🎄 Fabulously Festive with Darcie Boleyn 🎄

In the run up to Christmas, I have wonderful author interviews to help get you into the festive spirit

And to start us off here's the fabulous, Darcie Boleyn

A warm festive welcome to Jaffareadstoo, Darcie , thank you so much for being our guest today

🎄What’s your earliest Christmas Memory?

One of my earliest Christmas memories is of making sweet mincemeat with my grandmother. She lived in a small terraced house with a tiny kitchen, so we had to drag her foldable table into the centre of her living room in order to have enough space to work.

Granny had an old-fashioned grinder that she attached to the side of the table. We had to pass a variety of ingredients through it, which wasn’t easy, as we had to turn the handle constantly, and it became tiring after a while. However, we kept going until we had a large bowl full of sweet, fragrant minced fruit. After this, she’d add a generous amount of brandy and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.

The final product was spooned into jars that we sealed with wax paper and string and secreted away at the bottom of her pantry (yes – she had a pantry!) for a few months to mature. 

The whole process took the best part of a Saturday afternoon, but it was really enjoyable. I loved spending time with Granny and preparing for Christmas in advance; it built up the excitement that led to my magical childhood Christmases. 

🎄Do you have any special Christmas Traditions?

I always make a Christmas cake with my children and every year we watch Home Alone and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. I also try to read a few Christmas books, as that makes me feel festive.

🎄What’s your favourite festive carol or song?

Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas is You

🎄Do you have a favourite festive film?

Home Alone and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

🎄What’s your favourite festive read?

I read different ones every year, usually romances that have just been released, but you can’t beat A Christmas Carol as a traditional festive tale.

🎄Are you organised or do you leave everything until the last minute?

I am lucky to have a very organised husband, so he usually ensures that the bulk of gifts are purchased before September… Then it’s a matter of picking up bits and bobs as we go and, of course, doing the big festive food shop, which is always fun!

🎄Christmas tree – real or artificial?

I’d love a real tree, but our house is quite small and we have three dogs. The youngest dog would probably try to eat the pine needles, while the male dog would be tempted to ‘water’ the tree, so we stick with an artificial pre-lit tree.

🎄Tinsel or Glitter?

Glitter

🎄Christmas cracker or party popper?

Christmas cracker

🎄Mince Pie or Yule Log?

Mince pie

🎄Christmas Dinner – Traditional Turkey, Nut Roast Veggie or something a bit different?

I tried to convert my family to vegetarianism this year, but sadly failed, so for now, it’ll be turkey. 

🎄Christmas Tipple – Bucks Fizz/Mulled Wine or something stronger?

Mulled wine on Christmas Eve, Champagne on Christmas morning, G&T on Boxing Day

🎄A fun game of after dinner charades or more chocolates and the television?

We’re usually exhausted after dinner, so it’s often TV in the background and a good book to read.

Thank you for hosting me! J Xx

🎅 Thanks to Darcie's generosity 🎅 


🎅  Here's a chance to win this fabulously festive prize 🎅 

LOVE AT THE NORTHERN LIGHTS notebook, signed postcard, bookmarks and a vintage northern lights brooch

UK only 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Canelo
September 2018

Runaway bride Frankie Ashford hops a plane to Norway with one goal in mind - find her estranged mother and make peace with the past. But when a slip on the ice in Oslo lands her directly in Jonas Thorsen’s viking-strong arms, her single-minded focus drifts away in the winter winds.

When it comes to romance Jonas knows that anything he and Frankie share has an expiration date - the British heiress has a life to return to in London that’s a world away from his own. But family is everything to Jonas and, as the one man who can help Frankie find the answers she’s seeking, he’ll do whatever it takes to help her reunite with her mother.

Now, as Christmas draws closer and the northern lights work their magic Frankie and Jonas will have to make a choice...play it safe or risk heartbreak to take a chance on love.

Twitter @DarcieBoleyn #LoveAtTheNorthernLights

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