G'morning.

Today, the Moonlit authors have come out to play. Enjoy the holiday fun they're dishin' with the heroines they created last week.

Find one, two, three or even four that you'd love to see turned into a novel or novella? Let the authors know!

Holiday Heroines

JOANN BAKER and PATTY MASON

From her position at the kitchen sink, Carol watched the snow falling gently on the rolling hills surrounding the Double D. It felt good to be back after so many years. Being with Jason again made Carol yearn for a true family Christmas. The tree was trimmed and the presents were wrapped. The only glitch in the celebration was Jason’s reaction to the news she had to share. The thought of her son sleeping so soundly upstairs as he waited for Santa made her smile. She hoped that the present she had for both of the men in her life would make them the family she longed for them to be.

LAURA HAMBY

Melinda Calloway rubbed the hem of her ruby red velvet skirt between her palms, savoring the softness of the material. Her heart beat up in her throat and her mouth was dry despite the mug of glogg she’d been nursing for the past hour. Christmas music, with a definite Country flavor, filled the smoke-filled bar.

A Christmas tree stood in the corner near the stage. Decked out with blue, red and green lights and several strands of popcorn and pretzels, with several foil-wrapped gifts beneath, nothing could’ve screamed "sorry tree" louder than this one did. The angel on top was double roll of Charmin with a face drawn on and a circle of gold glitter around the top pretending to be the halo.

This was obviously the place to be two days before Christmas.

"Hon, you’re up now. Roy’s gettin’ the mike hooked up and roundin’ up the band." Melinda managed a weak smile at the waitress who removed the half empty mug of glogg and replaced it with a shotglass filled with whiskey. "Sing us some traditional Christmas carols, hon. Don’t matter if you croak like a frog that’s been smokin’ cee-gars for forty years, the traditional always goes down well."

Melinda nodded, worried to have her voice likened to that of a croaking, cee-gar smoking frog. Oh well. No more time for the pity party. She wanted to sing, so sing she would. Besides, it was hard to wreck "Deck the Halls."

JOSH LOCKWOOD

Molly held the small gift box in both hands and glanced longingly toward the galley door. Perhaps she could escape before the tears welling up behind her eyes spilled down her cheeks. "You shame me, Danny Brennan," she whispered. "I have nothing to give you in return."

She felt his work-hardened hands grip her shoulders and he turned her back to face him. "Of course you have," he insisted.

"And what would that be?"

"Your love."

She met his eyes then and attempted a smile. "You already have that."

He nodded his understanding. "I know, and it’s all I’ll ever want."

There was no controlling the tears any longer, but they were tears of happiness that trickled down her face. "You do have a way with words, Danny. You do have a way with words."

MEG ALLISON

Sandra sat on her plump sofa and stared at the Christmas lights blinking around her small artificial tree. She had loved the holiday as a kid, but now days she really identified with the old "Blue Christmas" song.

It really sucked to be alone this time of year.

The ring of the telephone made her jump. She frowned as she leaned over the sofa arm to answer. Who could be calling at this time of night?

"Hello?"

"Hi, Sandy, it’s Dave." The rich timbre of his voice brought an automatic smile to her lips. "I hope it’s not too late to call."

"No, of course not," she said as she sank back against the cushions and curled her feet beneath her. "You have perfect timing."

His chuckle sent a small shiver down her spine. "Well, I’m glad you like something about me."

"I like a lot of things about you," she admitted. "I just…I have a hard time showing it."

For a moment she almost kicked herself for saying too much, too soon. Then she heard the words she’d been longing for these past few weeks.

"I like a lot of things about you, too, honey." Silence stretched between them as the words flowed over and around her, making her tummy leap and somersault in odd little circles. "What are you doing for Christmas?"

Sandra grinned. "I thought you’d never ask."