We wrap up this year’s Holiday Author Blog series with Julia Kelly, the award-winning author of books about ordinary women and their extraordinary stories. Her upcoming novel, THE LAST DANCE OF THE DEBUTANTE (on sale January 4th), whisks readers to midcentury Britain as it follows three of the last debutantes to be presented to Queen Elizabeth II. Julia and the members of her family are all voracious readers, so they know that on Christmas Day, each of their personal libraries will be well-stocked with new releases and old favorites. Read on to discover the unique (and fun!) way they exchange their bookish gifts.

I was in a state of shock when I learned of Anne Rice’s passing. After I discovered that she had succumbed to the effects of a stroke that she had suffered two months ago, right around the time of her 80th birthday, the realization that the literary world had lost one of the all-time greats really set in. Next to Stephen King, I don’t think there was a bigger literary name with the global success that Rice enjoyed. Of course, it all began with that classic first book, INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE, in 1976. I still remember taking my mother’s Book of the Month edition when I was a lad and reading what would become one of the best horror novels of all time.

Jacquelyn Mitchard is the New York Times bestselling author of 22 novels for adults and teenagers. Her upcoming novel, THE GOOD SON, releases on January 18th and is about a mother who must help her son after he is convicted of a devastating crime. In her holiday blog post, Jacquelyn recalls the most memorable gift she has ever received: a first edition of her favorite book, A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN, which her longtime literary agent gave her for Christmas. But it’s what she found stuck among its pages that made the book truly irreplaceable for her.