It’s marked on almost every calendar. The decorations are waiting to be brought down from the attic or out of the basement. Most of us would say we are aware of Christmas; but have we actually lost it? Donna VanLiere, author of The Lost Christmas, talks about the importance of the nativity scene. She brings it back to discovering that Jesus was born as an outcast, and only a trusted outcast can touch the lives of other outcasts. Listen as she talks about how this book was different from her previous writings, searching for joy and hope, and knowing that while the holidays aren’t the same for everyone there is a way for us to join someone in their journey.

About the Guest:

New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Donna VanLiere’s 18 books include The Christmas Shoes and The Christmas Blessing, which were adapted into movies starring Rob Lowe and Neil Patrick Harris. Both movies garnered stellar ratings for CBS, including the highest rated made-for-TV movie of the year. Four other novels have been adapted into television movies for Lifetime and Hallmark. Donna's non-seasonal novels The Good Dream, Angels of Morgan Hill, and non-fiction works like Finding Grace, The Time of Jacob’s Trouble, and High Calling—the biography of Space Shuttle Columbia Commander Rick Husband—capture the same warmth as her Christmas books. Donna has won a Retailer's Choice Award for Fiction, a Dove Award, a Silver Angel Award, two Audie Awards (seven nominations) for best inspirational fiction, and a Gold Medallion Book of the Year nomination, and she is an inductee in the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges Hall of Excellence. One of Donna’s great loves is teaching and speaking. She has spoken at the prestigious Patricia Adams Lecture Series at Heidelberg University, Among Friends conferences, Women of Faith events, and Extraordinary Women conferences. Donna’s newest book, Looking for Christmas, is available now for pre-order, and she is currently finishing Looking for God, which will release in the spring of 2026.

Links:

Email: marianna@jonesliterary.com

Website: www.donnavanliere.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donnavanliere

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Thank you for listening to this episode of Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast.

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Talking Addiction & Recovery Podcast is the follow-up to the book "Addiction & Recovery" by author and clinician Andrew J. Schreier. This podcast explores discussions regarding important issues related to addiction and recovery. Information you learn here is not typical of what you will find in academic textbooks and resources; and comes from the experiences of a clinical supervisor, clinical substance abuse counselor, and licensed professional counselor and the work with individuals and others involved in this field. Listen as guests join the show and cover a wide range of topics looking to educate individuals, families, communities, organizations, institutions, mental health professionals, educators, and anyone else impacted by addiction and recovery. Content is not intended to be treatment and is not affiliated with any specific group.

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