Listen to your mother

My mother and I lived on separate coasts for decades. We talked on the phone at least once a week and during one phone call she told me about her idea for a cute story. It was a Christmas story about Santa's daughter named Santina. She knew I loved to write though I hadn't published anything yet.

"Mom, why don't you write it?" I asked. She enjoyed writing too. "It's your story." But she wouldn't let up and got the idea into my head where the story started to take root.

Knowing I couldn't dissuade her, I gave it a go and the story expanded. Tina had a brother who hated Christmas and wanted to be a rock star. Santa was a grumpy workaholic. Mrs. Claus (named Clara after my mother) fretted about everyone. Tina's best friend falls in love with an elf. My mother had a great sense of humor, so I had to make it funny and silly but heartwarming.

By the time The Daughter Claus was published, my mother had fallen into dementia and couldn't really appreciate how much readers enjoyed the story that had grown from her idea. They wanted more books, and it became the 4-book Santina Series. My mother passed away a few years ago and I wish I could've shared all this with her.

I published The Santa Secret this year which is a prequel about how Mrs. Claus (Clara) meets Santa. It's a free standalone book that is my gift to readers, just as my mother gifted her idea to me. I'm so glad I listened to my mother!