Winter is a wonderful time to catch up on reading. This is because bad weather regularly strands us at home. Even when it doesn’t, the roads are icy, all the shopping centers are mobbed, and sometimes the only way to get to the car is by shovel.
There is a lot at home to avoid, too: all those gifts waiting to be wrapped, goodies that have to be baked, and the holiday songs that must be rehearsed before the next party. From year to year I forget what I’m supposed to sing for the last six verses of The Twelve Days of Christmas. I’m serious; by the time I reach five golden rings, I start making it up as I go along (it’s ten ladies whining, right?)
There’s also nothing to watch on television but holiday specials, reruns, or those beloved classic films that some channels insist on playing in marathon fashion. I don’t know about you, but 24 hours of nothing but A Christmas Story seems to lose its charm by the third consecutive showing.
Even when we do have to go out, we must first dress appropriately, which means layering on the thermal underwear, warm clothes, heavy coats, scarves, hats, gloves . . . all of which make us look like we should be hovering over a parade float instead of getting the mail or walking the dogs. I’m not too proud to admit that now and then during the coldest days I’ve gotten in the car and cranked up the heat so I can drive down to the mailbox. We have a really long driveway. I’ve never measured it, but in winter it feels like ten miles one way.
Reading, on the other hand, is something I can do curled up in my favorite armchair with a quilt and a mug of hot chocolate. It’s a cozy, relaxing way to spend a couple of hours, the dogs love cuddle up with me and my book, and it doesn’t require a frost scraper, multiple applications of Chapstick, or trying to remember the correct order of things my true love gave to me (maybe it’s ten writers writing. Or if it isn’t, it should be.)
So if we’re all agreed that the best thing to do during the long, cold winters is to read, I will mention that my latest novel, Nightbred, is being released on December 4th. Nightbred tells the story of Chris Lang, a young woman who has been working nonstop for the past three years in order to attain the rank of tresora, the most trusted of the Kyn’s human allies. Becoming a tresora is the only way that Chris can spend her life with Jamys Durand, the Kyn warrior she secretly loves.
Jamys Durand has also endured some horrible ordeals, but nothing has made him despair as much as falling in love with Chris. Even if they could find a way to be together, he has nothing to offer her but his heart. That’s why Jamys comes to the stronghold where Chris works, in search of a lost and very dangerous ancient treasure rumored to be hidden nearby. Jamys will stop at nothing to find it and use it to provide a future for him and his lady.
Chris and Jamys are soon working together to track down the lost treasure, and in time they discover their feelings for each other run much deeper and wilder than either of them had ever imagined. What they don’t know is that another immortal is on the hunt, too; one who has a terrifying power over humans and other Kyn. For this hidden enemy once owned the priceless treasure and will do whatever it takes to steal it — and Chris — from Jamys.
Nightbred is the second book in my Lords of the Darkyn trilogy, and while I’m probably biased, I think it will make a wonderful read for the holidays. It offers a terrific cast of characters, plenty of romance and adventure, and a few things you might not expect (like pirates.) Add Nightbred to your pile of winter reads, and prepare to be whisked away to a tropical paradise of beautiful beaches, dangerous loves, gorgeous deserted islands and absolutely no frost, ice or snow storms whatsoever.
[Ed. Lynn is giving away a gift tote crammed full of goodies – signed paperback copies of Nightborn and Nightbred, a limited edition beaded Bookloop, an unsigned trade paperback copy of Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen (one of her favorite authors to read during long cold winter nights), a Corelle bamboo mug, packets of hot cocoa mix in five different, luscious flavors and a box of Walker’s shortbread. The tote is one Lynn made herself; she’s been experimenting with holographic thread and she quilted the entire piece with it. There’s a hand-dyed silk ribbon with some abalone shell accents, and the effect of the fabric and the thread makes it look a bit like the ribbon is floating on water. So be sure to leave a meaningful comment or question for Lynn to perhaps have this terrific prize sent your way!]
Tammy, that’s an excellent question. I live in the country, so generally my life is busy but peaceful, but when things grow chaotic I think I might channel some of it into my characters. This past week we moved all the furniture in our house to have the carpets cleaned, combined that with our pre-holiday cleaning and then changed around three rooms so we have space for extra guests this Thanksgiving. While writing in the midst of that I had my protagonist in two fights and a confrontation with the police. Yesterday she got knocked off a bridge. 🙂
Hi Crystal, lovely to see you here. Hope you have lots of good books to read this winter. 🙂
Jessica, that’s quite a change. I know what you mean about saving books, too, but it’s hard to resist reads you know are going to be great. The other night while I was out running errands I stopped by BAM and picked up Rogue Rider by Larissa Ione — I was going to save it for December, but I took a peek at the first chapter and now I have to hide it or I’ll never get anything done.
Chinyere, to answer your questions: Jema and Thierry make a cameo appearance in Nightbred, although just in the beginning. Lucan and Sam are part of the story in Nightbred so they are much more present in the book. As for writing a book about John Keller, because the publisher feels his character is not really mass market hero material I couldn’t sell a novel featuring him as a protagonist. Also, as I’m sure you know the industry is always very competitive, and my primary focus has to be writing what I can sell so I can keep doing this. I never rule out anything, so if readers collectively want more Darkyn books there’s a possibility I could include John as a character in a future novel. Nightborn did very well, and if Nightbred sells even better more Kyn books will definitely be something I discuss with my publisher next spring.
Leslee, thank you, you just reminded me to put Goodwill on my errands list tomorrow. Every fall I clean out our closets and collect clothes, coats and hats that my kids have outgrown, and there’s still a big bag of them waiting in the garage. 🙂
Thanks, Pam. I just finished another quilted tote project today that came out rather well; you can see some pics of it here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lynnviehl/sets/72157632028867644/
June, I think we all want to come over to your house to read now. 🙂
I don’t know how you do it all, Lynn, you’re incredibly inspirational. 🙂 Your quilted pieces are so beautiful! Happy holidays to you and yours. 🙂
My secret is that I stopped watching television a long time ago, Cricket. That gives me a lot of time each night to sew, read and otherwise get into creative messes. It’s also a wonderful way to unwind after a long day — there’s something very soothing about sewing that seems to settle me down and unravel all my frustrations. 🙂 I hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday season, too.
wow great prize. I’d seriously need to catch up on your books. I have the one before these two and this would be a great excuse to catch up. I don’t have as much cold and snow as where your at but we have lots of cool weather.
I read the first book in your kyn series and enjoyed it immensely. Sometimes when it’s dark and cold, I want the comfort (and safety) of re-read.
Really looking forward to Jamys and Chris’s story. I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for the more unconventional H/h. Or at least I do recall my search for books with characters that were blind, mute, or physical impaired somehow. Either way, can’t wait to see how their story unfolds.
For me, when it starts getting cold, I always find it bizarre when my house is sometimes colder than outside. I’m all bundled up inside (Curse you heating bill! I will not turn you up any further!) only to find that it’s relatively nice outside…
(The prizes seem really nice! Bamboo mug? Hot chocolate? Handmade tote bags? Books?! Be still my heart.)
I love the holidays, but I’m so depressed about the consumerism that’s rampant this year. Radio, tv, email even….argh!
Since I should be finishing The Twelve up by Turkey day, I think it’ll be a great time to curl up with some Godiva hot cocoa, my favorite spoiled doggy, a comfy chenille blanket and Evermore for my yearly reread. 🙂 Yay.
I can’t wait to read about Jamys and Chris and what you do with them! I’ve been intrigued by their characters since their first appearance. Living in Arizona, I think the lack of fall (or rather, scarcity of leaf-dropping trees) is what I envy most about other seasons. Snow and ice, especially the thought of DRIVING in them….*shudder* It freaks me right out. We get ginormous sandstorms but most people just try not to go out in them when they’re happening. Even though it doesn’t get that cold, i love reading in the winter. There is something so cozy about curling up on the couch with a blanket and a book, it one of the best feelings in the world!
Congrats on the release! Sounds like a great winter read. Cant wait to get my hands on it.
Who won? 🙂
any winners?