A Christmas party with Stacey Claus, aka Stacey Joy Netzel

Hello and welcome to The Author Roast and Toast. Today we are having a Christmas party with

STACEY JOY NETZEL

And to celebrate her Christmas books, the theme is Mistletoe and Holly! So gather round the bonfire where it’s warm and toasty. There are plenty of winter activities to keep you busy and plenty to eat and drink. But before our guest of honor arrives in the Santa sleigh, let’s take a stroll around the acres to see the show of lights.

Stars sparkle like jewels on a blanket of midnight blue. The cold North wind blows through the bristly branches of the towering pines, twinkle lights flickering in the dark like fireflies. Snowflakes dust the ground in a fleecy soft white, getting one and all in the spirit of Christmas.

The Three Chipmunks, Alvin, Melvin and Theodore, skate around the frozen pond, singing in high-pitch voices, “Hurry, Christmas, hurry fun!”

From the log cabin, smoke billows from the chimney, singeing the crisp night air with the smell of birch. And inside, where it’s warm and toasty, a decadent dessert buffet has been arranged by Oliver. The candles flicker in the mirrored wall behind the buffet, bathing the heavenly desserts in celestial light.

Among the succulent treats are apple pie, pumpkin pie, cheese cake, chocolate chiffon mousse, nut rolls and pumpkin rolls. And artistically arranged on the snowman dish are gingersnaps, chocolate chips, sugar cookies, fudge brownies, buck eyes, and peanut butter cookies. Candy dishes are filled to the brim with chocolate kisses, pecan turtles, chocolate-covered nuts and caramels and peanut brittle. Sterling silver carafes of hot chocolate, coffee and tea wait to be sampled, along with the hot buttered rum punch and hot toddies. And not to worry, there is plenty of ice cream in the freezer to complement Oliver’s apple pie!

Across the room, a birch wood log snaps and crackles in the hearth, its brilliant orange flames going up like a sorcerer’s fire.

And in the center of the log cabin, Sharon, Lyn and Mary, donned as little elves in their pointed green hats, green vests and matching slacks, and wooden clogs with jingle bells on the tips, work their magic while trimming the tree with glee. With their jack-be-nimbl e fingers, they hang beautiful blown glass ornaments, candy canes, pop corn and lots of twinkle lights.

With mischievous grins, glowing cheeks and right eyes, they hang mistletoe in every doorway, giggling like the fools they are. Sprigs of fresh and fragrant holly trim the doorway. Once satisfied, they stand back and admire their handy work and burst into song.
"Oh by gosh, by golly, it’s time for mistletoe and holly
Tasty desserts, Christmas presents,
Countrysides covered with snow.
Oh by gosh, by jingle,
It’s time for carols and Kris Kringle,
Overeating, merry greetings
From relatives you don’t know.
Then comes that big night,
Giving the tree a trim
You’ll hear voices by starlight
Singing Yuletide hollers
Oh by gosh, by golly,
It’s time for mistletoe and holly,
Fancy ties and Oliver’s pies
And guests stealing a kiss or two
As they whisper Merry Christmas to you!"

Hearing sleigh bells jingle outside, the little elves scamper down to the entrance gate, wooden clogs clunking, toe bells tinkling in their wake. The giant snowmen waves as Santa Oliver and Stacey Claus swoop down from the star-lit sky. Cuddles the red-nose unicorn, leads the way with his glowing horn. Junior, in keeping with his name of Dancer, kicks up his booted hooves in the snow as the sleigh skids to a smooth landing. And then with a robust “Ho ho ho,” Santa Oliver, hops out of his sleigh, eyes twinkling as his jolly laughter rolls through the woods and into the forest, his belly shaking like a bowl full of jelly as he lends a hand to Stacey Claus.

Stacey Joy Netzel, dressed in a red velvet gown and Santa cap, waves at the snowman and at her fans, blowing them kisses, her eyes oh so bright.

Welcome to the party! Do a little ice skating or take a ride in the Santa sleigh. But above all, have fun with Stacey and enjoy the rich blend of desserts. And don’t forget, the minute you walk through the cabin door, you’ll be walking under the mistletoe. And we all know what that means.

Oops, Oliver is already planting one on Stacey’s sweet lips!

Now for the question: How did the legend of the kissing under the mistletoe get started? Leave a comment and you have a chance to win one of Stacey’s books. In fact, Stacey Claus is feeling so generous this holiday season, she’s giving two of them away. Good luck! The winner will be announced Saturday.

PRIZE: 2 winners get an e-download of Stacey's other Christmas novella. 'Dragonfly Dreams'

Now, have some hot buttered rum and enjoy the party and hearing about 'Mistletoe Rules'!

MISTLETOE RULES - BLURB:

Christmas recipe for love—combine a matchmaking Santa, lots of mistletoe, one iron-clad rule, fated hearts; mix and stir. The Riley siblings don't stand a chance.

Mistletoe Mischief: Christmas in July at the zoo is the last place single parents Eric Riley and Marissa Wilder expect to find love. Thanks to some mistletoe mischief in the form of their two young daughters and Santa, they discover Mistletoe Rules were not made to be broken.

Mistletoe Magic: Major Mark Riley plays Court Jester to Janelle Walsh's Snow Queen at the Christmas Parade and is instantly captivated by the cute redhead whose grandpa just happens to be Santa. When Mark learns she's the tenant he evicted from his newly purchased property, it's going to take a little bit of Santa's mistletoe magic to save their romance.

Mistletoe Matchup: When Lisa Riley comes home for Mark's Christmas Eve wedding, her high school rivalry with Janelle's cousin, Derek Walsh, picks up right where it left off, only this time Derek's got the upper hand. Santa bides his time as they battle it out because he's waited a whole year for this mistletoe match-up.

EXCERPT from Mistletoe Mischief:

“Daddy, you’re under the mistletoe.”

Eric glanced up at a sprig of leaves and holly berries attached to the roof of the cart, then dropped his gaze to Marissa’s. “So we are,” he murmured.

Her face flushed, but he couldn’t tell if it was from embarrassment, or anticipation of a kiss. He knew the reason his pulse raced like an out of control locomotive.

“You have to kiss her,” Reese stated.

God Bless you, Reese.

Santa laid his arm across the back of the front passenger seat and craned his head around, his brown eyes twinkling. “‘Tis tradition.”

“It’s the rule,” Reese argued, frowning at Santa before turning back to Eric. “You say so every Christmas when we stand in the doorway at Grandma’s.”

“I do, don’t I?”

Reese nodded emphatically. “Every year.”

Eric faced Marissa and sighed with exaggerated reluctance. “I might’ve been able to buck tradition, but a rule’s a rule.”

www.staceyjoynetzel.com

Chasin' Mason...Available now! from TWRP
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/chasin-mason-p-1181.html

RELEASED NOVEMBER 20th: MISTLETOE RULES
A Christmas anthology from TWRP Nov. 20, 2009Stacey Joy Netzel fell in love with books at a young age, so for her it seemed natural to graduate to writing them. She credits not only her parents for encouraging her dreams of becoming a published author, but also the very talented friends she’s made in WisRWA since joining in 2004. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and kids, a couple of horses, and six barn cats. When not writing and living life in general, she loves to read and watch movies—Happily Ever Afters a must. Published books with The Wild Rose Press include: Mistletoe Rules, If Tombstones Could Talk (paranormal novella), Welcome to Redemption (contemporary anthology with Donna Marie Rogers), Dragonfly Dreams (Christmas novella), and Chasin’ Mason (contemporary western).

AND THE WINNER IS.....

CINDY GREEN!

Congratulations to Cindy on winning a copy of Beth Trissel's 'Somewhere My Love', and thanks as always to everyone who stopped by, especially those who left a comment and helped to make the day so much fun.

Don't for forget to visit us again next Friday when we'll be roasting another victim, er guest!

Today Beth Trissel stands ready to be Roasted and Toasted

The mist swirls about and shadows flicker as we wait in front of the beautiful Antebellum style mansion where we are holding Beth Trissel's Roast and Toast. I am afraid to look around me, there are so many spectres all about. Double porticoes are supported by four massive white columns and stately gardens surround the plantation, a remnant of romance in a bygone era.

Magnolia and Southern Blue Gum trees fill the massive gardens and huge Live Oak Trees line the entry to the courtyard where we wait. The mansion reeks of American Gothic.
Spooky! I swear there are ghosts here. The grounds are so frightening! I'm not walking around out here alone, I swear!

Lyn, Sharon and Mary wait to welcome Beth to a wonderful Southern Ball which we have arranged for her. The massive ballroom is filled with guests who await Beth's arrival. The mansion is loaded with rooms filled with Queen Anne tables and chairs, sideboards, hutches and Red Damask wallpaper adorns the walls. Each room if filled with guests. Some of them ghosts of the past, it's hard to tell them from the real guests. How do they take corporal form like that?

There will be many more ghosts, and Beth mentioned a mysterious dagger, to tell you the truth I'm a little scared. There is a murderer amongst the guests, that would make anyone nervous. Who could it be? Would they murder someone tonight?!? Now I'm gettin' nervous.

Oliver took care of the food. His famous red velvet cake and its luscious cream cheese icing calls to me. He has prepared massive amounts of fried chicken, turnip greens, mustard greens, cornbread, fluffy buttermilk biscuits, roasted fresh ham to go along with the tables of deserts that include my favorites, buttermilk, pecan and sweet potato pies, I couldn't take the temptation and had to leave the area where the refreshments are when I saw the wonderful Southern foods. Yummy.

"Lyn, Sharon, I'm a bit worried about the knife Beth mentioned. Is someone after her with a knife? Or could they be after one of us? What the heck is going on? She actually mentioned there would be a murderer here tonight." Mary anxiously faces her friends and cohorts.

"Mary you worry too much, everything will be fine." Sharon always thinks positive. But Lyn she shares my worries.

"Oliver has hired a team of ghoul/human creatures that will be guarding the premises. Junior is in charge of security. His team of wolves are trained to pick out their natural enemy, the werewolf. Cuddles uses his magic to keep watch. By the way Mary. One look at a werewolf or a shifter of any kind and we'll run for the hills," she whispers.


"I know, I know." Mary shakes her head and looks toward the drive, where the arrival of a carriage and the clop of horses' hooves approach. "It's the threat of poison in the punch. The mention of wolfs bane that has me worried. Too late now here she is."

A shiny black carriage with matching black Friesians pulls to a halt in front of them. Out steps Beth, she is a vision in her green ball gown with it's daring decolletage.
Beth descends, just as Oliver shows up. He is out of breath and pushes the three of us out of his way as he drools watching Beth twirl her lovely dress and turn to him with a wink. He passes out cold.

"Thank goodness we got that out of the way." Sharon's laugh brings a chuckle to us all, he's done worse after all. After hugs and hellos we enter the mansion and huge double doors are open to a beautiful spectacle. Couples dance as the women show off their gowns. Several men try to crowd Beth, but we are able to pull her to a lovely curved arm fainting couch. All around the room candlelight flickers, even the daunting staircase is lit with candles, they add an errie mood to the elegant Gothic mansion.

Lyn hands Beth her dance card and Sharon makes sure she gets a large iced glass of spiked punch. Oliver brings it to her after Cuddles touches the punch with his horn and verifies it's safe to drink. Junior has been sitting next to the punch bowl since Oliver put it on the table. As long as he stays there...

Lyn speaks up reminding me to post a blurb and an excerpt of Beth's wonderful book Somewhere My Love. Oliver reads it with tears in his eyes.

'Star-crossed lovers have a rare chance to reclaim the love cruelly denied them in the past, but can they grasp this brief window in time before it is too late? Newly arrived at Foxleigh, the gracious old Wentworth home in Virginia, British born Julia Morrow is excited at the prospect of a summer working as a guide in the stately houseand herb garden. She quickly discovers the historic plantation holds far more. She becomes obsessed with the portrait of handsome Cole Wentworth, killed in a quarrelover the lovely English lady, Julia Maury, two hundred years ago. Then she meets his double, William, the only remaining Wentworth heir.

Somehow, Julia must persuade Will that their fates are entwined with those of Cole Wentworth and Julia Maury,and that the man who killed his ancestor has returned to enact the deadly cycle again, or she will lose him twice. The blade is about to fall.Star-crossed lovers, flashbacks to early 18th century Virginia, ghostly, murder mystery,light paranormal romance, Gothic flavors…SOMEWHERE MY LOVE.

Excerpt from SOMEWHERE MY LOVE:

A cold finger laid its icy touch on Julia and ran down the length of her spine. “How

did it happen?”

“He’s said to have been run through by the very man who made that mark on the door. A Mr. Cameron. Scottish fellow he was, back in…” Mrs. Hensley pursed her thin lips, blue eyes distant. “Ah, yes, 1806. Some fuss over a woman.”

“How dreadful. What about Mr. Cameron?”

“The friend of a neighbor, I believe. He escaped and was never found. No justice was ever done in the matter.”

Julia hesitated, then asked, “And the woman?”

“Heartbroken, poor thing. She returned to England. She was a guest of the Wentworth family and greatly enamored of Cole. All the young ladies were, but he had a particular fascination with this girl.”

“Why was she so special?”

“Apart from her legendary beauty? She had an angelic quality about her. Or so the story goes.”

An irrational jealousy twanged a jarring note in Julia. In the space of a few short minutes she’d fallen in love with the man in the portrait—typical of her impractical nature and unlikely to advance her nonexistent love life. And yet, she couldn’t help plunging into this sweet madness.

She tore her eyes from the painting. “Do you recall the lady’s name?”

Mrs. Hensley gave a little laugh. She tapped a finger to her furrowed forehead. “Isn’t that odd? It was Julia something…hmmmm.”

Was Mrs. Hensley teasing her? She had to know.

“I’ve got it. Julia Maury,” the guide continued and arched graying brows. “You’re from England, aren’t you, Miss Morrow? Tread with care here, my girl. We don’t want you stirring up any ghosts. Foxleigh has enough already.”

“No,” Julia said, reaching out to the dresser to steady herself. Without meaning to, she suspected she’d already stirred up some force beyond her understanding.'

"Wonderful excerpts Beth." Mary tries to speak above the din of the massive crowd. But it's useless. Finally Beth stands and offers a wave to the many avid readers and fans who are attending this ball. A loud cheer fills the room and the stamping of may feet literally shakes the floor.

"Beth Trissel! Beth Trissel!" Cheers all around are suddenly silenced and all eyes are glued to her. All those in the room wait for Beth to speak.

AND THE WINNER IS.....

BETH TRISSEL!

Congratulations Beth, I'm sure you're going to enjoy 'Snowkissed'!
Please email Cindy at cindy@cindykgreen.com so she can send it to you.