Friday, November 30, 2018

Anita Klumpers and her Chrismas Passed


I'm introducing a new book to you. Don't you love the title? Christmas Passed. Here's the book, but before I tell you about this engaging novel, I want to present the author, Anita Klumpers.


Anita Klumpers is my friend, and she and I have two obvious things in common. We're writers and we both have white hair. We also have husbands and families, but Antia lives way up north, and I live down south.


  
                           Anita Klumpers                                     Gay N. Lewis

I asked Anita if white hair, or platinum as I like to call mine, ran in her family as it does mine.  Here's her anwer.


Will you still be my friend if I tell you my hair is actually almost white? Which is odd because it was always dark brown, like my dad’s. My mom was strawberry blonde that turned to a delightful silver when she got older. Instead of going gray, my hair turned mom’s silvery-white color and I am way too lazy to dye it.

A lot of women spend multiple dollars on hair color. I guess Anita and I are fortunate to have easy hair styles and natural color. We can spend less time with hair and more time on writing.

In her debut book, Winter Watch, she centered her story around a pocket watch. Here's an excerpt from my review. 

"...We begin with the timepiece in Galveston, TX, and end with the watch in Russia. Over the centuries, the artifact gets into the hands of nefarious people, and this adds to the mystery and fascination. This book has romance and suspense...."

I asked Anita if she'd ever been to Galveston or Texas. Here's her answer. 


I’ve driven through Texas only once, but did spend some time there for a wedding. It was over 4th of July near Dallas (Plano) and hotter than blazes, and I loved it anyway! For being a cool weather junkie who loves rolling hills of Wisconsin, I adored the wide open spaces, the sprawling city, the beautiful homes—pretty much everything about it.

For couples who've been married for ages, I like to hear what their idea of a romantic evening is. I'm gathering ideas, don't you know?  Here's her preference for a romantic night with her hubby. 

Well, it can’t be in front of the T.V. My husband is guaranteed to fall asleep! We like to take long drives with no particular goal, find a place to eat dinner, go for a walk and explore (if the weather permits), then talk and talk all the way home. And then fall asleep in front of the T.V.

Here's a bit more about Anita Klumpers.

       She is Midwest born and bred, except for a brief and exhilarating few years in Denver when she was small. She received a teaching degree sometime in the previous millennium and used it mostly to homeschool her three sons. These days Anita chases her grandchildren around, waving books at them and suggesting everyone cuddle up for a good story.
            Good stories are her passion, especially if they are well-written, have a dose of humor, just a tickle of romance, and a decidedly non-gory mystery. On the other hand, she lists “Frankenstein” and “Fahrenheit 451” as two of her favorite books. Go figure.
            Creating skits was Anita’s first foray into writing. Always up for a challenge and a reason to postpone defrosting the freezer, she tried her hand at a full-length novel. It only took five years, but she did it!
            Daily (honestly) she marvels at how much she loves coffee and her husband; her family, friends and church. Even more, she is astonished at how much she is loved by her Lord and Savior.
            Her blog is “The Tuesday Prude” ( https://thetuesdayprude.com/) and she’s had two books published by Pelican/Prism Books (“Winter Watch” and “Hounded.”)
         Christmas Passed is due December 2018 and “Buttonholed” is contracted with Pelican/Prism Books.

Doesn't Anita sound interesting? So is her book, Christmas Passed. It comes out December 1. I've already ordered my copy and I'm ready to read.





Blurb:
Dinah loves Christmas. She loves history, the old Wagner House, and the elderly women working to preserve its heritage. She loves almost everything except Mick Wagner, her childhood nemesis.
But if they want to save the Wagner House and solve a mystery that's been hiding in the attic for almost eighty years, they'll have to join forces. And they have to do it quickly, before one of them dies trying.

Links to Christmas Passed


Barnes and Noble:




It's a pretty cover. The art work is good, and I know the story will enteretain. After you read it, be sure to review. Those reviews are super important to authors.

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Red, Green, Blue Christmas





Sarah helps Beth Marsh in this book. Beth is a rich, Houston widow. She never planned a romance, but now men want her. Or do they want her money? Sarah comes to earh to help. And Boy! Does she hinder! This is Sarah's third mission to earth and she has so much to learn about the angel business.  Beth and her boyfriends are in for a wild adventure. 






Sarah is a little more experienced when she visits earth on this Christmas, but she's still a disaster in the making. Emily, a Dallasite, gets dumped by her boyfriend and sets out to go home to Austin. When her car is stranded, Sarah, appearing as a ninety-year old woman, Estella, helps her find a cowboy to take her into his Texas Hill Country ranch. Masquerading as a mortal becomes a challenge for Sarah, and the mishaps are hillarious.



Fast forward to 2018. Sarah returns with an unusual mission. She must help Nick Claus find a wife. Sarah follows Nick from coast to coast as he attempts to find a wife and a new location for the Santa business. Sarah returns in her disguise as Estella to get the job done.

Blurb -

Nick Claus, the single son of Santa, hates cold weather. He must marry, find a southern location for the family business, and relocate the North Pole operation—all within a year! Haphazard Sarah, the bumbling angel, follows Nick from California to Florida, but discovers no mate. Can Sarah find one for Nick in Texas? Will Texas become the new North Pole?

Here's a five star review: 

I am a "Sarah" fan and this is by far my favorite, and not just because one of the main characters and I share the same name. They keep getting better and better, but each is a delight. Lewis brings out deep theological truths wrapped in a sweet and funny way through the antics of her character, Sarah. The theme of finding Mrs Claus is not new but this one is uniquely refreshing. --Julie C


I write faith and humor. You'll find me here.

Sunday, November 25, 2018

Gone is Thanksgiving



The Thanksgiving of 2018 is now in the history books. Our turkey was pardoned, but we didn't spare the pig.

How was it for you? 

Here in our house, it was on the quiet side. We had two of our three daughters present, along with one nice guy who dates the middle daughter.

I decorated the house for Thanksgiving, but minimized the meal. Who needs all those leftovers? Why throw out food? No one in my house needs extra weight. We had treats in a limited amount. So guess what? We weren't stuffed with overeating and guilt this year.

After the meal, we watched the Coyboys beat the Redskins. Well, at least the family did. I sort of watched as I read a book. I like multi-tasking.

Now that Thanksgiving is over, my attention turns to Christmas.



Thanksgiving and Christmas come too close together, at least in my opinion. There's too much work to do and an enormous amount of expense involved for these holidays. Not that one must decorate to the hilt, or spend to the max, but most of us feel pressured to do so. 

Hubby and I are determined to cut back this year, like we did for Thanksgiving. Well, actually, he is more resolute about it than I am. He isn't engineering outside Christmas decorations for the upcoming holiday, but I'm bedecking inside.

What good and kind events do you have planned? 

We have a few things on the calendar already.

We've invited a group of residents at an assisted living facility to trek out to Fulshear and tour our neighborhood. As I said, we aren't going to light up our yard, but just about everyone else will. The residents will enjoy a tour, and afterwards, we'll all troop into our kitchen for cookies, eggnog, and punch.

I'll play the piano for a group at a nursing facility. I don't pound all the correct keys, and my Christmas carols can sound a bit like a nightmare, but those sweet, little folks don't mind. They like music...even mine! 

My advice for the season is to slow down and enjoy what you can do for others.

Make someone smile.


That's what the season is about. Right?





Thursday, November 15, 2018

Are You a Mess?


Most of us go thorough days where we consider ourselves inadequate, or not smart enough. "If only I had more education."

Perhaps we feel stupid. "Why did I make that unwise decision?"

Do you ever feel crazy, lazy, unloved, freiendless, unhelpable?

And the list goes on.

We browbeat ourselves with the mess we've made of our lives. Most of us do anyway. I suppose a narcisstic person doesn't feel he/she is a mess, but if you're delusional about how great you are, you're a mess and don't know it.

So here's the deal.  None of us are perfect. Sometimes we are born with a challenge, othertimes, we give ourselves one. But God can fix messes.  He mends our marred condition.

I know this to be true. He's in the process of fixing me.





Monday, November 5, 2018

Stressed? Squeeze a Ball





While sitting in the administrator's office of an assisted living facility, I found a stress ball located on her desk. I picked it up and began squeezing.

Wow! I squashed the thing with all my might and couldn't believe how good it made me feel to crush something.

I kept squeezing the little thing for all I was worth. Over and over again, I attacked the palm-sized giant. The cute little ball never complained or argued back. This tiny Goliath never changed its structure, never attacked me or hurt me, and it remained the same throughout the ordeal I gave him.

After I finished my business with the admistrator, I gave back her helpful toy, but I decided I need one. After a successful search, I now have my own.

Are you stressed because of circumstances beyond your control? Do you grow weary of political animosity? How about a daily routine that pulls you deeper into a trench?

God expects us to excercise self-control in whatever life throws at us. Oh my!  Dear Lord, help us with that. 

What's that You say? You gave us Your Word and prayer for daily living? You gave us an example in your Son?  Yes! Thank you, but what else can we do to help You assist us? Science says physiscal exercise benefits...like a walk or a jog. Wait a minute! Some of us humans have legitimate exxcuses as to why we can't exercise. Then what do we do with emotions that tear our bodies and minds down?

Coping is difficult, right?

God helps us through tough times in various ways, and occasionally, He gives us something odd to help with temper, frustration and depression. Like a small, rubber, bouncy ball. Others use a small, round prayer rock. A stone to keep in their pocket to remind them to pray.

I'm keeping my bouncy ball handy. If frustration gets the better of me and I throw it at someone, the rubber ball will do less damage that a prayer rock.

Maybe I'll give my fictional angel a stress ball. Nah. Probably not a good idea. She'd drop it from the sky onto some earthling's head. My Sarah, she's such an accident in the making, but she makes me laugh, and that's as good as a stress ball.




Here are some links where you can find my books.






PBG Insider: Gay N. Lewis Introduces her "Sarah" series

Sarah at Christmas