had it all set to post ahead of time but this week has been totally crazy in a wonderful way but still. And my kids are on half days for conferences which means I’ll shortly be going back to pick them up, dodging the land barges careening through the parking lot as the mothers behind the wheel talk on the phone, touch up their manicure and eat a chili dog.

Also, in yay news - Witches Knot: Thrice United is now available in print from Ellora’s Cave’s new print store!

How about a contest? Let’s see…how about you all tell me what CD or movie or book moves you when you need something with some dark emotion?  I’ll choose a winner this time next week.  Easy Peasy!!

Dear Closet,

I’m sorry I keep doing this to you. I know we had that long talk last spring, and there was the avalanche of ought-six, which should have taught me a valuable lesson. Unfortunately, all I took from that deluge of delightful accessories was: Holy crap, there’s the Prada I bought last winter. I never used that!

My dearest shelf space, I think we need to take our relationship to the next level. You’ve made it clear over the years that I’m burdening you with my various compulsions, and I can see that you don’t know how much longer you can bear up. Please don’t give up on me. I have a solution that might work for both of us.

You see, I’m developing a plan. No, it doesn’t involve cutting back, or donating to thrift stores. What kind of woman do you take me for! Don’t answer that. Still, that was a cruel thing to say, no matter how angry you are. Thrift stores are for clothing, not purses.

In any event, phase one of my plan involves hiring a contractor. Stop. Don’t cry, dear closet. I don’t mean to imply you aren’t wonderful as you are. But I think we might both be happier if you have a little work done. More shelves. More space. Just a little tweak, darling, you’ll see.

And to further ameliorate your plight, I intend to buy a coat rack for my office, which I will then use to hang my favorite purses, the ones I switch back and forth between during the week. You know there are no more than four or five that see weekly usage.

Love always,

Ann, the bag lady

PS - I wound up buying two laptop bags this week. One is a pink and white JanSport, very sturdy and economical. That’s for daily use. The other was, of course, the adorable Juicy pink cupcake messenger bag. That’s for when I feel like flaunting my girl power. But don’t worry, I got a deal on it.

So what do you guys collect? Are you pack rats or can you not stand clutter? My mom does ceramic birds. Well, you know. Buys them.  Not does them.

Anyway…

I just mailed all my prizes, so if you’ve won something from me, expect it in the mail… in the next month or so. Hehe! I guess that means I should run another contest. You know what? I feel like supporting a Bradford Bunch author, so a random commenter will win a copy of Witch Fire by Anya Bast.

That’s right; I’ll snag it from Amazon and send it to your house. So get commenting! This book is damn hot.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go buy a coat rack, so my closet doesn’t break up with me. We’re on the rocks as it is.