RTW Christmas Book Party: Kit Prate

by Kit Prate

First published in 1979, Kit Prate admits she enjoys fiction in general. Westerns are her first love, her favorite books to read and to write. Ms. Prate enjoys writing fan-fiction, especially about the TV western series, Lancer.

The widowed mother of four children who are grown and mostly on their own these days, Kit is returning to her love of writing. A background of working with the Bureau of Indian Affairs provides fodder for her healthy imagination and gave her a chance to travel to many of the locations she uses in her stories and novels.

RTW: Thanks for coming to the RTW Christmas Book Party, Kit! Please tell us what's special about Feliz Navidad and why you wrote a Christmas story.

KP: It seemed important to tell a story which included some of the elements of the first Christmas -- a journey, a baby, seeking shelter, gifts, and love.

RTW: Would you please give us a set up for the excerpt from Feliz Navidad?

KP: The death of a boy, a craving for vengeance, and two special women change Gabriel Hawkins' life forever. Will his reputation as El Angel de la Muerte--The Angel of Death--mean his own death as Christmas draws near?

And here's an excerpt from Feliz Navidad:

She heard the knocking, genuinely surprised someone would be at her door so late in the evening. Instinctively, she took the Henry rifle from its place next to the oak portal. Trouble was a rarity in this part of the country anymore, but a woman alone needed to be prudent. Hand on the latch, she called out the usual "¿Quién es?" (Who is it?)

She received a one word reply.

"Delilah?"

He fell forward when she opened the door; tilting himself sideways, his arms clutched against his chest.

She caught him, and eased him to the floor. And then she heard the baby cry.

Feliz Navidad is available at Amazon, Smashwords, and Barnes & Noble.

Thank you, Kit!

One commenter on Kit's post will win a pdf copy of Feliz Navidad, and all commenters all week are eligible to win the RTW Christmas Party Grand Prize!

Romancing The West is featuring wonderful Christmas books all week, and each day's author will be giving away a free book, so check back tomorrow for Cheryl Pierson.

Prizes Every Day!

Monday: A Warrior for Christmas and Somewhere the Bells Ring by Beth Trissel
Tuesday: Gifts from the Afterlife by Sara J. McNeal
Wednesday: A Dream to Share by Markee Anderson
Thursday: Feliz Navidad by Kit Prate
Friday: (TBA) by Cheryl Pierson
Saturday: Faery Merry Christmas by Jacquie Rogers
Sunday: Chicken Dinner! Yes, one commenter this week (any post) will win a book from each author--that's SIX Christmas books--AND a $10 Amazon gift certificate

Love Christmas stories?

Markee Anderson listed a bunch of 'em at her Christmas page.