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Dec212010
Christmas Week – Guest Author & Giveaway: Dana Marton
by Carolyn • Posted in Christmas Week 2010
Post-Christmas Getaways
Dana Marto, author of THE SPY WHO SAVED CHRISTMAS, writes fast-paced action-adventure romances that take her readers all over the globe. She is a Rita Award finalist and the winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence. She loves writing stories of intrigue, filled with dangerous plots that try her tough-as-nails heroes and the special women they fall in love with. Her books have been published in seven languages in eleven countries around the world.
She loves to hear from her readers. Visit her online at www.danamarton.com or www.facebook.com/danamarton.
As I write this – and as you read it – we’re right in the thick of the craziness of the holiday season. We’re comparing the gifts we bought with the list of people for whom we need to buy gifts? Can we check everyone off our list yet? Did we forget anyone?
(By the way, books make great last-minute gifts. My latest is called THE SPY WHO SAVED CHRISTMAS, and it would be perfect for the woman in your life who likes adventure and romance. This is a high-octane Christmas story, with a sexy undercover agent and a woman who will take any risk to get her twin babies home by Christmas. )
If you have more than one child, you’re living in fear that the kids won’t consider their gifts to be “even,” and you’ll have to deal with Christmas morning squabbles about who got how much. Do they count the number of gifts or the amount of money spent on each?
We’re thinking about the guests who will arrive on Christmas Eve. The house must be cleaned. Do we have enough dishes to serve everyone? Did we remember to buy extra milk? No one – and I mean no one – wants to go to the grocery store on Christmas Eve. Talk about madness! The holiday spirit goes out the window if you try to sneak into the 10 items or less lane with 11 items. (Not that I would ever do such a thing! Really, I swear!)
I’ve been thinking about how nice it would be to plan a low key post-Christmas getaway. Not a big, exciting cruise or sojourn to an exotic location. Just a quiet trip to a nearby town, somewhere within driving distance so we won’t have to deal with airport security. I’m pretty sure a full-body scan would show a menagerie of decorated sugar cookies partying on my hips.
The idea of relaxing at home sounds good in theory, but the truth is, when I’m home, I’m distracted by everything I should be doing. Laundry, writing, dusting, putting away the decorations… When really, what I should be doing during those days off after Christmas is bonding with my family. Nothing is more important than that.
If you’re single, think about how fun it would be to hop in the car with a good friend. Road trip!
Quick getaways are a marvelous way to relax and rejuvenate. You get in the car, drive an hour or two, and you’re there. No hassle, no passport needed. You speak the language, and you don’t have to do exchange-rate math in your head. For the cost of a night or two in a hotel, you get memories that will last a lifetime.
Of course, when you go on a trip, whether near or far, you have to have a good book. You can read a free excerpt of THE SPY WHO SAVED CHRISTMAS at www.danamarton.com.
If you were going to take a post-Christmas trip to a nearby town, where would you go? Why would you choose that town? What fun things would you do while you were there?
GIVEAWAY: I have ONE copy of ‘The Spy Who Saved Christmas‘ up for grabs. All you have to do to enter is answer Dana’s question above, read Book Chick City’s giveaway policy, then fill out the form below!
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This giveaway is open to all and ends Friday 24th Dec!
GOOD LUCK!
39 Comments
I would go to Ann Arbor, it has nice restaurants and lots of things to do.
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Oooh, I've heard great things about Ann Arbor. I bet it's beautiful this time of year, with lots of snow and Christmas lights.
Restaurants are very important when you're on a weekend getaway. In fact, I often live from meal to meal, deciding what to have for dinner while I'm eating lunch. It's part of the fun for me, to try new restaurants.
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It's not "too" nearby, but I'd go to Berea, KY..we'd stay in the "old tavern inn", eat in the inn's dining room, and visit the shops…all for some R & R (relax and reconnect) time!
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I would go to Branson, MO- shopping and shows and the kids would love the lights
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I agree with Audra, I'd go to Branson to catch the mark down sales at the outlet malls.
seriousreader at live dot com
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Old Tavern Inn… Sigh! That sounds so picturesque and romantic. I'll have to add Berea, Kentucky to my list of places I'd like to visit some day.
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Audra, Branson sounds like so much fun! Every time I see a story about Branson, I learn about some new adventure you can have there. Recently, I was watching Undercover Boss, a TV show. The boss of a family-owned theme park went undercover as an employee at a park in Branson, and all of the employees seemed like they had the best job ever.
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Linda, you mean Branson has all that entertainment and outlet malls?!!! I am so there!
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I would go to La Conner, Washington…cute town, lots of good stores and restaurants.
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I just looked up La Conner online, and I discovered the Wild Iris Inn. What a fabulous name for an inn! I want to visit there based on the name alone.
Adding La Conner to my list…
My "To Visit" list is growing almost as long as my "To Be Read" list!
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I'd go to Universal & Disney Theme Parks in Orlando! In fact, I will be going there over the holidays… We'll do stuff there that we don't usually do… and stay away from the rides. I've never seen the holiday decorations at Fort Wilderness… and I haven't see the full-size rotating gingerbread carousel at the Yacht & Beach Club this year. Enjoying their decorations sure beats putting up and taking down our own!
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We are close to Manhattan. We'd take the train in to Grand Central, walk over to Rockefeller Center to see the tree and check out all the shop windows and office building decorations.
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Oooh, have fun at Disney and Universal! That sounds like fun! I bet there are a whole lot of fun things to do besides the rides.
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Oh, Lisa! I love New York, and Christmastime is especially wonderful in the city.
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Being originally from New York Christmas is my favorite time of the year. With the beautiful store window displays, the smell of chestnuts wafting from a vending cart and of course a visit to FAO Schwarts to look at all the toys. And last but not least the christmas tree in Rockerfella Center my most favorite thing in the whole world. Now living in NC in a small town, I really don't have any traditions to speak of. It's just another day as far as we're concerned.
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I would travel to Zions National Park to enjoy being outdoors in a little warmer climate than mine. I would go on the hikes, look for nature and watch the sunset from the top of the canyons! (and I'd leave my kids home!!)
bchild5 at aol dot com
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I'd go to Panama City Beach (Florida, US)tot he beach, book a spa package, do some shopping and go to the zoo/attractions.
Pam S
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OK I dont think I read this properly as all comments seem to be for usa but I will comment anyway. I would go to the nearest town to me which is Bradford and book into a hotel and go see a show. Wouldnt tell the kids and grandkids which hotel mind, as that would just defeat the object of the trip.
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Oh yes, those window displays are amazing! I've never lived in New York, but I love to visit. The window display artists try to outdo themselves and each other every year. So much fun to window shop, even if the cost of your hotel room ate up your entire shopping budget.
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I just did an image search for "zions national park," and wow! It looks stunning! I think people in that part of the country are fitter than other parts simply because the scenery draws them outside a lot more. Gorgeous!
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Oooooh, Pam! You said the magic word: spa.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
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Carol, I guess all of the commenters so far have been from the US, so their "nearby town" is also in the US. But the contest is open to fans around the world.
LOL on not telling the kids and grandkids! You're right. The family must not know you're on getaway, or they'll try to find ways to fill your time.
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I would probably go somewhere in Maryland. Go shopping and see a show. Tore923@aol.com
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Shopping and a show. That sounds nice. Shopping, dinner, and a show sounds even better!
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hey debbie! Me too…I love Ann Arbor…im right in between it and Detroit, so there is always something to go do
My favorite is all the used bookstores!
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A city filled with bookstores! That's worth a trip, for sure!
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I would pick somewhere small, with some off-beat touristy things to do to avoid the crowds and just spend time with my family.
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I would go to Long Beach, Washington and along the Oregon Coast. It is a favorite spot of me, and it is not too crowded after Christmas.
ruthaw_1974@yahoo.com
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I'd go up to Santa Barbara – very pretty and I haven't been there in years. Lots of lovely art galleries, theatre, restaurants, etc.
adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com
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Meredith, I think you're onto something. The off-beat, quirky trips often create the strongest memories.
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Ruth, I've heard that the Oregon coast is breathtaking. It's on my list!
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I think I'd like to stay in London, we live close enough to make day trips by train but I've never stayed there. I'd love to spend time looking at the Christmas lights in Oxford Street (of course I'd have to do a little shopping while I was there lol) and then go to the theatre in the evening. It's been a while since I've been to a show
)
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Sarah, that sounds like so much fun! You know, when we live close to a big city, it's sometimes hard to justify spending the money on a hotel, but it gives us a whole new experience. It's worth the money every once in a while!
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After the holidays I would love to go some place warm and sunny to unwind and forget the cold and snow: somewhere like Mexico or Thailand
Beaches, reading and sunbathing, perfect 
Thank you Dana for the fun post!
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i am from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. but i am not local here, i move to this town since 4 years ago for my studies. so the town i would like to go definitely is Kuala Lumpur, 4 years, but i did not visit this town!! i might leave here someday, so i must visit here before leave!
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Stella, a post-Christmas getaway to a beach does sound amazing, I must admit. Maybe in the Caribbean somewhere. I've heard Belize is nice.
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Yin-Yin, Yes, you must! When we live someplace, we get so busy with our ordinary life that we don't take time to enjoy the things that are special about our home city. Set aside at least one weekend to do the things that tourists do when they come to visit Kuala Lumpur. I bet you'll love it!
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I'd go to Las Vegas. It's not too far away. I haven't been for 2 years. I would gamble and eat in fun places.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
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We would go to Grapevine, Texas which is about 20 miles from here. It is full of antique shops and great places to eat.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
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