Vibrant Imaginative People

December 2024, Issue No.34

Your VIP Newsletter from Soulla's Writing Room

______________________________

Dearest VIP

I hope you and your families have had the sort of Christmas you hoped for and that you received not only gifts under the tree but all those wonderful gifts associated with this beautiful festive period: love, joy, the warmth of family, the shared meals together, time for reflection, hope for what 2025 will bring.

I'm a bit late sending this out today as it's still very much the-day-after-Christmas in our house!

Christmas Day was filled with family, the smells of delicious food and the chaos of seating 18 people for Christmas Lunch! We had a lot of fun, ate far too much (including a puff pastry mince-filled Christmas tree) and played a silly Q and A game I devised for everyone to join in whatever their age! The children rolled out pastry, filled star, flower and cookie-shaped cut outs with chocolate or mince pie filling and we baked their little Master Baker creations in the oven.

With January almost here it is your opportunity to sit quietly and think about what you want to do with your time and energy, plan your projects or time out and create space, physically and mentally, for anything you wish to experience and see unfold in your life in 2025. You don't have to make big plans... just do what's right for you!

Let me know what you're hoping for in 2025 and if I can help in any way.

______________________________

Christmas Magic and Kallikantzaroi

December is almost over, and while many celebrated Christmas on the 25th, did you know that for the Greek Orthodox faith, Christmas Day is actually celebrated on the 6th of January? It’s all part of the Julian calendar, a 12-day period known as the "Dodekaimeron." (Literally translated as "of the twelve days")

One of the most fun parts of Greek folklore is the tale of the Kallikantzaroi, Christmas goblins. These cheeky little goblin-like creatures are said to pop up during the 12 days of Christmas, causing all kinds of hilarious mischief in homes. According to legend, they spend most of the year underground trying to chop down the world tree, but when they’re let loose during this festive period, their pranks take centre stage.

By the time they return to their underground antics after Epiphany, the tree has magically healed itself. Chaos averted… until next year!

I remember my paternal grandmother telling me stories of how her family would try to keep the little creatures from coming down the chimney of her village home by throwing loukoumades, fried honey dough balls, up onto the roof to distract them.

Do you have any folk tales to share surrounding the festive season? I'd love to hear them as these stories passed from the mouths of people now long gone fascinate me.

______________________________

A Well-Deserved Break

As the year winds down, it’s also the perfect time to think about slowing down and focusing on self-care... I don't know about you but I definitely need a little time for me!

January can be a fresh start—a chance to step back and prioritise your mental and emotional wellbeing and to help with that, I’ve created a 31-day self-care calendar for January, filled with simple, uplifting activities you can do each day to recharge and reset.

You can download it here and print a copy for yourself... I hope it gives you some precious me time and if there's something you don't fancy there's nothing stopping you from adding in your own self-care note!

This ties perfectly into my word for the new year: SPACE. For me, this means creating mental space to work on creativity and removing myself from the hectic routines of daily life. It’s about carving out time to breathe, reflect, and allow inspiration to flow freely. I am hoping for space that allows me to live life without stress or the need to rush, space between projects and one commitment and another, space between my thoughts, space between work and home.

Whether it’s journaling, taking long walks, or simply sitting quietly with a cup of tea, I’m looking forward to embracing this theme of space throughout the new year.

Has this prompted you to think of a word you’d like for yourself this year? What word would inspire or guide you in 2025? Share your word with me—I’d love to hear it!

______________________________

Author Christmas 2024

This month, I had the pleasure of attending a Christmas lunch with fellow authors at the Wallace Collection, in London. (If you have never visited and are ever in London you really must pop in... even for a browse; the building is magnificent as is all the artwork.)

I took advantage of being in the West End and did some solo Christmas shopping before joining seven other authors and illustrators, one which I was meeting for the first time.

It was such a wonderful afternoon filled with delicious food, lively conversations about writing and books, and sharing hopes and dreams for the year ahead.

The elegant surroundings of the Wallace Collection added a touch of magic to the occasion, as did the sumptuous Christmas Dinner and the warm welcome and hospitality of the staff, making it truly special.

We did not stop talking and even swapped seats between the main course and dessert just so we all had the opportunity to talk to everyone. We spoke about the challenges and triumphs of the creative process, traded stories about our favourite books, and even brainstormed ideas for future projects. We talked about our Christmas traditions, the food we liked to cook and the games we enjoy playing.

And, of course, there’s something so energising about connecting with others who share a passion for storytelling—it always reminds me why I fell in love with writing in the first place. It was the perfect way to celebrate the season, recharge, and wrap up the year on a high note.

Do you have a group of creatives you can share ideas with and your enthusiasm for the craft you love?

______________________________

Love...

what a beautiful word to finish the year on and so I am sending you lots of love for the whole year through and hope that you find love, joy, peace and many blessings in 2025.

Wishing you the most wonderful New Year celebrations

and will catch up with you again on

Thursday 30th January 2025...

it will come around so quickly for sure!

Lots of love and angels

Soulla xxx

If you've enjoyed this newsletter, please share it with others who may like to receive it too.

https://sendfox.com/soullaauthor

My Books - enjoy!

My Blog - have a browse.

My Writing and Support Services - let me help you!

Twitter - let's connect.

Instagram - let's connect.

Facebook Book Group - share your love of books.