Welcome to Bethany House’s fiction blog! We’re getting ready to launch our Christmas Countdown. Starting on Friday, November 29, the day after Thanksgiving, our authors will be posting on the blog to share their Christmas memories and traditions with you.
I’m Amy Green, fiction publicist here at Bethany House.
Much easier to attach bows to garland when you don’t have to carry them around.
You can read more about me here, but the most important thing for you to know is that I’m a reader who loves the fact that, thanks to social media, readers can interact with writers.
Come back and visit—there will be a new post every day until Christmas. We’d love to hear from you, so comment often. Share a post on Facebook or send it to a friend who needs encouragement. Maybe even buy a few books as last-minute Christmas presents. (I’m not the only one who gets excited when I feel the distinct shape of a book under holiday wrapping paper, am I?)
We decorated Bethany House for Christmas today.
Now, one more note: I am one of those strict, no-exception defenders of keeping Christmas things in the Christmas season. (The suspicious question: “Is that…a Christmas carol you’re playing/singing/humming?” is pretty typical of me all throughout November.) So I was a little hesitant to announce this Christmas blog series today, as it might take some of the focus away from Thanksgiving.
And yet, this year, I’ve learned to see the connection between Christmas and Thanksgiving.
The Bethany House tree-trimmers
This year, I’m thankful for stories, and the ability we have to share them with one another. I’m not ashamed to admit that reading a few of our authors’ Christmas posts had me crying in my office, while others put a smile on my face that just wouldn’t leave.
I’m thankful for the extra focus that the holiday season gives us on what really matters. It’s the only time of the year where everyone, Christian or not, will talk about gratitude, peace, and joy. (We need to work on slowing down to appreciate those things…but they’re still there!)
And, of course, I’m thankful for the birth of Jesus. Reading these posts—yes, even reading them earlier in the season than I might have wanted—has reminded me to be grateful for the simple, yet completely unexpected gift of Emmanuel, God with us. I hope and pray that it will do the same for you.
What’s something you’re thankful for this year?
Woohoo, the blog looks great, Amy! Excited to see it kick off and take shape.
As for what I’m thankful for: Friends and family, for sure. I realize that’s a somewhat generic answer, but over this past weekend and now again this coming weekend, I’ve had/will have more time to hang out with people I love than I’ve had in months. And it’s wonderful. I’m also thankful I get to be a part of Bethany House. 🙂
Thanks, Melissa! And I’m with you on friends and family…I’m going home for Thanksgiving tonight and get to see my twin sister.
Love the blog, Amy! You’d done an amazing job and I love all the tree trimming pictures. I’m thankful for my family (including my grandson who is due on Valentine’s Day) and friends. I’m thankful for my amazing readers and my BHP family. Praying you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
I had *way* too much fun decorating today. Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
love the pics. excited about this blog
Me too, Robin. It’s been an idea in the works for a long time.
Wonderful, job, Amy! I’m looking forward to lots of Christmas stories. I hope you and all at Bethany House have a great Thanksgiving!
Thanks, Kate! Can’t wait for your visit–you can see all of our decorations in person.
The new blog looks great. I will be checking it often. I too see how closely Thanksgiving and Christmas are related.
Glad to have you with us, Wilani. I can’t wait for visitors to see the great posts these next few weeks and beyond.
Oh, I’m with you on “no Christmas until AFTER Thanksgiving,” but it’s so nice to see the blog up and running.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone, and here’s to many of those book-shaped presents under the tree! 🙂
Hooray! And I’m listening to Christmas music now that it’s fair game.
I am Thankful for two days in a row of not working! Now I can get caught up on some of my reading just because books!
As far as Christmas I LOVE the book shaped presents even the ones I give!
Can’t wait to see what comes next and have a Lovely Thanksgiving!
I’m with you there, Meagan. I did some reading myself on the plane while visiting family. What better way to use a holiday?
Amy,
“I’m not the only one who gets excited when I feel the distinct shape of a book under holiday wrapping paper, am I?”
You are most definitely not alone in this. 😉 Thanks for your beautiful, truth-filled thoughts! What a blessing. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Thanks so much, Amanda. Wishing you lots of those type of packages this year!
Hey Amy ~ the blog looks terrific 🙂 We don’t have Thanksgiving in Australia so I’m a Christmas begins December 1st kind of gal! Looking forward to all you and your authors will offer here. Best wishes!
Thanks, Rel. I agree that December is when it feels most like the season starts. (It’s snowing right now, and I am way too excited about that.)
Lovely blog & the Chritmas trimming pictures are the perfect touch today! A very happy thanksgiving to you!
Thanks so much. It was lovely to see the decorations up coming into work today!
I am thankful for my friends from far and wide. I am thankful for our military and their sacrifices for us so that we can stay home & enjoy our freedom. I am thankful for the church, and the Lord who gave us eternal life in Heaven. God be with each and every one of you as we enter into another holiday season. We need to pray without ceasing for our country, and the many who are without jobs, are homeless, sick. If you know someone or know of someone, hope you can go by and visit them.
Great things to be thankful for (you’ll have to check out Leslie Gould’s post on Dec. 21 about her husband’s Christmas away from them while he was serving in the military).
Amy, the blog looks great! I’m eager to read the posts! Thank you for your work. To answer the question: I’m thankful for family, friends, and the precious gift of time. I’m also thankful for Bethany House Publishers and READERS! Hope you’ve all had an amazing Thanksgiving.
I’m eager to re-read the posts. 🙂 Love seeing all these perspectives on Christmas.