HAPPY HOLIDAYS

 

Is there anything better than sitting in a favorite chair from November through December, sipping some hot chocolate, and either watching a favorite Christmas movie or reading a book that evokes memories of the holidays?

            As far as books go, I have been fortunate to have had a short story included in a soon to be released anthology of holiday stories, entitled Holiday Spirits: a collection of eclectic stories written by authors from around the world.

            Movies? It is for good reason that many people enjoy binge watching all those Hallmark Christmas movies while they wrap presents, bake cookies, and make their way through ribbon and tinsel strewn carpets.

            While it’s true that these stories are somewhat formulaic to say the least, this seems to be irrelevant to viewers. Just as driving in one’s car listening to Nat King Cole crooning The Christmas Song or Mariah Carey belting out All I Want for Christmas puts one in the holiday spirit, so do Hallmark Christmas movies for many people.

            Of course, classic feature films that are aired perennially also elicit those feelings. Depending on your age and taste, there is a huge selection of Christmas movies guaranteed to make you want to take out those reindeer ears and pour yourself a glass of rum infused eggnog.

            I’ve compiled a list of 10 such films, some traditional, others not, that for a variety of reasons say Christmas. See if you can match the title with the logline.

Enjoy the quiz, and enjoy your Christmas movies:

1.    It’s a Wonderful Life                             7. Miracle on 34^th Street

2.    Home Alone                                          8. Diehard

3.    A Christmas Story                                9. Desk Set

4.    Holiday Affair                                     10. Going My Way

5.    White Christmas                                 11. The Bishop’s Wife

6.    A Christmas Carol                              12. Elf

 

a.   Two talented army buddies help out their former general who is now retired.

b.   Researchers at a broadcasting network library, whose job it is to come up with answers to callers’ questions fear they will lose their jobs to computer technology. (When Google came along their fears would be warranted).

c.    An angel comes down to answer a prayer, but the person who has made that prayer is irritated by the fact that his friends and family appear to prefer the company of the angel to his own.

d.   This story describes the exploits of a young boy, whose chief desire for Christmas is to get a “Red Ryder BB gun”.

e.   When left to his own devices, a young boy must use his imagination to fend off home invaders.

f.     Having contemplated suicide, a man learns the true value of his life and the positive impact he has had on others.

g.   While visiting his estranged wife over Christmas, a detective becomes involved in a terrorist takeover.

h.   A widow with a young son, must decide whether to start her life again with a somewhat dull, but solid, attorney or a charming and romantic ne’er do well.

i.      A young girl and her mother must be convinced that there is, indeed, a Santa Claus.

j.     An aging parish priest believes a younger priest with more energy is sent to him as an assistant, when in reality the younger priest has been sent as a replacement.

k.  A toddler ends up in the North Pole and is raised as one of Santa’s helpers.

l. The town curmudgeon learns there are more important things in life than money.

For the correct answers email me at VivianRhodes818@gmail.com

 Happy Holidays, Vivian     @VivianWrites

Holiday Spirits

https://www.facebook.com/Amazing-Holiday-Stories-102895412188229

Girl Obsessed (Spring 2022)

I'm Back To Blogging Again

I hope everyone has been well and keeping safe during these crazy times.  Personally, I've taken advantage of the time we were locked down to read more and to write more. It's been a while since I've posted, probably because I've been devoting more time to other outlets for my writing.

For those who are new to my blog, in the past I have chosen this platform primarily to discuss nostalgia, although if you go into my archived posts you will view subjects as diverse as baseball, mistresses, classic movies, and Harry Houdini.

Since I last blogged, I have found myself returning to the kind of writing I enjoy most: mystery and suspense.  Several years ago I wrote a screenplay that aired on Lifetime Television as Stolen from the Womb and more recently, I had one air as My Mother's Killer Boyfriend (a terrible title, I know, but my original title, The Narcissist, was changed by Lifetime for Marketing purposes.)

I have had two mysteries published: Groomed for Murder (Ballantine Books) and If You Should Read This Mother (Black Opal Books). Both books are available on Amazon (although at present Groomed for Murder is out of print and only available as an e-book)

My newest thriller, Girl Obsessed (Black Opal Books) is due to be released in a few weeks.  Some might consider it a story of "Fatal Attraction" in the 21st Century.  Here is a brief summary of the plot:

        "In order to exonerate his client of murder charges, Defense Attorney Sam Paris enlists the aid of Shannon Clark, an attractive psychiatrist best known for her bestselling, but controversial, book about the effects of oxytocin, a hormone that can presumably cause a woman to become dangerously attached to and obsessed with the man with whom she is sexually intimate. As Sam becomes romantically involved with the doctor, he learns that she has issues of her own and indeed may be more dangerous and violent than the woman he is defending."

I will be posting more information about this book upon its release (as well as a Christmas anthology in which a story of mine is included) -- just wanted to give everyone a heads up.  Until then,

Have a great weekend, discovering Rhodes Less Traveled - Vivian