Category: Promotion

Video Wassailing at the Inkwell

11/19/2014

So what does the 1949 version of the movie Little Women, the 1963 Christmas with the Chipmunks Vol. 2 album, a vintage video game, waffles, beans, children singing, and Christmas lights all have in common?

I'm featuring them on my post, It's A-Wassailing not A-Waffling today as they all contain a version of the Christmas song, Here We Come A-Wassailing.

I'm a bit worried about the Christmas in the desert one though as I'm sure someone will deem it is in poor taste, and although a small part of me agrees, I've raised four kids, 2 of them boys, and I love hearing them laugh, especially over natural and innocent incidents.

Anyway, if you want to share your thoughts, head on over to Inkwell Inspirations and see for yourself.

Here We Come A-Wassailing is the title of my latest story which is found in A Cup of Christmas Cheer Volume 4 Heartwarming Tales of Christmas Present, Guideposts Books, Oct 2014. Check out my story page for more info.

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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.

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

Guest Blogging at Stitches Thru Time

10/26/2013

Today I'm appearing on the Stitches Thru Time blog where I'm interviewed by fellow Canadian writer, Cherie Gagnon.

The questions are about my A Cup of Christmas Cheer story, Riding on a Christmas Wish, so if you're wondering about York, Ontario in 1911, head on over.

If you leave a comment on my Stitches Thru Time post, you'll be entered for a $10 Starbucks gift card - sorry, winners must be U.S. residents.

My First Reading at Chapters in Regina

4/25/2012

Saturday, April 21st was a special day as it was my first Reading at Chapters - the biggest book store in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Chapters in Regina, Saskatchewan, 2012

The event was planned by the Saskatchewan Romance Writers (SRW) who were reading from their newly published anniversary anthology, Love, Loss and Other Oddities. Although I'm not a contributor of the anthology, I am a member of the SRW and therefore was asked to participate.

Chapters' staff set up 30 chairs and a podium in their reading area in front of the fireplace. It was a cozy spot, but soon became congested as more chairs were needed. We'd all brought family and friends, but numerous customers, out on Saturday forays, stopped by to listen. Some sat and some stood, but all contributed to a welcome attitude to the 5 readers.

Karyn Good at the podium, Annette Bower, Jessica Eissfeldt, and Jana Richards, left to right facing the audience. Photo by Anita Mae Draper

In determining our reading order, I asked to go last because I was planning to ask for audience feedback and I didn't want anything to distract the audience from another reader.

A time limit of 8 mins for each of the 5 readers meant I was able to read the first 5 pages of my historical romance, Emma's Outlaw. Although I drank plenty of water beforehand, my mouth quickly dried. I had a water bottle behind me, but once I started reading, didn't want to lose the avid audience' attention so didn't reach for it. Within the first couple paragraphs, I had to remind myself to breathe, too.

When I was done, I told the audience that my agent wanted feedback of what they'd heard and every person who returned a card would get a chance to win a copy of the Love, Loss and Other Oddities which the other readers had read from.

I then handed out pens and the questions I'd printed on cardstock which made it easy for them to write on since the cardstock is thicker than regular paper. Twenty-six cards were returned and from those a winner was chosen.

In the photo above, my husband, Nelson, is sitting in the wooden chair babysitting my camera which taped the whole reading. I'll add my portion of the video as soon as I can, depending on my agent's permission.

If you were one of the people attending the Chapters' Reading, thank you for your support.

Janet Tronstad Author and Songwriter

11/16/2011

Janet Tronstad is the author of the long-running Dry Creek series from Harlequin Love Inspired and Love Inspired Historicals. She's also one of the writers I've known the longest after joining the Harlequin Community back in 2006.

What I didn't know was that Janet has a hidden talent as a songwriter and recently released a video. Here's the official blurb:
Janet Tronstad is the award-winning author of a long-standing series of Harlequin Love Inspired novels set in the fictitious town of Dry Creek, Montana. Romantic Times magazine calls her series witty with unique characters. She wrote the lyrics to the song you will hear and her good friend, David White, wrote the music and performed the song. The photographs you will see are almost all from the Depression era (US Farm Security Administration - Office of War Information Color Transparencies).

http://youtu.be/CUHryjL-pug

Janet has taken this one step further though, because the Montana Quilting song - which is fast becoming known as Denim Sky - is only partly contained in this YouTube video. The complete version is available on Amazon as an MP3 download for 99 cents. Just click on MP3 downloads and type in Janet Tronstad.

Isn't that a unique way to promote books? After reading most of Janet's books, I can honestly say I've enjoyed every one of them. This song is the same. I hope she writes many more of both.