Sylvain Reynard shares his 3 fave holiday shows

Today's featured author: Sylvain Reynard, author of Gabriel's Redemption.

Happy Holidays, HEA. It's a pleasure to be with you and your readers.

Three of my favorite holiday TV shows and/or movies:

• The Festivus episode of Seinfeld. "It's a Festivus for the rest of us."

I celebrate both the religious and secular aspects of Christmas, but in an effort to learn more about other traditions, I studied Festivus. It's a very interesting celebration, which takes place Dec 23. My favourite part is the airing of grievances, followed closely by the feats of strength. And one cannot forget the metal pole propped up next to the dining room table. It's an essential for any Festivus celebration.

Once again, Seinfeld reminds us not to take ourselves (or our holiday traditions) too seriously. I don't know what a metal pole has to do with Festivus. But I don't know what an evergreen has to do with the birth of Jesus, either. Whether you celebrate Festivus or not, being with friends and family over the holidays is important. (Try to omit the airing of grievances.)

• A Christmas Story. Based on the novel In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepherd, A Christmas Story hearkens back to the holidays of our youth. Those halcyon days when we ran the risk of having our mouths washed out with Lifebuoy for saying the F-word, and when all we wanted for Christmas was an official Red Ryder BB gun. (You'll shoot your eye out.)

My favourite part is the father receiving his major award, which became "the glow of electric sex coming through the window." You can buy one for your house.

A Christmas Story emphasizes the importance of family, that "fragile" is Italian (and pronounced "fra-GEE-lay"), and that in a world populated by bullies your parents are your strongest allies.

• A Christmas Carol. Many are familiar with Charles Dickens' story, made famous on film by Alastair Sim.

The tale is cautionary, warning us that our lives on this earth are short and if we intend to fill them with stuff — money and things — we will lose what is most important and live wasted, miserable lives. The story reminds us that it is never too late to make a change for the better and that charity, generosity, and the care for the sick and the poor are essential to a happy life.

With my public platform as an author, I hope to communicate the same message — let's not live wasted lives trying to accumulate stuff. Let's be kind and generous with our fellow human beings.

Wishing you and your family all the best for the holiday season and a happy and prosperous 2014,

SR

Here's the blurb about Gabriel's Redemption (courtesy of publisher Berkley):

Professor Gabriel Emerson has left his position at the University of Toronto to embark on a new life with his beloved Julianne. Together, he's confident that they can face any challenge. And he's eager to become a father.

But Julianne's graduate program threatens Gabriel's plans, as the pressures of being a student become all consuming. When she is given the honor of presenting an academic lecture at Oxford, Gabriel is forced to confront Julianne about the subject of her presentation—research that conflicts with his own. And in Oxford, several individuals from their past appear, including an old nemesis intent on humiliating Julia and exposing one of Gabriel's darkest secrets.

In an effort to confront his remaining demons, Gabriel begins a quest to discover more about his biological parents, beginning a chain of events that has startling repercussions for himself, Julianne, and his hope of having a family.

Find out more at www.sylvainreynard.com.