JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: It’s four days to Christmas. Three more shopping days. Last working day (but your kids are off from school! Fun!) Let’s face it, if there was a flashing-red-alarm Super Busiest Day of the Year, it would be Friday, the 22nd of December. What better time for a fast and festive five? Ready, Reds?
1. What holiday song/carol would you pay good money to NEVER have to hear again?
That God-awful faux-Italian one about the Christmas donkey. I swear, my kids will sing it acapella in the car just to drive me mad.
2. Egg Nog, Hot Rum Toddy, or cranberry-themed cocktail?
Hot Rum Toddy, or, even better, the Kazakhstani Health Drink - one ounce vodka, a generous squeeze of fresh lemon, fill the mug with boiling water. Cures what ails you!
3. You haven’t gotten all (or any…) of your cards out yet! Do you send them for New Year’s, or shrug and say, “Eh, they’ll still be good in December 2024.”
What are these ‘Christmas cards’ I hear tell of?
4. Those hundreds of “end of the year” roundups, best-of lists, and compilations - love ‘em or hate ‘em?
By the time I reach the end of a given year, I have NO desire to go back over it - especially the idiotic political moments or bizarre Tik Tok trends. I do read all the best books lists, then feel put out when mine isn’t there. Yes, I know I haven’t published a book this year. Still.
5. You’ve been SO GOOD, Santa is bringing you anything you want this year. What are you going to find in your stocking Christmas morning?
The finished manuscript of AT MIDNIGHT COMES THE CRY! Thanks, Santa!
1. What holiday song/carol would you pay good money to NEVER have to hear again?
No contest with ‘I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus’!!
2. Egg Nog, Hot Rum Toddy, or cranberry-themed cocktail?
I’ll try the cranberry cocktail this time please:)
3. You haven’t gotten all (or any…) of your cards out yet! Do you send them for New Year’s, or shrug and say, “Eh, they’ll still be good in December 2024.”
Valentine’s Day is fine too, Julia. There’s no competition and people are hungry for news…
4. Those hundreds of “end of the year” roundups, best-of lists, and compilations - love ‘em or hate ‘em?
I don’t want news round ups either, but I do enjoy the best items for cooks and foodies…
5. You’ve been SO GOOD, Santa is bringing you anything you want this year. What are you going to find in your stocking Christmas morning?
Oh Julia, if we’re going for fantasy, I’ll take 100 pages in Key West mystery #15 please!
1. What holiday song/carol would you pay good money to NEVER have to hear again?
Holly Jolly Christmas. Argh, now I am singing it. (Which requires the necessary antidote–did you know the cure for earworms is to sing Jingle Bell Rock? I have no idea how or why it works–maybe it’s a double negative thing. The black hole of annoying music.)
2. Egg Nog, Hot Rum Toddy, or cranberry-themed cocktail?
I have never had egg nog in my life, or a rum hot toddy, and will never. Cosmos, yes, sold.
3. You haven’t gotten all (or any…) of your cards out yet! Do you send them for New Year’s, or shrug and say, “Eh, they’ll still be good in December 2024.”
It’s the holiday when I say it is.
4. Those hundreds of “end of the year” roundups, best-of lists, and compilations - love ‘em or hate ‘em?
I kinda love them. And yes, delighted when I am on them, and superly bitter when not. I should leave them alone.
5. You’ve been SO GOOD, Santa is bringing you anything you want this year. What are you going to find in your stocking Christmas morning?
If we can skip world peace and the banishment of stupidity, I’d love the last fabulous 10,000 words of the manuscript that I honestly just BLEW UP and am having to rearrange completely and it’ll be fine SOMEDAY and, Dear Santa, I can only hope that day comes soon enough. Since my deadline is a month away, just saying.
1. What holiday song/carol would you pay good money to NEVER have to hear again?
Christmas Don’t Be Late by the Chipmunks. TWEEEE. Also sick and tired of the little drummer boy. Pa rum pum pum pum.
2. Egg Nog, Hot Rum Toddy, or cranberry-themed cocktail?
Mmmm they all sound good. Let’s have a hot rum toddy.
3. You haven’t gotten all (or any…) of your cards out yet! Do you send them for New Year’s, or shrug and say, “Eh, they’ll still be good in December 2024.”
Both. Especially when I GET cards from friends I wasn’t expecting to hear from, those go out after Christmas.
4. Those hundreds of “end of the year” roundups, best-of lists, and compilations - love ‘em or hate ‘em?
I love them! Especially for movies and tv shows and books. But it’s more than a bit overwhelming.
5. You’ve been SO GOOD, Santa is bringing you anything you want this year. What are you going to find in your stocking Christmas morning?
A really good proposal for my next book. Thank you, Santa!
1. What holiday song/carol would you pay good money to NEVER have to hear again?
All I want for Christmas is You!
2. Egg Nog, Hot Rum Toddy, or cranberry-themed cocktail?
Yuk to Egg Nog. Hot rum toddy sounds good
3. You haven’t gotten all (or any…) of your cards out yet! Do you send them for New Year’s, or shrug and say, “Eh, they’ll still be good in December 2024.”
Mine were all sent out a couple of weeks ago. We have so many family and friends across the world it’s important to stay in touch with them
4. Those hundreds of “end of the year” roundups, best-of lists, and compilations - love ‘em or hate ‘em?
Only if I’m on the lists. Then I love ‘em.
But truthfully I don’t usually read them
5. You’ve been SO GOOD, Santa is bringing you anything you want this year. What are you going to find in your stocking Christmas morning?
A new knee. Already in place and operating well without any of the discomfort
1. What holiday song/carol would you pay good money to NEVER have to hear again?
If I had to choose probably Santa Baby. It grates.
2. Egg Nog, Hot Rum Toddy, or cranberry-themed cocktail?
Cranberry themed - preferably with vanilla vodka and on the rocks - hey, it’s 72 degrees here.
3. You haven’t gotten all (or any…) of your cards out yet! Do you send them for New Year’s, or shrug and say, “Eh, they’ll still be good in December 2024.”
I quit cards (see previous de-tradition/what I’m no longer doing post).
4. Those hundreds of “end of the year” roundups, best-of lists, and compilations - love ‘em or hate ‘em?
Meh. I never agree with the best of and the who died lists make me sad. Hard pass.
5. You’ve been SO GOOD, Santa is bringing you anything you want this year. What are you going to find in your stocking Christmas morning?
An all-expense paid vacation to anywhere. Seriously. I would happily go anywhere if I could just have seven days straight of no work. Not that I mind work, clearly, but I could just use a respite. A little one.
1. What holiday song/carol would you pay good money to NEVER have to hear again?
Ugh. Tie between Little Drummer Boy and Santa Baby.
2. Egg Nog, Hot Rum Toddy, or cranberry-themed cocktail?
I’ll go with the Cosmo, thanks very much!
3. You haven’t gotten all (or any…) of your cards out yet! Do you send them for New Year’s, or shrug and say, “Eh, they’ll still be good in December 2024.”
I have boxes of cards out on my kitchen island that are probably ten years old. Maybe in December ‘24 I’ll actually get some sent.
4. Those hundreds of “end of the year” roundups, best-of lists, and compilations - love ‘em or hate ‘em?
Mostly, meh. It’s almost always books I haven’t read and films I haven’t seen.
5. You’ve been SO GOOD, Santa is bringing you anything you want this year. What are you going to find in your stocking Christmas morning?
I’ll take the new knee AND a finished manuscript!!
JULIA: You know how it works, dear readers! Copy the questions below and share you answers in the comments!
1. What holiday song/carol would you pay good money to NEVER have to hear again?
2. Egg Nog, Hot Rum Toddy, or cranberry-themed cocktail?
3. You haven’t gotten all (or any…) of your cards out yet! Do you send them for New Year’s, or shrug and say, “Eh, they’ll still be good in December 2024.”
4. Those hundreds of “end of the year” roundups, best-of lists, and compilations - love ‘em or hate ‘em?
5. You’ve been SO GOOD, Santa is bringing you anything you want this year. What are you going to find in your stocking Christmas morning?
