Christmas Angel, and a Book Giveaway

I decorated our tree already. Usually I like to wait until around the 10th of December but my husband and son talked me into it early this year. I kept things rather simple and uncluttered, mostly because I don't have the gift of decorating. :-)

And it's a sad time of year for me. I miss my daughter Amy, and my mom whose birthday was Christmas Eve. Momma loved to craft and just about every ornament I unwrapped reminded me of her in some way. I treasure the memories but anyone who has lost someone will admit the holidays are difficult. Most of the time we just don't say anything. 

 The first Christmas without our daughter, I took our Angel topper out of the box and plugged her in but she didn't light up. New bulbs did not fix her. I searched every store in our area for a new one but no one carried the same kind anymore. She had been purchased the year our daughter was born so she was 28 years old. I was heart broken. 

So, that first Christmas after Amy's death, we didn't have a topper. Frankly, I didn't want another one but my family asked me to put something on top of the tree the next year so I bought a pretty dark haired angel that reminded me of Amy. 

This past summer I was at an estate sale and saw an angel topper with two lights. She was almost identical to the one we had before! I picked her up and asked the owner, an elderly lady, if I could plug the angel in to see if she worked and she did! I know it sounds ridiculous but I started to cry. The lady said, "Obviously there is a memory attached to an angel in your past." I shared with her the story I just told y'all and she started crying, enveloped me in a big hug and told me to take the angel. It was her gift to me. 

Isn't she lovely? I suppose I'm a sentimental old fool. I know it doesn't really matter which angel is on top of the tree or even if it is a bow, but every time I see this lighted Angel, I smile. And I think about the blessing that lady's gift continues to be which in turn causes me to think of the real gift of Christmas, Christ Jesus. ;-)

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Do you have any ornaments or decorations that you're 'attached' to?
A special memory you would like to share?
If so, I would love to chat with you in the comments.

I'm giving away my copy of Colors of Christmas by Olivia Newport .
My gift to you for taking time to visit me here at Stuff & Nonsense. :-)
Be sure and leave an email address in a non-spam format so I can contact you if you win.
I have to limit the giveaway to US participants only, due to postage costs.

~Blessings, my Friends~

U.S. Air Force Band - 2017 Holiday Flash Mob

I love watching the flash mob videos each year and always think how awesome it would be to witness one in person, especially a military band.

Go USAF!!!

~Enjoy~

WINNER!!!

Melissa Oldaker 

won the e-copy of Charming the Troublemaker by Pepper Basham!

Thanks to each of you who stopped by to read the interview and enter the giveaway. 

 

And we especially appreciate Pepper Basham taking time to chat with us and offer a book to one of our readers!!!

~Happy Reading, Y'all~

Short Review ~ Charming the Troublemaker by Pepper Basham

About the Book

When Dr. Alex Murdock is demoted to a university in rural Virginia, the last thing he expects to find is a future. But country charm never looked as good as it did on Rainey Mitchell.

Rainey Mitchell does not need a high-class flirt in her wounded world, but trouble and temptation wafts off the new professor as strong as his sandalwood-scented cologne. When circumstances thrust them together to save her tutoring clinic, can the troublemaker find the hero inside and encourage the reticent Rainey to open her heart again?

My Review

5 STARS!!!

What can I say?! I love, Love, LOVE this story!!! It was such fun to read. Pepper always writes stories with a deep thread of faith woven into the plot but it's her absolutely solid and over-the-top characters that hold my attention. She is a master in the drama department and CTT has no shortage to keep a reader glued to the pages. I can't wait until the next book in 2018! The author gave me an e-copy of this book but did not require a review. No compensation has been received.

Enter to win an e-book of Charming the Troublemaker here.

~Happy Thanksgiving~

Interview with Pepper Basham + Giveaway ~ Charming the Troublemaker (e-book)

Hey Y’all! I am delighted to share my most recent interview with Pepper Basham, author of ‘Britallachian romance peppered with grace and humor.’ Pepper has a new book out, Charming the Troublemaker. It’s another sigh worthy winner with a swoony hero! AND….if you read to the end and leave a comment, you might win an e-book!

Welcome back to Stuff & Nonsense, Pepper!

Anne, as always, it’s such a pleasure to spend time with you today. Thank you for the opportunity to share about stories and favorites and all those sorts of things.

Tell us a little about yourself and your writing journey.

Well, I’ve been writing ever since I learned how. In fact, I still have my first ‘chapter book’ I wrote (and POORLY illustrated) when I was 10 years old and my first mystery book I wrote when I was 12. Words, writing, and storytelling have been a constant part of my life, as present as faith and family. I suppose that’s why they always seem to go together in my story-creating process 😊

After YEARS of pursing publication, my first novel was published with Vinspire Publishing in May 2015. From that point on, I’ve had opportunity to publish 5 more full-length novels and one novella. It’s been a VERY busy journey!!

Wow!!! That’s a lot of books in just two years. I’m so glad you’re on a roll! And here is Pepper's youngest holding a story Pepper wrote when she was a youngster. 

What do you think makes a good story?

Oh goodness! There are various ways to make a good story, but I think the BEST is through memorable characters. I know there’s this fun writing dialogue going on about which is more important, plot or characters, in creating good stories, and though they are BOTH powerful tools for storytelling, I think characters are USUALLY the best option for story-strength. If you can have BOTH, then that’s even better.

I have to agree on that one. I recently read a story that had a good plot but the characters…dull and boring. :(

Do you have a favorite book? What about it makes it stand out from others?

Actually, I DO have a favorite (but I’m also editing another one that might become a favorite too), but the hero in my just-released novel, Charming the Troublemaker, might be one of my favorite heroes I’ve ever written!! As far as STORY, my contemporary romcom, Just the Way You Are, is one I love to go back and reread. I love the humor, the romance, the setting, the mystery…yep! Everything I enjoy best in a book I tossed into that one! British hero, clumsy American single-mom, Scooby-Doo references, 500-year old towers, a sweet and crazy family, adorable kids…yep!! FAV!!

Oh yes!!!  Just the Way You Are is de-lish! As my momma used to say. :-)

What’s the one food item you can’t live without?

ACK! Only one??? That’s like asking me who my favorite child is!?! 😉 Chicken! I love chicken. And chocolate (not together, btw).

Two of my favorites! Especially chocolate. :)

Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night and just have to get up and write down a thought? If so, do you keep a tablet on your bedside table or go to the computer?

I keep a tablet by the bed but RARELY (read really NEVER) use it in the middle of the night. Sleep is WAAAYYYY too important to me 😉

Haha! I like sleep but at my age, I do wake up a lot in the middle of the night.

Do you talk to your characters? Keep story boards? Pictures? 

I definitely talk to them and have pictures of the characters, setting, buildings. I don’t really keep a storyboard but I do map out my towns. I do a whole lot of daydreaming.

Um. Your stories cause all of us to do a whole lot of daydreaming. 😉

Can you give us a glimpse into your next book or story idea?

Let me tease you with two!

I have an upcoming historical and an upcoming contemporary.

The historical romance set in WW1 Appalachia. It has a Christy spin but is actually based on some of my own personal family history. City boy teacher comes to Appalachia and lives change 😊

I plan to have the second Pleasant Gap novel arrive in 2018 too. It’s about two introverts, which is a new thing for me, but there’s humor, heart, family, and a historical mystery thread like its predecessor.

I also have two novellas coming out in 2018 as part of compilations – one historical and one contemporary, so you can keep your eyes open for those too 😊

2018 is looking better already!

Have you traveled to locations that your books are set in? Where is the one place you would love to set a book but know you cannot possibly go there? Would you write it anyway?

I have been to England – where my Penned in Time series and Just the Way You Are are partially set. I’d gladly go back ANY time. LOVE Britain. I’m not really sure of a place I wouldn’t write about just because I haven’t visited there. I have a few fantasy book ideas and the only way to get there is in my mind 😉

Point taken!

Since you write swoon-worthy romance, what is the most romantic thing your husband has done for you? Only if you can share ;)

Hee hee, well, on a little scale…I’m a BIG fan of hugs. He’s not a hugger, but he works REALLY hard to give me hugs on a regular basis because he knows I’m super-affectionate (and love hugs…kisses too). As far as grander things, sacrificing time and money to take me on my first trip to England 10 years ago was pretty romantic (as in REALLY romantic).

That is so sweet! Sounds like you found a keeper. 

Where can you be found on the internet?

I LOVE interacting with my readers!! You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and on my website.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pepperdbasham/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/pepperbasham

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pepperbasham/?hl=en

Website: www.pepperdbasham.com

Thanks again, Pepper, for indulging my curiosity about the writer life.

GIVEAWAY INFO - Pay attention!!! :-)

You’ll need to be a GFC follower in order to be entered for the giveaway because I am ditching the email sign up through Feedburner. Technical difficulties with the backend of the program are causing hundreds of spammy email followers. Until I find another way to have email sign ups, PLEASE follow thru GFC. I've announced this a couple of times. If you want to continue to get updates about giveaways etc, you'll have to switch. Sorry! 

Pepper is offering an e-book copy of Charming the Troublemaker to one of my followers. Since Pepper writes both contemporary and historical, leave a comment letting us know which genre you enjoy best, along with your email address in a non-spam format like this -- jane(at)doe(dot)net -- in order to be entered. Giveaway ends Nov 27^th