Friday, December 6, 2013

Countdown to Christmas | Interview & Giveaway w/ Linda Goodnight


Good morning! It's another day of the Countdown to Christmas Party, and there are plenty of fun things in store! Linda Goodnight is here to kick things off today by sharing some Christmas memories and offering a giveaway for one reader! Linda's latest book is called Sugarplum Homecoming, and it is delightful! (I don't use that word enough!) I read it in just two sittings and gave it a 5-star rating!

(If you've missed previous posts during the giveaway, you can catch up here! Plus, later today we'll be chatting with Jennifer AlLee, and I'll be sharing some really amazing gifts that help others.)

i blog 4 books: Welcome, Linda! Tell us about your most memorable Christmas.

Linda Goodnight: We don’t get a lot of snow here in Oklahoma so I remember the two times we had a white Christmas. But the one that stands out the most is the first year we hosted a child from an orphanage in our home. Christmas changed for us that year as the focus moved from us to showing Christ’s love to a child who’d never even heard of Jesus. That was a very special year.

ib4b: Oh, that does sound like a special year! What a neat opportunity for your family. Name three words that you associate with Christmas.

LN: Family, Jesus, holy

ib4b: How will your family celebrate Christmas this year?

LN: The Goodnight clan will celebrate as we always do. On Christmas Eve, we’ll attend a simple, lovely candlelight service that sets the spiritual tone for the best day of the year. Then, on Christmas morning, the entire family gathers: the two girls still at home, the grown children and grandchildren, extended family that lives nearby. We’ll share gifts and laughs and an enormous dinner with all the traditional fixings.

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

LN: Early in our marriage, we didn’t have a lot of money. One year, sometime in early fall, Gene saw a vintage hunting rifle he wanted badly but knew we couldn’t afford. Later, I put the rifle in lay-away and paid it out a few dollars at a time. Was he ever surprised and happy on Christmas morning!

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

LN: I am not big on gifts and wouldn’t care if I didn’t receive even one.  However, one year my oldest son surprised me with a painting, and I cried. I didn’t even know he’d noticed how much I liked it. That painting still hangs in my living room.

ib4b: Tell me about the Christmas tradition that means the most to you.
LN: We have a long-standing tradition that I love. Even if we have an artificial tree, we take a day, load up in the truck with all the windows rolled down and drive around in the woods until we find just the right live tree. My husband honks Jingle Bells and Rudolph and we all sing at the top of our lungs. We usually find a lopsided, prickly cedar, but we cut it down and decorate it while watching Christmas movies. It’s a silly, happy, family time that bonds us together as a family, and I think that’s especially important for our adopted daughters.

ib4b: How do you keep your focus on Christ during this hectic but wondrous time of year?
LN: We do a variety of things, though I always feel we need to do more.  Here are a few things: Programs at church, shoeboxes for orphans and Angel tree, special decorations in the house, an Advent calendar in which we read a scripture each evening at the dinner table, and on Christmas Day after dinner, we serve mini-cupcakes complete with lighted candles and sing happy birthday to Jesus. Last year, I downloaded some old Christmas movies that focus on Christ. Sadly, those are hard to find these days.

ib4b: What is your favorite ...
  • Christmas movie? It’s a Wonderful Life
  • Christmas song? Oh, Holy Night
  • Christmas treat? Homemade fudge and peanut brittle and divinity and….
  • Christmas smell? Candied orange slices, a memory from childhood.
  • Christmas children’s book? The Polar Express
About Sugarplum Homecoming
A New Mommy For Christmas 

Widower Davis Turner doesn't need to hear his children's whispered wishes for a new mom to recognize that new neighbor Lana Ross is a beautiful woman. But he worries that his feelings for the former bad girl could put his family at risk for small-town scandal. Lana knows she should steer clear of Davis. Yet she can't resist spending time with the handsome single dad, even if the truth might soon tear them apart. Though Lana has turned over a new leaf, her secrets have followed her to Whisper Falls. Secrets that could destroy her hope for a future with Davis.

Whisper Falls: Where every prayer is answered…

About Linda Goodnight
Winner of the RITA Award, Linda Goodnight’s books have also won the Booksellers’ Best, the ACFW Carol and the Reviewers’ Choice Award from RT Book Reviews. Linda has appeared on the Christian Bestsellers list and her romance novels have been translated into more than a dozen languages. Active in orphan ministry, this former nurse and teacher of the year lives in rural Oklahoma with her family.

Connect with Linda Goodnight Online
Website  |  Blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter

Giveaway
Linda is offering a copy of Sugarplum Homecoming to one reader. Giveaway is open to residents of the US or Canada and ends December 11. 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. ***

21 comments:

  1. My favorite thing about the holdiays is spending time with family. When I was growing up family time just happened, we didn't have to work at making it happen like we do now. Looking forward to reading Sugarplum Homecoming.

    ReplyDelete
  2. When I think of Christmas the first thing that comes to mind is family. I love being able to be with my family and celebrate. The second word comes to mind is Jesus. His birth gave everyone so much hope. The third thing I think of is love. The amount of love God feels for us is astounding.
    Blessings

    ReplyDelete
  3. Christ, Family, Christmas Tree
    Brittany McEuen

    ReplyDelete
  4. When I think of Christmas, my favorite three words are Jesus, Family, and Presents. Christmas is the time we celebrate Jesus birth. At Christmas, family get together to celebrate Jesus birth and spend time with each other. That time will make wonderful memories. We have to have presents for the children or for the special someone in our life.

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  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  6. First of all...does Linda have the coolest name ever? Okay to answer your question, the three words that come to my mind with Christmas are: Jesus, joy, family.

    I loved reading your interview with Linda. It is nice reading about authors and the things that touch their hearts (especially in Christmas)
    KellysShining(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for this great interview....Linda love your last name! :-)

    In answer to your question the first word that comes to mind when I think of CHRISTMAS is JESUS as He is the real reason, then FAMILY and the last one is FOOD, FOOD and more FOOD!! lol

    Thanks for the chance to win a copy of Linda's terrific sounding book!!

    teresasmathews(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Jesus, Family, Faith, Are the 3 main things I think of. Loved the interview. A lot of your favorites are mine also. Wonderful Life is my favorite movie. O Holy Night is my favorite song. I love fudge. Love to read this book. Merry CHRISTmas!!!
    Blessings
    joeym11(at)frontier(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Three words I associate with Christmas: warmth, family, love

    ReplyDelete
  10. The three words that I associate with Christmas are family, blessings, and joy.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Dancer, prancer , donner and blitzen, ok so that is 4 !
    Linda Finn
    faithfulacresbooks@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Would love to win Sugarplum Homecoming! sharon, CA wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Celebrate, Family, Giving

    texaggs2000 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love,joy, peace,Jesus birth,family
    oh.hello.hiya@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Christ, Family, Nativity Reason for the Season
    Merry Christmas

    Also may I wish you a God-filled Merry Christmas
    Chris Granville

    ReplyDelete
  16. chris granville
    granvilleATfrontiernetDOTnet

    ReplyDelete
  17. Three words to associate with Christmas? snow, festivities, holiday.

    ReplyDelete

I love comments! Thanks for letting me know what you think!

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