In the city it’s snowing,
the sidewalks are glowing,
but there’s someplace that I’d rather be.
Thousands of people all walking by,
and somehow I’m still alone.
I’m gonna spend winter my way.
Those are a few lyrics from a Christmas song titled Indiana Christmas by Straight No Chaser. I bought the album a few years ago and fell in love with the songs. I could listen to these men all day every day all year and not get tired of them. They are THAT good.
Indiana Christmas touched a chord in me. Maybe because I was born in Indiana. Maybe because I can recall a few Christmases there. I’m not sure, but I loved the song. When I loaded my Christmas music back on my iPod yesterday, this was the first song I played (on a loop for about thirty minutes).
It struck the same chord in me. It reminded me of the memories I have. It took on a new meaning for this year.
The words, the message, the purity of the song embodies my upcoming Christmas story Her Miracle Man. It brings Indianapolis, the Circle and all the places I visited while researching the area and Riley Hospital for Children to life.
The song could be the anthem for the heroine, Jennalyn, who’s lost her family and retreated into the solitude of her grief. She’s always loved Christmas, but this year has decided she’s not going to celebrate it. She’s not even going to acknowledge it. Then she’s hired to deliver miracles to a group of children who’ve been too ill to celebrate. Each miracle pulls her a little farther from her grief, and a little farther into the community around her.
The song talks about remembering people who’ve gone and now look down from above, and sharing the days with loved ones. It’s a song about someone finding their way home, and as we all know, as Jennalyn learns in Her Miracle Man, there’s more to home than a building.
Here’s a video of Straight No Chaser singing the original song. It’s not as good as the recorded version, but it’s still awesomeness.
What evokes a big memory for you? Music? Book? Movie?
Her Miracle Man releases November 27th from Samhain Publishing. Here’s the blurb:
Children’s hospital administrator Ryland Davids was attracted to event planner Jennalyn James the moment he saw her. He thought there would be plenty of time to get to know her—until her younger sister, Sabrina, was admitted with complications from traumatic brain injury.
Sabrina’s bright courage broke through Ryland’s wall of professional distance, but once she drew her last breath, Jennalyn left the hospital and never returned. Though he understands her need for distance, there’s a hole in his heart that won’t heal. And a last wish from Sabrina he’s honor-bound to deliver.
When Jennalyn comes face to face with Ryland at a charity event, the pain comes rushing back, threatening to shatter her everything’s-fine façade. It doesn’t help that the lump in her throat is mostly her heart, leaping in response to his touch.
Despite her reluctance to return to the scene of her grief, she fulfills Sabrina’s final request to plan a series of Christmas events for the kids. Over the course of A Month of Miracles, Ryland and Jennalyn discover there’s the light of hope at the end of grief’s dark tunnel. But it may not be enough to heal her broken heart.
Pre-order the ebook at Samhain Publishing | Amazon – Kindle | Barnes & Noble – Nook
Thank you for having me, Lissa!
Nikki is having a blog party to celebrate the release of Her Miracle Man. Go see what’s going on and comment to be entered for some AWESOME prizes. Commenters here today will be entered into a drawing for an ARC of Her Miracle Man. Chat. You know you want this book.
I listen to Straight No Chaser all Christmas season! Music is what brings back memories for me. Anytime I hear clasic country songs it bring back memories of my dad singing “Susan when she tries” by the Statler Brothers. I always hated it back then but now it’s a great memory to remember my dad by.
suz2(at)cox(d0t)net
Country music is a big one for me too. My dad listened to that. My sister even made us a mix cd once with all the main songs he listened to.
I can’t wait for this book! I love hoiday stories – I have my set that I reread every year, and I am sure this is going into theat reading list!
Thanks you Susan R. I hope you love Her Miracle Man.
So many things can trigger a memory for me but I’ll admit books trigger memories a lot some from way back in my childhood like LA Witt’s Conduct Unbecoming did and some more recent like you soon to be released Her Miracle Man. I had the privilege of reading it for review and it brought up a ton of memories for me which I mentioned in the review. I don’t want to say any more because I don’t want to give away any of the story but the book touched me deeply Nikki and I enjoyed it very much.
Oh Slick, thank you. I am so glad you enjoyed the book and that it touched you.
I’m looking forward to checking this book out. 🙂 It’s about time to start my Christmas reads. 🙂
smurfettev AT gmail DOT com
Sheri, I hope you love it when you read it. This book is truly special to me.
This book sounds fantastic. Can’t wait to read it. I love holiday stories any time of the year. The scent of pine evokes childhood memories of my grandparents for me.
e.balinski(at)att(dot)net
My favorite Christmas memory is from music! Every time I hear the carol O Holy Night it brings back a very special memory. When I was a child my mother sang O Holy Night in church for my dad for Christmas. It was his favorite Christmas song. He cried like a baby in front of the whole congregation. He said it was the best Christmas gift he had ever received. That was 40 years ago and my dad passed away in 2004. Every Christmas Eve our family plays O Holy Night just for him. Now I am the one crying like a baby. And my dad was right…it was the greatest Christmas gift….the memory will live on in our family.
Ooh, Joanne I love the smell of pine. I’m not sure it brings up any big memories, but I do love it.
Michel,
That made me cry a little too. What a sweet, touching memory. Thanks for sharing it.
Oh this sound good, would love to win, thanks
Thanks everyone for being here. The winner of the ARC is Susan W. Susan, I’ll email you the .pdf momentarily.