11 Romance Authors on How They Survive the Holidays aka Family! People! How Do I Escape? by Carly Phillips

11 Romance Authors on How They Survive the Holidays aka Family! People! How Do I Escape? by Carly Phillips
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[Note from Frolic: We’re so excited to have author Carly Phillips guest posting on the site today! She’s taking all about surviving the holidays!]

The holiday season means different things to different people. Extrovert? You love the parties and mingling with people and family. Introvert? You’re dreaming about curling into a ball and hiding until the tree is packed away and all the people around you and in the shopping malls go home. But regardless of who you are, you need to find a way to cope with the season and all the socializing that comes with it.

I have mixed feelings about the holidays. At first, I love them. I enjoy the cheery songs, the television commercials, the fun, festive feeling and the pictures on Facebook and the idea of snow and white stuff sprinkling down from the sky. And then slowly, insidiously, reality surfaces. Out of the blue, I’m tired of the same songs over and over on TV and the radio and in stores. Everywhere I go, it’s too crowded. What are all these people doing in my shopping mall, anyway? And no, I don’t want to drive in the snow, step in brown mush and deal with heavy jackets and boots. And family? That’s another story altogether for me …

But like it or not, ‘tis the season, so buckle up and get ready. For me, over the years I’ve gone from 20 people at my table to 5 this year and it’s sad. As much anxiety that comes with serving that many people, it’s still nice to know I’m surrounded by family. Since I’m not going to have that this year, I asked some of my fellow author friends how they suggested we cope with the influx of family that comes with the holidays. I’m not exactly sure that they want me to share their names given that many of them wrote back with one word: alcohol. But what are friends for?

That 70s Show GIF

But they did come up with some good ideas.

  1. Hide for a solid 2 minutes in the bathroom … courtesy of Avery Flynn. I admit to having done this myself.
  2. Alcohol … Thank you Kristy Bromberg because we all know that a little sip or two is going to help decrease stress and let us cope with having to be all things for all people while serving and cooking and mingling.
  3. Vodka and a sense of humor – I like Kristen Proby’s added sense of humor because without that we would be drooling in the corner … and wishing we could be doing anything else instead.
  4. Having trouble finding the perfect gift? Alessandra Torre suggests you focus on three things instead and buy a dozen of each. Last year she bought smartphone-friendly mittens for both kids and adults, a car-mount magnet for cell phones ($5!) and a signed copy of one of her books. All gifts were gender – neutral, age-flexible and she didn’t spend one moment stressing over what to buy each person. I know I’d like to be on her gift list!
  5. Go to someone else’s house and let them do the work – I love Jill Shalvis’ sense of humor. But if you choose this route remember to bring a gift or a food dish to help out. If travel isn’t possible, Jill’s fallback is also alcohol. I’m sensing a theme here.
  6. Wine – Devney Perry and Natasha Madison tried to class it up instead of just saying alcohol but it amounts to the same thing. Drink your way through the holidays but stay sober enough to be pleasant to friends and family.
  7. Kristen Ashley is looking at making it bearable in between the parties. She suggests an at-home facial and cuddling up with a good book. I agree.
  8. I like Shayla Black’s reminder to be good to yourself. I think we all forget that we’re important too. You don’t have to please everyone and you need to take care of yourself as well.
  9. Hate crowds? Mari Carr has the smart reminder that you don’t need to hit the stores. Amazon delivers right to your house! (What did we ever do before Amazon?)
  10. Last but not least, cherish your memories. As Erin Nicholas says, think back and remember great past family memories and bring them up during dinner so people focus on the good times and not bickering over politics or the little things. If you really plan ahead, bring photos!

From yours truly (me) I say enjoy your family because time passes fast and either they’re gone or they no longer travel to visit. And as I can tell you, that’s sad, and I’m going to miss having a house full.

But no matter how you cope, try to enjoy the holidays because they are always a special time whether you appreciate it in the moment or not. I’d like to wish everyone a happy, healthy holiday season and a very happy, prosperous, wonderful New Year.

About the Author:

NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestseller, Carly Phillips gives her readers Alphalicious heroes to swoon for and romance to set your heart on fire. She married her college sweetheart and lives in Purchase, NY along with her three crazy dogs: two wheaten terriers and a mutant Havanese, who are featured on her Facebook and Instagram. The author of 50 romance novels, she has raised two incredible daughters who put up with having a mom as a full time writer. Carly’s book, The Bachelor, was chosen by Kelly Ripa as a romance club pick and was the first romance on a nationally televised bookclub. Carly loves social media and interacting with her readers. Want to keep up with Carly? Sign up for her newsletter (below) and receive TWO FREE books at www.carlyphillips.com.

A Very Dare Christmas by Carly Phillips, out now!

Ian Dare misses the alone time and intense sex life he and his wife shared before their children were born. What’s an alpha man to do? He kidnaps Riley for an erotic weekend away before the Christmas rush overwhelms them both.

Riley Dare adores her husband and his dominant and protective ways, and she’s excited to spend time with him minus distractions on a sexy retreat where anything goes … and spontaneity leads to future surprises.

NOTE: this short story was already shared in Carly’s newsletter so if you subscribe you may have read it before but many have asked if they could have this on their Kindle.

Download your copy today for only 99¢!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2NrVgTV

AppleBooks: https://apple.co/34BuM8b

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/DareChristmas

Nook: http://bit.ly/2PWGd64

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2PWDf1K

Google Play: http://bit.ly/36HujmK

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