RaeAnne Thayne is the author of Snow Kissed, which is out now.
New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne finds inspiration in the beautiful northern Utah mountains where she lives with her family. Her books have won numerous honors, including six RITA Award nominations from Romance Writers of America and Career Achievement and Romance Pioneer awards from RT Book Reviews. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website.
Snow Kissed story follows single mom Holly Goodwin Moore, who normally adores Christmastime. However, this year, there’s a wedding in her ex’s family, and she’s dreading it. So she told a white lie about having a boyfriend, and now she needs a plus-one fast.
Enter Ryan Caldwell, who comes to town to help his niece have a nice Christmas. Ryan and Holly eventually cross paths, and the two decide to help each other.
Let’s get to know RaeAnne as she talks her favorite holiday books, writing stories set during the holidays, her TBR and more!
What are some of your favorite Christmas-themed books?
I adore so many Christmas books and try to re-read my favorites every year. Kristin Hannah’s Comfort and Joy is a favorite and I also love to read novellas this time of year. Anne Perry wrote some really great mystery novellas set at Christmastime.
What inspired you to write Snow Kissed?
I wanted to write a story about people struggling through some of the same things many people deal with at Christmas. Being estranged from family, dealing with custody issues during the holidays, juggling parenting and work pressures. I also loved writing about a single mom of a special needs daughter struggling to give her child the very best Christmas ever. I was able to incorporate one of my favorite tropes, fake dating, in this story and it was so fun to write.
What was your favorite part or chapter to write?
In one of the scenes, my heroine Holly and the hero Ryan take her daughter and his niece to the local holiday market and they encounter the heroine’s ex-husband, who basically left her for another woman. The scene was so festive and I loved writing about how protective Ryan felt toward her … and also showing the ex-husband’s reaction to seeing her with this gorgeous Navy helicopter pilot.
What are some of your favorite aspects of writing holiday-themed stories?
I love writing about all the messy, complicated, beautiful aspects of celebrating the holidays, dealing with family struggles and overcoming hardships. The holidays seem to bring out the best and the worst in people, which is great fodder for fiction writers! I also love being able to give my readers a warm, cozy place to escape the hectic pace of the holidays for a few hours, inside the pages of my books.
What are you working on next?
I’m currently writing my 2026 Christmas book, which actually features the twin sister to Holly, the main female character of Snow Kissed. It’s been great fun being back in Shelter Springs.
What are you currently reading and what’s on your TBR (to be read) list?
I’m currently reading an older Mary Balogh book, Christmas Beau, and listening to Nora Roberts’ Seven Rings series. Next up for me in audio is The Correspondent and I’ll probably read some of my favorite Christmas novellas.
