Young Adult Authors on Their Favorite Holiday Traditions

My writing pal Laura Langston, author of currently released teen novel ‘The Art of Getting Stared At,’ has a post on her blog today (December 10, 2014) about 'Our Favorite Holiday Traditions' at www.lauralangston.com. She invited a few young adult authors to share their favorites, and I am privileged to be in the company of them to also give my two cents on holiday traditions (well actually, ‘two cents’ is impossible what with the lack of penny, so I guess I gave my ‘five cents’).

Our family holiday tradition started quite a few years ago, and I don’t know exactly when, how or why. The ‘Spot’ has been our spot for so many years – for so many memories and celebrations – that now, despite not knowing the origin of how our tradition began, it only seems right to go there on Christmas Eve. It wouldn’t be the same, otherwise.

It’s a tradition – it’s almost a given – and I look forward to it every year.

Every December 24th we head to BC-owned ‘White Spot Restaurant’ for dinner. We have a favorite close to home on Vancouver Island where we are ‘regulars.’ Some might think it unconventional, but heck it works for us. We go to the same location and we always seem to get the same table server – he gets a big tip! Although unable to remember when we started going, I do remember feeling guilty about making someone work on Christmas Eve. But when we brought up the topic with the server he admitted that he, along with other servers, vie for the shift – it’s one of the most lucrative days to work of the year!

So we go, no matter how unconventional it may seem (others have the same idea, as well, as the place is usually very busy – so we aren’t THAT unconventional). We go in the spirit of giving; we leave our guy a big tip. We go in the spirit of giving back to our community; supporting local economy. We go in the spirit of family and togetherness; no one is gobbling down their food to rush to the TV/computer/game/whatever. And we go in the spirit of merriment and good will to all women/men; momma isn’t miserable, tired, rushed and harried after a morning/day/afternoon of cooking, therefore making her cranky towards her men.(She’s only gonna cook all day on Christmas day, anyways.)

Needless to say, I’m counting down the days – not so much for Christmas, but for Christmas Eve dinner! Pass the salt and gimme a side of Triple-O-Sauce…and save me a candy cane for later!

(And what is my 'usual' for dinner? Whatever I'm in the mood for - it's Christmas after all!)

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About 'Newbie Nick' - When 14-year-old Nick Zinsky secretly busks for money on the downtown streets, he soon learns that keeping his "job" a secret is harder than he thought.

All 14-year-old Nick Zinsky wanted was a guitar of his own and a necklace for his mom, and he wanted to buy both on his own, without anyone's help. Too young to get a real job, he came up with a plan to get the money.

Using a guitar loaned from his high school, he spent the summer and weekends playing the guitar while busking downtown. But he had to keep his "job" a secret from everyone—from his mom, his music teacher, the other kids at school, and especially from the school bully, Beau.

But when a music competition is announced where the prizes would solve all Nick's problems, Nick lacks the confidence to enter the competition. Having a nickname like "Newbie Nick" doesn't help, either.

Does he find the courage to enter? Will he ever get his guitar?

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