Christmas Stories

by Debby Giusti

Each Christmas Eve, my family gathers around the tree and manger as my husband reads the Nativity Story from Luke’s gospel. Then we process through the house, carrying the baby Jesus, and knock on our closed bedroom doors that symbolize the times we have closed our hearts to the Lord. As we process, we sing Silent Night until, at last, we end up in front of the crèche and place the tiny baby in the manger. There we join hands, offer thanks for the past year and pray for God’s blessings in the year ahead.

That tradition is part of our family story, part of who we are and how we embrace Christ’s birth each year. I know all of you have traditions that are part of your family story as well.

Just as with scripture, our own stories are important. Our successes and failures, our struggles and joys reveal God’s mercy and love. In sharing our stories we better understand how the past shapes the present and gives meaning to the future, and that understanding draws us closer together as brothers and sisters in Christ.

This year, I encourage you to pick a person, perhaps someone you’d like to know better, meet for coffee and swap stories. I’m sure you’ll be richly blessed because of your sharing.

I hope you'll also share your Christmas stories with us today.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and all God's blessings in the New Year,

Debby Giusti
www.DebbyGiusti.com
www.seekerville.blogspot.com

My First Christmas Book!

I'm so excited to tell you my new release, my very first Christmas story, is on the shelves now! If you're a member of the book club, and get all 6 books each month, then you received yours back in September. But for those who didn't get it from the book club, I hope you'll look for it now at any store that carries Love Inspired Books (and is carrying all 6 books).

If you can't find it, see if your local bookseller will order it for you. Or check for it online. If you visit my website, http://www.missytippens.com/, you can find links.

I actually started writing this book last December. And the idea came to me as I was writing a blog post for a new blog with a theme of The Twelve Days of Christmas. So I was already in the holiday spirit, and soon after starting it had Christmas decorations and all the trimming surrounding me.

I wonder how it would be to write one in the middle of July! :) But I guess it's pretty easy to catch the Christmas spirit any time of the year.

Here's the back cover blurb of A Forever Christmas:

Sarah Radcliffe’s quiet Christmas back in her hometown will be lost if she agrees to direct the church’s Christmas pageant. But when she meets two little boys determined to gain their father’s attention, Sarah agrees to help. Then she discovers that the dad in question is Gregory Jones, the man she loved and lost. The single dad is working himself to the bone to give his boys the Christmas of their dreams, when all they want is some family time. Time that includes a new mommy. If Sarah can learn to open her heart, she may receive the most wonderful present of all—a family of her own.

And click here to read an excerpt at e-harlequin.com!

Thanks for celebrating a new release with me today! I'd love to hear what you think about Christmas stories. If you had a copy of A Forever Christmas, would you read it now, or would you save it for closer to Christmas?? :)

NEWS ABOUT CHRISTMAS PERIL

By Debby Giusti

Leaves are falling and the temperature's dropping, but my thoughts have turned to Christmas. Author copies of CHRISTMAS PERIL arrived last week, and I'm so excited about having my story, YULE DIE, featured along with Margaret Daley's MERRY MAYHEM. That's right, you'll find two exciting suspense stories packaged together in CHRISTMAS PERIL, a Love Inspired Suspense on sale December 8th.

I'm reading Margaret's story now and enjoy how she weaves a heartwarming love story along with spine-tingling suspense. Margaret's been my mentor over the last few years, answering questions and helping me in whatever way she could. She's a wonderful person, a dear friend and an outstanding writer. Her stories are read by hundreds of thousands of readers across the country who know when they pick up her book, they'll get a fantastic story.

MERRY MAYHEM

by Margaret Daley

When single mom Annie Coleman unexpectedly arrives in Christmas, Oklahoma, police chief Caleb Jackson suspects she's hiding secrets. He'll be watching her closely. And his protection is just what Annie and her daughter need, as danger has followed them to their new home.

YULE DIE

by Debby Giusti

It's hardly a happy holiday for medical researcher Callie Evans...until she discovers her ailing patient is her long-lost brother. And he's being watched by undercover police officer Joe Petrecelli. When the trio is abducted by a cadre of bad guys. Joe and Callie will have to fight to keep her brother--and themselves--alive.

YULE DIE was a story that almost wrote itself. The biggest challenge was how to give the hero and heroine time to develop their love for the other in the midst of a hostage situation. I hope you'll look for CHRISTMAS PERIL and read both stories to add a little spine-chilling suspense to your holiday.

Remember to give all your friends Steeple Hill books this Christmas. The December releases are great stocking stuffers and something Santa can easily slip under everyone's tree.

Congratulations to all the authors who had December books. Each Steeple Hill story out this December received 4 stars or better from Romantic Times Book Reviews! That's got to be a first and indicates the high caliber of writing from Love Inspired authors. I feel so honored to be a member of the group!

Happy reading and happy writing!

Wishing you abundant blessings,
Debby Giusti
http://%3ca%20href=//">http://www.debbygiusti.com/
http://%3ca%20href=//">http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com/
http://%3ca%20href=//">http://www.ladiesofsuspense.blogspot.com/