In my last newsletter, I may have bleated like Mrs Grinch, but now school’s out the festive sprint is ‘on’! I’ve finally found the Christmas spirit…even if my husband had to pry the empty bottle from my fingers (I swear it was just to boost the flavour of the Christmas cake).
Anyhoo, in the festive countdown to Christmas, to stave off temptation and tidings of blind panic, I’ve written myself a Christmas list to help me remember all the shit I usually forget:
First and foremost, must NOT FORGET to send Christmas newsletter to my lovely subscribers and readers and those random punters who’ve found themselves added to my list, so doing that now. I made a terrible video for Tiktok which you can watch here:
I also pray my ‘special’ wish for 1-star reviewers doesn’t return to bite me in the butt. But seriously, folks, thank you so much for all your support and kind messages, and please keep reading and reviewing. It makes every day feel like Christmas!
Must remember to remind you lot that you can now get FREE copies of my Christmas ebooks Holly Ever After and The Worst Noelle (between Thursday 21st December and Christmas Day). If you’d like to grab a copy, click on the buttons for the links:
Must tidy up! My office doubles as a bedroom needed for our middle child and partner who are coming to stay. Hooray. But also, holy shit baubles with bells on. My books make a second carpet. My ‘stacks’ have shambled. I need to declutter and create some space. Must also remember to send Marie Kondo hate mail.
Edit collection of Christmas tree lights so can find set that actually work and covertly ‘redecorate’ the Christmas tree so as not to offend teenage pride of son who has already ‘decorated’. I’m all for letting the offspring decorate, but our teenage son is currently chaneling his ‘Spartan’. He’s brought a whole new level of meaning to the teenage couldn’t-give-a-shit attitude to Christmas preparations.
Toilet-roll length of shopping list does not actually count as doing the shopping. I must brave the shops and the shoppers — otherwise known as, Hunger Games on the High Street (in which you have to grab gifts (weapons) of choice before some other bastard nabs them). I will be thoughtful and serene, not stressful and mean, all while identifying the perfect-for-each-individual gift that doesn’t break the bank but also doesn’t scream cheap-ass. Much… Also avoid the book shop. Avoid the book shop. Avoid the book shop (lest I get strangely sucked in again and wake up some time in New year having mind-warped in local bookshop tardis).
Food shopping. A special kind of hell. Must endeavour not to get involved in brawl over last block of marzipan ( I hate that cheap yellow stuff anyhow). Perhaps I’ll artfully dress my Christmas fruit cake this year with nuts and a shiny glaze instead of marzipan and ‘snow scene’ icing. At least it’ll match my current level of nuts and artfully glazed expression.
Christmas EVE - don’t forget this ALWAYS comes around faster than anticipated - don’t forget to collect ham and turkey from butcher as they do not deliver.
Must also remember to drink and be merry before last-minute wrapping of presents with Sellotape, the sticky end of which is almost as elusive as the holy grail.
Christmas Day - do not expect grown kids to wake up before midday, but force hubby to liberate Prosecco pour me liberal Bucks Fizz so as not to agonize over shit presents I’ve bought and the many ingredients I’ve failed to buy for Christmas dinner.
Kick back and let Christmas be what it will be...
P.S. Don’t forget to grab yourself a Christmas book bargain! My novellas Holly Ever after and The Worst Noelle are FREE for 5 days or something from the selection below…
Book bargains :
First from a lovely writing friend, Cassandra O’Leary:
Just for your Kindle (click on the image for the link):
Pssst! I have a limited number of FREE Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) of Alice and the Impossible Game to give to keen reader and reviewers ahead of the 1st March 2024 publication date. If you’d like an ARC copy, please email me: annafoxkirk@gmail.com
Wishing you all an exceedingly merry and marvellous Christmas! May your stockings be full of glorious books and your book boyfriends come to visit!
I’m going to romcom my way to the new year. Let me know your new year resolutions. So far, I’ve coem up with: Take more chances, danc emore dances (especially line dancing), write more words, edit turds…and give up trying to write poetry!
Stay in touch and don’t forget to connect with me in these various places ( you can click on the icon). ALso if you like my books (or any author’s books), don’t forget to let the world know - Amazon and Goodreads are a good place to start!
Love y’all
Anna
x
Thank you for a lighthearted glimpse into the crazy life of the Foxkirk household. Have a lovely Christmas.