“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” –CS Lewis
At the Spinning Pen, sitting next to a fireplace, a warm drink in hand, a cozy blanket and a stack of books is pretty much our ideal world. Add winter and twinkling lights, and it’s perfection.
That said, we have put together the perfect winter readinglist for you, all of which would make ideal gifts and longterm shelf candy. Enjoy!
THE PERFECT WINTER READING LIST:
Souls as Cold as Frost — for those craving a Narnia type adventure with depth, courage and battles.
Iron Rose — for those craving a unique Beauty and the Beast meets Hunger Games type story. You’ll find a wintery castle, deep healing, powerful connection, and a kingdom to save.
Activated – for those craving epic adventure, northern lights, deep truths, and high stakes. “Teen genius and her band of prodigies team up with unlikely allies to stop a catastrophic satellite breakdown. Global chaos is at stake and so is the boy she loves. (Note: Activated is book 3 in the Calculated series – series in process to be a feature film!)
The Gifting – for those craving a supernatural thriller, on the edge of your seat mystery, and a beautifully done connection/soulmate trope romance.
Once Upon a Christmas Past – for those craving a swoony, whimsical new classic in the vein of A Christmas Carol.
Mammoth – for those craving a GOONIE, Indiana Jones teen adventure!
Suspended in the Stars– for those craving fandoms like Skyward and The Lunar Chronicles, The Greatest Showman or Star Wars in a fast-paced and swoony, no spice YA Science Fantasy space adventure. “A GIRL IN HIDING. A BOY ON THE RUN. THE FATE OF THE GALAXY BETWEEN THEM.”
The Winter King – for those craving a mystery and a village trapped in winter, a tyrannical god, and a girl who will do anything to keep her family alive….
Girl Next Door (All I Want for Christmas series book 1) – Wish Upon a Star meets Its a wonderful life -A boy finds himself caught between a decade-long love for the girl next door and the realization that some wishes are better left unfulfilled.
Christmas on the Goblin Express – for those craving adventure and new perspective — “For Claire Samson, the only way to survive Christmas this year is to escape it.”
Ballad of Never After – for those craving a winter chase, the jaw-dropping sequel to the ONCE UPON A BROKEN HEART, starring Evangeline Fox and the Prince of Hearts on a new journey of magic, mystery, and heartbreak…
Have a NEW YEAR book suggestion we want to feature? EMAIL US!
NOTE: all of these books are no spice and appropriate for 13+
SP: Hi Melissa, we are so excited to interview you! First congratulations on your debut novel! We have read it and are OBSESSED!!!! Few authors go to auction with publishers on their first book but after reading it, we know why!
So, to begin — can you start by telling us how did you first realized you wanted to write a story and become a published author?
MP: I got into writing in a pretty typical way—it started as just a hobby. But the more I figured it out, the more I fell in love with it. Eventually, I started to believe I actually had something worth reading, so I decided to take a shot at traditional publishing. But yeah, it definitely wasn’t an overnight thing. We’re talking a process that took years and years.
SP: How long did it take you to write The Enemy’s Daughter?
MP: I would say about a year to shape it into something I felt comfortable querying to literary agents. Then once it was picked up by my publishers, we went through edits again.
SP: Other than The Enemy’s Daughter being a “Tristan and Isolde reimagining,” is there anything else you drew inspiration from while writing your story, like a film, novel, or song?
MP: Yeah, I absolutely loved the Tristan and Isolde movie with James Franco and Sophia Myles (watch it if you haven’t seen it!), and I can confidently say it sparked in me a deep-seated affection for the legends from the 12th century.
SP: Are there any themes or messages within the story that mean something to you?
MP: Yes. But the tricky part is that most of the themes in The Enemy’s Daughter stem from spoilers or plot twists—and I’m pretty sure people would come for me if I gave those away here. What I can say is that in writing this book, I was processing a lot of my frustrations with real-world events, which led to some tough questions about war, freedom, and what truly makes a great leader.
SP: What would you like readers to know about you and your upcoming novel?
MP: Readers can expect enemies-to-lovers and forbidden love woven into a dystopian world with magic. But within that, it’s also a story about two young people on opposite sides of a war who mess around with a love potion of sorts. So there’s an instant push and pull that’s heavy on the romance as they’re drawn together. But ultimately, they’ll have to choose whether to give in to their bond, or betray the other to save their own people. And if that’s your thing, then you’re my people and THE ENEMY’S DAUGHTER is likely for you!
SP: What do you hope readers will take away from the book?
MP: The story is the embodiment of my favorite tropes, so I hope to make you swoon, gasp, and cackle with laughter (for those of you who know, I’m talking about the tie-him-to-the-tree scene ;). But most of all, I hope to open people’s eyes to the insidious ways that we lose our power and freedom as a society.
SP: Now that you’re officially a published author, what advice would you give aspiring writers?
MP: Oh gosh, there are so many things. But here are three:
Always back up your manuscript.
Check your junk mail regularly when you’re querying. No, seriously—go do it right now.
Build your writing community. Writing doesn’t have to be lonely. Make friends. Critique each other’s work. It’ll make both of you better writers.
SP: What authors do you love and draw inspiration from?
MP: Tahereh Mafi and Sabaa Tahir are two of my favs. Tahereh blew my mind when I read her for the first time because of how deeply she emersed me in the story. That was a class, and I ate it up! Sabaa is the queen of giving you a heart attack as you read. No character is safe. No plot twist too big. I aspire to live up to those standards.
SP: What do you do when writers block strikes or when it’s hard to find inspiration?
MP: I think reading is an excellent option for writer’s block. But when I just don’t know what to write for a scene, listening to music or taking a nap has been surprisingly effective. Sometimes doing both at the same time. Never underestimate your subconscious and its power to solve a lot of your problems if you just give it the space and environment to work it out for you.
SP: Are you currently working on any other exciting projects?
MP: Yes! I’m working on book two. I can’t say a whole lot about it yet, but I can say it will be in the same world with the same magic system!
SP: So where are you hanging out these days where we can find you?
SP: Thanks Melissa for being here with us! For readers, we posted the official synopsis below with an amazon link (although we suggest going to a local bookstore!)
OFFICIAL BLURB:
A stunning reimagining of Tristan and Isolde set in a dystopian world woven with magic. An addictive debut YA enemies-to-lovers romantasy—perfect for fans of Rebecca Ross and Sarah Underwood as well as books like Curious Tides, The Hurricane Wars, and Belladonna.
It’s been thirty-seven years since the Republic was destroyed. Now two settlements—the five clans and the Kingsland—fight for control of the untainted land. Though the five clans are outnumbered, they’ve finally struck, killing Kingsland’s brutal leader.
In the war that follows, Isadora, an eighteen-year-old healer, risks her life to help injured soldiers. But when she stops an attack from Tristan, a Kingsland assassin, his soldiers shoot her with a poisoned arrow. As Isadora lies dying, Tristan does the unimaginable: He offers to save her life using a rare magic.
In choosing to live, Isadora is unknowingly bound to the mysterious Tristan. Worse, even acknowledging the attraction between them allows him to glean fragments of her memories and the very knowledge he needs to destroy the five clans. But their magical connection works both ways. So to save her people, Isadora will have to open her heart to her most cunning enemy. Because in a race for ultimate survival, she’ll need to destroy Tristan and his people first.
Hey Spinning Pen Readers and Writers! We have a treat for you today! Debut Author, Sarina Louise is going to share her writing journey from The Young Writer’s Workshop to the highly-praised ‘Author Conservatory’ and getting published in the Voices of the Future Anthology.
SP: Hi S! We’re so excited to have you here on the Spinning Pen! Tell us all a little bit about you and your writing journey.
SL: Hey SP! Thank you so much for having me; I’m so excited to get to chat with you guys today. That’s a great question. I am 22, almost 23, and I’ve loved stories for as long as I can remember. In fact, when I was a little kid, I used to force my babysitter to write down the ones my sister and I made up. *laughs* but I actually ended up taking a significant break from writing when I was 15, and never thought that I would go back to it. I’ve never been more glad to be wrong.
In 2019, I stumbled on The Young Writer’s Workshop, which is an online writing program that showed me it was possible to pursue writing seriously. From there, I attended The Author Conservatory, which is a three-year college alternative program for gifted writers. I graduated in June of 2024 and am now working on beginning my writing career!
SP: Ok now for the bookish part we’ve been waiting for…tell us about THE POET WHO LIVED ON PICKPOCKET LANE! How did the idea come to you? Favorite parts of writing it?
SL: I love this question so much! I actually came up with the idea for the story on a Zoom call with one of my best friends. I was on deadline to come up with three short story concepts for a school assignment, so I decided to head over to Pinterest. I found a picture of an apartment listing in a newspaper and it said “NO TEENAGERS, PETS, OR POETS”. I’d had a poet character who had been in my head since probably 2021 and as soon as I saw that picture, he came to life and the story was born!
One of my favorite parts of writing this project was working with the poems. I actually always used to say that I would never publish any poetry because, for me at least, I write poems when I am in really vulnerable places and emotions. But this was a whole different process, because I was writing poetry from the perspective of my main character, rather than myself, and was writing poetry on deadline instead of just for fun. It was really difficult, but such a fun exercise to stretch me creatively.
The Poet Who Lived on Pickpocket Lane by Sarina Louise
“Elias Thornbury hasn’t written poetry in a year. Not since his wife, Rosa, passed away. His poems bring memories to life, and he’s not ready for that kind of pain. Then his six-year-old daughter, Nina, asks for a birthday poem. Just like the ones Elias used to write when their family was whole.
Desperate to find new inspiration so his poem doesn’t hurt Nina, Elias embarks on a journey through London. But as memories of Rosa haunt his every step, he must decide whether to continue suppressing his grief, or face it, and realize it’s been love all along.”
SP: Since this is your debut publication, we’d love to hear about what else you have in the works. Can you tell us anything about your other projects?
SL: Oh, that’s such a hard question, because I always want to spill more than I should. *laughs* What I can tell you is that, as a part of The Author Conservatory, I wrote two full length novels (and spawned ideas for many, many more).
One of those novels, which I like to call Project Reaper, is currently in the final editing stages. I’m working on polishing it up and then am planning on pitching it at conferences and querying it in early 2025. “Darker By Four meets Belladonna in a YA paranormal fantasy novel about a girl with cancer and the Grim Reaper who doesn’t want to kill her.” It’s deliciously angsty and swoon worthy and has been such a fun project to work on!
Other than that, I’m juggling a ton of other projects around and letting them percolate and figure themselves out. My main focus right now is starting the pitching process!
SP: You keep mentioning the Author Conservatory. Tell us a little bit about your experience in the program.
SL: *laughs* uh oh, I’ll have to try and keep this answer concise. The Author Conservatory has both a writing track and a business track and is designed to teach students how to have sustainable careers as authors. The short answer to your question is that it was one of the best, and most difficult, things I’ve ever done. It taught me everything I know about marketing, pitching, querying, and business, which were the areas that I struggled the most in.
And the relationships I’ve built with the faculty and students are ones that I hope and pray will be in my life for a very long time. The program is focused around mentorship, which means that I received personalized feedback from writing and business professionals for over three years, and that instruction is something I will treasure for my whole life. It has grown and honed my writing skills, business skills, and me as a person so much.
SP: What are some of the dream goals you’d like to reach?
SL: I love this question so much! I feel like I have career goals, like getting published by a Gig Five publisher, or hitting the NYT Bestseller. But my main dream goal actually has more to do with the type of life that I want to live.
Right now, one of my biggest dream goals is to move to Korea and live there for a bit. I’m not sure for how long, or whether I’d stay there long term, but I am just so fascinated by the culture and the country (and of course, the food). I’ve always wanted to live abroad, ever since I was a little girl. Travel is one of my favorite things and getting to experience new cultures and new people makes my heart so happy.
I know this is probably a different answer than you were expecting, but I feel like I’m a bit more relaxed about my writing career. I’m trusting that I’m where I’m supposed to be and letting the doors open naturally and organically.
SP: How did you decide to write this short story as an Adult story, when your novel is Young Adult?
SL: I wish I had a super intellectual answer for this, but *laughs* that was sort of an accident. Because of the premise of the story, where Elias has to write a poem for his daughter, I needed Nina to be old enough to understand the poem and also the fact that she’d lost her mother. Therefore, Elias would need to be older, since he and Rosa married before they had Nina. So Elias just wasn’t in the age bracket that would make him a YA protagonist, so the story naturally fell in the Adult category. The themes and the writing style also put it more in the Adult category anyway, so it all ended up working out!
SP: Time for the lightning round! Early bird or night owl?
SL: Oh, night owl, 100%. I love staying up late and have spent a lot of this month curled up on my Yogibo in my bedroom, writing away. I find that I write my best prose wicked late at night. It’s great for my writing, but not so great for my sleep schedule.
SP: Most obscure hobby?
SL: I’m not even sure I really have hobbies, let alone an obscure one. But I love to travel, meet new people, and see the world. I do also really enjoy K-pop and K-dramas, but I think those are more full-time jobs than hobbies.
SP: Word you can never spell? This may be a trick question.
SL: This is such a funny question because I was JUST talking to my mom about a word that I hate spelling, but have to write basically every day for my job. It makes me feel like a failure as a writer. But I just cannot spell the word “entrepreneurship” correctly. I never get it on the first try and it frustrates me so much.
SP: Alright, time’s up! We’re so sad to see you go! BUT…there’s way more where this came from.To check out SL’s book, go HERE. To connect with her on Instagram, go HERE. To check out her website, go HERE. Thank you so much for your time, SL!
SL: Thank you so much for having me! This was so much fun.
Hey Readers and Writers! It’s time for a lovely debut indie author interview to kick off our month of December! Her book just released and she was even interviewed on TV! We’d loved her premise, and we think you will too…check it out!
SP: Hi Rebecca! We’re so excited to have you here on the Spinning Pen! Tell us all a little bit about you and your writing journey.
RA: Thank you! I have been writing for over a decade now and love multiple genres. I have projects I’m working on varying from kids’ picture books, MG scifi, YA fantasy, and adult dystopian novels. And if that isn’t enough, I love to change it up by writing screenplays. My favorite part of any book is the character growth. I think that’s what draws me to stories in the first place.
SP: Ok now for the bookish part we’ve been waiting for…tell us about 12 Days to Christmas! How did the idea come to you? Favorite parts of writing it?
RA: In 12 Days to Christmas, holiday festivities and the history of Dec 25 come together in a sweet romance filled with heart. Mira, while grieving the loss of her mother, leads her small town’s Christmas festival, linking each community event with something that happened in history on Dec 24-25. She doesn’t expect a widower and his three sons to help her heal and find the joy and magic of the season.
12 Days to Christmas is different from any of my previous works because it’s a contemporary sweet romance! I love it though because it ties in so many elements, from dealing with grief during the holidays, to intriguing historical facts, and an eclectic mix of antique and vintage finds.
I can’t remember exactly how the idea came to me but it was probably while I was watching Hallmark Christmas movies and wondering if I could branch my writing into another genre.
SP: Since you write YA as well, how did you decide to debut with an adult romance?
RA: This story is ready to be told! 12 Days to Christmas has been whispering to my heart for a while that I need to share it with others. Every step of its publication journey has solidified that belief…it’s no longer my story but it belongs to those who read it and connect with its message.
SP: How did you decide to self publish? What are some of the dream goals you’d like to reach?
RA: Choosing to self-publish took me a long time to accept because I believed a lot of the lies, wanted validation, and was literally terrified of marketing, haha. BUT when I finally took the plunge…it was FREEING! I get to choose the title, the cover, the release date, where & when I sell it. Having full creative control is liberating and I am really loving the process! To break down one of the lies of self-publishing: “not edited well” – I edited 12 Days to Christmas with a fine tooth comb and perfected everything I could. There might still be a little wiggle room for human error – but that’s just to prove I’m not AI. As for validation, my early readers have enjoyed it! Although it hasn’t been released yet, I’ve already had reviews like “This book was written for me” and that means more than a corporation stamping their approval. I write for real people, not mega-businesses seeking profits. As for marketing…I’ll answer that in the next question…
One important step in encouraging me that I could self-publish successfully was watching two of my writing group buddies do amazing with their own books! So this is a special shout out to Callie McLay and her book What If We Met in A Bookstore, because her guidance made my dream become a reality! I’m also thankful for Nova McBee, Candace Kade, and M.T. Solomon for their support! If you haven’t read their books yet – go read them! Having friends who are writers has been pivotal in encouragement, pursuing publication, and ultimately being able to share 12 Days to Christmas with you!
SP: What’s one or two craft techniques or marketing tips you would recommend to other writers? (We LOVE your reels by the way!)
RA: Marketing has been a learning curve but it’s becoming fun! (Although I can’t wait til January when I can just hibernate the entire month, lol).
I knew the 12 historical events in 12 Days to Christmas needed Reels to explain the history in the book. Those, paired with the fun I’m having on Canva, has been a creative outlet that I enjoy sharing with others.
Little tidbits: Many times my cameraman is one of my sons. My 11yo son edited my first reel! They also helped inspire some of the characters in the book.
The main marketing tip I’ve learned from other writers and have tried to practice myself is: Have fun! I keep it interesting by changing up my outfits or decorating for Christmas in September. And on the days it’s difficult, I’ve learned that pushing myself to learn and do something new is rewarding. While I dreaded the idea of making videos and showing my face on SM, it’s actually been growing easier and I’m finding enjoyment in it…especially when I can act goofy.
SP: You’re a YA fiction writer and a screenwriter too. Tell us about this?
RA: I have a YA fantasy dragon trilogy I’ve been working on for several years and will publish it when I have the series complete. I also love writing screenplays because I can write a story the way I visualize it. In fact, I finished the screenplay of 12 Days to Christmas before I completed the novel! If anyone is interested in partnering to make it a movie, let me know 😉
SP: Time for the lightning round! Early bird or night owl?
RA: Night owl ALLLL the way. Don’t ever wake me up before 10am, LOL
SP: Most obscure hobby?
RA: I’m a homeschool mom and writer so I don’t have lots of free time for hobbies but I do spend more time than I should watching videos: especially dashcam footage of crazy drivers and home inspectors showing all kinds of messed up houses. Does that count?
I also love watching kdramas, going thrifting, and sleeping in.
SP: Word you can never spell? This may be a trick question.
RA: Definitely. (Thank goodness for autocorrect!) Also, “horsdeouvres”…those tiny snack bites before a meal, haha.
SP: Alright, time’s up! We’re so sad to see you go! BUT…there’s way more where this came from. Where can we go to read more from you?
RA: I’m on instagram @rebeccaalexandruauthor and have all my links in my bio. Check out my website for free coloring pages and a new, exciting gift soon! (Hint: it’s connected to 12 Days to Christmas and vintage styles)
Thanks so much for your time RA! To check out RA’s series, go HERE. To connect with her on Instagram go HERE. Check out her website go HERE.
SP: Can you tell us a little about you and your writing journey?
RG: Thank you so much for having me!
I currently live in the beautiful forests of North Carolina, although I grew up on the plains of the Texas panhandle. I’ve written stories since I knew how to write; one of my early ones was about a girl who got turned into an ant. Thankfully I never finished that one!
SP: Hi Vanessa! We’re so excited to have you here on the Spinning Pen! We would love for you to tell us all a little bit about you and your writing journey. How did you get your start?
VB: Hi! Thank you so much! I’m so excited to be here! I first started writing after I graduated from grad school. I was confused as to where I wanted my life to go and used writing as a way to cope through some difficult times. It was a wonderful outlet and I never would’ve thought so many stories would emerge from that time.
SP: Awesome! Now for some bookish conversation…First off, congratulations on revealing the beautiful cover of your upcoming book, FORTIFIED, which we can now preorder! Can you tell us more about it?
Add official blurb:
Devora’s perfect future shatters. Instead of attending Vlacklear Academy, she is sent to the Fortress—a prison holding murderers and thieves that make up the soldiers in His Majesty’s Army. She fears it is the end of her.
Suppressing her forbidden Seeing abilities, Devora is thrust into the role of soldier, and must learn to defend herself while avoiding Warden Hazor and his ruthless right-hand man, Captain Blake.
When Devora’s Seeing abilities are exposed, she’s thrown into a tournament to win her right to live. She must turn to Captain Blake for help or be slaughtered like all the other Seers before her.
VB: Yes! I’m so excited about this book because it encompasses so many bookish themes I love. Fortified is inspired by the story of Deborah in the book of Judges, but mashed with inspiration of Mulan with a little sprinkling of Pride and Prejudice. It’s a wild mix of themes, but I love how they came together!
SP: Talk to us about fantasy and worldbuilding–how do you build your worlds?
VB: When I first started writing, it was difficult not to dump a whole bunch on information in the beginning of the story. Over time, I’ve learned to drip in little pieces of information about the world until the reader has the whole image without realizing it.
SP: As an award winning author of Heartmender, and its sequel, Heartbreaker, you already have two books under your belt. What was different about writing a new series? In which ways did you find that you grew as an author?
VB: At first I wasn’t sure if I could move on to new characters. I had grown close to Addie and the others in the Heartmaker Trilogy. But as I started writing about Devora, Captain Blake, and a slew of new characters, I began to fall more in love with them and couldn’t stop until I knew what happened in their stories.
I definitely feel like my style of writing has matured. I’ve learned how to describe emotions and action more fluidly than before.
SP: Can you tell us a bit more about your writing process?
VB: Haha, it’s a bit of a mess, which is completely the opposite of who I am as a person. I am an extreme type-A who runs off of lists and sticky notes. But when I write, I only know basic plot points and let the story unfold as I type. I’m a totally pantser all the way!
SP: What is one craft technique or marketing tip you would recommend to other writers?
VB: Reach out to other authors who write in similar genres as you. It doesn’t have to be exactly the same (i.e. you can both write YA not YA Fantasy). Create a community with others. My publisher now used to be one of my ARC readers for Heartmender! You never know where the relationships you make will lead!
SP: You recently signed with Quill and Flame publishers! Congratulations! What is one tip for writers interested in working with an indie press?
VB:Thank you so much! A tip would be to do your research on what presses you want to work. As an indie author, I work very close with my publisher and I’m so thankful we have a great relationship! When sending out proposals, be sure to only submit to places you really want to work with!
SP: Time for the lightning round! Early bird or night owl?
VB: Early bird!
SP: Most obscure hobby?
VB: I am secretly (not so secretly!) obsessed with Webtoons!
SP: Word you can never spell? This may be a trick question.
VB: Definitely. I always second guess myself on it 😛
SP: Alright, time’s up! We’re so sad to see you go! BUT…there’s way more where this came from. Where can we go to read more from you?
VB: Thank you so much for having me! This was so much fun! You can sign up for my newsletter for book updates and exciting things happening: HERE
All my books are sold where books are sold and you can get signed copies through the Quill & Flame Etsy shop!
Only a few more days to National Novel Writing Month! Computers are revving, crowds are cheering.
In my household, the young wrimos are eager-eyed and ready to go. Emotionally ready, that is. Not in the sense of having any real idea about their plot or characters. And that’s okay, of course. The beauty of NaNoWriMo is its freewheeling nature. The founder’s book title says it all: No Plot? No Problem! Start somewhere, keep writing, and see where you end up.
SP: Welcome Gabriela! Before we get into all things DIY MFA, your book, podcast and vision, we would love to hear a bit about you and your writing life! What’s the backstory? What launched you into this writing-DIY journey?
DIY MFA began as an experiment. I was graduating from a traditional MFA program and I loved the program so much I did not want to graduate. So, I was sitting in a rickety old wooden pew of a West Village church for the graduation ceremony and I half expected the skies to part and beams of light to shine down through the stained glass windows and for the literary gods to whisper from on high, “You are now a writer.”
SP: Hi Tara! We’re so excited to have you here on the Spinning Pen! Can you tell us a little about you and your writing journey? How did you get your start? TG: You know that kid who brings a book everywhere? That was me. (My guess is that everyone reading this interview was the same way!) In high school, I wrote as much as I could: on napkins, scraps of paper, pocket notebooks.
In a society where everyone’s DNA determines their destiny, being a Natural means automatic relegation to the gritty and dangerous Outskirts. With the harnessed power of gene-editing, the ability to create a super-human race has transformed the world and offered the opportunity of a genetically enhanced life. But only to those who can afford it.
The Spinning Pen 