The 12 Books of Christmas - Tracy Ruckman

Today is Monday, and you may be among the millions looking forward to the kick off on Monday Night Football.

Well, I'm excited to announce that here at On the Write Track, there's a kick off, too. We're kicking off...

The 12 Books of Christmas!

With only 11 weeks until Christmas, I have enlisted the participation of 12 authors who have written Christmas-themed books and offering YOU a chance to win a copy! Cool, huh?

Only, it's even cooler. Maybe I should have titled this giveaway event The 12 Authors of Christmas because a couple of these authors have TWO books to give away, so the number of you who will walk away with a book is more than 12. Now THAT'S what I call cool!

Here's how it will work:

Every Monday, a new giveaway will be announced. You'll get a glimpse into the book that's up for grabs, plus you'll learn a little about the author. In addition to a bio, each author will share either a favorite Christmas memory or a favorite holiday recipe. It's going to be a lot of fun!

Winners will have until Friday at midnight to enter and the winners will be announced in a very brief post every Saturday morning. This means that you only have about 5 days to leave your comment. So be sure to check back each week to enter every giveaway. The more you enter, the better your chances are to win! The best bet is to subscribe to my blog so you'll get a reminder email when my blog is updated. Then you can just click on the link and enter! Anything to make it simple, right?

To kick off this Christmas book giveaway event, I introduce you to a good friend of mine, Tracy Ruckman, who will be giving away a wonderful Christmas book called, Christmas Miracles. This book releases this week and is sure to become a family favorite.

Here's a synopsis:

Celebrate the season of hope and miracles with these inspiring true stories that will warm the heart and touch the soul…

A man lies gravely ill in the hospital on Christmas when he hears angels singing and immediately makes a full recovery. A little boy with dyslexia sits down to read a Christmas book and realizes that his disability has vanished. And a woman’s faith is renewed by the chance discovery of a simple nativity set.

Many ordinary people experience God’s grace during those special moments when Christmas becomes more than just a holiday, but a time for miracles. Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson bring you the real-life stories of everyday people who have experienced these life-changing moments of hope, comfort, and transformation—all during the most wonderful time of the year.

Tracy’s story, “Miracle of the Nativity” reminds us all that God is still very much involved in the tiniest details of our lives, even in the hardest of times.
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Tracy's Favorite Christmas memory:

Well, besides the events surrounding the Nativity scene told in Christmas Miracles, I have several, so it’s going to be hard to narrow it down. Okay if I share two?

The first memory goes back to my childhood. Every year, my dad’s mother, Nanny, would come visit us during the holidays. On Christmas Eve, after dinner and baths, Nanny would turn off the lights in the kitchen and dining room, and turn on the Christmas tree lights. Our tree was always in the dining area (it was one large eat-in kitchen.) Then she would go to the stove, turn on the dim hood light, and make the most delicious hot chocolate – from milk and Nestle’s Quik. LOL! Then she poured it into our special Christmas mugs, and served us (my sister, brother, and me) at the table. As we sat in the glow of the Christmas tree, she told us stories, sang Christmas songs, and told us the story of Jesus’ birth. It was the perfect way to wind us down and a memory I’ll always cherish.

The second memory is much more recent. Several years ago, our whole family went through some very trying times, all individually, but it caused a lot of strain in many relationships. In 2007, my two sons and one future daughter-in-law came to visit us for an early Christmas celebration. Having everyone together for the first time in several years, and for the first time in our new home – well, it was a memory that still causes me to bawl. We cooked, we ate, we laughed, we visited, I cried. Very special, indeed. God blesses us in such tremendous ways, doesn’t He?

Tracy Ruckman is a freelance editor, writer, and photographer. She owns Write Integrity Editorial Services and WIES Workshops, which offers online writing courses year-round.

She hosts the popular Pix-N-Pens blog for writers, editors, and photographers, and she is the National Christian Writing Examiner for TheExaminer.com.

Tracy is the blessed wife of an incredible husband and the proud mom of two grown sons and one spoiled rotten dog. She loves to travel, fish, garden, and read - and usually has her camera with her at all times.

**Contest disclaimer: Void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents. Odds of winning depend on number of entrants. Only one book allowed per person throughout the duration of the event.