Blog Archives

Historic Santa Claus and Thanksgiving Parades

11/19/2013

Have you ever been to a huge holiday parade? How about watching the Toronto Santa Claus Parade, or Macy's Thanksgiving Parade on TV?

Today, my Inkwell Inspirations post is about Historic Santa Claus and Thanksgiving Parades and I've included lots of old photos, footage, and facts.

To get you started, here's a photo of Edmonton's 1929 Santa Claus Parade...

1929 Santa Claus parade, Edmonton, Alberta. Courtesy of the Glenbow Archives.

Of course, this is merely another tool I'm using to promote my A Cup of Christmas Cheer story, Riding on A Christmas Wish since it's set in Keswick, York Ontario, within an hour's drive of where the historic Eaton's Santa Claus Parade began. But I've included some real interesting stuff. I hope you enjoy your nostalgic trip back in time.

Day 3 - Christmas Cheer Blog Hop

11/16/2013

Today I'm on Johnnie Alexander Donley's blog for Day 3 of the A CUP OF CHRISTMAS CHEER blog hop schedule where Johnnie is reviewing my story, Riding on a Christmas Wish, found in Volume 1 as shown on the right.

Each blog "hop" or stop will have a giveaway and I'll be giving away a Starbucks gift card to someone who comments on Johnnie's Day 3 Blog Hop post before Sunday midnight, Nov 24, 2013 and leaves a valid way of contact.

Starbucks Gift Card

At the end of all the Hops there will be a Grand Prize to someone who has visited and commented on every blog stop. A $70.00 porcelain tea set from Yorktown's Victory Center will be part of the Grand Prize along with other gifts such as a gift cards, special hot cocoa packets, the two-book set of "A Cup of Christmas Cheer" and more!

Reproduction Antique Tea Set - part of the Cup of Christmas Cheer Blog Hop Grand Prize

Here's the complete Blog Hop schedule:
Friday, November 8th, Carla Olson Gade is on Carrie Fancett Pagels' blog
Saturday, November 9th, Ashley Clark is on Anita Mae Draper's blog.
Saturday, November 16th, Anita Mae Draper is on Johnnie Alexander Donley's blog.
Sunday Nov 17th Julie Carobini on Ashley Clark's blog
Friday, November 22nd, Carrie Fancett Pagels is on Carla Olson Gade's blog.
Saturday, November 23rd, Johnnie Alexander Donley is on Julie Carobini's blog
Friday, November 29th, Colonial Quills Blog to announce Grand Prize winner.

A Cup of Christmas Cheer Blog Hop Day 2 - Ashley Clark's "THE CHRISTMAS THIEF"

11/8/2013

The Christmas Thief
by Ashley Clark
A CUP OF CHRISTMAS CHEER Volume 2
Tales of Joy and Wonder for the Holidays,
Guideposts Books, October 2013

My Review of Ashley's Book:

What makes a man so desperate that he tries to steal a centuries' old Bible on Christmas Eve?

Samuel Thompson stood outside his childhood church looking for a handout. Forty, homeless and hopeless, he's not sure if he's hit the bottom, or if there are worse days ahead. Of course, if people recognized him, that would be worse because then he'd see their pity, but he could live with it if their spare change allows him to buy a meal.

Within seconds of the church doors opening, Sam drops farther in his despair as he faces the truth - his downward spiral started when he turned his back on the love of one special woman. Instead of sharing a dream with Evelyn, he'd chosen a selfish life of material wealth ... and now she stood there, staring up at him with full recognition. With empathy, Evelyn looks deep in his eyes and tells him that he's lost his hope and must find it again. Although he'd rather have food in his belly than hope in his heart, he accepts her challenge to go into the church and find his hope once more.

But hunger and hope don't balance each other out to a person who has nothing left. And there before him in all its worn glory is a Bible worth enough money to buy him meals and shelter for a very long time. Maybe enough to help get his feet back on the ground.

This is a wonderful story of finding hope. It's also a juxtaposition of opposites. It's set in Old Charleston where horses and carriages stop behind cars on lamp lit roads of cobblestones. Where expected pity is met with empathy. And where hope is found in the midst of sin.

First, Ashley allows us to see how easy it is to choose Sam's path, and then she shows how exceedingly difficult it is to climb out and start again. Many people can't do it. Yet, the miracle of Jesus' birth at Christmas is a source of hope that can't be denied. When you think you've reached your blackest moment, God's light finds a way in, and that's what Ashley uses in this story to touch the center of Sam's heart and let him know that he did indeed hit the bottom and now he must make another choice - to stay in the hole or climb out again.

Have you ever felt so low that you thought there was no hope? What changed it?

Author Ashley Clark writes romantic comedy with southern grace. She's dreamed of being a writer ever since the thumbprint-cookie-days of library story hour. Ashley has an M.A. in English and enjoys teaching literature and poetry courses at her local university. She's an active member of ACFW and runs their newcomer's loop. When she's not writing, Ashley's usually busy rescuing stray animals and finding charming new towns. You can find Ashley on her personal blog, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. She is represented by Karen Solem.

If you'd like a chance to win this Christmas mug donated by Ashley Clark, leave a comment on this post and include a way of contacting you.

Prize eligibility - please comment within one week of this post. Comment on all stops for a chance at the grand prize.

Today is Day 2 the A CUP OF CHRISTMAS CHEER blog hop schedule. Each blog "hop" or stop will have a giveaway. And at the end of all the hops there will be a Grand Prize to someone who has visited and commented on every blog stop. A $70.00 porcelain tea set from Yorktown's Victory Center will be part of the Grand Prize along with other gifts such as a $10 Amazon card, special hot cocoa packets, the two-book set of "A Cup of Christmas Cheer" and more!

Here's the complete Blog Hop schedule:
Friday, November 8th, Carla Olson Gade is on Carrie Fancett Pagels' blog
Saturday, November 9th, Ashley Clark is on Anita Mae Draper's blog.
Saturday, November 16th, Anita Mae Draper is on Johnnie Alexander Donley's blog.
Sunday Nov 17th Julie Carobini on Ashley Clark's blog
Friday, November 22nd, Carrie Fancett Pagels is on Carla Olson Gade's blog.
Saturday, November 23rd, Johnnie Alexander Donley is on Julie Carobini's blog
Friday, November 29th, Colonial Quills Blog to announce Grand Prize winner.

The Grand Prize winner must have left a comment on each of the Blog Hop blogs.
A $70 porcelain tea set from Yorktown Victory Center, a $10 Amazon gift card, special cocoa packets and more will be given away.

Presenting the authors and their story titles in the two-volume set of A Cup of Christmas Cheer short stories:

Faith and Family Volume One:

THE CHEVALIER
by Susan Page Davis

SECOND-CHANCE CHRISTMAS
by Jenness Walker

NOT QUITE HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
by Pam Hanson and Barbara Andrews

MRS. MEYER’S CHRISTMAS CALLER
by Jessica Keller

RIDING ON A CHRISTMAS WISH
by Anita Draper

UPON A CHRISTMAS TREE SCHOONER
by Carla Gade Olson

SNOWED IN
by Carrie Fancett Pagels

THE PRODIGAL
by Jennifer Johnson

Joy and Wonder Volume Two:

MEAT LOAF AND OTHER MINOR MIRACLES
by Liz Johnson

THE BEST DEAD CHRISTMAS TREE
by Linda S. Clare

BENEATH THE CHRISTMAS STAR
by Johnnie Alexander Donley

CALLING GRANDMA JEAN
by Pam Hanson and Barbara Andrews

THE CHRISTMAS THIEF
by Ashley Clark

POSTCARDS AT CHRISTMAS
by Julie Carobini

A STRANGER’S VISIT TO THE LIGHTHOUSE
by Marilyn Turk

THE SNOW GLOBE
by Ginger Kolbaba

Blogging at Seekerville

11/4/2013

Tues, Nov 5th a dream comes true and I strike a goal off my Bucket List when I guest blog on one of my favourite blogs, Seekerville.

I'll be talking about using genealogy to add realism to your stories with my post, Liven Up Your Writing With Dead People.

No, I can't take credit for the title because that goes to my Inky blogmate, Debra Marvin, roundly applauded by more blogmates and mystery writers DeAnna Julie Dodson aka Julianna Deering, and Barbara Early aka Beverly Allen.

The post explains how I used genealogy and the 1911 Courtship Letters to inject my short story, Riding on a Christmas Wish with realism and rich historical detail which ultimately produced my first publishing credit in A Cup of Christmas Cheer by Guideposts Books.

Historic Santa Claus and Thanksgiving Parades

Day 3 - Christmas Cheer Blog Hop

A Cup of Christmas Cheer Blog Hop Day 2 - Ashley Clark's "THE CHRISTMAS THIEF"

Blogging at Seekerville

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