Karen Solem, on Christmas Reading

I was surprised and, I admit, fearful when Lori asked me to write a piece for her blog. What could I say, how would I say it? The theme is Christmas –how hard can that be but I was sure so much had already been written on the subject what new could I possibly add and from the publishing angle at that. But I thought about it that evening - books are such a big part of my Christmas celebrations and that’s what I can share that with you.

I like to give books as gifts. Naturally I would to support the writing community I so love but it’s more than that. Knowing what a friend or family member enjoys and finding just the right book on that subject, or introducing them to a new author or concept is a sign of caring to me. This book means something to me – I hope it can mean something special to you, too. One friend still talks about the book of garden poetry I gave to her five years ago.

From childhood I remember the thrill of opening the gift of a new book (in those days it was anything about horses), and that thrill hasn’t left me in all these years. Even though I read for a living I still love to receive books – there’s little I enjoy more than discovering a new writer who will perhaps bring insight into my own life – this past year I’ve been very focused on the work of Jon Katz who writes so beautifully about dogs and what they bring to our lives. No, I don’t have kids but I have my beautiful (and very naughty) Owen, a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy.

Thinking about books at Christmas I remembered when, as editor in chief of Silhouette Books, we came up with the concept of Christmas Short stories and how wonderful and exciting those first collections were. I still have a boxed set of the first three on my bookshelf at home. We has so much fun choosing the authors and working on the cover design – the excitement was infectious among the whole Silhouette team as we waited for books to reach the marketplace for Christmas 1986. If not the first Christmas romance novellas they are among the first published and look where that has led today. That year Nora Roberts, Maura Seger, Debbie Macomber and Tracy Sinclair all shared the joys and warmth of Christmas in a special story for readers. This year, just look at all the heartwarming Christmas novels and novellas available for readers! Lori alone has three on sale now and they’re all so wonderful.

For me, some of my favorite Christmas moments come after the rush of shopping, wrapping, mailing, traveling and maybe way too much celebrating and Christmas is over, I love that I then have lots of quiet time to relax and read, Owen will be lying on the floor beside my chair. I already have this year’s novel chosen and I’ve been savoring for the last month the thought of having the chance to really get into it without too many distractions. Maybe that’s also why Christmas stories are so appealing – in the middle of the many things we’re all doing everyday there’s a heartwarming short story you can read in an evening. I hope you can make some quiet time during your celebrations to enjoy these special offerings. Do you have anything set aside to read for your holiday vacation? I’d love to know.

Wishing you all a joyful Christmas and the happiest of New Years,
Karen Solem