Blog

Aline Ohanesian’s great-grandmother was a survivor of the Armenian Genocide, and her history inspired Aline’s first novel, ORHAN'S INHERITANCE. It’s a tale that moves back and forth in time --- between the last years of the Ottoman Empire and the 1990s --- of passionate love, unspeakable horrors, incredible resilience and the hidden stories that can haunt a family for generations. Here, Aline recalls her mixed feelings about her family’s decidedly un-American holiday traditions, and how a gift from a polite Midwestern interloper, of all people, sparked her love of books.  

New York Times bestselling author Michael Spradlin is a master of adventure stories, with fan-favorites that include the Killer Species series and the Youngest Templar trilogy. His upcoming middle-grade novel, INTO THE KILLING SEAS, is about two boys who stow away on the U.S.S. Indianapolis during World War II, and will be in stores July 2015. Though his talent is clearly far from ordinary, Michael maintains that he had a mostly normal childhood, full of G.I. Joes and Matchbox cars. Still, his mother's love of books made an impact early on --- with a little help from Santa.   

Carine McCandless --- beloved sister of literary icon Chris McCandless, whose life story captured the hearts of millions of people around the world --- played a vital role in the success of INTO THE WILD, the internationally bestselling book written by Jon Krakauer. THE WILD TRUTH is her deeply personal account of the events that led up to Chris’ departure and her own search for redemption in its aftermath. Here, Carine shares another touching story of a bond between siblings, a magical Christmas past, and a classic children’s story whose sweetness long outlasted the Grinch.

Not only is Brenda Novak a bestselling, award-winning author, she’s also a first-rate fundraiser. Her latest book, THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS, is the seventh in her popular Whiskey Creek series and brings us back to the small Gold Country town just in time for some Christmas magic. In her Holiday Author Blog, Brenda shares a lesson she learned from her son when he was only six years old: Magic can be anywhere, so long as we choose to see it.  

Caroline L. Arnold has been a technology leader on Wall Street for more than a decade, leading software development teams as large as 500 technologists. It’s a good thing, then, that she knows a thing or two about goal-oriented behavior. Her book SMALL MOVE, BIG CHANGE is all about how creating and sticking to “microresolutions” are the key to personal success. Here, Caroline talks about the book that changed her entire perception of cause and effect --- and the way history is driven by the actions of individuals, not impersonal, abstract forces. It’s a timely lesson we could all bear to learn as the new year fast approaches!

Debut author Scott Cheshire boasts an impressive resume. In addition to his job as interview editor at the Tottenville Review, he teaches writing at the Sackett Street Writers' Workshop, and his work has been published in Slice, AGNI, Guernica and the Picador anthology THE BOOK OF MEN. HIGH AS THE HORSES' BRIDLES is his vivid first novel about a father and son divided by a dangerous prophecy. It was published just this summer, and here Scott describes another first: the first time he celebrated Christmas at the not-so-tender age of 32.

Bestselling superstar author Debbie Macomber’s latest book, MR. MIRACLE, is the perfect holiday story. When guardian angel Harry Mills is tasked with helping 24-year-old Addie Folsom get her life back on track, not even he can predict the surprises that lay in store when Addie and her polar-opposite neighbor, Erich, are forced to spend Christmas together. Debbie also knows a thing or two about the perfect holiday gift. Here, she shares the books she’s giving to her granddaughters this Christmas, and how she went above and beyond to make them extra special. Just call her Mrs. Miracle!

Author Lauren Francis-Sharma already had a long career as an attorney before she began writing 'TIL THE WELL RUNS DRY, a remarkable novel about a young woman's secret that is loosely based on Lauren's own grandmother's story. The child of Trinidadian immigrants, Lauren received her bachelor’s degree in English literature before attending law school. Though she did not take the path she once had planned, she now intends to pen as many novels as possible. Here, Lauren writes about her most memorable professor, and how her words became a secret gift that she still holds dear today.

It’s easy to take for granted the impact a gift you give will have on its recipient. Ann Mah, journalist and author, most recently of MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH EATING, can trace how her own writing --- and the way she hopes to raise her daughter --- was influenced by a beloved childhood book, given to her by a grownup she’d never even met. So while you’re doing your last-minute holiday gift shopping, remember that a really good book can change someone’s life.  

Despite being new on the scene, debut author Christopher Scotton is already receiving tons of buzz in the publishing world for THE SECRET WISDOM OF THE EARTH. It's hard to believe that Christopher, a tech-savvy CEO, wrote this impressive book in stolen minutes between managing several successful companies and a family. This isn't the first time he has found fame and glory through a book, however, as he explains in his Holiday Author Blog.