Lowcountry Christmas Archives - Mary Alice Monroe

A MOVIE, A BOOK, AND HOLIDAY GREETING OF GRATITUDE

December 4, 2017 by Mary Alice Monroe 8 Comments

This is the holiday season of love and gratitude. I have much to be thankful for this year!

Thanks to YOU, dear readers, my novel Beach House for Rent climbed to #9 on the New York Times Best Seller List. I’m currently writing a new novel, Beach House Reunion, the continuation of the Beach House Series, available May 22nd. And the Hallmark Channel will air the TV movie adaptation of The Beach House as a Hallmark Hall of Fame Movie in the spring!

I saw a commercial for the movie the other night on the Hallmark Channel. It was quite the fun surprise! Click here to see it, too.

MAKING CHRISTMAS EVE MEMORIES

December 23, 2016 by Mary Alice Monroe 6 Comments

Christmas Eve is the most magical, wonder-filled night of the year. We always went to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. Back in the day, we had to fast before receiving holy communion so we were all starving by the time we returned home. After a snack we were allowed to open ONE present. With the tree surrounded with presents (I am one of ten children!) picking one was both exciting and difficult. We’d fall asleep by the tree, Christmas music in our ears, like a pile of puppies.

A HOLIDAY MESSAGE FROM MY HOME TO YOURS

December 22, 2016 by Mary Alice Monroe 8 Comments

Festive lights at the Isle of Palms

My dear reader,

I cherish this time of year. Not for the gaiety and decorations, festivities or gifts. Those things are nice. But what I like best is the nostalgia that comes with preparing for this season. Old Christmas ornaments and decorations pulled from dusty boxes bring back memories of family members and loved ones.

The act of receiving and sending greeting cards makes me reminiscent of all the people I’ve come in contact with who make life more meaningful. And seeing a widespread desire among many to do something especially kind and charitable for others. These are a few of the things that fill my heart this time of year.

A HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY INSPIRED BY SWEETGRASS BASKETRY

November 25, 2016 by Mary Alice Monroe 11 Comments

There is a small stretch of Highway 17 not far from my house called the ‘Sweetgrass Corridor’, where dozens of sweetgrass stands line both sides of the road, with artisans sitting on metal folding chairs, weaving a new creation that is an art form more than 300 years old.

I am lucky enough to own a few of these prized baskets, which I proudly display in my office. They are investments, just like buying an original painting and sculpture. This particular form of basket making is an African American tradition that has been taught by mother to daughter to grandchild in South Carolina for generations. The baskets are made from the indigenous plant sweetgrass, which is disappearing from the coastal landscape because of growing development. Several years ago, I even wrote the novel Sweetgrass based on this historical art form.

LAUNCHING A MISSION IN HONOR OF VETERANS

November 12, 2016 by Mary Alice Monroe Leave a Comment

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Thank you, veterans … my heroes.

Words fail to convey our heartfelt appreciation for the selfless commitment and sacrifice made by our veterans and their families to protect our freedom. I hope my sincerity and gratitude ring true when I say a simple Thank you.

Now we can put our words to action! I’m excited to announce a special mission done in partnership with my publisher, Gallery Books, and Operation Gratitude. We are kicking off the Lowcountry Christmas Letter Campaign. It’s a small task with big meaning.

Between now and December 3rd, I’m asking my readers to write a letter to our heroes to let them know we care about them and appreciate them this holiday season. Our letters will be included in care packages that will be sent by Operation Gratitude to deployed troops, veterans, first responders, and wounded warriors. Invite your family and friends, neighbors and colleagues to join us in this letter writing campaign. Colorful drawings (especially by kids) are welcomed and encouraged!

When your letter is ready, mail it to this address (postmarked by December 3rd):

Mary Alice Monroe Lowcountry Christmas Letter Campaign
c/o Gallery Books
Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 13th floor
New York, NY 10020

CLICK HERE for the full details, which includes tips to help you get started if you don’t know what to say. If you want to include items beyond letters and drawings, there’s information about that too.

We’ll get an update by mid-December from my publisher about how many letters were sent for our letter writing campaign. I’m giddy with excitement knowing that together we will all be spreading a little joy to those who deserved to be thanked for their service and bravery.

I’m so proud that Gallery Books will donate boxes of A LOWCOUNTRY CHRISTMAS for Operation Gratitude as well. In addition Gallery will randomly select readers who contribute to our letter writing campaign to win a copy of my holiday novel. Again, CLICK HERE for all the details.

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In stores now

In A LOWCOUNTRY CHRISTMAS a wounded warrior and his younger brother discover the true meaning of Christmas in this timeless story of family bonds. I dedicated this book to my favorite veteran, my son.

Proud parents of a Marine

And I wrote A LOWCOUNTRY CHRISTMAS with all of our veterans in my heart. This novel is special to me because it raises awareness about the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on veterans and their families. It also delivers a strong message of hope and inspiration for all, especially for those currently battling PTSD.

At no greater time than the holidays are hope and inspiration needed, and together, we can help spread the spirit of Christmas around the world to our heroes this season through this special letter-writing mission.

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THE INSPIRATION BEHIND “A LOWCOUNTRY CHRISTMAS”

October 13, 2016 by Mary Alice Monroe 10 Comments

I’ve been dreaming about Christmas since July! Seriously.

In less than two weeks, Gallery Books will release my first ever holiday novel, A LOWCOUNTRY CHRISTMAS. This is a story I’d been wanting to write for a few years, and when the opportunity finally came, I was surprised by how quickly I wrote it. It’s one of those books that flowed from my heart and mind through my fingertips to the page, like a divine gift. And now it is my gift to you, my readers.

Available Oct. 25th. Pre-order now.