I’m delighted to officially present to you my latest book, THE CHRISTMAS CABIN novella, and to share a few behind-the-scenes extra tidbits just for fun! If you’re anything like me, you find winter reading is a special treat with the promise of snuggling beneath a cozy blanket in a room lit by twinkling white lights, a chunky mug of steaming peppermint tea at the ready. Add a Christmas novella to this dreamy scenario and I think seasonal bookish perfection is found…

“Home for Christmas in her cozy cabin, Carla finds refuge in the snow-covered mountains—until she discovers the chilling truth…”

Are you ever curious about the behind-the-scenes shenanigans that transpire when an author writes a novel? This was my first attempt at a Christmas novella, and I had a blast! Without any spoilers, here are some details about the writing of The Christmas Cabin:

❄️ WHY? I thoroughly enjoy the experience of reading Christmas stories and decided writing a novella in my specific genre would be a fun challenge. It had to be roughly half the length of my typical novels, yet needed to incorporate elements of romance, suspense, and faith, all wrapped up in a Hallmark-esque festive setting. Challenge accepted!

Feel free to peruse my visual inspiration board on Pinterest HERE! 

❄️ WHERE? I fell in love with the notion of a dreamy setting with a white Christmas right here in my home province of British Columbia, Canada. White Christmases are our specialty! And I created a quaint town called Hollybrook nestled below picturesque mountains, where a certain cabin is situated…

❄️ WHO? The protagonist, Carla James, was briefly mentioned in my last novel, The Orphan Beach, from the “Flight to Freedom” series. All we knew about her was that she was a Canadian working in an orphanage in Mexico, wore cool glasses, loved books, and adored children. It was a joy to bring Carla back, along with a few other familiar faces, and to create a story of forgiveness and second chances, especially for her.

*BONUS: I wanted to include a furry friend in the storyline, and couldn’t resist featuring an English bulldog named Lily… as some of you know, we have our very own Lily, who is still going strong(ish) at eleven years young!

❄️ WHEN? I wrote it over the span of about three months last winter and gathered much inspiration from my own snowshoeing excursions with my husband. Writing a Christmas story while snowflakes fell outside as I sipped on hot chocolate was pure perfection… editing in the blazing heat of summer with the air conditioning on full blast was a little less magical! The day it was released into the world, I was in Charlotte, North Carolina at a hope*writers conference with a couple of hundred writerly friends, and I can’t think of anywhere else I would rather have been:

❄️ WHAT some lovely readers are saying:

“Laura Thomas does it again with writing a romantic suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat.”

“Don’t let the cozy cover fool you. This sweet, little novella holds a powerful story of suspense, resilience, and redemption.”

“If you’re looking for an entertaining story to jump start your holidays, grab a peppermint mocha and pick this one!”

And here’s the book trailer:

🎄 So, if you’re looking for a thrilling, hope-filled, heartwarming story with all the white Christmas feels, I’d love you to check out THE CHRISTMAS CABIN. It’s available now in ebook and paperback— just in time for those stocking stuffers! Here are my amazon affiliate links for your convenience in case you want to snag a copy now (full disclosure here) which means I get a tiny commission while you pay the regular price.

Amazon.com     Amazon.ca     Amazon. UK

If you have any questions or comments about The Christmas Cabin, feel free to leave them below ⬇️:

Happy reading!

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