By Cara Putman, Pepper Basham, Janine Rosche and Teresa Tysinger

Christmas in Mistletoe Square is the sort of title that pulls me in immediately. Where is Mistletoe Square, what does it look like? Surely very festive, right? And the festive, cozy vibe sets a great backdrop for love. One of the authors, the very brilliant Cara Putman graciously took the time to tell me more about the project:

First of all, tell me where this idea came from – a bunch of writer friends brainstorming or was there a conscious recruitment by one particular author?

One of the fun things about this collection was that Janine and Pepper were already talking about it. Then we were together for a writers brainstorm/writing weekend in December, and I invited myself along for the fun. I’m so glad they let me be part, because I knew that with Pepper Basham, Janine Rosche, and Teresa Tysinger, it would be a delightful collection. I usually write romantic suspense that’s driven by some pretty hefty issues, so I was and am so excited to be part of a Christmas collection that is light-hearted and sweet. So after I invited myself to be part of the group, we hopped on a Zoom to do more brainstorming about the stories and how they could be connected. The result is a wonderful collection of Christmas themed stories that will make it easy to get in the Christmas mood.

All the books are set in the same place, Kedgewick Creek, so how did you maintain continuity across four different stories? 

This is such a good question. I’ve been part of Novella collections before that are very tightly joined (Rainbow’s End and Where Treetops Glisten) or are joined by location and a signature event (Cherry Blossom Capers). Both are fun to write. I would say this one falls somewhere in the middle. We have the same businesses and our characters interact. The stories also happen over the same basic timeframe so that there is connection by core Christmasy events. At the same time, we each had freedom to make our stories our own, then read each others to make sure the descriptions, etc., were consistent. I’ve also been taking notes so if we write a second collection next Christmas, we’re all set. 

When you’re writing a novella collection like this – how much collaboration or joint brainstorming is there, vs all working alone?

We spent time brainstorming at the retreat and then on Zoom – probably about an hour total that way. Then we’ve had a private Facebook Group that we could pop in and out of with questions: would your character act like this? Does this description work? Etc. The rest has been spent writing alone.

Now. You’d have to be one of the most versatile authors I’ve met. You’ve written textbooks, historical romance, historical suspense, romantic suspense, contemporary romance, cozy mysteries and even some Amish… plus Christmas. Do you have a favorite genre to read and write?

I LOVE WWII romantic suspense and my legal romantic suspense. I’ve got so many ideas for both. Like you said though, I’ve been fortunate to write in many different genres. It’s kept me on my toes and the writing fresh. It’s also fun to incorporate what I’ve learned from cozy mysteries and romance into the suspense genres. My mind is filled with ideas of stories I’d love to write. 

I’m going to guess you didn’t write this during the holidays – so do you have a way to get into the Christmas spirit when it’s not actually winter?

You’re right. This was written in the heat of June and I’ll be editing it in August. One of my favorite tricks is to turn on a Christmas music channel on Spotify or Pandora. That really helps set the stage for me. Teresa Tysinger also put together a playlist for her novella, and I had fun listening to that one, too. 

Now – tell us about the concept of Christmas in Mistletoe Falls:

Christmas is in the air in Kedgewick Creek, North Carolina, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Will romance find four couples in the month of December or will the pressure to maintain the festivities Mistletoe Square is known for keep these couples apart? Find out in this collection of four novellas from inspirational authors Pepper Basham, Cara Putman, Janine Rosche, and Teresa Tysinger.

The Christmas Clue to Loving You by Pepper Basham

After five years away, Piper Dawson returns home to Kedgewick Creek and is pulled into a Christmas Scavenger Hunt that resurrects a heartbreak from Christmas past she’s not quite ready to mend. Will a matchmaking granny, a little Christmas magic, and a cute guy in a kilt make all the difference to her Christmas yet-to-come?

Silver Bell Secrets by Cara Putman

Growing up with dyslexia, Avery Blair didn’t love books, but the family-owned bookshop held her heart. She never expected her little business on the backside of nowhere to garner a New York City publishing house’s attention. Hunter Chase has lived an “always winter, never Christmas” existence, and spending the holidays in Christmas Town U.S.A. wasn’t exactly on his Christmas wish list, but he had no choice when his boss gave him an ultimatum. Can small town and big city discover a Christmas future that will last far beyond the page?

An Unscripted Christmas by Teresa Tysinger

Ellie and Oliver Larson face a Christmas full of uncertainty rather than festive cheer. Ellie is tired of playing a supporting role to Oliver’s passion of running the Kedgewick Creek Playhouse. Oliver can’t imagine his life without her. When things go off script, will their love story find its second act?

Dreams in Toyland by Janine Rosche

Toy shop owner Peyton Hammond knows a secret that could take down online giant Kiljoy Toyz and its owner, Joey Kiljoy. After the two adversaries spend Christmas Eve delivering gifts for charity, will the sun rise on newfound love, or will prejudice and lost dreams keep hope in the dark?

And finally – is there a single message you’d all like to have readers take away?

The holidays – especially Christmas – can be filled with angst, what ifs, and what shoulds. Those can steal our joy, but there’s never a time that God isn’t there in the middle of it all. And in Him we can find our greatest joy and source of love. 

About Cara…