Welcome to the Recorder’s Advent Calendar ✨
Thank you for popping in.
This page is the home of my full Advent Calendar index.
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If you don’t use FB – I get it but you’ll need to set your own reminder some of the fun is time sensitive – in a good way – there are prizes 😀
There will be fun, games and silliness to lighten the short, dark days of December for two weeks before the Launch of the next book in the Gateway series … Spilling the Tea in Gretna Green.
I’ll be adding daily treats—quizzes, snippets, recipes, jigsaws and small surprises from the realms, and a few festive smiles to brighten the darkest days of the year. Once the calendar opens, each day’s door will be linked right here so you can easily find your favourites.
Check back each day … Dola’s already rustling tinsel in a very polite fashion, Let the fun begin. 🎄✨
Day 1
Which Realm Would Claim You?
You’ve wandered into the Rainbow Gateway in Gretna Green at exactly the right moment.
The coffee is hot, the team have everything under control, and the royals are arguing, mostly politely, about who should issue your travel visa. There’s only one fair way to decide …
It’s time to take the Realm Quiz and find out where you truly belong.
Take the quiz here: https://linziday.com/which-realm-quiz/
Kelli Ann and Anne Marie Wyatt both won prizes for some of the little secret competitions I run entirely with myself (I have thoughts like, “I wonder if anyone will spot X…”, and then I hand out prizes if anyone does — and yes, there are still quite a few of these prizes outstanding…).
Kelli won for being the first person to reach the Indigo Realm (the trickiest one to get), and Anne won for being the first to spot the special version of the Caledonian certificate.
Day 2
Somewhere Only Sheep Know
One of the short stories in the Spilling the Tea in Gretna Green Collection has a very British introduction.
I thought my international readers might enjoy it more if I helped by providing some explanation.
Especially if I shared it before the book came out, when you all have time to watch a video.
There are NO spoilers.
You’ll find it here: https://linziday.com/somewhere-only-sheep-know/
Day 3
Jigsaw Puzzles for Spilling the Tea
From gentle warm-up puzzles to gloriously tricky chaos for the aficionados. The rainbow one on maximum kept me happy for far too long—but then I am odd!
Put the kettle on and get ready to piece the chaos back together! 🫖
You’ll find it here:
https://linziday.com/jigsaw-puzzles-for-spilling-the-tea
Day 4
Juniper’s Chicken Liver Pate Recipe
Juniper offered her recipe for Spilling the Tea Pâté as featured in the Valkyries are Flying, a short novel/long novella in the next book in the Midlife Recorder series.
So I bit her hand off on behalf of us all.
You’ll find it here:
https://linziday.com/junipers-chicken-liver-pate-recipe
Day 5
Truths + a lie
Confession time: there’s a slightly unhinged “truths and a lie” game hiding on my About the Author page… and most people have never seen it. 😅
Some of the real facts sound less believable than the fake ones (because of course they do), and somewhere in there lurks a lie or possibly two. I’ve turned it into a little competition
You’ll find it here:
https://linziday.com/meet-the-author-linzi-day
Susy and Desiré won the prizes for guessing the correct answer and being picked by the random spinning wheel.
Day 6
Interior Artwork From The Books
If you’ve read the books on Kindle, you’ve never seen the interior illustrations.
And if you’re feeling smug because you’ve read the paperbacks and seen those images, then hang on, because you still haven’t seen them in their original full-colour glory!
I’ve put them all on one page where you can drag a little slider to compare the colour and black & white versions side by side. It’s strangely satisfying. 😄
You’ll find it here:
https://linziday.com/custom-interior-artwork-from-the-midlife-recorder-paperbacks/
Day 7
Midlife Recorder Word Searches
I’ve made a Midlife in Gretna Green word search!
It’s packed with characters and places—including a few Welsh ones to keep you on your toes.
You can play the word search at the link below. It’s randomised each time you load, so you can play it more than once if you wish.
There are also word searches for the other books, created by the wonderful Kim Roberts.
You’ll find it here:
https://linziday.com/midlife-recorder-word-searches/
Day 8
Snippet from Secrets of the Dead
This was a very temporary treat; it had to be deleted before the publication of Spilling the Tea in Gretna Green. My obligations to Amazon required that.
The snippet began on the day after the end of Market Forces in Gretna Green, and you can now read it in Secrets of the Dead, a novella in Spilling the Tea in Gretna Green.
Day 9
Juniper’s Feisty Sourdough Discard Cracker Recipe
You asked … Hobson’s Choice delivered
After the furore caused by Chef Juniper Hob’s pâté, here’s the requested recipe for sourdough discard crackers with Parmesan, butter, salt, pepper, spices and magic.
You’ll find it here:
https://linziday.com/junipers-feisty-sourdough-discard-cracker-recipe
Day 10
Christmas Trees
I thought it would be fun to see how Christmas trees look across the world. 🎄
I’ll post a photo of our tree, will you show me yours too?
Pop a picture of your tree in the comments on the Facebook post—twinkly lights, mismatched decorations, colour themes, pets hiding underneath … all very welcome.
You’ll find it here:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1491517845251928
Day 11
Did you miss any?
We’ve had ten days of advent treats so far. Check the festive recap video so you can see if you’ve missed any. The Christmas trees around the world, the ‘Which Realm’ quiz and interior artwork have been the most popular so far.
You’ll find them all here:
https://www.facebook.com/LinziDayAuthor
Day 12
Midlife Recorder Playlist
If releasing Spilling the Tea in Gretna Green a few days early has caused you any festive chaos, today’s Advent surprise is here to make the prep, gift wrapping, and general kerfuffle far more fun…
Here’s a special treat from a fellow reader, Jennifer Ashley.
She made a playlist on Apple Music and Spotify of the songs referenced in the Midlife Recorder series.
You’ll find it here:
https://linziday.com/midlife-recorder-playlist/
Day 13
Whose Christmas stocking is this?
Today’s advent calendar game is just for a bit of pre-Christmas fun.
Grab a mug or a glass of something (depending on the time zone you’re in) and play along.
Feel free to add your answers on the individual photos or your general thoughts in the main comments on Facebook.
You’ll find it on Facebook here:
https://www.facebook.com/LinziDayAuthor
Day 14
24th December
LAUNCH DAY
You can find information about the latest book here.
I hope you enjoy it 🥰