This time of year, Christmas-themed novellas account for many of the new releases. Sometimes they’re all alone. Sometimes they’re part of an anthology with anywhere from 4 to 20 other titles. They’re obviously popular with readers. But WHY are Christmas Novellas ADORED by readers?
I suggest 15 top reasons why, and several readers added to my list. Now it’s quite complete!
I’m pleased to share a scene from the middle of The Drifter’s Proposal in its entirety. I refer to this as the “cherry pie” scene.
Many reasons contribute to our immigrant ancestors’ penchant for pie-baking. Simple, honest, historic ingredients. Traditions of European countries. Affordability. And many more.
I had the superior benefit of a mother-in-law who’s a skilled baker and taught me the mysteries of pie crust nearly thirty years ago. I’ve slowly refined my methods, skills, and comprehension of how to make the best pastry. While researching and writing The Drifter’s Proposal I stumbled across a vintage pie crust recipe that fully changed everything I’d previously believed about pie crust.
OK… not quite everything. But this recipe impressed me. It’s flaky, tender, easy to work with, and yields a spectacular taste and presentation.
At the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Charles Louis Fleishmann offered pieces of freshly baked bread made with the world’s very first commercially prepared yeast from an exhibit modeled after a Vienna Bakery. An increase demand for Fleischmann’s yeast soon followed, bringing about the building of Fleischmann plants in New York. In this article, I share five key concepts about 19th century bread baking that stood out as surprising key concepts–and I’m a bread baker…so finding myself caught off guard by such research was really something.
This article shares the entire opening scene of my new release: The Drifter’s Proposal.
