Welcome friend! It’s the week of Christmas and before I take a few days off the blog, here is a holiday romance for you to check out: The Gingerbread Games by Kerri Lane Mariano. Let’s connect with Kerri and learn more about the story.
Get to know the author: Kerri Lane Mariano
Welcome to Armed with A Book, Kerri. Tell me and my readers a bit about yourself!
Oh, where to start! Hello friends, I’m Kerri Lane Mariano—a movie producer, actor, and lifelong storyteller who’s a bit of a jack-of-all-trades. I’ve been lucky enough to see my work on Netflix and Hulu with films like Santa Girl, Cupid for Christmas, Step, Mt. Hideaway, and I have an exciting new project, Miss Valentine, coming out spring of 2025! My hometown in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia really inspires me, and I love weaving pieces of it into my stories whether book or film..
Yes, the rumors are true—I once did singing telegrams for my party business! I would show up at parties or offices dressed as a gorilla (complete with banana accessories) and belt out “Happy Birthday.” Those were wild days, but they gave me a whole new appreciation for entertaining people in any form.
These days, I split my time between producing films, working with my art foundation, and helping writers find their own creative spark through my workbook, Writer’s Spark: Kickstart Your Creativity. And of course, I can’t forget my grumpy cat, whose attitude has earned him a fanbase of his own online. So, whether I’m behind the camera, sharing writing tips, or wrangling my diva of a cat, I’m always having fun creating!
What inspired you to write this book?
Writing has been part of me since I was a young girl, filling notebooks with stories. But then, as life took over, I put down the pen for a while—until about five years ago, when a scriptwriting class reignited that creative spark. I’d originally written The Gingerbread Games as a movie script, but with the strict page limits in film, I felt I couldn’t fully capture the story’s heart. So, I decided to write the book instead, filling it with all the quirky details, family traditions, and beloved local spots that make the story come alive. It’s been an incredible journey, bringing this story to life as I’d envisioned.
How long did it take you to write this book, from the first idea to the last edit?
I started writing The Gingerbread Games as a script in 2023 and wrapped up the final revision just about a two months ago in book format, so the total is just about a year and a half.
What makes your story unique?
What makes The Gingerbread Games unique is that, although it’s fiction, it features real places from my small town, and I’ve used the names of friends and family throughout the story. It also weaves in my own family traditions, which I hope will inspire readers to celebrate their own.
Who would enjoy reading your book?
I think anyone who loves Christmas, quirky games, holiday traditions, romance, and a bit of sabotage will enjoy The Gingerbread Games. I made sure to keep it free from strong language or mature content, so it’s also teen-friendly—perfect for readers of all ages who want to get into the holiday spirit!
Did you bring any of your experiences into this book?
The Gingerbread Games is inspired by my family’s holiday traditions—our Cookie King contest, driving around to look at Christmas lights while Santa “magically” drops off gifts, decorating gingerbread houses, and visiting the nursing home to bring cheer to those without family. If you read this book, you’ll get a real glimpse into our holidays and the traditions that make them so special to us. And the two brothers in the story are based on my own sons, Shawn and Stephen—though I switched it up and made my youngest, Stephen, the older brother in the book.
What’s something you hope readers would take away from it?
I would hope that readers take away a new tradition from The Gingerbread Games—something they read and think, “That sounds fun!”—and decide to add it to their own family activities. Whether it’s a new holiday game or a special way to give back, I hope the story inspires readers to create lasting memories with their loved ones.
Do you have a favourite quote or scene in the book that you find yourself going back to?
One of my favorite lines in The Gingerbread Games is so silly, but it always makes me laugh. It’s when the brothers are talking about a kitten’s “murder paws.” It’s one of those playful, ridiculous moments that really captures the fun and lightheartedness of the story. Every time I read it, I can’t help but giggle!
What is something you have learned on your author journey so far?
My author journey, hmm… I’d say I absolutely love the creative side of writing—the storytelling, the characters, the imagination. But the production and business side? That’s a whole different story. It makes my eye twitch just thinking about it! I’d much rather be lost in the creative process than dealing with all the logistics, but it’s all part of the journey, right?
What’s the best piece of advice you have received related to writing?
Just write. I’ve heard that over the years. But, If I were to share a piece of advice with new writers, it would be twofold. First, always keep a journal and jot down every crazy idea you have. There’s something about putting pen to paper that just feels so good. And if you can’t get to a pen or it’s the middle of the night and you don’t want to turn on the light, use a voice recorder to capture your thoughts. But, if you’re like me, you’ll probably forget what you said by morning!
Second, my biggest rookie mistake as an author was not investing in the professional version of Grammarly. I was using the free version, and trust me—it’s totally worth the investment. After 1,084 errors later, I learned that lesson the hard way!
If you could give a shout out to someone(s) who has helped in your writer journey, please feel free to mention them below!
The person who truly inspired me to write was my 4th-grade teacher, Mr. Jones. He told me, “I can’t wait to read your first book,” and I’ve carried those words with me all these years. I even listed him in the dedication to thank him for believing in me from such an early age.
Where can readers find you on the Internet?
Facebook- Mariano Art & Film Foundation
Mariano Art & Film Foundation (@marianoaff) | TikTok
Mariano Art And Film Foundation – YouTube
The Gingerbread Games
Contemporary Fiction, Romantic Comedy, 2024
The Gingerbread Games follows Holly, a college student returning to her hometown for the holidays, where she finds herself caught in the middle of her town’s fiercely competitive holiday games. As Holly navigates her growing feelings for her best friend, Stephen—who has secretly loved her for years—another suitor enters the picture, vying for her attention. Amidst the holiday games, sabotage, jealousy, and personal conflicts, Holly must decide where her heart truly lies, discovering along the way that love, family, and holiday magic are the greatest gifts of all.
Content notes: None, it’s as Hallmark-ish as you can get.
Book Excerpt from
The Gingerbread Games
The early evening sun cast a warm glow over the community center as townspeople gathered for the annual present-wrapping contest. Holiday fun attire was the dress code, and Sabra, Liz, Embrey, Tracy, and Christina had outdone themselves in ridiculous Christmas elf costumes. The girls wore fake elf ears, Christmas overalls, and red cowboy boots with jingle bells glued to the tops. Each step they took sounded like Santa’s sleigh had landed.
Others wore ugly sweaters and even uglier holiday dresses in the loudest holiday prints imaginable. The room buzzed excitedly, filled with boxes in the center and tables around the walls stocked with wrapping paper, tape, and scissors.
The Channing family walked into the community center, all sporting a uniform look of holiday plaid. CJ sported plaid pants and a red button-up shirt, Laney wore a plaid holiday dress, and Shawn and Stephen wore jeans and red flannel shirts. They spotted the Gillespie family and walked up to say hello.
Larry was wearing a button-up shirt covered in Santas surfing, Pat had on an ugly holiday sweater, Holly was in a brightly colored holiday dress covered in holly print, and Noelle barely any effort in corduroy jeans and a red shirt with the words, “This is my holly jolly shirt.”
“Howdy, holiday people!” CJ said as he greeted the Gillespie Family.
“Now that’s some fancy plaid outfits you guys have going on there,” Larry chuckled.
“It’s quite surprising what you’re willing to wear for holiday traditions,” Shawn added. “And if I may add, nice shirt, Mr. Gillespie. Santa surfing is pretty funny.”
Charles stepped to the front of the room with a wide smile. He leaned into the mic to greet the crowd. “Welcome back, everyone! We had such a wonderful time watching the tree decorating recently, and today, as you know, our exciting present-wrapping contest. Today, each team member will wrap a present completely with paper and a bow as neatly as possible. Neatness counts, people. So, if each team could stand behind a table, we will get started.”
The teams split up and walked to their tables. Holly, camera in hand, was ready to capture the action. The Gillespies, the Channings, the Barrs, and other townspeople divided into teams and chatted excitedly.
Charles raised his voice over the chatter. “I’d like to welcome Pap to join me in kicking off this competition.”
Pap, a spry man in his seventies wearing suspenders and a Christmas bowtie, waved as he joined Charles at the front.
“Pap, as you all know, is our local celebrity, working in the town cafe every Saturday. He is also the King of wrapping gifts. Thanks for being here today, Pap.”
“It’s my pleasure,” Pap responded warmly.
“Okay, everyone is set in their teams, but we have one slight change this year. Instead of everyone wrapping boxes, one person on your team will wrap this. Miss Middletown, could you bring out the bag, please?”
The crowd quickly turned to Skylar, Miss Middletown, as she walked out carrying a large plastic trash bag. She set it on the ground, opened it, and lifted out a basketball, the crowd erupting in laughter.
“Thanks, Skylar, and thank you to the Colonel’s basketball team for letting us borrow their basketballs. Coach Lara and Coach David said they’ll need these back for practice tonight,” Charles said, eliciting another round of laughter.
“So, the rules are that one team member will grab a ball, and the remaining three players will run out and grab a box, take it back to your table, and wrap it. Once your team has wrapped, shout, ‘That’s a wrap!’ Everyone got it?”
The crowd cheered in response, and the teams strategized who would get the ball and the boxes.
“Pap, will you honor us with a countdown to get us started?” “Certainly, Mayor. Is everyone ready?”
Pap asked, and the crowd and teams cheered in response.
Pap began the countdown. “5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Wrap!”
The teams sprang into action, racing to the center of the room to grab their boxes and balls. Stephen, Missy, and Noelle wrapped the balls for their respective teams while others tackled the boxes. Wrapping paper was being cut and flung as the crowd cheered for their favorite teams.
“Neatness counts, family, don’t forget,” Lucille reminded her team.
“Just wrap it, Mom, just wrap it,” Larry urged, frustration creeping into his voice.
“Oh, Larry,” Pat sighed.
“Neatness counts, Larry. Your mom is right,” CJ added, trying to maintain focus.
“Focus, CJ, focus,” Laney echoed.
“How did I get stuck with a ball?” Noelle grumbled. “Mom, you’re better at wrapping.”
“Well, you’re the sporty one in the family; you got this, dear,” Pat encouraged.
The crowd’s cheers grew louder as the families raced against each other.
Charles kept the commentary lively. “This is going to be another close game today! I can’t believe how competitive these families are.”
“It looks like the Barr family is ahead by a tad,” Skylar observed. “You’re right. But the Channing family is right behind them,” Charles agreed.
Holly moved around the room, capturing the excitement. As she approached the Barr family table to take photos, Missy struggled with the ball. Just as Holly snapped a picture, the ball slipped from Missy’s hands and bounced onto the floor.
“You hit the table with your camera,” Missy accused. “No, I didn’t. I was not even close,” Holly defended.
Missy ran around the table, grabbed the ball, and nudged Holly in the back. “Oh, sorry, I thought I didn’t see you there. Did not mean to hit you,” she said with a faux apology.
Holly shot her a glare over the top of her camera.
“Well, that’s going to cost the Barr’s some time,” Charles noted.
“Papercut! Ouch! Ouch!” Sabra exclaimed, waving her hand in the air.
“We have a bleeder!” Tracy shouted. “We need a medic,” Liz called out.
“For a paper cut?” Charles questioned, “these games never cease to amaze me,” he chuckled.
“Stop waving it, for heaven’s sake, and cover it,” Liz instructed, wrapping paper around Sabra’s finger.
Charles waved for the Sheriff to come over while Liz tried to manage the situation.
“Wrap, girls, wrap! Do not quit because of me. Go, go, go!” Sabra urged.
“We got this, team!” Tracy cheered.
The Sheriff and an EMT emerged from the crowd with gauze and a band-aid. Holly laughed as she continued taking photos of the chaos. The Channing family was on their last box. Teams wrapped furiously, watching each other’s progress. Stephen’s team added the last piece of tape to the final box.
“That’s a wrap!” Stephen shouted, and the Channing family triumphantly held up their wrapped boxes and ball. The crowd erupted in cheers.
“Not fair, we had them until Holly knocked the ball out of my hands,” Missy complained.
“All is fair in love and the Gingerbread Games, Missy. And for the record, she did not cause the ball to fall,” Pap corrected.
Missy huffed in frustration; Holly smirked behind her camera lens.
“Okay, friends, that was certainly exciting! That is the first time we needed a medic in the Gingerbread Games. Sabra, you okay, dear?” Charles asked.
Standing with the EMT and a bandaged finger, Sabra raised her hand with a big smile. “I’m good, I still have all ten fingers,” she replied.
“Well, that’s a relief,” Charles said with a chuckle. “So that’s a wrap on this competition. Congratulations to the Channing family for the big win. Can we please get the balls unwrapped for Coach Lara and Coach David? And tonight, if you still have energy, check out Winter Wonderland! It is beautiful. Thanks for coming, and have a good night, everyone.”
As the crowd gathered to discuss the results and offer congratulations, Holly walked up to Stephen and his family.
“Congrats, Channing family, on the big win. You know I’m going to have to hear this all night from my dad since he lost.” Holly giggle
“But I hope at least you got a great victory photo of us that we can wrap up and give to your dad as a reminder,” Shawn suggested.
“Oh, that’s a brilliant and terrible idea. I love it. I did get a great shot with all your hands in the air with your boxes,” Holly said, smiling.
“I had the ball, of course. Do you realize how hard it is to wrap a ball?” Stephen added.
“I can only imagine,” Holly replied.
Philip walked up to the group. “Wow, that was a close one. I thought we almost had you guys beat for a second.”
“Yeah, but no bragging rights for second place,” Shawn teased. “You guys sound just like my dad and his buddies. It is like the male competitiveness keeps rolling down the gene pool,” Holly observed.
“Yeah, it does,” Stephen agreed.
“So, Holly, would you like to join me for a romantic walk in Winter Wonderland to see all the Christmas lights?” Philip asked, a hopeful look in his eyes.
Shawn and Stephen rolled their eyes at Philip’s invitation.
“Sure, I haven’t been there in years. I would love to see it. You all want to join us?” Holly offered to Shawn and Stephen.
“On a romantic walk? I think that defeats the purpose of a romantic walk by inviting the Channing knuckleheads along,” Stephen snickered.
“My thoughts exactly. So, Holly? Wanna join me?” Philip persisted.
“Sure, I just want to let my parents know where I’m heading so they don’t worry,” Holly said, looking around for her parents.
Stephen rolled his eyes and punched his brother in the shoulder to leave. The brothers walked off. Shawn put his arm around Stephen and whispered, “
How does she not know that you like her? Even I can see it, and I’m usually clueless about this mushy stuff.” Shawn said.
Stephen shrugged as they started to walk away.
“Tell her,” Shawn whispered.
“No, she thinks of me as a best friend and even said I am like a brother. I am clearly in the friend zone, and if that is what makes her happy, then I accept that,” Stephen said.
“Then just kiss her one day. If she smacks you, then you know it is just friends. But if she kisses you back, well then you know,” Shawn said with a brotherly smile.
“That is a terrible idea. I am not doing that,” Stephen replied sharply. “You know you give terrible advice, right?” Stephen said, laughing as they walked out the door.
Interested?
Find The Gingerbread Games on Goodreads, Amazon, BARNES & NOBLE.
If you are an indie author and would like to do a book excerpt, check out my work with me page for details. Check out other book excerpts here.
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