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Posts published by “mobrien@joneswaldo.com”

What would Robert and Bernie do?

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By Michael Patrick O’Brien– My wife and I had amazing existential bookends in Arizona near the beginning and at the end of 2024.  In December 2023, we visited Tucson and…

Room at the Inn for both Jesus and Santa at Christmas

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By Michael Patrick O’Brien– Finding a place for both Jesus and Santa Claus at Christmas time can be challenging.  The secular holiday largely ignores Jesus. The Christian celebration often forgets…

A Legal History of Christmas

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By Michael Patrick O’Brien– While doing some research for a novel I am writing, I stumbled on some fascinating facts about the legal history of Christmas. “Legal” may not be…

Roasting Chestnuts in My Mind

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By Michael Patrick O’Brien– I’ve never seen chestnuts roasting on an open fire, nor eaten any of them, but every December they make me think of Christmas. That’s because my…

Christmas Candy? Think Trappist, not Wonka

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By Michael Patrick O’Brien– As a young boy watching the 1971 film Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, I dreamed that someday I’d get my own tour of a candy…

A man, a monk, a blessing

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By Michael Patrick O’Brien– I’m not in the habit of making dramatic proclamations about divine intervention in the world.  I do believe, however, that six decades ago, God reached down…

A Holiday Romance Novel? Matchmaker Monks? Why Not? 

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By Michael Patrick O’Brien– As I have noted previously (see: The 12 weeks of Christmas romance novels), when my agent Joe Durepos suggested I write a novel that included a…