Thursday, December 12, 2013

Countdown to Christmas | Interview & Giveaway w/ Joyce Magnin


It's another day of the Countdown to Christmas Party! I'm excited to share about Blame It On the Mistletoe by Joyce Magnin. Plus, Joyce is stopping in to talk about Christmas with us! (If you've missed other stops along the way, you can check them out here.)


i blog 4 books: Hi Joyce! Welcome to i blog 4 books! What is your most memorable Christmas and why?

Joyce Magnin: The Christmas my brother came home from Viet Nam. He was due home for Christmas but got detained in Germany and didn't get home until January. We kept everything up for him. It was sweet and special, even if the tree was pretty dead.

ib4b: Oh that sounds like a wonderful Christmas! Name three words that you associate with Christmas.

JM: Jesus, Pie, Family



ib4b: How will your family celebrate Christmas this year?

JM: Well, I'm in the process of moving to Maine so it might be a little sparse and odd. Lots of boxes and I probably won't decorate too much. Next year will be the year! Christmas in Maine!

ib4b: What is the best gift you’ve ever given?

JM: Wow, tough question. I love giving gifts and think they're all pretty swell not because I'm so good at it but because I just love giving people stuff.

ib4b: Who gave you the best Christmas gift you’ve ever received? What was it?

JM: God, I suppose. My brother's safe return from the war but as for a real gift? Gee, anything and everything, especially if it was made by my kids. I just get tickled when someone takes the time to think of me.

ib4b: Tell me about the Christmas tradition that means the most to you.

JM: Stringing lights. Lots and lots and lots of lights. Then going out and riding around looking for displays. My favorite are the ones that mingle the religious with the secular—Frosty meets the Holy Family kind of thing.

ib4b: Ooh ... I love Christmas lights ... looking at them more than stringing them up, though! How do you keep your focus on Christ during this hectic but wondrous time of year?

JM: Just don't sweat it. I never let the holiday get too hectic. I do what I can. And then stop. I try to keep focused on Christ in everything I do, every day. Some days are easier than others. God is in the stress too.

ib4b: What is your favorite ...
  • Christmas movie? Toss up White Christmas and A Christmas Story
  • Christmas song? The Christmas Song
  • Christmas treat? Cookies
  • Christmas smell? Balsam
  • Christmas children’s book? Narnia books.

About Blame It On the Mistletoe
Is There Really a Fountain of Youth in Paradise?

Welcome back to Bright 's Pond, where strange happenings are afoot at the Greenbrier Nursing Home. Strange even for Bright 's Pond. The residents suddenly act like kids again riding trikes, climbing trees, and of all things falling in love. Some of the townsfolk blame it on the crooked new gazebo, or its builder, a quirky little man who quotes Don Quixote, collects water from the fountain at the Paradise trailer park, and disappears on a regular basis.

While Chief of Police Mildred Blessing investigates the mystery, Griselda and her friends deal with a luau Thanksgiving, preparations for the Christmas pageant, and maybe even an upcoming wedding. Only, in Bright 's Pond, nothing ever really goes as planned . . .

About Joyce Magnin
Joyce Magnin is the author of several books, including The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow, named one of the "Top 5 Best Christian Fiction Books of 2009" by Library Journal. Her short fiction pieces and articles have been published in such magazines as Relief Journal, Parents Express, Sunday Digest, and Highlights for Children. A member of the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Fellowship, Joyce is a frequent workshop leader at various writer’s conferences and women’s church groups. She has three children and one grandson, and is mom to a neurotic parakeet who lives with her in Havertown, Pennsylvania. 

Connect with Joyce Magnin Online

Giveaway
Abingdon Press has graciously offered to give a Joyce Magnin prize pack to one reader! One reader will win a copy of each of the following books: Blame it on the Mistletoe, The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow, Charlotte Figg Takes Over Paradise, and Griselda Takes Flight. Giveaway is open to US residents only and ends December 18. Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*** All participants must be 18 years or older. The winner will be contacted via email. Once contacted the winner has 72 hours to respond with the required information. If the winner does not respond within the timeframe specified, another winner will be chosen. I am not responsible for shipping mishaps. Void where prohibited. ***

14 comments:

  1. I don't really have a favorite children's Christmas book. What I really love for children's books are those that are written in quality verse/rhyme and have beautiful illustrations (cute is good, but beautifully ravishing is better and is superb) and for Christmas it should tell the story of our Savior's lowly birth and how God sent a mighty star, sent angels to proclaim his birth, guided the wise men from afar, and led Joseph to flee with the baby and his mother to escape the wicked king.

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  2. Great interview, would love to read her book.

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  3. And Charlotte Figg! Will be looking for Harriet Beamer!

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  4. I don't remember the titles but I know there are some good children's Christmas books by Ruth Bell Graham and also by Max Lucado. My kids are grown but don't yet have kids of their own so I don't very often get to read children's books.
    Thanks for this giveaway of Joyce's books. My book club will be reading Charlotte Figg Takes Over Paradise in March so it would be great to win these.
    pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

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  5. I never read any children's Christmas book...but I enjoy Luke 2. I never tire of hearing it!

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  6. I didn't have any favorite Christmas Book. Mom always read about Jesus birth from the Bible as we still do today.
    Barbara Thompson
    barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  7. I'm glad your brother made it home safely and thank him for serving our country on our behalf!!

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  8. My favorite children's Christmas book is probably Arthur's Christmas.

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  9. These are all books that I have on my TBR list. My favorite children's Christmas book is Tomie de Paolo's Legend of the Poinsettia.

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  10. We had a children's book with the birth of Jesus in it. We also read this out of the Bible. Best story of all time!!

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  11. My favorite children's book was a little golden book about a Christmas puppy. A little girl had the precious puppy in her stocking on Christmas morning and she named him Inky. It was a darling little story.

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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  12. Hallo, Hallo!

    My favourite Children's Christmas story will forever by "A Christmas Carol" due to the enormity of the life lesson which is contained inside its pages! I have nearly seen every adaptation by tv movie &/or motion picture as well! Each time I see this story brought to life off the pages I adored so much, I find myself surrounded by nettles of anticipation! Hoping that each new installment of the story is going to ring true to me as I know the story can be told! Love how timeless this classic has become! :)

    ReplyDelete

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