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Mama Was
the Queen of Christmas!
We're happy to supply you with a fun Christmas article and recipe to be
used on your blog or in your newsletter or publication. We've also included some
background on the book, in case you'd like to spotlight that information. If you
do chose to use the article on your site, please also include the author bio.
Feel free to use the book and/or author photo as well. Contact Linda directly if
you need her to send you the material in some other format. And if you're
interested in reviewing the book, request a review copy from her.
One reader says: “Mama Was the Queen of Christmas
combines the art of storytelling, enthusiastic instruction, and family fun to
inspire you and equip you for a meaningful, Jesus-filled holiday.”
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(November, 2012 – Spartanburg, SC) Do you love Christmas but feel the real
meaning of the season is lost in the busyness? Do you breathe a sigh of relief
when the last holiday guest is out the door, the last gift unwrapped, and the
last ornament put away? Do you struggle with balancing the preparation and
celebration with honoring Jesus? After all, it is His
birthday!
Mama Was the Queen of Christmas is a collection of stories highlighting “Mama's” role in the season as well as quotes, scripture, and practical suggestions for keeping the holidays focused on Christ. Mama presents creative ideas to plan a meaningful holiday season. SPECIAL FEATURES:
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Article & Recipe Available for Your Use
A Game for All
Adapted from the recently released book,
Mama Was the Queen of Christmas
by Linda Gilden
How will all the little holiday extras ever get done? I ask myself that
question every year. And as much as I enjoy the holidays, there seems to be so
little time.
One year I decided to let go of expectations and concentrate on celebrating
Jesus. I came up with a plan to accomplish a lot of the extras in a very
short time. I created a game!
“Come on, everyone,” I said. “We are going to play a game.”
There was minor grumbling but in the end everyone agreed a family game
would be fun. And I was so excited about the end result!
“Just give me an hour of your time,” I said. “Then you can get back to your
homework.”
I found a cute Christmas container and deposited little slips of paper,
each describing a job.
“I am going to set a timer for twenty minutes,” I said. “When you draw a
slip of paper, you have twenty minutes to work at your job. When the bell rings,
you will choose another job and change what you are doing. In an hour, you will
have helped me with three pre-Christmas chores.”
The papers in the container had jobs like:
Christmas music playing in the background created a festive and jovial
mood.
As it turned out, everybody was a winner in this game. The family gathered
in the kitchen for a sample of “rocks,” pointing out that we had become happy
little elves, proudly creating an atmosphere of merriment for the
holidays.
Are there things you can do to make this holiday season less stressed for
you and your family?
RECIPE: Rocks – Favorite
Holiday Treat!
2 cups chocolate chips
1 ½ cups dry roasted peanuts
½ cup peanut butter
(1) 12.3 oz. box Crispix cereal
Confectioners Sugar
About the
Author:
 Linda Gilden’s favorite season is Christmas. But, truthfully, she and her
family like to celebrate all year long, so can it really be called a season?
Growing up in a home where the spirit of Christmas prevailed throughout the
year, she knows she is blessed to have married a man who shares the same
philosophy—Jesus is not just for a season but for a lifetime! Linda is the
author of over a thousand magazine articles and several other books, such as
Love Notes in Lunchboxes, Love Notes on His Pillow, and Mommy
Pick-Me-Ups (all by New Hope Publishers), but Mama Was the Queen of
Christmas is one she has wanted to write for a long time. Her heart’s
desire is to see families enjoy each other and make memories no matter what the
season. Linda lives in South Carolina with her husband, three grown children and
children-in-law, four grandchildren, and a granddog, all of whom love Christmas
as much as she does! | |
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Saturday, December 29, 2012
Mama was the Queen of Christmas with Linda Gilden
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Five Questions with fantasy author Chris Hibbard
Five Questions with Chris Hibbard
Welcome Chris who shares about his new book, Journey to Terreldor, which happens to have lots of special goodies in the offering today for those who purchase the book on Amazon.
But visit here first. Other prizes include a free Kindle.
But visit here first. Other prizes include a free Kindle.
Join Mark and his brother as they find themselves in a strange world filled with impossibility and adventure. Faced with tragedy and trial, Mark is forced to draw upon strengths and develop skills he never expected himself capable of. The brothers are taken in by mentors who claim to hold the secrets of true wisdom and maturity. In their endeavors, they learn the most difficult lessons in life are often found on the path home.
Begin the adventure in Journey to Terreldor, then follow these brothers as they are cast into peril in Terreldor at War. Discover the culmination of their odyssey in The Long Path Home.
Begin the adventure in Journey to Terreldor, then follow these brothers as they are cast into peril in Terreldor at War. Discover the culmination of their odyssey in The Long Path Home.
ISBN: 0615643825
What do you love about this book?
[Chris] I love being able to engage readers through entertainment,
while bringing them topics to ponder--relevant topics I hope they will
appreciate.
What have you learned about writing and yourself since you started
this book?
[Chris] Writing is easy--editing is hard. I've learned how to
engage a larger audience, and to leave them with something they didn't have
before they picked up my book.
Tell about your latest release.
[Chris] Journey to Terreldor is the first volume in the
"Adventures in Terreldor" trilogy. It is centered on a teenager who finds
himself in a strange world, with no memories of how he arrived. As he
discovers this new world, he finds himself caught up in a conflict that
threatens to divide a kingdom, and destroy many lives in the balance. He learns
life's most difficult lessons are often found on the path
home.
What three things do
you know now about the publishing world that you wish you knew when you first
started?
[Chris] How random the selection process can be.
(Never give up.)
Marketing a book can be as difficult as writing
it.
Indie writers need a community of support for
gaining exposure.
What are the five best things writers can do to meet the
challenges of the 21st century?
Recognize
a "top-5" publisher doesn't offer as much as they used to, in today's
increasingly digital world
Give
something away before you try to sell your work
Learn to
better edit your manuscripts
Plan on doing plenty of research; you need to
be knowledgeable to write
well.
Grammar, grammar, and more grammar.
Chris M. Hibbard was born
in the suburbs of New Jersey, the second of three brothers. His family soon
moved to Alaska, where he grew up scrambling over the mountains and beaches of a
remote village wedged between thickly wooded peaks and deep fjords. His
childhood shaped in him an early love for family and the outdoors, and inspired
such hobbies as wildlife photography, grafting fruit trees, and
horticulture.
His first novel began as a collection of stories he
invented to entertain his children. He, his wife and four children make their
home in the Piney Woods of Texas.
To find more about the
written works of Chris M. Hibbard and check for publishing updates, visit
http://www.Terreldor.net
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Map Quilt Giveaway!
Goodreads Book Giveaway
The Map Quilt
by Lisa J. Lickel
Giveaway ends December 20, 2012.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Book Review: The Big Red Chair by Brenda J Wood
The Big Red Chair: A story for Grieving Children
Including audio CD of the story narrated by the author inthe print version
By Brenda J Wood
ISBN: 9780986531385
c. 2011
Alloway’s Printing and Publishing
32-page photo picture book
$3.99 eBook
Print can be ordered from brendawoodauthor-at-yahoo.com
Wood’s charming story in rhyme features Grandfather Afi’s
Big Red Chair. The chair is special for all family members, for hugs, naps,
playtime; even laundry.
The tale begins with “We did not want a big red chair” until
the time came Grandmother Ammi decides she would like the chair since Afi does.
When Afi needs to be in the hospital, he misses his Big Red Chair. And when God
calls Afi home, the rest of the family remember Afi’s love, especially when they
use his chair.
More than a family tale, Wood’s book shares the love of a
special grandfather who leaves fond memories in the everyday item they all
enjoyed: his favorite chair. The pictures used to illustrate the book are a
treasure and nearly any family can relate to them. A discussion guide meant to
help young ones recall their friends or family members with love is included.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Forty Days of Encouragement, with Pauline Creeden
By Pauline Creeden
Forty days of Recovering Grace
Devotional
AltWit Press
C. 2012
ISBN: 978-1480030725
$2.99 Kindle
$8.99 Paperback
Creeden’s dedication, “For those who, like me, find
themselves in the middle of the lake of life without a paddle” says a lot about
what to expect in this nifty little guide of forty days’ worth of lessons to
change a habit of poor choices.
From the opening lesson of choosing to draw near to God
through better prayer through cutting off “unfruitful” aspects of our lives, to
doing what we are commanded to being teachable and seeking forgiveness and
grace when we need it, each day opens with Scripture and ends with prayer – a habit
in itself easy to seek.
This encouraging guide may be small but packs a huge
impressive punch. You will certainly be uplifted and challenged as you read
through these days and practice each lesson. Definitely a good gift to share
with someone you love.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Jolly Days of Reading
And now...
The Jolly Days of Reading
a special Hop with the clients of literary agent Linda S. Glaz, of Hartline Literary
December 7, the Day After St. Nick's...
I belong to two local book clubs because I need to keep my reading habits expanded beyond me...like, if given a choice, I'd probably just eat chocolate chip pancakes for the rest of my life (although there are a lot of things one can do with a pancake....) and need to read some classics and non-fiction instead of a steady diet of fiction that includes dragons.
So, in the month of December in each club we're reading a different holiday book.
Fannie Flagg's Redbird Christmas, and
Eowyn Ivey's The Snow Child
I loved the Russian fable of the snow child, so I was excited to read The Snow Child, a story about Alaskan homesteaders in the 1920s who couldn't have children of their own, thier dreams and play, and the little girl, Faina, who shows up on their doorstep. It's new, published 2012 by Little, Brown, and Co.
And honestly, after I read it, this book is my favorite of the year. I read quite a lot...so that tells ya something. I don't generall recommend books, either: BUT I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS ONE.
Fannie Flagg has a different take on life, for sure...but we had a good discussion about her story, published 2004, about Oswald T. Campbell who leaves Chicago one winter after getting a stunning diagnosis, to head south to Lost River for what he believes will be his last Christmas. The book was sort of cute, probably set during the fifties, had nothing to do with Christmas and was rather two-dimensional. I liked it okay, don't get me wrong. It was okay to sit down and have someone tell me a story. There were not layers nor enchantment. It was just a little story.
Other favorites of mine include Charles Dickens's classic A Christmas Carol. I love all the different interpretations of it over the years on television and in the theater.
O Henry's Gift of the Magi is another one - irony, fable, warning...we're treating ourselves to a live performance of the play this year for our Christmas gift, to American Players Theater in Spring Green, Wisconsin.
And finally, besides, of course, Luke's version of the birth in a stable, I think often of the Hans Christian Andersen tale, The Little Match Girl. I remember being absolutely horrified and weeping when I first read it as a little girl, and my mother having to comfort me, but now, I think of it fondly as a lesson in reality and comfort in knowing what comes after this life.
Enjoy a couple of chapters from The Map Quilt
Map Quilt 2 chapters
Two of my books are on sale for the season for $2.99 each
And my co-conspirator on A Summer in Oakville has a very, very sweet Christmas novella for .99:
Grudges Not Included
Visit these sites to learn about other favorites!
19 - Patty Wysong --http://www.pattywysong.com
The Jolly Days of Reading
a special Hop with the clients of literary agent Linda S. Glaz, of Hartline Literary
December 7, the Day After St. Nick's...
I belong to two local book clubs because I need to keep my reading habits expanded beyond me...like, if given a choice, I'd probably just eat chocolate chip pancakes for the rest of my life (although there are a lot of things one can do with a pancake....) and need to read some classics and non-fiction instead of a steady diet of fiction that includes dragons.
So, in the month of December in each club we're reading a different holiday book.
Fannie Flagg's Redbird Christmas, and
Eowyn Ivey's The Snow Child
I loved the Russian fable of the snow child, so I was excited to read The Snow Child, a story about Alaskan homesteaders in the 1920s who couldn't have children of their own, thier dreams and play, and the little girl, Faina, who shows up on their doorstep. It's new, published 2012 by Little, Brown, and Co.
And honestly, after I read it, this book is my favorite of the year. I read quite a lot...so that tells ya something. I don't generall recommend books, either: BUT I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS ONE.
Fannie Flagg has a different take on life, for sure...but we had a good discussion about her story, published 2004, about Oswald T. Campbell who leaves Chicago one winter after getting a stunning diagnosis, to head south to Lost River for what he believes will be his last Christmas. The book was sort of cute, probably set during the fifties, had nothing to do with Christmas and was rather two-dimensional. I liked it okay, don't get me wrong. It was okay to sit down and have someone tell me a story. There were not layers nor enchantment. It was just a little story.
Other favorites of mine include Charles Dickens's classic A Christmas Carol. I love all the different interpretations of it over the years on television and in the theater.
O Henry's Gift of the Magi is another one - irony, fable, warning...we're treating ourselves to a live performance of the play this year for our Christmas gift, to American Players Theater in Spring Green, Wisconsin.
And finally, besides, of course, Luke's version of the birth in a stable, I think often of the Hans Christian Andersen tale, The Little Match Girl. I remember being absolutely horrified and weeping when I first read it as a little girl, and my mother having to comfort me, but now, I think of it fondly as a lesson in reality and comfort in knowing what comes after this life.
Enjoy a couple of chapters from The Map Quilt
Map Quilt 2 chapters
Merry Christmas!
Two of my books are on sale for the season for $2.99 each
And my co-conspirator on A Summer in Oakville has a very, very sweet Christmas novella for .99:
Grudges Not Included
Visit these sites to learn about other favorites!
6 - Linda Glaz - http://lindaglaz.blogspot.com
7 - Lisa – http://livingourfaithoutloud.blogspot.com
8
9 - Susan Craft – http://historicalfictionalightintime.blogspot.com
http://historicalfictionalightintime.blogspot.com
http://historicalfictionalightintime.blogspot.com
12
13
15 - Karla Akins http://envisionpublishing.tumblr.com
16
1719 - Patty Wysong --http://www.pattywysong.com
19 - Davalynn
Spencer – http://www.davalynnspencer.blogspot.com
http://www.davalynnspencer.blogspot.com
20 - Tamara Lynn Kraft - www.tamaralynnkraft.comhttp://www.davalynnspencer.blogspot.com
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
The Next Big Thing Blog Hop - following Carrie Padget
The Next Big Thing Blog Hop
Today, I’d like to share a bit about my new mystery coming
out in 2013, for which I just received
a front cover design:
+-+Copy.jpg)
What
is the working title of your book?
Meow
MayhemWhere did the idea come from for the book?
As I was writing my Buried Treasure cozy mystery series, I started researching cats and stumbled across this really intriguing breed of ancient cats, Egyptian Mau, literally domesticated by the Egyptians. Coffee, books, cats all just came together and I went from there.
What genre does your book fall under?
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Yeah…tough one for me, as I have a picture in my head of what my characters are like, but I don’t usually base them on people/characters I’ve seen. I think Ivy is much like a not-serious Juliana Margulies and True, her boyfriend, is on the wounded-Billy-Burke type.
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Ivy Preston keeps other people’s secrets for a living.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
How
long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
I
tend to write pretty quickly once I have all the research in place, though this
book underwent a few re-writes. I think I spent about ten weeks on it.What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Cozy mysteries by definition take place in smaller, intimate communities and have sleuths who are not professional law-enforcement or trained people. Meow Mayhem is somewhat like Deb Baker’s Doll Collector mysteries, and a bit like Mignon Ballard’s books.
Who or What inspired you to write this book?
I love little quaint coffee and book shops, and cats, and small towns, so it was fun to come up with a story that used all of those elements.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
The breed of cat, Egyptian Mau, is unique, so people who like cats might enjoy the antics of these cats. Apple Grove is a small town trying to come back to life and filled with fun people who like what they know and have a bit of suspicion about anything new.
Monday, December 3, 2012
The Promise of Deer Run - a special gift for a history lover
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