Embracing Grinch and Santa

by Malena Lott

Story sampler and author recipes! Free download

Most people who know me would say I'm usually a pretty smiley gal. I'm typically "silver lining," "bright side," "half cup full" chick. But honestly, I'm feeling rather Grinchy the past few days. The Connecticut shootings not only sucked every bit of holiday spirit I'd managed to summon, but has sent me straight up that hill into Grinch's dark cave looking upon those darling Whos Down in Whoville celebrating.

When it comes to grieving, I'm not someone who needs a big push. In fact, I shot into that cave like a rocket. A few months ago, I decided to put my thoughts on grief and four short stories on "loss and living on" in an anthology, "Hope Floats," which will be published as an ebook only by my publishing imprint, Buzz Books USA. I was working on the book when I began to close all the documents open on my computer to go do my daily round of after school child gathering from three schools, I saw the headline. And bawled like a baby. Like most of us did. I don't mind that I'm empathetic - even my characters can feel real to me - but it's been tough, tough, tough to shake the feeling of shock, sadness and utter despair, which is in no way helped my people posting insensitive things on Facebook like how guns are not the problem.

In one essay in the book, I discuss how much pain guns have caused in my grief journey. Unlike things like cancer and heart disease, which have also played their roles taking my loved ones, I'm most angered by the gun deaths.

But even with trying (mostly unsuccessfully) to avoid the Internet, my preferential bearer of bad news, I decided that the Grinch on my shoulder could stay as long as I acknowledged that Santa sits on the other shoulder and all I had to do was turn my head and listen to the jolly old elf singing and try to open my heart again for the good of the holiday season. I do want more Santa and less Grinch, but I have to be realistic: my grief-stricken Grinch, who wants to be alone and sulk, will not entirely go away. But I can choose to ignore him and focus on what really matters, which is spending time with my loved one and staying in the present moment with them, which is really all we have. And I just heard my 7-year-old tell his 12-year-old sister that he loves her, out of the blue. God, I love them.

If you'd like a copy of Hope Floats, leave a comment on how you get into the holiday spirit and leave me your email address OR you can email me at malenalott (at) me (dot) com and put "Hope Floats" in the subject line and I'll send it to you when it's live. Let me know if you'd prefer a pdf or a Kindle copy.

I also have a treat for you. Dixie Pie, Snickerdoodles, Dad's Chili, Christmas Morn' Casserole, Roasted Cauliflower and Broccoli, Mulled Wine, Mema's Orange Stuff and Peanut Butter Fudge, yummy recipes from Buzz Books' authors, as well as samples from their stories. All you have to do is pick your favorite recipes and make them and see what stories spark your interest as you're warming your toes by the fire drinking that mulled wine. Get the holiday recipe and story sampler here. 

Wishing you a more-happy-than-sad holiday season!

Malena Lott is the author of four women's fiction novels, The Stork Reality, Dating da Vinci, Fixer Upper and her November release, Something New. She also writers young adult under the pen name Lena Brown. Her upcoming ebook, Hope Floats, includes four short stories and two essays with the theme of loss and living on. Visit her at malenalott.com or on her Facebook page.