November 21, 2023
I'm always on the lookout for new art experiences.
When I'm not writing, I still feel the need to create, be it taking photos, working at a pottery wheel, crafting, or stitching. So when an alumni event at my college alma mater popped into my inbox offering the chance to make a glass Christmas tree sponsored by the fine arts department, I jumped on it.
I've long been fascinated by the art of glass blowing. Iridescent blown-glass balls hang in one window of my house, ones I've collected over the years from art fairs and local studios. I even knew I'd have a glass artist as one of the main characters in Book #5 of the Port Chance series long before I got wind of this event.
The twenty-minute "class" was a week ago Saturday. I arrived full of anticipation and questions because BOOK RESEARCH. When my time slot arrived, an MFA student wearing goggles led me to the kiln and a table full of iron tools I'd be using to shape the glass when it came out of the 2000-degree oven. He had a glowing blob of molten glass at the end of a long iron rod waiting for me. What fun I was going to have!
We rolled the hot blob in silica sand that would turn to the glossy green tree. I used a very heavy pair of scissors to cut boughs into the tree before it cooled. Then we rolled it in more silica for a dusting of snow.
I picked up my creation last Monday. I'm now the proud owner of a $45 glass lump that looks like a cross between a morel and a pickle. At least I got the fir green color right though. Oh, that's right. Correction: the nice MFA student picked the colors, not me.
I giggled to myself during the half hour ride home every time I looked at it nestled in the drink holder. What is "art" if it doesn't make you feel something, right? And then it hit me: maybe I should give myself a little more grace during the beginning stages of writing a book. Sometimes I forget the joy of writing when I have my eye on the finish line. I thoroughly enjoyed the glass blowing process even when the finished product came out far from perfect.
Most times, the journey is more fun than what awaits at the destination.
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Are you going to treat yourself or someone you know to a bookish gift this holiday? I have the perfect idea!
I have an overstock of my paperbacks from book signings I attended this year. All are priced less than you'll find online. I'll even offer a book 50% off on a fourth title if three or more books are bought at the regular price of $10 each. Prices on the form includes shipping. The only books I don't have are the Blueberry Point novella collection and That Woman on Thistledown Lane.
Here's the form link to order: https://forms.gle/1iboVYcMXcPYs4f68. You'll pay through PayPal (you don't need to sign up for a PayPal account to pay). It's first come-first served, and I'm sorry but I can't ship internationally at these prices unless you want to cover postage. If you have questions for me, just reply to this e-mail.
Of course the books will come personally signed to you or that special someone if you'd like, and with a Merry Christmas sticker from the new Port Chance series!
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Here's a sweet romance collection of books to stock your Kindle. All are in Kindle Unlimited. Check out these titles by authors you know and some new ones too!
In a separate collection, Lit Ring is sponsoring the Harvest Blessings Giveaway. Download books and enter to win a Kindle Fire or Amazon cash! (No purchase necessary though. Go here to see the titles: https://litring.com/giveaway/harvest-blessings/
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Stay tuned for next week's newsletter when I'll feature the Christmas edition of the Clean My Shelves Giveaway!
(Click on the cover to go to the sales/download page)
A small town romance with quirky characters about the healing power of unexpected love from USA Today Bestselling author Melinda Curtis.
“I laughed, cried, and couldn't put this book down.” - Goodreads Reviewer
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She’s hiding. He's a fun-loving Playboy. They’ll need a Christmas miracle.
"A beautiful, heartfelt contemporary! The story is fast paced and enchanting. The characters are superb and totally relatable. Absolutely magnificent!" - Amazon review
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Facebook Page * Instagram
Goodreads * Readers Group
Port Chance Series * NEW BOOK *
New small-town romance series! It's in Kindle Unlimited too.
That Woman on Thistledown Lane
Hearts in Hendricks series:
Now on Amazon, iBooks, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, Google Play, & more!
Love Like Water: books2read.com/u/mZLjz5
Love Like Fire: books2read.com/u/bwqd5G
Love Like Air: books2read.com/u/ml8rQ7
Love Like Forever: books2read.com/u/mdjLQy
Blueberry Point Romance series
More small-town romance in Hendricks, MN at Darcy and Sean Stetman's romantic inn. Seven books plus a season-inspired novella collection. Find the series here:
Blueberry Point Romance Collection
Silver Leaf Falls series
Multi-author small-town romance series, all in Kindle Unlimited! Read my book as a stand alone or as part of the series. You can find A Forever Kiss in Silver Leaf Falls here as well as the rest of the Silver Leaf Falls books.
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