Post-holiday Blues

I love Christmas. The decorations, the baking, the parties, the magic! The time from Thanksgiving to Christmas is so full of anticipation. I don't even know what I'm anticipating anymore, but I feel the excitement just the same. Santa has long since stopped coming with something for me, but the holiday spirit is alive and well inside me.

Now, after the first week of January has passed, I'm officially bummed. The go-go-go engine of the holidays has ground to a halt and there's...there's...well...there's nothing to look forward to. I've taken down the Christmas decorations. The twinkly lights are back in their boxes. The stockings are rolled up and packed away. The only thing left is the apple-cinnamon candle that I haven't burned all the way down yet. I figure I'll hang onto at least the smell of Christmas for a little longer. Pathetic, right? Sigh.

I froze some Christmas cookies, because good Goddess, I couldn't eat them all. Well, I could, but that would come with some harsh side effects I'm sure. I'll nibble on them here and there and remember how much fun I had baking them. Santa would totally hire me for his bakery in the North Pole. :)

I have to remember not to let the post-holiday blues get me down. I'm going to look to my New Year's resolutions and get cracking on that list. It's a long one, full of goals and hopes. Time to reach for the stars, take the leap, chase the dreams. You know the drill.

I'm working on a new story that takes place in Boston. I'm excited about this project and hope it will keep me busy. Nothing like playing with new characters to combat the quiet of January.

What are you doing to keep busy in 2012? 

If you want a fun read to entertain you, try THE LAST STALLION. It's about a New Year's resolution that's a little difficult to keep.

Christine
http://www.christinedepetrillo.weebly.com/

ABRA CADAVER, The Wild Rose Press, available now

Christmastime is Here...(Warning: Suggestive book covers included)

The tree is trimmed. The lights are hung outside. Candles are in the windows. Stockings are hung by the gas fireplace with care. Wreaths are in place, and I've already hosted a Christmas party.

Clearly, December has commenced.

I've started Christmas shopping, and fortunately my family is small. I'll probably be done next week. Don't hate me.

Christmas music is all I'll listen to now whether it's on the radio or from my private collection that includes everything from Kenny G to Transiberian Orchestra to Ray Charles. This time of year always makes me wish I could sing, but I'd have better luck carrying an elephant instead. The beauty of listening to this holiday music while driving alone in my car is that I can throw caution to the wind and sing my heart out without any nasty repercussions.

I also enjoy reading holiday books during December. This year I devoured Penny Watson's SWEET INSPIRATION, which is about one of the sons of Santa Claus. Witty, hot, and full of holiday cheer, this book helped me kick off my season on the right foot...or snow boot, that is.

I have two of my own holiday reads available from Whispers Publishing.

 

MIDNIGHT MISTLETOE
Art history professor Dr. Melina Fairlee refuses to spend Christmas alone in New York while her twin daughters enjoy the holiday with their father in Disney World. To escape a lonely December at home and to forget that her girls would rather be with her ex-husband, Melina travels to Spain on a mission to lose herself in the art museums of Madrid.

Dance instructor Diego Ramos always has a full dance card, but he’s tired of being nothing more than a quick tango. While he enjoys teaching his clients, he longs to share the beauty of dance with someone who knows how to heat up the floor…and him. Christmas with his family is just another reminder of the love he can’t seem to find.

On a snow-dusted Christmas Eve, Melina and Diego will celebrate the holiday in a way neither of them thought possible. The gifts they give each other under the mistletoe will set Madrid on fire, but how long will the blaze between them last?

IN THE NICK OF TIME
You never know what you'll find under the Christmas tree.  

Electrician Ivy Garrow would rather be at home in Rhode Island enjoying a snow-covered New England Christmas. Instead she's trapped in the Hawaiian heat at her sister's wedding. An entire continent separates Ivy from her annual holiday fun.

Canoe builder Nick Huntley can't wait to dump off his current passenger, a bride with the body of a goddess and the arrogance to match. When he arrives at the wedding and meets the bride's sister, Nick is ready to row away from double the hassle.

Is Christmas magic possible when the air is filled with sunshine and ukulele music?
Visit me at http://www.christinedepetrillo.weebly.com/ to download both today and get filled with holiday spirit!

Happy Holidays!
Christine DePetrillo 

Kittens, Kittens, Kittens!

Earlier I blogged about my pup, Anubis. It's only fair that I give my kitties their fair coverage. My youngest cat, Jamu, is a black and brown tabby with a white V at her neck. She's the snuggler in the family. I can always count on her to keep my lap warm. She's also the sweetest furry family member. Never acts up, doesn't destroy anything, and really just lives for deli meat. Here she is.

Ain't she a tiger cub? Unfortunately, she's a bit less than a tiger. Everything spooks her. Doorbells, small children, shadows. Oh, well.

My older cat, Shikari, is a true witch's familiar. She's all black with huge yellow eyes. She's beautiful and she knows it. For a small cat, weighing only about 8 pounds, she's got all the confidence of a huge jaguar. She enjoys sitting on my window sill in my living room and conjuring up lightning storms. As bold as she is though, I do catch her every so often hiding out in our bathroom sink. She does that when she's stressed. Silly cat. Here she is.

Can't you just tell she's casting as spell? Hope you haven't gotten on her bad side.  :)

I love BIG cats too. In fact, my book, ALLEY CAT, was written because of my love of sleek, black jaguars. In this tale, Renn Tigris is next in line to be king of the Felinians, but he must find a mate first. He visits our world and immediately falls for photographer, Shara Dumorte.

Here's an excerpt:

She turned her attention to the growing heat

beneath her. Taut muscles worked hard under the

fur pressed into her palms. Though a man had

originally offered her help in the alley, no man was

with her now. Her only guide at present was this

animal moving lithely, swiftly through the

thickening forest.

Its pace slowed, and a bright yellow-green

eye came into view as the creature’s head swung to

the right. Moonlight filtered through the treetops,

revealing a regal profile.

A cat. A huge, black panther to be exact.

Nostrils flared, breathed in scents, analyzed,

decided. Whiskers twitched, and the massive feline

leaped to a flat rock as Shara held on. It lowered

its body so she could slide off. The fur was a silken

sheet beneath her hands. A fleeting desire to get

naked and rub her body, cat-style, over the fur

almost consumed her.

Before she gave in to the ridiculous

yearning, the panther shimmered—like a quick

blurring of reality—and a naked man stood before

Shara.

Her eyes combed over the well-defined

contours of his body. Long legs, powerful arms,

strong shoulders. Muscles gave his skin an athletic,

chiseled look, and Shara wanted to spend eternity

admiring him. Perhaps admiring wouldn’t be

enough.

The man’s chin-length black hair looked as

soft as the fur of the panther. Shara reached out a

hand, not able to control the desire to touch him.

Quick as lightning, however, he disappeared over

the side of the rock. An instant emptiness filled

Shara. She took a step in the direction he had fled,

but within a moment, he was back and adjusting

the folds of a long, charcoal overcoat. Shara

stumbled back, but couldn’t help being a little

disappointed he was so thoroughly wrapped.

“What are you?” she whispered.

To download ALLEY CAT today, visit http://www.christinedepetrillo.weebly.com/.

Toodles,

Christine DePetrillo