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Author Spotlight,  Giveaway,  Hope-filled Fiction

Spotlight: A Kringle Family Christmas by Miriam Thor & a Giveaway

A Kringle Family Christmas is special to me because I included themes that have been important in my own life. Bethany, the female main character, wrestles with grief and perfectionism, while Jay, the male lead, struggles with self-doubt and finding God’s will for his future. Though my exact situation is quite different from theirs, I have dealt with all of these issues over the course of my Christian walk. I enjoyed writing characters with similar struggles.

While writing A Kringle Family Christmas, I also decided to include some details from my own life. After the family gets the Christmas tree, Bethany’s brother, Matt, tells Jay that their tree tells the story of their life. He goes on to explain that every ornament on their tree has sentimental value. Some represent specific events, while others were made by the family members themselves. This is exactly like the tree we had at my house growing up and the one I put up every year in my house to this day. My mom, like Bethany’s, even has a box of wooden ornaments that my brother and I colored when we were young.

I also included an event very similar to one that happened to my family years ago. In the novel, teenagers across the street almost set the Kringles’ house on fire while shooting fireworks their father bought for New Year’s Eve. One firework accidentally flies toward the Kringles’ roof and sets some pine straw on fire. The boys rush over. One boosts the other up, and he manages to get the pine straw off the house before the roof catches fire. When I was a kid, my family and I were shooting fireworks with other families in our neighborhood, and this exact situation happened. Thankfully, my dad and one of the other men managed to do just like the teens in the story to prevent a serious fire.

Near the end of A Kringle Family Christmas, Jay makes oatmeal muffins for Bethany and her family. Oatmeal muffins are a family favorite that my parents still make when I visit. I included the recipe at the end of the book, so others can enjoy it as well.

I believe these personal tidbits add a lot to the story. I hope readers will enjoy A Kringle Family Christmas as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Visit the Hope-filled Fiction blog and leave a comment on @Miriam_Thor17‘s spotlight post by 12/17 for a chance to win an ebook of A Kringle Family Christmas! #giveaway

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A Kringle Family Christmas book cover

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Bethany Kringle is planning to skip Christmas, like she has both years since her mom died. She thinks it’s the perfect plan… until her brother, Matt, tells her he’s taking leave from the Navy to come home for Christmas. And he’s bringing his friend, Jay, with him. Now, Bethany must fight through her grief to give them the best Christmas possible.

Jay MacDonald is afraid that God wants him to leave the Navy, the only place he has ever belonged. He’s also nervous about spending Christmas with his friend’ s family, until he meets Matt’s sister who helps put him at ease. Jay immediately notices the grief Bethany is trying to hide and resolves to help her in any way he can.

As Jay supports Bethany, the two can’t help being drawn to each other. Could God use this Christmas to bring them both peace and possibly bring them together as well?

Miriam Thor started writing in second grade and never stopped. Her first (unpublished) book was an illustrated children’s book about seals that is probably still on her mom’s shelf.

Currently, she lives in Alabama with her husband and six adorable cats and has a day job as a sign language interpreter. Her published works include Listening to the Rain, A Kringle Family Christmas, and Her First Noel.

Connect with Miriam: Website / Facebook / X / Instagram / TikTok

Miriam Thor headshot

As a Jesus girl for more than thirty years, Deena Adams understands how important hope is to daily life, which fuels her passion to inspire others through hope-filled fiction based on true to life stories. She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency and is a multi-award-winning writer, an active ACFW member, and ACFW Virginia president. Connect with Deena through her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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