Christmas Interview ~ Betsy St. Amant

Betsy St. Amant lives in Louisiana and is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers group. Betsy is multi-published through Steeple Hill and has been published in Christian Communicator magazine and Praise Reports: Inspiring Real Life Stories of How God Answers Prayer. One of her short stories, “Kickboxing or Chocolate‚” appears in a Tyndale compilation book, and she is also multi-published through The Wild Rose Press. Betsy has a BA in Christian Communications and regularly contributes articles to Crosswalk.com. She is a wife, mother, author, and an avid reader who enjoys sharing the wonders of God’s grace through her stories.

Learn more about Betsy by visiting her at http://www.betsystamant.com/ and http://www.betsy-ann.blogspot.com/

We’re focusing on Christmas all this month! What do you most associate with Christmas where you live?

I love how the city decorates! Every November, my city puts a bunch of wreaths on the light poles downtown, and they light up at night like fluffy green halos. That always serves as my first reminder that Christmas is coming! :-)

Do you have any special family traditions you do at Christmas time?

Even now that I’m married with a child of my own, we still all pile up in one or two cars with blankets and Starbucks coffee or hot chocolate and go “Christmas-light-lookin’”as we so dearly call it here in the South. :-) We drive around town and look at everyone’s houses lit up for Christmas. It’s a fun time of family togetherness and festive fun! Another tradition is sausage balls on Christmas morning at my mom’s house.

Do you have a favorite Christmas Carol and if so do you know why?

I absolutely love O Holy Night. It puts me in the Christmas spirit and reminds me what Christmas is truly about – Jesus Christ’s birth!

If you could spend Christmas any way you could how would you celebrate?

I honestly don’t think I’d change anything from the way it is now – lots of family togetherness and food, fun, gifts, and stories. It’s just perfect. :-)

Do you have any special memories of Christmas?

One of my most memorable gifts was the year I was in junior high school and got a horse a month before Christmas – a real Paint horse I had begged for and begged for, for years. That Christmas, I woke up to a ton of new (and hand me down but new to me) tack for my beloved horse. Saddle, bridle, halter, blanket, brushes, buckets, etc. It was a horse-crazy girl’s dream come true!

What does a typical Christmas Eve and or Christmas Day look like for you?

Christmas Eve is as special to my family as Christmas Day. We always go to my grandparent’s house, just my immediate family, and do gifts with each other on that side. Then Christmas morning I do gifts with my husband and daughter at our house, then go to my parent’s for the rest of the day for lunch and those yummy sausage balls. :-) We usually grab a nap and head to my other grandparent’s house that night for a huge “Dirty Santa” game gift exchange with my extended family there. It’s always a fun and crazy time!

Do you have any Christmas movies or Christmas books you like to see or read each year?

I always end up watching The Christmas Story on TBS when they run their yearly marathon on Christmas Eve. I also have to watch Elf starring Will Ferrell. Hilarious movie!

Tell us a little about your book:

Mistletoe Prayers is a two-in-one Christmas novella compilation. Marta Perry and myself each contributed a Christmas novella for the compilation. My story is titled "The Gingerbread Season." Here’s the back cover blurb!

Allie James returns to her hometown in need of a holiday job. Never did she expect old boyfriend Jordan Walker to hire her as his secretary! Years ago Jordan shredded her heart like wrapping paper. Now he must convince Allie that all he wants for Christmas is her love.

Where did you get the idea for THE GINGERBREAD SEASON?

My publisher actually contacted me and asked me to write a Christmas novella for the compilation. Of course I said yes, and I brainstormed with my best friend. I knew I wanted the hero and heroine to have been high school sweethearts, and I needed a way to bring them back together after years apart. We came up with the idea for a story of community renewal and well, the rest is history. :-)

Do you have a Christmas message for my readers?

I think each holiday season, it’s easy to get caught up in the stress of shopping and lists and budgets, and forget the true meaning of Christmas—the birth of Jesus Christ which led to His offer of salvation. That’s what it all boils down to! Gifts are fun and family time is important, but if we go through the season without spending time with Jesus, we’ve missed the entire point.
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Betsy is giving away a copy of her book, Mistletoe Prayers. Be sure to stop by The Borrowed Book on Friday for your chance to win!