Today, 21 December, is Yule, and Lesa Holstine has posted a
lovely Yule-related message on her special Sunday Salon blog, along with a review
of Camp Follower. Camp Follower includes a depiction of a Yule
celebration during the Revolutionary War in backcountry South Carolina. No, our
founding mothers and founding fathers didn’t whoop it up on Christmas Day, as
we do now. Those who were Christians might have paid a somber visit to church
for a sermon that day, but the birth of Jesus was a low-key deal, because they
didn’t want it mistaken for the wild partying of people centuries earlier on
the winter solstice. Stop by Lesa’s blog and comment.
Regardless of what the different folks celebrated in
Revolutionary America, those winter holidays were mostly a time of ceased
hostilities, an opportunity to reflect over a year almost past. It’s a timely
message for those of us in the 21st century who are caught up in the
commercialism and rush of December — and also for people who have been slammed
around in this year’s economic woes. In my house on Yule, we deliberately slow
down and enjoy a meal together. We recap our accomplishments for the year, we
discuss why we are grateful, and we let go of something that holds us back.
This holiday season has been my busiest ever for
book promotion. The day after Thanksgiving, I sold books at Books a Million in
Wilmington, NC, with my publisher. There, UNCW history expert and author
Dr. Alan Watson, with whom I’ve corresponded in email, absolutely made my day
by paying me a visit, so we got to meet in person! Doesn’t he look terrific in
this picture with Carl and me, holding Carl’s musket? On 7 December, I was at
Colonial Williamsburg in VA, selling books at the holiday Grand
Illumination. On 14 December, I attended the holiday open house at House in the
Horseshoe in Sanford, NC. And yesterday, 20 December, I was back at Books
a Million in Wilmington. Thanks to all for these opportunities.
Although I’m finished with the physical travel portion of my
holiday author tour, I do have one more stop to make: on Christmas Day. Between
4:15 and 4:30 p.m. EST, I’m a guest on Internet Voices Radio, where
I’ll talk about the themes in my series that power my books and relate to
people in the 21st century, and the importance of reenacting in my writing. My
teenage sons may even pop in to talk about the “family war.” So take a break from your
hectic day, and join me for a few minutes on the 25th.
Happy Holidays to everyone!