An interview with Skye McDonald, author of Mistletoe Rewind.
Prepare to laugh, cry, & swoon. Skye McDonald writes about strong women learning to love themselves before they can claim their happily-ever-after relationship. Skye's novels have won awards and been Amazon bestsellers and #1 New Releases. She blogs about real-life love on Substack as “A Bit Much”, and co-hosts The Quick & Dirty Romance Podcast.
JL: Skye, this novella of yours is such a vibe. Before we get started, how would you describe it to our readers?
SKYE: A little magical realism, a little Christmas romance, and a lot of 80s fun! “Mistletoe Rewind” is a fun throwback to video stores and mall jobs. But it’s also the story of a woman claiming her desires and saying yes to the magic when she does.
JL: You could even consider it an adult ‘coming of age’, since so many women only fully come into their own after a good few years living the grown-up life. And Valerie is such an interesting, complex character. You have a knack for writing complex heroines without letting their inner workings complicate the story.
SKYE: Thank you for saying that about my heroines! I strive to make readers laugh, cry, and swoon with every story. All of my books and stories feature complex women learning to love themselves before they can claim their happily-ever-relationship. (Spoiler: they always do!)
Valerie is stuck between responsibilities and playing it safe. She’s a young woman whose life hasn't gone the way she thought. Responsibility—to her job, to her frail mother—has robbed her of opportunities to be bold and adventurous. Her default is to remain safe and steady. Not expect too much. Certainly not ask to be treated like a queen by a guy. Valerie has told herself she has enough and doesn’t really deserve more.
Until she snaps one night and takes out all her frustrations on Noah. Then, Valerie experiences a journey of daring to ask for what she wants.
She’s somewhat similar to Juliette “Jules” Reid in What Happens At The Beach. Jules, too, experienced a lot of things not going as planned when she was very young. Playing it safe and making responsible plans (a theme in the book) are her go-to. When she meets James, she has to dare to take the leap. While the stories are very different, these two ladies would definitely understand each other!
JL: Now, 80s romance + video store = perfect. What did video stores mean to you back when you were a kid? Do you have any fond memories that you drew from while writing this book?
SKYE: Oh, man. Of course I have fond video store memories! Going to the video store was a Friday night tradition. The excitement of what we might choose. The underlying knowledge that I really only ever chose one of about five movies and watched them over and over again.
I remember, in high school, I had a crush on this redheaded guy who worked in the video store. I finally got to go out on a date with him. He was in college—and so self-absorbed that he didn’t realize I wasn’t! It was definitely one of those dates where the anticipation was better than the real thing.
As far as book inspo goes, my strongest memory was from my own retail job. As I wrote the kiss scene between Noah & Valerie, I had a crystal-clear image in my mind of the back room at the bulk candy store where I worked all through high school. (Yes, it was in the mall!) The desk where he sits. The bench under the time clock where they... Well. Read the story and you’ll find out.
JL: Sometimes real life sneaks into an author’s work, if not the story itself then at least the process of writing it. What was going on for you might have influenced this book?
SKYE: If you were asking me about almost any other book, I could answer this better. The truth is, “Mistletoe Rewind” was originally meant to be part of an anthology about the semi-magical dress that Valerie wears. I was tasked with setting a story in the 1980s. I thought she’d need a party to wear it to, and a corporate party felt so over-done in movies of the time. So, I came up with the mall and the holiday party.
To be fair, I had just watched the new Roadhouse and was thinking how much better the Patrick Swayze version was, so I guess that influenced the opening scene!
JL: So, even though *Mistletoe Rewind* came out in 2024, the concept for it started much further back. What else can you share from behind the scenes?
SKYE: “Mistletoe” was first a free epub to my newsletter and Facebook Group. But almost all of my works are available on Amazon/Kindle Unlimited, so the story can now be found there for anyone who wishes to read. I use Amazon/KU because it allows me to connect to my demographic better than other platforms.
I own a publishing label, Anti-Belle Books. “Mistletoe Rewind” was meant to be part of my label’s first multi-author anthology. The idea of an anthology based on a “magical” dress came about thanks to a trip to England with four of my favorite fellow authors and friends. We went into this shop and met this eccentric but fantastic shopkeeper. The dress was on a seamstress’ mannequin, and thus the idea was born.
Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, the final product didn’t come together. That left me (and my colleagues) with excellent stories but no outlet.
I loved the story of “Mistletoe Rewind” and hated to just shelf it and not put it out in the world. It had been edited and was ready to go. Even though the anthology didn’t work out, I felt like the story was a fun holiday romp with just enough nostalgia. So I decided to release it in December of 2024.
Cover design was a gift from a talented friend. Dawn Jonckowski, a brilliant sci-fi author, volunteered to make my cover for this one. She had a vision, and honestly I was thrilled as soon as I saw it. Normally I work with Avery Kingston for my book covers. Avery has endless patience with my lack of visual artistry and always creates something delightful out of my vague suggestions.
JL: What lessons from your other books came in handy with this one?
SKYE: “Don’t expect things to turn out the way you initially planned.” That’s the story of my writing career in a sentence. Going all the way back to Not Suitable for Work, my debut novel, nothing has gone the way I figured it would! I put that book out on submission with an agent for over a year. Finally, I parted ways with the agent and had to make a choice. I decided to become my own publisher and release it.
Almost six years later, I have published twelve novels and many short stories. I’ve been an Amazon Bestseller and #1 new release, won awards, moderated panels, been on podcasts, host a podcast, and continue having a blast writing stories and meeting readers.
None of it was what I'd thought it would be. The same is true of “Mistletoe Rewind.” And that’s a beautiful thing!
JL: In your opinion, what makes a perfect book?
SKYE: A story with complex characters, realistic dialogue, and motivations that make sense. I tend to read thrillers when I read fiction, but the same is true across genres. A book is not an amalgamation of tropes. A character should feel like someone you might know, no matter how improbable their circumstances.
And, of course, grammar should be on point.
JL: Finally, where can people get their hands on Mistletoe Rewind and follow you for more of your work?
SKYE: I highly recommend signing up for my newsletter. This is where I talk to my readers. (Most) every week, I send out a collection of links and photos to make you laugh, cry, & swoon. I also give my newsletter first dibs on new information, covers, deals, and more! (You get a free short story for signing up, by the way)
If you’re a Facebook person and you like communities where people feel welcome to be who they are and support one another, then hop to Skye’s the Limit Facebook Group.
“Mistletoe Rewind” and all other novels published under the Anti-Belle Books label are available on Amazon/Kindle Unlimited. The Not So Nice Girl, a friends-to-lovers summer romance set in 1986, is available wherever you buy ebooks and paperbacks.
Mistletoe Rewind by Skye McDonald
December 1987
Valerie
Last Christmas, I would’ve given him my heart. But he stared at me under the mistletoe and whispered two little words:
I can’t.
Now, it’s just another year as a mall video store clerk. My days are filled with work, school, and the occasional flirt from Danny, the cute guy from the record shop. Oh, and ignoring my grinch of a boss, Noah. Even though we work together all the time, we barely speak.
We definitely don’t talk about that embarrassing moment under the mistletoe at last year’s party.
But when Noah starts revealing unexpected layers under his grumpy exterior, my carefully guarded world begins to shift. From stolen kisses in the stockroom to a magical dress that changes everything, this Christmas is about to teach me the thrill of taking risks, embracing my desires, and uncovering the unexpected warmth of the holiday season.
“Mistletoe Rewind” is a heartwarming, steamy holiday romance packed with 80s nostalgia, sharp wit, and all the sparks of a perfect winter’s night.
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JL Peridot writes love letters to the future on devices from the past. Visit jlperidot.com for the full catalogue of her work or subscribe to Dot Club for a collection of her tiny stories.
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