Rebecca Talley is the author of three novels, including Altared Plans, her most recent release.

Altared Plans is available online at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and www.CedarFort.com, as well as Seagull Book and LDS Bookstores.

Learn more about Rebecca on her website: www.rebeccatalley.com and her blog: Rebecca Talley.

LDSWBR: Rebecca, tell us, what favorite holiday traditions do you and/or your family participate in every year, and will you be starting any new traditions this year?

REBECCA: The day after Thanksgiving we have the Talley Family Hulapalooza. We set up our tree, decorate it, decorate the house and yard, and then have hot chocolate, popcorn, and watch “Christmas Vacation” (an edited version that’s family friendly). We used to have an accidental family tradition of driving into the garage with the tree on top of the vehicle so it was then wedged between the car and the garage door, but we dispensed with that tradition when we decided to save trees by purchasing an artificial tree (just wish the fake tree smelled as good as the real thing).

We make goodies and go Christmas caroling to our neighbors and friends every year.

We watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” every year and I cry every year when it’s over.

We choose a family to secret Santa each year and we almost always get caught on delivery. We’re just not that sneaky.

Every night in December, until December 24th, we read a scripture, sing a Christmas carol, and then read a Christmas story. On Christmas Eve we read the account in Luke. Our children perform a play for us complete with singing and costumes (a tradition my sister and I started when we were young and performed for our grandparents). We then have a visit from one of Santa’s helpers who dresses just like Santa and delivers Christmas Eve gifts (our kids draw names and then make, or purchase, a gift for that person which we place under a Christmas Eve tree–these are the gifts that Santa delivers in person). After Santa’s visit we read a children’s Christmas picture book to all the kids and then it’s off to bed.

On Christmas morning, the kids wait outside our bedroom door at 5:00 am and whisper so loudly they always wake us up even though we’ve already stated that they weren’t allowed to get up until 6:00 (it’s a tradition because it happens every single year and we, the parents, always lose). We have a big family dinner with my sister’s family (she also has 10 kids) on Christmas day and play the same music our grandpa played all while we were growing up.

LDSWBR: What books are on your Christmas wish list?

REBECCA: The Ball’s in Her Court, The Last Waltz, Eyes Like Mine, English Trifle, The Hourglass Door, An Angel on Main Street, Santa Maybe, Mormon Mishaps, Wings, All the Stars in Heaven, Shudder

LDSWBR: Wow, nice wish list! What books do you plan on purchasing/have you purchased as gifts for loved ones this Christmas? (Unless sharing would ruin the surprise for someone- we wouldn’t want that to happen!)

REBECCA: The Joseph Smith Papers, Mormons and Masons, Charley Bones, Flat Stanley, Eager, and numerous other children’s books that I can’t remember because I’ve already wrapped them.

LDSWBR: Thanks, Rebecca!

Listen to our podcast with Rebecca Talley on www.ldswomensbookreview.com!

I love Rebecca’s “tradition” of driving into the garage with the Christmas tree strapped on top of the car. Do you have a funny Christmas tree story or tradition?

LDSWBR will hold a drawing on Christmas Day for a $25 eGift Card from Deseret Book, as well as a variety of books being offered by some of the LDS authors that will be featured on the blog. Simply post a thoughtful comment on the Countdown to Christmas author posts to enter. Here are the rules:

• LDSWBR reserves the right to decide what determines a “thoughtful” comment.

• Only one comment per person per “Countdown to Christmas” author post will be entered into the drawing. This allows the potential for 24 entries per person at the end of the contest. Feel free to comment more than once per post if you’d like, but only one comment will be accepted as an entry.

• Contest ends at 12:00 Midnight MST on December 24, 2009. Drawing winners will have until 12:00 Midnight MST on December 31, 2009 to claim their prize. After that time, another name will be drawn to receive the prize.
  

• Book prizes can only be shipped within the contiguous United States.

Books that have been generously donated by the author for drawing prizes:

• Loyalty’s Web by Joyce DiPastena
• Hidden Branch by G.G. Vandagriff
• Altared Plans by Rebecca Talley
• A Modest Proposal by Michele Ashman Bell (includes a bonus copy of Michele’s Christmas booklet, A Candle in the Window)
• Her Good Name by Josi Kilpack
• MISSING by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen
• Famous Family Nights by Anne Bradshaw
• Love Letters of Joseph and Emma (autographed copy) by Angela Eschler
• Family Home Evening Adventures by Rebecca Irvine
• Counting the Cost by Liz Adair
• Shudder by Jennie Hansen
• Mormon Mishaps and Mischief by D.N. Giles & C.L. Beck
• Dawn’s Early Light by Laurie (L.C.) Lewis
• The Fairy Thorn (brand new release!) by Dorothy Keddington

Thank you so much!