By: Victoria Stevens
New York City, NY (The Hollywood Times) 12/19/2023- Since this year’s Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas launched on October 23rd, roughly 2.5 million viewers tuned in to catch the latest episodes of their favorite Christmas families.
What entices so many of these viewers to tune in weekly? Is it that these good-hearted stories always have a happy ending? Is it the love that usually shines through these stories that are so intoxicating? Every Hallmark movie has a specific formula that it has to follow. This criterion is what brings audiences back each year wanting more.
Award Winning Author Nicole Mullaney has created many of these feel-good romantic novels releasing her newest book, “Dating Santa’s Son.”
“I was asked how to write a Hallmark style story, and I decided to write this story back in 2018 and not publish it right away,” Mullaney said, explaining she thought about the breakdown of Hallmark stories and wanted to do something different. “I wanted to do something with magic and with a different angle that I hadn’t seen before. I actually came up with the title pretty early, and then figured out the online dating angle with the main character.
Mullaney said she wanted these characters to be “abnormal” and what’s better at Christmas than Santa having a son and passing the role down from generation to generation.
“The more I thought about how hard it would be for Santa’s son to find a wife when he couldn’t really explain to her what his unique job was, led me to go on this journey with this character and see how he was going to win this woman’s heart,” Mullaney said.
When reading this book, the first thing that stands out is the way the reader can feel each character’s fears and hesitations throughout. This book takes the reader on a roller coaster ride of emotions, pulling at your heartstrings and leaving you wondering if this couple truly finds their way back to each other. The illuminating Christmas theme as very believable and isn’t too farfetched.
“The descriptions helped you truly understand the characters’ feelings so you’re seeing them and not just being told what they are,” Mullsney said. “I wanted the reader to see them react and relate to the emotions that the characters were feeling. \
“We have all experienced these types of emotions when put in intense situations like the characters. It’s kind of like using your own emotions to describe what it going on. In a book it’s a little bit different. The only way that the reader was going to see it was if you showed them. That’s always one of my big things you always want to do; show not tell.”
There are many strong characters that resonate throughout the book and it is very easy to relate to many of them.
“I definitely see a little of myself in the lead character Jessica,” Mullaney said. “I do like to bake, but I could never see myself as a baker. It is more like a hobby and a fun activity to do. I can also see myself in Jessica’s sister, Holly, in a way with wanting to watch out for each other. You always want to do that for family, and sometimes you take a step back and don’t do enough for yourself.”
“Dating Santa’s Son” won first for Best Holiday Novel and second for Best Romance at the awards in the Firebird Book Awards. Mullaney sapd hopes this book will turn into a screenplay like some of her other novels have done.
“In the past I have worked on a few projects with Candice T. Cain from Gemelli Films,” she said. “I would write the books and Candice would turn them into screenplays which would then lead to being on Pure Flix. ‘Ivy & Mistletoe’ was our first project that we outlined together and Candice wrote the screenplay. It was a collaboration of sorts and being able to work on this project and see the final product was very rewarding.”
As an accomplished author, Mullaney contributes some great advice to other up and coming authors that want to get their books published.
“One of the things you need to do as a writer is you definitely need to read and read in the genre you want to write in,” Mullaney said. “You also want to write what you are passionate about because otherwise it’s very difficult to do. It will come together much easier if it’s something that you know and it’s something you’re passionate about.”
Mullaney also says to make sure you’re showing, not telling.
“There are a lot of great stories out there, however if you’re only telling the story like you’re talking to them instead of being inside the story then its not going to come out so good,” she said. “It will slow the story down drastically. Also, be you when you are writing and be genuine.”
If you would like to read “Dating Santa’s Son,” reach out to Mullaney on her website at nicolemullaneyauthor.com.
Nicole would like to thank her publishing company, Pen It Publications, for believing in her vision and being a true friend throughout her journey.
For more information: Visit Nicole Mullaney’s Author Page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nicolemullaneyauthor/
Photos courtesy of Nicole Mullaney
