Christmas is in December. And you may have heard of “Christmas in July.” But in the publishing industry, Christmas is (mostly) in September, which is why Maddie/Edith and I had four Christmas books come out yesterday between us.
I assume this publication date is selected to give bookstores plenty of time to put the books out in holiday displays. (Though that doesn’t explain the date for the two digital-only offerings here.)
What do you think Wickeds? Christmas in September. Are you feeling it?
Sherry: Congratulations, on the new books! What a quadruple treat for all of your readers! I want to be ready for Christmas, but I’m just not yet! As much as I always want to get July over with, I love to linger in Fall for as long as possible. I want to scuff some leaves on walks before I leap into shopping and decorating.
Edith/Maddie: While I’m delighted to have new books out, I’m not even ready for Halloween! I’m still picking tomatoes and eggplant. I have gardens to put to bed and garlic to plant. Good heavens, Christmas can just wait – unless it’s in a good mystery.
Liz: Congrats on the books – how amazing! But I’m SO NOT READY for anything Christmas/winter related! I can barely accept that summer is over and we’re into fall, even though I love that season. I’m just not looking forward to being cold…
Julie: Congratulations to both of you! The Wicked book count keeps taking leaps, doesn’t it? I LOVE summer, and am living in denial about fall. So no, not thinking about Christmas yet. But I love that when I’m in the mood, I’ll have new books to read.
Barb: We have had some preliminary discussions about the holidays among the extended family, only because the pandemic disrupted all previous traditions and events and we need to figure how and if we’re going to get back to some kind of togetherness. That being said, I am in no way, shape, or form ready to skip fall and rush on toward the holidays. Much as I love them, I’m not a fan of the dark and the cold that comes with them.
Jessie: Super congratulations on your releases! One of the many things that I love about living in New England is the opportunity to experience all four seasons. So, for me, I delight in arriving at each season in its own time. I love winter when it arrives and all the holidays that accompany it, but I don’t feel any desire to rush ahead. I am still enjoying the flowers in the gardens and the evenings that are warm enough to use the grill!
Readers: What about you? Are you thinking/planning/talking about the winter holidays or are you not yet in a holiday mood?
I agree in loving all 4 seasons. I am in Autumn mums mode. I enjoy the colors at this time of year and the fact that the temps have dropped. I have my list beginning in mid-October of things to do for the holidays. Unfortunately, some of that is cleaning, but it never quite seems to get as fully done as I’d like. There is always another day!
And books to read, Doris!
I am building my TBR stack as we reply.
Ohhhhh noooo, no Christmas thoughts are in my mind at all. I’m loving fall and wish it could last a lot longer than I know it will! Congratulations on your book releases!
I love fall, too.
I can read a Christmas-themed mystery book any time of the year. As for the actual holiday, no no no!
I know it is a losing battle but I prefer the Christmas holiday season to start after Santa Claus shows up at the end of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. Though I do tend to pick up a few gift items for Xmas as I come across them. But I’m not ACTIVELY looking.
I prefer that, too. Also school and football should start after Labor Day.
I could be planning what movie I’m going to see on Jews Go to the Movies Day. So far it’s A Man Called Otto (the Hollywood version of A Man Called Ove) but that could change.
I haven’t heard of a single movie yet that would get me back in the theater, even though I’ve been in theaters for other things. I think I am just feeling blah about stuff.
I guess it depends on what you’re interested in. I can usually find at least one movie a week that interests me. I’m too easily distracted at home so it’s better for me to see a movie in the theatre. Even if I’m the only one there, I turn off my phone…A couple of weeks ago I saw the new Buffy Sainte-Marie documentary. Buffy was there to do a Q&A. Won’t get that when the movie makes it to streaming or PBS…My 65″ tv is great for football but not big enough for the movies Disney+ pulled from theatrical release to streaming only. Those movies needed to be seen in IMAX and/or 3D…With the rescheduling of the last 2 seasons of Broadway Across Canada, I’ve been to musicals in July, Aug. and Sept. One more in Oct. And then the next season starts in Nov.
I do agree that seeing a movie in a theater makes it more special, more of an experience.
I saw a store with Christmas decorations and gift bags/wrap last night and while I love Christmas, it’s still a month until Halloween! I pick up gifts as I see them all year long so I don’t miss out on an item or good price, especially for my hard-to-buy-for people. I do have a good number of gifts already this year, even one so far for my sister’s impossible to buy for significant other. Christmas time brings more gift options so I’ll look harder then, but for now it’s mostly too early to think about holidays.
We do adult stockings in our family and you have to pick up little things all year long or you are really in trouble.
Congratulations on all the releases Edith and Barb!
I am most definitely a “one season at a time” person. I love the fall foliage, which hasn’t yet popped here, so not thinking about Halloween, or Thanksgiving, and every time a Christmas song comes up (I often play randomly through the music on my phone when in the car) I hit skip. The closest we’ve come to discussing holiday plans was when The Girl mentioned she’d been invited to spend Thanksgiving at Hilton Head with The Very Nice Boyfriend’s family.
The leaves are just barely starting to turn here in southern Maine.
I’m with Jay and Barb on this one. Quit rushing the seasons. Let’s enjoy each one as it comes.
Take it as it comes. I agree!
I enjoy one season at a time, but I do enjoy thinking about the winter holidays. They create such a spiritual ambiance!
One season at a time, but you can always think about another, just not be confronted with it at every turn.
Congratulations on some fabulous new releases – all of which are on my TBR list.!
Love Christmas stories and movies any time of the year. Who can’t enjoy some holiday cheer and cold weather in the heat of a humid summer? That being said, it’s way too early to be seeing Christmas trees in the stores and hearing the Christmas carols through their sound systems. That that takes the special part out of the holiday season. It’s kind of like that favorite candy you once could only get around a certain holiday that is now available year round. It’s lost it appeal and doesn’t taste like it did when you had to wait another whole year to get a piece of it. I’m a firm believer in decorating the weekend after Thanksgiving giving each holiday its own time.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
I completely agree that when something is always available makes it less appealing.
It’s official, I’m never going to finish my TBR List!
Laughing…
I’m hanging on to summer here as long as possible. It’s 100 here right now, and I’m loving it!
I enjoy reading Christmas books during December, and I try to save one or two, but I hate that I have Christmas books to read and review now. But publishers want to make sure that stores have them in stock and people have time to buy them to read in December. I get why they come out now, but I wish I didn’t need to review them now.
Ah, of course reviewers have to deal with this too.
I always enjoy reading about the holidays. I am not in the planning stages for it yet. I love to see the new holiday books and read them. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
“I always enjoy reading about the holidays.” Music to our ears!
Actually I am already planning because I need to get Christmas presents out early this year since we have a trip plan in October, November and end of December. So looking foward to making people happy and having fun! I love snow but prefer to be indoors next to a fireplace reading a cozy mystery.