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Anne Greene: My Best Christmas and Giveaway

12/18/2011

 

This week we welcome back Anne Greene to Author Memories.

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ANNE GREENE delights in writing about wounded heroes and gutsy heroines. She writes both historical and suspense novels. After falling in love with several countries and their people, Anne set a number of her books in exotic locations. She and her hero husband, Army Special Forces Colonel Larry Greene, have visited twenty-five countries, including three communist countries. When she’s not deployed with her husband, Anne makes her home in McKinney, Texas. Two of her four children live nearby. Tim LaHaye led her to the Lord when she was twenty-one and Chuck Swindoll is her Pastor.

My Best Christmas
by Anne Greene

Do you have one Christmas that stands out in your mind? I’d love to say that my best memory of Christmas was one in which I did the giving. But it wasn’t. I was ten years old and thought I was quite the grown-up.

Though we always had enough to eat, had a roof over our heads, and sufficient clothing, my family was poor. So, Christmas for me consisted of too much anticipation before the grand day, but then pretty much disappointment the morning of.

That particular Christmas time I’d played in the snow, sang the Christmas carols our small town played throughout our downtown area in snowy Ohio. Spent my meager savings on gifts for my family members, and counted down the hours until Christmas morning. Though I knew Christmas for us wouldn’t amount to much, I loved the season. Though I wasn’t a Christian and didn’t know the real meaning of Christmas, I loved the idea of a Child born in a stable and laid in a manger. The whole idea sent my imagination soaring.

But that Christmas a whole new world opened for me. My older sister and I rushed down the stairs. There weren’t a lot of presents scattered at the base of the lighted tree and each present looked similar in size and shape. So, the initial glance didn’t seem too promising. We always took our time opening gifts, carefully unwrapping and saving the paper for the following year. We savored each gift, making the experience last.  
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I opened the first present, and it was a book. Just the right color (blue), just the right size, and ummn just the right smell. Excitement mounted inside as my sister and I discovered each gift was another book in the series. I literally jumped for joy. I’d never heard of Nancy Drew, but those books looked too good to be true. I spent many hours reading and rereading those books. And Christmas continued through the year because my mother took me to visit a tiny book store. Halfway up the stairs to the Book Nook I could smell the enticing odor of fresh print on pages. Then there were tables and shelves with stacks of books to browse through. That year, every spare cent I earned took me back to that magic wonderland.

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So, why the picture of a Grandfather clock? My favorite Nancy Drew mystery was The Mystery of the Old Clock. Children today don’t seem to be as interested in Nancy Drew mysteries, but back then I had no cell phone, no computer, no video games, and life was simpler. We had family, we had love, and we had the whole, wide world of books.

And, I didn’t discover the real meaning of Christmas until I was twenty-one. But that’s something I’ll have to tell you about at another time. For now, find yourself a book you’ve always loved, a treasured companion, curl up in a chair by a roaring fire and experience another world.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY!
Leave a comment with a valid email address by midnight, Dec 25th
to be entered to win a copy of Anne's giveaway, a free download of her ebook,
A Texas Christmas Mystery. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Texas Christmas Mystery, White Rose Publishing, available now.

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A lady Coastguardsman searches for a killer.

An oil rig troubleshooter accused of murder races to clear his name.

 The murderer strives to silence them both.

As Amber Meredith seeks to arrest Derrick Darbonne, sparks fly. She needs to solve her first case. But the handsome Cajun suspect makes her heart race and her toes tingle. Derrick has worked all his life for his high-paying, adventurous job. When his past threatens his future, will he endanger the woman he loves?

Read an Excerpt
Read The Gift, Anne's previous visit to Author Memories.

Read Anita Mae's Book Review for her thoughts on Masquerade Marriage,
Anne's award-winning Scottish historical romance which was a direct result of  
Anne and her hero husband, Army Special Forces Colonel Larry Greene's visit to Scotland - only one twenty-five countries they have visited.

A Christmas Texas Mystery is available as a downloadable ebook.

Masquerade Marriage is available as an ebook or a print copy.
 
Both are availabe at www.whiterosepublishing.com   


To learn more about Anne Greene and view pictures
from her extensive travel, visit her at
 
www.AnneGreeneAuthor.com 
Daphne Webb link
12/18/2011 12:55:55 pm

I remember the Nancy Drew books. Although I didn't have to older versions, I did have the ones printed in the 80's. I wish I could remember the title of my favorite one, but I wore those paperbacks out to the point they literally fell apart. I do remember it was where Nancy and her friends went to a ski lodge, while there, they had to solve a murder.
The Hardy Boys were another series I loved. I did find a few of the imprints (80's again) for my oldest son a few years ago. Those are seriously hard books to find.
Nowadays, the stories have changed to incorporate "product placement" and the characters highlight the "vileness" of mean girls, showing the youth today that it's a good thing (such as the recent Sweet Valley High series--a far cry from the ones I read while in junior high).
I miss those old books.
I still try to find a few, but it gets increasingly harder each year.

Anne Greene link
12/21/2011 10:38:45 am

Daphne, I have found the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books at Sams Club. I loved the Hardy Boys too. Memories are cool aren't they?

Jude Urbanski link
12/18/2011 02:14:09 pm

Anita and Anne,
Thanks for this blog. Can't put a finger on my best Christmas. I grew up with all those old and wonderful books! Anne, am glad you came to know the reason for the season. enjoyed meeting you at conference

Anne Greene link
12/21/2011 10:40:55 am

Hi Jude, I really enjoyed meeting you too. Don't you love Anita's site? I really enjoy all these memories. You probably had lots of really great Christmases.

Susan Karsten link
12/18/2011 11:39:24 pm

Love the graphics, the cover, the memories! Would love to win. Blessins

Anne Greene link
12/21/2011 10:43:29 am

Hi Susan. I love the graphics too. My dh and I photoed our clock then photoshopped it into a more interesting background that we found in our quaint downtown of McKinney, Texas. Anita supplied the book photo. Works great!

Diane Kalas
12/19/2011 01:36:27 am

I read Masquerade Marriage just recently, and thoroughly enjoyed the characters, the storyline, and the setting. Since I'm a first generation American, from 100% Scottish people, I grew up hearing that burr. Anne was spot on with Brody's dialogue.
The Scots are some of the kindest, most caring, and generous humans on the earth. Anne did a fantastic job writing a believable story with fascinating characters. I will look for future books by Anne and know I won't be disappointed. Even the cover was perfect. I love a good book, well written. May 2012 bring more success to Anne. God bless.

Anne Greene link
12/21/2011 10:46:33 am

Hi Diane, if you win the new book I think you'll love it too. Yes, Scots are wonderful people, though I'm half Scot myself, I do admit it. I hope you have the opportunity to visit Scotland one day. It's a trip you'll never forget. I have some pictures on my website. And thanks for your blessing.

LoRee Peery link
12/19/2011 07:46:12 am

Enjoyed all aspects of your post, Anne. My world opened up at age 10 as well. We moved into town off the farm and I spent that summer walking to and from the "city" library. I had already devoured every Pollyanna and the few classics on our one-room country school shelves.

Anne Greene link
12/21/2011 10:48:47 am

Right, LoRee. I rode my bike to our town's library, especially in the summer and read four to six books a week. Read all the fiction books in the library. Best education I ever had.You'll have to write about your one-room school. Sounds cool.

Katy Lee
12/19/2011 09:07:22 am

Great "meeting" you! Very nice post and great cover!

Anne Greene link
12/21/2011 10:49:44 am

Hi Katy, It's good to meet you too. Thanks for the nice words.

Suzanne link
12/20/2011 03:09:18 am

This sounds like such an interesting book. I'd love to win it.
Suzanne :O)
shartmann5(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anne Greene link
12/21/2011 10:51:03 am

Hi Suzanne, I hope you win. I'd love to send a book to each of you, but that's not possible. Blessings,

Anita Mae
12/20/2011 05:01:41 am

Welcome back, Anne. So glad you could return with your newest release. I agree, it's a great cover and I really enjoy your writing, too.

You're welcome, Jude. Sometimes picking the best of something is really hard when you liked them all, or didn't like any, although I don't want to think it's the latter.

LoRee - I moved from the city to the country at aged 10 and for the first time I had my own space. It was an old wooden grain bin that had been used for storage. Our parents cleaned it out and turned it into a playhouse with a big old comfy chair and small set of bookshelves. There wasn't any glass in the one window and the door didn't close properly, but that was were I spent the majority of my free time. I'm not sure why my 3 siblings didn't like it - maybe they didn't like the chicken coop or pig pen as neighbours, but I loved it! The perfect place to read. :)

Anne Greene link
12/21/2011 10:54:25 am

Your space sounds wonderful. I envision a chicken coop with lovely hens sitting in warm, feathery nests laying eggs. Once when I visited my grandmother I had the opportunity to gather eggs. I was only six or seven, but I'll never forget that lovely experience. I was a "city" girl---in reality a small Ohio farm town. Good to visit with you Anita!

Melanie
12/21/2011 12:15:58 pm

I also loved reading "Nancy Drew Mysteries"! Would love to be entered in this giveaway! Merry Christmas!

frequentreader19 (at) gmail (dot) com

Rebecca H
12/21/2011 12:53:40 pm

Oh this looks like a great book. I would love to win this. Thank you so much for the chance. I would enjoy reading this. Thanks again.

agent_beckster(at)yahoo(dot)com

Jo
12/22/2011 12:16:35 am

I remember reading Nancy Drew books back in the late 50's and early 60's and loving them. I had quite the collection of them and couldn't wait until the new ones came out. I have even though about seeing if I could find the original ones now and buying them again.

karenk
12/22/2011 07:15:59 am

merry christmas, ladies....
thanks for the chance to read this wonderful holiday story :)

Cheryl Barker link
12/22/2011 03:26:59 pm

I would love to be entered in the giveaway. Love a good Christmas book! :)

Evangeline link
12/22/2011 11:19:18 pm

Thanks for the giveaway! Have a merry Christmas!

writer.chicka[at]gmail.com

Angie Adair
12/25/2011 07:26:02 am

Merry Christmas!

Rick Estep
12/25/2011 07:31:17 am

Always love a good mystery.

Anita Mae
12/26/2011 04:43:37 am

I hope you all had a blessed Christmas yesterday or whenever you are celebrating Jesus' birthday. I really appreciate everyone who took time to leave a comment in the midst of all the harried preparations.

All names have been thrown into a hat and with the help of random.org, the winner of Anne Greene's free download of A Texas Christmas Mystery is...

Susan Karsten!

Congrats, Susan. Your patience finally paid off! :D

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope you take a minute to stop by this week's guest - author Merrillee Whren who has posted 3 handed-down family recipes.

And thank you, Anne, for your giveaway as well as your nostalgic post. I love reading about others finding books under their tree. :)

Anne Greene link
12/27/2011 03:49:01 am

Thank you, Anita. It was great fun visiting with all my old friends and all my new ones.

psp parts link
4/27/2012 05:48:28 pm

I enjoy the particular artwork as well. My own dh and i also photoed our own time after that photoshopped this right into a much more intriguing qualifications that individuals present in the charming the downtown area associated with McKinney,

Ranks of the army link
5/22/2013 06:34:29 pm

I collected a lot of interesting things in your blog especially its discussion.


Comments are closed.
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