Books That Transport Us

Not Rhys and Hank

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

 Too soon?

 Okay, no. It isn't.  And today, for two very good reasons.

 One, our darling Rhys Bowen will be talking about her brand new God Rest Ye, Royal Gentlemen tonight at Murder By The Book, and I’ll be interviewing her! You will join us, right? 7CT 8ET  Here’s the link. 

And the second reason--the marvelous and brilliant Julie Cantrell and her pals have also concocted a glorious holiday book of novellas (such a great idea!) called It’s a Wonderful Christmas. 

(I will pause now while you add both books to your gift list.)

And this lovely collection of novellas grew out of the need for….positivity. The desire for the safe space of a story, as Julie puts it.

We all need our spirits lifted, whether it’s via the hilarity of Lady Georgie’s adventures or the very special stories in this brand news collection.

Here’s Julie to tell you all about it. And I wonder, too, what you all will answer to her question at the end.

Turning to Story When Reality Becomes a Little. Too. Much.

By Julie Cantrell


When life starts to feel heavy, as it has in recent years, there’s no better place to seek refuge than the quiet, safe space of a story.

Like most of you, I’ve always been an avid reader. From the earliest of days my mother read stories to me, letting me turn the pages with my tiny fingers as she held me in her lap and showered me with fairytales, Dr. Seuss rhymes, and parables. Story became my primary language.

My dad, a stage actor, countered these tales by spinning bedtime sagas rich with ghosts, UFOs, and Louisiana folklore. I’d grip the covers with both hands when he howled in imitation of the Cajun werewolf known as the Rougarou or flicked the lights to prove the aliens had landed.

As I grew to elementary years, I turned to Pippi Longstocking. With her quirky red braids and face full of freckles, she led me on countless adventures. And all the while, I dreamed of being her—spunky and carefree, exploring the world bareback on my pet horse (who slept in the kitchen) and accompanied by my lively best friend (a monkey named Mr. Nillson). During these years, my parents owned an independent bookstore, and I’d spend many hours perusing the shelves, reading everything I could squeeze into a day.

Through my tween years, Judy Blume’s characters spoke truths we weren’t supposed to talk about, and by my early teens, Stephen King was launching me into the treacherous realm of goth and gore.

By high school, I was diving deep into Southern literature, enjoying emotionally complex tales by the likes of Harper Lee, Kate Chopin, and Zora Neale Hurston, three authors who inspired me to explore fiction as a writer.

And now, as an adult, I read a wide range of genres—everything from Jesmyn Ward’s haunting memoirs to Marilynne Robinson’s lyrical novels to Hank Phillippi Ryan’s keep-the-lights-on thrillers! Whether fiction or nonfiction, memoirs or inspirational guidebooks, story remains a huge part of my life.

From Reading to Writing

As you can see, literature has always offered me a safe escape from the madness, especially when reality is not a place I care to dwell. Whether writing, reading, or listening to the words of others, I much prefer to ride a story out into the great beyond than to deal with all the stress and anxiety of “the real world.”

That’s one reason I joined forces with four other bestselling author friends to help lift spirits for the holiday season. When Lynne Gentry, Allison Pittman, Kelli Stuart, and Janyre Tromp decided to write a collection of Christmas novellas with me, we were simply looking for a positive place to focus our energy through the turbulence of 2021. Little did we know we’d end up with a set of stories that are now delivering hope, peace, and joy to early readers. And it's called: It's A Wonderful Christmas.


“I grew up in a rural community where neighbors help neighbors. Always,” says USA TODAY bestselling author Lynne Gentry. “In my novella, Miracle on Main Street, the characters don’t always see eye to eye, but when they see a neighbor struggling, they roll up their sleeves and offer aid. To me, Christmas is the most important story of unconditional love ever told and it cannot be told enough. Like the message in the film Miracle on 34th Street, that’s the spirit I tried to capture with this story.”


Award-winning editor and author Janyre Tromp also tapped into something positive to inspire readers, letting her story flow from the feelings evoked when she watches her favorite holiday film White Christmas. “Writing Lovely Life gave me a chance to play with two things I’ve always loved—music and castles. And by castles I mean a real-life castle that’s in Northern Michigan. Can you say fabulous research trip? 

One of my favorite lines from the novella is ‘Together is a wonderful place to be.’ Sometimes together requires a bit of sacrifice and creativity, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that relationships are the key to a lovely life and they’re worth the sacrifice every single time. I hope my story makes readers feel less alone as they enter this holiday season.”


Allison Pittman’s light-hearted novella was sparked by the 1940 classic film Remember the Night. As a literature teacher in San Antonio, she based her story in small town Texas. “A story with good bones can come to life and hold together in any setting,” she says. “I’m hoping readers will enjoy this romantic comedy and laugh out loud as they turn the pages.”


To add a little magic to the mix, Kelli Stuart was inspired by The Nutcracker. "Unpacking the story of the Sugar Plum Fairy was a delight. She’s the most beloved character of Tchaikovsky's ballet, but ironically doesn't appear in either of the original stories that inspired the ballet. 

Her pas de deux with the mystery man in the second act is often the very thing audiences come to see! Writing her story, and the love that was born from adversity and hardship, filled me with such joy, and I hope it inspires others during this challenging holiday season."

While I’d intended to stem my novella from It’s a Wonderful Life, the muse steered me toward the most unexpected of choices—National Lampoon’s Family Vacation! My novella doesn’t parallel the classic John Hughes’ film, but it does explore similar themes by focusing on a quirky family with all sorts of differences and modern-day complexities. Then we see what happens when they dare to come together for the holidays. I wrote this story in response to the many divides we’ve faced recently as a nation, and it’s my hope that this family’s journey will remind us all to find the good, focus on the commonalities, and love one another.

While I’ll never have the ability to solve all the world’s problems, and while I certainly can’t take away everyone’s pain and suffering, worries and woes (oh, how I wish I could!), I’m grateful that my lifelong love of story has given me a tool to process my emotions in healthy ways, and I’m honored to play a small role in transferring that happiness to readers.

Perhaps Stuart sums it up best, saying, “Amidst the continued uncertainty of the world, we’re all looking for comforting, healthy ways to escape. Nothing works better than a story.”

Have you ever read a story that was good for your soul? Do you ever turn to writing to help you deal with a difficult situation? How do stories transport you to a happier place?

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Oh, I cannot wait to read these!  My fave holiday movie right now is The Man Who Invented Christmas--such a great writer-movie!

And I love the idea of riffing of holiday films.

Reds and readers, tell us a book that was good for your soul!

(and happy holidays!)

Julie Cantrell is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author whose work has earned literary awards across multiple genres. Connect with all five authors (and more) at HER NOVEL COLLECTIVE and check out their novella collection, It’s a Wonderful Christmas. Also subscribe for a free monthly dose of joy and positivity at www.juliecantrell.com.