Holiday Inspiration by Cheryl C. Malandrinos

Mary and I have been online chums for many years, so it’s always a pleasure when she hosts me at her blog. Considering this is the holiday season, I wanted to share how holidays inspire my writing.

Holiday gatherings were a big event in my childhood home. Long tables heaving with food. The air filled with scents of extraordinary spices. Multiple generations squeezed into one tiny home. The adults snoozing in front of the television after dinner. We all have our special holiday memories.

Christmas is my favorite holiday. I’ve long said that I am the biggest kid in the house this time of year. Decorations, trees, nativities, music, parties and cookie swaps…I want it all!


It surprised none of my friends that two out of my three books are set around Christmas. Whether it be a young shepherd (Little Shepherd) stepping out in faith to experience the miracle of Christmas or a boy helping a new friend (A Christmas Kindness), I pray my books capture the hope and joy of the season. They were also a great way to teach my kids about the spirit of Christmas.

Other holidays have also inspired my writing. My latest book, Macaroni and Cheese for Thanksgiving, is about a girl’s quick thinking when the dog steals the turkey off the table. Our children’s librarian said she was on the lookout for a different kind of Thanksgiving story, so I locked away my warm and fuzzy story brain and came up with this zany idea that includes a set of fighting twins, a frazzled mom, and a turkey-stealing dog, Mac & Cheese for Thanksgiving.

I’ll also be submitting to publishers another Thanksgiving story. It is about a turkey who tries to fool the farmer to avoid becoming Thanksgiving dinner. In my little box of stories is also one about a not so scary ghost and a little girl who tries to avoid accepting the valentine a classmate wants to give her. I haven’t plotted out the Easter story I want to write, but you should be warned it’s coming. Maybe I’ll cover all the major holidays and brand myself as the holiday children’s author. 

Inspiration comes from many different places. What inspires you most?

Cheryl C. Malandrinos is a freelance writer and editor. She is the author of Little Shepherd, A Christmas Kindness, Macaroni and Cheese for Thanksgiving. A blogger and book reviewer, she lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two daughters. She also has a son who is married.


Cheryl's Website and Children's Book Blog 



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Inspiration From Others - Cheryl C. Malandrinos

My love of books began many years ago. I can’t point to a specific book that captured my interest, but I can say our house was always filled with books. My parents were avid readers. They set a good example by reading every night, even if all they had time for was the daily newspaper.

Who knew all those years ago that my love of books would turn into a fabulous and satisfying career?

After graduating from the Breaking into Print program (now called Break into Print) from Long Ridge Writers Group in 2005, I started blogging. Mostly it was about me, my articles for Writer2Writer, and my works in progress.

In the spring of 2007, Pump Up Your Book! (formerly Pump Up Your Book Promotion) opened its virtual doors and I began hosting authors at my blog. Being a tour host offered my readers interesting and regular content. Learning about all those good books made me realize how much I missed reading daily. Yes, I still read from time to time, but many months could pass between books. I wanted to carve out a career in writing and I didn’t feel I could do both well. One thing I kept hearing over and again, however, is the importance of reading what you wish to write. That made sense, so I decided if I wanted to be successful as a writer, I must make the time to read.

So I did.

The more authors I hosted, the more inspired I felt to keep plugging away at my works in progress. I began reviewing books at my blog, which is how I discovered the publisher who would eventually release Little Shepherd, my first children’s picture book.


A few months after I started hosting authors for Pump Up Your Book! I became a member of their staff. I’ve been coordinating virtual book tours for authors in a variety of genres for over three years now, and I love it more each day. I tend to work with clients who write in the genres I am interested in writing and reading most frequently: Christian fiction and non-fiction, mystery and crime, historical fiction, and books for children and teens.

Has this influenced my writing? Most definitely.

I learn from every author I work with. I discover what I love about my clients’ books, and sometimes, what I don’t like. I’ve seen how important it is when you’re writing a series to keep track of the major characters and the need to develop them as the series progresses. I’m learning how to sprinkle in just the right amount of backstory and details so that the reader gets to know my characters and feels like she is right there alongside them.

Can you name some authors who inspire you? How have they influenced your writing?

Cheryl Malandrinos is a freelance writer and editor. A founding member of Musing Our Children, Ms. Malandrinos is also Editor in Chief of the group’s quarterly newsletter, Pages & Pens.

She is a Tour Coordinator for Pump Up Your Book!, a book reviewer, and blogger. Little Shepherd is her first children’s book. Ms. Malandrinos lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband and two young daughters. She also has a son who is married.

You can visit Cheryl online at:

Website
Blog

The Children's & Teens Book Connection
The Little Shepherd Childrens Book Blog
The Professional Writer's Connection

Mary Cunningham Books

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