Some of my all time favorite films are holiday romances. I’m not even sure why this is, but I suspect it started in childhood. Maybe it was from watching White Christmas on TV for the first time. I still remember being mesmerized by that final scene when they’re all dressed up in the beautiful Santa inspired costumes and the little sugarplum ballerinas, and suddenly the wall behind them opens up to show the snow falling in the night—and it’s all in living color! For a little girl, it was magical. But even as an adult, I still love Christmas. And since it’s also my husband’s birthday, well, it just seems like a perfect time for some sweet romance. And, really, what’s more romantic than a crackling fire, snow falling outside, and cup of something warm to drink with your significant other next to you. But when some or all of those elements are missing, what about watching Miracle on 34th Street or While You were Sleeping? Count me in—I’ll be there with popcorn and cocoa. As much as I like some of the new flicks like The Holiday or even the latest Hallmark movie, I really do enjoy the oldies….

I was inspired to write my 7th novel THE WITCH’S MARKET based on two incidents. About three years ago I read an article by my favorite Chinese author Echo about her trip to the Witches’ Market in Bolivia. Though the article was short, somehow the title capered my imagination and I decided to write a whole novel about the witches’ market – when I had no idea what this novel would be about. However, instead of setting my novel in Bolivia, I decided to make it happen on the Canary Islands. These seven islands are guarded by goddesses who are also safe keepers for the hidden golden apples of Aphrodite. Sailors seeking the legendary golden apples were lured to their doom by beautiful goddesses. THE WITCH’S MARKET, besides Echo’s article, was also inspired by an incident I experienced many years ago. Once at a concert I was so annoyed by the performer’s pretentious style that I stared at her instrument’s strings and willed them to break. Surprisingly, a few seconds later one of the strings broke, forcing her to stop in the middle of her performance. Rather than being happy, I was frightened that I might possess some strange power….

There are many things in life that intimidate me – modern car engines, tax forms, computer viruses. But not wine. Yes, I’m from California. Yes, I worked at a winery (and yes, I feature them in many books). Yes, I’ve earned a certificate from the prestigious UC Davis wine appreciation program. But learning all the complexities is like learning a foreign language – if you don’t use it, you lose it. I admit: I’ve forgotten more about wine than I’ve retained. However, because people turn to me for advice about what wine to order, I developed a bit of shorthand. Do you ever drink wine or spirits? If spirits, is it mixed drinks or straight? Do you drink black coffee or lattes? Do you drink full-sugar soda or diet? Orange juice, cranberry juice, or grapefruit juice? Prefer chocolate for dessert or fresh fruit? Season your steak with salt/pepper, a combination of dry seasonings, or a creamy sauce? You don’t need answers to all the questions, just a starting point, a hint, a clue. And you don’t need to follow the “wine rules” (red with red meat, white with fish/poultry). That’s old school. My cheat sheet is below. My caveat: this…