Connections eMagazine November 2023 Edition

Volume 9 Issue 5

Connections eMagazine

Message from the Editor The Purpose of this eMagazine is to connect readers and bloggers with authors. This is a FREE eMagazine that is produced quarterly. Christmas has always been my favorite time of year — minus the cold. The chestnuts are roasting, stockings are hung, and Jack Frost has begun nipping at your nose. It’s time to start making that list and checking it twice — why not make it a book list. There’s nothing more relaxing than a good book, a warm fire and a sweet cup of hot chocolate.

This holiday season, let’s make it a point to cherish what’s truly important in our lives: cookies and books.

While you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe. You’ll receive an automatic email with a link to each new edition. Just click the box below and fill out the form. Be sure to include all required information. Don’t worry, your information will never be shared or sold.

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The 12 Books of Christmas…

This year, we connected with 12 authors to bring you 12 festive holiday books. Get to know the authors, discover their books and enjoy the adventure (Page 6)

Author Interviews…

In this issue meet critically acclaimed authors Bob Brill (Page 48), Diann Floyd Boehm (Page 98), James Hill (Page 110), and Stephen Schneider (Page 120) 2

Blogs | Articles •

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“Christmas is not an external event at all, but a piece of one’s home that one carries in one’s heart.”

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—Freya Stark

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Book Reviews 1000 Word Challenge Author Tips and Tricks @ConnectionsEMagazine

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I don’t understand - Trico Bella’s Balloon - Sylva Fae The Moment Now - Joe DeRouen Granny’s Hat - Sarah Hindmarsh The Mouse Family That Lived by the Brambles - Gez Robinson 77 1/2 Herbs — Mistletoe - Ronesa Aveela

Christmas Morning - Pearl Oliver Music by Shri Jaykishan Hariharbhai Kapdi

Editorial Team EDITOR –IN– CHIEF Melanie P. Smith https://melaniepsmith.com/ CONTENT EDITOR… Sylva Fae https://www.facebook.com/SylvaFae COPY EDITOR… LaPriel Dye https://dyenamicsediting.com CONTENT WRITERS… Sarah Hindmarsh https://www.facebook.com/Sarahhindmarshauthor Ronesa Aveela https://ronesaaveela.wordpress.com/ REVIEWS...

Mom’s Favorite Reads Review Group PUBLISHER...

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MPSmith Publishing and Connections eMagazine does not endorse any information contained in the articles or advertisements throughout this magazine. All contents are Copyright © by the individual authors and used with their permission.

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Mary McKenna

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Melanie P. Smith

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M.R. Dimond

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Dr. David Schein

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Melinda Kucsera

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H.M. Gooden

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Ada Bell

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Jenna Greene

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Brook Peterson

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JP McLean

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Shanna Swendson

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Nzondi

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Leanne Treese

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K.T. Anglehart

Would you like a listing in the next issue of Connections eMagazine? Click here for submission requirements.

The Christmas Thief

Demon Tales

Decked the Hall

Mary & Bright

A Cowboy For Christmas

Tales of Christmas Villains

Allow Me To Ruin Your Christmas

Messy Christmas

Runaway Love

Dating For December

A Country Christmas

Santa Shortbread

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Some consider the Christmas carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas to be the most annoying song ever. But, the idea did not begin with the song. In Christian theology, the 12 days of Christmas marks the span between the birth of Christ and the coming of the Magi (the three wisemen). The four weeks preceding Christmas are known as the Advent — which explains the “Advent Calendar”. This period begins four Sunday’s before Christmas and ends on December 24th.

There have been many parodies of The Twelve Days of Christmas starting with Jeff Foxworthy’s Redneck version, Twisted Sister’s heavy metal take, and of course there was the Muppet’s version featuring John Denver. So, why not add one more and turn it into The Twelve Books of Christmas. I mean, books are more fun anyway.

Just for fun, we decided to combine the 12 Days of Christmas with the Advent calendar and create The 12 Books of Christmas. To accomplish this, we teamed up with 12 authors to highlight 12 festive holiday books. We interviewed each author to give our readers an exclusive look into the lives of the writer, insight into the characters and discuss a little holiday fun. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did; and, who knows, you just might find your next favorite holiday story.

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A Baba Treasure Chest story Seven-year-old Christopher is determined he is going to catch the Winter Monster who steals food from his family's porch every Christmas. What he discovers instead is the meaning of sharing. The Christmas Thief is a short story and coloring book.

In the tradition of family togetherness, Baba Treasure Chest stories are geared toward the entire family: Adults reading stories to children, children and adults working together on coloring pages. This book is dedicated to people everywhere as a reminder of the beauty of Christmas when we count our blessings and help those in need.

Is the Christmas depicted in the story one you would love?

Yes, it is. It’s all about being with family and helping others.

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Ronesa Aveela is “the creative power of two.”

Two authors that is. Nelly, the main force behind the work, the creative genius, was born in Bulgaria and moved to the US in the 1990s. She grew up with stories of wild Samodivi, Kikimora, the dragons Zmey and Lamia, Baba Yaga, and much more.

Rebecca, her writing partner, was born and raised in the New England area. She has a background in writing and editing, as well as having a love of all things from different cultures.

She’s learned so much about Bulgarian culture, folklore, and rituals, and writes to share that knowledge with others.

Why were you inspired to write a Christmas story?

My story is about giving and helping people in need. I wrote the story because I wanted to thank the people who helped us out when we needed it. We left everything behind in Bulgaria when we came to the U.S., and our first Christmas was challenging. We had to start from scratch. The generosity of our neighbors and community made the season special. I wish the spirit of Christmas was present all year long.

It's Christmas Eve, everything is prepped and ready, you're snuggling down with a book, which book do you choose?

There are many great books, but I personally love “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens.

Are you an early or last-minute shopper? Would the characters in your book have those same tendencies?

I don’t like waiting until the last moment to get things done, and the same goes for my characters. They are early shoppers.

How would your main character describe the Christmas season?

If you could relive any holiday moment, what would it be?

I yearn to revisit the past and experience one final Christmas with my entire family in Bulgaria. Our cherished tradition involved breaking a homemade bread filled with fortunes on Christmas Eve, each predicting the upcoming year for individuals. If I could turn back time, I would dedicate my fortune to my father, hoping to change the course of events and save his life. The ritual is depicted in my story.

Do you have a favorite winter beverage?

I like a sweet and salty non-alcoholic cocktail. It is delightful! The combination of coffee, chocolate syrup, caramel, and secret ingredients, topped with crunchy pretzels for glass decorations, creates a unique and tempting winter beverage. It’s a creative and festive choice for anyone who enjoys a rich and flavorful drink during the colder months.

If you could spend the holidays with any celebrity or fictional character, who would it be?

I wish to celebrate a holiday alongside Samodiva Diva, a character from my Dragon Village series, embarking on an adventure to explore her world and encounter its captivating creatures.

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https://ronesaaveela.wordpress.com

To Christopher, the Christmas season is a magical time filled with warmth, kindness, and the joy. It’s a season where people come together, share love and goodwill, and create cherished memories. His grandmother shared a special ritual, he would treasure for years. This makes Christmas a time of enchantment and celebration, fostering a sense of community and togetherness. But what made this particular Christmas even more special was that he finally understood the true intention behind his mother’s actions, and he felt a sense of pride. He, too, wanted to embrace the spirit of giving and caring and spread Christmas joy to others.

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MJ Moores

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http://mjmoores.com

Revenge... A Dish Best Left to the Dogs Drunk and disorderly seniors manage to inadvertently drag a demon out of hibernation when they ignore their supernatural dachshund on Oktoberfest. Then, for months after, abnormal storms plague Europe until things drastically change course. This holiday season, with only two agents available (and both recovering from on-the-job disasters) it's up to a spliced D.E.M.ON. team to figure out what a cranky demi-demon wants, before more than just Christmas is ruined.

Why were you inspired to write a Christmas story?

My writing partner Nanci M. Pattenden and I have a long series of novellas planned for D.E.M.ON. Tales. When another colleague asked if we were interested in writing a Christmas Special (since the story spans a couple of years), we were immediately taken with the idea and its myriad possibilities.

Do you have a favorite winter beverage?

I love me some warm cocoa. I don’t drink coffee and I rarely drink tea (herbal if I’m compelled to). My “hot” bevvy of choice when I drink one (usually in the colder months – you coffee people are crazy with hot in the summer) is Hot Chocolate. No marshmallows, please.

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Living in rural Ontario, Canada, M.J. divides her days with writing, editing, reviewing, chasing her young son around, and running a website to help new and emerging authors cut their teeth on the mountains of this big bad world. Occasionally, though, her body compels her to shove all that chaos aside and simply read a good book. Luckily, she has that procrastination thing under control now – at least most of the time.

Is the Christmas depicted in the story one you would love?

That’s a bit of a loaded question. There are parts of it (with Grinder at the Retirement Community and both D.E.M.ON. agents participating in the work Secret Santa) that I would love. However, as this series revolves around a secret government agency battling the things that go bump in the night, finding a mate for Krampus isn’t exactly my idea of holly-jolly (lol). I’d hate for anyone to feel alone at Christmas or any other time of the year. It’s nice, though, to know he has someone looking out for him.

How would your main character describe the Christmas season?

Krampus aside (if you’re at all familiar with him, you know he’s a nasty humbug), this particular story focuses equally on 2 agents, Grinder and Yoli. Grinder is the “tough softie” who is hardened chocolate on the outside and gooey caramel on the inside. Christmas is tough for him because he lost his family, but he’s since regained a new one with friends at work, and finds joy in every opportunity he can. Yoli, however, is a bit of a humbug herself. Her folks have moved out of the country for her dad’s work, and her job as a D.E.M.ON. agent prevents her from visiting much. She’s living out of her VW Bus at the moment and is having trouble getting “into the spirit” of the holidays. However, her Secret Santa has quite the surprise for her by the end to help brighten her outlook.

It's Christmas Eve, everything is prepped and ready, you're snuggling down with a book, which book do you choose?

Hmmm… if I have several days off from work, I will choose my favourite fantasy book (The Green Rider by Kristen Britain) and re-read it just to be with a warm, familiar, old friend again. If I only have Christmas Eve to read, then I’ll pick a selection from my e-reader that’s a light-hearted, easy to read, urban fantasy. Something I can laugh with and feel uplifted after reading.

Are you an early or last-minute shopper? Would the characters in your book have those same tendencies?

I’m an early shopper. I start on Boxing Day (lol). If my shopping isn’t finished by December 1st (when I need to focus on things like decorating the house and holiday baking), then there must be something wrong with me.

Grinder and Yoli are last minute shoppers, but for different reasons. Grinder wants to make sure he finds the best present for each of the people in his life. Whereas, Yoli isn’t that interested in celebrating, so she puts it off as long as possible.

If you could relive any holiday moment, what would it be?

Last Christmas, my son was supposed to wait until his grandmother arrived before opening the gift under the tree that was from her. She would be arriving late because of the massive storm that hit us. That morning, I allowed him to pick the presents he’d open while we waited (he was 11 at the time), and he just dove into one of the larger ones under the tree. I didn’t read the tag. I didn’t notice the wrapping. I did notice the absolute look of joyful shock that not only took over his face but his entire body. And my mother missed it. I’d love to be able to relive that moment just a few hours later when she finally arrived so that I could share it with her.

If you could spend the holidays with any celebrity or fictional character, who would it be?

I never feel as though I’d be able to captivate a celebrity with my witty conversation about whatever book I’m writing next … or my cat (lol). That being said though, I’d love to spend a few days with indie author Craig Martelle. He seems like my kind of guy: down-to-earth, approachable, genuinely wants to help other authors succeed, and knows when to relax and go for a walk with his dog. Not sure how I’d fare in Alaska, where he lives, but it could be cozy – and those northern lights are simply amazing.

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Decked in the Hall

A festive start to a brand new series from the bestselling author of ‘The Yellow Cottage Vintage Mysteries.’

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It’s Christmas in Cherrytree Downs and everyone is looking forward to the annual dinner dance at the village hall. But tragedy strikes when one of the villagers dies. Mobile librarian Penny Finch, an avid mystery reader, immediately suspects foul play.

With bumbling PC Bolton out of his depth, and Inspector Monroe new to the area, it’s up to Penny and her rescue puppy Fischer to help solve the crime. But under the surface of this idyllic English village lurk secrets and lies.

Will Penny be able to dig beneath the shine to get to the murky truth? Can Fischer help sniff out the red herrings and unearth the clues they need to catch a murderer?

Or will their nose for trouble lead them down the wrong track entirely?

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Why were you inspired to write a Christmas story?

"I've always looked forward to Christmas, it’s my favourite holiday as it's a time that brings people together. This theme of connection is central to the Finch & Fischer series. The holiday season, with its focus on friends, family, and community, mirrors the dynamics in my books – relationships that become even more pronounced against the backdrop of a mystery. In 'Decked in the Hall,' I wanted to showcase how these bonds persist, even when faced with the challenge of an awful crime. It's not just about Penny Finch and her rescue dog, Fischer solving a murder mystery; it's about how people come together in difficult times, reflecting one of the true spirits of Christmas.

The series will be ‘bookended’ by Christmas stories, the seventh and final being ‘Horror at Hogmanay,’ a Scottish-themed Christmas mystery, due out next year.”

J. New J. New, writer of British mysteries. Historical, contemporary, paranormal, cozy, humorous.

Featuring memorable protagonists, their unusual side-kicks and an eclectic ensemble of supporting cast member. They usually include spirits (all varieties) a little bit of magic, a spot of romance and copious amounts of tea. At regular intervals they involve steam trains and sometimes bicycles.

Author of The Yellow Cottage Vintage Mysteries, traditional English whodunits with a twist, set in the 1930s. Known for their humour as well as the interesting slant on the traditional whodunit. She also writes the Finch & Fischer and the Tea & Sympathy mysteries, both contemporary cozy crime series.

Jacquie was born in West Yorkshire, England. She studied art and design and after qualifying began work as an interior designer, moving onto fine art restoration and animal portraiture before making the decision to pursue her lifelong ambition to write. She now writes full time.

www.jnewwrites.com 13

If you could relive any holiday moment, what would it be?

“Any of those where my brother and I were still young enough to believe in Santa Claus. It’s an incredibly magical time for children and some of my best memories are decorating the Christmas Tree or waking up on Christmas morning to see what Santa had brought us both — usually books and art and crafts materials for me.”

Is the Christmas depicted in the story one you would love?

“Yes, the Christmas celebration in the story, especially the party at the village hall with friends and family, is something I'd definitely enjoy. It's the kind of warm, communal gathering that I find appealing about the holiday season. The depiction of a close-knit community coming together is exactly what I love about Christmas. As for the murder aspect of the story, that's purely a fictional twist for the sake of the mystery plot. My ideal Christmas would definitely be one without the crime element."

Would the characters in your book have those same tendencies?

How would your main character describe the Christmas season?

“Penny would certainly have everything done and dusted earlier. She’s the sort of person who would choose meaningful gifts for whomever she was buying for, and as mobile librarian, many of those would be books. Her friend Susie, a reporter for the local paper and mother of two young children, would end up doing everything at the last minute, no matter how hard she tried to be organised.”

"Penny Finch loves the Christmas season for two main reasons. On the one hand, she deeply values the community spirit it brings. As a mobile librarian who serves the six villages and hamlets in the county, she's a key part of the community, often helping out by delivering essentials to elderly villagers during snowy weather. On the other hand, she adores the traditional festivities of Christmas. The decorations in shop windows, the sparkling lights strung across village streets, and the beautifully adorned Christmas trees in the villages fill her with joy. For Penny, Christmas is the perfect blend of community involvement and the classic festive charm that lights up the season."

Are you an early or last-minute shopper?

“I used to be extremely organised and everything was done by mid-November. Nowadays, with life being busier, I’m definitely a last minute shopper.”

Do you have a favorite winter beverage?

“I’m not much of a drinker but do like a tall gin and tonic while preparing the dinner and a glass of Pinot Grigio with the food. For a non-alcoholic drink I love a Rooibos (South African red tea) with cinnamon. It’s perfect for the holidays as well as having great health benefits.”

It's Christmas Eve, everything is prepped and ready, you're snuggling down with a book, which book do you choose?

“It’s incredibly difficult to choose just one, but in keeping with the mystery genre it would have to be The Sittaford Mystery by Agatha Christie.

While not strictly a Christmas-themed book, it is set in a snowy, winter environment and has a cozy, festive feel that many associate with the holiday season. I would also choose The Hogfather by Terry Pratchett. I’m a huge fan and it’s pure escapism and very funny.”

If you could spend the holidays with any celebrity or fictional character, who would it be?

“Definitely a 1930s version of Miss Marple. Either wandering around St Mary Mead and calling in at the vicarage for afternoon tea, or at one of the famous hotels she’s stayed in whilst solving her mysteries during the holidays.”

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Katharine E. Hamilton

Bright 4 https://bookgoodies.com/a/B08KGTJSS2 Mary Rutherford dreads Christmas time. Having grown up in one of the most influential families in town, her Christmas holidays are spent attending her father’s company Christmas party and silently blending into the background. This year, however, her parents insist she plan the party; and with little help from her mother, Mary reaches out to an old friend for help: Brighten Smith.

Brighten Smith recently moved back to his hometown to escape California and the disappointment of a failed relationship. Helping his grandmother at her local bakery provides him the opportunity to catch up with old acquaintances and friends. When he finds Mary Rutherford needs a caterer for her family’s grand Christmas party, he volunteers for the job, though he has zero experience. As he learns more about Mary, he finds he wants to do more than cater her party; he wants to give her the best Christmas ever.

Can he and Mary pull off a successful Christmas partnership?

And can Brighten give Mary an unforgettable Christmas?

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/ Katharine-E-Hamilton-282475125097433/ TWITTER: www.twitter.com/ AuthorKatharine

https://www.katharinehamilton.com/

Katharine E. Hamilton graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Arts in History and uses her knack for research in all her stories. She is a Southern Belle with a pinch of sass, and when she is not writing she can be found chasing around her sons, driving around the ranch, or baking delicacies for local parties and events.

Katharine currently resides on a ranch in South Texas where the skies and rivers, in all their beauty, rejuvenate the soul.

What I like most about Katharine Hamilton’s books is the way she brings family into the heart of the story, right along with sweet romance. As in life, her characters have to work at relationships to build trust and overcome personal issues of their own, but the hint of love blooming is always there, waiting to blossom. Add to that the spirit of the Christmas season, with the wonderful possibilities we all love to see when looking toward the future, and a happy ever after is sure to happen.

If you’re like me and enjoy watching the Hallmark Movie romances, especially at Christmastime, you’ll love Mary & Bright!

— A. Scott

Why were you inspired to write a Christmas story? I I love the holiday. I love that there’s a buzz of anticipation in the air, that it closes out the year in a positive way, people are mostly kind to one another during the season, and everyone just enjoys the festive-feel together.

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How would your main character describe the Christmas season?

My character, Mary, craves a simple Christmas versus the extravagance her family usually celebrates, so she doesn’t exactly have a positive attitude about the holiday. The story is about her finally finding those simple, intimate Christmas moments in the midst of her typical Christmas celebrations and her outlook slowly changing.

It's Christmas Eve, everything is prepped and ready, you're snuggling down with a book, which book do you choose?

I love to read classics during the winter… the pace of life seems slower and I feel like I can savor a book better during that time. I love to read Charles Dickens, Henry James, or even C.S. Lewis. I just finished a re-read of Wuthering Heights and Oliver Twist. Not sure what I will read over Christmas… I will have to browse my bookshelves to see what pops out to me.

Are you an early or last-minute shopper? Would the characters in your book have those same tendencies?

I love to knock out my Christmas shopping early. I’m not one to like feeling rushed. Plus, I have to ship a lot of gifts across the country, so that takes added time, and it helps to have my shopping completed early. It also gives me time to find unique or clever gifts catered specifically to certain people.

If you could relive any holiday moment, what would it be?

As a child, I will never forget the Christmas morning I woke up to find a Barbie camper van and a new Barbie on a horse waiting by my stocking. It was magical and I just remember feeling overwhelmed with excitement at the newness and beauty of it all. Plus, my stocking was always packed full of fun things. Christmas was always magical for me as a kid. My parents did a great job at making it so.

As a parent, my husband and I were able to celebrate Christmas in our own home last year. We did not travel anywhere, so our two boys woke up to the magic of Christmas morning, and I will never forget the joy on their faces, the warmth of our home, and the love that filled the day. It is a “forever thought” as my oldest calls special memories.

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By Dorothy Ewels

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https://www.dorothyewels.co.za/book/a-cowboy-for-christmas/ 18

Can the magic of Christmas overcome all?

Christmas is Sarah Walker’s favourite holiday, and a white Christmas has been on her bucket list for years. When her world comes crashing down around her just months before the holidays, she figures what better time than the present. Heading for her brother’s ranch in Colorado to lick her wounds and mend her broken heart, romance was the last thing she was looking for.

Jesse Colter has a soft spot for the ladies. He loves them in all shapes and sizes. The one thing his time in the Marines taught him, though, was never to leave his heart vulnerable.

There’s no telling when a loved one can be taken away. That philosophy is tested to its limits when Sarah crashes into his life with the force of a falling meteor.

Will Sarah’s heartbreak and Jesse’s fear of loss prevent them from finding the love they both deserve? Or will the magic of the holiday season bring about a Christmas miracle?

Why were you inspired to write a Christmas story?

Christmas is my favorite time of the year.

Is the Christmas depicted in the story one you would love?

Yes, absolutely. I’ve always wanted to experience a white Christmas. Here in the Southern hemisphere, it’s summertime over the holidays.

How would your main character describe the Christmas season?

Magical. A time to be shared with loved ones.

It's Christmas Eve, everything is prepped and ready, you're snuggling down with a book, which book do you choose?

Oh gosh, which one to choose? Probably holiday themed, most likely something by Nora Roberts, Christine Feehan or Susan Stoker.

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Are you an early or last-minute shopper?

Would the characters in your book have those same tendencies?

I used to be an early shopper, but with life so crazy these days, a late shopper. No, I think my FMC is the “buy throughout the year and be ready by end October” kind of girl.

If you could relive any holiday moment, what would it be?

My last Christmas with my dad, because I didn’t know it would be our last.

Do you have a favorite winter beverage?

I am 100% a hot chocolate and marshmallows woman.

If you could spend the holidays with any celebrity or fictional character, who would it be?

Gideon Cross, from Sylvia Day’s Crossfire series.

International bestselling author Dorothy Ewels lives in the city of her birth, Cape Town, South Africa, with her husband, son, two crazy rescue dogs and a cat with plenty of cattitude. A lifelong love affair with reading got her writing at a young age, but it wasn't until she was retrenched in 2017 that she finally found the courage to write her first book, leading to its publication in 2018. She’s addicted to coffee, books and finding humor in life, not to mention happy endings against all odds. As well as being a proud and active member of the Romance Writer’s Organization of South Africa (ROSA), Dorothy is also thrilled to be a contributing author in Samantha A. Cole’s Suspenseful Seduction World, Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward’s Cocky Hero Club and Susan Stoker's Special Forces.

https://www.dorothyewels.co.za/ 20

D.C Gomez

Tales of

Christmas Villains

The Tales Short Story Collection Book 2 6 https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0CNSR75DY Ruined holiday plans and stolen gifts are only the beginning in this collection of villains gone wild for the holidays!

Tales of Christmas Villains brings together the most mischievous batch of scrooges, thieves, and humbugs out to wreak havoc on the Christmas cheer.

Featuring a chilling ice fairy who feeds on her victims' souls, chaotic criminals disguised as grinches, and the infamous Jack Frost meeting his match in a plucky mermaid, these wicked adventures will have you howling with dark delight.

If you think you've got enough spirit to take on these troublemakers, think again. The naughty list just got longer and more sinister! So watch out this season and prepare for some seriously spirited scroogery - Tales of Christmas Villains is coming to town!

Is the Christmas depicted in the story one you would love?

Kamikaze Grinches is an urban fantasy story that takes place in my hometown. Visualizing these characters running around Texarkana chasing supernatural beings would seriously be amazing. I would absolutely love to see that side of the world, if it was real.

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Meet D.C. Gomez D. C. Gomez is an award winning USA Today Bestselling Author, podcaster, motivational speaker, and coach. Born in the Dominican Republic, she grew up in Salem, Massachusetts. D. C. studied film and television at New York University. After college she joined the US Army, and proudly served for four years.

D. C. has a Master’s Degree in Science Administration from the Central Michigan University, as well as a Master in Adult Education from Texas A&M- Texarkana University.

She is a certified John Maxwell Team speaker and coach, and a certified meditation instructor from the Chopra Center.

Why were you inspired to write a Christmas story?

I wasn’t planning to write a Christmas story this year. If anything, my goal was to take it easy and not publish anything this season. But when my co-publisher suggested we do a short story collection for Christmas focusing on Villains, I couldn’t resist. I’m a huge fan of Die Hard as a favorite Christmas movie. With that in mind, I let my imagination run wild. What if this Christmas, the crew of Reapers were busy

One of D. C. passions is helping those around her overcome their self-limiting beliefs. She writes both non-fiction as well as fiction books, ranging from Urban Fantasy to Children’s Books.

To learn more about her books and her passion, you can find her at

www.dcgomez-author.com 22

trying to stop a heist instead of your normal Christmas adventure?

This is what Kamikaze Grinches is all about. Trying to outwit a group of criminals that carries out their crimes wearing Grinch suits.

How would your main character describe the Christmas season?

This short story features a large cast of characters. One of my favorites is Constantine, a 5000-year-old talking cat. For him, Christmas has a very different meaning since he was alive when Jesus walked the earth.

For him, there is no such thing as mythology or even theology, it is all real. Constantine embraces every day with pure delight and takes people as they are. Christmas is just another season of celebration.

It's Christmas Eve, everything is prepped and ready, you're snuggling down with a book, which book do you choose?

This year it would be a toss-up between Spirit of the Wood and The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England. Love the writing style of both Ms. Britain and Mr. Sanderson. I’m an avid reader, so getting lost in a book is still magical to me. Fortunately, I have plenty of books on my list to read.

Are you an early or last-minute shopper? Would the characters in your book have those same tendencies?

For birthdays and special occasions, I’m usually early. Christmas is a totally different story. I get overwhelmed with trying to find the perfect gift with lots of meaning for my family. So I struggle for ever and then rush to find something. Super stressful. My characters, on the other hand, love giving, so this is easy for them.

If you could relive any holiday moment, what would it be?

Some of my favorite memories were spending the holidays with my parents and brothers all together. We are all spread across the country now, so getting together requires a lot of coordination. When this happens is a treat, and I make sure to enjoy it.

Do you have a favorite winter beverage?

Apple Cider is my beverage of choice for the winter. Absolutely love it since it reminds me of being up North in New England.

If you could spend the holidays with any celebrity or fictional character, who would it be?

I would love to spend Christmas with Mary Poppins. How much fun would it be to have the nearly perfect Ms. Poppins around and go on trips around the park with her? Sign me up for that.

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Buy Allow Me to Ruin Your Christmas to put the “x” in X-mas today!

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https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BLFT2LYV He just discovered why his dad died. Now ‘tis the season for a rampage of revenge…

Beckett needs his eyes bleached. Catching his mom and his favorite podcaster doing things that will get them on Santa’s naked and naughty list is enough to turn his stomach. And after he agrees to officially meet the new boyfriend, his slightly nauseous Yuletide cheer devolves into rage when he learns the guy was involved in his father’s death.

Driven by the need for vengeance, the incensed son sets out to stuff the home-wrecking grinch’s stocking with burning coal—by going after the loser’s wife and daughter. But as Beckett's gore-trimmed plan descends into chaos, another ghastly secret could send him into murderous overdrive.

Is he about to unwrap a no-holds-barred retribution spree?

Allow Me to Ruin Your Christmas is a perfectly gruesome revenge thriller. If you like characters pushed over the edge, dark acts, and family drama, then you’ll love Freddy Cruz’s bloodstained holiday treat.

24

Meet

The Greater Houston area has heard Freddy’s voice for more than seventeen thousand hours via weekday shows, community affairs shows and podcasts. And he has elevated world class brands by means of over fiftyeight thousand hours worth of production elements and traditional ads.

When he's not in the lab creating auditory satisfaction, you can find him nose deep in a book, snuggling with his dog Sparrow, or jogging on the trail (trying hard to not sound like a horror movie villain).

Freddy Cruz is the founder of Speke Podcasting, a boutique media company in the Greater Houston area.

As a podcast producer, he has assisted The Rose Breast Center of Excellence and The National Museum of Funeral History with the launches of their podcasts, Let's Talk About Your Breasts and The Final Curtain Never Closes, respectively. The former landed at #8 inside the Apple Podcasts Nonprofits chart while the latter landed at #29 in the same category.

Why were you inspired to write a Christmas story?

I wanted to write something completely different from the predictable holiday stories we’ve grown accustomed to seeing/reading. Something twisted, with flawlessly flawed characters.

Freddy’s work spans twenty-six years, three with the iconic KDWB/Minneapolis-Saint Paul and twenty-one with the legendary, two-time Marconi Award winning KRBE/ Houston. From copywriting and voiceover to audio production and big picture ideas, he’s the quadruple threat you want to help you elevate your brand.

How would your main character describe the Christmas season?

Undesirable.

https://linktr.ee/thefreddycruz 25

Freddy Cruz Is the Christmas depicted in the story one you would love?

Absolutely not.

It's Christmas Eve, everything is prepped and ready, you're snuggling down with a book, which book do you choose?

Chuck Palahniuk’s most recent novel Not Forever, But For Now. My daughters bought it for me for my birthday in September and I haven’t had non-work reading time lately. So this is high atop my to-be read list. Chuck’s THE BEST! Are you an early or last-minute shopper? Would the characters in your book have those same tendencies?

Last-minute. The two main characters would definitely be last-minute shoppers and the two secondary characters would be early shoppers.

If you could relive any holiday moment, what would it be?

The first Christmas gathering in our first home.

Do you have a favorite winter beverage?

Water. It’s a go-to all the time.

If you could spend the holidays with any celebrity or fictional character, who would it be?

Dinner with Chuck Palahniuk.

You can learn more about Freddy on his website at

www.thefreddycruz.com or follow him on Instagram (@thefreddycruz) or Twitter (@radiofreddycruz).

26

Christmas Pipes and Other Tales of Christmas Magic

https://books2read.com/ ChristmasPipes

Christmas and Magic intertwine throughout the holiday season to create joy, hope and love.

From elves solving disasters to angelic visitors, from opinionated talking toys to the temptation of the faerie folk, the stories in this collection bring more than a hint of magic to brighten winter evenings.

Includes "The Sleigh Crash of ’74”, “Angels We Have Heard”, “Toy Shop Nights”, “Rules”, and “Christmas Pipes” 27

 A mischievous elf and a naughty cat are feeling bored one Christmas night. How much mess can this cute pair make in just a few hours? With tumbling trees, bouncing baubles, popping balloons and a blizzard of flour, it's going to be a Messy Christmas!

Sylva Fae owns a wood where she and her husband run survival courses and woodland craft days.

She escapes to the woods at every possible opportunity to enjoy the peace and fresh air. She takes the girls off on adventures in their own enchanted woodland, hunting for fairies and stomping in muddy puddles.

You can connect with Sylva through Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ SylvaFae https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09KNJKY56

8 28

Why were you inspired to write a Christmas story?

It's Christmas Eve, everything is prepped and ready, you're snuggling down with a book, which book do you choose?

To make children giggle. What better way to bring in the Christmas spirit, than with a laugh?

I’m normally a psychological thriller reader, but on Christmas Eve, maybe something a little more magical…perhaps Val Tobin’s The Valiant Chronicles. This is the boxset because once you read the first one, you will NEED to read the rest.

Is the Christmas depicted in the story one you would love?

A messy Christmas? This is my whole life story! With three children, every day is a mess, but Christmas especially because we’re all home together. I don’t mind the mess so much when everyone is happy.

Are you an early or last-minute shopper?

Would the characters in your book have those same tendencies?

Last minute! I endeavour to be organized but it never happens. I guess my character would be even worse than me.

If you could relive any holiday moment, what would it be?

How would your main character describe the Christmas season?

Oooh! Christmas is a time for mischief and mayhem – let the fun begin!

Any of the moments from when my children were little and they still believed in the magic.

Do you have a favorite winter beverage?

Baileys is favourite tipple, but you can’t beat a luxury hot chocolate with whipped cream to warm you up after a wintery walk.

If you could spend the holidays with any celebrity or fictional character, who would it be?

I can’t think of anyone, for me Christmas is just about family. I’d rather have my family around me than any celebrity, no matter how famous.

29

From USA Today Bestselling Author, P.D. Workman!

Will the Grinch steal Christmas?

Somebody is stealing Christmas gifts from the Bald Eagle Falls children. At the rate that presents are disappearing, there soon won’t be a gift left in Whoville. Err, Bald Eagle Falls.

Gluten-free baker Erin Price and her friends are on the case to try to unmask the Grinch and bring him to justice, and toys to the children. But time is not on their side. Soon it will be Christmas Eve—will the winner be the Grinch or Santa?

Auntie Clem's Bakery #12 Ms. Workman delivers another great mystery with nice plot twists and charming characters. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to future installments.

Like baking mysteries? Cats, dogs, and other pets? Award-winning and USA Today Bestselling Author P.D. Workman brings readers back to small town Bald Eagle Falls for another culinary cozy mystery to be solved by gluten-free baker Erin Price and her friends.

https://pdworkman.com/santa-shortbread/ 30

P.D. Workman is a USA Today Bestselling author, winner of several awards from Library Services for Youth in Custody and the InD’tale Magazine’s Crowned Heart award. With over 100 published books, Workman is one of Canada’s most prolific authors. She writes mystery/suspense/ thriller and young adult novels.

Workman has been praised for her realistic details, deep characterization, and sensitive handling of the serious social issues that appear in all of her stories, from light cozy mysteries through to darker, grittier young adult and mystery/suspense books.

9 Why were you inspired to write a Christmas story?

I love having something new to offer readers at Christmas. Erin Price loves making cookies. It was a perfect match.

Is the Christmas depicted in the story one you would love?

There are several Christmas observances described in Santa Shortbread, including a candlelight celebration, a big turkey dinner among friends, and a private moment between Erin and her sweetheart. I might need to make a few adjustments for myself, but on the whole, I would enjoy it.

How would your main character describe the Christmas season?

Erin Price is an atheist and doesn't really like Christmas. She's not a Grinch or a Scrooge, though. She's happy to help others have a nice Christmas and to spend time with her friends and community.

It's Christmas Eve, everything is prepped and ready, you're snuggling down with a book, which book do you choose?

Dickens' A Christmas Carol, and always the reading of Luke 2 from the Bible.

Do you have a favorite winter beverage?

Dark hot chocolate. Preferably with vegan and corn-free peppermint marshmallows floating on top.

https://pdworkman.com/ 31

Are you an early or last-minute shopper? Would the characters in your book have those same tendencies?

I am both. October through early December is a difficult time for me, so I either get a bunch of preparation done in September (or earlier) or not until the middle of December through to Christmas Eve. There have even been years when we've had to celebrate Christmas after December 25.

If you could relive any holiday moment, what would it be?

I always loved emptying stockings Christmas morning, having chocolate and a mandarin orange, and reading whatever new book was rolled up in my stocking.

If you could spend the holidays with any celebrity or fictional character, who would it be?

That's a tough one. Maybe Buddy from Elf. But he's pretty intense and would probably tire me out within an hour.

Recipe from https:// www.bbcgoodfood.com/ Method STEP 1

Heat the oven 170C/150C fan/gas 3. Put the flour, butter and sugar into a mixing bowl.

Use your hands to combine the ingredients until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs, then squeeze until it comes together as a dough.

STEP 2

On a lightly floured surface, use a rolling pin to roll out the dough to ½ cm thick. Cut the dough into fingers and place on a lined baking tray. Use a fork to create imprints, then sprinkle with the remaining caster sugar.

Ingredients

STEP 3

150g plain flour, plus extra for dusting 100g butter, chilled and cubed

50g caster sugar, plus 1 tbsp for sprinkling 32

Chill the dough in the fridge for 20 mins, then bake for 15-20 mins until golden brown. Remove the shortbread fingers from the oven and leave to cool on the tray for 10 mins.

Gluten Free Shortbread

Recipe from https://glutenfreebaking.com/ Ingredients

Gluten-Free Flour. Look for a blend that contains xanthan or guar gum. (If your blend doesn’t, whisk ¼ teaspoon into the gluten-free flour before using.)

Butter

Granulated Sugar. Shortbread’s delicate sweetness comes from granulated sugar. Don’t use maple syrup or honey in this recipe or the cookies will spread.

Vanilla Extract. A teaspoon of vanilla extract adds flavor.

Salt. Use fine (table) salt. It blends easily and evenly into the dough. If you only have flaky Kosher salt in the house, increase the salt to 1 ½ teaspoons.

Gluten-free shortbread is a little tricky to make. Since it lacks liquid, sometimes the dough can be crumbly. Here’s how to make the perfect gluten-free shortbread dough every time.

Method 1. Start with Softened Butter.

The most important step in this recipe is using softened butter. Aim for it to be about 65 to 68℉. You want the butter to feel cool to the touch. If you poke it, look for the butter to give a little resistance but not crack.

If the butter is too cold, the shortbread dough won’t come together. If the butter is too warm, the cookies will spread during baking and turn out greasy.

2. Mix the Sugar Until Creamy, Not Fluffy.

The texture of shortbread cookies is one of the things that sets them apart from other butterbased cookies. It’s dense and almost sandy. To achieve this lovely texture, blend the butter with the sugar until it’s thick, not fluffy. If the butter-sugar mixture gets fluffy, like it does for gluten-free pound cake, it traps air. That’s what makes it fluffy. That air causes the cookies to puff and rise, which we don’t want.

Simply mix the room-temperature butter with the sugar and salt until its thick and creamy. This only takes about a minute. It’s a good idea to stop the mixer once and scrape the sides of the bowl. There’s usually a thick layer of butter clinging to the bowl. Mix this in so there aren’t streaks of butter in the finished cookies.

3. Make the Dough.

Since these cookies contain no eggs or liquid ingredients, there’s no moisture to coax the ingredients quickly into a dough. Once the dry ingredients are added to the butter and sugar, it takes a minute or so for a dough to form.

Gluten-free shortbread dough mixed in a stand mixer comes together differently than if mixed with a handheld mixer.

4. Shape the Dough.

From baking the cookies right in a pan to using your favorite cookie cutter, you’ve got options when it comes to shaping these cookies.

When I started planning my dream wedding at a Christmas tree farm, I never thought that, on my wedding day, I would literally bolt from my wedding.

I run through the Christmas tree farm until I find my favorite spot, which is where Emmett Monroe finds me, still in my wedding dress. The grumpy mountain man offers me a much-needed respite from the chaos, inviting me into his cabin to "hide out" until all the wedding guests leave. But I never think

https://www.leacoll.com/runaway-love

that we will get stuck together for days in the one-bed cabin during a major snowstorm, completely cut off from the outside world.

We go sledding and build snowmen, and he even takes me to cut down a Christmas tree for his cabin—something I've never done in my entire life. It's magical, like time is suspended.

I fall hard and fast for him, but when the snow stops and the roads have been cleared, we have no choice but to return to reality. I need to deal with the fallout from my failed wedding, and if I want the head wedding planner position my boss offers me, I have to convince Emmett and his family to allow more holiday weddings to be held on his farm.

Emmett is adamantly against it, and our relationship only complicates things. If I don't push this, I might lose my job, but if I do, I might lose the only man I've ever truly loved.

Will I finally get my Christmas wish and get everything I've ever wanted? Or will this go down as one of the worst holiday seasons on record?

34

Runaway Love The Monroe Brothers Book 1 •

Excerpt +

10

“I don’t have time for this.”

“It was your suggestion.” Irritation burned in my gut.

My fiancé, James, preferred a flashy wedding venue that flaunted his wealth and status, but I really wanted to get married on a Christmas tree farm. Unfortunately, the one roadblock to that happening was a grumpy mountain of a man.

“Let’s go, then.” Emmett turned and stalked toward the exit of the barn, and I followed at a more leisurely pace. I’d worn knee-high boots, but they were designer and not meant for walking through dirt. With the mood he was in, I was more than a little worried he’d lead me through wetlands.

When he flashed an irritated look over his shoulder, I smiled serenely, hoping to disrupt his dark mood with positivity.

We walked for a few minutes in the direction of one of the many fields sporting trees in various stages of growth. I breathed in the crisp fall air, imagining what it would be like to work here, where your office was fields and not four walls. Maybe that was why Emmett wasn’t keen on me holding my wedding here. “Why are you doing this?” © 2021 by LEA COLL

Meet the Author Lea Coll is a USA Today bestselling author who writes sweet and sexy happily ever afters. She worked as a trial attorney for over ten years. Now she stays home with her three children, plotting stories while fetching snacks and running them back and forth to activities. She enjoys the freedom of writing romance after years of legal writing.

She grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania and currently resides in Maryland with her family.

https://www.leacoll.com/ https://www.facebook.com/ LeaCollAuthor/ https://www.instagram.com/ leacollauthor https://www.bookbub.com/ profile/lea-coll

Emmett stopped abruptly and turned to face me. “You were hell-bent on having a wedding here. You got what you wanted. I don’t think we need to rehash the whys and how we got here.”

“Gia was hell-bent on holding the wedding here. Not me.” Although that statement wasn’t exactly the truth.

“So, you don’t want to get married here?” Emmett asked gruffly, his arms spread wide. “In between the rows of Christmas trees with twinkling lights strung between the poles.”

Everything inside me softened. “I’d love to. That’s not what I meant.”

Something passed between us then. It was full of hope and anticipation, and it caused my heart to flutter. I am engaged to someone else.

“Let’s get this over with.” Emmett stalked into a row of trees, and I followed.

“I wanted to know why you’d agree to host my wedding if you don’t want me here?”

He glanced over his shoulder at me. “I never said I didn’t want you here.”

I touched his elbow with the intention of stopping his forward momentum because we’d reached a small clearing between the rows. “Thank you for agreeing to this. I know this is your home, and it wasn’t an easy decision for you.”

His jaw tightened. “You have no idea.”

I wanted to ask if he’d been engaged or married before, but it wouldn’t have been appropriate. It was just my intuition working in overdrive. I was a romantic at heart. I wanted to assign feelings to a man who probably didn’t experience any range of emotions other than irritation.

His gaze dropped to where my hand held his arm. I felt the warmth of his body through the flannel shirt and the ripple of his muscles as he flexed.

I wanted to step into his body and feel the heat all over.

I am engaged to James.

I let go of his arm and stepped back. I sucked in a breath of fresh air to clear the crazy thoughts in my head.

“Are you sure you’re ready to get married?” Emmett asked.

“We love each other.”

He tilted his head to the side. “Is that the only criteria?”

36

I frowned, trying to think of the reasons I’d agreed to his proposal. He was solid, and he came from a good family. He worked at his father’s law firm, and he came from money. He represented safety and security. But more than that, he seemed to adore me. I hoped it was me he was interested in and not the idea of me, or the fact that I come from a good family, went to the right schools, and had a trust fund.

“Are you going to quit your job after you get married and pop out some kids?”

A little taken aback by the venom in his tone, I said, “I like my job. I don’t have to work, but I enjoy making others happy.”

Emmett nodded, seemingly respecting my answer.

“I’ve never had to struggle with things like money. I always had my trust fund to fall back on. But my parents were divorced many times. There was a lot of upheaval in my life. Nothing felt safe or secure at home. I’m not telling you this so that you’ll feel sorry for me. Just because someone’s life looks good on the outside, doesn’t mean that it is.”

Emmett sighed. “You’re right. I’m sorry for judging you without knowing anything about you or your life.”

“I love your farm, and I’m so grateful you’re willing to share it with me. I know it’s a hardship for you and your family to hold events here.”

He held up his hand. “This is just a onetime thing.”

“I know what the contract says. But you know Gia’s hoping this is just the beginning.”

“This wedding will be a disruption, and I’m not looking forward to it.”

I watched him closely, the way his eyes were guarded, his muscles bunched tight. “You don’t like change.”

He looked from the trees to me. “That’s probably it. I feel unsettled.”

“We’ll make this as easy as possible for you. I have a team of people helping me.”

“I hope you’re right, and this is nothing more than a small interruption.”

I didn’t push any further because I didn’t think Emmett would appreciate it. I needed to prove to him that the wedding wouldn’t interrupt his business too much. Looking around, I asked, “Is this one of the options for the ceremony?”

The clearing was in the middle of several fields. I couldn’t see the main barn or farmhouse from where we stood.

“None of these trees will be cut this year, so it’s the perfect spot for the ceremony. It’s private and closed off from the rest of the farm.”

37

“I like that.” I wandered the space, noting how many chairs would fit and the best spot for an arbor. “I would think the arbor would go here, the guests here. Would I emerge from the row of trees?” I asked more to myself than him.

“That’s a little too much like A Field of Dreams, don’t you think?” Emmett quipped.

“Wow. I didn’t know you made jokes.” I didn’t wait for his response. “But you’re right, that would be odd. We could move it here, and then I’d enter from this small pathway. We can use a runner for the aisle and rustic chairs for the guests. Maybe purple flowers.” I hadn’t decided on any colors or other details, but now that I was here, surrounded by greenery, I loved the mix of purple, white, and green.

Emmett stood in front of the larger trees. “You could put the arbor here.”

I could see the wedding pictures now, me in a white dress in front of the evergreens. It would be gorgeous. I didn’t want to think too hard about why I couldn’t picture James next to me. “I wonder if Harrison could do something different for the arbor.”

“I can make you one.”

“That’s not necessary. Gia commissions Harrison for those.” I didn’t want to intrude on Emmett’s life any more than necessary.

“I have an idea for something I’ve been thinking about for a while.”

I tipped my head to the side. “You’ve been thinking about creating a wedding arbor?”

“It came to me that first time you met with us.” He pulled out his phone, scrolled through some pictures, and showed me a photograph of an image he’d sketched.

The branches were intertwined with evergreens wrapped around them. I wondered if he’d drawn it with me in mind. “This is gorgeous. It’s different than what we’ve done before.”

“I think this matches the vision you’re going for.”

It was perfect, and I couldn’t believe he’d read my mind so easily. “Are you sure you don’t mind making this? This is supposed to be a painless process for you.”

“Nothing about this is painless.” Before I could respond to his comment, he continued. “We have another barn that we built for family picnics and events. That might be your best bet for the reception. It’s a short walk from here.”

“I’d love to see it.” My heart rate picked up. I couldn’t remember him showing us a second barn on our original tour, and I was excited to see it.

We walked in silence, our boots scuffing the debris on the ground. I could imagine what it would be like to live here. I’d take walks between the rows of trees in the early morning or 38

evening.

There were poles with lights strung between them, and I wondered if they were lit yearround or if they were only used when the farm was in season.

This barn was a natural wood plank. There was a large, covered porch on the side, which I assumed they used for outdoor events.

“We could move the picnic tables out. I’m sure you have tables you’d prefer to use. Unless your wedding is a barbecue.”

“Definitely not.” I winced, unable to imagine James’s family attending a wedding at a farm.

But this was what I wanted, not what Jason’s family preferred.

He opened the door to the inside and waited for me to precede him. He flipped on the lights, and I was pleased the interior was spacious and clean. Tables lined the back wall, and chairs were stacked next to them.

I wandered around the space already imagining the tables, a dance floor, and endless flowers and greenery. Maybe white centerpieces with some kind of ornaments.

“Are you imagining what it would look like in your head?” Emmett asked, and I was surprised he was interested.

I gesture with my hands. “I was thinking centerpieces, maybe a configuration of white and silver ornaments, various sized candles or one tall one in the middle, purple and white flowers, and tons of greenery.” I breathed in deeply, smelling the cedar. “So much that you can smell the needles. It will smell like Christmas.” I looked up. “Maybe twinkling lights on the ceiling. It’s funny because I couldn’t picture it until I was standing here in this space.”

“We don’t usually let anyone outside of family inside the barn.”

“Thank you for inviting me into your space.” I was genuinely surprised he’d done so. He was so guarded and protective when it came to his family.

He nodded toward the room. “Do you think it will work for you?”

“It’s perfect. I’m imagining a winter wonderland. All tasteful, of course.” It would be simple yet elegant. For the first time, my chest filled with hope that maybe my marriage would be different than my parents’. That I’d be with James forever. But I had this lingering feeling that I was forgetting something important.

As a wedding planner, I could easily see the empty room as it would be decorated on the day of the wedding. It was more difficult to imagine me walking down the aisle to James.

Every time I thought about it, there was nothing waiting for me at the end. Now, all I could see was the beautiful arbor that Emmett drew. 39

“I have one more space I’d like to show you. Maybe you could use it for pictures, or for a private moment with your fiancé.”

“I’d love to see it,” I said, wondering why his comment about a private moment with my fiancé rubbed me the wrong way. “Do you have a lot of family events here?”

“Picnics and family meals. There’s a kitchen, and it’s fully heated and air-conditioned.”

I shook my head. “Those are the questions I should have been asking, not getting lost in imagining the décor.”

“It must be hard to be the wedding planner and the bride.”

I chuckled. “Well, it’s the first time I’ve attempted it. My parents haven’t set the best example. Both have been married numerous times, so taking this step is huge for me.”

“What makes you so sure he’s the one?” Emmett asked, his gaze steady on mine as we walked down the dirt path into the woods.

I thought about it for a few seconds before answering. Our relationship had been a whirlwind. After the first few days, he’d said he knew I was the one for him. “He loves me.”

He paused at the top of a hillside. “Do you love him?”

“Of course,” I said. Love was what I’d been searching for my entire life. To me, it meant safety and security. I wanted a home, a place to call my own. I’d never put my kids through what I experienced—the constant upheaval, the stress, and uncertainty. My brother, Finn, and I were close because we were all each other had when my parents were going through the endless cycles of dating, marrying, and then inevitably divorcing.

“Have you ever been in love?”

“I was. Once.” Then he nodded down the hill. “This is what I wanted to show you.”

Here, the trees were part of the forest and widely spaced. As we walked down the slope, there was a waterfall where flat rocks were placed into the side of the hill, water falling peacefully over them. “This is gorgeous.”

When the ground evened out slightly, there was a spot where someone had made chairs out of logs and placed them in a circle around a fire pit.

“Did you make all of this?” I asked him, genuinely impressed.

“Me and my brother, Knox. He does landscaping work. One of his clients wanted something similar, so he made it here first and then took pictures for them.”

“Do the visitors know about this spot?” I asked him.

Emmett scowled. “This is strictly for friends and family.”

© 2021 by LEA COLL

I closed my eyes and breathed in the scent of rotting leaves. “It’s so peaceful. If I lived here, I’d hang out here, breathing in the fresh air and listening to the water.” When I finally opened my eyes, I was surprised to find Emmett watching me.

He cleared his throat. “If you want to take pictures here, you can.”

I couldn’t see this space appealing to James. He was all about opulence and elegance. This was too rustic for him. But I loved it. “Maybe I could take some shots with me in my dress.”

I ran my fingers over the log benches, imagining little kids sitting here with their parents cooking s’mores.

“Wouldn’t you mess up your dress sitting on the logs?”

“Yeah, I guess.” I hadn’t even picked one out yet. But seeing this, I imagined something soft and flowing, with purple and white flowers woven into my hair. It wasn’t the wedding that James was imagining, but it was the one I wanted.

My heart ached as I looked at Emmett. Was I making the same mistake my parents had?

Was I jumping into this wedding with James too quickly? Was it the right decision? I took a deep breath, my chest constricting.

“Getting married is a big commitment. Just be sure it’s the right thing before you go through with it.”

“Are you speaking from experience?” I asked, my intuition telling me there was a story here.

His face screwed up. “I don’t believe in it.”

I laughed. “My brother didn’t either. Our parents got married and divorced so many times that he didn’t want to put anyone through that himself. When he met Aria, he tried to keep it casual, but it didn’t work. He fell hard for her. Now he’s all in. It makes me think I could have something like that, too.”

Finn and I were different, though. Watching my parents only made me want to find love for myself. I was worried I would look for it in the wrong places or think I had something when I didn’t. Was I doomed to be like my parents, always searching for that elusive someone and never finding it? Or were they too quick to walk away?

I just needed to commit to James, and everything would fall into place. I wouldn’t be like my parents.

Are you enjoying the story>? Follow the link for purchase options ... https://www.leacoll.com/runaway-love 41

11

Dating For December

Ava: My perpetually single status hardly serves as a shining advertisement for HeartSync, the dating agency I own. Nor is it likely to convince my incredibly successful movie star brother, Nate, to invest in my business. Which is precisely why I agree to fake-date Cillian "can'tcrack-a-smile" Callaghan for the month of December.

Sure, his role as a stoically single father and a notoriously grumpy divorce lawyer is far from ideal, but his silver eyes, sculptured shoulders and sharp tongue tick all the right boxes.

Even boxes that are supposed to remain, ahem, unticked...

One mistletoe kiss sparks a lust that could melt Lapland, and frosty fake dates blaze into something feverishly real…

Cillian: I'm the country's most successful divorce lawyer. It doesn't take a genius to figure out why I don't date. Add in the fact that I'm a full-time single dad, even if I had the inclination, I don't have the time. But when my cheating ex blows back into town, the only way I can convince her it's over for good is by fake-dating someone else…

Enter Ava Jackson, with her infectious laugh, long legs, and luscious lips.

Throughout December, her witty oneliners and effortless bond with my daughter thaw my every defense.

https://mybook.to/Dating_For_December

A fake dating Christmas Romance 42

She's everything I never knew I needed.

I'm an expert at breakups… but maybe it’s time to master a love that lasts…

Also by Lyndsey Gallagher Holly: Ground, please swallow me whole. One drunken night out and suddenly I'm the face (and boobs) of every viral holiday meme going.

If I want to keep my teaching job at the Catholic girls' school, or have my pearl-clutching family look me in the eye ever again, I need a time machine.

Or a Christmas miracle.

Foolproof plan: spend the rest of the holiday season licking my wounds. Somewhere peaceful.

Tranquil. Totally off the radar. Like my BFF's gorgeous holiday villa on Ireland's west coast.

Minor flaw: half of Hollywood is here to film a Hallmark Christmas movie.

Major flaw: Nate Jackson, Hollywood's hottest actor and my all-time celebrity crush is starring in it. And somehow, after the most surreal night of my life, I'm cast as an utterly unlikely extra.

My quiet Christmas just got crazy. But the craziest part of this entire scenario?

Turns out Nate Jackson is crazy about me.

Is it a Christmas miracle, or a fleeting festive crush?

He's the brightest star on the Christmas tree and I'm like the joke from the Christmas cracker.

We're a match made in Hallmark hell, so why does it feel like heaven?

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https://mybook.to/ The_Christmas_Crush This book is an open door, steamy, standalone romance, featuring some of the same characters from The Sexton Sisters Series, and introducing a set of utterly adorable brand new ones. The characters ocassionally use profanities because darn it just doesnt cut it sometimes!

This steamy celebrity romance with all the festive feels is perfect for fans of TESSA BAILEY, LUCY SCORE & MEGHAN QUINN.

A Country Christmas **New look, same great story! **

https://books2read.com/CountryChristmas

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Can a Christmas tragedy heal two hearts?

Dive into Tea Hunter's story of heartbreak and redemption as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery. After learning her long-time boyfriend has been cheating on her, Tea decides to head out west to the family cabin for the holidays, hoping to find peace as she re-evaluates her life. Tragedy strikes on a treacherous road during a blizzard, and Tea finds herself stranded and at the mercy of a friendly cowboy. But when she wakes up with no memory of who she is or who she can trust, she has to decide — stay or flee?

If you enjoyed the intriguing adventure in Nicholas Sparks' A Walk to Remember, you'll also love this story of courage and resilience. Buy now before the price changes!

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https://melaniepsmith.com/ Why were you inspired to write a Christmas story?

I have always loved Christmas. It’s a time for families, selfless giving, and celebrations. What better way to honor this magical time of year than a Christmas story. I had to add in a young child to make the festivities fun.

Is the Christmas depicted in the story one you would love?

My story takes place in a small town, on a ranch. It checks all the boxes; a winter wonderland, snowball fights, a Christmas Eve sleigh ride with family and new friends. I could definitely see myself enjoying the Christmas in my story.

How would your main character describe the Christmas season?

The heroine would describe it as a time for family. I think the Hero would describe it as a time to make his daughter’s dreams come true.

It's Christmas Eve, everything is prepped and ready, you're snuggling down with a book, which book do you choose?

Unfortunately, this is a dilemma I struggle with constantly. I love to read. During this time of year, I find myself reaching for a good romance or a festive holiday story. I can’t name a specific author; because, normally, I just start skimming my options until I find something that sounds entertaining and fun.

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Long before she delved into the world of fantasy and suspense, Melanie served nearly three decades in the Special Operations Division at her local sheriff’s office; working with SWAT, Search and Rescue, K9, the Motor Unit, Investigations, and the Child Abduction Response Team. She now uses that training and knowledge to create stories that are action-packed, gripping, and realistic. When Melanie’s not penning her next adventure, she can be found riding her Harley, exploring the wilderness, or capturing that next great photo.

Are you an early or last-minute shopper?

Would the characters in your book have those same tendencies?

I’m an early shopper. I like to relax on Christmas Eve and enjoy a good book, or a holiday movie; so, I tend to get everything purchased and wrapped ahead of time.

That way, I can sit in front of the fire, sip hot tea and relax. I think my characters would have those same tendencies.

If you could relive any holiday moment, what would it be?

When we were younger, our family used to head into the forest and find the perfect Christmas tree to chop down ourselves and take home. It was work traipsing through the thick snow to find that perfect tree. But afterwards, we had a fun day of sledding, hot chocolate, and laughter. We no longer engage in this tradition. But that is a Christmas tradition I’d like to relive.

Do you have a favorite winter beverage?

My go-to is a cinnamon spice tea. And, on occasion, a big mug of hot chocolate with plenty of whipped cream.

If you could spend the holidays with any celebrity or fictional character, who would it be?

I think I missed out on the star-struck gene.

I can’t think of a single celebrity I’d want to spend the holidays with. For me, it’s a time to visit with family and good friends. If I could spend it with anyone, I’d like to have time to visit with old friends — especially the ones that I’ve lost touch with over time.

A Christmas Surprise — Book 2 https://books2read.com/ChristmasSurprise2

A Cowboy Christmas — Book 3 46

https://books2read.com/cowboychristmas

I Don’t Understand

By Trico I don't understand what aesthetics have to do with attraction.

How genetics, cosmetics or crazy memetics constitute to adjudication or affirmation or discrimination on geolocation Why vaping leads to affixation with no personality, social-media, not real reality, false prosperity; an entire illusion causing generations to have observations, leading to unrealistic expectations, violent sensations and abusive relations.

But I suppose it comes down to denominations, materialism.

Replacing dates with commodities to cover-up regular atrocities, Swapping watching a movie till you both fall asleep with: heaps of tweets from creeps (who weep), hearing each-others keyboard go bleep, bleep, bleep!

Infatuated and immersed in a meaningless trap of vacuity, compelled to attend by the addiction to scroll till the internet swallows you up whole, and eventually, you lose your soul!

Romance is lost, covered in frost, at the cost of: picnics in the park, star gazing in the dark and playing charades and being a shark Or toasting marshmallows over a warm, cosy fire, sacrificing hoodie attire.

Swinging on a tire, in the middle of the woods, not wasting childhoods!

So can someone explain, because to me it's insane!

I don't understand - poem © 2023 by Patrick Clark is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0

Trico, 16, is an aspiring individual who enjoys magic, cyber security, bushcraft and almost anything creative. Trico is neurodiverse and thus perceives the world differently, his latest poem, "I don't understand!" offers an insight into their reality; their dream is to run a forest school in their own woodland.

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Bob Brill Interviewed by Melanie P. Smith

www.bobbrill.com Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I am a long-time broadcaster doing mainly radio news. I am also an award-winning radio journalist, sports journalist, author and film maker. I was born and raised early in my life in Pittsburgh, PA, but spent most of my time in Southern California, although my radio career took me all over the western half of the country. From L-A to Palm Springs,

El Paso, Tulsa, Bakersfield, Fresno, Corona, Raton, New Mexico, and Prescott, Arizona. Oh, don’t forget Clinton and Weatherford, Oklahoma. I’m also a screenwriter. I am a huge fan of my Pittsburgh teams the Steelers, the Pirates and the Penguins.

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Are you a multi-genre author?

Yes, I am. I’m in the middle of writing the 7th book in a western novel series (there will be 10) but I’ve also written crime novels, both futuristic and past, as well as a memoir using baseball as the theme and a book on how the Internet changed the world. Plus, a coffee table biography of a burlesque queen who married a major league baseball player in real life. I get an idea and if I find it interesting and could be a good story, I choose to write about it. Simple as that really.

When did you start writing? Did an event or person prompt you to take that leap?

I started writing jokes for family members when I was six or seven. I wrote stuff in junior high and later wrote a book of short stories I never published called “Road Tales by Night.” I seriously became an author in 2009 with the publication of my coffee table biography “Fan Letters to a Stripper; a Patti Waggin Tale.” My niece mentioned to me once “Uncle Bob you are a great writer.” I guess I took that to heart and began writing.

If you write in multiple genres, do you have a favorite, or is one type of book easier for you to write than others, and why?

Not really. I’ve written seven western novels and the only reason I’ve written those is I wanted to do a series of 10 about the same character.

Tell us your latest news: I’ve begun writing western novel #7, “Lancer; Hero of the West – The Virginia City Affair”

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Usually, I do have some political themes running through my books.

Westerns must have blood and guts and shoot’em ups, but it doesn’t mean you can’t have a thread of a political message. I find this happens more when I write a screenplay for a film than in the books I write. Sometimes it is just a few lines but it’s always there.

How / where do you find the plots you write about?

Driving down the street. Seriously, I get my best ideas while driving in my car on the way to and from work (it’s about an hour) or I hear someone talking about something they’ve experienced.

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Lancer; Hero of the West: The Los Angeles Affair

The Los Angeles Affair is the second in the Lancer; Hero of the West series of western novels by Bob Brill. Lancer is a mysterious good-guy gunslinger who hires out to those in need of his services. He solves crimes first by using his wits, the his fists; and then ,and only then, his gun.

https://bookgoodies.com/a/ B01B11YFF2

Mark Twain said “Write what you know.” Tell us about your writing process. Are you a plotter or a pantser? Do you plot, plan, and conduct hours of research; or, do you just sit down and write whatever comes to mind based on your personal history and knowledge?

I started out as a Pantser but have gotten more into being a plotter but I’m still really a pantser. Research is certainly a big part of what I write, especially westerns. You can easily find stuff about the times or the towns where the novels take place and that is where the research comes in plus the people of the day you want to bring to life.

What are your current projects?

Book 7 of the western series and next up is the sequel to “The Tattoo Murder,” called “The Belt Buckle Murder.”

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The Tattoo Murder “The Tattoo Murder” is the story of a U-S Army combat veteran who became a police officer back in his home town after he’d seen enough injustice in the world.

A different kind of cop, Det. John Potenza travels to the tune of his own drum, the waves which he loves to surf, the women who occupy his life and the music which drives him. All this is secondary to getting it right when it comes to justice. An ItalianAmerican who knows his way around the kitchen, the fit and trim with comic book hero good looks catches the eye of almost every woman he meets. If he were British he’d probably be in “her Majesty’s Secret Service” with a Double-O in his name.

Many of the characters in the book are derived from Bob Brill’s own past and acquaintances and friends and while the book is a work of fiction, the people are real – well sort of. https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09MG9KC8L

The Tattoo Murder by Bob Brill is a great crime fiction novel. It features a hero who is a bit of an old soul. He reminds me a bit of the other detectives who played in The Mentalist and from Endeavor. Detective John Potenza reminded me a lot of James Bond in how he always had a willing woman and his way with solving crimes. The man might be a player when it came to women, but he had his duty-his job. He takes his career seriously as his need for surfing. Detective Potenza is well-rounded for a character. I liked him. Also, what makes this novel so unique is the way the writer tells the reader where every chapter starts off at and when it happens. It holds a movie script effect. Bob Brill's writing is different but engaging. I was instantly swept into the plot and quirky characters. The mystery of the crime committed holds me over the edge until all the pieces add up and are exposed.

Intriguing crime fiction filled with unique and quirky characters. (Amazon Customer) 51

How much of the book is realistic?

The westerns are based in real towns and with real legendary people but the books are fiction. You have to remember what we know about legendary western folk, much of it they wrote themselves, so you have to take it with a grain of salt and then some, but you can play off that and I do. As for the other books, I’ve written several real true stories. The Stripper book along with my memoir about my youth certainly and “No Barrier” deals with the changes brought on by the Internet.

Pick one of your characters and share some of their backstory that didn’t make it into the novel.

Can’t do that, because if I create a character, I always make sure they make it into the final cut.

What books have influenced your life the most?

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Yes, buy more books!

It’s a never-ending challenge to get readers to buy a book.

Many on-line readers will wait for you to put out the free books and will NEVER purchase one. We do this because we love it, but we also do it because it really is work and we deserve, as authors, to be paid for our contributions.

I don’t know that really any have. I’ve always liked Machiavelli’s “The Prince.” The logic of the man, despite his evil intentions, always fascinated me. I’ve been more influenced by movies and film than by books. I did read a lot of Civil War books in junior high because I consider myself an historian and loved the reading.

Do you have a mentor that helped or encouraged you to follow your dream of writing?

The late Jimmy Christina influenced me a lot and encouraged me. My friend Bobbi Jean Bell has always loved what I’ve written and encouraged me to write more. In screenplay writing, my friend and script coach, Joe Cala, certainly is my biggest mentor. I really can’t say there were others except the regular folks who encourage you and are amazed you can write. For a lot of folks they could do it but they can’t sit down and do it.

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Do you have any advice for other writers?

Just write. Nothing goes on the page if you don’t put it there.

Can you share a sample of your current work with us?

Sure. (how much do you want?) This is an excerpt from the latest book “Lancer; Hero of the West – The Virginia City Affair.”

The sheriff put the rifle back in the cabinet, much to Lancer’s relief, and sat down behind his desk. In the desk drawer was a bullet casing. He pulled it out and handed it to Lancer.

“This is all I got, and it don’t make no sense,” Sanders stated. “Never seen one like that before.”

Lancer examined the item and looked closely.

“That’s because it’s not from around here,” Lancer answered. “It’s European. It’s from a German Made Mauser. 1871 I’d say. Eleven Millimeter. Really popular with the German army. A lot of countries use it around the globe, but rarely here.”

“Well, I’ll be damned, you know your stuff, Lancer.”

“Whoever fired this shot is an expert in firearms. He wouldn’t have used this rifle if he’d only been in these parts. Any Europeans, Frenchmen, Brits, Germans been around lately?”

The sheriff thought for a moment, rubbing his chin and looking out the window.

“Can’t say as I have. Any new folks that is. I mean there are a couple of men from Europe who’ve been here awhile. Nobody I’d suspect.”

Lancer didn’t like the way the answer came about and held suspicion with the sheriff. He did not let on his thoughts.

“Likely whoever owned this, also owns some other non-American weapons. From my experience if a man used a particular and rare weapon, he’d have more than one. This man knows his stuff.”

What would you like to have on your tombstone?

“He was creative and fair,”, but since I’ll be composted that ain’t happening.

Lancer left the sheriff’s office with a big clue. He also left unsure of Sheriff Little Art Sanders. What he saw he didn’t like, but now it was time to head to the big ranch and see Carter himself.

An hour later he was on the trail west.

— END Other than writing do you have any hobbies?

I sell baseball cards and while I no longer collect them, selling is a major hobby. I also play fantasy football. And I write a weekly column online called “Baseball in the 1960s.”

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If money was no issue would you prefer a cozy beach bungalow or a rustic cabin overlooking a mountain lake?

The beach. I hate cold weather and that cabin sounds like it might face a snowy winter.

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Is there one person past or present you would like to meet and why?

Orson Welles. Anyone who could create such panic with the “War of the Worlds” before he was 25 and then go on to make one of the greatest films of all time (“Citizen Kane”) is someone I’d like to sit down and chat with. One of the best scenes ever in film came when a financier approached Charles Foster Kane and said (paraphrased of course)…

“I happen to know Mr. Kane your newspaper lost a million dollars last year.”

Kane answered.

“Yes, sir it did. And I’ll probably lose a million dollars this year, and another million next year. And I’ll be dead broke in about 65 years.”

Can you share something personal with your readers? Do you have any holiday traditions? What kind of music do you enjoy? What kind of movies do you prefer?

Do you have a favorite author?

I am planning on living to 120 years old, unless the world destroys itself before then.

That’s pretty personal. Holiday traditions? Yes, I always make sure I go to Cost Plus World Market to stock up on holiday goods from around the world and send them for the holidays to my daughter and grandkids. I love the shopping although the prices are getting out of hand. When it comes to music I like it all. I really love rock and I really love story ballads from folks like Bobby Bare, Marty Robbins, Johnny Cash and Jimmy Dean but most of all I am a CCR and John Fogerty fan. I included a lot of Fogerty lyrics in my book “The Tattoo Murder.” When it comes to movies again I like pretty much everything except for musicals. A good baseball film is always worth watching. I don’t like animated films, and I’d rarely be caught watching a Disney film. You may find this strange but I don’t really have a favorite author since I rarely read many books. I like books on American Presidents but I just don’t have much time to read, I’d rather write them.

One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so, what is it? Do you have a social media platform where your fans can go to interact with you and follow your progress? www.bobbrillbooks.com www.baseballinthe1960s.com www.bobbrill.com I pretty much stick with Facebook and do some on X, but if you Google me I come up usually 17 of the top 20 responses. I am a newscaster at an all-news radio station in Los Angeles so I’m pretty much out there.

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The Promise

by Tom Benson http://www.tombensonauthor.com

We had some great entries for our 3rd Quarter challenge. If you didn’t get a chance to read them, you should take a minute to check them out. Congratulations to Tom Benson for getting the most reader votes on his submission. You can read Tom’s story as well as the other entries here… https://view.publitas.com/mpsmith-publishing/connections-emagazine-3rd-quarter-2023/page/52 1st Place — The Promise — Tom Benson 2nd Place — A Moment in Paradise — Charity Jacob 3rd Place — Red Lights — Sylva Fae

Everyone has heard the saying A Picture is Worth 1000 Words. Well, this is where we put that saying to the test. In each edition we post an image and ask authors to tell a story in approximately 1000 words. Each story is unique, compelling and interesting. It just goes to show, while the picture might be worth a thousand words — those words can be as diverse as the authors writing them.

Keep reading to discover new authors and their stories based on the picture provided. And be sure to visit our Facebook page to vote for your favorite. https://www.facebook.com/ConnectionsEMagazine

The Christmas Box

By Sylva Fae https://www.facebook.com/SylvaFae I am not looking forward to Christmas this year!

I can’t remember when we started to grow apart, maybe it was when Lucy went to university to study law, or perhaps when Kat got her swanky PR job in London. Liz and I were the quiet ones, and out of my three sisters, she’s the one I tolerate most, but only just. Spending the weekend with just Liz might be manageable, but all four of us together, with Mum and Gran, in gran’s little cottage…

We’ve only been here for an hour and already, Kat’s taken the limelight, bragging about celebs she’s met. Liz is doing a good job of ignoring her, her head in a book. Gran’s nodding, pretending to be impressed but I can tell she hasn’t a clue who Kat is waffling on about. Mum is doing 57

the ‘behave yourself’ glare but I’m too busy focusing on Lucy to care. It’s actually quite comical watching Lucy’s eye-rolling disdain – I can just imagine the snarky comments going through her mind, and the amount of restraint it’s taking to stay polite in front of Gran.

Mum gave us all the pep talk before we arrived at Gran’s, “be nice, please. I just want one last Christmas with us all together…” We’d all promised but there’s only so long before sibling rivalries and past arguments rose to the surface. For Mum’s sake, I’m trying not tell Kat to shut up and let someone else speak for a change.

Gran waited for Kat to take a breath and stood up, “I need you girls to do me a favour….”

“Oh course, Gran, what do you want?” Lucy piped up, using her annoying big sister voice.

“I need you to get my Christmas box out of the attic. It’s big though, it’ll need all four of you to carry it.”

Kat glanced at her fancy trouser suit, clearly not impressed by the prospect of clambering around in a dusty attic. “OK, Gran, but you go first, Cass, I’m not going up there if there are spiders.”

“Why me?” I snapped back but caught Mum’s eye, pleading with me to be nice. “OK then, follow me, let’s get Gran’s box.”

“What’s in it, Gran?” Liz asked.

“You’ll see when you get up there,” Gran giggled.

I peeped my head through the hatch and flicked the light switch. “No spiders, just a bit of dust – you’ll be OK, Kat.” I was secretly hoping a big fat spider would drop on her head, but the attic was reasonably clear, just two piles of boxes at the far side. I climbed in to give the others room to follow.

“Right, which one’s the Christmas box? You two look on that side, Kat, you help me over here,” Lucy demanded.

Liz and I shared a look, we were used to her bossiness and it was easier to just ignore her. We shuffled over to the far side and started to lift boxes down so we could see the labels, penned in Gran’s cursive scrawl.

SLAM! “What the hell was that?” Kat squealed.

“The hatch just fell down,” I said, stating the obvious. “No big deal.”

Liz crawled over to lift it up again. “It won’t budge. It’s stuck!”

“Don’t be silly,” Lucy said, pushing her out of the way and pulling on the ring to lift it. It was stuck fast. “Why didn’t you prop it up, Kat? You were the last up here.”

“Don’t blame me, I didn’t want to come up here in the first place. MUM! GRAN! We’re stuck!

HELP!” Kat shouted until it was obvious nobody was coming to get us out.

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“Mum was going to pop to the shop and I bet Gran’s not got her hearing aids turned on,” I reasoned. “Let’s find the box and when Mum gets back, I’m sure she’ll come to look for us.”

Kat grumbled, Lucy begrudgingly agreed that was the best plan, and Liz had already started shuffling boxes around.

“I’ve found it!” Liz said. We all crowded round to see what was in it. It wasn’t even that big, certainly not big enough to need four of us to carry it. Lucy opened the lid. We glanced at each other in confusion. We were expecting Christmassy stuff, but instead there was a broken ballerina figurine, held together with yellowing sticky tape.

“What the hell?” Kat moaned, picking it up.

“Wait, I remember this, it’s the ballerina Mum gave to Gran one Christmas,” Liz said. “I must have been around 10 years old. I was in the kitchen and Clover came bounding in and knocked it off the dresser – the head fell off. You were supposed to be watching the dog, Cass, and I didn’t want you to get in trouble, so I carefully put it back, balancing the head on top.”

“Seriously?” Kat laughed, “All these years and I thought you’d broken it, Liz. The head rolled off as you came out of the kitchen. I quickly kicked it under the table before Gran saw it.”

“And then Lucy sat at the table swinging her feet. She kicked it towards me. I thought Lucy had broken it so I stuck it together with sticky tape and put it back on the dresser,” I added. “I didn’t want her to get in trouble either.”

Lucy giggled, “That was a fun Christmas, wasn’t it? We had each other’s backs when we were little.”

“Yeah,” I added, “It was us against the world. Do you remember our Secret Sisters club?”

“Hey, there’s something else in the box,” Liz said and pulled out a piece of paper. We crowded round to read Gran’s spidery handwriting: ‘I hope this box has helped you find your Christmas cheer. The password to open the hatch is your old catchphrase.

Love Gran P.S. I never did like that ballerina, but don’t tell your mum. Our secret!’

We all linked our little fingers together and shouted in unison: “Sisters Forever!”

The hatch opened.

Sylva Fae is a married mum of three from Lancashire, England. She has spent twenty years teaching literacy to adults with learning difficulties and disabilities, and now works from home as a children’s writer and illustrator.

Sylva has published several children’s books and also writes a blog, Sylvanian Ramblings.

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Bella’s Balloon

By Sylva Fae

Mummy sighed and rubbed her back. She did that a lot. As her tummy had grown big and round, she'd become more tired and sometimes a little grumpy. In fact, the bigger it got, the less energy she had to play with Bella. Mummy's lap used to be her favourite snuggle spot where they would read together from Bella’s colourful story books. Now The Bump took up all the room and Bella couldn't cuddle into Mummy without being kicked by the baby in Mummy's tummy. At first it was fun to feel her little sister wriggle under her touch, but now Bella was missing having Mummy's full attention.

“Bella darling, you'll have to help me decorate this Christmas tree. The baby just won't settle,” Mummy said sinking down onto the sofa.

Bella sighed; it was always about the baby! Every other sentence seemed to start with, “When the baby comes...”

Decorating the tree used to be a task they did together. Mummy would string the tinsel around the branches and place the fairy on the top, while Bella hung shiny baubles and handmade trinkets around the lower branches. This year though, Mummy was reclined on the sofa, her hands stroking The Bump while she watched Bella. It just wasn't the same.

The tree looked a bit wonky when she'd finished, but Bella was proud of her work. The top branches were a bit bare where she couldn't quite reach, and Mummy would have to put the fairy on the top later, but the rest of it sparkled with colour and promise.

“Mummy, do you think Santa is going to bring me lots of presents this year?” Bella asked as she sat down under the laden tree.

“Of course, darling! Santa remembers all the good children, and you've been such a good girl this year.

I'm so proud of you.”

Bella smiled. For a moment it felt like it was before The Bump appeared. She gathered the bag of holly garlands to drape around the fireplace and opened a packet of balloons.

“But of course,” Mummy continued, “our best Christmas present will be arriving on Boxing Day.” 60

Bella looked confused for a moment. Mummy tapped The Bump and smiled. Bella’s faced dropped, she threw the bag of balloons down and jumped up. She had intended to storm out of the room but her pigtail caught in a branch pulling the tree over.

For a moment she thought the Christmas tree was going to topple over on top of her. She braced herself but the branch pinged back, showering Bella with decorations. Baubles rolled over the rug adding to the mess of scattered balloons, and a string of tinsel floated down onto Bella’s head.

Bella glanced at Mummy’s shocked face through the sparkly strands of tinsel. Tears welled in her blue eyes, she rubbed them with the back of her hand but they wouldn’t stop flowing. Mummy rolled off the sofa and gathered her into a hug.

“Whatever is the matter?” Mummy asked.

Between the sobs and sniffles, Bella replied, “I I don’t want a new baby.” Bella buried her wet face into Mummy’s snuggly jumper. “I want it to be just me and you, like before.”

“But why Bella?” Mummy asked. “You’ll love having a little sister to play with.”

Bella looked up at Mummy, tears streaming down her face and sobbed loudly. “I’m scared.”

Mummy wiped her tears away. “What are you scared of? Babies aren’t scary.”

“I’m scared that when the baby comes, you won’t love me any more. You’ll love the baby more than me.” Bella whispered.

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“Oh Bella!” Mummy sighed, snuggling her into a tighter hug. “I could never love you any less, I love you more and more each day.”

“But the baby...” Bella started, but Mummy shushed her.

“Let me show you,” Mummy said picking up a red balloon. She gave the end a stretch, then blew into it. She held the small red balloon up to Bella. It was the size of a grapefruit.

“When I met your Daddy, my heart was filled with love, just like the air in this balloon.” Mummy took a deep breath and blew into it again. The balloon expanded to the size of a melon. “Then I found out I was going to have a baby – you – and the love in my heart grew.” Mummy puffed a few breaths of air into the balloon, and it expanded to the size of a football. Then when you were born, my love grew even more.”

Bella stroked the big balloon. “But what if there’s no more room when the baby comes?”

“Ah,” said Mummy, “Your heart is not like an ordinary balloon, it’s magic!”

Bella’s eyes sparkled through the glistening tears as she listened.

“When the baby comes, it will be filled with even more love.” Mummy carefully blew into the balloon until it was the size of a basketball.

Bella smiled as Mummy tied a knot in the giant balloon. She picked up a pink balloon and blew it up as much as she could. Bella rested her cheek against Mummy’s tummy and whispered, “Hello little sister.

I’ve filled my balloon with lots of love just for you.”

Mummy suddenly gasped and grabbed her tummy. “Quick Bella! Run and get Daddy. I think your baby sister wants to meet you right now.”

“The baby’s coming now?” squealed Bella in excitement. She ran through the house yelling for Daddy, and found him in the kitchen making lunch. “Daddy, Daddy the baby’s coming. Come quickly!” she grabbed Daddy by the hand and dragged him to the living room.

Mummy was standing swaying next to the Christmas tree, her arms wrapped around The Bump. The lights twinkled through the silvery tinsel and Mummy glowed with happiness. Bella picked up her pink balloon filled with love. This was going to be a special Christmas and there was more than enough love for everyone.

Sylva Fae owns a wood where she and her husband run survival courses and woodland craft days. She escapes to the woods at every possible opportunity to enjoy the peace and fresh air. She takes the girls off on adventures in their own enchanted woodland, hunting for fairies and stomping in muddy puddles.

You can connect with Sylva through Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SylvaFae

The Moment Now She smiles and takes his hand

He cries hammering his fists

Dancing in the wind his breath taken

Against her memory he rages

She runs from him wanting him to come

Anger gives ways 'gainst sweet sorrow

Taunting whispering sweet caresses

He finds her in his heart

Promises of today, the moment now Tomorrow a distant gleam in her eye He catches her they tumble

By Joe DeRouen

Lying in the grass he notices she's gone

Joe is the author of the best-selling SMALL THINGS trilogy. He was born in Carthage, Illinois, and currently lives in Rogers, Arkansas with his wife Andee, their son Fletcher, and their cats Archer and Biscuit. Joe is a freelance writer, web designer, and substitute teacher. He collects all sorts of things, including Mego action figures, books, and Bicycle playing cards. When not teaching or writing, you can probably find Joe playing Pokemon Go on his phone.

63

Dante

By Melanie P. Smith https://melaniepsmith.com Arianna sat in front of the window watching the rain flow down the glass in buckets. The weatherman said this would be the worst storm in over a hundred years. She didn’t care about that, she just wanted it to stop. She was certain the other members of the Quad Squad were just as miserable as she was right now.

Her friends all had difficult home lives, just like she did. Her parents fought all the time, and she was sure they were headed for divorce and her brother was a bully — constantly stealing her allowance, if she didn’t hide it well enough. She swallowed hard and thought of Dante. Carley’s brother was so amazing. He never made any of them feel unwanted. He was the brother she wished she had. She choked back tears; she missed him so much. She missed his adventures and his protection. She missed his encouragement. The tragic accident that took his life impacted all of them, not just Carley and her parents.

She brushed away the tears that always came when she remembered Dante and realized it was no longer raining. Relieved, she grabbed her phone and sent a text to her friends. “Squad meeting in ten.”

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Freya responded first. “OMW, will bring snacks.”

“OMW, once I drop Boo next door,” Rose answered.

“I’m already here,” Carley finally answered.

Ari pulled on her boots and rushed out the door. Eager to escape the tension that still filled the air after her parents’ latest argument. Her coat was soaked, and her socks were damp by the time she reached the cabin but she didn’t care. It was worth it, and she couldn’t wait to plan their next adventure. She yanked open the old wooden door and darted inside.

The rest of the crew was already there. Her friends were lounging in the open living area on soft blankets. “You’re late.” They said in unison.

“I couldn’t dodge my nosey brother,” Ari dropped onto the blanket.

“What should we do?” Rose wondered.

“I don’t know, I just needed to get out of that house,” Ari admitted.

“We have to do something fun after all that rain,” Freya insisted. “I miss Dante, he’d know what to do.”

They all looked at Carley. “I think—” she swallowed hard. “Dante would go to the waterfall.

After all that rain, it’s going to be epic.”

“You’re right,” Ari agreed. “Let’s go.”

“But —” Rose bit her lip. “I have to be home before dark. I have to get Boo and put him to bed before my mom gets home from work.”

“We’ll make sure we get back,” Ari jumped to her feet. “Come on you guys, we have to go — for Dante.”

“For Dante,” Carley stood and brushed a tear from her face.

“We all miss him,” Freya whispered. “He would want us to continue to have fun and plan new adventures.”

“He would,” Carley agreed. “So, we will. I think, from now on, we should dedicate all of our adventures to my brother.”

“Right,” Rose agreed. “It will feel like he’s still here, supporting us.”

The girls closed up the cabin and rushed into the forest at the back of the property. The cabin belonged to Freya’s family. It was located at the back of their large estate. Her parents had no idea the girls used it as their clubhouse. But then, her parents had no idea what Freya and her friends did at all because they were never home. Freya was being raised by her nanny and the housekeeper.

Once they reached the back of the property, they slipped through the fence, slid down an embankment, and walked nearly a mile — laughing, joking and singing as they went.

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“Hurry, you guys,” Rose climbed from the ditch, jogged backwards several feet, pivoted, hopped onto the edge of the old railroad track, and waited for her friends to catch up.

Freya joined her, linked arms, and the two of them skipped down the center of the tracks. Ari and Carley shook their heads but followed.

Arianna wrapped an arm around Carley. “Why were you at the cabin?”

Carley shrugged. “My dad was halfway drunk and Mom was locked in her room doing whatever she does. I couldn’t stand it for one more minute, so I left. The cabin calms me when my house is too much to take.”

“It’s going to get better,” Ari insisted.

“It won’t, but it doesn’t matter” Carley rested her head on Ari’s shoulder.

They were so focused on their conversation they didn’t realize Freya and Rose had returned until the two friends grabbed their hands and pulled them forward. “Come on, we’re almost there.”

Rose grabbed their hands and the four girls began to dance in a circle as they headed toward the waterfall.

Freya started to sing and the rest of them joined in. They laughed, got the words wrong and danced all the way to the lake. Once they arrived, they rushed to the base of the falls, closed their eyes, raised their heads, and let the cold spray slide over their warm faces.

“What is that?” Ari pointed to something floating in the water.

“Is it a rock?” Rose bent to get a closer look. “It’s floating.”

“Don’t fall,” Carley grabbed onto Rose’s shirt.

Rose dropped to her knees and stretched her arm out. “Don’t let go.”

“It’s an egg,” Ari whispered.

“It’s huge,” Carley stood.

“We can’t leave it,” Freya insisted. “It won’t hatch in the cold water.”

They finally retrieved the egg and just stared at it. Finally, Rose unzipped her backpack, dumped out a wool blanket and wrapped the egg inside, then carefully set it back in her pack.

They laughed, talked and tried to guess what was inside the egg all the way back to the cabin.

Once they arrived, they spread out the blankets, set a flashlight in the center and searched for a place to keep the egg. Finally, Freya found a large box. They shoved the wool blanket inside and placed the egg on top.

Suddenly, the egg began to glow, a bright light filled the box. Rose covered her mouth in surprise.

“What’s happening?” Arianna stared in shock.

“I think it’s hatching,” Freya said in wonder. “Look, a tail.”

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“Maybe it’s a lizard,” Carley suggested.

“A lizard with wings?” Rose asked when the crack widened, and a translucent purple wing emerged.

“And a spiked head?” Arianna added.

“It’s a dragon!” Freya said in awe.

“Can we keep it?” Carley reached out a finger, then jumped back when the dragon spread his wings, flew from the box, and landed on her shoulder.

The girls laughed. “He likes you,” Arianna smiled.

The dragon jumped from one girl to the next. They laughed and played with him for nearly an hour.”

“He needs a name,” Freya insisted.

“Can we call him Dante?” Ari asked Carley.

“That’s perfect,” Rose agreed. “As long as Carley’s okay with it.”

“Dante loved dragons and we found him on a special adventure. I’m okay with it. I think he would like that, and I’ll feel like we are honoring my brother.”

“We’re going to have so much fun.”

And they did.

Melanie P. Smith — Long before she delved into the world of fantasy and suspense, Melanie served nearly three decades in the Special Operations Division at her local sheriff’s office; working with SWAT, Search and Rescue, K9, the Motor Unit, Investigations, and the Child Abduction Response Team. She now uses that training and knowledge to create stories that are action-packed, gripping, and realistic. When Melanie’s not penning her next adventure, she can be found riding her Harley, exploring the wilderness, or capturing that next great photo.

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THIN BLUE LINE SERIES

BOOK 4

Spend the holidays in Mount Haven, Montana. Reconnect with old friends and meet a few new ones.

She needs to escape…

Her grief, her stalker, her life.

He’s busy running a ranch.

He doesn’t need another city girl getting in the way.

COMING SOON JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

at

Conifer Creek 68

THIN BLUE LINE SERIES BOOK 1 — MOUNT HAVEN

BOOK 2 — MOONDANCE RIDGE

When Evil finds her, will the hunters become the prey?

She escaped – now he wants her back. Refusing could be deadly…

https://books2read.com/Mount-Haven

https://books2read.com/Moondance-Ridge

https://geni.us/MountHavenAudio

https://geni.us/MoondanceAudio

CRIME | MURDER | MYSTERY

BOOK 3 — SUBTERFUGE

melaniepsmith.com

When someone you love vanishes, how far would you go to get them back? https://books2read.com/Subterfuge https://geni.us/SubterfugeAudio

AVAILABLE IN AUDIOBOOK 69

Teacher Knows Best

By Tom Benson http://www.tombensonauthor.com With stealth, the four teenage girls stepped individually from the dimly-lit canal towpath onto the deck of the narrowboat. They all wore training shoes, confident that the occupant would be unaware of their late evening snooping.

A bright light shone from an oblong skylight towards the front. The girls gripped the brass handrail along the roof’s edge and slowly crept forward. The peculiar light pulsated in sequence through the colours of the rainbow, and at times was more intense. Although a man’s voice could be heard below, inside the barge, he was out of view, and his words were indistinct.

Anne, turned, raising her eyebrows. “Is anybody scared yet?” Like the others, her face was illuminated from below, creating an ethereal appearance, which would delight her. She was keen on the supernatural, and where another sixteen-year-old might be hesitant and anxious, Anne was exhilarated. She suspected the man in the barge of practising witchcraft.

Theresa whispered, “Is Mr Patrick chanting?” Like Anne, this was a girl comfortable around cemeteries and dilapidated houses. Invariably on a visit to such places, either she or Anne would pronounce an old or unoccupied building as haunted.

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“It sounds like he’s in conversation,” Val whispered. She was the most reserved of the group, and had an open mind regarding the occult and the supernatural. Unlike her friends, however, she firmly believed in life beyond Earth’s gravitational pull.

“Val’s right,” Theresa whispered. “The pauses and the cadence are varied, like he’s talking to someone.”

Anne half-turned and arched an eyebrow. “He’s more likely to be casting a spell.” The alternatecoloured lights dimmed momentarily. Anne slid her fingers around the edge of the skylight cover. She grinned, and without a sound, eased back two latches, and pulled.

The unhinged, lightweight acrylic cover lifted free in the breeze and was caught by Theresa and Val. Anne looked on, hunching her shoulders and stifling a laugh. The other two slowly shook their heads and carefully placed the skylight cover on a flat roof section.

From within, the voice of the girls’ Science teacher was clear although he was out of sight.

“All four are with me now, and one is already under my control.” It sounded like a chant.

A soft melodic voice responded, but the words were indistinct. Simultaneously, the multicoloured illumination in the cabin below altered rapidly.

Mr Patrick said, “Sharon was the easiest to reach telepathically.”

The quieter voice and the lights responded more rapidly to this information.

Val half-turned and whispered, “Sharon—” There was nobody at her right side. When she turned to her left, Anne and Theresa shrugged, and all three girls looked around in the darkness of the neighbouring countryside.

“She hasn’t fallen in, “Anne said. “We’d have heard a splash.”

Val said, “Maybe she’s released the mooring line as a joke, and we’re drifting.”

Theresa pointed towards the dimly-lit canal towpath several feet away. “We’re not secured to the bank, and we’re not drifting. The barge is moving under power, but there’s no vibration.”

The underside of Val’s arm was illuminated by the skylight opening as she pointed towards the back of the barge.

Sharon stood at the stern with a long wooden tiller under her right arm. She appeared as a silhouette, lit from behind by a few lights from the town. The town itself was disappearing rapidly in their wake.

Anne turned from the skylight, and like Theresa and Val, gripped the handrail and crept back along the narrow walkway towards the vessel’s rear.

When the three girls arrived at the stern, Sharon silently extended her left arm, indicating that her friends should go down through the hatch door and into the barge. They did, and the door lock clicked behind them. When they turned, Sharon had joined them, and inclined her head, suggesting that they continue.

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After filing through a narrow doorway, the girls arrived in a large, brightly lit cabin. The illumination didn’t come from lights on the ceiling or walls, but from a small glass pyramid on the floor. As the girls stared at the device, bright multi-coloured light beams shot forward like tentacles, briefly wrapping around each visitor before receding to their source.

Mr Patrick, was sitting in a large contoured seat, smiling. “Sit, girls, please.”

Along both sides, were seats like those found in an airliner, complete with headrests, and seatbelts.

Theresa said, “I’m not sitting … I am so out of here.” She turned to find Sharon blocking the way, slowly shaking her head from side to side as she raised a small syringe.

Mr Patrick said softly, “Theresa, you’ll be more comfortable if you accept your situation.”

“My situation?” She laughed. “I don’t have to accept—” Her hostile response ended abruptly when she felt a sting in her upper arm. She turned, but as she looked from Sharon’s face to the hypodermic needle, everything blurred, and went black.

Anne and Val caught Theresa as she slumped, and helped her into one of the seats.

Sharon nodded that the other two should sit, and raised the syringe.

A few seconds later all four girls were seated.

Theresa was unconscious, and oblivious to her surroundings.

Anne was wishing she’d stuck to investigating dead people.

Val was excited, if a little anxious.

Sharon, no longer holding the syringe, was in a trance, and knew no more about her situation than she had two hours earlier.

Mr Patrick touched the light-emitting prism with his foot, and it dimmed, throwing his features into various shades of purple, orange and green.

“Strap yourselves in girls.” He pressed a series of buttons on his armrest. “A whole new world awaits you, already populated by other humans who’ve been selected.”

Anne and Val were still exchanging a wide-eyed, silent look when they and everything around them faded to nothing.

“Val,” Anne whispered. “Can you hear me?”

“Yes, but I can’t see anything.”

Sharon spoke for the first time since arriving at the barge. “Everything is going to be all right.”

- The end -

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Dr. David D. Schein is an author, professor, consultant and

public speaker. He is a tenured Professor and the Cameron Endowed Chair of Management and Marketing at the University of St. Thomas' Cameron School of Business. He is also the President and General Counsel of Claremont Management Group, a Human Resources consulting firm in Houston, TX. He often speaks on employment and consumer matters. While Conservative radio loves to bash Ivy League academics, Dr. Schein is an Ivy League graduate and a full-time academic, plus a solid conservative. He has radio experience and hosts the podcasts “Saving America” and “Business Law 101.”

Bad Deal for America Dr. David D. Schein

Bad Deal for America explores the high-stakes game U. S. politicians are playing with the taxpayers’ money. The major players, themselves like a deck of cards, have shown us in their own words that the political system is broken. Readers can follow the money to see how some have lived high on the hog while masquerading as public servants. Told in an entertaining and unique way, this book is a call to arms to fulfill the ideals of the founding fathers by holding the political class responsible. The new audio book features performances by professional actors and readers. A must listen, even if you have already read the book.

https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09RNG3YY3 73

Look In Here

By Suzanne Downes https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100037757172678

“Look In Here” “So, how did you end up at the police station?” Mrs Barnes was tight-lipped with fury and her mood was not helped by the deafening silence which greeted her question. The four fifteen-yearold girls were rarely this quiet - in fact never. The interior of the car would usually resound with giggles, chatter, arguments and the never-ending chime of mobile phone messages.

“Well?”

“It was all Tiffany’s fault,” muttered her daughter Davina, sinking further down into the front seat and scowling.

“Was not!” came the protest from the middle of the back seat. “It was Layla who thought of it.”

Layla’s response was simply to gasp in shock at suddenly being thrust into the centre of the row.

Marnie, who always stuck up for her twin sister, was moved to add, “That’s not fair!”

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Mrs Barnes gritted her teeth, I don’t care about fair, I don’t want to know who was to blame, I just want to know what the hell happened tonight!” The policeman who had escorted the girls out of the station had been very obviously trying to hide a grin and was less than forthcoming. “I hope you ladies have learned a lesson,” he had said gravely, “and I’ll leave it to you to explain to your parents.”

She should have known better than to ask for an explanation without specifying a single narrator.

All the girls suddenly re-found their power of speech and began to talk over each other, getting louder and louder in an effort to be heard.

“One at a time!” she yelled, and they were instantly silenced. Mrs Barnes rarely shouted - well, not at her daughter’s friends, anyway. Davina was a different matter.

“You tell me, Davina,” she said, after taking a deep breath to calm herself. She was still suffering from the embarrassment of having to collect the girls, and was wondering how she was going to explain the way this sleepover had turned out.

“Ok, but you have to promise not to freak out again,” said Davina, wondering what the odd noise was that she could hear. It was her mother grinding her teeth.

“Just talk,” said Mrs Barnes when she had sufficient self control not to scream.

“So you know about the lads who used to go to our school, the four gorgeous sixth formers, who left a couple of years ago and now have a band?”

“Three gorgeous, one just passable,” interrupted Layla.

“Oh, which one do you think is only okay?” asked Marnie.

Mrs Barnes had no idea what they were talking about. She wouldn’t dream of listening when Davina went off on one of her extremely passionate, but deeply tedious, stories about her latest crush. She loved the notion that her daughter talked to her about these things, but she never really took in any of the information. For the first time she was regretting her disinterest. Evidently there was something going on and she knew nothing about it.

“Okay, back to the boy band,” she said testily, before the debate could become the main focus of the girls’ attention. “What about them?”

“We found out they were playing in the local pub, so we went to see them,” admitted Davina, sliding as far away from her mother as the car door and her seat belt would allow.

Mrs Barnes drew in a deep breath. “So you were picked up for underage drinking,” she said as calmly as she could.

“Of course not,” said Davina scornfully. “We’re not stupid enough to get caught doing that.”

This sounded as though it was a little too regular to be comfortable for Mrs Barnes, and she made a mental note to ground her daughter for the next five years - but that could wait until she had the full story. Best not to go off at a tangent now.

“So, it wasn’t booze, so what was it?” she asked.

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“Well, when the gig was over, we decided to follow the boys and see if we could find out where they live.”

How Mrs Barnes managed to restrain the cry of “Oh, my God!” she would never know.

“That wasn’t very bright, girls.”

“Why not? We know the lads. Well, we practically know them. They must have passed us in the corridor when they were still at school.”

Now was not the time to explain why that might not necessarily be any protection, though Mrs Barnes was keeping a tally of the subjects upon which Davina was going to require a lecture.

“What happened next?” she asked, panic bubbling just below the surface. Only the fact that the police allowed all the girls to come home with her stopped her from thinking the worst.

“We found out they live in that old converted mill where we used to play when we were kids.”

“You did what?”

Davina realised she had made a major error in admitting this so she moved hastily on. “We didn’t know which flat they lived in, so I showed the girls how you get up to the roof using the old back staircase.”

The old back staircase which used to be a cast iron death trap when she was a girl, so must be in an even worse state now! Mrs Barnes silently prayed that the developer who converted the mill into residential had taken care to fix it.

“Go on,” she said, though a big part of her really didn’t want to hear the rest.

“The roof has loads of skylights, to save money on lighting bills for the mill owner, I guess,” said Davina.

“That’s what Miss Simister, our history teacher, said anyway,” chipped in Marnie.

“So we looked down into the skylights until we found the one for the flat that the lads share.”

“And no one would have known we were there if Tiffany hadn’t screamed when she saw Tom with his shirt off,” said Layla bitterly.

Suzanne Downes Copyright 2023

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M.R. Dimond

The Sphynx who Stole Christmas Book 2 of the Black Orchid Enterprises Mystery series finds Johnny Ly, Dianne Cortez, and JD Thompson trying to celebrate their first year in business in a small Central Texas town. The weather outside is frightful, and indoors isn't looking too good either, not when a crazed hairless cat invades their Christmas party and leaves a trail of destruction in his wake.

Book 1 — Birth of the Black Orchids

The murder in the backyard doesn't help, but Johnny and Dianne are more worried about the cat. After the police reduce the suspect list from the entire town of Beauchamp, Texas, to just the Black Orchids' friends and family, Attorney JD Thompson springs into action to clear them all, preferably before Monday night's concert. Life's hard for a veterinarian, accountant, lawyer, and ABBA tribute band.

When the Christmas grand opening to his smalltown enterprise is crashed by a killer, will this young lawyer’s fresh start get buried?

https://books2read.com/BlackOrchids2

https://bookgoodies.com/a/B09MPRZPN6 77

H. M. Gooden has been scribbling on everything since she first learned how to hold a pencil. While often told that her handwriting was atrocious, she persisted, and upon discovering computers and learning how to type, she realized that she was no longer limited by her (admittedly) messy writing.

Unfortunately, life, work, and family have conspired to make it only possible to write in the wee hours or at coffee shops, so most of her love of reading and writing are indulged at times when only vampires and insomniacs abound.

When not writing fantasy, H. M. Gooden writes non-fiction pieces exploring the emotions and situations that arise in her day job as a rural family doc. As a result, 4 am has never been busier, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. https://www.subscribepage.com/hmgooden

Poetry In a Pandemic Volume 1: Changes

An in-depth look at living a regular routine in a world-changing event through poetry by family physician and author, H.M. Gooden

2020 was a year that changed life as we know it.

In this collection of poetry and prose, Gooden explores her longing for more than her daily routine as she makes her way through a "once in a lifetime" world event.

In the middle of turmoil, she creates magic in the mundane as she examines her life in an honest, poignant, and often irreverent way.

As she reflects on life and all it encompasses through her perspective as a healthcare worker, she proves there can be light even in the darkest of days. https://books2read.com/poetryinapandemicvol1 78

Underneath

By Sarah Hindmarsh https://www.facebook.com/Sarahhindmarshauthor

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Granny’s

Hat

By Sarah Hindmarsh Granny loved woolly hats. She always said she kept a good woolly hat longer than she kept a husband (it was true that Granny had a lot of ex-husbands). Her favourite hat when I was twelve was a multicoloured monstrosity with a giant silver pompom, which she had evidently knitted herself. She wore it everywhere; a lurid mix of neon yellow, Barbie pink, lime green and traffic cone orange, adorning her head whenever she stepped outside the house. She wore it even in summer, if it wasn't too hot to bear it. She said it brought her luck.

I vividly remember one Christmas Eve when Granny, visiting us for the holidays as usual, stormed into the house through the back door. Nancy and Rocket, her two springer spaniels, crept in after her. The look on Granny's face was almost murderous.

"Blasted dogs!", she ranted, "Pulled me over because of a bleedin' rabbit and my favourite hat came off and blew away."

"Oh, is it windy today?", my father said, appearing a little distracted. I suspected the half empty bottle of port beside his chair might have had something to do with the distracted mess.

"Of course, it's windy,” Granny snapped, "my hat wouldn't have blown away if it wasn't, would it?"

My father shrugged and took another slug of port. That, I thought, was probably the whole of 82

Christmas ruined. Granny in a bad mood was a downer at any time of year, but it would make Christmas especially miserable. Still, at least we wouldn't have to look at that awful hat anymore. We spent the rest of Christmas Eve tiptoeing around Granny in a desperate attempt not to set her off complaining or ranting again. It didn't work. It never did with Granny. She wasn't really happy unless she had something to moan about.

I escaped to bed as early as I could, hoping that things would be better by the morning. They weren't. Dad insisted I went with Granny to walk the dogs before we were even allowed to open our presents!

Grumbling, I picked up Nancy's lead.

"I'll take that," Granny snapped. "You can take Rocket."

Rocket was usually the one who pulled people over, I didn't complain though, as Granny was sporting a slight limp after the exploits of the previous day. She pulled on her second-favourite hat (this one, baby blue with a sea-green pompom which clashed horribly) and stormed out of the door, dragging Nancy behind her. Outside, it was cold and looked like it might rain; clouds hovering overhead as though deciding whether or not it was worth risking Granny's wrath by dropping rain on us.

"Quick stroll across the moor path, I think," said Granny, eyeing the clouds suspiciously.

Home in twenty minutes, I thought, somewhat relieved, and dying to open my presents.

There was someone else on the moor path, and I took a tight grip on Rocket's lead so as not to be taken by surprise when he launched towards them. The moment she spotted him Granny marched off towards him.

"Hey!", she shouted when she'd almost caught up. "That's my hat!"

I peered at the figure in the distance and, sure enough, he did have a hat on which closely resembled Granny's lost woolly monstrosity. I waited for the fireworks…. but they never came.

Granny caught up to the poor man who, I assumed, would now be on the receiving end of one of her lectures. Instead of going into full dragon mode, however, I saw Granny bob up and down excitedly as they talked, although I was too far away to hear much of what was said. I knew better than to go closer and get myself accused by Granny of eavesdropping. I stood for what seemed like half a lifetime waiting, Rocket straining at his lead and my fingers and toes slowly turning into lumps of ice. At last, Granny turned towards me and seemed to jump slightly at realising I was still there. She, and the man who had been wearing her hat, walked back towards me.

Up close I could see he was an old-ish man. Probably about the same age as Granny, or a bit older. And he had kind eyes. I smiled at him despite the cold having nearly frozen the muscles in my face.

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"Josephine, dear. Say hello to Michael. He found my hat after it blew away and liked it so much he washed it and thought he would wear it himself. He's going to come for Christmas lunch with us. He's all on his own this year. We couldn't have that, could we?"

"No, Granny," I said." Hello, Michael."

When we got back to the house, Granny was wearing her favourite hat again, and Michael was wearing the baby blue one. Dad, upon seeing the extra person, sighed resignedly, and told me to set an extra place at the table.

I finally got to open my presents and was playing on my new games console when Dad announced that dinner was ready. "It's really very kind of you to have me for dinner at such short notice," Michael said, smiling at us all. He had a nice smile, I thought. One of those which reached his eyes and made the wrinkles seem deeper.

"I only wish I had gifts for you all."

"Nonsense!" Granny said, before anyone else could say anything. "You can make up for that next year."

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Michael raised his grey eyebrows and I chuckled. Granny had a habit of assuming things. On this occasion, Granny was right.

Michael was back the following Christmas, and the presents he brought definitely made up for him not bringing any the year before. I call him Gramps now. The Easter after that, he and Granny got married. I had to be a flower girl and wear a dress, which I didn't like as I was much too old and should really have been a bridesmaid instead. I also got to eat three pieces of the chocolate sponge wedding cake, which I did like, and meet Michael's granddaughter, who I also liked. He brings her with him when they visit now. I don't know how he puts up with Granny's temper, but that was six years ago now. That's longer than Granny has ever kept a husband before. He's even outlasted a woolly hat.

Sarah Hindmarsh is a vet student turned teacher turned writer. She has won, and been nominated for, multiple awards and prizes for her children’s fiction, short stories and poetry, and also writes revision guides and books of writing prompts. She is currently writing her first novel for grown-ups – an LGBT+ high fantasy. In her spare time Sarah likes to compete in various equestrian sports and nap on the sofa with her dog, Kohla. Sarah is also autistic and ADHD, and writes personal essays about living and working as a neurodivergent person in a neurotypical world.

Connect with Sarah Hindmarsh at: https://www.facebook.com/Sarahhindmarshauthor 85

The Mouse Family That Live By The Brambles

by Sylva Fae Photography by Gez Robinson

Gez Robinson is a talented wildlife photographer from Yorkshire, England. For the last few years, I’ve been following the story of a family of mice, that live in an area of the garden dedicated to wildlife. It has been fascinating to watch the trust that has built up between the mice and Gez, as he patiently sits behind the camera. The photos are stunning, and and show what characters wild mice are, whether it be their quirky antics in their natural environment, or their curiosity as they interact with the props left by Gez for the mice to explore.

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*****

Gez has been a wildlife photographer for around fifteen years, and has a passion for wildlife. During the first pandemic lockdown, craving his photography fix, he started taking photos of the birds and other wildlife in his garden. “…and that’s when I spotted a little mouse on the old decking. It was looking at a blackberry on the blackberry bush and just stood there whilst I took photos of it. My passion with the mouse family was born.”

Since the early successes of the Mouse Family That Live by the Brambles facebook page, Gez has published a book of the same name and set up other social media accounts. https://www.facebook.com/bramblemouse https://www.gezrobinsonphotography.co.uk/ Instagram: gez_robinson_photography TikTok: @mousefamilybythebrambles Copyright @ Gez Robinson for all photos featured in this article.

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Stars & Angels Sing

Do you like The Night Before Christmas poem?

Do you wish it had a ton more magic and an adventure to find the true meaning of Christmas?

Then you’ll love Stars & Angels Sing.

When his master found out about his son, Sarn’s worst fear was realized. Will his master help him get custody of his son? Or will this tear his family apart?

In a land where magic is illegal, Sarn must hide his magic and his son to stay alive. For an indentured man can claim nothing, not even his own child.

With nowhere to go and no choice but to obey orders, Sarn must move his son in with his master’s family. They go from living in a chilly cave with no running water, and no idea where their next meal will come from to his master’s warm, multi-room home.

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Are they guests? Or are they here to serve?

This change of living quarters didn’t come with a change in station. As their foster family observes Advent, tensions mount as the symbols of a season and a strange holiday grow.

What is Christmas? Why does his master celebrate it? Should he let his son participate in this mysterious tradition?

Sarn has no way to find out except to ask his master about it and expose his ignorance. But this is the best place for his son, and he won’t risk losing it.

Thankfully, Sarn’s struggle doesn’t go unnoticed, nor does his wish to understand the reason behind the season go unanswered.

Melinda Kucsera

With help from Santa, an iceman, some determined fairies, and other holiday favorites, Sarn and his son discover the heart of the season and a new tradition. His struggle might just win him the only present he wants for Christmas, custody of the little boy that lights up his life.

This story is told in a series of poems that build upon each other to tell a fantastic adventure of a father and son’s search for the magic of Christmas. ***The 2023 edition of Stars & Angels Sing also includes stories and poems featuring Sarn and his family in their humorous quest to survive the events of Thanksgiving Day, and the book is 30% longer than the original version, including holiday stories that were written later but are part of the overall holiday storyline.

Why is this book written in verse/poems?

I wrote this book back in November 2015 as a way to cope with the sudden death of my sister and the hole her passing left in my family. Sarn and his son’s search for the meaning of Christmas and for a home became my search for those things too.

After my sister passed away suddenly, life paused for me, but it moved on for the rest of the world. Cheery holiday music blasted from speakers in stores. Lights and decorations appeared on shops and homes. Cookies appeared at every register at the grocery store, and every reminder of the holiday was a needle pricking my hurting heart.

I missed singing carols, trimming the tree and baking cookies with my sister. But I couldn’t do those things anymore with her. I needed to build a new tradition.

Also Available in

Since I moved away not long after my sister’s death, I had no one around except my favorite fantasy characters who are always begging me to write about them.

More Information… https://youtu.be/z-zU-Us5WEw 92

Unfortunately, they are fictional, so they can’t decorate cookies or trees or could they?

The more I thought about that, the more I wondered. How would they celebrate Christmas?

How would they know what Christmas is?

At the time, Sarn and his son lived in a cave under a mountain. Since their world is an epic fantasy one, there’s no tv or internet, so they couldn’t google this Christmas thing they heard other people in the underground city talking about.

So why write an epic Christmas fantasy story in poems?

With my family shattered and my move away from them making me feel unmoored, I craved the structure and stability I lost. Poetry can be highly structured, and that appealed to me in 2015. So I wrote this story in verse.

I published each poem in sequence on my blog from Nov. 28, 2015 and through Jan. 5, 2016.

And writing healed a part of my heart. I had one of the best holidays that year, even though that joy was bittersweet.

When the last poem published, readers who followed along requested a copy of the adventure in an easier to read format than clicking links to move between posts. So I gathered the parts of this epic Christmas adventure into an ebook and paperback and published them for a limited time.

Why release this now?

When I unpublished this book in 2016, I planned to revise it and write it as a regular fantasy adventure in prose. And I still do. I just need the characters to cooperate with that plan.

They keep running off on new adventures that are fun and interesting, and I let them. So I’m partly to blame.

This book originally published in ebook and paperback, but I am bringing it back with a brand new cover, and for the first time, it will be available as an audiobook.

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The 2023 edition of Stars & Angels Sing also includes stories and poems featuring Sarn and his family in their humorous quest to survive the events of Thanksgiving Day, and the book is 30% longer than the original version, including holiday stories that were written later but are part of the overall holiday storyline.

Who Am I? I am Melinda Kucsera, an indie fantasy author. I write epic fantasy adventures about families and magical creatures who’re just trying to survive in a world that hates and fears magic but is steeped in it.

I am also a podcaster and YouTuber.

My books are full of magic and mayhem, but somehow, even the darkest adventure always ends well. https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/melinda-kucsera https://www.youtube.com/user/mkucsera28 NEWSLETER — https://www.melinda-kucsera.com/embed

FACEBOOK — https://www.facebook.com/melinda.kucsera/ X — https://twitter.com/melindakucsera/ INSTAGRAM — https://www.instagram.com/MelindaKucsera28/ PINTEREST — https://www.pinterest.com/MelindaKucsera9/ LINKEDIN — https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindakucsera/ 94

Other series by Melinda Kucsera

His Angelic Keeper series

A ghost can’t die again, but Fate isn’t kind to the women who thwart it.

Sovvan might cease to exist if she saves her twin. But if she doesn’t, she’ll lose him forever. Can she survive that?

Divergent Heroes series

Two knights with disabilities who frequently sort out magical problems, engage in sword fights and wrangle the occasional demon

The Robin of Larkspur series

Robin could become the most skilled witch their world has ever known, but she must save her daughter and survive first.

Rogue Gods Trilogy

Can an ex-war god, a fallen angel-turnedlibrarian in Hell, and a witch save the world and set the future back on the right course?

Eight Maids a Meddlin’ Aly is looking forward to a quiet Christmas back home with her parents. She’ll attend the annual Holly Jolly Jamboree, watch her mother perform The Twelve Days of Christmas, and reconnect with the festival’s director, her mom’s best friend Lottie. The jubilee quickly goes from jolly to melancholy when Aly and Mom arrive at the fairground to find Lottie dead.

Everyone loved Lottie, so how could this have happened? The police barely investigate before concluding that the death was a suicide, but Aly and her mom are certain the scene was staged. The entire cast of the skit takes it upon themselves to find out the truth and bring the killer to justice. With the festival about to begin, they’ve got less than twenty-four hours to solve the murder before the killer disappears into the crowd forever.

This standalone Shady Grove Psychic Mystery novella takes place one year after the events of Mystic Persons. It is the eighth book in The Twelve Days of Christmas Cozy Mysteries series.

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Cat + Christmas Tree = The Present Predicament It’s Christmastime and Jericho House’s halls are decked to such an extent it resembles a mansion in the North Pole, not the mountains of Nevada.

There’s only one problem, Elliot the tuxedo cat keeps climbing the behemoth Christmas tree in the parlour and breaking priceless, antique ornaments.

When Grandma Lily and Chloe decide the solution is to divert him with lots of presents around the tree, it sets off a domino effect of predicaments, culminating in the complete loss of Grandma’s Christmas spirit.

Will Chloe be able to revive Grandma’s holiday cheer despite being somewhat of a grinch herself?

And what about handsome Police Chief Garner? Will he come to Chloe’s aid?

The Present Predicament

https://brookpetersonauthor.com/b/IPr8E

Join Chloe, Grandma Lily, their furry friends, and the rest of the Jericho Falls cast for a smalltown Christmas caper.

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Diann

Floyd Boehm

Diann Floyd Boehm is an award-winning international author. Diann writes children's books and young adult books. In addition, Diann writes books to inspire kids to be kind, like themselves, and to “Embrace Imagination.” You can find all her books on Amazon.

Diann's Story Garden YouTube Channel gives children the opportunity to hear different children authors read their stories.

Diann is the co-host with Dr. Jacalyn on USA Global TV. Diann continues to be involved in various humanitarian projects with multiple organizations.

Diann was born to parents of George and Mabel Floyd in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but grew up in Texas with five brothers. She has traveled extensively to many parts of the world and has lived in the Philippines and Dubai.

Keep in touch with Diann by joining her newsletter: www.Diannfloydboehm.com.

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Are you a multi-genre author or a single-genre author?

I am a multi-genre author. I write children's books and young adult historical fiction. My background is education, plus I have always been a storyteller, so writing children's books comes naturally to me.

Tell us your latest news.

My latest news is Ruby Takes Chicago, the sequel to Rise a Girl's Struggle for More, making the top 2 Best Sellers on Amazon in the Young Adult Historical Fiction Category.

Then Boomer the Curious Bunny won an award with Bookfest Fall 2023. https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0CKY8B2PJ

Ruby Takes Chicago, is the sequel to Rise! A Girl's Struggle for More. It's now the 1920s, and a young Ruby Dinsmore leaves her hometown of Oilton, Oklahoma, and heads for Chicago to make her dreams come true.

In the first book, Ruby, born in 1904, grows up wanting to be a businesswoman and does everything she can to make it happen. At the end of Rise!, Ruby's family realizes her dreams can only come true in a larger town where a young woman with a college education would be accepted in the workforce. Once in Chicago, Ruby is surprised to learn that, even in a big city, society as a whole is still reluctant to accept women working outside the home. Determined to stay true to herself, she takes on the challenges of life in tumultuous times of Prohibition, protests, and women's rights marches. Ruby meets likeminded women, and together they break through the barriers until Ruby lands the perfect job, all amidst discovering the joys of life and love, and heartbreak...and love again.

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Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Other than writing, do you have any hobbies?

Ruby Takes Chicago has several messages, but the most important is that there are ups and downs when you go after your dream, but don't let the downs keep you from going after your dream. Life is a learning process, so discover what you can do better and keep going after your dream.

Ruby Takes Chicago is based on my grandmother's life and has some very realistic events. For example, she took a job that was not in her field, but did it till she could find a job in her area, which was challenging, especially for young women in the 1920's.

There are many things I enjoy doing; I love to sing and act, and I have been fortunate to be in several professional and community musical productions abroad as well as stateside. I also enjoy quilting and have just finished hand-beading and sewing the pieces together for a Christmas stocking. I like to travel with my husband.

If money was no issue, would you prefer a cozy beach bungalow or a rustic cabin overlooking a mountain lake?

What are your current projects?

How much of the book is realistic?

I would enjoy a rustic cabin overlooking a mountain lake. I love being in the woods, going for walks early in the morning, and watching all the activities of the critters as they begin their day. I would enjoy sitting on the porch with my husband sipping cocoa and watching the sunrise or, if facing west, the sunset.

I am working on several short story series for young readers

One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so, what is it? Do you have a social media platform where your fans can interact with you and follow your progress?

I would love to hear from anyone who wishes to contact me. You can find me on my website: https://www.diannfloydboehm.com, and sign up for my blog when you visit my website.

My social media platforms are: Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/diannfloydboehm/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/diann_floyd_boehm/?hl=en LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/diannfloydboehm/ and X. https://twitter.com/diannfloydboehm

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An Owl Without A Name The charming story of a young owl’s strange and disorienting journey to discover who he is and where he belongs by critically acclaimed young adult and children’s literature, Jenna Greene!!

Jenna Greene is an author of YA and children’s fiction, best known for the award-winning Reborn Marks series, and co-host of the Jot Notes podcast, where she interviews authors from all over the world. When not writing or podcasting, she can be found in the classroom, teaching Grades 1 and 2. For more infor-

mation, visit jennagreene.ca.

When a young Great Horned Owl wakes up to find himself on the ground with a broken wing, he can’t figure out where he is, how he got there, or how to get back to the tree where he lives with his parents and older sister. Is this a test, to see if he is ready to leave the nest?

Is he being punished for something? Before he knows

what is happening, he is whisked away to a rescue centre, where he meets other owls who are also recovering from injuries before being released back into the wild.

Lonely, confused, and very self-conscious of the fact that he doesn’t have a name, the young owl slowly adapts to his new surroundings. He makes friends, finds his courage, heals from his injury, and realizes that

identity is about more than a name that is given to you.

It’s about the character that you develop, especially when you face hard times. Heartwarming, whimsical, and inspirational, An Owl without a Name is an uplifting tale for young readers.

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77 ½ Magical Healing Herbs

By Ronesa Aveela

Mistletoe Venture into the magical, healing world of herbs and embrace the power of nature. This article is taken from the book 77 ½ Magical Healing Herbs, which is an introduction to herbs found in a special Midsummer’s wreath. This is an especially enchanting time of year. Among the Bulgarians, the day is called Eniovden. You may think herbs are only for spicing up food and healing the body and mind, but they have other uses, as well. This unique herbal book is an essential guide for tapping into the power of herbs. It highlights centuries of lore and historical facts about healing and magical uses of herbs from Slavic and other traditions.

Please see the medical and magical disclaimers before you try any of the recipes from the book.

***

Viscum album European mistletoe Description: The plant is a parasitic shrub. Its stems branch to 12 to 39 inches (30 to 100 cm). Yellowish-green paddle-like leaves with a leathery texture grow opposite each other.

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The flowers are also yellowish green and grow in clusters. This variety produces a white or yellow berry with normally one seed inside a sticky fruit pulp.

History and Traditions: The genus comes from the Latin viscidus for “sticky” or “clammy,” and the specific name is Latin for “white.” Mistletoe originally was called mistaltan, derived from the Anglo-Saxon mistal for “dung” and tan for “twig.” The plant has an ancient history of being sacred and healing. It represented romance, fertility, and vitality in the divine male essence. Pliny the Elder said the Celts collected it from the sacred oak tree. Other stories say that mistletoe was used to make Christ’s cross. Forever after this, the plant was condemned to never grow in the earth. Oak mistletoe was an all-healing herb that combined the power of every herb. The Celts prepared a decoction from it and used it as a medicine against infertility, as well as a poison antidote. Even today, mistletoe remains popular in folklore and traditions beyond being a Christmas decoration.

Habitat and Distribution: Native to Europe and Asia, this variety is only rarely found in North America. Mistletoe grows as a partial parasite on the stems of trees such as apple, linden, hawthorn, and poplar.

Growth: Evergreen. This shrub forms its own leaves, flowers, and fruit as it steals water and nutrition from its host. In Bulgaria, some people artificially grow the plant on fruit trees in their yard so it will always be there. In the spring or autumn, they cut the bark of a green healthy tree and place a seed inside, smearing it with the sticky juice.

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Harvesting: Branches and leaves are used. Cut them off in early spring or autumn and dry them in the shade.

Medical Use: The plant is toxic and can cause discomfort if taken in concentrated form. Herbalists treat circulatory and respiratory problems with mistletoe. It’s also a remedy for uterine bleeding, whooping cough, high blood pressure, nosebleeds, chronic spasms and seizures, and menopausal issues. In modern medicine, mistletoe is used alongside other treatments for cancer, not as an alternative.

Experiments suggest the plant’s extract may stimulate the immune system, kill certain types of cancer cells, and protect DNA against alkalizing chemotherapy and radiation.

Studies have shown benefits in response rate, overall survival rate, improved quality of life, and reduced side effects from cancer treatment. However, each study also has at least one major weakness that questions its reliability.

Rituals and Magical Use: The plant is a magical universal talisman because it remains green in the treetops in winter, a reminder of spring and new birth. The white variety is considered an herb of salvation and represents other ideals: love, hard work, kindness.

White mistletoe both protects the wearer from temptation and attracts love. It delivers pleasant dreams, eliminates despair, and protects against theft. In Bulgaria, the most healing and miraculous mistletoe is the one found on a walnut tree. It has the power to turn earth into silver and gold. It has other ritual applications as well. A girl hangs a branch of mistletoe over her bed in the winter, so she will meet her true love during the year and marry him. If she merely wants attention from the boys, all she has to do is adorn herself with white mistletoe, and the boys will flock around her. The herb is also worn as protection during Rusalka Week against the female water spirits who become active during that time.

Other Use: The plant’s sticky juice is a glue that can catch small animals or birds. White mistletoe has also been an ingredient in a liqueur based on brandy.

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Other Names: Mistletoe, common mistletoe.

Aromatic: The plant is odorless.

CAUTION: European mistletoe is toxic and potentially fatal in a concentrated form, and people can become seriously ill from eating the berries.

Magical Mistletoe Mistletoe normally grows on softwood trees, so finding it on the hardwood oak led people to believe it was a plant filled with magic. When the Druids harvested it from the oak, they used a golden sickle. Believing mistletoe would lose its power if it touched the ground, these religious leaders laid a white cloth under the tree to catch the plant when it fell (Cardenas).

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*** Herbs are powerful, but they can also be dangerous.

MEDICAL LIABILITY DISCLAIMER: The information in this article, in the book and on our website is not intended to be medical advice, nor does it claim that the herbs listed are safe or effective to use in the manners described.

It is not meant to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease. It is merely a brief summary of various herbal folk remedies and how they have been used in the past and may still be used today. With the exception of a few personal recipes, we have not tried any of these remedies and cannot verify their effectiveness or safety.

MAGICAL DISCLAIMER: Magical ingredients and spells are for entertainment only. We have not tried any of these remedies, nor do we make any claims as to their effectiveness or safety.

77 and a Half Herbs?

The wheels in your mind have probably been turning as you think, “77½ herbs is an odd number.” And you’re right. But it’s a special, magical number, referring to herbs gathered on Eniovden, June 24, when Bulgarians celebrate Midsummer’s Day. If you want to find out the secret of the half herb, you’ll have to read the book. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ronesa-aveela/77-1-2-magical-healing-herbsthe-secret-power-of-herbs Ronesa Aveela is “the creative power of two.” Two authors that is. The main force behind the work, the creative genius, was born in Bulgaria and moved to the US in the 1990s. She grew up with stories of wild Samodivi, Kikimora, the dragons Zmey and Lamia, Baba Yaga, and much more. Her writing partner was born and raised in the New England area. She has a background in writing and editing, as well as having a love of all things from different cultures. She’s learned so much about Bulgarian culture, folklore, and rituals, and writes to share that knowledge with others.

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CHRISTMAS MORNING

By Pearl Oliver When we were children, Christmas was just another day.

We were never taught about Santa and his famous sleigh.

There were never gifts beneath a tree with glitter to make it bright.

There was never a turkey dinner or candles to flicker light.

When our children were small times were still hard.

But one Christmas morning deer filled the yard.

There wasn’t a sleigh with packages stacked high.

But the joy they brought left tears in our eye.

They looked so innocent and gentle on that Christmas day.

But when they saw they were being watched they bounced away.

About the author in her own words: I was born April 22, 1920, the third child in seven of Arthur S. and Florence M. Jones. They homestead some land in Colorado. Cut trees from the land and built a log cabin. Dad worked for some farmers for $1.00 a day and his dinner.

We cleared land a little at a time to farm, no machinery, just two horses and a walking plow. We attended a one-room country school. One teacher taught first - eighth grades.

I wrote a few poems when I was in my teens but was afraid I would be made fun of so I wouldn’t show them to anyone, and later destroyed them.

Pearl Jones Oliver 1920 - 2005

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Scorch Mark, A Dark Dreams Novel

Book Three of the Awardwinning series by critically acclaimed author, JP McLean https://books2read.com/Scorch-Mark

Jane stands alone between a powerful artifact and the wrong hands. Jane Walker’s alarming dreams, in which she sees events that have yet to happen, have finally subsided. The man who killed her parents and kidnapped Jane is behind bars. So it’s the perfect time for Jane and her partner Ethan to set out on a road trip to unravel the secrets of her ancestry.

But their journey takes a spine-chilling turn when they encounter a gang of men who stare at Jane as if they recognize her. That can only mean one thing: they’ve met her in a dream she has yet to experience. When the gang begins stalking her, Jane realizes she must have witnessed a deadly event.

But what could it be? She slips into hiding and waits for the disturbing dream to arrive.

Immerse yourself in a supernatural thriller where dreams and reality meet, weaving a web of suspense that will keep you turning the page until the final, heart-stopping revelation.

And now her BFF, Sadie Prescott, is dating a cop whose curiosity about Jane leads him to unearth the mysterious deaths that litter her past. When his latest investigation crosses paths with Jane’s stalkers, Jane must intervene and turn the skeptical cop into a believer before he kills himself and causes the deaths of his entire law enforcement team.

Will keep you on the edge of your seat . . . an intense, riveting, and fast-paced novel.

—Literary Titan 108

Gold Literary Titan Medal Winner JP (Jo-Anne) McLean is a bestselling author of urban fantasy and supernatural thrillers. She is an Eric Hoffer and Global Book Award winner and was a finalist in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards, the Chanticleer International Book Awards, and the Independent Author Network Awards. Reviewers call her books addictive, smart and fun.

JP holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business, is a certified scuba diver, an avid gardener, and a voracious reader. She had a successful career in Human Resources before turning her attention to writing.

Raised in Toronto, Ontario, JP has lived in various parts of North America, from Mexico and Arizona to Alberta and Ontario. JP now lives with her husband on Denman Island, which is nestled between the coast of British Columbia and Vancouver Island. You can reach her through her website at jpmcleanauthor.com.

JP McLean OTHER BOOKS IN THE DARK DREAMS SERIES Blood Mark is the first in a new paranormal thriller series by JP McLean, author of The Gift Legacy series and whose writing has been described as “. . . deftly crafted, impressively original, and inherently compelling from first page to last.”

Ghost Mark is the second installment of the Dark Dreams Series by JP McLean, an author whose writing the Ottawa Review of Books calls “relentless and original.”

James L Hill

JL Hill

James L Hill, a.k.a. J L Hill, is a native New Yorker from the South Bronx, Fort Apache, of the turbulent 60’s.

He earned a degree in computer programming, his other love. A multi-genre author, his experiences seasoned his novels and the worlds he imagined.

James started RockHill Publishing LLC to publish his own work and give others access to the literary world.

The four-part adult urban crime series, The Killer Series, is complete. Killer With A Heart, Killer With Three Heads, Killer With Black Blood have all received five-star reviews. Killer With Ice Eyes, the final chapter of the boys from the Bronx, is available now.

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He is currently working on a three-part historical fantasy Gemstone Series; The Emerald Lady is in publication to rave reviews. The Ruby Cradle and the third book, The Diamond Warrior, is coming soon.

Then there’s the psychological dystopian science fiction thriller, Pegasus: A Journey To New Eden for your reading pleasure.

Are you a multi-genre author or a single-genre author? How did you decide what types of books you would write?

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I am an author, an independent publisher, and a software engineer. All these things have led me to publish six novels, with another three in the works.

Plus, a couple of short stories in anthologies.

When did you start writing?

Did an event or person prompt you to take that leap?

I started writing at a young age. I used to read the Marvel comics and try to write what I thought would happen next. I always had stories in my head to get out.

Mark Twain said “Write what you know.” Tell us about your writing process. Are you a plotter or a pantser? Do you plot, plan, and conduct hours of research; or, do you just sit down and write whatever comes to mind based on your personal history and knowledge?

I am a multi-genre author. I write in adult urban crime, fantasy, science fiction, and now horror. The story decides what genre it will fit in. I do NaNoWriMo in which I decide to write in a genre I haven’t done before to give myself a fresh view.

If you write in multiple genres, do you have a favorite, or is one type of book easier for you to write than others, and why?

I started as a science fiction writer, and I really like the world building aspect of that genre. But the easiest genre to write in is crime fiction because of where and when I grew up. I am a product of the sixties South Bronx. So, my crime novels revolve around gangs and the Mafia.

How / where do you find the plots you write about?

I find plots everywhere, the news, events I experience, discoveries in science, etc. I wrote a short story based on the Covid 19 pandemic for example.

I am a plotter. I outline the story, the main characters, and research details before I start and as the story develops.

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Tell us your latest news, I am working on a horror novel, The House of Sun and Shadow, which I started during NaNoWriMo. It is going to be in the end a vampire story with domestic violence as a basis.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

There are always messages that writers want the reader to get. And the reader will find their own message in the writing. Hopefully they are the same.

How much of the book is realistic?

My Killer Series books, Killer With A Heart, Killer With Three Heads, Killer With Black Blood, and Killer With Ice Eyes are to some extent based on where I grew up and people I know. No one character is based on any person in particular, but on a conglomerate of people from different times.

Pick one of your characters and share some of their backstory that didn’t make it into the novel.

Morris: There is nothing wrong with my mind.

Many people, friends and foes alike, think I am psychotic. They are wrong, I know right from wrong and I do whatever I must to get what I want. I am amoral. I have always been like this, but I guess I stopped caring when my brother was murdered.

The police did nothing because life in the hood meant nothing. I don’t want to be a killer. Killing people is bad. When you kill someone a little of your soul dies with them. But if you don’t kill some people then they will come back to kill you. So, I kill out of necessity. For survival, that’s the way it has always been.

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Do you have any advice for other writers?

Always be true to yourself. Write what feels right to you and only change the parts that make sense to you. Never chase the new fads because you will always be behind the times.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Some stories have more than one meaning. You will only find the other meanings if you read the story again, because knowing how the story turns out you will see what the writer was thinking when he wrote what he did and when.

What kind of music do you enjoy? What kind of movies do you prefer? Do you have a favorite author?

I was born to rock and roll. My favorite band is Led Zeppelin, and my favorite musician is Jimi Hendrix. I’ll always watch a Sci-Fi, sometimes bad sci-fi are fun to watch. Edgar Allen Poe and Stephen King.

One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so, what is it? Do you have a social media platform where your fans can go to interact with you and follow your progress?

RockHill Publishing Facebook: https:// www.facebook.com/rockhillpublishing RockHill Publishing Website: https:// www.rockhillpublishing.com RockHill Twitter: https://twitter.com/RockHillPub

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCnCKvHNgngUw7BvHAGNcgMA Author J L Hill Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ jlhill57 Author J L Hill Twitter: https://twitter.com/jamshi57 Author J L Hill Website: http://www.jlhill-books.com 113

Other than writing do you have any hobbies?

Fishing, it is very relaxing, and it is the one hobby you can do with beers.

Twice Upon a Christmas comes but once a year—unless you’re Natalie Miller.

Natalie isn’t sure what she really wants out of life. Singing with an a capella group is her real love, but it’s hard to let go of the security of her day job, even though it’s interfering with her busy holiday show schedule. Torn between her options, she flips a coin, but can’t bring herself to look at the result.

The next thing she knows, she’s living every December day twice. At first, the holiday do-over seems like a gift. She has the chance to learn from her mistakes and avoid pitfalls. Things get more complicated as her two lives diverge. In one life, she gets to work on a glamorous account and spend a lot of one-onone time with a handsome executive— but she has to give up music. In another life, her job is in jeopardy and she has to deal with a grouchy client—but she’s doing things that matter to her, and that client has hidden depths.

As Christmas Eve approaches, the double life grows more and more challenging. Will Natalie be able to break the spell and land in the right life—and with the right man—for good?

https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07BRPWQKV 114

Reeling from a broken engagement, Andi Carter swears off men. She quits her job in New York and returns home to figure out next steps. Luckily, she quickly finds a job--one that will take her mind off her ex--as a caretaker for an elderly widower, Liam Quinn. Liam is the owner of Christmastown, a holiday-themed amusement park that shut down years ago. But he’s anxious to reopen it, and Andi, loving the concept, throws herself into helping him. It’s the perfect distraction. Bonus: there are no eligible men for miles.

Until Matt Taylor shows up to audit the park.

Matt is handsome, charming, and full of surprises. Even Liam’s notoriously cranky cat, Claus, likes him. Andi works with Matt on a Christmastown project and platonic feelings turn into a full-fledged crush…maybe a little more. She likes this guy. Unbelievably, Matt seems to like her back.

Only she soon discovers that Matt isn’t who he says he is. So now, Andi has another decision to make—run away and start over—again? Or stay, and hear Matt out? After all, Christmas is the season of miracles…

The Santa Games Leanne Treese

https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BB3GR3S7 115

Music

Shri Jaykishan Hariharbhai Kapdi

“Aum” Music is a universal language. Why it’s so? If you will remove the lyrics / words from the songs, you will find / hear only the musical notes, a melody.

Singing + playing of an musical instruments + dancing = Music. Music touches our heart, mind and soul. Music removes our sorrow, misery and pain with a peace and joy. Music itself is a meditation. Music is the most easiest and direct way to worship the almighty God. “Music is a bridge between mankind and God” – what I believe.

There are two sections / branches in the music:(1) Singing, playing the musical instruments (2) Rhythm. Singing, playing the musical instruments uses the musical notes.

Rhythms uses the beats / “Bol” (In Indian rhythms).

Musical Notes: (1) Natural Notes / “Shuddh Swar”:

7 Natural Notes / “Shuddh Swar”: (1)C/Do/ “Sa”( “Shadaj”) (2)D/Re/ “Ri” (“Rishabh” ) (3)E/Mi/ “Ga” (“Gandhar” ) (4)F/Fa/ “Ma” (“Madhyam” ) (5)G/Gol/ “Pa” (“ Pancham”) (6) A/La/ “Dha” (“Dhaivat” ) (7) (7) /Si/ “Ni” (“Nishad”) 116

(2) # (Sharp) & b (Flat) Notes / “Komal &Tivra Swar”: When a note is played a half note down from it’s original place, it’s known as “Komal Swar” in an Indian music, Sign is - a little horizontal bar is placed under the note and , it’s known as a Flat Note in the western music – Sign is - b is placed above the note.

When a note is played a half note up from it’s original place, it’s known as “Tivra Swar” in an Indian music, Sign is - a little vertical bar is placed above the note and , it’s known as Sharp Note in the western music – Sign is - # is placed above the note.

5 # (Sharp) & b (Flat) Notes / “Komal &Tivra Swar”: (1) C# Or Db / Do# Or Rib / “Ri” (“Komal Rishabh”) (2) D# Or Eb / Ri# Or Mib / “Ga” (“ Komal Gandhar”) (3) G# Or Ab / Gol# Or Lab / “ Dha” (“ Komal Dhaivat”)

(4) A# Or Bb / La# Or Sib / “Ni” (“ Komal Nishad”) (5) F# Or Gb / Fa# Or Golb / “Ma” (“Tivra Madhyam”) 7 Natural Notes / “Shuddh Swar” + 5 # (Sharp) & b (Flat) Notes / “Komal &Tivra Swar” Total =12 Notes makes music.

This 12 notes represents the Music of the Whole World. If you will compare any two songs of the world, it will not be similar. Copy/Re-make/Mixing of a song is a different matter. All the world’s music is a magic of these 12 musical notes.

Vocal/Singing and all the musical instruments (except the rhythm instruments) like Piano, Harmonium, Keyboard, Organ, Mouth-Organ, Flute, Guitar, Sitar, Violin etc. plays these notes. Notations are prepared by using these musical notes.

C/Do/ “Sa”( “Shadaj”) to C/Do/ “Sa”( “Shadaj”) = 8 notes represents an Octave (comprising of all the 12 notes). There are 3 Octaves in the music : (1) Lower Octave (2) Middle Octave and (3) Upper Octave. As name itself suggests and if we Imagine about the Piano, Middle Octave remains in the middle side, Upper Octave will be on the right hand side and Lower Octave will be on the left hand side.

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Note: I have explained these table’s details above, so need to print or to be consider in the article. Please consider only the above two pages.

7 Natural Notes

EUROPE

Name of Musical Notes (India)

ITALY

1

“Shadaj”

“Sa”

C

Do

2

“Rishabh”

“Ri”

D

Re

3

“Gandhar”

“Ga”

E

Mi

4

“Madhyam”

“Ma”

F

Fa

5

“ Pancham”

“Pa”

G

Gol

6

“Dhaivat”

“Dha”

A

La

7

“Nishad”

“Ni”

B

Si

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SPAIN / FRANCE /

Name of Musical Notes (India)

EUROPE

SPAIN / FRANCE / ITALY

1

“Komal Rishabh”

“ Ri”

# C / b D

# Do / b Re

2

“ Komal Gandhar”

“ Ga”

# D / b E

# Re / b Mi

3

“ Komal Dhaivat”

“Dha”

# G / b A

# Gol / b La

4

“ Komal Nishad”

“Ni”

# A / b B

# La / b Si

5

“Tivra Madhyam”

| “ Ma”

# F / b G

# Fa / b Gol

5 “Komal &Tivra Swar” # (Sharp) & b (Flat) Notes

Jaykishan is a music teacher and composer from Bhavnagarm India. He is the author of Treasure of Indian Music.

You can connect with Jaykishan Kapdi on Facebook at...

https://www.facebook.com/jaykishan.kapdi

Don’t you wish you could have a lightsaber? I imagine it all the time. And force powers – definitely force powers. Think of that? Oh, wait – how about spider powers? Shooting web lines and clinging to walls. You could get to school in style.

OK, so we can’t have those. At least to the best of my knowledge. What’s the next best thing? Reading stories about other worlds. I guess I’ll have to settle for that and hopefully you’d like to come along for the ride.

I live and grew up in a rural area in Ohio. That left a lot of room for reading. I now live with my family and create stories set in many other places.

For now, I have to visit another world.

Enjoy the adventure!

Sa-schneider.com

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Embracing the Magic Their hero is a fraud and only he knows it. When the truth comes knocking, can one boy conjure a way to save the day?

Young Samual longs to perform magic of his own. And what's worse, he can't seem to convince anyone that their beloved Town Magician is a trickster without an enchanted bone in his body.

When a wicked wizard challenges the pretender to a duel, Samual vows to keep his village safe by forcing the fraudster to rise to the challenge.

Determined to prevent disaster, he secretly shadows the phony protector during his training with the Grand Wizard.

And when they barely escape an vicous attack, Samual realizes he must partner up with his bitter rival. But keeping the truth hidden any longer may not help them outwit a powerful sorcerer.

With his town in grave danger, can Samual protect the ones he loves from the forces of evil?

Embracing the Magic is the enchanting first story in the Town Magician middle grade fantasy series. If you enjoy unlikely heroes, coming-of-age adventures, and spellbinding creatures, then you'll love S.A. Schneider's fantastical tale.

https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0BSCKPCX8 121

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I live in Northeast Ohio near Kent State. My two kids are grown, but are very imaginative individuals that make me very proud. Besides a boxer and three cats I have a wolf. Yup. He's a rescue because of a malformed paw and the vet said he is approximately 75% wolf.

I have so many things I enjoy. As I write this, it's Christmas, and I love the season, especially watching the Charlie Brown specials. Star Wars, Def Leppard, Rush, Calvin and Hobbes, video games, Dragonlance are a quick list of some other favorites.

Are you a multi-genre author or a single-genre author?

How did you decide what types of book you would write?

I write for middle grade and mostly fantasy. And there is a lot that is fantasy. My main series is a Harry Potter type fantasy with magic set in a medieval type world with goblins and trolls.

I have another series coming that is a spy group that is a bit alternative history and a bit steampunk. Then there are the Oddish Questors who seek out supernatural stuff like Bigfoot.

Think of them as similar to Scooby Doo. If you write in multiple genres, do you have a favorite, or is one type of book easier for you to write than others, and why?

I started trying to write adult thriller, and it sucked. When it was pointed out that I seem a natural fit for middle grade, everything else clicked.

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When did you start writing? Did an event or person prompt you to take that leap?

Oh, gheez, yeah. I had been thinking about writing for years because I was a Girl Scout leader and saw all the girls reading books with boys as the protagonist. I wanted to make some books for them that featured girls, but took too long and there are quite a few now.

I still dragged my feet until 2015. Within 1 week a series of events hit me over the head to get me going. I finished the Alan Wake horror video game. One of my favorites and about a writer. Then I met an author that has been very successful in sci-fi for over 30 years. After that, I sat down to watch the show Castle with my kids and found that Fillion's character was a writer. Ok, I took the hint.

How / where do you find the plots you write about?

I have a subscription service that delivers them. I didn't pay the upgrade to have them delivered by owl, though.

Seriously, I think (like many authors) my brain is just wired for it. I have ideas that evolve to stories. Those come to me much faster than I can complete all of them.

Mark Twain said “Write what you know.” Tell us about your writing process. Are you a plotter or a panster? Do you plot, plan, and conduct hours of research; or, do you just sit down and write whatever comes to mind based on your personal history and knowledge?

I started as a pantser because I didn't know any better. Due to the horrible stories that evolved, I started plotting. I don't plot out every little detail, but enough to get going.

Usually I get better ideas as I'm writing and the plot changes.

Tell us your latest news

I released a Halloween short story in October and have my yearly Christmas story out. I also have a short story collection that was a collaboration from a school author visit. I asked the kids to help me determine my next story, but used it to guide them through the 3 parts of a story and how to make a story with their ideas.

I also have taught a couple classes on video game storytelling and am working on a series of books for that.

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Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

There is magic all around us if we choose to see it. I think kids are missing the magic of the world. Most adults are also. The ones that see the magic in the world have much happier lives.

What are your current projects?

The main series I am working on is the Town Magician books. Book 1 – Embracing the Magic – is out and book 2 – Transgression of Magic – is being edited. I have at least 4 books planned, with a possibility of serveral more.

The aforementioned Oddish Questors. I used to go to quite a few conferences like Mothman and Salt Fork Bigfoot conference and want to get this series out so I can setup as an author at these type of events.

I also have my creating video game series that is being worked on.

How much of the book is realistic?

It's a fantasy with people channeling magic and fighting goblins. You tell me.

Do you have a mentor that helped or encouraged you to follow your dream of writing?

I've had several wonderful mentors. J Thorn first and foremost. He continues to help and encourage me. Zach Bohannon and James L Rubart have also provided much help and encouragement. JD Barker got my brain straight on what makes a good story.

What books have influenced your life the most?

Lots of Stephen King. Dragonlance series. A Christmas Carol.

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Can you share a sample of your current work with us?

This is from my current Christmas story – Amanda's Christmas "Amanda, tell me again why we’re here again. In a house we already know we can’t have. On Christmas Eve?” Amanda ignored Ted and fixated on the fireplace, a top-notch fireplace. Roomy area for the logs. Bricks to heat toasty for keeping warm on blustery nights. An ideal fireplace. The fireplace any good girl, or boy, would love to stare into as flurries pelted the windows.

She couldn’t tell Ted, but this fireplace had consumed her thoughts for days. It had called to her in ways Ted would never understand. Coming back to this fireplace on this night was something she had to do. She sighed. Wasn’t she too old to believe in magical fireplaces?

Her father would say thirty-one is not too old, but Amanda felt it. Maybe it was the cold weather. The furnace wasn’t turned on and Amanda shivered in the frigid air. The too clean fireplace hadn’t been used. It didn't have a child to tend it. Isn't that what she wanted, and it needed? Was that what was wrong? She didn't know anymore.

She was tired. Tired of looking for houses and tired... of waiting for everything.

She and Ted decided last year the time had arrived to find a house and start a family. She had been so excited and looked through all the books. Books with houses for sale and house plans. And of course, baby name books. None of it mattered. She may have found a magic fireplace, but without a child to enjoy it, the magic wouldn't be there. They may as well move on with their house-less and childless lives. So why were they here, on Christmas Eve, at this house - this fireplace - again? The owner hadn’t accepted their offer. The house wouldn't be theirs. And why should the latest hospital tests be any different from the previous dozen? No house. No baby. Yet, she felt she needed to be here.

It had called to her. She had no other way to explain or describe it. Restless nights spent, and the only thing she thought about was this fireplace. This one particular fireplace in this one particular house - it felt like the one.

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Pick one of your characters and share some of their backstory that didn’t make it into the novel.

I had a brief mention of a character Jon in the prequel short storys to Town Magician 1 – Embracing the Magic. Jon was a bully and picked on Samual and that's as much as we knew. After Embracing the Magic, I decided to write a short story with Jon where Samual learns why Jon is a bully. Things change for them, but you'll have to wait until book 3 to see what.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Write more. Don't worry about all the books or courses. Write way more. Then look at the books and courses. You'll get a lot more from them and your writing will improve even faster.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Enjoy the Adventure! I write that in every book and it has more than 1 meaning for me.

Yes, enjoy the story you have in the book you hold. But it also means to enjoy your life.

Get out and have fun.

Is there one person past or present you would like to meet and why?

Hm, tough one. By meet, I'd like to have a hot dog roast and chat. Maybe play volleyball and enjoy the day. Due to being part of my influence, I'd say Nathan Fillion.

What do you want written on your headstone and why?

Enjoy the Adventure – of course!

Other than writing do you have any hobbies?

As a friend of mine always states, I am very omnivorous. I am getting back into playing music. I love playing games with friends, especially deckbuilder card games. I have a couple games I've actually been toying with that I'd like to get finished and out. I've played video games since the Atari 2600 came out in 1977. I read and have such a huge pile to books.

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Can you share something personal with your readers? Do you have any holiday traditions? What kind of music do you enjoy? What kind of movies do you prefer?

Do you have a favorite author?

Dragons of Autumn Twilight and The Shining are my 2 favorite books. I read Christmas Carol every year at Christmas. My kids and I listen to “Polly Anderson's Christmas Party” by Stuart Mclean every year to kick off the holidays. I love many types of music (I've played in rock, country, jazz, and concert bands). I still listen to hair metal. Horror is proably my favorite movie genre and I have a horror movie review podcast – Horror Lasagna – with a buddy of mine who has watched over 1,200 horror movies and records personal info on each.

If money was no issue would you prefer a cozy beach bungalow or a rustic cabin overlooking a mountain lake?

Rustic cabin. Some of my favorite memories are hiking through woods and camping on mountains.

One final question...Do you have a blog/website? If so, what is it? Do you have a social media platform where your fans can go to interact with you and follow your progress?

Sa-schneider.com facebook.com/SASchneiderAuth

OWARE MOSAIC

Nzondi

Nzondi’s Bram Stoker Award -Winning novel now being relaunched

Ace Antonio was born Acemandese Nzondi Hall in Elmhurst Hospital in Queens. Hall received his BFA with a concentration in drama from C. W. Post, Long Island University. He is also the author of the Bram Stoker award-winning novel, Oware Mosaic (Crossroad Press), as well as the horror novels, Lipstick Asylum: Where the Dead Rise (Omnium Gatherum, September 2021), Confessions of Sylva Slasher, (Montag Press, April 2013) and a non-fiction book, Lord of the Flies: Fitness for Writers (Omnium Gatherum, April 2017).

In the Metaverse, No One Knows the Dead Better than Feeni Xo The story is set on alternate Earth and follows the life of Feeni Xo, a teenage enhuman girl who wants to become an investigative forensic coroner. Similar to vampires, “enhumans” need human blood for sustenance but thanks to the creation of synthetic blood, don’t need to break enhuman laws by harming humans for survival.

One night, coming home from a party, Feeni seems to kill a young girl. Her brother, who is a police officer, helps her cover it up, but when Feeni retreats to the metaverse to play a virtual reality game that uses data from police cold cases, she discovers the dead girl in real life is actually the younger sister of her neighbor, who also happens to be a police officer.

Overwhelmed with guilt, she’s forced to help her neighbor investigate her sister’s death in a case that becomes ominous when they play the House of Oware game that’s been reprogrammed to kill every participant.

https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0C8DRPCP5

The Twin Flame Mckenna O'Dwyer knows she's impulsive. Sometimes reckless. She also knows she's a witch and keeps reincarnating as one, for reasons only her mother, Abby, can help her fully understand.

After weeks of searching, mother and daughter finally reunite—just like Elizabeth Dunlop’s prophecy states—and Abby is keen on helping Mckenna get a firm grasp on her abilities. She teaches her the proper way to channel elemental magic…but Mckenna soon discovers there’s a shortcut, something Cillian fully supports if it means getting quicker, more powerful results.

At first, Mckenna will do anything to thwart the High Priestess once and for all, before her powers are used to wipe out billions of souls. But the white horse Eachna’s devastating vision of Mother Nature continues to haunt her. Is that the future awaiting them if the Scottish Scrolls aren’t fulfilled?

Which is the lesser evil?

https://bookgoodies.com/a/B08L8FQK72

Enthralling, passionate, and with twists you won’t see coming, Mckenna’s magical education begins in book II of The Scottish Scrolls.

Katrina Tortorici Anglehart is an award-winning author from Montreal, with a multilingual prowess in English, French, Italian, and “Spanglish”. A dedicated academic, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, a graduate certificate in Scriptwriting, and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing.

K.T. Anglehart is a passionate advocate for bunnies, thanks to her late Netherland Dwarf, Magic—the inspiration behind her imprint, The Magic Dwarf Press. When she’s not writing or diving into magical reads, she revels in hiking, antiquing, and Netflix binges alongside her high schoolsweetheart-turned-husband, Andy. They currently live in Toronto with their three pets: Nessie, a mysterious rescue dog from Puerto Rico, and their whimsical bunnies, Onyx and Stirling

Walk-In: A Paranormal Romantic Suspense Novel

by Val Tobin A wicked adventure!

Reviewed by Nikki Viktoria is a no ordinary witch. She works in a shop where magick is a normal part of life but when dark forces seek her out and clash with the twin sister she thought long dead, it becomes a nail-biting tale of suspense, and good vs. evil. Enter the handsome Aedan who stumbles upon the shop and the plot thickens.

This was a well-written story that kept me hooked from start to finish. Lush detail and descriptions along with the magical scenes were top notch. The suspense built into a fantastic conclusion and promises to provide more wicked fun in a future installment.

If you love paranormal stories, read Walk-In. You won't regret it! . https://bookgoodies.com/a/B01H5Q9W8M

Prince of Midnight (Dracula's Bloodline Book 1)

by Ana Calin Couldn't Put it Down!

Reviewed by 1D82 Mary Great story telling. A really original addition to the traditional Dracular story. So glad he had a brother!

Liked the writing style and the descriptions are fabulous. Dark and dangerous, but so entrancing. Took a while to feel for the characters but ultimately thoroughly enjoyed their interaction and love story. Sexy while intriguing. A great combination that will keep you turning the pages until the end. Will be following the rest of this series. https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07M5B8N7F 130

The Lost Girl of Neverland: A Reverse Harem Romance

by JB Trepagnier A fantastic updated version to an old tale Reviewed by Reader Review A great storyline and characters in an action packed read.

An excellent take on the old Peter Pan, in this coming of age sequel.

I enjoyed this book and the tale of the lost girls and what happened to them.

Find out the real reason why Peter wanted the girls to come to the island to become the boy’s mother. And what really happens to the boys when they grow up.

I enjoyed this book and cannot wait for the next one, and I recommend it. https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07QC86W7X

Falling for a Duke (Romancing in Scotland Book 1)

by J M Ralley A good retelling of a classic fairytale!

Reviewed by Kristina M. Wenzl I love reading reimagined takes on fairlytales and classics, and Falling for a Duke does not disappoint. The author did an exceptional job of making you connect to Arabelle, and the connection between Ramsay and her draws you in. I didn't want for it to end.

Nice Job! https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07JLM52JK

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“May this season find you among those you love, sharing in the twin glories of generosity and gratitude.”

—Oprah Winfrey

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The web is a wonderful tool. There’s instant access to a wealth of knowledge on any topic - including Self-Publishing. Here are a few examples from 2023 to help authors along the way.

Goals for the New Year: Ideas and Advice from 52 Authors To kick off the new year with some inspiration, we asked our blog subscribers to share their writing and business plans for 2023, as well as advice for other authors. We received a wide range of responses, but one thing these authors all agreed on: Goals are important! https://insights.bookbub.com/goals-new-year-ideas-advice-authors/

The Best BookBub Ads of 2023

As we approach the end of 2023, it’s time for our annual roundup of the best Bookbub Ads campaigns of the year! There are many ways to run successful campaigns on BookBub, and many ways to define what success looks like, so these campaigns represent a wide mix of advertising strategies, book prices, genres, and formats. https://insights.bookbub.com/best-bookbub-ads-2023/

How to Pitch Your Book to the Media: 5 Steps to Standing Out The idea of working to generate publicity for your book may seem a little old-fashioned, maybe even irrelevant. In this post, I’ll discuss how publicity can benefit your author platform, then walk you through how to research relevant media outlets and craft pitches that illuminate the most interesting aspects of your work. https://insights.bookbub.com/how-to-pitch-book-to-media-steps/

17 Fantastic Ways to Sell More Books for the Holidays Believe it or not, ‘tis almost the holiday season! Consumers are starting to look for the perfect gifts for friends and family, so it’s a great time for authors and publishers to boost their promotional efforts and get more eyes on their books. And this holiday sweet spot isn’t limited to the week before Christmas. https://insights.bookbub.com/fantastic-ways-sell-books-holidays/ 133