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Holiday Author Blogs 2012

Jon Katz is a writer and a photographer whose books about his relationships with dogs have made him a bestselling author. His latest effort is DANCING DOGS, his first-ever collection of short stories that explores the bonds between humans and animals. In this Holiday Blog post, Jon recollects a memorable Christmas where he made a new friend: a horribly neglected donkey named Simon, who was rescued from a nearby farm. He saved the animal’s life by nursing him back to health and reading to him everyday from a book called PLATERO AND I, a story about a man and his burro.
Jamie Freveletti is not only an author, but also a trial attorney, martial artist and runner. Her most recent novel, DEAD ASLEEP, is the fourth book in her series of thrillers featuring biochemist and marathon runner Emma Caldridge. Here, Jamie talks about some of the books that she never has been able to let go of and explains why they’re so special to her.
Jami Attenberg’s part-time job at an independent Brooklyn bookstore allows her to help customers pick out the perfect book to give to their loved ones for the holidays. Jami, whose most recent novel is THE MIDDLESTEINS, recommends Patti Smith’s memoir JUST KIDS most often, which tells readers that it is more than okay to pursue your dreams.
Juliette Fay is the author of three novels: SHELTER ME, DEEP DOWN TRUE and THE SHORTEST WAY HOME (all of which were Bookreporter.com Bets On selections). Here, Juliette talks about the book she gave to her daughter several Christmases ago and why it turned out to be the perfect gift to have given her, despite it being a “mom book.”
For Lee Woodruff --- co-author (with her husband, Bob Woodruff) of IN AN INSTANT and whose most recent book is THOSE WE LOVE MOST, her debut novel --- the gift of Wallace Stegner’s CROSSING TO SAFETY was a comfort to a newlywed bride who felt displaced and homesick spending her first Christmas in China. She clung to the novel, desperate for any connection back to America. However, re-reading the book 20 years later, she realized it was a blueprint to her marriage…and to her life.
Nelson DeMille, whose latest novel, THE PANTHER, is his sixth thriller featuring Anti-Terrorist Task Force agent John Corey, kicks off this year’s Holiday Author Blogs. In this heartwarming first piece, Nelson talks about a very special fan of his --- a young man who, as a teenager nine years ago, had quite a memorable holiday season thanks to Nelson’s kindness and generosity.