Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Guest Blogger, Karin Tabke!

Today I'm very happy to welcome our guest blogger, my good friend, the wonderful, talented, and gracious Karin Tabke, to Title Magic.

It’s Never Too Early For Christmas!

(before I go further, thank you, Mai and all the ladies here at Title Magic for having me as your guest today!)

Hah! I have always been one of those people who roll their eyes and cringe at any mention of the holidays, especially before Thanksgiving! But I have to be honest and say this year is an exception, and I have my heroine, Kimberly Michaels, in HAVE YOURSELF A NAUGHTY LITTLE SANTA, to thank! You see, she too has always been a Grinch who actually does try and steal Christmas! I’ve never gone so far as to take anyone’s Christmas from them, but I have always been a most unwilling participant in all of the hype that goes with it. I hate, hate, HATE! To shop. Hate. It.

I detest the commercialism of the season. I detest the forced quarters with family members I see only once a year (and for good reason!) I detest the burden of expectation, and I really detest those two-ton fruitcakes.

I have always tried to see through the commercialism that has become the reason for the season to the true reason. But I have always fallen short. Maybe it was just easier to complain and rush to put my house back in order in record time on New Year’s Day, or since my kids are now adults I used the excuse that I didn’t need to be cheerful and bright, but grumpy and dull, because darn it, Christmas is a lot of work. No one wants to lug the boxes down from the rafters, or hang the lights outside or god forbid, trim the tree! The only beings in my house who are remotely interested in the tree are my two cats!

But this year, this year when my author copies of HAVE YOURSELF A NAUGHTY LITTLE SANTA showed up on my doorstep I couldn’t help but open the pages, and in no time at all I found myself smiling. Before I knew it, I had read the entire book and as I did when I wrote it, I cried.

You see, Kimberly Michaels has it tough. She’s been married a couple of times, dumped a few times, let down by her parents, and basically always felt like she was the girl in the corner no one was interested in. So she sets out to take the world by the balls and discovers she gets lots of attention as a powerful land broker. But alas, something’s missing. She finds it in the Christmas themed town of Evergreen, California, a town she is trying to buy out from under the good folks who live and die for the holidays, and even when it looks like all will be lost they still gather in the town square on Christmas Eve and rejoice. It is then she realizes that her tiny heart has the capacity to grow. Of course hunky naughty Santa Ricco Maza helps her come to other realizations, but the bottom line for me is this: The reason for the season means many things to many people, and for some it’s the glitz and the prezzies, but for me it’s realizing what really matters; Heart, home and the simple gift of giving of myself, not shopping until I drop to fork over a wrapped present. So instead of feeling put upon by all of the work that goes into creating a warm cozy holiday hearth and home, I have called all four of my children and their significant others to report for duty the Sunday morning after Thanksgiving.

With Christmas carols serenading us, out will come the boxes, up will go the lights and the tree, and together we will trim it, then sit down to Sunday dinner as families should and give blessings that for one more year we are fortunate to be together.

Yep, it’s starting to feel a lot like Christmas around here…how about you? What special holiday traditions do you have? And for a lucky commenter I’ll be giving away a copy of one of my hot cop books, your choice of GOOD GIRL GONE BAD, SKIN, or JADED, or for you historical lovers out there a copy of my historical debut MASTER OF SURRENDER! All you have to do is comment!

Karin Tabke isn't just another author with steamy stories to tell, but a cop's wife who has "seen it all and heard it all." Some of the hottest stories come from behind the blue wall of law enforcement rather than from in front. Married to a street cop, now retired, Karin is intimate with both and proves it with her sizzling tales and hot cops. You can find Karin online at www.karintabke.com or visit her blog here.

If you haven't read a Karin Tabke book, you're missing out! I encourage everyone to run to the nearest bookstore and pick up one of her books!

17 comments:

Mai Christy Thao said...

Welcome, Karin! Thanks for blogging with us today. I'm with you on Christmas being too commercialized. I also hate the right after Halloween, they seem to skip over Thanksgiving and go straight to Christmas! But, I do have to admit that I like the Christmas carols and the overall feeling of giving and winter the holiday season brings. And yeah, I meant winter, lol. It's odd, but you just get the feeling that winter's finally here because of Christmas. :)

I'm making a run to the bookstore this week and you bet HAVE YOURSELF A NAUGHTY LITTLE CHRISTMAS is on my to buy list!!

Edie Ramer said...

Karin, what a great blog! I've read great reviews for NAUGHTY SANTA and can't wait to start reading it. I won't forgive Amazon for holding it back to ship with Cynthia Eden's pre-ordered book. I love all your books!

Probably because I was raised Jewish, I like the tree and the decorating and the presents and the songs. The shopping is the only part I'm not crazy about. I want to get the perfect gift for everyone, and that doesn't always work.

Mary Marvella said...

I can't wait! Maybe I'll make that book my first christmas present.

My family had dwindled in the past ten years. I now have to share holidays with my daughter's in-laws, we take turns and this year she'll be with them for Christmas.

Mai Christy Thao said...

OMG, I'm an idiot. After reading over my comment -- something I should have done before posting -- I realized I said HAVE YOURSELF A NAUGHTY LITTLE CHRISTMAS instead of HAVE YOURSELF A NAUGHTY LITTLE SANTA. *Knocking myself on the head for the blunder.*

But Karin, shouldn't it be HAVE YOURSELF A NAUGHTY BIG SANTA instead? *wink!*

Anonymous said...

Hi, Mai and thank you again for the invite! as I read you comment I was thinking how much I miss snow in the winter. Last year we all went to Lake Tahoe for the week of Christmas and had a blast. Lot's of snow, and ice and it was freakin' cold! Loved it! I lobbied to go again, but hubby wants to be home.

Let me now how you like NAUGHTY SANTA! The reviews have been great. I really enjoyed writing Ricco and Kim's story.

Hey, Edie! I can't wait for you to read NAUGHY SANTA! It's really a special book to me. And, woman you are preaching to the choir on the shopping. Hate. It.

Mary I would be very happy if you made HAVE YOURSELF A NAUGHTY LITTLE SANTA a gift to yourself. It's one that will keep giving! snerk. Mary, I don't care for the splitting up at the holidays. my oldest daughter and her beau are going to his family's house for thanksgiving this year, since get them every christmas eve, i have to give them back Christmas Day. my boys are with us for everything and my youngest daughter and her hubby since they live here will be around for all of it. But I really do not like to share my kids.

Anonymous said...

Mai, not to worry, it seems to be a common occurrence, and frankly I don't mind so long as when you get to the bookstore you figure it out.

And yes, it should be a NAUGHTY VERY BIG SANTA!

Unknown said...

I LOVE the holiday season. Everything about it takes me back to many, many happy childhood memories. I watch all the old movies, cartoons, etc., in fact last year my oldest bought me a set of DVD's with Frosty, Rudolph and the grinch. Family get togethers is a tradition we recently got back to doing. My grandma (she has past) always had a huge get together at her house for Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. I miss those alot. But I am determined to keep her tradition alive. Also, I have two grandbabies that make it ever so special. Hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday season this year.

Melanie Atkins said...

Love your blog, Karin. Oh, wow. I have to get that book. I've become kind of a Grinch myself since my kids are now grown and out of the house. Why put up a tree just for me? I had a tiny one last year and am debating what to do this year. I know my pesky little Manx will climb it...so I'm at a loss. I need to pick up your book to get myself in the spirit. Then maybe I'll actually put up a REAL tree!!

Savanna Kougar said...

Hi Karin, love, love your title. And I wouldn't mind a Big Santa of my own for Christmas.
Due to my life circumstances I don't do much in the way of a traditional celebration. I just try to keep it spiritual, what's meaningful to me, and do some extra baking, because I want to, not because I have to...and I try to let those I love know how much I care about them.
Thanks for being with us, and spreading some romantic cheer! And may you know a lot happy sales.

Anonymous said...

Hey, Mary! I know you love the holidays! And while I do claim to be a Grinch, I have always enjoyed the Christmas classics. My fave is It's a Wonderful Life.

Melanie, consider the tree a playground for the kitties. Your gift to them this holiday season. :) And a word of caution, HAVE YOURSELF A NAUGHTY LITTLE SANTA will do more than get you into the holiday spirit. snerk.

Hi, Savanna, love that name! we're baking this year, we haven't in a long time, and I can't wait to get the rolling pin out. I may make some holiday jam too. All the while a fire will be burning and Christmas carols a playin'! Thank you for the, lot of happy sales wish, I'm keeping everything crossed NAUGHTY SANTA finds its way into lot's of naughty (grown up) girls' and boys' stockings this year. :)

Pat said...

Our children start celebrating Christmas early. They always have, and I expected it to stop once they reached adulthood, but no. Now their spouses get to listen to them. (Hey, it works for me.)

I love Christmas stories, and yours sounds a lot like an old John Denver Christmas movie (although he's not really Grincy--he's in mourning), but the town, which has a "letter day" when the only letters accepted at the P.O. are addressed to the North Pole--turns him around.

I can't wait to read about Kimberly's redemption.

And I think your after Thanksgiving idea is lovely. Perhaps it will become a family tradition like our Cookie Tree.

Helen Scott Taylor said...

Hi Karin, thanks for joining us on Title Magic. I go through stages of being disenchanted with Christmas. I loved it when the kids where young, but before we had kids, my husband and I never bothered to decorate our house or have a tree. We don't have Thanksgiving in the UK, so I'm spared that one. I always think it must be hard work to have two major holidays one after the other.

Julie Robinson said...

Hi Karin,
I know I'm probably late for the contest, but just wanted to say I enjoyed the interview. I first heard your name recommended in an on-line course I was taking, so I ran out and bought Master of Surrender (and wow!). Looked for Master of Torment but couldn't find it. Nor could I find Jaded, which sounds reallllly good from the blurb.
Anyway, I too do not like the commercialism of Christmas. It's as if Thanksgiving, a celebration of cultural harmony in the founding of our country is ignored. As far as keeping the Christmas spirit, I would hope that more people could keep the Christmas spirit all year long. Julie

Julie Robinson said...

BTW, Karin, your website is a great resource for writing about police work. I recommended it to others. Thanks. Julie

Anonymous said...

cool congrats on your books. santa is hot com eto my door lol.

have a good weekend, count me in

kh

Anonymous said...

Pat, that movie was The Christmas Gift. I remember seeing it a loooong time ago. Sad bit of trivia about John Denver. I was in Monterey the day he crashed his plane. We watched them pull the wreckage out of the water from the side of the road. Very sad.

Hi, Helen, it is difficult to have two big holidays back to back, but this year since I am hosting them I have just made up my mind it's going to be fun and not work. I think not having a deadline for the first time in three years during the holidays is also a big part of why I'm looking forward to it all.

Julie, you're not too late! And fyi, if you have any cop questions Officer Friendly (aka hubby) is always happy to answer. Just drop me an email at karin@karintabke.com

Thanx, kh!

Lexie O'Neill said...

Thank you, Karin-I needed a little cheer today! Sounds like a great book--can't wait to read it. I've always loved Christmas expecially with little kids around. But right now, with final exams, I'm just tired.
Wait--did you blog yesterday? Okay, I'm also behind:)
Lexie