Tis the season, and Julie Arduini is ready with her Christmas novella, Restoring Christmas. Join me as I welcome the holiday season with an interview with Julie.

Welcome, and thanks for being here! We’re going to start at the beginning with picture books: what was your favorite picture book as a child?
My favorite picture book was definitely a Golden Book! The one that sticks out to me was about the seasons. The POV was through a dog. I remember as the seasons transitioned, the dog evolved from a puppy to full grown.

What was the first book you read that you couldn’t put down?
The first book that I couldn’t put down was These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I was completely transported by Laura and Almanzo’s love story. I devoured the entire series, but that book in particular was one where I stopped everything so I could read.

I think every little girl loved the Laura Almanzo love story! And what about more recently: what was the last book you read that you couldn’t put down?
The last book that I couldn’t put down was A Cross to Kill by Andrew Huff. It was so full of action I felt if I put the book down I would miss something. What makes it even more awesome is it his debut.

That definitely gives us something to look forward to!

What fictional place would you love to visit?
The fictional place I’d love to visit is from a book I recently finished, Sweet Seasons: Julia’s Story. Rita Garcia created Serenity Cove, and I loved the place and the people.

Let’s chat about your books for a minute. If you could turn any of your books into a movie, which would you pick? Who would you cast as the main characters?
The book I wish I could turn into a movie is a tough question! I’d love to see my Surrendering Time series as a movie, but my most recent post as a group blogger at Inspy Romance was my confession that my author bucket list includes seeing Restoring Christmas as a Hallmark or Hallmark-inspired movie!

And who’s your favorite author?
I love everything Susan May Warren writes, and I’m especially loving her Montana Marshal series. Ruby Jane is the one I’m waiting to read.

Which do you prefer: character-driven or plot-driven fiction?
I definitely enjoy character-driven fiction, and that’s also how I write.

Thank you so much for talking with us and giving us a peek at your reading life. Now, here’s a peek at Julie’s holiday novella, Restoring Christmas:

Holly Christmas left Geneseo Valley and her family’s holiday tourist attraction, The Christmas Mansion, as soon as she graduated.  Now both her parents have passed, and Holly returns when her uncle needs her help running the mansion. On Holly’s first day back, a blunt middle-schooler proclaims Holly hates Christmas. His comment forces her to reconcile the past while planning for the mansion’s future.

Kevin Holt is invested in offering hope to students with challenges. His best friend’s son is in Kevin’s class, and Nathan needs guidance. Their community project placement at The Christmas Mansion is an opportunity to make a positive difference. When Nathan blurts out his thoughts to the beautiful co-owner, Kevin wonders if he has what it takes to help restore the mansion to its former glory, mentor Nathan, and convince Holly Christmas she’s exactly where she needs to be.

Purchase Restoring Christmas eBook: https://amzn.to/2O1vgiA
Purchase Restoring Christmas Softcover: https://amzn.to/2pw3AZt

Julie Arduini loves to encourage readers to find freedom in Christ by surrendering the good, the bad, and —maybe one day—the chocolate. She’s the author of the contemporary romance series SURRENDERING TIME, (Entrusted, Entangled, Engaged,) as well as the stand-alone novellas, MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN and RESTORING CHRISTMAS. She also shares her story in the infertility devotional, A WALK IN THE VALLEY. Her other latest release, YOU’RE AMAZING, is a book for girls ages 10-100, written with her teenaged daughter, Hannah, and is book 2 in their SURRENDERING STINKIN’ THINKIN’ series. She blogs every other Wednesday for Christians Read, as well as monthly with Inspy Romance. She resides in Ohio with her husband and two children. Learn more by visiting her at http://juliearduini.com, where she invites readers to opt in to her content full of resources and giveaway opportunities.

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