Agi and Suze's Christmas Countdown: Interview with Zoë Miller & Giveaway!

About Zoë Miller

Zoë Miller writes contemporary fiction laced with intrigue and drama. She is published by Hachette Books Ireland and her latest book, A Question of Betrayal, is out now in paperback. When Zoë’s not escaping into her writing world, she juggles her time between her family and the day job. Find out more at her website , Facebook, or follow Zoë on Twitter.

Interview

1) What’s your best Christmas memory?

My best Christmas memory comes from my childhood Christmases. The excitement of Christmas Eve was almost too much to bear. As soon as darkness fell, my father always ‘saw’ Santa Claus and his sleigh lighting up the sky above our house as it whizzed around, but by the time we children got to the window (there were five of us) the sleigh had invariably disappeared behind neighbouring roofs. Nowadays, the excitement might have diminished a little, but the magic of Christmas Eve is always in my heart. 

2) What are your 3 favourite Christmas reads?

When I think of Christmas reads I always remember the Jack and Jill annual that was under the tree the Christmas I was four. Although I couldn’t read properly at the time, I pored over that annual from cover to cover, loving every story and making sense of the pictures. In recent years I’ve enjoyed Emma Hannigan’s warm, cosy, and very Christmassy novels – ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ and ‘The Heart of Winter’.

3) If you could choose one person, dead or alive, to celebrate a one time special Christmas with, who would you choose and why?

My father – he passed away in December, 24 years ago now. He loved Christmas so much because it meant all the family gathering together, and it would be wonderful to have him sitting at the Christmas table one more time.

4) What are your thoughts about Santa?

I love the idea of Santa as a warm, magical, generous, gift-bearing character, who’s for everyone, not just the children. He’s the wonder and excitement shining out from children’s faces, which resonates with the child in every adult, and he’s the generosity of spirit and the kindness of strangers that seems to prevail in a special way at Christmas time.

5) What are your best and worst Christmas gifts and why?

My best Christmas gifts are books – any kind of book, fiction, travel, biography. There’s nothing more relaxing than snuggling up with a book in the lazy, fireside days after Christmas.

I don’t really have a worst gift – all are welcome!!

6) Your favourite Christmas song?

Can I have two? ‘Let it Snow’ and ‘O Holy Night’.

7) Your favourite Christmas movie?

It’s hard to choose, as I enjoy the warmth, silliness and escapism of all Christmas movies, the snow scenes and cosy, decorated houses, but I think ‘Love Actually’ is my favourite.

8) Top 3 books that you’re giving as Christmas presents?

For a friend: An inspirational 2016 diary that’s full of monthly motivations and daily messages

For my daughter: Jojo Moyes latest bestseller, ‘After you’

For my sister: Kate Morton’s latest, ‘The Lake House’

9) Most favourite and least favourite part of Christmas?

I love the weeks before Christmas when the lights begin to shine, on city streets, in shops and windows of houses. Think how dreary winter would be without them. My least favourite part is the financial and time pressure people can sometimes put themselves under looking for perfection or trying to make the celebrations bigger and better. I think it’s best to keep it as simple and easy as possible for all family members, so that everyone can just relax and enjoy the get togethers.

10) I must ask, sorry – the best Christmas food is…?

Those tasty little pieces of ham I pull off the freshly cooked joint on Christmas Eve. Well, as chief cook, I do have to check it’s okay, don’t I?

Giveaway

One very lucky reader of our blogs will receive a wonderful prize:

Amazon USA Amazon UK

A copy of A Question of Betrayal will be for the winner of the giveaway. Good luck!

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