A dear friend recently called me to let me know how much she enjoyed my book, The Misunderstood Angel: Branyrd the Angel Book 1.
She does not use computers, text, email or a cell phone. I guess you could say she is ‘old school.’ I told her I would share her thoughts here for all to see. She was pleased that I would do this since she couldn’t write them herself.
This is what she said, ‘I had to call to tell you how much I enjoyed reading your Angel book. How do you think about things to write like this? I can’t believe it!It was really good. I didn’t want it to end!I like the characters and the way you put in some humor. It was very enjoyable!
This was music to my ears and gave me a much-needed lift! Thank you, Marianne, for your review!
I told her I would send book 2 to her as soon as it is published. She was quite excited about reading it too. She is a sweet lady who I have known for many years. We were once neighbors and became very close over the 13 years I lived next door to her. We get together once in a while for lunch. I am thankful for her friendship and support.
If you haven’t read this book, I hope you will check it out soon before book 2 is online. It will be coming soon!!
Thank you so much for stopping by to read this post. Feel free to come back again soon! Please review books you love to help spread word about then to others.
Blessings & Hugs! Stay Safe, Stay Well and God Bless!
READING GIVES YOU WINGS TO FLY! SOAR WITH JEMSBOOKS ALL YEAR THROUGH! HAPPY READING!
I love to see how much traffic we get when it snows. There are so many tracks that overlap one another that it is impossible to know how many deer, turkeys and other animals have traversed our yard. But it is fascinating to see the traffic we receive.
Do you see a bush that looks like an angel in the distance? I think it is Branyrd watching over me. Ha!
Much of the traffic is back and further between our arborvitae outside our kitchen window. It’s amazing to see this. We have actually seen deer eating these bushes in the middle of the night when we get up for a drink of water. I always look out the window to see if I can catch them in action. My husband put some Irish Spring soap inside the bushes to try to deter the deer from eating the bushes. I always picture them blowing bubbles after eating the branches. Ha!
It is fascinating to see how much is going on around us and we are unaware of it all! We do see plenty of deer from time to time which always is a thrill for me. They are such beautiful creatures with their large eyes, long legs, and majestic stances they take as they look back at you.
Photo of the snow at its deepest
Photo of the snow after two days of melting in 40 degree temps.
I’ll be sorry to see it all go for I will no longer be able to look at the animal tracks until the next snowfall. Today is the first day of spring! I can’t believe it with all the snow we recently received.
It will not feel like spring until all the snow is gone, the grass begins to green up and we see our first crocuses sprout out of the ground even if there is some snow left over. That always amazed me to see something green growing up through the snow.
Next time I see some deer I will try to snap a photo or two and share here. They are quick to run away when they see us trying to take their photos. I guess they are shy. They do change their roaming times so that they are safer from humans and other animals. We never see them at the same time of day or night. They do this innately not because they are smarter than the average animal (I almost said bear). Ha!
Thank you for stopping by to read this post. Come back again real soon!
Blessings & Hugs! Stay Safe, Stay Well and God Bless!
READING GIVES YOU WINGS TO FLY! SOAR WITH JEMSBOOKS ALL YEAR THROUGH! HAPPY READING!
This is a post I wrote back in 2017. I think, if you haven’t already read it, you may enjoy it. Who would have thought that the corned beef and cabbage we eat on St. Patrick’s Day carries this background. Surprising! Enjoy!
online photos
An Irish Blessing
(A Blessing from St. Patrick) May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, May the rains fall soft upon your fields, And, until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of His hand (Traditional Irish Blessing; origin unknown, although some attribute it to Saint Patrick.)
Source: Insights Plaques: Irish Blessing
Blessings of the day to you and wishing you good luck always!
Janice
Addendum:
Here is an interesting story about the origins of corned beef and cabbage that my friend, Steve, sent.
The Story of Corned Beef – By AOH National Historian Mike McCormack
With the recent St. Patrick’s festivities behind us, I can’t count the number of times I was told Corned Beef and Cabbage is not an Irish dish as if we who enjoyed it were being duped by store managers with an abundance of the stuff. I enjoyed telling them the truth only to see their eyes open wide and to know that the next time they have it, they’ll think of us.
In the Nineteenth century, the Irish tenant farmer had been forced to rely on potatoes as a main food since it produced the greatest yield per acre and most of the land belonged to English landlords. On special occasions one might enjoy a bit of bacon and cabbage with the potatoes, but potatoes were the staple. When blight hit the potato in 1845, it caused a major deficiency in the dietary staple and many were forced to emigrate to survive but that’s another story.
Upon arrival in America without resources, they were generally forced to settle in the least desirable parts of the cities in which they landed. In New York this was the slums of the lower east side around the notorious Five Points. Unskilled and unschooled, they tried to scratch out a living and send a few pennies back to those they were forced to leave behind. Personal gain eluded them as prejudice and No Irish Need Apply signs hindered their climb to economic stability, yet they persevered and eventually succeeded against incredible odds.
Among the hardships families had to endure in a slum environment was the lack of nourishing food. It was generally up to the mother to prepare a healthy meal for her family and in this situation, her ingenuity left us a tradition.
In the mid-19th century, New York was a major port in the China tea trade. From 1841 through 1860, clipper ships dominated that trade. These were the fastest sailing ships in the world at the time. When fully rigged and riding a tradewind, they could reach speeds of more than 16 knots which meant that the trip to China and back would only take about nine months, depending on the route taken. However, an unlucky ship could spend an additional three weeks crossing due to Doldrums – a part of the ocean where they might encounter calms, squalls, and shifting winds.
Carrying a crew of 50 to 60 men, the ships were originally provisioned before leaving New York with enough fresh water, flat bread, oats, coffee, rum, and salted beef to last until they reached China. After gastric complaints about re-provisioning in China for the trip home, many began to carry double provisions for the round trip. These always included a bit extra in the event of doldrums. Upon arrival back in New York, the excess provisions were generally dumped in the harbor for what else could one do with lumps of beef that had been soaking in brine for nine-months.
It was then that coincidence and circumstance collided and the Irish mothers seeking nourishment for their families spotted the floating beef in the river and fished it out. Fortunately, before the advent of power boats, the river was cleaner then. They took it home and soon developed a method of preparing it so that their diet would have meat at least once a week – or at least when the ships came in. They would boil the beef to remove the salt, discard the water and boil it again. They found that repeating that process three times – once each for the Father, Son and Holy Ghost – would remove enough salt to make it palatable, however, while the salt was gone, so was the flavor! That’s when a head of cabbage was added. The last time the beef was boiled, it was boiled in water that had boiled a head of cabbage and a flavor was introduced to the meat. It didn’t take long for ship’s crews to realize there was a market for the old brined beef and returning ships soon saw women lining up for the leftover salted beef which was now sold at a penny a pound. It was a far cry from the bacon and cabbage they might have enjoyed in Ireland, but still it was a welcome dish. In later years, the dish became a traditional favorite for it brought back memories of a mother’s love although the modern dish is far more palatable than the one mom dragged out of the river.
On Saint Patrick’s Day, many people enjoy corned beef and cabbage and some even believe it to be an Irish dish. In a manner of speaking it is, but it should not remind us of Ireland. Rather it should remind us of the ingenuity of Irish mothers, their dedication to their families and their determination to overcome any obstacles put in their path in caring for their families. It should also remind us of the hardships endured by our immigrant ancestors who persevered and overcame the difficulties imposed on them in a tenement slum to bring their descendants to a better life so that we could enjoy a dish of corned beef and cabbage in pleasant company and more enjoyable surroundings.
There you have it! Now when you enjoy corned beef and cabbage just be thankful you didn’t have to pull it out of the river! Enjoy!
Compliments of Shareable Gifs – Totallypimpedout.net
If you are looking for some entertaining reading, check out these books. Hope you have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day whether you are Irish or not. On this day we all feel a little of the Irish in us. Wear your green and smile and eat your corned beef and cabbage and grab copies of these books below for an enjoyable read! Thank you!
Novels for 18+ books are available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble and also by clicking on covers to the right of this post.
Hunting Mariah – thriller/mystery/crime/suspense
The Series – Hunting Mariah & Mariah’s Revenge – Mystery/suspense/thriller/crime
In A Second – mystery/suspense/paranormal/psychological
An Angel Among Us – Short story collection – multi-genres
Wow! We are getting tons of snow on 3/14/23 here in New England. This is our first big storm of the season to arrive this winter. Better to have it in March than in January or February since it will melt sooner because spring is coming, temps will be rising.
Notice the amount of snow in the large photo compared to the snow depth in the first photo below. We are expected to continue to get more snow over the next day or so with another storm in the near future. But we expect this in New England! It may sound crazy but there is nowhere else I would live!
This snow is a boost for our mountains and ski resorts and all those snow enthusiasts. I am not a skier or a snow enthusiast, but I do love to watch it coming down as long as I don’t have to be out in it or driving anywhere.
I didn’t venture out in this as you can see. I ran around from window to window to try and capture the beauty of it all – over two feet so far and more expected. Yikes! Of course, this is not the biggest snowfall we have ever had. I have seen much more. But I am thankful for every inch we get to help fill the wells and bring up the level of the aquifer.
We had a serious drought in New Hampshire this past summer and don’t want to see it again. Many people had problems with their wells drying up and the rest of us on city/town water could not water anything outside all summer. All this snow after melting will help fill some of the wells, aquifer and lakes, streams, rivers, etc. to prevent another drought.
Here are more photos I snapped a few minutes ago on 3/14/23 at 4:45 pm. You will notice that there is more snow then in the ones above!
Notice the two photos with the cardinals, one male red and one female red with brown at the feeder. Seeing the brilliant red of the cardinal against the snow takes my breath away!
Birds usually hide out in our deciduous evergreens but these trees are completely covered with snow and bending over and separating. Poor birds lost their place to take cover until the snow falls off the trees.
My husband filled all the feeders yesterday so that the birds would not go hungry during the storm. What a guy!
I hope you enjoyed my photos of all the snow. It’s time for me to go start dinner – Chicken Piccata tonight! Check my recipes for this and many other delicious meals.
Thank you for stopping by to read this post. Feel free to come back any time.
Blessings & Hugs! Stay Safe, Stay Well and God Bless!
READING GIVES YOU WINGS TO FLY! SOAR WITH JEMSBOOKS ALL YEAR THROUGH! HAPPY READING!
Jemsbooks has children’s books in rhyme with life lessons, good family values and fun animal adventures. If you are looking for books for the children in your life, look no further than here. I have 20 books for children ages PS-Grade 3 that will delight your children and keep them entertained for many hours.
Writing for children has been a fun experience for me. My goal is to encourage children of all ages to read every day to help increase their vocabulary, enhance their creativity, and hopefully create future book lovers who are readers and thinkers. Children need books for. as I always say, Reading Gives You Wings to Fly!
Did you know that reading is good for you? Reading is not only important for children but it’s also very important for adults. It not only increases your word vocabulary and stimulates your mind, but also gives you a feeling of wellbeing and promotes good health, dispels feelings of loneliness, improves your memory, promotes better patterns of sleep, and don’t forget – it brings families closer when they share and read books together.
I feel pure joy writing for children and hope with God’s help and blessing to continue to write many more fun adventures for children to read and enjoy. I do enjoy writing for MG/PT/YA and 18+ too!
Here are the life lessons your children will learn from my children’s books:
Louey the Lazy Elephant – Louey teaches children the importance of not being lazy and always listen to your mother.
Ricky the Rambunctious Raccoon – Ricky teaches children to always listen to your mother.
Jerry the Crabby Crayfish – Jerry teaches children that it is okay to be different, be the best you can be and be happy with who you are.
Lamby the Lonely Lamb – Lamby teaches children to accept differences and to be kind to others.
Jesse the Precocious Polar Bear – Jesse teaches children that friends are important and mothers know best.
Broose the Moose on the Loose –Broose teaches children to be kind and accepting of others who are different than you are.
Sebastian Meets Marvin the Monkey – Sebastian teaches children how important it is to be kind to animals, that animals have feelings too like humans and deserve our respect.
Colby the Courageous Cat – Colby teaches children to love one another and take care of your siblings.
Jeffrey the Jittery Giraffe – Jeffrey teaches children to be brave and help others in need.
Clarence Henry the Hermit Crab – Clarence Henry teaches children to work hard and do the best you can do and be happy with who you are.
Lucy the Talented Toy Terrier – Lucy teaches children to be kind to pets, how important a pet can be and how much this pet loves us unconditionally.
The First Star – teaches children that love of family is more important than all the riches in the world.
Drystan the Dragon Series Book 1: Drystan and Durward Save the Day – Drystan demonstrates to children that being kind and helping others is important and the right thing to do.
Drystan the Dragon and Friends Series, Book 2: Damara Helps Drystan Find His Roar – Drystan demonstrates the importance of friendship, being kind to others and helping others in need.
Drystan the Dragon and Friends Series, Book 3 – Delbert Finds Himself – Drystan teaches Delbert, a shy dragon, the importance of loving yourself as you are and that all colors are beautiful!
Drystan the Dragon and Friends Series, Book 4: Delfina Solves A Problem – Delfina helps Drago love himself and teaches him to be kind to others.
Drystan the Dragon and Friends Series, Book 5: Drago Does A Good Deed – Drago finds a rabbit in need of his help. He learns that it is better to be kind to others.
Drystan the Dragon and Friends Series, Book 6: Dragana Helps a Fairy – Dragana helps a fairy who is injured and in need. She doesn’t hesitate to help in any way she can and goes above and beyond to help this fairy. Being kind and helping others is what Dragana learns.
Make Believe: Bedtime Stories for Children Book 1: These six stories promote good behavior, encourage children to be kind to others, friends are important, differences should be accepted and that we are all unique and special.
Make Believe is Fun: Bedtime Stories for Children Book 2: These six stories help children to realize the importance of friendship, family, helping others in need and that it’s okay to be different.
I hope you will check out my books to get your children reading daily. Get them reading today and away from the videos, cell phones, and X-Boxes.
Thank you so much for stopping by to read this post. Come back again soon. You are always welcome!
Blessings & Hugs! Stay Safe, Stay Well and God Bless!
READING GIVES YOU WINGS TO FLY! SOAR WITH JEMSBOOKS ALL YEAR THROUGH! HAPPY READING!
I am honored to receive this latest award from Book Excellence Awards! Thank you, Book Excellence! It’s always exciting to receive an award for one of my books!
Book Excellence Awards Honoree – FINALIST
The Legend of the Taken Ones (Gateskin Chronicles Book 1) – Fantasy
Product Details
Book Title: The Legend of the Taken Ones (Gateskin Chronicles Book 1)
Author Name: Janice Spina
Here is the link below to check it out. See what other readers are saying about this epic fantasy series. More books will be coming later in 2023 and beyond.
Reviews from Amazon:
Reviewed By Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers’ Favorite Within the Territory of Noella Provence, there was a kingdom, Sovorotskina, known as the Land of Goodness and Light. It was ruled by the great wizard King Gateskin and his fairy queen wife, Solinara. They had three children, Serena, Simon, and Catalina, all with special magical powers. They had to keep the magic secret as there was an evil power in a nearby kingdom, in the land of Parotovina, the Land of Darkness. This evil power once stole an entire village’s children to claim the magic for their own people, to use this magic for evil. When King Gateskin is kidnapped, Serena and her siblings combine their powers and resources, enlisting the help of a new friend, a Sprite by the name of Spindle, to rescue the king as well as the descendants of those “taken” children.
Janice Spina’s young adult novel, The Legend of the Taken Ones, is the first book in a six-book fantasy series, The Gateskin Chronicles. With an exciting plot full of magic and the conflicting powers of good and evil, this story is a real page-turner. The story begins with background information on the taken ones, the children kidnapped by the evil powers of Parotovina. Knowing that evil continues to lurk nearby, the magical kingdom of King Gateskin is always on high alert. The adventure truly begins when the king is kidnapped and the children set out on a journey of their own, intent on rescuing their father and leader. This is an epic, high-fantasy adventure that follows in the time-tested style of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings: the ongoing battles between good and evil and the true magic that is found within one’s heart and in the bonds of family and friendship.
The Legend of the Taken Ones: Gateskin Chronicles Book 1 by Janice Spina 5 Stars: With power comes responsibility!
‘THE LEGEND OF THE TAKEN ONES’ is book one of six planned in the ‘Gateskin Chronicles’. Award-winning Author, Janice Spina, is writing this fantasy series for ages 13-17, but I can attest to the fact, adults will enjoy it too.
Serena Anya (age 14 is the heroine of story, sister to Simon Andolferan (age 12) and Catalina Leahna (age 10). Their mother is Solinara; Queen Fairy of Sovorotskina. Their father is Gateskin; King Wizard of Sovorotskina. Serena has the power to move objects with her mind. Simon can fly, and Catalina can become invisible. With these powers comes responsibility.
Sovorotskina (Land of Goodness & Light) was one of the villages that make up the Territory of Noella Province (later known as Votovia). The other villages are Votovia (Land of Magic & Mystery), Merona (Land of Peace & Harmony), Merlina (Land of Myths & Legends), Amora (Land of Faith & Love), and Parotovina (Land of Evil & Darkness).
I think to understand the story you must understand the ‘Votovians’. The Votovians were feared by other villages that did not have fairies and wizards. The Votovian children were taught these five simple rules in Votovian School from the age of four. They used rhymes and simple language so that the youngest children could understand the rules.
Rule#1: Never use your powers to hurt anyone (not even to injure, move or hurt even flowers). Rule#2: Help your fellow villagers out in any way you can. Rule#3: Always band together for the common good. Rule#4: Above all, protect the children. If danger comes, fast we will flee, and stay together using our powers only in an emergency. Rule#5: Powers are to be used in emergency situations if agreed upon only by the governing council with final approval of the King and Queen of Votovia.
The Votovians were all hoping they would never have to use their powers. Their powers collectively were so strong they could destroy everyone in their path. They were a peace-loving people, and this did not come easy for them, but they would do whatever they had to do to protect their children and the children of their friends in Sovorotskina and any of the other neighboring villages.
I will let you discover on your own ‘THE LEGEND OF THE TAKEN ONES’. I highly recommend Gateskin Chronicles, Book 1. Author Janice Spina always has valuable lessons in her storylines, which make her stories true ‘Jems’. Janice has written 19 children’s books and has multiple series, for ages 10 and up.
Review by Theodocia McLean (Book Marketing Global Network). Author’s Page at Book Marketing Global Network:
If you haven’t begun the adventure with Gateskin and company, now is the time to begin. Book 2 is already out there too.
Thank you so much for stopping by to read this review. Come back again soon for more posts about whatever pops into my mind.
Blessings & Hugs! Stay Safe, Stay Well and God Bless!
READING GIVES YOU WINGS TO FLY! SOAR WITH JEMSBOOKS ALL YEAR THROUGH! HAPPY READING!
It is always a pleasure to welcome one of my fellow authors to my segment – Interview an Author. Today author Nancy Klein is here to share a little bit about herself and her books.
Welcome, Nancy. It is a pleasure to meet you and learn about you and your books. Please step up on the soap box and tell us about yourself.
My blog covers travel, art, poetry, current events, politics and much more.
Book description:
Isabel, a 12-year-old Mexican girl, struggles as she tries to settle into a new life in the United States. She misses her mother, left behind when she and her father came to find a better life. She doesn’t feel welcome living with her uncle and his family and struggles with the English language. How will she cope in this strange new world?
Her kind sixth-grade teacher suggests Isabel keep a journal, where she can pour out the feelings she used to share with her mother. She encourages her to take home the newspaper to help improve her English and learn about world events. While Isabel starts to make friends, she is horrified by the events that take place on September 11, 2001, in the US, witnesses a deadly political demonstration in Oaxaca, Mexico and is eventually forced to flee to Madrid, Spain.
Will all this chaos prevent Isabel from finding a way to feel connected to the world around her? This coming-of-age story is written in journal format, spanning three years and three countries. Follow Isabel as she grows into a young woman during turbulent times, trying to find a place to call home instead of feeling torn between worlds.
This is an anthology of 34 stories from a variety of authors sharing experiences that happened to them and concluding with what each author learned as a result. Each touching story begins with a quote related to the subject, shares the experience, and concludes with a moral. This collection of stories is especially geared towards younger people who may need some guidance about how to successfully navigate their lives. However, people of all ages would find this book of interest because of the variety of wonderful stories and moral guidance shared. Some stories are happy while others are quite sad. In all cases, these mature writers share lessons from their own experiences to help others successfully navigate through the ups and downs of life.
This is a book meant for children to help them understand what makes Spain so special by highlighting some of its more interesting cities through words and plenty of color photos. Adults can use the book to help them plan a trip to Spain as well. The tour of Spain is designed so that visitors to the country can travel via car or public transportation in a clockwise direction to see the most important sights in nine unique cities of the country. Generally, the cities are between three to five hours apart. Most of these places have been designated as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
About Me
I am originally from the Chicago area and worked as a journalist for about 15 years. Later on, I became a public school teacher working with bilingual students from Mexico. Torn Between Worlds, my novel, is loosely based on the experience of one of my students. I felt like there weren’t many books that reflected the experience of undocumented Latino immigrants so I felt compelled to write this book to address their plight. This way, these students would have a book that speaks to their experiences.
When we retired, my husband and I moved to sunny Spain because we don’t like the long, cold Chicago winters but really like traveling around Europe.
I started keeping a journal when I was 12, first writing about the annual Academy Awards ceremony and who had won what award. Since then, I kept a journal off and on until I retired. Then I started writing a blog and that allows me to express myself to a wider audience.
The three books I have written all evolved from personal experiences. When I started my blog, I began writing life lessons I had learned over the years. This evolved into the anthology, Life Lessons, that I put together with contributions from other members of my local writers’ group.
At the same time, I broadened the scope of my blog by covering our travel experiences including museums we had visited, choral festivals we attended, along with highlighting special places worth visiting. During the worst part of the Covid pandemic, I also started writing poetry as a way to cope with how it was taking away many of the joyful things about living. Politics and current affairs also interest me a lot so I write about that on my blog too.
My third book, What’s So Special about Spain, covers nine of the most interesting cities in Spain that we have visited and includes photos we took of these places. It’s meant to entice children to want to come to Spain with their families.
I am currently working on a non-fiction book about genealogy. The first part of the book deals with how to build a great family tree while the second half is a collection of interesting stories about famous ancestors throughout history.
My current hobbies include genealogy, yoga, singing in two choirs, swimming, book groups, reading, writing and travel.
What advice would I give prospective authors?
Join a writers’ group to get honest feedback on what you have written. Don’t bother trying to get a publisher or agent interested in your books. Just self-publish them after you have had them critiqued by a writers group and edited by a professional. I published three books so far with the help of Kindle Create, a free program offered by Amazon. This way, your books are out in the world. Then you have to get friends and acquaintances to read your books and review them on Amazon or Goodreads. These good reviews can help with sales. The downside to self-publishing is you have to be the main person marketing your books. Even with many good reviews, the books don’t sell themselves.
jjspina: Good advice, Nancy. I agree about books not selling themselves. Self-published authors have a tough road to travel with much work to do to sell themselves and their books in this ever-growing world of books.
If you could have one wish, what would it be?
I wish that everyone in the world would have just what they needed for a comfortable existence rather than having super rich people and homeless people. Life doesn’t have to be this way. No one should be suffering when there is enough for everyone.
Jjspina: I agree with that for sure, Nancy. If only is what I say all the time about people who have so much while there are others suffering with so little.
Thank you so much, Nancy, for stopping by today for this interview. It was a pleasure to have you here and to learn about you and your fascinating books and life.
Thank you, readers, for stopping by to read this post. Please check out Nancy’s intriguing books and come back for more interviews, book reviews, news about books, specials and anything else that pops into my already overcrowded head. Thank you for your support! Please remember to reviews books wherever you purchased them to help authors spread word about their work. We thank you for your efforts!
Blessings & Hugs! Stay Safe, Stay Well and God Bless!
READING GIVES YOU WINGS TO FLY! SOAR WITH JEMSBOOKS ALL YEAR THROUGH! HAPPY READING!
I was thrilled to see this new review of my historical/romance novel, Lubelia Alycea! Thank you, Darlene, for this lovely review. So happy to hear you enjoyed it!
A family saga based loosely on the author’s grandmother’s life. The story is about an immigrant family who arrived in the USA from Portugal at the beginning of the twentieth century. It follows the family through both World Wars, the great depression and other current events as they settle into their new home, find jobs, get married, and have children. There are struggles, happiness and sorrow, but in the middle of it, is the formidable Alycea, who arrives as a feisty ten-year-old and outlives two husbands and other family members to reach the ripe old age of one hundred. Her strength and unwavering devotion to her family are at the centre of the story. This strength is passed on to her daughters and grandchildren. Coming from an immigrant family myself, I enjoy these family sagas, especially if they depict strong women who paved the way for those of us who followed them.
This book was dedicated to the memory of my grandmother who was a cantankerous, strong-willed and fearless woman; someone you wouldn’t want to disagree or tangle with ever. I am nothing like her but wish I was as strong and resilient as she. Though this story is about her, most of it is not true but I know she would have loved how much I embellished her life to make it more exciting and intriguing. I bet she is smiling at this lovely review now. I’m happy too, Avoa!
If you have relatives who have traveled as my grandmother did and survived great hardships, you will enjoy reading this book. It will bring tears to your eyes and joy to your heart to see how Lubelia Alycea (Avoa – grandmother in Portuguese) survived through her trials and tribulations coming out stronger, fiercer and more determined than ever to leave a legacy for her descendants. That she did! She was remarkable, loved and somewhat feared by all. Ha! She would have loved to hear all this! I can see her face smiling now and laughing her larger-than-life laugh that always made me giggle too.
I remember when I was a little girl and spending time at the beach with my family, I would always tease Avoa about her boisterous and contagious laugh. Once she started she couldn’t stop and tears would flow making everyone join in. We were walking along the downtown area of Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts one summer when I heard my grandmother’s laugh or what I thought was her laugh, but she wasn’t with us at that time. I looked up to see a sign with a figure of a large woman and a laughing voice that imitated my grandmother to a T. It took my breath away. Many years later it was gone as was my grandmother. I only wish it were still there so I could stand there and listen to the laugh again. I miss her terribly!
Over the years I have been in contact with her in my dreams where she has come to me to tell me something during times of great stress. I always felt better after these times hearing her voice and feeling her presence. I wouldn’t be surprised is she pays me a visit soon since I am talking so much about her. Have you ever had experiences like this? I would love to hear about them.
I hope you will check out my book soon and let me know what you thought. Hearing from readers is something I enjoy.
Thank you so much for stopping by to read this post. Come back again soon!
Blessings & Hugs! Stay Safe, Stay Well and God Bless!
READING GIVES YOU WINGS TO FLY! SOAR WITH JEMSBOOKS ALL YEAR THROUGH! HAPPY READING!
I have been busy finishing up Book 2 of Branyrd the Angel and I apologize for not posting recently. I am now into my second editing of the book with many more edits to complete.
In the meantime, here is the reveal of the beautiful cover of Branyrd’s second book, created by my husband, John,
Blurb:
Branyrd goes on another mission to Earth, this time she has been enlisted to help a homeless vet and his young son. The Angel goes out of her way to put things right for Lucas and his son, Ezra. She finds it difficult though with the influx of empathic messages and feelings that threaten to overload her. Will she be able to help Lucas get his family back together and find his way back after suffering from PTSD?
Branyrd is a funny, sweet, strong, resilient and capable Angel who is not afraid to take on the toughest tasks, who strives to pave the way for those in need, who creates change and makes a difference in the lives of others that enables them to find their way forward to a new life.
When Branyrd visits a homeless community, she meets with the mayor to work out a plan to solve the problems the homeless have there. Will others stop her from helping those in need? Will Benedicto be there in case she needs his intervention? Will Branyrd be able to break free from the connections when it is time for her to leave Earth and return to Heaven?
Watch for this book coming in March. But don’t forget to read book 1 even though both books are stand-alone stories it’s nice to get a feel for the main protagonist, Branyrd, and her inimitable character in the first book.
Thank you so much for stopping by to read this post. I hope you will check out Branyrd the Angel soon. She will lighten your heart, lift your spirits and brighten your day.
Blessings & Hugs! Stay Safe, Stay Well and God Bless!
READING GIVES YOU WINGS TO FLY! SOAR WITH JEMSBOOKS ALL YEAR THROUGH! HAPPY READING!
It is always a pleasure to welcome one of my fellow authors and friends to my segment – Interview an Author. Today my author friend, Darlene Foster, who writes fascinating mysteries involving a girl, Amanda, who travels to different parts of the world.
Welcome, Darlene. It is so nice to have you back again. Please step up on that platform and tell us all about yourself and your books.
When did you know that you wanted to be an author?
I’ve been telling stories since I could talk and have always been intrigued by the written word. Books have always fascinated me, and as a child I used to make up my own stories, using familiar storybook characters. I believe it was when I was nine years old, in grade three, that my teacher suggested I write my stories down. I would dream of being the next Lucy Maude Montgomery, Louisa May Alcott or Carolyn Keene. I had a short story published in a local newspaper when I was twelve years old. I felt I was truly an author then!
Jjspina: Wow at 12 years old you were published! Good for you, Darlene! That is quite an accomplishment so young. Evidently it was in your blood to be a writer. Your supportive and teacher was all you needed to get started.
What do you expect to accomplish in 2023?
At the beginning of each year, I set a list of goals, and expect to accomplish most of them. In 2023 I plan to enter the world of self-publishing. I’ve started to learn as much as I can about it before I publish a book. I’ll start by publishing a collection of short stories based on some of my memories of growing up on the Canadian prairies in the fifties and sixties called, “You Can Take the Girl From the Prairies”. I also expect to complete book number 10 of the Amanda Travels series, “Amanda in Scotland: The Standing Stones” (working title). I also want to delve into poetry, travel to at least one new place, read 48 books and read my late mother’s five-year diary.
Jjspina: That is quite a commendable list of goals for 2023. Good luck completing them all and then some.
What hobbies do you have when you are not writing?
I enjoy cooking and baking and trying new recipes as I tend to get bored making the same things all the time. I’ve joined an online Cookbook Club where we all try making something from the same cookbook and then share the recipe and review the cookbook. I also enjoy walking my two adorable rescue dogs in the local parks and on the nearby beaches. They get me away from the computer and out in the fresh air. And of course, I enjoy reading. I’ve expanded my reading choices, but I’m not a fast reader so I’m always behind on my TBR pile!
Jjspina: I agree about getting bored making the same things. I try to mix things up when I do cook because my husband does a lot of it. God bless him! He does that to allow me to continue to write in my ever present new WIP.
What is your target audience for your book?
I initially wrote my Amanda Travels books for middle-grade children (ages 8 to 12), but I have since come to the realization that they are suitable for all ages. Adults who have read the books to toddlers tell me the little ones love them. Teenagers who are reluctant readers have sent me notes saying how much they enjoyed the books as they could easily follow along and liked the adventure. And many adults have commented that they loved learning about the various places Amanda has visited. One adult reader organized her trip based on Amanda’s visit to the country she was going to. So, the short answer is the target audience for my books is everyone who enjoys an adventure and learning about another country or place.
Jjspina: I agree, Darlene. I read some of your books and thoroughly enjoyed them and can see them suitable for all ages. Amazon wants us to put our books in a grade level. I find some of my books fall into different categories for all ages too.
Please share something about yourself that you haven’t shared before.
I’m a Pisces and I love water, but I can’t swim! I enjoy boating; we even owned a boat when we lived on the west coast of Canada. Now we live by the Mediterranean where I enjoy paddling in the water, but I don’t swim in it because I can’t swim. Go figure.
Jjspina: I can understand that. I am not a good swimmer either but can float and stay up without drowning for a little while. Ha! It must be lovely to paddle around in the Mediterranean just the same.
Speak for one of your characters in your books for this interview.
Hi! I’m Amanda. Jane Ross and I’d love for you to join me on some of my many adventures. Perhaps you’d enjoy France, Spain, England or Holland, or a trip down the Danube on a river cruise. Maybe you’d like to visit a place very different like the United Arab Emirates or Malta. The province of Alberta in Canada and the state of New Mexico in the United States are very interesting places. You never know what exciting things will happen and who you might meet, and you might even learn something you didn’t know about the place, even if you’ve been there yourself! Start reading the Amanda Travels books and enjoy the world without leaving home. See you there!
Jjspina: That is an invitation that my readers will not be able to refuse to be able to travel to exotic places and read intriguing mysteries without leaving home. I enjoyed your books and look forward to reading more.
Thanks so much, Janice, for the opportunity to chat with you.
It was my pleasure to have you here once again, Darlene. It’s amazing how many places you have visited and gleaned enough to write a story around them. I wish you much success with all your new books and whatever else you endeavor to do. Feel free to come back again to my blog with any updates of your future accomplishments.
Darlene has appeared on my blog previously. Here is the link to see that interview.
Here are Darlene’s lovely books. Check them out today. You will be delighted.
Thank you, readers, for stopping by to read this post. Please check out all Darlene’s books on links above for some enjoyable reading. Thank you for your kind support of me and my fellow authors. Please remember to review books wherever you purchase them. We appreciate your efforts to help spread word of our hard work.
If you would like to see yourself here, go to my email below and drop me a line. I will peruse your books to see if they are a good fit for my blog.
Blessings & Hugs! Stay Safe, Stay Well and God Bless!
READING GIVES YOU WINGS TO FLY! SOAR WITH JEMSBOOKS ALL YEAR THROUGH! HAPPY READING!
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