It is with great pleasure that we introduce our guest author for today.
Robyn Carr has been a favorite of ours for quite a while now. We’re happy that she was able to come on by Book Binge once more and chat with us about what it is about Christmas stories that make them so special.
We hope you enjoy what Robyn has to say on the matter and without further adeu, Robyn Carr…
I’m not a particularly sentimental person and I’ve never been accused of being a religious person. But I cry when the Hallmark commercials start playing. There is such a magical combination of hope and optimism, of miracles and generosity of spirit.
In A Virgin River Christmas I get to weave my favorite yarn – a man who has fallen so low and lonely that the only place to go is up. A man whose heart is in so many pieces there are only two ways it can go – total devastation or a new lease on life. Of course, for something like that to happen, it’s helpful to have a very special woman, so it is Marcie Sullivan who challenges Ian Buchanan’s determination to live out his days lonely and miserable. And Marcie is a formidable opponent.
Every year my daughter and I have a series of Christmas movies we like to watch together. It’s A Wonderful Life is #1, and so is its lesson – that the whole world would be irreparably altered without the existence of a single person or that person’s smallest contribution. We all matter, and matter cosmically. And that, in my mind, embodies the promise and miracle of Christmas – an opportunity to embrace the serenity of love and hope, and so importantly a deep and authentic understanding of how life can be lived, how much can be gleaned. The characters of Ian and Marcie have to learn that lesson, and it’s a beautiful process.
In A Virgin River Christmas I wrote a sermon. Now, I have some early readers, trusted friends who will not hesitate to tell me everything that might be wrong with a manuscript before I even send it to my editor. In this case they were Kate, Michelle, Jamie and Denise, and then finally my great editor. To the last one they said, “You wrote a sermon!” I guess it was the last thing anyone expected, from me anyway. Well, rest easy – it certainly isn’t instructional. I make no pretense to know how every human being should believe. I wrote about the star in the east.
In the story of Christmas, the star was directional. It was meant as guidance. To this day there’s a great deal of conjecture as to whether it was an astronomical event or a Divine miracle, but as the story goes, it led the wise men and shepherds. It was a beacon to the hope of a better life. It was a gift of light, understanding and illumination.
That was the fulfilling message in A Virgin River Christmas that came to me through a troubled marine’s soul – a will to make a better life, to understand, to see the path bright and clear to a future that would hold hope rather than pain.
That the star was not in the sky, but in the heart.
Oh, this is so sweet. I love that your favorite kind of story is “a man who has fallen so low and lonely that the only place to go is up” and the woman who can help him. This sounds like a great book!
Hi Robyn. A Virgin River Christmas sounds wonderful. I love stories where the hero is broken.
I wish that picture was my house.
carolyn jean, you don’t–can you imagine clean up time after the New Year? (I can, my mother goes overboard like that…)
Hi, Ms Carr!
I have three of your books in my TBR mountain range… perhaps I should bow out of this one until I’ve read at least one? Hmmm… things to ponder…
😉
Welcome back to Book Binge, Robyn!
OMGosh, the Christmas tree scene at the end? *sigh* Sooo powerful.
Morning, ladies! I will drop by several times today in case there are any questions or comments for me to answer. And thanks so much for having me! xoxox Robyn
As I’m completely behind the times, I just finished Virgin River (bk 1) last night. Then I sat in my squeaky red chair and sighed out the window for a bit. Can’t wait to glom the rest! 🙂 🙂
Hi Robyn, what a thoghtful message. And not “preachy”. I haven’t read any of the Virgin River books yet and I get the feeling I’m missing out. So I’ve put the first one on my Amazon wishlist. I hope to purchase it next payday.
What a lovely post. For me the star is definitely a sign of hope.
I’ve not read any of Carr’s work but after reading this post I definitely want to!
That the star was not in the sky, but in the heart. Completely love this line. Love it.
Thanks, my friends. It was a very joyful book to write — what a privilege that my publisher tasked me with the job. If there’s one thing I truly enjoy writing, it’s about people recovering, reclaiming their lives, finding the deep and meaningful love they deserve. I’m telling you, it’s the perfect life. And I can do it in pajamas. 😉
Robyn, I have read the first 3 VR books, and I enjoyed them so much. I fell in love with the characters, so I am excited that the series is continuing, I can’t wait to read this Christmas edition!
I’m looking forward to this book b/c I have to continue w/ the series. But I will surely be bawling like crazy b/c the hero is military.
~SL, Army Wife
Hi Robyn – I have heard such great things about this series – congratulations!
I have the first book – Virgin River and am really enjoying it – the characters and the pull of emotions that Mel is going through, brought tears to my eyes. For me you have nailed her grief perfectly.
I would like to ask how you do your research for your books or is it life experiences or a bit of both? Thanks.
HI Robyn,
A Virgin River Christmas sounds lovely *SIGH* I just loved the first three books in the Virgin River series. What I love is the setting and also the people – it really does feel like a large, extended family. And everyone knows everyone 🙂
And Willa – I like your question 🙂
OOPS! Hit publish too quickly! Robyn, I forgot to say that I love the range of issues you cover in your books 🙂
I haven’t read any Robyn Carr yet. 🙁 I am really interested now!
Thanks, Orannia — those issues are important to me. Can characters be role models? I think so. Women can look at the same issues they deal with daily, look at them in a safe place, and also see the options that the characters have. And then — the cherry on top — they can enjoy a romance. What a great job this is!!
Hi Robyn – I have heard such great things about this series – congratulations!
I have the first book – Virgin River and am really enjoying it – the characters and the pull of emotions that Mel is going through, brought tears to my eyes. For me you have nailed her grief perfectly.
I would like to ask how you do your research for your books or is it life experiences or a bit of both? Thanks.
Robyn – I read Virgin Christmas the other night and just loved it! It may be my favorite in the series. Loved the metaphor about the ‘star’, thought it was beautiful. I posted my review on Goodreads.com. One of the comments it kept getting was will we see more of Ian and Marcie’s story in the upcoming books? We all want to know about the cabin (plumbing??)…etc. I really want to know more about their story so I hope they continue on.
For some Christmas can be a great and wonderful time and for other’s it can be a time of despair and loneliness. Your story has both and the out come of this story can give us all hope for a Merry Christmas.
Thank you for writing this book Robyn.
I too have all of my favourite Christmas movies to watch, and a Wonderful Life is near the top, but I think the “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is a must for me every year.
Willa — research for me is like a vacation! I’ve been to Humboldt County several times — the last time to create a slide show of the area that is the true setting for my website. You’ll find it at http://www.robyncarr.com/news.html I interview people while there, from first responders (police, fire dept, etc) to locals. Then when the books are futher developed, I need the imput of my very special midwife and nurse practitioner, military personnel, etc. I actually ask these helpful and long suffering folks to read manuscripts and keep me straight –even though it’s all fiction, it’s important that I don’t accidentally give bad or wrong information, especially medical or clinical information. Then we get to my own experiences and those of friends. My editor, agent and I have long discussions about what women are up against that we haven’t explored yet — it’s very important to glue those romances together with the concerns of women readers.
Karlynp — you will see Ian and Marcie again, briefly. In 2010 one of the stories will touch their lives. They aren’t present in the 2009 books mainly because those books were written by the time the Christmas book was written.
xoxoxo
Christmas is a wonderful time of year. My favorite part about it is getting to spend time with extended family I don’t see all that often. Your Christmas book sounds fantastic.
For those who read both the Virgin River and Grace Valley series, which do you prefer more? I started to read Deep in the Valley awhile back and found it hard to finish the first chapter. I don’t know if it was a bad day I had then b/c I can’t imagine why I had such a difficult time starting the book when I only heard of good things about Robyn Carr and her books. I just feel like I’m missing out on something good….
Welcome – great post. I can’t wait to get my hands on this book.
Hi Robyn.
Just had a few minutes while I’m chaperoning my middle ones Boston trip to look at my blog subscriptions.
Can’t wait to have time to come back to play on the Yahoogroup.
To Tabitha C….
Grace Valley is a romance that builds over the trilogy. I fell in love with GV and would move that in a heartbeat .. unless VR was open to me. Virgin River is so much more than just the romance. It is the whole community that is built around the series.
Ann M.
Tabitha — I’m “kind of” done with Grace Valley — at least for now. It was created as a 3-book story arc that was complete with the third book and I NEVER go back into a series and mess people up just for a plot. And Grace Valley is quirkier and sweeter than Virgin River– VR is edgier and sexier. HOWEVER — many of the Grace Valley folks are taking part in the Virgin River series, so readers who miss them can check up on them, see how they’re getting by, and that seems to scratch that itch.
Robyn
I love Holiday stories, because it a time for friends and family to gather together and a time for forgiveness, healing and love.
Thank you Robyn for giving us such wonderful stories of love and friendship.
Ellory and Robyn, thank you for your responses. I love series books because I like to keep in touch with old characters. I will be on the lookout for the first in the VR series the next time I’m at a bookstore.
I’ve never read anything by Robyn but after reading about her newest in her series I looked her up and wondered, why have I not read her?
I have put Virgin River on my wishlist and hope to have it by Christmas.
Wow, that is a beautiful pic, I love to read a Virgin River Christmas! I’m so into Christmas books right now! 🙂
Robyn ~ A Virgin River Christmas sounds wonderful!
Welcome everyone to Book Binge, it’s been a real pleasure having you all around! =)