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| Salzburg on Christmas Day |
Not only that, but I've just seen the cover of my UK anthology release Ruthlessy Royal. It's a collection of three stories by three different authors and my contribution is Passion, Purity and the Prince aka Protected by the Prince in North America. Here's a taste:
Prince Alaric of Ruvingia is as wild and untamed as the remote kingdom he rules. Women fight to warm his royal bed, but he ensures that none outstays her welcome. Then reserved, bespectacled archivist Tamsin Connors uncovers a shocking state secret....
Seeing the cover reminded me of what fun I had, living in sunny Australia and writing about a wintry kingdom with a castle in the mountains, cobblestoned streets, colourful Christmas markets and even a sleigh ride. It also reminded me of a recent chat I had with fellow LoveCat Michelle Douglas about the joys of European Christmas markets. So of course I had to dig out my research photos. They made me smile so much I thought, in the interests of spreading some pre-Christmas cheer, I should share a few with you. The markets are a great way to sightsee.
It wasn't just about sightseeing, even though some of the sights looked pretty spectacular. When you visit the Christmas markets on a chilly evening you want to bring something back for your efforts. Maybe a decorated gingerbread heart to hang in your window or carved and painted wooden Christmas ornaments for your tree. One year I was thrilled with a purchase of comfy cable-knitted socks that come up to my knees - perfect under boots! There are Christmas wreaths, pewter, pottery, teas, candles, even kitchen gear and spices.
Of course, one of the best things about the markets is the food. On a cold night there's nothing quite like a cup of hot, spiced (mulled) wine. Then there are the grilled sausages (the original hotdogs) with mustard and onions, gingerbread, stollen (European fruit bread topped with icing sugar) and chocolates. One of the photos I'd love to share, but promised I wouldn't, is of my children devouring hotdogs filled with half-metre long sausages! Or what about hot, fresh-roasted nuts like chestnuts or spiced almonds, or thin pancakes with a never-ending choice of toppings?
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| Christmas decorations on sale. |
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| Roasting chestnuts |
We even visited a Christmas market inside a palace. Now that was something special! And we've been serenaded not just by revellers but by brass bands in traditional local finery. And, when you tire of wandering the markets, especially with your hands laden with goodies, there's the treat of heading indoors. Find a cosy spot and relax with a mug of hot chocolate and a strudel or a hearty meal.
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What is your favourite pre-Christmas treat? A trip to the markets? Taste testing festive goodies? Or maybe ignoring the preparations and curling up with a good book!
As a pre-Christmas treat I'll give away a signed Annie West title to two people who comment.
Ruthlessly Royal is available now from Mills and Boon UK or next month from the Book Depository. Or you could simply check out the ebook of Protected by the Prince.
Happy Christmas,
Annie
Annie
ReplyDeleteI so love these pictures it must have been awesome to be there :) and I loved this story the setting is amazing I am pretty much ready for Christmas I still have the pudding to make which I will do this weekend and I have today and tomorrow to work and I am having 10 days off work so that is a bonus this year and I am really looking forward to finding some much needed reading time as it has been so hectic I have not been reading as much I usually do
Have Fun
Helen
Hi Helen,
ReplyDeleteIt WAS awesome. I'd experienced some of the markets years ago but going back with the kids was such fun! I get such a good feeling out of seeing these again. Almost as good as hearing you enjoyed Tamsin and Alaric's story!
Wow, you're very organised. Good on you! I feel like I've done some of my preparation but still have a long way to go. Enjoy your 10 days off. That sounds like bliss!
By far, my favourite would be visiting with my two BFFs from high school. We get together and share much laughter and sometimes tears. This year we went to a marketplace in downtown Toronto for lunch and general wandering, where I consumed a foot-long hot-dog for the first time in my 54 years of life. Only had soup for supper, so it was perfect (although difficult to finish). I was a tad worried, though, as I had almost four hours of sleep before driving the 2.5 hours each way, but thankfully some great CD and radio music kept me in fine form.
ReplyDeleteLaney, what a wonderful way to celebrate the festive season - with old friends. You're doing well, managing a foot long hot-dog! I hope someone got photos. As for the CD, I find them, and talking books, great for long drives. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI've never had a white Christmas--that's on my bucket list, but it has to come with a sleigh ride in the snow with my own white knight. But I have tried chestnuts roasted on an open fire, in Paris in October. What can I say--delicious! Your photos are lovely. How different Xhristmas celebrations must be in the northern hemisphere.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
Susanne, I can highly recommend a European Christmas. So much to enjoy and so many novelties if you're used to a warmer climate. Definitely, definitely try the sleigh ride. That was an experience I'll always treasure.
DeleteOh, I love your photos and descriptions, Annie, and I am adding the white Christmas and European winter markets to my "bucket list". Especially appealing when I've just been looking at our forecast for BIG heat over the next 5 days (just when I had my garden looking super for Christmas!)
ReplyDeleteI love everything about Christmas preparations, but only when I give myself permission to take the time necessary to plan, to shop thoughtfully, to decorate and clean and garden and test recipes and write cards/notes.
I think my favourite thing is getting the tree out and putting up the decorations because that marks the start of the festive season. Everything else -- all fun except the cleaning part! -- starts then and I love it all. Most fun of all is catching up with all the family.
Hi Bron, I'm so glad you enjoyed the post. Commiserations on the big heat you're expecting out there. I suspect you'll be eager for shade and a break in the weather.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it terrific having the tree up and decorated? We did that recently and it made such a difference! Now it really feels like Christmas coming up. I agree about giving yourself time to prepare. When it's a rush it's not much fun, is it?
The pictures are gorgeous! I'd love to get chestnuts freshly roasted from a stand like that. I've only had them once and I did the roasting. LOL
ReplyDeleteI look forward to the fruitcake and Christmas cookies that seem to be made only at this time of year. Besides being delicious, I love the memories these treats bring.
Marcy Shuler
Hi Marcy,
DeleteI'm glad you liked the pics. I smiled over the chestnut roasting machine. There were also fresh roasted almonds too. Oh, I love the fruitcake at Christmas and the other treats. It's morning tea time here now and I'm trying hard not to head for the pantry which is filling up with Christmas goodies.
Oh they look amazing Annie. I'm envious. I know I'd love that whole experience. And hot spiced mulled wine.....mmmm.
ReplyDeleteHi Efthalia, I suspect you'd adore the markets. They're full of great sights and delicious scents and the food and drink makes your mouth water. And that's before you even buy anything.
DeleteOh definitely Annie. I'm a totally food junkie.
DeleteYou've totally encouraged me that this is where I need to visit. ;)
Smiles.
Oh, Annie, those pics hit the spot! As you knew they would. :-) Absolutely gorgeous and it makes me wish I could just magic myself away to Europe for a white Christmas. Oh, for it to be cold enough for mulled wine. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteTwo things I love about this time of year are Christmas parties (my book group are having one tonight) and hunkering down with a Christmas romance or three. That definitely gets me in the Ho-Ho-Ho mood. ;-) Merry Christmas and thanks for the pics!
Hi Michelle,
DeleteI'm pleased they hit the spot. I suspect you'd enjoy the mulled wine in Europe. I have a recipe I could share when it's winter here.
What great Christmas treats! I love Christmas themed romances in the lead up to the holidays and Christmas parties with friends are wonderful. I'm hoping to fit in a few more myself.
Ohhhh - a mulled wine recipe :) Please share :) Perhaps in your next post ;)
DeleteJoanne, I'll try to remember to post in winter for you!
DeleteLovely post and gorgeous pics :)
ReplyDeleteA few years ago, you could get roasted chestnuts in Melbourne (city) and they tasted delish but I'm sure they would have tasted even better on a cold night rather than a hot summer's day.
Thanks for sharing your stories and pictures :)
Hi Joanne, I suspect you're right - hot chestnuts in cold weather rather than warm!
DeleteI'm glad you enjoyed the post.
Oh, Annie, I adore your pictures!! I've been to the Salzburg Christmas market and spent Christmas Day wandering the streets there. Of course, we were in a Youth Hostel ( they kicked you out in the morning until the afternoon) so the ambiance wasn't the best but nothing can take away the magic of a European Christmas. We have ornaments that still hang on our tree to this day that we bought at the markets.
ReplyDeleteIts my job to make the plum pudding every Xmas (cos I love it sooooo much). This year I'm making a boiled one AND a frozen ice-cream one and I'm also making the custard on cream instead of milk! Decadent for sure but its Xmas, right??
Amy, we've got some decorations from Salzburg too. Did you see the shop there that sells decorated eggs on satin ribbons? The hand-painted designs were amazing and I was so chuffed when we got them home unbroken. Oh, yes, I remember the YHA policy of out during the day - fun when it's snowing.
DeleteI love the sound of you frozen ice cream pud as well as your boiled one. I've just been looking at a recipe for a cherry and ice cream pud that looks terrific.
Annie, what fabulous pictures. I bet they bring you wonderful memories. I love stollen but hardly ever get it. Also love a very dark, rich Christmas cake.
ReplyDeleteHi Sue, yes, they do bring back great memories. There's a place near us that sells stollen. I don't mind it but it's not as much of a have as the rich dark cake for me. Nice to be able to choose, isn't it?
DeleteAnnie, love those photos. LOVE Passion, Purity and the Prince. There was something so magnificently Ruritanian about your kingdom in the clouds! And the hero wore a white uniform with gold braiding, sigh! 2013 has been such a busy year, my Christmas treat is actually the week I'm taking off AFTER Christmas!
ReplyDeleteAnna, I'm in the same boat - my relaxation time will be after Christmas too. Won't it be nice to unwind for a while?
DeleteYes, there was a touch of Ruritania in that book, wasn't there. I had far too much fun with the fairytale kingdom theme.
Books any & every time!
ReplyDeleteLovely photos. Where exactly is this? It looks so picturesque.
Linda, I think books would be the best treat for most of us! Here's hoping for some great reading at Christmas.
DeleteHm, most of these pics are in Germany but some in Austria. There are a couple from Salzburg, some from Nuremburg, two from Wurzburg and one (the nut seller) from Rothenburg o.d. Tauber.
Love your pictures, Annie! They positively glow! So inviting!
ReplyDeleteChristmas treat for me is making all sorts of yummy goodies in the kitchen that I tend not to do during the year... like chocolate-coffee truffles and buttery shortbreads. And this year I discovered German spice biscuits so I Googled some recipes and came up with my own version. Not too bad at all, even if I do say so myself!
Congratulations on being part of a royal anthology! What a treat your winners are going to get!
Hi Sharon, I love the sound of all that cooking you're doing for Christmas. Chocolate coffee truffles? Yum. I wonder if the spice biscuits are like the cinnamon stars we make - seriously scrumptious. Maybe one Christmas we should do a recipe swap.
DeleteThoroughly enjoyed this post Annie. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI too loved European Christmas. They do it like no other as far a s I'm concerned.
I didn't like the spiced wine or the spiced tea, but the hot chocolates, fancy cakes, Gingerbread and Speculaters. Yuummm. Me - I think I'm doing good to make fruit cake and maybe some Ginger bread. :)
Mary, some of the sweet treats there are wonderful, aren't they? And it's such a change for us Aussies having a cold Christmas. I must admit to enjoying the hot chocolates too. Sigh.
DeleteBeautiful pictures thank you.
ReplyDeleteThe local markets are always a lot of fun to visit leading up to Christmas. I especially love the hand-made goodies.
Hi Mary, I know what you mean about visiting the local markets. I'm wondering if I'll be able to fit in a quick visit before Christmas. The hand made things can be so lovely, can't they?
DeleteI love getting together with my mom and sisters making and trying new desserts and sweets together in my moms kitchen.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a awesome post and great giveaway!!!! Happy Holidays everyone!!!!
kac_030 @ yahoo . com
Kimmy, I love the sound of your family getting together to cook! I've done that with a friend or more often with family in the lead up to Christmas and it's great fun. Merry Christmas to you too!
DeleteHi, Annie!
ReplyDeleteWe visited Salzburg years ago when we lived in Paris. It’s a lovely and enchanting place. Thanks for sharing your photos to bring back memories.
I’m one of those who would curl up with a good book pre-Christmas because I know that when I HAVE to get started on the shopping and baking, there won’t be time for reading. :( In addition, if I start nibbling too early, there will be even more pounds to work off later! :)
Merry Christmas to all!
Connie Fischer
conniecape@aol.com
Ah, Connie, that sounds so familiar. Once you realise how much you have to do it's hard to stop, isn't it? That's why I'm looking forward to a couple of days after Christmas when I sincerely hope not to be doing much except reading (and polishing off leftovers).
DeleteHi Annie.
ReplyDeleteNow a days curling up with a good book and watching my Christmas movie collection with a box of tissues close by. Love Christmas day with my family and sharing food and good cheer. Merry Christmas. xxx
Jan, that sounds fabulous. I was just saying to my daughter it seems the time to watch 'Love Actually' again. Merry Christmas to you too.
Deletebrownies
ReplyDeleteSounds good, BN.
DeleteCurling up with a good book is always a good plan lol. I put Christmas shopping off as long as I can but I love decorating the tree.
ReplyDeleteCatslady, decorating the tree is one of my have things too. Hope you enjoyed it this year.
DeleteAnnie, those photos are amazing. And now I desperately want to spend a Christmas in the northern hemisphere one day!
ReplyDeleteRachel, it's definitely fun. Hope you make it there one day. You'll have to organise dog sitters.
DeleteI love Christmas books. In the food departmant it's egg nog,mince tarts and fruit cake
ReplyDeleteKaelee, I'm looking forward to reading some Christmas stories too, and it looks like I might be writing one soon too. Love the edible goodies too. Have a lovely Christmas!
DeleteHi everyone,
ReplyDeleteI added a separate post about the 2 winners drawn at random for this giveaway, but I suspect people have just been checking this post rather than the site generally. Just in case, the winners are Kimmyl and MaryDe. Congratulations, ladies! Email me at annie(at)annie-west(dot)com with your addresses and I'll post you an Annie West book each.