This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Christmas 2013 was a smidge glitzier and a whole lot funnier thanks to Lisa Dickenson’s debut, The Twelve Dates of Christmas. We fell in love with her charm, wit and hilarious storytelling (so much so, we named the series Novelicious Debut of the Year). Before we take our Christmas break, we checked in with Lisa to chat about her secret festive engagement in New York and, you know, chocolate oranges.
What is your favourite Christmas memory?
I have two: one is being little and waking up at 4am on Christmas morning, the house pitch black, and creeping in to look at the Christmas tree and prod all the pressies, feeling absolutely amazed by the whole thing. And two, when my now husband proposed in New York a week before Christmas, and then it snowed so heavily in the UK that all the airports were closed and we were stuck in the Big Apple for an extra five days with this bubbly, exciting little secret of being engaged.
What festive traditions do you most enjoy?
There’s a little bank of Christmas films I always try and watch every year to get me in the festive spirit: Muppets Christmas Carol, Home Alone, It’s A Wonderful Life and Love Actually are the main ones. Baileys in hand, Quality Street in gob, tree lights twinkling. Bliss.
What is Christmas Day like for your family?
As we get older, and our siblings have children and live in different parts of the country (but we don’t have kids of our own yet), no two Christmases are the same for me and my husband. This year we’ll be with my brother, his wife and their two little girls, together with my parents, but we’ll actually be sleeping in a nearby hotel. Once we’re all together, Christmas Day will start with an excess of eating, the port will come out mid-morning, present opening will be spread throughout the day and mid-afternoon will probably involve a lot of belly rubbing.
Is there a particular gift you’re secretly hoping Santa will bring you this year?
EVERYTHING. But in particular, I like anything I wouldn’t normally treat myself to, such as a bottle of fizz, some fancy accessories or a day out/mini break. Plus, some salted caramel stuff would be nice. I love salted caramel. Ooo, and ten chocolate oranges, please.
Thanks, Lisa. Merry Christmas!