Tag: beauty

Hallmarks’ Merriest Christmas Town 2026 – Carlinville, IL

Published on by Linda Mahkovec - Author2 Comments

What a thrill to hear that my hometown — Carlinville, Il https://www.carlinville.com/ — has been chosen by Hallmark as this year’s Merriest Christmas Town! https://merriestchristmastownscontest.hallmarkchannel.com/

Aerial view of a snow-covered town square illuminated at night, featuring a central gazebo, decorated trees, and surrounding buildings with festive lights.

Santa’s House on the Carlinville town square. Credit: Roger Doolin/TenSixteen Photography

And deservedly so. Carlinville (pop. 5,500) is a charming small town that has always sparkled at Christmastime. Several articles and posts on the Hallmark contest point out unique features that make Carlinville stand out: It’s located on the legendary Route 66, is home to Blackburn College, has the largest collection of Sear’s catalog homes (I was actually born in one!), and is noted for its picturesque town square and gazebo, the “Million-dollar” court house, the Historical Society (Anderson’s Mansion, as we always called it) https://macoupincountyhistoricalsociety.com/, and the list goes on.

I left the town many years ago, but as Longfellow writes, “the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts,” and the heart of the town has always stayed with me. As a writer, it has found its way into most of my stories, in one way or another.

Carlinville and the surrounding area feature largely in my Christmastime WWII series. Though most of the action is set in Manhattan, there is a parallel story line that takes place in a small central Illinois town. I was able to draw on my parents’ memories and stories from their generation — characters such as the old farmhand Ed and the stoic farmer Abe Creight have their origins in a real time and place. Kate and her children, as well as the town itself, are rooted in the people and landscape of my youth. Even the German POW plot line has its genesis in a persistent memory that my mom spoke of now and then.

(See my Pinterest boards “Kate’s Farm” and “Christmas: Rural and Small Town” for nostalgic and picturesque seasonal images: https://www.pinterest.com/lindamahkovec/_saved/)

My novel And So We Dream is even more closely based on Carlinville (renamed Greenberry in the novel). It takes place one summer in 1970 and features scenes of the county fair, the town carnival, the train that runs through the town, Anderson’s Mansion (it was still abandoned back then), bike rides through the country, strolls around Blackburn College and the town square — and the neighborliness and friendliness that is part of small-town charm.

A scenic forest path lined with vibrant purple flowers.

(Here’s a link to a post on the novel with photos I took of Carlinville and the countryside: https://lindamahkovec.com/2022/07/25/summertime-in-greenberry-1970-and-so-we-dream-a-novel/)

Carlinville is a beautiful place to visit spring, summer, and fall. But for a taste of small-town Christmas magic, stop by Carlinville during the holidays and enjoys its many charms!

From NBCChicago.com: “Located between Springfield and St. Louis, Carlinville was recognized for its historic square, which hosts a light-filled holiday ceremony and for the town’s many festivities, which make it a “holiday destination.”

“For years, we’ve heard visitors say Carlinville looks like something straight out of a Hallmark movie, so to have Hallmark itself recognize our town in this way is incredibly exciting,” Karin Doolin, executive director of the Carlinville Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement. “We’re proud of the traditions and community spirit that helped get Carlinville here, and we hope this gives even more people a reason to come experience our town for themselves.”

A beautifully decorated gazebo at night, adorned with festive lights and holiday decorations, surrounded by trees and people enjoying the festive atmosphere.

Carlinville’s annual Christmas Lighting Ceremony in the town square. Credit: Roger Doolin/TenSixteen Photography

The CHRISTMASTIME series – Stories of love and family set on the WWII home front. Paperbacks available on Amazon and B&N (and check your local library).

Ebooks for Christmastime 1939: Prequel to the Christmastime Series – https://a.co/d/fkjgolG and Christmastime 1940: A Love Story are $0.99 for the month of November ( Amazon, B&N, Google Play, Apple, Kobo).

You can also read the prequel, Christmastime 1939 for FREE on Substack: https://lindamahkovec.substack.com

Harvest Time 1947: A Love Story – Book 10 in the Christmastime Series

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The latest book in the Christmastime series, Harvest Time 1947: A Love Story, is now available — just in time for fall! The back cover reads:

It’s October in New York City and fall activities are underway. Gabriel and Billy devise a Halloween event at The Red String Curio Store to help Tommy and Mickey raise funds for summer camp. Lillian embraces her life as an independent illustrator, while her friend Izzy grapples with the new role of motherhood.

On the farm in Illinois, Kate must come to terms with the changes that time inevitably brings, and Ursula finds an unexpected reason for happiness. Meanwhile, one of the sisters-in-law is seeing ghosts! and Jessica is determined to solve the mystery.

The post-war world is a jumble of contradictions. While many still recover from trauma and wounds, others welcome the bright new future with open arms. Through the enduring traditions of the season itself—complete with hayrides and haunted houses, pranks and costumes—lovers, family, friends, and neighbors find a way forward together.

Harvest Time 1947: A Love Story is the first book cover in the Christmastime series to get a new look. The other covers have been designed and will soon be available for purchase. Here’s a sneak peek for you.

I hope you make yourself a cozy drink and sit back to enjoy this fall read.

(Images are from my Pinterest boards —https://www.pinterest.com/lindamahkovec/_saved/ )

The Christmastime Series – Update

Published on by Linda Mahkovec - Author4 Comments

The Christmastime series is getting a new look. For a long time, I’ve been told by many people (my publisher, consultants, readers) that my covers don’t accurately reflect the content of my books. That they are too dark, too vague, the images are too small and don’t convey what the books are about (a bridge in twilight means what?), and even that the genre isn’t clear — that the photographs could suggest non-fiction. So…

I finally listened to the feedback and made the decision to get new covers. And I’m happy with the outcome. I think they capture the tone a lot better — yes, the backdrop to the stories is WWII, but the overarching tone is one of hope, resilience, happiness, and love. And the new covers now align more closely with historical fiction, which will hopefully lead more readers to discover the series.

The covers now help to tell the stories. The cover of the 1939 prequel depicts Lillian standing in Brooklyn and looking towards Manhattan, towards her dreams. One early viewer said the message she gets from the image is: “My new life is about to begin.” The 1940 cover lets us know that Lillian’s two boys are essential to the series.

And the 1943 book? There is still a lone bridge at twilight, but now the main character stands there and we know the story will be about her, and the setting of Central Park and New York City are more clearly established.

The rest of the covers are still being worked on.

(Since the series continues to grow, I had to make one change to the 1945 book. The Epilogue had to be deleted in order for the later books to flow chronologically. That part of the story will be expanded into a book, most likely called Summertime 1948.)

I grew attached to my old covers, and they served their purpose. But it’s time to let the series continue to grow and unfold as a whole.

The latest book in the Christmastime series is called Harvest Time 1947 and will be released in a few weeks!

To all my readers, thank you for your support, your comments, and your requests to keep the series going.

The Notebooks of Honora Gorman

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Not a love story, and yet a story of love…

Behind the grit and grime, behind the crunch and crime,

lies the magic and beauty of New York City — at least there once was for a would-be writer named Honora Gorman.

True, she was never published and her life tended to meander about well into old age. True, her notebooks gathered dust as she grew older, though she continued to buy new ones and fill them.

And true, the sparkling dream-like wonder of her first encounter with the city lost some of its luster over the years.

And yet — and yet, between the pen and the paper lay the the stubborn insistence that what she saw and felt was somehow essential, worthy of being recorded, and utterly beautiful in a strife-filled, struggling sort of way.

Nora (character): Give it up Honora.

Honey (character): Oh, let her dream…

The Notebooks of Honora Gorman: Fairytales, Whimsy, and Wonder – https://a.co/d/03R5khXL

(all images are from my Pinterest boards)

Thoughts of spring – Kate’s farm in winter (the Christmastime series)

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At this time of year, I begin to wonder what Kate and her daughters would have done to get through the long, cold winters on the farm. Especially on days when they were snowed in, or the outside world was too frigid for enjoyment.

I imagine Kate would have kept busy with mending and darning and the daily chores of farm life. But I also see her in the kitchen, making something special for her family. An unexpected surprise that would warm the kitchen and fragrance the farmhouse.

In addition to their other chores, Ursula and Jessica would have been busy with weekly laundry and ironing – perhaps remembering springtime clotheslines as they gathered the cold laundry off the line.

As they listened to the radio at night, they might have crocheted or embroidered the flowers they longed for, as a way of creating a bit of springtime.

They would have continued their projects with the dried lavender gathered over the summer, making oils for baths and sachets to fragrance bed linen and nightgowns – a way of encouraging memories of spring before asleep.

I see them all pausing at the windows, searching for color out in the snowy, white world

and imagining the garden in bloom, the beehives full of honey.

Such thoughts might prompt them to make a cup of tea with honey, to warm up and savor the hint of wildflowers.

Maybe they would have gone into town with their brothers to run a few errands and catch up on the local news, finding warmth and vitality in the company of friends and neighbors.

In short, they would have done many of the things they did throughout the year – but everything now would be tinged with a wistful longing for the colors and scents of warmer months. It was second nature to them to bring touches of springtime into their lives and spread a little warmth and sunshine into the heart of winter.

(Though Kate and her family are mentioned in the earlier Christmastime books, the farm plots really blossom beginning in the 1943 book.)

https://a.co/d/dXITJZu

Christmas Lights

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Woven into the Christmastime series is the celebration of the season, where the brightness of the holiday contrasts with the darkness of war – opposing elements that help to shape the storylines.

Much of the bright cheerfulness of Christmas comes from deep-rooted traditions: enjoying family and friends over delicious meals,

the sharing of festive treats,

the old-fashioned joys of finding your Christmas tree and decorating it,

the child’s delight in Santa Claus and flying reindeer,

the thrill of a white Christmas.

Layered into the spiritual element that defines the season is the pervasive beauty that fills this time of year:

the deep resonance of traditional music and the joyful togetherness of caroling,

the fragrant woodsy beauty of pine trees, garlands, mistletoe and holly,

decorations that delight the eye and lift the spirit.   

And perhaps the oldest and purest source of comfort and beauty comes from light in the darkness: the original form of fire found in bonfires, fireplaces, candles,

the old-fashioned multi-colored bulbs of my youth,

and the more recent fairy lights that bring a sense of twinkling magic.

All add nighttime magic, and comfort in the longer, colder nights.

I try to capture this contrast of light and dark in the covers of the Christmastime series. Lampposts glowing in the twilight and a city lit at night, symbolizing hope and the end of war,

Fewer, or a lonelier, single lit lamppost to reflect the darkest years of the war,

and the beauty of lamplight on snow, tinged with wistful yearning, for the new 1946 cover.

Christmas lights. In the long, cold nights of winter, they offer hope, comfort, magic, and beauty.

Click here https://a.co/d/0AdKGsB to begin the series

My short, short books.

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My first two books, The Dreams of Youth and Seven Tales of Love, are also my shortest. They can easily be read in an hour or less. They are collections of short stories and sketches that, overall, tell a larger story.

Particularly with The Dreams of Youth. In large part inspired by my mom’s life (though with plenty of creative license taken), six interrelated pieces tell the story of a lifetime in 48 brief pages.

I have a soft spot for these two books. They were compiled years ago on discovering that I could publish my books through Amazon – no agent or publishing house needed (both were first published in 2012, then re-published with indie-author-friendly Bublish in 2016). My lifelong dream of being a writer was now possible, with me in full control! Because I originally wrote them under a pen name (Agnes Irene), I felt free to be a little more creative with the form, mixing sketches with poetry, sometimes using impressionistic language, and tapping into the other eras, particularly WWII.

And in The Dreams of Youth, I used lines from Longfellow’s poem, “My Lost Youth,” as chapter headings. I was always deeply moved by the refrain from that poem – “And the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts” – and allowed that inspiration to shape the book. Most of my subsequent books are written in the traditional novel format – except for The Notebooks of Honora Gorman, which is also a compilation.

I don’t often promote my two short books because there isn’t much of a market for them (and to avoid getting negative reviews by people who are disappointed by their length). But for the month of June, I’m lowering the price of The Dreams of Youth to $0.99 in hopes that it will be read and reviewed by readers who are familiar with my style of writing. https://a.co/d/0nIjxUn

To all my readers who have already read and reviewed this book, THANK YOU! And to any new readers, I hope you enjoy it!

https://a.co/d/0nIjxUn – ebook on Amazon. Also available on Google Play, Apple Books, Kobo, and B&N. Soft cover available on Amazon and B&N.

The Garden House novel

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A beautiful garden. A woman searching for meaning in the second half of life. A glimmer of hope when she rents out her garden house to a stranger.

Hope turns to suspicion, to dread, to the unimaginable, to … understanding. A beautiful garden.

A story of home and family, love and friendship.

A story of mid-life rediscovery, reawakening, rebirth.

A story of the beauty, creativity, and the healing power of gardening.

Ebook $.99 for the month of April. (Amazon, Nook, Apple, Google, Kobo)

Amazon – https://a.co/d/iH360wh

Love stories –

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In the heart of winter, Valentine’s Day. In the heart of winter, love.

Many of my books focus on love stories, such as the Christmastime series and the short story collection Seven Tales of Love. Other books have themes of love woven into the larger stories, as in And So We Dream, and The Garden House.

In The Notebooks of Honora Gorman, in addition to the “Cinderella” thread, several of the whimsical fairytales present romantic love: “Thaddeus and Emma,” “The Golden Blanket,” and “Natasha.”

For your mid-winter enjoyment, here are a few scenes from “Natasha” — a story within a story within a story (Iris-Sabine-Natasha). It features an undeveloped fictional character who has been frozen in time due to the creative failure of her author/s over the past century.

***

Natasha was a character long ago conceived but never developed, never completed. Someone had conjured her up nearly a century ago and then forgot about her. And Natasha had lingered in the ethersphere, just waiting, waiting for her story to continue.

The author Sabine wrote about the beautiful Natasha, living in 19th century Russia. The details piled up of her boudoir, her clothing and jewelry, the view from her window. Yet Natasha’s story failed to develop, and so the character remained in her room.

Sabine tried out different scenarios: Natasha running away from her repressive family and settling in Gdansk, where she becomes a trapeze artist. Natasha falling in love with a dashing explorer and sailing with him to the South China Sea. Or did she run away with the gypsies?

At each incipient possibility, Natasha would quickly rise to her feet, her dark eyes sparkling in excitement as vague visions took shape in her mind – then, as the ideas were nixed, Natasha would drop back onto her velvet chaise longue, or gaze out the window and sigh.

Nothing seemed to work. So the beautiful Russian character remained unfinished, languishing in her boudoir, bored, pampered, dreaming of the wider world outside her window in snowy Saint Petersburg.

It was true that Natasha was somewhat spoiled, and her pleasures were small and indulgent. She spent her time in idle pursuits: choosing between Parisian brocades and silks to be fashioned into gowns, cutting marbled paper into pretty shapes, improving her needlepoint, and trying her maid’s patience with new ways to style her hair or tie her sash.

But this latest author, Iris, could see that there was more to the girl – Natasha was just waiting to blossom.

She took a closer look at Sabine’s Natasha. There she was, idly fluffing the bunched rosettes on her lap cover. Natasha smoothed the glossy brown tresses draped over her shoulder and adjusted the jeweled combs, as she waited for her maid to return with her morning cocoa. She rose impatiently and stood in front of the gilded mirror, primping and pouting and trying different expressions for le bal for which she was forever preparing. She was outraged that maman insisted she wear the dull dove-gray dress to le bal tonight rather than the emerald gown that so beguilingly set off her eyes and hair.

As Iris watched Natasha, she realized that the girl was on the brink of womanhood. The way Natasha’s hands smoothed her robe over her hips suggested awareness – delight, even – in her curves, and Iris well understood the concerns of poor maman. One moment of unchaperoned freedom and this girl would indeed run off with the circus or into the arms of a dashing adventurer.

And yet, thought Iris, how sad for Natasha to be trapped in eternal youth, her potential never known. She watched Natasha saunter to the window, rub away the frost flowers, and gaze at the people on the street below.

Natasha longed to follow them, converse with them, discover what the world was all about. She touched her pale, warm cheek and imagined it crimson with cold. She blew out a puff of air and imagined it turning into smoke. She wanted to run like the children on the street below. Gallop like the soldiers on their fine chestnut horses. Stroll through the park in the springtime, lace parasol in hand, blossoms swirling all around her. She wanted to see how her own uniqueness would play out in the world, to be tried and tested, to be shocked or delighted or dazzled by her choices and decisions. Oh life, she would dream. Oh, life.

Iris resolved that, though she may not know where the story would lead, she would at least get Natasha out the door and into the world. Let her dance at the ball and experience the dream of romance. Let her know that first thrilling glance across a crowded room that would set her heart fluttering, the first press of warm lips against her hand. Let her breathe the cold air of winter, the scented air of spring. Let her come to know the dreams of future-heavy youth, so beautiful and brief.…

And so — Iris’s development of Natasha’s story sparks her own later-in-life development and enriches her life in the process.

(All images are from my Pinterest boards, which include scenes from the charming Russian movie: The Silver Skates.)

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!