THE CHRISTMAS VILLAGE BY MELISSA ANN GOODWIN

2012-02-13T15:35:00.000-08:00

One of the nicest things that has happened to me in a while is the unsolicited, unexpected and absolutely wonderful review of my book, The Christmas Village by Ann Carbine Best. Ann is the author of the brilliant memoir, In the Mirror, and a well-known blogger. Unbeknownst to me, she read my book, and then let me know that she liked it so much that she was going to highlight it on her blog.

What I love most is when someone "gets" exactly what I hoped for when I wrote the book. It makes me feel like jumping up and down and clapping my hands like a little kid. If you've been curious about my book, take a hop over to Ann's blog and read what she has to say.

And while you're there, check out her book, In The Mirror, which continues to get rave reviews.

CONTACT ME FOR CLASSROOM & LIBRARY VISITS, OR TO MEET WITH YOUR BOOK CLUB

2012-01-26T08:32:00.000-08:00

Starting in May of this year, my husband and I will be traveling all over the place in our brandy-new motorhome. It will be an exciting adventure that this little old homebody never imagined taking! Our initial route will take us east out of Santa Fe, NM to Texas, South Carolina and Virginia. Then we'll head up the coast with stops in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine, before spending most of the summer in Nova Scotia and Quebec, Canada. In the fall, we'll head back down with stops in upper New York state, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Florida.

I've got some classroom visits scheduled along the way and am open to booking more. There is no charge for my visits - my reward is being able to talk with kids about books and writing and where ideas come from, seeing the smiles on their faces - and yes, there is great exposure for The Christmas Village too.

I will donate at least one signed copy of The Christmas Village to any library or school library that hosts me for a visit or talk. I'd also love to meet and talk with bookclubs - adult or child-centric. I'd be happy to do a book giveaway at those too.

Please contact me through comments here on the blog, or by email at melissaanngoodwin@yahoo.com. I look forward to meeting you in real life! You can follow along on our RV adventure at my Writer on the Road Blog.

Sequel to The Christmas Village

2012-01-21T07:28:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's true! So many of you said that you hoped I would write a sequel to The Christmas Village and that's what I'm doing! It will take time - I can't tell you how long, but my hope is to finish it this year. I want it to be as good - no, wait, better than - the original, so I'll take as much time as I need to make sure it is!

You can read a bit more about this over at my Writer on the Road blog. In the meantime, tell your friends to read The Christmas Village so they'll be ready for the sequel!

Thank you for all the kind words and good wishes you've sent my way. I'm eternally grateful, and look forward to making you smile when you visit again with all our friends from The Christmas Village.

In the meantime, HAPPY READING!
Melissa

What Kids Are Saying About The Christmas Village

2012-01-06T07:37:00.000-08:00

Here are just a few of the delightful letters I've received from children about The Christmas Village:

I am in the 3rd grade. My mother just bought an autographed copy of "The Christmas Village". I couldn't stop reading it ! It was just hard to put down. Everyone in my family wants to read it. I think you should write Part Two! Thanks for writing a great book. From Pete

I just finished your book, The Christmas Village. It was an awesome book! I love your books and I hope you write another book. Sincerely, Andrew

I loved your book The Christmas Village. It was so funny that I could not stop reading it. Your book was amazing!
From Arnav

I loved The Christmas Village! It was so interesting and exciting that I wouldn't stop reading it until I finished the whole book! ... Everyone should read it because it is packed with action and like I said is so exciting. I think you had an amazing choice of your describing words.
Sincerely, Ava

I really like your book. Your ending I thought was really good. Jamie and Kelly are my favorite characters. From Maegan

Welcome to 2012

2012-01-03T16:18:00.000-08:00

Now that the holiday season is over, I'm ready to take a break from book promotion and get back to book writing! I've begun work on a new project ... SHHHHH! It's bad luck to talk about it. :-)

However, I am looking out through 2012 to classroom visits, readings, talks and book signings. Please contact me if you are interested in having me talk with students, book clubs, other child-centric groups, or do a reading/signing. While I may not always be able to travel to where you are, if a personal visit is not possible, there are still many other ways for us to connect. My contact information is further down the blog, over on the right hand side.
I wish you all a wonderful year in 2012. Happy Reading!

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T07:23:00.000-08:00

Wishing all my friends and readers

a very

Merry Christmas

and a

HappyNew Year!

May your days be filled friendship, laughter,

joy and good books!

The Best Christmas Present Ever!

2011-12-21T05:41:00.000-08:00

I received this wonderful note in my email the other day!

Dear Miss Goodwin,

My name is Peter and I am in the 3rd grade. My mother just bought an autographed copy of "The Christmas Village", because we read it in class. I couldn't stop reading it ! It was just hard to put down. Everyone in my family wants to read it. I think you should write Part Two ! I also think you should win an award for it. Thanks for writing a great book.

From Pete (age 9).

This, my friends, is why I write! Sure, I want you to buy my book - I really do! But the reason I want people to buy my book is so that it will find its way into the hands of children (and adults!) who will enjoy it as much as Pete.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and all the joys of the holiday! Your support for The Christmas Village, and this note from a 9-year-old boy, have certainly given me the Merriest of Christmases ever!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

AND

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

More Wonderful Reviews for The Christmas Village

2011-12-04T08:24:00.000-08:00

I'm both proud and humbled by the wonderful reviews The Christmas Village is getting on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and from bloggers all over the world! Two recent reviews come from bloggers Megan at A Storybook Love Affair (she's waaaay the heck over in Australia!) and Crystal at My Reading Room. Both these ladies did a wonderful job summarizing the story (without giving away any secrets!) and describing all the emotions that I hoped you'd feel when reading the book.

If you're looking for a book for your children that sends positive messages about family, friendship and forgiveness; if you're looking for a book that your whole family can enjoy at Christmas, year after year; if you love a good adventure wrapped up in a holiday package, then I think you'll enjoy The Christmas Village. I hope you'll give it a look and spread the word to your family and friends. It's available in print from Amazon and Barnes & Noble, in e-book for Kindle, and in all digital formats from Smashwords.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Book Signing in Andover, Massachusetts, November 12, 2011

2011-11-30T15:52:00.000-08:00

My book signing at the Andover Bookstore was a huge success! We had a great turnout, busy throughout the whole afternoon. The bookstore is such a great place - I used to stop in there after school and just look at all the beautiful books. You can see in the pictures that there is a working wood-burning fireplace flanked by comfy wingback chairs. It's an old-fashioned indie bookstore. Enjoy the pictures!

Reading at the Andover Bookstore

Happy with her purchase

Getting the book for her grandchildren

Chatting with a lovely lady

With my sister and my neices

Book Signing at the Santa Fe Children's Museum

2011-11-01T14:00:00.000-07:00

I'll be holding a book signing at the Santa Fe (NM) Children's Museum on Sunday, December 11, 2011, from 2 to 4pm. The museum will be holding a festive holiday weekend filled with fun events for the young and the young at heart.

I'll be donating a portion of the proceeds from my book sales that day. I'm so pleased to be able to share the joy of my book release with this very worthy cause - which also just happens to be a perfect fit!

Book Signing Party in Santa Fe, NM 10/29/11

2011-11-01T05:40:00.000-07:00

Enjoy some photographs from the book signing party for The Christmas Village, held at a private home in Santa Fe, New Mexico last Saturday. What a great time, and lots of books sold too!

That's me, in the center, with Alma and Maggy

Now we're getting to the good part!

So just how many books DO you want?

Three beautiful ladies: Cynthia, Ginna and Ali

Ja Soon says, "Buy more books!"

Even Ipo dressed in the spirit of the occasion.

You won't believe what happens next!

Mom and daughter, Linda and Eliza. Eliza was a "tween" story consultant on the book

Is that with a "y" or and "i"?

Watch THE CHRISTMAS VILLAGE Video Book Trailer Now!

2011-10-17T11:45:00.000-07:00

A HOLIDAY ADVENTURE THE WHOLE FAMILY WILL LOVE!

2011-10-06T15:00:00.000-07:00

BUY THE CHRISTMAS VILLAGE NOW! CLICK ON THE BOOK COVER TO GO TO AMAZON.COM

More About The Christmas Village

2011-10-01T18:02:00.001-07:00

When Jamie Reynolds comes to his grandparents' Vermont home for Christmas, he just wants things to go back to the way they were before his dad disappeared. Time and again he is drawn to Grandma's miniature Christmas Village, where he imagines that life is perfect. Late one night, the village comes to life before his eyes, and his fantasy of escaping into it becomes very real indeed.

Jamie discovers that the village is called Canterbury, where the year is 1932. He becomes fast friends with Kelly and Christopher Pennysworth, and is taken in by Ida, who runs the local boarding house. But he also makes a dangerous enemy of the mysterious and menacing Jim Gordon, whose return to town is nothing but trouble.

Jamie desperately races against time to find his way back home. But at the worst possible moment,he is faced with a terrifying choice: to go ahead with his plan to leave, or to stay and help his friends, at the risk of never going home again.

The Christmas Village is an adventure the whole family will love, filled with suspense, secrets and surprises to the very last page

Interview on The Christmas Spirit Blog & Book Giveaway!

2011-09-25T17:01:00.001-07:00

Michelle Miller generously offered to kick off the countdown to the release of The Christmas Village at her blog "The Christmas Spirit." Michelle loves all things Christmas, and she loves books, so you know she is a terrific person! She also writes a blog called "The True Book Addict."

Michelle asked me some great questions about the book and my writing process, as well as my writing motivation. And, if you leave a comment about the interview, you'll be entered into the giveaway for a signed copy of The Christmas Village. If you go to The Christmas Village Book Facebook page and LIKE it, you'll be entered for an extra chance to win!

Many thanks, Michelle for your generous spirit and kind heart.

I hope you'll pop over to Michelle's blog and leave a comment. Read the interview here: The Christmas Spirit Blog

Only a Few More Weeks Until The Christmas Village is Available!

2011-09-25T10:42:00.000-07:00

It won't be long now until The Christmas Village is available in paperback from Amazon.com and selected independent bookstores. I'll be listing those for you here on the site, along with the link to my Amazon.com page. Later, it will also be available as an e-book from Amazon.com, Createspace and Smashwords.

I'm very excited about my upcoming book signing events, and I'll keep those update for you too. So far, I'm looking forward to:

Santa Fe, New Mexico, Sat. October 29, 2011, Place & Time to be announced
Princeton Library, Princeton, MA: Fri. November 11, 2011, Time to be annuonced
Andover Book Store, Andover, MA: Sat., November 12, 2011, Noon to 5pm

Count Down

2011-08-24T11:01:00.000-07:00

Counting down the days now until I hold the first copy of The Christmas Village in my hands. What an exciting day that will be! We are very, very close - just waiting to give final approval on the illustrated cover. Soon I'll be able to tell you where you can buy The Christmas Village, and how to follow me on my Book Blog Tour this fall.

We could all use a little Christmas, right this very minute, and The Christmas Village will hit the bookshelves not a moment too soon!

On Schedule for late September release!

2011-08-18T08:56:00.000-07:00

Today I gave approval for the interior of The Christmas Village. I've submitted minor changes for the illustrated color cover, and expect to see that soon. When the cover is finalized, I'll be posting it here on the blog.

We are very much on track for a late September release! Stay tuned....

2011-07-25T10:29:00.001-07:00

The Christmas Village will be available in book and e-book in September 2011. Stay tuned for details!