With Christmas right around the corner, I thought I’d share this guest post I wrote back in 2013 when I had just published my only Christmas novella, Christmas at Harmony Hill. So, hope you enjoy reading about that Shaker Christmas story.
Even before Halloween ghosts glide out of sight down Trick or Treat Street, Christmas decorations start popping up in the stores. By Thanksgiving, the ads with shopping reminders and gift hints are tattered with age. But the spirit of Christmas is always fresh in the new Christmas novellas that hit the stores in November and December.
Many Christmas stories have been told and written since that very first Christmas story of a baby born in a Bethlehem stable. That story in the Bible has now been read millions of times with a few more million readings added each Christmas. Perhaps we love Christmas stories so much because we want to embrace the true meaning and spirit of Christmas even as we scurry around doing all the busy things we do at Christmas time.
I had never considered writing a Christmas story. So when, several years ago, my editor suggested I write a Shaker Christmas book, I had no idea if I would be able to do that or not. My agent told me to just make it like a Hallmark movie. Sweet. Gentle. With a touching love story. Right there, I was in trouble since if you know anything about the Shakers, you know they didn’t abide romantic love among their members. Once again, as with my other Shaker stories, I had to find a way to slip my love story in the back way of my Shaker village. I went a little farther with this story and slipped in a heroine who is with child.
My research into how the Shakers celebrated Christmas in the 1860’s opened up more story ideas. Every year around Christmas time, the Shakers observed a day of atonement they called Sacrifice Day. On this day, they were to leave behind any grudges, hard feelings and disaffection toward their brothers or sisters. They were to ask forgiveness from those they had wronged and from the Lord. Anything that was settled on Sacrifice Day could never again be brought forward against anyone in their family of believers. They were also to offer forgiveness fully and completely to those they felt had done harm against them. All this fit in with the theme of forgiveness in my story, Christmas at Harmony Hill.
Somewhere along the way as I was writing, I must have mislaid my agent’s advice. I doubt readers would classify Christmas at Harmony Hill as sweet or gentle. I’d be pleased if they found the love story touching, and I do hope my heroine looking forward to the birth of her baby and thinking about how Mary might have had similar feelings awaiting the birth of Jesus gives the story an underlying Christmas theme.
Still, Christmas at Harmony Hill is more historical novel than the usual Christmas novella. The story is set in December 1864 with the Civil War drawing to a close. Gideon is still fighting for the Union Army while Heather returns home to have their baby. When she finds no welcome at her father’s house, she seeks shelter in the Shaker village where her aunt Sophrena, the Shaker journalist in The Gifted, has lived for many years. Sister Sophrena is ready to help Heather even as she is beginning to doubt her own Shaker walk. And so Christmas comes to Harmony Hill.
Do you read Christmas stories? What do you like best about them? Do you only read them at Christmas time or are you willing to read them any time of the year? One reader told me she liked to read them in July, that it kept her cool.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and much joy in the coming year!
Comments 8
As I mentioned in a previous post, I loved this Christmas novella! My grandmother, the librarian and Kentucky history buff, introduced me to the Shakers at a young age. But I don’t remember hearing about their Sacrifice Day. I enjoyed learning something new, while enjoying this love story. I also like how you brought out the real struggles that Kentucky families had during the Civil War. We, more than other state, were truly divided…brothers/fathers/friends fighting one another.
I consider a book a great read when the characters linger with me long after that last page is turned. You have a gift of creating characters that feel like home to me. I’m so happy to have finally discovered you and your treasury of books!
I hope your Christmas is overflowing with blessings! And I look forward to seeing your photo of this year’s grandbaby under the tree! What a great tradition! 💖
Author
I’m glad you enjoyed this Christmas story, LavonSheree. I was glad to discover the tradition the Shakers had of the Sacrifice Day or Day of Atonement. It fit so nicely into that particular story. That’s often the way of it when I’m writing. Something just pops up that is right for the story.
I don’t have any new grandbabies for under the tree, but now we make them all take a moment to pose at Christmas time. I should print out all those pictures and make a collage for Christmas. Maybe I can get my new dog, Frankie, to pose under the tree. 🙂 Merry Christmas to you too.
I only read Christmas stories in Dec and early January.
(although I certainly have enough Christmas books to read for a few months if I wanted to!)
So many different ways and different people to send out the messages of the season… hope, miracles, new life, forgiveness, family, sacrifice, journey, love.
Author
I need to write down all those emotions and happenings you listed, Megan and post it over my computer. All of them can make a story.
Thank you for your kind words,Ann! Forgiveness and Reconciliation are excellent underlying themes for any book.
Christmas in Harmony Hill made me think forward to Easter when Jesus sacrificially brought about the atonement for our sins, bringing Christmas full circle. 🙂
Thanks,Ann! I hope you have a beautiful Christmas too, my friend! 🙂
I always enjoy reading your blog,Amiga. Thank you for the gift of your encouraging words! 🙂
~Proverbs 27:19~
Author
I like how you always put a Bible verse, Emily.
Merry Christmas to you and your family,Ann! I remember reading your Christmas novella,”Christmas at Harmony Hill”. Your Christmas story among the Shakers definitely got me in the Christmas spirit , gave me pause to think about forgiveness and reconciliation, while being an overall heartwarming read! I hope you and your family have a very blessed , fun, memorable, and relaxing Christmas while you celebrate Christ’s Birth together,friend! 🙂 ~Luke 1 & 2,Isaiah 9:6-7~
Author
Fun that you remember the story, Emily, and even better for me that you enjoyed reading about Heather and Gideon. Forgiveness and reconciliation – you found the main underlying faith themes.
Hope you have a beautiful Christmas too. Thanks so much for dropping by. Always enjoy your comments.