SIT DOWN SATURDAY with BETH CARPENTER

Today we’re celebrating the December release of A Gift for Santa.

Who is your favorite character, and why?  

I’m quite fond of several characters, but I have a soft spot for Chris. He’s a bighearted easygoing kind of guy, and while he has regrets, he’s not one to waste a lot of time agonizing over ancient history. Eventually, though, he comes to realize that taking responsibility for his past can open up possibilities for a better future.

Tell us one thing you learned during research.

Since the story takes place on a reindeer farm, I spent a lot of time researching reindeer, including a visit to the reindeer farm in Palmer, Alaska. I learned that both male and female reindeer have antlers. The male shed theirs in the fall, but the females keep theirs until their calves are born in the spring. That means Santa’s reindeer are most likely all female. But considering they manage to deliver happiness to children over the entire world in a single night, you probably already suspected that.

In looking at the cover, if you could add a caption, what would it say?

PASSING IT ON

I picture Chris teaching Ryan all the skills he’ll need someday to care for the reindeer at the reindeer farm.

What music would match the mood of this novel?

What is your favorite scene?

One of my favorites is when Ryan “borrows” the dog. Kimmik, the dog, has gotten out once before, and Chris found him playing with a neighbor’s foster child, Ryan. One of the chores Chris plans to accomplish today is to check the gate and make sure the dog can’t open it again. But this happens:

It was midafternoon when Chris remembered about the gate. He pulled on boots, and was reaching for his jacket when he glanced out the window to see Ryan lifting the latch and calling Kimmik outside. By the time Chris pulled on his coat and made it to the door, boy and dog were playing fetch in the cul-de-sac.

“Hey, Ryan.”

The boy looked up, eyes wide and startled, but then turned his back and threw the stick again. Kimmik ran after it and galloped back, carrying it in his mouth with his head held high.

Chris trotted over to the boy. “Ryan, you can’t just be letting the dog out of the yard without asking.”

Ryan took the stick and threw it again. “He got out. Maybe he dug a hole.”

“I saw you open the gate.”

The kid raised his chin. “Well, he’s lonely. You don’t ever play with him.”

“I do, but you’re right, not as much as he’d like. Ryan, I don’t mind you playing with the dog, but you have to ask first. You can’t just take somebody else’s dog without permission.”

“If he was my dog, I’d take good care of him. I’d play with him and brush him and feed him.” He patted Kimmik on the head and threw the stick again. “You should take better care of your dog.”

Clever way to shift the blame. Chris smiled. “Technically, he’s not my dog. He belongs to my roommate, Sam. But I think we take pretty good care of him.”

“He’s not yours?” Ryan looked him in the eye for the first time.

“No. He’s Sam’s dog.”

“Is it your house?”

“Nope. Sam’s house, too. I just live there.” Chris rubbed Kimmik’s ears and took the stick, handing it to Ryan.

The boy threw the stick and turned to him. “So are you, like, a foster kid, too?”

Chris chuckled. “Not exactly. I pay rent and help with the chores, like taking care of the dog.”

“I do chores, too.”

“Good. That shows you’re responsible.”

“Ryan?” a man’s voice called from up the street.

The kid made a face. “Homework.” He made no move to answer, instead throwing the stick again.

Brent, a neighbor from up the street, walked toward them. “Ryan, it’s time to come inside.” He looked at Chris. “Sorry. Hope he wasn’t bothering you.”

“No, he just wanted to play with the dog.” Ryan shot Chris a look of alarm, but Chris patted him on the shoulder. “I told him he was welcome to play with Kimmik anytime, as long as he comes to ask first.”

“He loves dogs. He might drive you crazy.”

“Nah, he’s fine. I’ll let Sam and Dana know he might be stopping by.”

“Thanks.” Brent grasped Ryan by the shoulders and turned him around. “But right now, you need to go inside. Sandy wants to go over your spelling words with you while the baby’s napping.”

“But Kimmik wants to play.”

“Ryan, now.”

Ryan dropped his chin onto his chest with a mighty sigh, and trudged away.

You can find A Gift for Santa in paperback or ebook at these online bookstores.

Amazon   Barnes & Noble   Kobo   Google Play    iBooks  Harlequin

And don't forget, today is the last day to enter the Sleigh Full of Prizes December Heartwarming Giveaway. Winner will be announced tomorrow!

When you were a child, did you ever have a neighbor with an interesting pet, or maybe a trampoline, or something else you found irristable?