Preparing for the Season by Patricia Kiyono

Today we welcome Patricia Kiyono.

In a previous life, Patricia Kiyono taught elementary school students by day and changed diapers at night. Now she teaches college students part time and changes diapers only when she's taking care of grandkids. She loves to do anything that doesn't involve exercise. Right now her favorite activities, other than writing, include scrapbooking, sewing, and making music. She and her husband live in southwest Michigan, near their five children and nine grandchildren.

Preparing for the Season

By Patricia Kiyono, author of Christmas Wishes

As I'm writing this post, my kitchen table is littered with pieces of half-started projects. My Christmas card envelopes have been addressed, but are awaiting stamps and the completion of our annual Family Christmas Letter with all the highlights of 2013. I have piles of promotional materials to mail out to winners of an online giveaway last night. And I've got recipes for Christmas cookies, waiting for me to decide which ones to make. I've got to bring four dozen cookies to an exchange next week!

Though the preparations for the holidays are hectic, I love them. The anticipation is an important part of the season. I look forward to having all my children and grandchildren here, along with their spouses. I love having a house filled with laughter and companionship, special gifts given and received. This is what I think about as I go through the motions of getting things ready for the big day.

The same sense of anticipation applies to the Advent season. We look forward to celebrating the birth of our Savior. And part of that celebration includes pageants presented in schools and churches around the world. Christmas Wishes describes Sophie Gardner's trials as she prepares her little charges for their celebration. 

Blurb:

Photographer Mitch Carson is tired of big city life. He just wants to settle down in a quiet town with his daughter, Angie. Even that doesn't quell his fear of losing his daughter to his scheming mother-in-law.

Sophie Gardner wants to be a screenwriter. She's ready to leave small town Zutphen, Michigan and go to Hollywood. With a theater degree under her belt, she's busy writing scripts while helping out her sister Joanie, who's bedridden with a difficult pregnancy. Unfortunately, Joanie has somehow coerced Sophie into directing the Christmas pageant at Zutphen Community Church.

When Sophie and Mitch meet, the attraction is instant and mutual. But each wants what the other is trying to get away from. Can they deny their feelings and pursue their dreams? Or will the holiday prove to them that their true wishes might not be what they'd thought?

Christmas Wishes can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other ebook outlets. 

Patricia Kiyono can be found at her website, blog, facebook, Amazon, and twitter @PatriciaKiyono

Thanks for joining us today, Patricia.

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Blessings,