Interview with Kathleen Shoop, Author of the Historical Christmas Tale, Cinder Bella

Bestselling author Kathleen Shoop, PhD writes historical fiction, women’s fiction, and romance. Shoop’s novels have garnered awards in the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY), Eric Hoffer Book Awards, Next Generation Indie Book Awards, and more. You can find Kathleen in person at various venues. She’s on the board of the Kerr Memorial Museum, teaches at writing/reader conferences, co-coordinates Mindful Writers Retreats and writing conferences, and gives talks at various book clubs, libraries, and historical societies.

Sign up for her newsletter at www.kshoop.com. 

Visit her website at www.kshoop.com or connect with her on X, Facebook, Instagram, BookBub, TikTok, and Goodreads.

Cinder Bella is available at Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble & Kobo.

Where did you grow up? 

I grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where there was an interesting blend of gritty ambition and humble overachievers. Many of my stories are set there or in communities close by because there is sooooo much wonderful material to churn into plot and character. 

What do you remember about the Christmases of your past?

Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. As a child, my parents and extended family made the celebration magical, always somehow getting us things we wanted and surprises we hadn't thought of until they landed under the tree. Then, as an adult, my husband, Bill, and I hosted Christmas Eve, and part of our gathering was for people to bring coats and winter things that they didn't need, and we would drop them at the halfway house down the street for people who we knew needed them. THEN... my daughter, Beth, was born on Christmas Eve and every celebration since has taken the magic to new levels. My son, Jake, was born the year before Beth and has always been her biggest birthday fan. 

What is your favorite part of the holiday season?

My favorite part is finding a meaningful and "perfect" gift for those I love. Nothing makes me happier than someone getting something important to them.  Christmas morning, when I'm the first one up, and I put on the lights and have quiet coffee is just another layer of pure holiday magic. But now that my kids are grown and out of the house, having them back is the absolute best.

When did you first realize you wanted to write Christmas stories or stories set during the holiday season?

As I mentioned above, Christmas and Christmas Eve were always my favorite holidays, and I spent so much time watching Christmas movies and reading Christmas stories that after years of having books published, it occurred to me that I was missing an opportunity to make literary magic for others. Once I started writing short holiday tales (contemporary and historical), I put out a book a year for readers to love. Although they tell me that they revisit many year after year.

What is your latest book about?

The latest book is A Waltz for Christmas, and it's inspired by my grandparents on my father's side. Depression era young adults, dancing was one of the biggest forms of entertainment. And when my grandmother (who was a tremendous dancer) discovered my grandfather was not only not a good dancer, but he had no interest in it, the fun began. Their backstories are compelling and impacted their personalities and circumstances in such a way that they never failed to help deliver us the biggest, best Christmas ever.  It will be book 6 in the 'Tis the Season collection. These are standalones, so reading in any order will do. 

What is your favorite Christmas story or who is your favorite Christmas story character? Why? 

I love all the classics, including A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote. My kids think his holiday stories are too glum, but I adore the gritty depiction of life when things are hard, everyone is trying to make do, and somehow, make holiday magic. I also love things like A Christmas Carol (my The Christmas Coat ended up being a modern rendition of the story without me even planning it that way. A real life event inspired it and off I went with the writing.). I adore irreverent holiday movies like The Family Stone and Surviving Christmas and Seven Fishes because they remind me so much of my family holiday gatherings. Everyone does their best to bring their best selves, but complicated families can make that hard. But at their heart, these stories (and real life) have the love of family and the holidays, and I adore them. The movies mentioned here inspired my Christmas in Eagle Bend (contemporary), and it remains one of my favorites. Hope you enjoy it if you pick it up!

Where can readers buy your book?

Readers can find my books anywhere books are sold. Online sources carry my books year-round (I've written 23 books, so many are not specifically Christmas stories) but brick and mortar stores like Mystery Lovers Bookshop will mail my books to you!

What is up next for you?

As I finish up A Waltz for Christmas and the new year begins, I'll be finishing up my novel, Imperial Girl. It's a story set in St. Petersburg, Russia 1909-1917 about a dancer studying at the Imperial Ballet School. It's magical, wonderful, fairytaleish and eventually Mila will have a book set in the Donora Story Collection as she emigrates to America to escape a dire situation. More on this story to come!!!

Is there anything you would like to add?

Subscribe to my newsletter at http://kshoop.com for all my book updates, behind-the-scenes news, giveaways, tea, coffee, and other drink recipes, and so much more!!!

Interview with Danielle Grandinetti, Author of The Neighbor and the Gifts

 

Danielle Grandinetti is an award-winning author of 1930s historical romance, where mystery and suspense intertwine with hope. Her work has received recognition, including a Distinguished Faith in Writing Award, two National Excellence in Storytelling Awards, and finalist honors in the FHLCW Reader’s Choice, Selah, Holt Medallion, and Daphne du Maurier contests. 

A second-generation Italian-American rooted in Midwest traditions, Danielle draws inspiration from tea, books, and the creative beauty of nature. Holding a master’s in communication and culture, and driven by a lifelong love of stories, she crafts tales that celebrate resilience, diversity, and belonging. Danielle lives along Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan shoreline with her husband and two sons. Find her online at daniellegrandinetti.com.

All links can be found at https://daniellegrandinetti.com/links

What do you remember about the Christmases of your past?

I’m originally from the Chicagoland area, and some of my favorite memories are going downtown to look at the Marshall Field's windows (it will always be Field’s to me), then visiting the Christkindlmarket. It was always cold, so warming up with cider or hot chocolate as we walked outside warmed with all the holiday goodness.

What is your favorite part of the holiday season?

I love everything about it! The carols, the traditions, the tree, the food, the snow, the movies, the Story. It’s my favorite time of year.

When did you first realize you wanted to write Christmas stories or stories set during the holiday season?

My first Christmas story was As Silent as the Night, and in it, I had the opportunity to delve into Italian and Wisconsin Christmas traditions. I fell in love with telling Christmas stories while writing that one, and the following year, I wrote Escape with the Prodigal. 

From that moment on, I knew I had to write at least one Christmas story every year for no other reason than because I enjoyed it. And so, the Christmas Cabin series was born.

 What is your latest book about?

My latest Christmas story is The Neighbor and the Gifts, the second book in the Christmas Cabin series. These are standalone romances with mystery, all centered around a cabin that seems to have a special Christmas matchmaking magic. 

The Neighbor and the Gifts tells the story of a quiet librarian and a deputy who has a secret crush on her … and how they outwit a stalker to survive until Christmas.

What inspired you to write it?

As I mentioned, I love Christmas carols. The "Twelve Days of Christmas" is a popular one, and since it talks about a true love giving gifts, it’s often retold in Christmas romances. However, I had a question … what if … what if the bad guy was the one giving the gifts? And thus, The Neighbor and the Gifts was born.

Where can readers buy your book?

Readers can find The Neighbor and the Gifts in the usual places. 

Paperback copies are available at all the major retailers and libraries, whereas signed copies can be purchased from my Hearth Spot Shop on my website. 

From September to December, the ebook is part of the Kindle Unlimited program, so it can only be found on Amazon and in library systems like Hoopla and Libby. However, from January to August, readers can find it in the other ebook stores, like Nook, Kobo, and Apple, as well as through my website.

 What is up next for you?

My next Christmas Cabin novella is already up for preorder! It releases July 2026 and is called The Robber and the Witness. Readers can find all the information at https://daniellegrandinetti.com/the-robber-and-the-witness/

Twelve days. Twelve gifts. One unlikely hero. 

Wisconsin, 1930—When Manitowish Waters librarian Olivia “Ollie” Larson finds a package on the library steps, she expects the children’s books she ordered, not a taxidermied partridge. By the fourth gift from her unknown and unwelcome True Love, disappearing to her grandfather’s isolated cabin in the Northwoods is the only way she can escape him. 

Deputy Titus Wilburn is happy to escort the lovely librarian to her grandfather’s house on his way to the neighboring Yarwood cabin. After all, he’s been smitten with her since they attended school together, and she needs his protection. However, the plan fails when Ollie’s uninvited suitor discovers her new location. 

As the man’s actions become more desperate and his gifts more dangerous, an unexpectedly bedridden Titus decides to free Ollie from this menace, which puts the enemy’s sights directly on him. Ollie refuses to let her injured hero sacrifice himself, but with the days ticking closer to Christmas, she may have no choice but to accept whatever fate her suitor has in store for her if she wants to save Titus’ life. 

One cabin in the Northwoods … a decade of Christmas miracles.

https://daniellegrandinetti.com/the-neighbor-and-the-gifts

Author Interviews and Guest Posts Now Available at Christmas Year Round

 

As we head toward the holidays, I am opening this blog up to authors of seasonal fiction and nonfiction to be featured on Christmas Year Round. Must be family-friendly material. We have a set of interview questions to email you, or you can complete a guest post on one of the following three topics:

1. What is your favorite part of the holiday season? 
2. Who is your favorite Christmas story character and why?
3. What is your favorite Christmas memory?

If interested, please email Cheryl at ccmal(at)charter(dot)net, using the appropriate symbols for (at) and (dot). Subject line should read "Christmas Stories." 

In addition to your completed interview and guest post, I need the following:

• Author bio
• Book blurb 
• Links to purchase your book
• Author photo and book cover in jpg format
• Social media links

Thanks for your interest in appearing at Christmas Year Round.