Janet's Jargon

Fun lifestyles, charitable acts, great fiction, author support, Patrick and Grace Mysteries, Keith clan trilogy,

Friday, December 14, 2007

Miracles on 34th Street--or yours


Have you ever done something that sort of felt like it had been touched by a magic wand?
Every author feels that each book they pen has something special about it. What makes the magic come to life is when someone reads the book and they let the author know that something wonderful has happened because of it. Such was the case this week about my favorite book, A Christmas Dream.

One of the things I don't like about e-mails is that you don't get a postmark, so you have no idea where the letter came from. I guess it really doesn't matter. It is just due to an overactive curiosity. I have no idea where this woman lives, but here is the essence of what she said.

The woman had a son who was killed in Iraq last year, shortly before Christmas. She said she wasn't sure she would ever be able to celebrate Christmas again. She also had a daughter-in-law and three grandchildren who apparently lived quite a distance from her.

I don't know who it was, but somebody told her about A Christmas Dream on http://internetvoicesradio.com. Last year I read the entire story, and it is available at the previous url. Just click on "Archives" in the main menu and scroll down until you come to it, then listen to it. It is divided up in segments, so you don't have to listen to the whole thing at one sitting.

The woman said that as soon as she listened to the first segment, she called her daughter-in-law and told her about it. They agreed to all listen to it at the same time every evening, the kids included. After it was over, they would call each other and discuss the story--and her son. When they got to the end of the book they all agreed that what they wanted most for Christmas was to be together. So, they decided to forgo the gifts they were going to send each other and buy a plane ticket for Grandma.

The end of the e-mail said, "How can we ever thank you? You have brought the joy of Christmas back to us. We have come to realize that we have a Christmas miracle--the memories of my son, her husband, and their father. We don't need things. We have each other. Thank you, and Merry Christmas!"

I have a funny feeling that somehow there will be some things under their Christmas tree. Miracles do still happen, especially at Christmas time.

Oh, and she added a "P.S." She wrote, "We will all be watching out the window from time to time, just in case a purple Volkswagon goes past."

If you want your very own copy of the printed book A Christmas Dream, order it on Amazon.com or most any other online bookstore, or ask your local bookseller if they have it. If they don't, they can order it. Even if it's after Christmas when you get it, miracles are good any day of the year. To make it easy, just click on the title of this blog at the top, "Miracle on 34th Street--or Yours" and it will take you directly to A Christmas Dream on Amazon.com.

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Sunday, December 09, 2007

Lots of Links

What picture pops into your head when you hear the word "links"?

For some, it might be a chain link fence. There are lots of them in the world. The purpose of them, of course, is to keep something either in or out. But what happens when just one little link is broken? It can do as little damage as allowing a mosquito to get through a metal mesh net, or as much damage as letting a whole herd of cattle out to wander aimlessly about on the highways and biways of life.

A link might be the difference of a gift of an expensive piece of jewelry that a guy gives a gal, but it is just one link too short. A simple trip to the jewelry store can expand it enough so the gifter never knows the difference.

When I was doing research on my time travel Par for the Course (Book 3 in the Keith Trilogy), I learned about golf links. I am the first to admit that I know very little about golf, but I had a lot of fun learning. Wikipedia has this to say about golf links: "A links golf course, sometimes refered to as a seaside links is the oldest style of golfcourse. It was first develooped in Scotland. The Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland, is one of the earliest links golf courses. I am a firm believer that a writer doesn't have to write what they know, but they do have to know what they write. A little research goes a long ways towards making a great book, instead of just a book.

When I was in high school, it was quite a fad for girls to wear their dads' good long-sleeved white shirts, especially if they had French cuffs. Oh, how I loved those cuff links. If we didn't have any fancy ones, we would buy a couple of really pretty buttons, sew them together with a loop of thread, and use them. Necessity is still the mother of invention!

Now that we have entered the cyberworld, we have a new type of links. They are connections to some of our favorite people on the Internet. As a Star author, some of my favorite fellow authors have some pretty neat blogs out there. In the interest of sharing some of their fun with you, I give you the following links. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I do. Just click on the link and it should take you directly to the other blogs.

-----From Joyce Anthony. Books and Authors http://joyceanthony.tripod.com/blogA place to find author interviews, first chapters and book reviews!

-----From Billie Williams. http://printedwords.blogspot.com Writing related topics, tips, tricks and how tos. A little of a writer's mind, a lot of learning and growing as a writer.http://onewomansgarden.blogspot.com Organic gardening tips, tricks and how to make your garden the envy of the neighborhood. In this age when you can't trust what you buy at the supermarket, why not grow what you can yourself. then you will know its safe, edible and vitamin rich.

------http://www.janetelainesmith.blogspot.com Where you will find out the story behind her stories and what really makes Janet tick--and what ticks her off. Missionary turned romance/mystery/adventure writer, Janet Elaine Smith.) Oops, you're already here, but I thought you might enjoy the description!)

-----From Epi Larue. Title: Travel Nursing HighwayURL: http://travelnursinghighway.blogspot.com/Description: Why travel nursing? Travel nursing allows you to see the world. Travel nursing allows you to catch up on your bills. Travel nursing is the adventure of a lifetime! But, along with this great adventure is a lot of questions and winding roads. This blog was created in effort to assist nurses out with their journey down the Highway of Travel Nursing! Title: 21st Century NursingURL: http://21stcenturynursing.blogspot.com/Description: 21st Century Nursing is dedicated to educating nurses about new technology, modality of new disease transmission, changing labor force, and the ever changing financials that affect the practice of nursing. (If you can't find Epi on the road, you might find her at her favorite links at the golf course.)

-----From Allyn Evans www.allynevans.blogspot.com Talking Out Loud is funny, heartfelt and true! and www.talkingallthingswrite.blogspot.com. Writer Allyn Evans shares what she has learned the hard way.

-----From Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Blogs: http://www.TheNewBookReiew.blogspot.com Where authors and reviewers can recycle their own reviews; where readers can weigh in on their favorites. Guidelines for submission are posted in the left column Carolyn is one of the biggest people about cross-promoting I know, and this blog of hers is one of her best.

Until next time, keep on writing--and reading. Don't forget to tune in to my two radio programs each week at http://internetvoicesradio.com . "Marketing for Fun and Profit" on Monday at 8 p.m. ET, and "What's Happening?" on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET. If you'd like to be a guest, drop me an e-mail at pivtrprograms@yahoo.com .

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