Advent Calendar - Day 13

 UH. OH. Friday the 13th. Is that alowed during the holidays?!

Just kidding. I'm not particularly superstitious. Yes, maybe a little on the mystical, magical side of things, but not days of the month and rabbit's feet (CLEARLY NOT LUCKY -- ask that poor bunny) and black cats crossing your path. When I see a black cat, I always call, "Good morning, sister!"  Which maybe the brother cats don't appreciate. Who knows? Cats are enigmatic.

What about you? No, I don't mean enigmatic. I mean, are you superstitious? About what kinds of things?

Anyway, I think we'll just go with some nice holiday-themed art today. It's Friday. I'm writing. You're busy. We're halfway there. I truly hope you're having a healthy and happy season so far.

Advent Calendar - Day 1

 

Happy Holidays! 

Forgive the shortcut, but I feel like last year's intro to the Advent Calendar was said about as well as I can say it. So Deja View. 😉

The point of my annual "Advent Calendar" is simple. It's my THANK YOU to you, my readers. To share a moment or two of holiday cheer with you. To start our days (or end our evenings) with a wee bit of comfy-coziness.

In case I haven't said it enough: Thank you for buying and reading (and re-reading and re-re-reading) my books. Thank you for allowing me to earn my living doing the thing I love best. Thank you to those readers all over the world who consume my stories in languages I can't speak. Thank you to my wonderful patrons whose kindness and generosity help me through those leanish months where life gets in the way of spinning stories.

I appreciate you all very much. Full stop. Writers write for themselves, but we publish for others. I publish for YOU. I want to give you the best books I can because I want you to see the world the way I do: a place where kindness, the willingness to communicate, and the courage to love can change lives. 

I want my books to make you feel the way the holidays (ideally) make us feel. That love will find a way. That there is magic in the every day moments. That you are not alone. That everything is going to be okay. Because everything is going to be okay. 😉

So what's ahead this month? As in previous years, I'll probably share a couple of favorite holiday songs or a poem or a some inspirational pics or a vintage animated cartoon or a cocktail recipe (or three). There will perhaps (I cannot promise) codas from me toward the end of the month. There might be a giveaway or two from my Author Merch Store. And I know at least one of our talented and generous friends will contribute some fiction or art. 

In other words, every day will be as much of a surprise to me as to you. But good surprises. The best kind of surprises!   

Happy Holidays, my dear reader-friends. May all your days be merry and bright!

Advent Calendar Day 14

 Good morning and welcome to another chilly and cloudy Monday in December. Only 11 days till Christmas. I still can't believe this year is nearly over. Not that I'm not happy to see it go. I have high hopes for 2021, and I'm guessing you do too. 

We have a brand new contributor to the Advent Calendar this morning. Terry Wylis, who you may know from novels like Kissing Sherlock Holmes and Solitude & Sea Glass written with T.D. McKcKinney--or from just hanging out with the gang on Facebook. 

Terry is sharing her lovely art and poetry with us.

Christmas Is...

The smell of pine and gingerbread,

The warmth of fire's glow;

A moment of affection shared

Beneath the mistletoe;

A diamond-fall of snowflakes

That carry their own light;

Sweet reverence for the tiny Child

Born on that holy night;

Searching for that special gift

That shows how much you care;

Voices singing joyfully

The carols held so dear;

A bond with friends and family

The love held in our hearts;

The little things filled with the joy

That Christmastime imparts.

1995

Terry has offered to mail that wonderful little twilight scene to one lucky commenter. Share what Christmas is to you and I'll randomly select from the responses below.