Drake Sisters 02 - The Twilight Before Christmas

edge-of-the-seat creepy suspense, both in movies and in books. I wanted to be able to combine that with my love of romance and happy-ever-after endings. I also am very intrigued with the paranormal and with myths and legends that have persisted throughout the history of the world, in every country. What better way than to combine them al and write what I love to read? As for my ideas and where I get them—everywhere! Everything I see, or hear, newspaper articles on some strange happenings. It can be something smal like the way a woman turns her head, or more intense, such as a freak fog moving into a town that never has fog! My imagination doesn’t need much help to take flight.
    What was the biggest challenge in writing The Twilight Before Christmas?
    In al honesty, it was finding the time. I had the town, the characters, and the legacy of the Drake sisters already firmly in my mind. I did research on symbols and settlers and even the history of Christmas, but I had wanted this story, al the Drake stories, to be incredibly magical. To do that, I had to find the time. I stayed in a wonderful little house on the coast and wandered up and down the coastal highway to real y get the right feel before I began writing the actual story.
    You strongly evoke the atmosphere of a California coastal town in Twilight. Have you ever lived in a town like the fictional Sea Haven?
    I grew up in a smal town very close to the California coast and have lived much of my life in or near a smal coastal town. I love the atmosphere and have so many pleasant memories of my mom and my sisters and me walking along the wooden sidewalks and enjoying the year-round flowers growing wild.
    Herds of wild elk populate the area, and the beaches are wonderful. Seals are in the water, and you can whale watch during certain times of the year. I love the fishing vil ages and have favorite restaurants I enjoy.
    Will readers see more of the Drake sisters in the future?
    I certainly hope so! I love the Drake family. In fact I real y enjoy al the characters in Sea Haven. Yes, I have plans to give each sister her own unique story.
    Finally, is there one special wish you would like to have come true this Christmas?
    It sounds sappy to say Peace on Earth, but it sure would be wonderful.
    And this interview wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t ask: How do Carpathians celebrate Christmas?
    The Carpathians have their own traditions, but as for Christmas, they only began celebrating that holiday recently. Raven Dubrinsky, lifemate to the Prince, was an American and loved Christmas very much. She invited her family and friends to the Dubrinsky home this year. Antoinetta Justicano agreed to make the trip with Byron to play the piano for everyone so they could al sing time-honored carols. Raven had fun insisting that Mikhail decorate the tree using human methods and he ended up wrapping the Christmas lights around the tree, around himself, and around the furniture. Each Carpathian made an ornament to adorn the first Carpathian Christmas tree and mark the occasion. They came from al over to sing and celebrate and join in the festivities.
    If they had one wish to make on the Drakes’ snowglobe, it would be that their women could bring babies safely into the world to live and thrive!
    Merry Christmas from the Feehans, the Drakes, and al the Carpathians!
    Christine Feehan