It’s Day 11 of my Twelve Books for Christmas blog, where I introduce you to twelve romance books to warm your heart and make you feel all Christmassy. 🙂 They’ll all make wonderful presents for a friend, or you could even treat yourself. Today’s festive treat is the heart-warming Poppy’s Christmas Wishes by Annette Hannah, who is going to talk to us about the inspiration for her book, and how she celebrates Christmas.
Blurb
What would you wish for if you were granted three wishes?
For the first time she can remember, Poppy is dreading Christmas. Unceremoniously dumped by her boyfriend after moving across the country for him, there’s nothing cheery about the festive season this year.
Dragged to a Christmas ball by best friend Layla, Poppy meets gorgeous actor Gabe, who stars as a genie in a play. When he asks her what three wishes she would make, she realises it’s quite simple: love, a job she’s happy in and, just once in her life, to do something extraordinary.
Gabe and Poppy make a pact to help each other make their dreams come true. As they tick off their wishes, their friendship blossoms… But, as they discover, sometimes, what you want for Christmas isn’t necessarily what you need…
Buy Links: Amazon
Welcome Annette. When does Christmas begin for you?
My daughter doesn’t allow me to think about Christmas until after Halloween as she loves to celebrate that first, although I must admit I’ve usually bought the odd few Christmas presents by then which I squirrel away and then can’t usually remember where I put them.
When do you put up your Christmas tree? Do you go mad with the decorations or do you just put up a tree?
I like to get the tree up on the first of December at the latest and we usually have lights on the outside of the house which I would keep up all the time if I could. We used to have to lift my daughter up to put the fairy on top of the tree but now she can reach it herself and she still does this. We have a nativity set too which I bought when the children were small and I always save a few of the ornaments for my children to unwrap when they come to visit and they place them in the stable.
What is your earliest Christmas memory?
My earliest Christmas memory was from when I was about seven and we went round to my Nana and Grandad’s house and I got a dolls house and a nurses outfit both of which I loved and I have used the memory of the outfit in Poppy’s Christmas Wishes too.
What is your favourite Christmas tradition?
We used to go to mass on Christmas eve for the carol service and afterwards take the children to MacDonalds and although we don’t go to the church any more we still do the MacDonalds trip. My favourite tradition is that a couple of my friends come round the week before and along with my daughter we bake Christmas cookies and treats and take them round to my neighbours. We call it our angel bakeathon. Sadly we couldn’t do it for the last couple of years but hopefully we can start it again soon.
Which author, dead or alive, would you like to invite for Christmas dinner?
I think it would have to be Jackie Collins, I met her once and she was such a genuinely lovely person, I think she’s had a fascinating life and I’d love to know more.
If you could travel anywhere you want in the world where would you like to spend Christmas day?
Just before the pandemic we spent Christmas with my Uncle and Auntie in Australia and it was amazing, Christmas morning we spent walking along the beach in glorious weather. I had my immediate family with me and loved it. Our favourite place on that holiday was Singapore Zoo so maybe we could spend Christmas day there. As long as we are all together though I really don’t mind.
What would make a perfect Christmas for you?
The perfect Christmas for me is having my family around me, when on Christmas morning my three grown up children bring their Christmas sacks into our room, and all get on the bed to open their presents. We then go downstairs for a breakfast of cinnamon rolls and chocolate and more presents from underneath the tree. We then go for a walk with our crazy dog, usually with Christmas jumpers on and come back for our huge turkey dinner with all the trimmings.
After dinner we play games and open more tree presents usually from neighbours and friends and then we relax with a film and in my case I drift off into a festive afternoon nap. In the lead up to Christmas my daughter and I have usually watched every Christmas film that’s on, the cheesier the better and we love them.
What was the inspiration for Poppy’s Christmas Wishes?
I was on a work’s Christmas night out and my friend and I heard an amazing laugh and saw a man with a goatee that we later got chatting to. It turned out he was playing a genie in Aladdin and after having wanted to write a book for so long and not knowing what to write about, this sparked an idea in my mind. I mulled over the idea for about five years until I eventually plucked up the courage to write it and once I did, the book flowed so fast I could hardly keep up with typing the words. I wrote it in three weeks and now five years later after many rounds of editing it’s being published which I’m absolutely over the moon about.
That’s a fantastic inspiration story, Annette!
Meet Annette
About the Author
Annette Hannah is a Liver Bird who relocated to leafy Hertfordshire in the 80’s and now lives near a river with her husband, two of their three grown up children and a crazy black cocker spaniel. She writes Romantic comedies in settings inspired by the beautiful countryside around her and always with a nod to her hometown.
She worked in Marketing for many years as a qualified Marketeer which she loved as it tapped into her creative side. As an avid reader, she began to review the books she read, became a book blogger and eventually plucked up the courage to fulfil her life long dream of writing a book.
For four years she was a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s new writers’ scheme, during which time she wrote a book a year. After signing a two book deal with Orion Dash in 2020 she graduated to full member of the organisation and is also their Press Officer.
She loves long walks along the river, travelling to far flung places and spending time with her friends and family.
You can follow her on
twitter @annettehannah
http://www.sincerelybookangels.blogspot.com
www.annettehannah.com
Thank you for dropping by to talk to us, Annette. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas.
Karen King – Writing about the light and dark of relationships.
Amazon Author Page: https://tinyurl.com/y2q5audb
Website: https://karenkingauthor.com/
Karen King: Author 