Why 1936? #TimeTravelRomance #HolidayRomance #Giveaway

By Pamela Spradlin Mahajan (Guest Blogger)

I chose 1936 as the decade my heroine, Cat, travels to in my time travel romance A VERY RETRO CHRISTMAS for a myriad of reasons. The 1930s are a decade that appeals to me. One of my grandmothers was born in 1930 and she told me many tales of her childhood. I have of course seen childhood photos as well which add to my imaginings. I have always thought it would be fascinating to go back in time and meet my grandmother or my mother at different ages and see what their lives were like.

Another component of selecting the 1930s as the time period for A VERY RETRO CHRISTMAS was the escapist aspect of all stories. While every book provides an escape, I feel that transporting readers (or viewers in the case of television or movies) to another decade doubles or even triples the escapist effect. Certainly that can be appealing.

There are many aspects of the decade that were far from perfect, but as this is a lighthearted Christmas romance, I focused on the elements of simpler time; of living life, not only without a smartphone, but without a television. It was interesting to imagine the ways people might think up to entertain themselves, without the crutch of scrolling a smartphone.

As a copywriter who has penned content for retailers and crafted many product descriptions, I can also say that thirties clothing and fashion were a factor in choosing the decade. Imagining what people wore in the 1930s was another way to make that decade truly come alive on the page. Whether it was the vivid red lipstick and homemade dresses of one of my characters or the stunning gown and cape Cat dons in one of the final scenes, the clothing and style of my characters is intricately connected with their stories.

From imagining what life was like for my loved ones to a desire to live— if only for a brief time— in a screen-free world, there are many reasons I set A VERY RETRO CHRISTMAS in 1936. It was a lovely escape for me and I hope it will be for my readers as well.

Blurb

What if the future you always dreamed of, was actually in the past?

Social worker Cat has no intention of falling in love or getting married—much to her mother’s chagrin. While mourning her paternal grandmother’s passing, Cat opens an heirloom left by the matriarch—a coveted Christmas ornament—and finds herself transported to December 1936.

Handyman Eli spends his days doing odd jobs around town and his nights hammering away on his house—whatever it takes to keep his mind off the awful year he’s had. When a mysterious young woman drops into his life seemingly overnight and wants to rent his guest house, he is at first annoyed and then more than a little intrigued.

Excerpt

Eli charged across the dirt driveway, flung open the door of his truck, and slid into the driver’s seat. Hunched over the steering wheel, he pushed the key into the ignition and glanced at the closed back door of the house.

Nosy woman, wasn’t she? Asking him questions that weren’t any of her business—questions he had no intention of answering. Eli ground his back teeth together. Why did Cat have to bring up the one thing—the one person—he worked so hard not to think about every second of the day? And last night she’d asked him about the crib…A cramp pierced Eli’s chest.

It was good that Cat was staying in the detached house. Maybe her presence would expel some of the old energy and stagnant memories of what the space was supposed to be.

He turned on the truck, backed up, and hurtled down the driveway toward the main road. He took a deep breath as he pulled onto the two-lane street, vaguely aware of his fight-or-flight response receding. As his body unclenched, an image flooded his mind of the woman sitting at his kitchen table right this very minute. When she’d spoken, one of her blonde ringlets had fallen into her eyes. The way she’d flicked her head just so to get it out of her face…it did something to Eli. His mind was a rush of color—the flush of her pink cheeks, the flash of her hazel eyes, and the straw-colored hue of a bouncy ringlet.

About the Author

Pamela Spradlin Mahajan is the author of women’s fiction and romance. Her debut novel, Skye, Revised, was released in early 2024. Pamela has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and creative writing from Missouri State University and a Masters from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Her recent short stories have appeared in the online literary journal "They Call Us" and she has been honored in the WOW! Women on Writing Flash Fiction Contest. A native of Springfield, Missouri, Pamela lives with her family in Kansas City, where in addition to writing women's fiction and romance, she also works as a copywriter, journalist, and reseller.

Website: https://pamelamahajan.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pamelajsm/

Pamela Spradlin Mahajan will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway