Happy Holidays, New Review

To my readers out there, may you have the happiest of holidays! To those celebrating Christmas like me, may the joy of Christ meet you where you are. To those celebrating Hanukkuh, may the true, prophetic meaning of the shamash servant candle unfold in your lives. And a happy new year to all.

For the first time in my life, my family--the nuclear unit of it--will be separated this year. Crazy to think about it. We've been blessed to spend so many Christmases together, a blessing with which many families had to part ways years ago. But we'll hunker down and keep it more intimate this year!

Looking forward to a new year filled with fresh opportunities. I'm plugging away on blog tour preparations this week, which will occur around the February 10 release of Between These Walls. Speaking of that new novel, a new advance review has just appeared from a Christian blogger. You can find it here: http://tinyurl.com/mg88646

With each crack at a novel, if you give it your best, you can sense yourself grow as a writer. I believe Between These Walls is my strongest work to date. I'm so excited to share it with you!

What are your holiday plans? May you find joy, peace and prosperity in the days and year ahead.

Never give up!

John Herrick
johnherrick.net
johnherricknet.blogspot.com
facebook.com/johnherrickbooks
@johnherrick

Today's Playlist:
First Christmas by Bebe and Cece Winans
The Andy Williams Christmas Album by Andy Williams

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays

What are your holiday quirks?

I don’t know about you, but I pull the Christmas music out every year. My all-time favorite Christmas albums remain The Andy Williams Christmas Album (the red one, not the green one) and Bebe & Cece Winans’s First Christmas. Newly discovered loves include Bebe Winans’s recent My Christmas Wish; Rod Stewart’s Merry Christmas, Baby; and Vanessa Williams’s gorgeous rendition of “Do You Hear What I Hear.”

We have an odd tradition in our family. We head out for Chinese food on Christmas Eve. When we lived in Ohio, we didn’t have relatives nearby and didn’t have plans that first year, so we looked for a place to eat—and discovered few places open besides our favorite Chinese restaurant. Our Christmas Day celebration went from a large family event to a smaller, focused time with our family core. I have to say, those Christmases remain my favorites.

Speaking of the niece, gotta be the proud uncle and post Santa pic here. By virtue of her Christmas tights, my brother referred to her attire as “her grunge rocker outfit,” for those of you who remember the 1990s! The kid is one of the best things that ever happened to my life:

What will YOUR holiday celebration include this year? Wherever you are and whomever you’re with, may you know you’re loved and valued—because you are.

Merry Christmas. If Christmas isn’t your thing, happy holidays. And a wonderful new year to you all!

Thanks for reading. Love you all.

Never give up!

John Herrick
johnherrick.net
johnherricknet.blogspot.com