The Update | Valley Author Publishes Holiday Stories; Parade in Warren
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio – Mahoning Valley author Nancy Christie has released “Mistletoe Magic and Other Holiday Tales,” her third collection of short stories.
Published by Unsolicited Press, “Mistletoe Magic” (trade paperback, $16, 168 pages) looks at the wonder and excitement of the holiday season as shown through the experiences of the characters in the eight stories.
Working on the stories was fun for Christie.
“I still believe in the magic of the season, despite all the terrible things that are happening worldwide,” she said. “Perhaps it’s just my way of achieving some sense of balance and maintaining a measure of hope.”
“Mistletoe Magic and Other Holiday Tales” joins Christie’s body of work that includes her award-winning novel “Reinventing Rita,” two short fiction collections (“Traveling Left of Center and Other Stories” and “Peripheral Visions and Other Stories”), two books for writers and the inspirational essay collection “The Gifts of Change.”
It can be purchased at nancychristie.com, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and unsolicitedpress.com.
Christie will sell and sign copies of her new book from 3 to 6 p.m. Dec. 21 at Leana’s Books & More, 45317 Kirk Road, Austintown.
Hometown Holidays Festivities, Parade
WARREN, Ohio – The third annual Hometown Holidays celebration will take place Saturday, Dec. 9, from 4 to 8 p.m. downtown.
The event will include a parade at 5 p.m. and the lighting of the tree at 5:45 p.m. on Courthouse Square.
The schedule includes meet and greets with Santa, Bluey, Olaf and the Grinch; ice sculptures; horse and carriage rides; and holiday gift and art markets. Tickets for carriage rides are free, but tickets must first be obtained at the Courthouse Square gazebo.
The Warren G. Harding Choir and Amanda Beagle Vocal Studios will perform, and
DJ Simply Ed will keep the celebration going with music from the Courthouse Square gazebo.
Art on Park will feature an art market and show; Modern Methods Brewing will sponsor an artist and makers market; and there will be a vendors market in the Brite Energy Innovators building.
First Presbyterian Church will become a warming station with free hot chocolate, live music and craft activities.
The Warren Heritage Center will have a holiday open house, with refreshments and activities for the family.
The Wean Foundation will have holiday movies, refreshments, games, a selfie station and a gift card raffle.
The Warren-Trumbull County Public Library will present a Candy Land Lane for children age 6 and younger from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Metal Music Fest, Concert at Westside Bowl
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Winter Thunderland metal music festival and artists market will take place Dec. 9 at Westside Bowl, 2617 Mahoning Ave.
The artists market, presented by Rusty Waters Apparel, is free and starts at 3 p.m.
The concert will feature Daggrs, Greywalker, Trephine, Tommy Magik and the Wonderfulls and A Deer A Horse. Admission is $10. Proceeds will benefit the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley.
The artists market will feature jewelry, clothing, woodworking, fine art prints, lotions, candles and more.
Growers, Bakers and Makers Market
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – In conjunction with North Side Market, the Youngstown Historical Center for Industry and Labor (also known as the steel museum) will present an indoor market for growers, bakers and makers on Dec. 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Free to the public, the market will be set up in the Harry Meshel classroom.
Shoppers will have the opportunity to tour the museum for half-off and will have a chance to win door prizes. Parking is available at the museum.
The steel museum, 151 W. Wood St., is managed by the history department at Youngstown State University. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Pictured at top: The cover of Nancy Christie’s new collection of short stories.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
