Happy Holidays 2022!

Christmas brings back memories of bygone times and it’s still one of my favorite times of year. People are what make the holidays special. When I was a child, we began preparing for Christmas right after the big Thanksgiving dinner at my grandparents’ home. Mom and Grandma would make plans for the next month while we cleaned up after the meal. Well, at least the women and girls cleaned, putting away food and washing dishes while the men-folk watched TV with Grand-dad. He was the ruler of the set in its big wooden entertainment center and since these were the days before remotes, my youngest boy cousin was in charge of changing the channel and adjusting the volume.

Meantime, in the kitchen, we decided when and where the guys would get the tree, a huge evergreen at least eight foot tall. We always knew it would go in the front corner of the living-room and my uncle would help Grand-dad shift the sofa to make room. Actually, my Uncle Patrick did that while my grandfather directed the action. Once it was in the stand, my uncle and I would do the lights, again under Grand-dad’s strict, loving guidance. Grandma always used string to tie the tree into place to keep Grand-dad’s calico cat from knocking it over when she climbed it to hunt the ornaments.

There would be days when we’d visit and help trim the tree, do holiday baking, and freeze the goodies for Christmas Day. My baby sis always managed to snag a ‘date bar’ or two, her favorite treat. For me, it was the doughnuts that Grandma fried in a pan of hot oil. She poured the grease into an old coffee can,

then froze it from one batch to the next. There were always traditional sugar cookies to frost.

Nothing interrupted Grand-dad’s favorite westerns or boxing on the TV, so we sang Christmas songs while we cooked. If we forgot the words, we made up our own lyrics. We shopped in downtown Seattle at long-gone discount stores and rode the bus out to my grandparents’ home in Ballard, wrapping our purchases in the paper Grandma always had on hand. She’d bought it the year before when the stores had their ‘after Christmas’ sales.

If she ran out, there were the ‘funny papers’, brightly colored comics left over from the Sunday edition. On Christmas Day, we’d do chores early on the pony farm, share our gifts – most of which were homemade or recycled – my parents bought me a used three-speed bike one year and repainted it to look new. My dime store dolls often had handsewn wardrobes made by Mom.

Yes, the extended family was poor, but we kids didn’t know it. This year, I’ll send gift cards to family members who don’t live close enough to visit. I’ll pick up toys to donate to the Christmas House the volunteer fire-fighters host. I’ve already ordered presents for my riding students and hopefully they’ll arrive at the barn early enough to be given out before the day. In Western Washington state, we rarely have snow, but often it rains. The days are shorter now, and the neighbors’ holiday lights brighten drives around the area.

This newsletter is jam-packed with goodies! Continue reading for a look at what the future could hold.

Events

Join the Strong Women - Strange Worlds A Quick Reads Group Author Reaing event on the first Friday and third Thursday of every month for a teasing taste of science fiction, fantasy, and horror stories. The events will feature 6 authors who will each have 8-minutes to temp and tantalize you. Per the SW-SW page, the readings are like a box of chocolates as described by Forrest Gump - you never know what you're gonna get!

The next event takes place on December 2nd! Preregister here.

HAPPENING TOMORROW!!!

HAPPENING TOMORROW!!!

Looking for some free swag and merch!! Look no firther than Secret Santa Days.

Over two hundred and fifty authors have signed up to take part in Isn’t It Romantic Book Club’s Fall Into a Book Giveaway on Facebook. This fantastic and fast-paced event is your chance to meet authors, play games, and win lots of prizes, including books! It’s one day only, but the group lets readers interact and talk romance all year long. Isn’t It Romantic Book Club’s monthly meetings are live-streamed, so readers can chat and ask questions with their favorite romance authors!

Join an even and enjoy yourself. You won't regret it!

Book Information:

Time in Between Book Six in the Liberty Valley Love series came out in June!

Blurb:

The oldest of the Jamison triplets, hereditary witch, and criminal defense attorney, Astra Jamison knows more about the laws of magick than her two sisters. She serves the Goddess but believes those who hurt and harm those who can’t defend themselves should be punished, abhorring it when innocents suffer. She is always willing to dole out her kind of justice to anyone who offends her, often sending them to gruesome deaths. When she and her sisters open a time portal to 1888 Liberty Valley to save two people from a serial killer, the last thing she expects is to have the wizard she views as an age-old enemy return, seeking retribution for sins she committed in the past.

Wizard and healer in more than one life, Rowdy Tall-Deer struggled to survive when his soul-matched mate arranged his murder time and again, having rogue shape-shifters attack and eat him alive. Discovering a time portal that leads to the 21st century and the witch who betrayed him means making new plans. Does he opt for vengeance or attempt to learn the truth behind her machinations? Nothing is as it seems when her demon father becomes involved, determined to continue a war that began eons ago.

Will love finally conquer evil or is history doomed to repeat itself for their next life?

Start your adventures in Liberty Valley with book one of the Liberty Valley Love Series A Man's World (e-book) for $2.99! Get your copy today! Find it on Amazon ~ A Man's World (Liberty Valley Love Book 1).

Liberty Valley Love Book 5 is OUT NOW. Order your copy today of Trail Through Time!

If you haven't seen it enjoy the Time In Between trailer.

Ghost of the Past book four in Baker City: Hearts and Haunts is coming in December 6th!



Check out the blurb:

Former Marine, Durango Hawke never thought he’d spend years trekking through the jungles of South America looking for his missing brother captured on a covert Army mission, or that duty and loyalty to his family would cost him the love of his life. He intends to marry Heather one day, but for now, they’ll have to ‘hurry up and wait!’

Army captain, Heather McElroy grew up dreaming of a country music career but followed her childhood sweetheart into the military instead. Now, back in civilian life, it’s finally time to put herself first. It’s her turn and she’s done putting her life on hold for her man regardless of how much she loves him. What will it take to make him realize she is a real person, not a doll sitting on a shelf?

When Durango leaves on his latest rescue mission, he assumes she’ll be waiting when he returns.

It’s time to experience her own adventure, but will chasing her dreams cost Heather the love of her life?

While you're waiting on Book Four to release check out books 1 - 3 of the Baker City: Hearts and Haunts series which are available on Amazon ~ Baker City: Hearts and Haunts.

Gift (A Holiday Recipe from me to you):

While I create sugar cookies from my old Betty Crocker cookbook held together with duct tape, I’ll stir up a few memories too since my grandparents are gone now and we lost my Uncle Patrick in January 2021, although it wasn’t due to the pandemic. And I’ll turn on the radio to sing along with holiday favorites. Here's a favorite sugar cookie recipe, please stop by my social media pages and let me know what you think.

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May your holidays be merry and bright and may we all have the happiest of days to come in 2023!

Josie

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