Christmas Romance Author Q&A: Melody Carlson (The Christmas Tree Farm)
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of more than 250 books with sales of more than 7.5 million, including many bestselling Christmas novellas, young adult titles, and contemporary romances. She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, her novel All Summer Long has been made into a Hallmark movie, and the movie based on her novel The Happy Camper premiered on UPtv in 2023. She and her husband live in central Oregon.
In this interview, Melody talks with us about her new Christmas Romance novella, The Christmas Tree Farm.
FF: Please provide a brief summary of your newest novella, The Christmas Tree Farm.
After several years of teaching overseas, Madison McDowell returns to her beloved childhood getaway—her grandparents’ Christmas tree farm. But after the deaths of her grandparents and father, and a devastating wildfire, everything feels different. Her younger sister Addie is (mis)managing the farm, and the two sisters can’t seem to agree on anything. Not only that but the tree farm next door, now blackened by the fires, is being transformed into a noisy dirt bike park for kids, and it just happens to be owned by the old flame who broke her heart as a teenager. What’s a girl to do?
FF: In The Christmas Tree Farm, there are two sisters with different ideas about the future of the family farm. Please explain Madison and Addie’s differing opinions on the farm.
Madison’s dream is to bring the tree farm back to life, and Addie just wants to sell, get her inheritance, and get out.
FF: Without giving away any spoilers, can you provide more information on Madison and Gavin’s history?
A teaching colleague (and boyfriend) encouraged Madison to serve God by teaching English overseas. Madison went with the hopes of tying the knot with him overseas, but toward the end of their term, the relationship ended badly, and Madison returned home disheartened. Gavin, under slightly different circumstances, abruptly dropped her when they were teenagers and, barely out of high school, married another girl.
FF: Gavin’s daughter Lily is a bit rough around the edges, and Madison takes an immediate disliking to her. Yet as the story progresses, their relationship changes. What can we learn about first impressions?
Because Madison is determined to despise the noisy dirt bike park next door, she meets Lily under negative, judgmental circumstances. Lily, in her willful preteen way, senses the animosity and stands up to Madison. In many ways, they are similar and, given time, become good friends.
FF: Are there other important lessons that both Madison and Addie learn over the course of the book?
The sisters, who never had much in common, eventually discover how much they have misread each other’s motives, judged each other, and neglected to look beneath the surface of their irritations. As a result they move closer to grace, understanding, and eventually forgiveness.
FF: Your novels are often set in the Pacific Northwest. What is it about this particular landscape that keeps drawing you back?
Well, for starters, it’s my home! I guess that makes me biased. But after I taught preschool with a mission overseas, I traveled all around the world and began to realize what a beautiful place I lived in back in the states! I appreciate the Pacific Northwest more the older I get and naturally love to use it in my stories.
FF: What is your favorite part of the Christmas season?
Mostly being with loved ones. The decorations, music, food, etc. are all a delightful backdrop, but without loved ones to share everything with, they would feel like an empty stage. So even if it’s a simple gathering, being with family and friends tops the list for me!
The Christmas Tree Farm
A Christmas Novella
Melody Carlson
Revell
Genres: Christmas, Romance
Release Date: September 3, 2024
ISBN-10: 0800744721
ISBN-13: 978-0800744724
Book Summary:
Christmas is the perfect time for old memories, new beginnings, and second chances
When Madison McDowell returns from teaching overseas, she has high hopes of picking up where she left off at her family’s Christmas tree farm in Oregon. But between damage from a recent wildfire and the neglect due to her sister Addie’s unwillingness to invest, the farm is in sad shape. In fact, Addie is intent on selling the property. And to top it off, Madison’s former high school flame, the now-widowed Gavin Thompson, has plans to break her heart again by turning his neighboring property into a dusty, noisy dirt bike track for his daughter.
With the odds stacked against her, Madison decides there’s only one thing to do: double down on her dreams. It will require a ton of hard work–and some help from an unlikely ally–to save the farm she so dearly loves. But it may take a Christmas miracle to restore her relationship with her sister.
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