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Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir
Tired of focusing on the stressful hustle and bustle of December? These delightful stories brim with Christmas nostalgia and heartwarming moments.
Are you hoping to rediscover the magic of the winter holidays? Looking for traditional inspiration for your upcoming Xmas parties? Ever wondered what’s behind the twelve days of gift-giving? The daughter of a real cowboy, award-winning author Larada Horner-Miller grew up in a small rural community in southeastern Colorado. Now she’s using her seventy years of festive experiences to share the true meaning of the season and how to rejoice in its miracles.
Hair on Fire is a compilation of poems, prose, and helpful scripture references all centered around family. Using vivid and humorous language, Horner-Miller reveals a treasure trove of tales that will touch anyone’s heart. And when you immerse yourself in the warmth of her stories, you’ll soon be looking forward to the big day with refreshed anticipation and pure happiness.
In Hair on Fire , you’ll
- A vibrant celebration of Christmas specialness that will reawaken your inner child
- At look at the mix of sadness and joy that the 25th of December can trigger and why it’s okay to embrace them both
- An immersive retelling of what Joseph and Mary experienced on the road to Bethlehem, so you can put yourself in the Holy Family’s shoes.
- What the traditions of a New Mexican holiday entail and how to bring them to life
- The reason you should never stand too close to the angels in a pageant, and much, much more!
Hair on Fire is a charming collection of Christmas memories told through poetry and prose. If you like uplifting journeys, evocative memoirs, and light-hearted joy, then you’ll love Larada Horner-Miller’s Yuletide gift.
Buy Hair on Fire to deck the halls today!
Are you hoping to rediscover the magic of the winter holidays? Looking for traditional inspiration for your upcoming Xmas parties? Ever wondered what’s behind the twelve days of gift-giving? The daughter of a real cowboy, award-winning author Larada Horner-Miller grew up in a small rural community in southeastern Colorado. Now she’s using her seventy years of festive experiences to share the true meaning of the season and how to rejoice in its miracles.
Hair on Fire is a compilation of poems, prose, and helpful scripture references all centered around family. Using vivid and humorous language, Horner-Miller reveals a treasure trove of tales that will touch anyone’s heart. And when you immerse yourself in the warmth of her stories, you’ll soon be looking forward to the big day with refreshed anticipation and pure happiness.
In Hair on Fire , you’ll
- A vibrant celebration of Christmas specialness that will reawaken your inner child
- At look at the mix of sadness and joy that the 25th of December can trigger and why it’s okay to embrace them both
- An immersive retelling of what Joseph and Mary experienced on the road to Bethlehem, so you can put yourself in the Holy Family’s shoes.
- What the traditions of a New Mexican holiday entail and how to bring them to life
- The reason you should never stand too close to the angels in a pageant, and much, much more!
Hair on Fire is a charming collection of Christmas memories told through poetry and prose. If you like uplifting journeys, evocative memoirs, and light-hearted joy, then you’ll love Larada Horner-Miller’s Yuletide gift.
Buy Hair on Fire to deck the halls today!
232 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 6, 2023
62 people are currently reading
4886 people want to read
About the author
Larada Horner-Miller
10 books172 followersLarada Horner-Miller is a poet, essayist and accomplished multi-genre author who holds a bachelor’s degree in English, with a minor in Spanish and a master of education degree in Integrating Technology into the Classroom. She is the accomplished author of nine award-winning memoirs, historical fiction, a biography and poetry works plus three self-published cookbooks. She has also recorded three audiobooks.
Her recent release, Was It A Dream?: Navigating Life's Journey Through Poetry, won a gold award in the Global Book Awards.
Journey through life's peaks and valleys in "Was It a Dream?" Award-winning poet Larada Horner-Miller transforms personal struggles into universal truths in this first book in a four-book poetry collection. From loss and heartbreak to wonder and whimsy, these verses explore a woman's path through grief to hope. Experience profound reflections on family, nature, travel, and the resilient human spirit in this engaging installment of the Navigating Life's Journey Through Poetry series.
Her sixth book, Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better, is available in paperback and four e-book formats. Larada offers the reader the opportunity to look back at 2020 and the global pandemic through her prose and poetry through reading, then reflecting and responding. She addresses all the emotions she felt during this overwhelming time and leads the reader through to a self-access: bitter or better? Recently this book won the 2023 New Mexico/Arizona Book Award in the Self Help/Guides category. It also won the 2022 New Mexico/Arizona Book Award in the Body, Mind & Spirit category.
Her fifth book is the authorized memoir and biography of world-renown square dance caller Marshall “Flip” Flippo. Just Another Square Dance Caller, Biography of Marshall Flippo is available now in hardback, paperback and four e-book formats. Recently Just Another Square Dance Caller won two awards: Book Excellence Awards Finalist and Silver award for eLit. Book Awards.
Another recent book of hers, A Time to Grow Up-A Daughter's Grief Memoir has won many awards including being a 2018 Book Excellence Awards Finalist in the Memoir category at the New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards and a 2018 Independent Press Distinguished Favorites Award in the Memoir category. Horner-Miller has also been a past national presenter at the Women Writing the West Conference and is currently the creator of Memoir Workshops for others who want to share their family’s legacies through words.
Larada and her husband, Lin, enjoy being nestled in the mountains above Albuquerque, New Mexico, near the village of Tijeras. When not writing books, this passionate, energetic, and enthusiastic woman loves to spend time kicking up her heels at square dancing gatherings, traveling, knitting, and reading.
As co-manager of her family’s southeastern Colorado ranch, she enjoys spending time exploring her family’s historic ranch and reminiscing with her brother and his children about their mom, dad, and granddad.
To learn more, visit https://laradasbooks.com/
Her recent release, Was It A Dream?: Navigating Life's Journey Through Poetry, won a gold award in the Global Book Awards.
Journey through life's peaks and valleys in "Was It a Dream?" Award-winning poet Larada Horner-Miller transforms personal struggles into universal truths in this first book in a four-book poetry collection. From loss and heartbreak to wonder and whimsy, these verses explore a woman's path through grief to hope. Experience profound reflections on family, nature, travel, and the resilient human spirit in this engaging installment of the Navigating Life's Journey Through Poetry series.
Her sixth book, Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better, is available in paperback and four e-book formats. Larada offers the reader the opportunity to look back at 2020 and the global pandemic through her prose and poetry through reading, then reflecting and responding. She addresses all the emotions she felt during this overwhelming time and leads the reader through to a self-access: bitter or better? Recently this book won the 2023 New Mexico/Arizona Book Award in the Self Help/Guides category. It also won the 2022 New Mexico/Arizona Book Award in the Body, Mind & Spirit category.
Her fifth book is the authorized memoir and biography of world-renown square dance caller Marshall “Flip” Flippo. Just Another Square Dance Caller, Biography of Marshall Flippo is available now in hardback, paperback and four e-book formats. Recently Just Another Square Dance Caller won two awards: Book Excellence Awards Finalist and Silver award for eLit. Book Awards.
Another recent book of hers, A Time to Grow Up-A Daughter's Grief Memoir has won many awards including being a 2018 Book Excellence Awards Finalist in the Memoir category at the New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards and a 2018 Independent Press Distinguished Favorites Award in the Memoir category. Horner-Miller has also been a past national presenter at the Women Writing the West Conference and is currently the creator of Memoir Workshops for others who want to share their family’s legacies through words.
Larada and her husband, Lin, enjoy being nestled in the mountains above Albuquerque, New Mexico, near the village of Tijeras. When not writing books, this passionate, energetic, and enthusiastic woman loves to spend time kicking up her heels at square dancing gatherings, traveling, knitting, and reading.
As co-manager of her family’s southeastern Colorado ranch, she enjoys spending time exploring her family’s historic ranch and reminiscing with her brother and his children about their mom, dad, and granddad.
To learn more, visit https://laradasbooks.com/
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 18, 2023
Christmas has always been a special time for me. Stroll through my memories of Christmases past & enjoy the variety of pieces from my childhood to a very special awareness from travel last year. The audiobook is now available: https://www.amazon.com/Hair-Fire-Hear...
November 4, 2024
Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming and Humorous Christmas Memoir by Larada Horner-Miller captures the true warmth of the holiday season, reminding me of childhood memories. Through touching stories, poetry, and colorful art, this holiday gem immerses you in the spirit of Christmas, sparking cherished memories of family, friends, and traditions. Horner-Miller's reflections resonated with me with a little humor and heartfelt warmth, making this memoir a nostalgic treat perfect for the holiday season. A comfy and cozy read.
December 15, 2023
"Hair on Fire" by Larada Horner-Miller is a heartwarming collection of Christmas memories that captures the true spirit of the season. With vivid storytelling and a touch of humor, the author invites readers to rediscover the magic of the holidays. This book is a delightful reminder of the joy and meaning that Christmas brings, making it a perfect read for the festive season.
October 16, 2023
If love for a holiday can shine through print, these pages would glow.
Redolent with the joy of the season, this charming memoir captures the season’s thrill of hope with eloquence and ebullience. It offers creative ideas to augment, enhance, and deepen your own Christmas celebrations and extend the holiday season beyond Christmas Day. While sharing some celebratory traditions and reflections, the author’s own story is tucked into the text along with choice Christmas memories from yesteryear. These will resonate especially well with readers of a certain age. Creative ideas, insights, and inspiration galore will help make your season bright. Also Tamales! Luminarias! Epiphany! Indeed, Hair on Fire will have you humming Silent Night faster than you can say “Jim and Della Dillingham Young.” (You’ll get that if you know your O. Henry.)
The writing is bright and cozy. The book opens with Mary and Joseph and winds down with same. In between there’s a hefty helping of nostalgia that’s as rich and welcoming as chestnuts roasting on an open fire. (Oh, those silver Christmas trees of yesteryear! The Sears Wish Book! And yep, I did know the liturgical background for The Twelve Days of Christmas.) The illustrations and photos are priceless! And the hair on fire thing? That’s explained in the Introduction and Chapter 7. Nestled into the narrative are bits and pieces of the author’s own story, including a divorce and the loss of an adopted child.
Saturated in warmth and seasonal radiance, this charming book will thaw the heart of even a pre-redemptive Scrooge. Most chapters are short, twinkling with tidbits of good tidings, comfort, and joy. (Tip: Don’t miss the short story in Chapter 28. Just sayin’.) Most chapters conclude with interrogatories designed to engage the reader and prompt reflection, remembrances, or both. Such as, “Are similar traditions like mine important to you? Do you have different ones?” Or, “Do you have a favorite Christmas memory that has affected your whole life? How old were you? How did it affect you?”
The gentle prose skillfully conjures up “childhood images and excitement” while offering a “Christ-centered yet celebratory” look at the holy day, anchored in “the magic of the Nativity and the Christ child.’" Readers young and old are encouraged to unwrap their own favorite Christmas memories and/or create new ones. (The injection of politics into the narrative a la January 6 is unfortunate. It kinda derails the train and may leave some readers scratching their heads.)
The closing pages include an Appendix with a recipe (yum!) and lists of the author’s favorite Christmas Readings and Christmas Movies. Readers of a certain age will recognize all or most on both lists.
Finally, tip-toeing through Hair on Fire is like taking a walk down Memory Lane with a good friend. It’s like sitting down with a hot cuppa. Plopping in a peppermint stick. Dusting off an old LP of Bing Crosby crooning White Christmas or Evie Tornquist Karlsson singing Come on Ring Those Bells while the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful. Let it glow! Let it glow! Let it glow!
Redolent with the joy of the season, this charming memoir captures the season’s thrill of hope with eloquence and ebullience. It offers creative ideas to augment, enhance, and deepen your own Christmas celebrations and extend the holiday season beyond Christmas Day. While sharing some celebratory traditions and reflections, the author’s own story is tucked into the text along with choice Christmas memories from yesteryear. These will resonate especially well with readers of a certain age. Creative ideas, insights, and inspiration galore will help make your season bright. Also Tamales! Luminarias! Epiphany! Indeed, Hair on Fire will have you humming Silent Night faster than you can say “Jim and Della Dillingham Young.” (You’ll get that if you know your O. Henry.)
The writing is bright and cozy. The book opens with Mary and Joseph and winds down with same. In between there’s a hefty helping of nostalgia that’s as rich and welcoming as chestnuts roasting on an open fire. (Oh, those silver Christmas trees of yesteryear! The Sears Wish Book! And yep, I did know the liturgical background for The Twelve Days of Christmas.) The illustrations and photos are priceless! And the hair on fire thing? That’s explained in the Introduction and Chapter 7. Nestled into the narrative are bits and pieces of the author’s own story, including a divorce and the loss of an adopted child.
Saturated in warmth and seasonal radiance, this charming book will thaw the heart of even a pre-redemptive Scrooge. Most chapters are short, twinkling with tidbits of good tidings, comfort, and joy. (Tip: Don’t miss the short story in Chapter 28. Just sayin’.) Most chapters conclude with interrogatories designed to engage the reader and prompt reflection, remembrances, or both. Such as, “Are similar traditions like mine important to you? Do you have different ones?” Or, “Do you have a favorite Christmas memory that has affected your whole life? How old were you? How did it affect you?”
The gentle prose skillfully conjures up “childhood images and excitement” while offering a “Christ-centered yet celebratory” look at the holy day, anchored in “the magic of the Nativity and the Christ child.’" Readers young and old are encouraged to unwrap their own favorite Christmas memories and/or create new ones. (The injection of politics into the narrative a la January 6 is unfortunate. It kinda derails the train and may leave some readers scratching their heads.)
The closing pages include an Appendix with a recipe (yum!) and lists of the author’s favorite Christmas Readings and Christmas Movies. Readers of a certain age will recognize all or most on both lists.
Finally, tip-toeing through Hair on Fire is like taking a walk down Memory Lane with a good friend. It’s like sitting down with a hot cuppa. Plopping in a peppermint stick. Dusting off an old LP of Bing Crosby crooning White Christmas or Evie Tornquist Karlsson singing Come on Ring Those Bells while the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful. Let it glow! Let it glow! Let it glow!
January 1, 2026
Hair on Fire is a joyful, heartfelt, and gently reflective Christmas memoir that captures the warmth, humor, and emotional complexity of the holiday season. Through a blend of poetry, prose, and faith-centered reflection, Larada Horner-Miller invites readers into a lifetime of memories shaped by family, tradition, and small-town life.
What makes this collection especially engaging is its sincerity. Horner-Miller doesn’t rush past the quieter emotions of Christmas the longing, the losses, and the tender nostalgia that often accompany celebration. Instead, she embraces the full spectrum of the season, allowing joy and sadness to coexist in a way that feels deeply authentic.
The stories are rooted in lived experience, from childhood holidays in rural Colorado to faith-based reflections that gently encourage gratitude and perspective. Moments of humor balance beautifully with spiritual insight, creating a collection that feels comforting rather than sentimental, uplifting without being overstated.
Whether recounting family traditions, pageant mishaps, or reflections on the Nativity, Hair on Fire reminds readers why stories especially shared ones are central to the holiday spirit. This is a book to dip into, revisit, and savor during the winter season.
A charming and comforting read for anyone seeking warmth, nostalgia, faith-infused reflection, and gentle reminders of what truly matters during the holidays.
What makes this collection especially engaging is its sincerity. Horner-Miller doesn’t rush past the quieter emotions of Christmas the longing, the losses, and the tender nostalgia that often accompany celebration. Instead, she embraces the full spectrum of the season, allowing joy and sadness to coexist in a way that feels deeply authentic.
The stories are rooted in lived experience, from childhood holidays in rural Colorado to faith-based reflections that gently encourage gratitude and perspective. Moments of humor balance beautifully with spiritual insight, creating a collection that feels comforting rather than sentimental, uplifting without being overstated.
Whether recounting family traditions, pageant mishaps, or reflections on the Nativity, Hair on Fire reminds readers why stories especially shared ones are central to the holiday spirit. This is a book to dip into, revisit, and savor during the winter season.
A charming and comforting read for anyone seeking warmth, nostalgia, faith-infused reflection, and gentle reminders of what truly matters during the holidays.
November 3, 2024
A perfect stocking stuffer little book!
New Mexico author/poet/essayist Larada Horner-Miller has published a variety of books to date – WHEN WILL PAPA GET HOME, THE TUMBLEWEED LANDED, LET ME TELL YOU A STORY, A TIME TO GROW UP, JUST ANOTHER SQUARE DANCE CALLER, IS MY TRUTH UNIVERSAL?, CORONAVIRUS REFLECTIONS, and now offers a Christmas memoir HAIR ON FIRE.
Written as a memoir celebrating Christmas, stating this book ‘spans my rural country childhood to my adult life in a variety of cities and countries, yet each place had its joyous memories,’ the meaning of the title refers to a poem relating a childhood experience serving as a candle-bearing angel in her church’s Christmas program – and the combination of ‘angel hair’ and candle resulted in a mishap she’ll not forget! The initial story revisits ‘the first Christmas’ relating the birth of Jesus and the atmosphere of Bethlehem, followed by a fine discussion of Advent. The book continues with photographs and illustrations and poems, scriptures, and stories that recount many memorable Christmases, likely to make the reader recall our own special Christmas memories. Very heart-warming writing – a treasure trove of Christmas good will!
New Mexico author/poet/essayist Larada Horner-Miller has published a variety of books to date – WHEN WILL PAPA GET HOME, THE TUMBLEWEED LANDED, LET ME TELL YOU A STORY, A TIME TO GROW UP, JUST ANOTHER SQUARE DANCE CALLER, IS MY TRUTH UNIVERSAL?, CORONAVIRUS REFLECTIONS, and now offers a Christmas memoir HAIR ON FIRE.
Written as a memoir celebrating Christmas, stating this book ‘spans my rural country childhood to my adult life in a variety of cities and countries, yet each place had its joyous memories,’ the meaning of the title refers to a poem relating a childhood experience serving as a candle-bearing angel in her church’s Christmas program – and the combination of ‘angel hair’ and candle resulted in a mishap she’ll not forget! The initial story revisits ‘the first Christmas’ relating the birth of Jesus and the atmosphere of Bethlehem, followed by a fine discussion of Advent. The book continues with photographs and illustrations and poems, scriptures, and stories that recount many memorable Christmases, likely to make the reader recall our own special Christmas memories. Very heart-warming writing – a treasure trove of Christmas good will!
January 3, 2025
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Hair on Fire is an absolute gem of a book that beautifully captures the true essence of Christmas! Larada Horner-Miller’s heartwarming and humorous collection of stories, poetry, and reflections feels like a warm hug on a chilly winter day.
Her vivid storytelling transported me back to the magic of my own childhood Christmases, while her unique insights into the holiday’s deeper meanings offered fresh inspiration for embracing both its joys and its bittersweet moments. I especially loved her retelling of Joseph and Mary’s journey to Bethlehem—it was so immersive and thought-provoking.
From charming New Mexican holiday traditions to laugh-out-loud moments in Christmas pageants, this book is brimming with nostalgia, humor, and heartfelt wisdom. It’s perfect for anyone looking to rekindle the wonder and spirit of the season.
Thank you, Larada, for sharing your seventy years of festive experiences and reminding us what Christmas is truly all about. This is a gift of a book that I’ll cherish and revisit every holiday season! 🎄✨
Highly recommend to anyone who wants to bring the magic of Christmas back into their hearts!
Hair on Fire is an absolute gem of a book that beautifully captures the true essence of Christmas! Larada Horner-Miller’s heartwarming and humorous collection of stories, poetry, and reflections feels like a warm hug on a chilly winter day.
Her vivid storytelling transported me back to the magic of my own childhood Christmases, while her unique insights into the holiday’s deeper meanings offered fresh inspiration for embracing both its joys and its bittersweet moments. I especially loved her retelling of Joseph and Mary’s journey to Bethlehem—it was so immersive and thought-provoking.
From charming New Mexican holiday traditions to laugh-out-loud moments in Christmas pageants, this book is brimming with nostalgia, humor, and heartfelt wisdom. It’s perfect for anyone looking to rekindle the wonder and spirit of the season.
Thank you, Larada, for sharing your seventy years of festive experiences and reminding us what Christmas is truly all about. This is a gift of a book that I’ll cherish and revisit every holiday season! 🎄✨
Highly recommend to anyone who wants to bring the magic of Christmas back into their hearts!
January 10, 2024
A look back for anyone wanting nostalgia for what Christmas was when we were younger.
The writing that just flows and it makes for an effortless read.
It's a great topic and I think perfect for this time of year.
It was a great balance and I was endeared the entire way. This is a wonderful book and will serve many purposes, it will make you reflect, laugh, and so much more.
The writing that just flows and it makes for an effortless read.
It's a great topic and I think perfect for this time of year.
It was a great balance and I was endeared the entire way. This is a wonderful book and will serve many purposes, it will make you reflect, laugh, and so much more.
January 11, 2024
Sometimes we lose sight of the magic of Christmas. It’s always great to have a reminder.
A silly, sentimental journey from Larada Horner-Miller.
Written in a sassy style, Larada gives the reader a glimpse into her family interwoven with mishaps and trials and tribulations that provides plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.
I found this to be a jam-packed holiday-inspired treat.
A silly, sentimental journey from Larada Horner-Miller.
Written in a sassy style, Larada gives the reader a glimpse into her family interwoven with mishaps and trials and tribulations that provides plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.
I found this to be a jam-packed holiday-inspired treat.
November 20, 2023
Goodreads giveaway winner.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews