by Crystal Caudill | Dec 6, 2025 | Uncategorized
For those who subscribe to my blog, you may have noticed a ridiculous number of posts coming to your inbox . . . Posts that are either too early or not complete. This is what happens when you try to use your sabbatical to get ahead and make next year easier for you. So my apologies. Sigh. You may see a few more come out over the next few weeks as I continue to try and get ahead, but hopefully I’ll get a grip so this will stop. Thanks so much for your patience and mercy.
What can I say? I hate technology. I hope y’all have a blessed weekend.
by Crystal Caudill | Jun 17, 2025 | Uncategorized
Hi all! I’m hoping you’re not like me and STILL have your Christmas decorations up, but I DO hope you are ready for the second annual July Reader Extravaganza put on by Sarah Hamaker. Let me know in the comments if you’ll be participating and feel free to share this post and let others know about this great summer “Christmas” fun.
This year, more than 70 Christian authors (including me!) of fiction and nonfiction Christmas books have joined with Sarah to bring you some holiday cheer in July.
It’s a simple concept–sign up and receive daily emails each day in July featuring Christian authors and their Christmas books. There’s nothing else you need to do to enter the contest!
Each day during the celebration, readers will get an email promoting that day’s Christmas books by Christian authors. Each evening, we will draw the names for the winners of that day’s featured authors. (Winners will be notified via the email they signed up with.) On July 31, we will also draw the names for our 12 grand prize winners, including one grand prize winner from our international readers.
The 2025 Christmas in July Reader Extravaganza will hand out more than $2,000 worth of grand prizes to 12 overall prize winners, plus 74 daily winners.
NEW this year—we have some special love for our international readers, with an international grand prize and several days of giveaways exclusively for international readers!
US Grand Prize (Total value: $600)
- Copy (ebook or print) of each participating author’s Christmas book
- $500 Amazon gift card
- Faux leather journal
- Themed tote bag
- Themed pillow
- Themed fleece
- Themed bistro mug
- Hand strap for Kindle
- Themed bookmark, sticker
International Grand Prize (Total value: $513)
- Ebook copy of more than 25 participating authors’ Christmas books
- $500 Amazon gift card (or equivalent in winner’s country or origin)
- Themed bookmark, sticker
- Hand strap for Kindle
First Prize (Total value: $312)
- $250 Amazon gift card
- Themed spiral bound notebook
- Themed tote bag
- Themed bistro mug
- Hand strap for Kindle
- Themed pen, bookmark, sticker
Second Prize (Total value: $138)
- $100 Amazon gift card
- Themed spiral bound notebook
- Themed bistro mug
- Themed pen, bookmark, sticker
Third – Fifth Prize (Valued at $67)
- $50 Amazon gift card
- Themed spiral bound notebook
- Themed pen, bookmark, sticker
Sixth – 10th Prize (Total value: $42)
- $25 Amazon gift card
- Themed spiral bound notebook
- Themed pen, bookmark, sticker
Here is the list of authors and the dates they will be featured in the contest newsletter. Each day, we will pull daily winners from the subscriber list–you’re entered in the contest when you sign up for the emails. For the dates marked “international,” we will be drawing from the readers with international addresses only. For the dates marked “US,” we will be drawing from the readers with US addresses only.
July 1, shipping to US addresses only
- Jerusha Agen/Midnight Clear
- Tanya Agler/The Triplets’ Holiday Miracle
- Mary Alford/In Past Tense
July 2, shipping to US addresses only
- Hannah Alexander/Dandelion Moon
- Amy R. Anguish/Mama Dated Santa
- Narelle Atkins/Romance in the land down under
July 3, shipping to US addresses only
- Laura Ashwood/One Sweet Christmas
- Barbara M. Britton/Christmas at Whispering Creek
- Crystal Caudill/We Three Kings
July 4, shipping to US addresses only
- Malissa Chapin/Hope for Christmas
- Naomi Craig/The Weary World Rejoices
- Susanne Dietze/A Small-Town Christmas Challenge
July 5, shipping internationally
- Jacqueline Adam/Targeted Witness
- Evelyn Grace/Mistletoe and Miracles at the Three Cats Cafe
- Kendall Hoxsey/An Imminent Christmas Threat
July 6, shipping to US addresses only
- MaryAnn Diorio/A Daddy for Christmas
- Loretta Eidson/The Marine’s Deadly Reunion
July 7, shipping to US addresses only
- Camille Elliot/The Spinster’s Christmas
- Eva Marie Everson/God Bless Us Every One
July 8, shipping to US addresses only
- Nancy J. Farrier/The Driftwood Cove Collection
- Mary A. Felkins/One Starry Christmas
July 9, shipping internationally
- Izzy James/Garrett
- Debby Lee/Peppermint Christmas
- Helena Smrcek/Love Across Time
July 10, shipping to US addresses only
- Tama Fortner/Simply Christmas
- Rachel J. Good/The Christmas Gathering
July 11, shipping to US addresses only
- Kelly J. Goshorn/Chiseled on the Heart
- Danielle Grandinetti/Escape with the Prodigal
July 12, shipping to US addresses only
- Pam Green/The Old Fool
- Anne Greene/A Williamsburg Christmas
July 13, shipping to US addresses only
- Erin Greneaux/Mary’s Treasure
- Winnie Griggs/Hear Harold’s Angel Sing
July 14, shipping to US addresses only
- Sarah Hamaker/Mistletoe & Murder
- Robin Lee Hatcher/Wishing for Mistletoe
July 15, shipping to US addresses only
- Annette M. Irby/A Christmas Duet
- Rebecca Price Janney/Easton at Christmastide
July 16, shipping to US addresses only
- Elle E. Kay/Healing the Hero
- Jill Kemerer/The Cowboy’s Christmas Treasures
July 17, shipping to US addresses only
- Rebecca Lake/Deception At Christmas
- Katy Lee/Christmas K-9 Guardians
July 18, shipping internationally
- Melanie D. Snitker/Marrying Noel
- Darlene L. Turner/Explosive Christmas Showdown
July 19, shipping to US addresses only
- Tracey J. Lyons/Heart of Faith
- Elizabeth Maddrey/Hope for Christmas
July 20, shipping to US addresses only
- Diana Leagh Matthews/Carol of the Rooms
- Susan G. Mathis/Madison’s Mission
July 21, shipping to US addresses only
- Cathy McDavid/Merry’s Christmas Cowboy
- Dana Mentink/Spoon to Be Dead
July 22, shipping to US addresses only
- Jordan Millsaps/The Holiday Exchange
- Mindy Obenhaus/Rediscovering Christmas
July 23, shipping internationally
- Jessica Wakefield/It Shouldn’t Be You
- Lynn U. Watson/The Essence of Joy
July 24, shipping to US addresses only
- Robin Patchen/Christmas in Nutfield
- Paula Peckman/Texas Heirloom Ornament
July 25, shipping to US addresses only
- Sally Jo Pitts/The Lost Box
- Terri Reed/Christmas Protection Detail
July 26, shipping to US addresses only
- Kathleen J. Robison/The Cross at Morioka Castle
- Donna Schlachter/Sleigh Ride for Ruby
- Laura Scott/Shielding His Christmas Witness
July 27, shipping internationally
- Wade Webster/The Extra Ordinary Christmas
- Ronda Wells/The Christmas Cherub
- James Yarbrough/Jingle Belles and Christmas Beaus
July 28, shipping to US addresses only
- Beverly J. Schweigert/Faith Unwrapped
- Toni Shiloh/The Christmas Catch
- Patti Stockdale/His Unforgettable Bride
July 29, shipping to US addresses only
- Tanya Stowe/Christmas Bells are Ringing
- Cheri Swalwell/Seasons of Green Pines
- Ann Swindell/Christmas in the Castle Library
July 30, shipping to US addresses only
- Virginia Vaughan/Peril at Christmas
- Suzie Waltner/Ever Green
- Meghann Whistler/The Baby’s Christmas Blessing
July 31, shipping to US addresses only
- A.C. Williams/A Cowboy for Christmas
- Virginia Wise/An Amish Christmas Inheritance
- Penny Zeller/Love’s New Beginnings
by Crystal Caudill | May 22, 2025 | Uncategorized
I always adore having Grace or one of her characters on my blog, and as I’ve been taking a break from blog posts for a little while, it’s nice to dip back into the blogging world with another interview with her. I’ve had the blessing of knowing Grace since pretty much the beginning of my writing journey and the even greater blessing of getting to know her better over the years. She writes wonderful stories, both Gilded Age and Regency. I had the pleasure of endorsing her latest book, To Kiss a Knight, which you can enter her endorser giveaway here until Monday night (5/26/2025). If you’ve not had the pleasure of meeting Grace before, allow me to formally introduce her:
Grace Hitchcock is the award-winning author of multiple his¬torical novels and novellas, including the American Royalty, Best Laid Plans, and Aprons & Veils series. She holds a Master’s in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives South Louisiana with her husband, Dakota, sons, and daughter in a farmhouse that is always filled with the sounds of sweet little footsteps running at full speed. When not writing, chasing babies, or tending to her chickens, she’s baking something delightful and can usually be found with a book clutched in her fist.
You can connect with her through: Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Instagram | GoodReads | BookBub | Amazon
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit Grace with rapid-fire.
CC: Rain or snow?
GH: 1,000,000% Rain!
CC: Makeup or no makeup?
GH: Makeup, but just the five-minute and run kind 🙂
CC: Personal maid or personal chef?
GH: Personal maid! I love to cook, but cleaning is only bearable with audiobooks and podcasts, haha.
CC: Arrive early, just on time, or late?
GH: Early!
CC: Food fight or water balloon fight?
GH: Water balloon!
I admire your ability to do makeup in five minutes. I don’t usually wear it, so it feels like it takes me FOREVER to put it on right.
What kind of stories are your favorite to write?
GH: Swoony romances with lots of adventure! It’s my favorite kind to read, so I always try to write a book that I want as a reader 🙂
CC: And you do them so well!!
Do you read fiction while you are writing your own stories?
GH: I do! However, I usually read a genre that I’m not writing in (Christian romcoms, clean paranormal romances, etc.). It gives me inspiration and a break from thinking about my story!
CC: I’ve been doing that more recently too. It’s been great too, because I’m less likely to compare myself to my favorite historical romance authors. Nothing like impostor syndrome to slow the writing.
What is your favorite part about writing?
GH: The first draft is my favorite!! All the creativity is flowing, and it is so, so fun to see that word count go up! My least favorite is the content edit. (It is just painful and I’ve read the story a lot by this point, so I start to think that it might be boring.)
CC: Oh, girl, do I feel you. I always try to add things in during the developmental edit because I get bored, and then I have to take it out again. LOL
Do you have a general writing process you follow or does it change all the time?
GH: I usually write the first draft for 8-10 weeks and edit (drafts 2-6) for 12 weeks! I try not to write on the weekends, but occasionally when the deadline is getting too close, I have to! I do a lot of read throughs in my writing, but I like to layer the story in slowly!
CC: That is sort of similar to my method, although I’m MUCH slower than you. LOL
Now I’m excited to talk about To Kiss A Knight.
Purchase your copy at Amazon | Signed Copy
And if you’re not convinced enough, here’s MY endorsement for the book:
“An authoress fleeing an unwanted marriage, a chivalrous thief who is not as he first appears, and a marriage of convenience? Yes please. Grace Hitchcock has pulled off another rollicking Regency with romance, danger, humor, and unexpected plot twists that you don’t want to miss!”
CC: What will fans of To Kiss a Knight love about your story and characters?
GH: The readers have been saying that they love the chemistry between Vivienne and Bash! The To Kiss a Knight main characters are one of my favorite couples, so it’s great to hear that readers think so too!
CC: They were definitely a blast. 🙂
How did this story develop and change from spark to finished book?
GH: This story was inspired by two of my favorite old movies, Christmas in Connecticut and It Started with Eve! Vivienne and Bash’s relationship really came alive while writing and their chemistry was so natural and easy to capture!
CC: Hmm. I’ve never watched either movie! I guess I better go check those out!
What is a fun fact about this story that readers might not know?
GH: My husband and I went to Bath after writing this story, and we got to visit all the places Vivienne went in Bath and even had high tea in the Pump Room and saw the famous fountain, which you will read about in this story! I’ve been wanting to visit Bath for ages, and it was made extra special having Vivienne’s story completed. But, the shocking aspect of Bath was the surrounding hills! In all the movies I have ever watched set in Bath, there was never a panoramic shot of Bath being set in hills!!!
CC: Wow! I’m really jealous!!! One of these days. One of these days.
Who was your favorite character to write?
GH: I loved capturing the grandma! Her feisty attitude was inspired by my late grandma. While writing, all I had to do was think of my grandma, and Grandmother Larkby was living and breathing in my mind and even had me tearing up while writing some of her scenes.
CC: She really was on of my favorites!
Before we sign off, I always like to end with a fun question so . . .
What would you be if you had to wear one Halloween costume every day for the rest of your life?
GH: I supposed I’d be Laura Ingalls Wilder because we recently moved into a farmhouse where we are raising a flock of 25 chickens, two golden retrievers, and planting fruit trees all while homeschooling!
CC: That is so fitting!
Readers, I hope you’ll check out To Kiss a Knight and then leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, and/or BookBub. You wouldn’t believe how important that is to an author.
Reader, what books have you read with an authoress heroine? Or what about a funny Regency?
Giveaway
Here’s your chance to enter Grace’s Endorser giveaway. Visit her KingSumo Giveaway here for all the details.
Endorser GIVEAWAY! WIN Crystal Caudill’s Written in Secret, AND Betsy St. Amant’s No Place Like Home, AND Carrie Turansky’s A Token of Love And Rebekah Millet’s Kate Landry Has a Plan AND Misty M. Beller’s Saving the Mountain Man’s Legacy!!!!
