Monday, December 21, 2009

Celebrating the holidays with author Kelley Heckert



Winter Solstice



Winter Solstice (December 21 in the Northern Hemisphere and June 20 in the Southern Hemisphere) is the shortest day of the year and was also celebrated as Midwinter, Yule and later as Christmas.

Ancient people celebrated the shortest day, knowing and hoping that in a matter of weeks the sun would rise earlier, bringing back the light and banishing the cold, harsh winter. They celebrated with holly, ivy, pine boughs, lighted trees (candles), warm beer and spiced wine drinks (wassail), roasted pigs, large Yule logs, songs and gifts. The traditions are still celebrated all over the world.

I can imagine how the ancients felt when they extinguished the fires, relighting them to celebrate the return of the sun. The bleak reaped fields would soon ripple with endless golden wheat. The herds of cattle would soon swell with life, udders engorged with sweet milk for butter and cheese. Life would soon return to the earth.

It is no wonder they celebrated with such merriment on Winter Solstice.

Here in the United States most people celebrate Christmas using some of the traditions of Winter Solstice. For me, this is a time to spend with family and friends, a time for sharing and a time for reflection. Each December I look forward to the end of winter and the beginning of a new season. Every ending is a beginning.

How do you spend Christmas and/or what are your fondest memories?

My latest release is a short, sweet, contemporary/paranormal romance called A Winter Solstice Kiss, which is part of the Winter Kisses anthology from Noble Romance.

Noble Romance Publishing http://www.nobleromance.com/

Blurb: When Brianna decides to attend the Winter Solstice masquerade ball, she never thought she would end up kissing a handsome knight beneath the mistletoe, but they part without exchanging names and phone numbers--how will they find each other again?

Excerpt:

She followed his gaze to mistletoe hanging from the low ceiling, glimmering with a tempting glow. Her breath caught in her throat. Captivated by his nearness, she imagined those masculine lips touching her. "I . . . ." Her feet froze to the floor. He had the most amazing blue eyes.

"It's tradition," he said, dipping his head and pressing a kiss to her trembling lips.

She couldn't move her mouth at first, allowing his lips to capture her mouth in a thrilling crush. His forceful yet tender kiss awakened something inside her. She forgot who she was or that she was allowing a stranger's lips to caress her. Her head spinning, she surrendered to him.

His hand cradled the back of her head and she was aware of the slight scratch of stubble tickling her face. The kiss grew more passionate and she almost dropped her cup, the only thing keeping their bodies from touching.

The heat from his skin sent a flush to every part of her body. Her breasts heaved and tingled. Excitement spread through the rest of her body, quickening her pulse. She wanted to stay there in his embrace, feeling a man's lips giving her so much pleasure again.

"Okay guys, get a room already." A reveler laughed and ducked into the bathroom.

She stepped away from the stranger, the magical moment broken. Blushing, she avoided eye contact with him.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Kelley Heckart

'Timeless tales of romance, conflict & magic'

http://www.kelleyheckart.com/

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

http://www.goodreads.com/kheckart

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

http://www.myspace.com/phantomqueen3

My book page at Awe-Struck

http://www.king-cart.com/Awe-Struck/category=Kelley+Heckart/exact_match=exact

3 comments:

DawnsReadingNook said...

Hi Kelley and thanks for coming by my blog. I love the post and the sneak peek is awesome. Congrats. on the new story.

Dawn

Kelley Heckart said...

Hi Dawn,
Thanks for having me as a guest blogger today.

Kelley

Stacey Smith said...

looks like a cute story.congrat on your new books.Happy Holidays
sasluvbooks(at)yahoo.com

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