Readers – please help me welcome Patricia Kiyono to The Daille-y News!

Patricia is sharing thoughts about the holidays and news of her two Christmas novellas, The Partridge and the Peartree and Two Tutor Doves.

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Christmas is a special time for the senses. Kitchens all over the world are filled with the aroma of sweet treats. Dropping temperatures make it necessary to don soft wooly gloves, hats, and scarves. We sit with our loved ones around tables laden with all sorts of comfort foods. And then there’s the sound of our favorite Christmas carols.

As a musician, holiday songs have always been a huge part of my life. I sang in choirs, performed in bands and orchestras, and conducted many concerts in my day. I don’t direct groups any more, but I still play in community orchestras and bands. December is a big month for concerts, because in addition to my own performances, I need to keep up with my grandkids and their activities.

One perennial favorite is the old traditional carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” I remember singing it when I was young and wondering where they were going to keep all those birds. Later on, as a music teacher, I taught the song and had kids act it out. Then a few years ago I got an invitation to write a holiday regency novella for a group of stories to be marketed as The Twelve Dukes of Christmas – our stories had to include a duke, and it had to include a scene at the Christmas Eve Ball at the home of Lord and Lady Kringle. I’d never written a regency but thought I’d try – and the result was The Partridge and the Peartree. It’s about a lonely, deaf duke (Phillip Peartree, Duke of Bartlett) who’s convinced the scars on his face will keep him single forever, and Lady Amelia Partridge, who’s on a mission to educate the poor children of London.

This year I decided to write a sequel. After watching several episodes of Downton Abbey and other British historical shows I thought I’d write one about the servants in the household. It was difficult, because it seems there are fewer resources, but thanks to help from an English author friend I was able to complete Two Tutor Doves in time for this holiday season. In this book, Phillip and Amelia are expecting a child and Robert Townley, the duke’s valet, must fill in at the school, and he has to learn to get along with ladies’ maid, Jeanne Brown.

Will I extend the series? Hopefully so. I’ve got some ideas – but if I’m going to get them ready for next Christmas I’d better start researching!

But not until after the new year. Hope everyone has a beautiful holiday season!

Patricia Kiyono can be found at her website, personal blog, group blog (on Mondays), Amazon, Goodreads, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

The Partridge and the Peartree is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Kobo, and iTunes.

Two Tutor Doves is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Kobo, and iTunes.

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Patricia – thanks for visiting the blog!

Readers – thank you for dropping by, and please feel free to leave a comment or question for Patricia.

Patricia and I are doing a special “double” blog post today. She’s visiting with you here, and I’m over at her blog, too. Hope you can drop by!

All my best,

Barbara