About the Book:
As the top salesperson for Pfunn Party Supplies, Carol Frost doesn’t exactly know how to have fun herself these days. Though she wasn’t always such a humbug. Once upon a time, she was famous for hosting Christmas parties that were filled with everything from laughing guests and luscious hors d’oeuvres, to artfully iced sugar cookies and creatively decorated Christmas trees. To top it off, she even wrote a bestselling book that became the authoritative tome on Christmas party entertaining at the time—
The Complete, Total, Ultimate, Everything-You-Might-Possibly-Want-to-Know Guide to Hosting the Best Christmas Parties Ever.
Yet that was long ago, before her life changed and she stashed her tinsel and twinkle lights away once and for all. And while Carol soon learned to settle for her boring but comfortable existence, an old friend knows that Carol isn’t really living up to her potential. An old friend who . . . well . . . now enjoys her eggnog in the afterlife, you might say. To goad Carol into going back to her former party-hosting ways, said friend sends three of her specter pals to pester Carol. Then, much to Carol’s annoyance, she is visited by the Ghost Hosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future on a plane filled with plenty of holiday revelers. And though Carol only wants to be left alone, the Ghost Hosts have other plans. Instead, they take her on an adventure that wasn’t exactly on her itinerary . . . or printed on her ticket stub. From that moment on, Carol’s life will never be the same. Provided, of course, she survives the jingle-bell rollercoaster of a ride and makes it home in time for Christmas . . .
About the Author: CINDY VINCENT, M.A. Ed., was born in Calgary, Alberta, and has lived all around the US and Canada. She is the creator of the Mysteries by Vincent murder mystery party games and the Daisy Diamond Detective Series games for girls. She is also the award-winning author of the Buckley and Bogey Cat Detective Caper novels and the Daisy Diamond Detective series. She lives in Houston, Texas with her husband and an assortment of fantastic felines.
’Twas the Night Before . . . Well, You Know . . .
Guest post by Cindy Vincent
If Santa had a cat, I’m pretty sure he’d have a Norwegian Forest Cat. Or two. At least, that’s what my brother, Blitzen, and I, Dancer, decided. Probably because we are Norwegian Forest cats. Rescued Norwegian Forest Cats, that is. I’m a calico and he’s a Mackerel tabby. Not only do we have that long, double-layered coat that’s perfect in the snow, but we also like heights, which could certainly come in handy for a middle-of-the-night sleigh run. And to top it off, we’re pretty partial to Santa.
Then again, what cat isn’t?
And no doubt, the question of what kind of cat would accompany Santa is a pretty hotly debated topic among philosophical felines. Especially on Christmas Eve, when everyone is waiting for the big guy in the red suit to show up. Just like Blitzen and I were now. We were both sitting in our beds next to the fireplace mantel, while the last embers of the fire glowed brightly, making the place feel nice and toasty. Meanwhile, our human Mom, Carol, was fast asleep in a wingback chair, the very place she had flopped down about twenty minutes ago, right after her big Christmas party. And our human brother, Joey, was snoring on the couch, with his broken leg propped up on a pillow. Unlike us, Joey wasn’t exactly good with heights, which was probably why he’d fallen off the ladder and broken his leg. While he was trying to decorate the Christmas tree.
Of course, that meant a trip to the Emergency Room, just as our Mom was trying to pull off her very first Christmas party in years. You’ve probably heard of our Mom, Carol Frost? A long, long, long time ago—before Blitzen and I entered the picture—she wrote a book about hosting Christmas parties. She even has a few copies on her shelf in her home office. It’s called The Complete, Total, Ultimate, Everything-You-Might-Possibly-Want-to-Know Guide to Hosting the Best Christmas Parties Ever. Catchy title, huh? Just kind of rolls off the tongue. Apparently her book sold about a gazillion copies and she was on TV and in the paper and all kinds of stuff. I guess she was pretty famous for giving people advice on how to host Christmas parties.
But then she quit hosting those parties, for some reason. From what Blitzen and I could piece together, it sounds like she quit doing what she loved to do and instead went to work for a party-supply company that sold stuff to stores. She traveled a bunch and she really didn’t seem very happy.
Until last night, when our Mom came home from her latest trip, and she was completely determined to host a Christmas party. For the first time in years. Blitzen and I had no idea why. Maybe it had something to do with her wild plane ride she kept talking about. She’d come in mumbling something about “Ghost Hosts.” And she’d also come in loaded with bags of groceries and party things. But let me tell you, it wasn’t easy to pull off a huge Christmas party like that at the last minute. And just when it looked like the whole thing was about to turn into a huge disaster, that’s when our Mom learned how much her book had touched people over the years. In fact, before then, I’m not sure she really knew how much her readers had taken her book to heart.
Just like we had no idea why there was suddenly such a commotion outside. Because out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, that we got off our fuzzy duffs to see what was the matter. Okay, maybe it wasn’t an actual “clatter,” per se. Maybe it was more like a few jingling sleigh bells followed by a sliding sound. But Blitzen and I ran to the door and opened it, since we’re pretty good at that.
And sure enough, there was Santa in all his glory. His white hair and his red suit kind of glowed, and his teeth sparkled when he smiled.
“Ho-ho-ho!” he said to us. “It looks like you’ve had a pretty big party here. Someone’s gone to great fuss!”
“Our Mom did,” Blitzen explained. “So please come on in. There’s decorated sugar cookies and turkey sandwiches and punch and plenty of other treats left.”
“That’s something that I’m very happy to hear,” Santa said with a smile. “Since your Mom made it to the top of my ‘Nice List’ this year.”
“She did?” Blitzen and I both asked at once.
“Oh, yes! She brought holiday cheer to those I hold dear. She’s spread the Spirit of Christmas, from far and wide, and I must admit, that makes me happy inside.” He took a bite of one of our Mom’s artistically decorated sugar cookies. “And so do these!”
When he finished his snacks, he got down to business. He filled all the stockings and left catnip toys with us. Then he headed back for the door, but before he left, I asked him the question that had been there before.
“Santa,” I said. “If you had a cat, what kind would it be?”
He smiled his bright smile and looked right at me. “Why, it would be a cat with long hair, just like both of you there.”
That made me sit up tall, so proud to hear.
But Santa wasn’t finished, and he made himself clear. “Or it might be a tortie who lives down the street. Or it could be a Maine Coon, one who’s so sweet. Or it might be a fat cat, or one who’s petite. Because, you see, I like all cats I meet.”
And with those words he left us and went back to his sleigh. He hollered “Merry Christmas!” as his reindeer flew him up, up and away.
Thank you, Melissa, for hosting me and my
Yes, Carol . . . It’s Christmas! book here today. It’s been a lot of fun. Let me be the first to wish you and Mudpie a very merry Christmas! From Buckley, Bogey, Amelia, and me, we hope you have a high-spirited holiday season that’s filled with excitement and joy!
Giveaway!
Put together your own best-ever Christmas party with this fun “party in a box” giveaway!
Enter for a chance to win a package with the following prizes: a signed copy of Yes, Carol…It’s Christmas! by Cindy Vincent, two Betty Crocker sugar cookie mixes, two cookie cutters, a four-pack of sprinkles, a strand of Christmas lights, and two glass ornaments. Due to shipping costs and varying international laws, this giveaway is open to US residents (age 18 or older) only. Void where prohibited. Good luck!
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