Countdown to Christmas with Kerri Nelson

Hello and welcome to Day 15 in my Countdown to Christmas Blog! Today’s featured guest is Kerri Nelson. Kerri is here with us today to chat about the things in her life she is thankful for. Oliver, stands at the window, gazing upward at the first star of night, counting his blessings. Snowflakes swirl from the sky, adding to the spirit of Christmas. The cherry log in the hearth crackles, giving the parlor a warm, ethereal glow. Then the doorbell rings and Oliver runs off, belting out a verse of his favorite Christmas song

Do you hear what I hear?
Said the night wind to the little lamb
Do you see what I see
Way up in the sky little lamb
Do you see what I see
A star, a star
Dancing in the night
“With a tail as big as a kite.

Kerri comes in, her cheeks all rosy from the cold. Sharon embraces her and they sit in front of the fire.

Sharon: Oliver, about those refreshments, dearheart?

Oliver swaggers off, blowing kisses to Kerri

Sharon: Kerri, you have a lot to be thankful for this year. Why not share some of the things you were telling me about with the guests.

Kerri: When Sharon asked me to visit her blog, I was thrilled! Coming up with a Christmas themed post sounded like a fun idea to me! I have 4 books releasing this month and a new author promotion company that I’d love to chat about. Now, how can I weave those into a blog on Christmas?

What I realized is that in order to share my Christmas feelings with you today, I must simply remember what I was doing last Christmas and to sit in awe of all that has transpired in one, short year.

Oliver pushes out a silver caddy brimming with herbal tea and fresh from the oven sugar cookies. He pours, winking at Kerri.

Sharon: Thank you, Oliver. That will be all. So, Kerri. Let’s talk about some of these things. Do share.

Kerri: Since I love making “to do” lists…I’ll share one with you today…

Sharon: Please do. We can all learn from them. What is first on your list?

Kerri: Look Back
As the Christmas season is a time of great joy and celebration we must look back at all the wonderful things that we accomplished this year. Come January 1st of each year we see a bright future ahead of us but we never know exactly what will happen. This year I accomplished more than I ever dreamed possible. Not only was this the first year that I became a published author but I went on to sell a total of nine books in one year! For someone who has been actively seeking publication for a decade, this is a huge deal!

I also opened two new businesses including an author promotion business and a custom design book trailer business for my fellow authors. Not to mention the fact that I started teaching two writer related workshops for online chapters throughout the country.
On the home front, I was able to raise enough money to purchase a much needed insulin pump for my oldest daughter who suffers with juvenile diabetes. During this fund raising effort, I discovered just how generous of heart romance industry authors can be.
I also discovered that I’ll welcome my first son into the family in 2010!
Needless to say, I’ve been truly blessed this past year in both private joys and professional ventures.

Sharon: Holds up her teacup. Congratulations, Kerri! Those are some major accomplishments to reflect upon. Nine books? Oh, my! Two businesses and a wee son on the way! How thrilling. And as you know, being a type 1 diabetic myself, your daughter’s insulin pump was a quest near and dear to my heart. I’m so glad so many friends helped you. You do indeed have a lot to be thankful for this year, I’d say. And what is second on your list?

Kerri: Let Go
At the same time you reminisce over the joys of the past year, you will undoubtedly come across some bad memories. Obviously, not everything goes wonderful all the time.
You might remember the loss of a friend or relative, the failure to seize that new job or promotion or even the loss of a job. Perhaps it was even something small like a missed opportunity that you wish you’d pursued but that you let pass you by.
For me, I suffered my first miscarriage early in the year. It was a devastating time for me and my family and during this time it was difficult to understand just why God would plan such a tragedy for my life. As I mentioned above, we’ve gone on to learn of my new baby boy that is only 8 weeks away from making his grand entrance. So sometimes you must go through the darkness to find the light again.
No matter what bad news or disappointments you feel during a year’s time…the holidays are the time to let go of them. How do you let go? I know that it can be difficult but what works for me is the following:
You have to remember that they happened, realize that you will survive, and release them from your mind where they will only sit and fester. Only then, can you truly move on.

Sharon: Well said, my friend. And congratulations on the greatest gift of all, a new son in a few short weeks. How true. There is light at the end of the tunnel, even if it sometimes feels as if the darkness will never end. And what is next on your list?

Kerri: Look Forward
As the Christmas season is a time of new birth and new beginnings we must look forward to all the things that we will discover in the New Year ahead. You may have heard that the older you get, the faster the time passes by. I totally believe this to be true.
Remember when we were kids and the time between the first day of school and the glorious summer break seemed eons away?

Now, as a parent, I’m amazed at just how quickly my children are growing right before my very eyes. They change significantly every single day. They grow taller, wiser, and never cease to amaze me with their own little developing personalities. I must truly marvel at just how rapidly life is passing us all by as I look forward to another year of growing my wonderful marriage, parenting my adorable children, and meeting new and wonderful people that will most assuredly bless my life as so many others have done this past year.
So, this holiday season, when you remember the reason for the season…take time to do this one little check list and know that in our hearts we can have Christmas time all year round!

Sharon: Thank you for putting everything in prospective, Kerri. Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Kerri Nelson has always been passionate about reading books but when she wrote her first poem in the second grade, she discovered her love of writing. At the age of sixteen, she became a columnist for her local newspaper as the high school correspondent for the weekly "Panther Tales" column. She won the Outstanding Young Journalist of the Year Award for her efforts.
After an education and career in the legal field, Kerri began to pen romantic suspense novels with a legal or law enforcement theme. She is a true southern belle and comes complete with her dashing southern gentleman husband and two little belles-in-training. When she’s not reading or writing, you’ll find her baking homemade goodies for her family, feeding her addiction to blogging online or designing custom made book trailers. Kerri is an active member of Romance Writers of America as well as numerous Chapters including Southern Magic, Futuristic Fantasy & Paranormal, Hearts Through History, and Celtic Hearts Romance Writers.
To learn more about this author, visit her website at www.kerrinelson.com, her blog at www.kerribookwriter.blogspost.com, or her author promotion site at www.thebookboost.com