With the turn of the calendar page, we find ourselves in the month of December. In less than three weeks we will be celebrating Christmas-can you believe it? Even if the tree is not yet decorated and the gifts are not wrapped, Christmas has a way of moving gently into our hearts as we move through December. If 2020 has robbed you of the anticipation of Christmas, I want to share with you an opportunity to find the spirit of Christmas this season, including an opportunity to win a free gift!

Well-known publisher, Chicken Soup for the Soul, has released its newest book, Christmas Is In The Air, a collection of 101 true, personal stories that remind us of the joy of giving, including stories of hope and resilience at Christmas. I am grateful for the opportunity to have my own story published in this Christmas book, a story of a childhood Christmas when I learned that giving gifts is so much more about the love behind the gift than the price tag on the gift.

Podcast

I am excited to be able to share my story with you, as it has been featured on the Chicken Soup for the Soul podcast, hosted by Amy Newmark.  A synopsis of my story, A Labor of Love, can be heard on the December 4th podcast, “When Santa Comes Through with the Perfect Gift”. Check it out at this link on Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/chicken-soup-for-soul-podcast/id1085746482

Free Book Offer

In addition, I am offering a free give-away of this book, Christmas Is In The Air. All you need to do to enter the drawing is to complete the entry form or contact page on my website, A Place For Simplicity. Don’t worry, I have no plans to flood your inbox with emails! Even as I continue to seek simplicity in my life, I intend to use this website to help you make room for what matters most – which does not include unnecessary emails. Every email address that is submitted by December 13th at midnight (EST) will be placed in a drawing for a free copy of this book, shipping included (to residents in the US states). If you find yourself in search of that Christmas spirit of peace, joy and giving, this book will get you started!

Where to Purchase

This book is currently available in most major bookstores as well as online. Here is the link to the book on Amazon, where it is currently being offered in both paperback and Kindle formats:

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas Is in the Air: 101 Stories about the Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Newmark, Amy: 9781611590708: Amazon.com: Books

If you have the opportunity to read the book, would you please drop me a note via the contact form to let me know? I’m glad to be a part of the Chicken Soup for the Soul Toys for Tots Christmas benefit and want to thank you for your contribution by reading this book.

Press Release

Here’s more from Chicken Soup for the Soul about this 2020 Christmas publication:

“The joy of giving and sharing runs throughout the 101 true, personal stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul:
Christmas Is in the Air. You’ll read about communities coming together to make Christmas special for families
going through hard times, the joy of giving, and some very creative ways to make your own holidays even more
fun. You’ll undoubtedly come away from these pages with new ideas for gifts and family activities.

As always, the stories in this collection are what Chicken Soup for the Soul calls “Santa safe,” meaning that they
keep the magic alive even for precocious readers. Sue Mitchell, for example, tells us about the year she asked
Santa for a cat and was disappointed when she received lots of cat supplies but no cat. That’s when her mom
pointed out that Santa had left a letter explaining that her cat was waiting for her at the shelter. She would know
which one it was when she saw it. Sure enough, Santa was right and the perfect cat chose Sue at the shelter.

This book is one of five that Chicken Soup for the Soul earmarked in 2020 as fundraisers for specific nonprofit
organizations. Royalties from this book will go to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program, which
creates miracles for millions of families every year by providing holiday gifts to children in the U.S. who might
not otherwise receive any. We always use royalties from our books to support nonprofit organizations,” said Amy Newmark, editor-in-chief and publisher of Chicken Soup for the Soul. “This year, the need is even greater, and we’re honored to share royalties from these books to make the holidays and the rest of the year a little more magical for American families that are struggling as a result of the pandemic.” 

Even though the year 2020 has been far from simple, I hope that you will join me as we seek to create a place for simplicity in our homes and lives, so that we can make room for what matters most. Merry Christmas!