Harlequin brings the Naughty to Santa!

By Senior Editor Victoria Curran

Every year, Harlequin has a children’s Christmas party for staff at the local Science Centre in Toronto. Last weekend was no exception, and we wanted to share some of the fun with you guys, as we count down to Christmas at Harlequin!!!!

Santa’s in for a whole lot of mischief with Miranda Indrigo, it looks like:

(Above) There may or may not have been a child in this picture with Santa and Miranda, manager of the Harlequin Author Network, which is basically, the communications hub for everything our published authors want or need to know about their books and promotions and royalties, etc. (Miranda is deservedly MUCH MUCH loved by our authors. But she is still on the Naughty List. Just because.) BTW: Miranda has terrified computer programmers in her family who won’t let her publicize how stunningly beautiful her babies are. Our loss!

Ever wonder who manages Harlequin’s Typesetting department? Well, it’s not Sophie, the female below on Santa’s knee…

(ABOVE): Sophie’s mom, Sara Watson, right, is the manager of Harlequin’s Typesetting department. She also happens to be my cousin Bob’s daughter. AND, HR gave me a hundred bucks for recommending her to the position, awesome surprise! Sara and her Shirley Temple look-alike are my link to Manitoulin Island, my mom’s home up north in God’s country. I hear she’s pretty good at her job, too, which puts her on the Nice List.

Megan Long and wee Aoife make nice with the Big Man in red:

(ABOVE): Ridiculously adorable Aoife and Mom (Editor Megan Long, Superromance) squeaked onto the Nice List this year, probably because we haven’t seen them for most of 2015…Canada’s maternity leaves last a year. (Yes, American readers and authors, you read that right: a year. I’d forgotten what Megan looked like until I saw this pic.) But baby brother Ronan couldn’t stop crying long enough to make it anywhere near Santa! Next year, once the boy has 24 months under his belt, he’ll make it onto the Nice List, too.

Heartwarming Controller Michelle Thompson is old enough to be a Grandma????

(ABOVE): Controller Michelle Thompson and her husband Mike brought the grandkids, Mason and Mackenzie, to see Santa this year. Alas, these four are all on the Naughty List because of the glut of M names. As an editor, I wanted a J name in there just to shake things up. All M names isn’t believable in a work of fiction (that comment is for you, Roz: I lurked during your very interesting post earlier this week!).
*Question for the day: What does a controller do besides yell at people? Anybody know?*

WARNING: Margot and Kid (as she calls him) may be at the symphony and not with Santa in this shot…

(ABOVE): With this shot, no matter that it wasn’t with Santa, Margot made it to the Nice List because the Symphony and excitement = good mom. Margot Mallinson, by the way, has worked her way three offices and a fire door closer to mine. She’s a full-time copy editor with Harlequin, and has worked on a lot of Heartwarming books this past year, but she’s just been made acting assistant editor for MIRA to fill in for Michelle Meade’s maternity leave (a new baby boy to attend the Christmas party next year!). As I wrote above, in Canada, that’s a year-long gig!

Arrgh, me maties: What’s Christmas without a Pirate, eh?

(ABOVE): I couldn’t resist including Heartwarming Editor Kathryn Lye’s belated Halloween shot with her nephew Andrew. To quote her: “I’m glad he didn’t ask me to be Robin!”

NEPOTISM shoutout: Did I mention that Sophie is my cousin once removed’s daughter? And that she’s a Shirley Temple lookalike??

Had to end on a Christmas shot, after all! Thank you for putting up with the big dose of Santa. When I was lurking on the blog yesterday and read Muriel’s comment that Christmas was only three weeks away, I almost choked…

Since I won’t be blogging again until after the holidays, Merry Christmas from the Harlequin team, and happy December book celebration to Melinda Curtis (A Memory Away), Anna J. Stewart (The Bad Boy of Butterfly Harbor), Mae Nunn and Gwen Ford Faulkenberry (Texas Miracle) and debut author Helen DePrima (Into the Storm)! I put you all on the Nice List (except possibly Anna, who probably wants on the Naughty List with that cover and that bad boy hero!!!).

Victoria


Comments

  1. Replies
    1. Yeah, I wish I could go! But somehow it feels a little creepy to attend the children's Christmas party when you don't have any children... Next year, I'm tagging along with Sara Watson!

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  2. How fun to see all of these photos, Victoria. And what a great looking Santa!
    I particularly enjoyed Mason's moves. :)
    In answer to your question of the day, a controller also prepares financial statements.
    Merry Christmas to you and your family!

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    1. Hm... I don't think our Production Controller prepares financial statements. But then again, I have no idea! I must get Michelle to weigh in on this here. Stay tuned!

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  3. What beautiful, beautiful children with the quintessential Santa! He's wonderful.No wonder you're traumatized by Mike, Michelle, Mason, and Mackenzie when there are also Margot Mallinson, and Michelle Meade. Wow. Now I'm sorry to add Muriel to this.

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    1. At least you've thrown in that "J" name I was craving! Thanks, Muriel.

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  4. Talented people, beautiful kids, and Santa -- what a treat. Thanks, Victoria, and Merry Christmas!

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    1. Merry Christmas, Beth! There was one child who looked VERY NAUGHTY and straight out of a Twilight Zone episode, but I didn't think I'd shame any parents on this blog...heh.

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  5. My goodness, what a lot of cute going on there. I remember my 12-week pregnancy leaves and think Canada has it right! Merry Christmas to everyone there and thanks for all you do.

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    1. I sometimes classify the US as third world because of the maternity leave thing. The disparity between our countries in that is huge! (Thanks, Liz, merry Christmas!)

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  6. Love seeing everyone! And the children are adorable. As was Kathryn. :-) Merry Christmas!

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  7. Those picture are beyond adorable! I love the Harlequin family. That's it... I'm applying for a job- even if it's just to water the plants :)

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  8. Thank you for the fun post, Victoria! Merry Christmas and a happy new year, to you and your family.

    Thank you so very much also for all that you have done for Heartwarming in 2015!

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  9. Merry Christmas, Victoria! I loved these photos of the kids with Santa. Really helps to put me in the spirit. I, too, want to thank you and all our Heartwarming sisters in Toronto for the hard work you've done for us. Thanks to your persistence, Victoria, you are making our New Year look especially BRIGHT!!!

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  10. Thanks so much for this fun Christmas post! It is hard to believe that it is coming up so fast. I just signed up for Reader Service and am going to be reading "Proposal at the Winter Ball" to get into the holiday spirit (I'm still stuck in October - anybody else?) I laughed out loud at the funny commentary of this post! And yes, the adorable little girl really is a Shirley Temple lookalike! I say give her a sailor suit and a lollipop and her next Halloween costume is done. They're all so cute and how nice to have a staff Christmas party for them! And wow, that Santa sure looked the part, excellent casting. :) Merry Christmas, everyone. :) -Krissie

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