The Joy of Seasonal Reading: Why It’s Never Too Early to Dive into Christmas Books

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The other day while I was on Facebook, I saw a photo in a reader’s group of the member’s newest haul and they were all Christmas books. And with Hallmark and GAF airing Christmas movies since the middle of last month, it’s feeling a lot like Christmas. And there are a few compelling reasons why it’s never too early to embrace the joy of Christmas reading.

 

  1. Extended Holiday Magic: One of the most delightful aspects of seasonal reading is that it extends the holiday season. Instead of limiting the celebration to just a few weeks in December, starting your Christmas reading early allows you to savor the magic for a more extended period. From the heartwarming tales of love and hope to the adventures of characters navigating the holiday hustle and bustle, these stories bring the spirit of Christmas alive throughout the season.
  2. Anticipation and Excitement: There’s something special about the anticipation and excitement that builds up as you dive into Christmas books ahead of the actual holiday. You can begin your journey long before the tree is decorated and the carolers start singing, creating a sense of joy and excitement that lasts until Christmas day. The pages of these books serve as a delightful countdown, filling your heart with the same warmth and joy you experience during the holidays.
  3. Stress Reduction: The holiday season can be a hectic and stressful time for many. Reading Christmas books in advance can serve as a welcome escape from the chaos. These tales offer a tranquil refuge from the demands of holiday shopping, cooking, and preparations, allowing you to unwind and relax while getting lost in the enchanting world of fiction. The characters’ journeys and their triumphs over various challenges can inspire and motivate you during a time when you need it most.
  4. Tradition and Togetherness: Reading Christmas books together as a family or with friends can become a cherished tradition. Whether it’s snuggling up by the fire to read aloud, sharing book recommendations, or even participating in a book club, it’s an opportunity to bond over the love of storytelling and the holiday spirit. These shared moments create lasting memories and strengthen the sense of togetherness that defines the holiday season.
  5. A Plethora of Choices: The beauty of Christmas reading is the sheer variety of books available. From classic tales like Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” to modern romances and mysteries set during the holidays, there’s a book for every taste. Whether you prefer heartwarming stories of redemption, thrilling mysteries, or humorous accounts of holiday mishaps, the extensive selection ensures you’ll find the perfect book to suit your mood.

There’s no wrong time to begin your Christmas reading. The magic and joy of the season can be experienced through the pages of a book, and the earlier you start, the more you can savor the spirit of the holidays. So, don’t hesitate to pick up a Christmas book and let its enchanting tales fill your heart with warmth and wonder, regardless of the date on the calendar. After all, the love of reading and the celebration of the season go hand in hand, creating an unforgettable experience that you’ll treasure for years to come.

Now, if you’re not ready to pick up a Christmas book just yet, maybe you’ll be interested in an autumn themed book with a reportedly haunted house, a deeply buried family secret, a and a couple of yummy recipes. Last month. A CORPSE AT THE WITCHING HOUR, the sixth book in the Food Blogger Mystery series was released. I had so much fun writing the story and testing the friendship between Hope and Drew and also throwing Hope a life curveball. So. Much. Fun. Oh, yeah, there’s the dead witch outside of the haunted house who may or may not have been following Hope for a couple days.

 

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

What are you reading now? Are you ready for holiday stories? Or are you a reader who doesn’t read by season?

 

 

 

Debra Sennefelder is the author of the Food Blogger Mystery series and the Resale Boutique Mystery series.

She lives and writes in Connecticut. When she’s not writing, she enjoys baking, exercising and taking long walks with her Shih-Tzu, Connie.

You can keep in touch with Debra through her website, on Facebook and Instagram.

CLICKING OUR HEELS – What We’re Reading and What We’d Recommend

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Dru Ann Love – I’m reading UNDER THE COCOON MOON by Kathleen Bailey. It’s the third book in her Olivia Penn cozy mystery series. I like her work and writing.

Lynn McPherson/Sydney Leigh – I’m reading A FATAL GROOVE by Olivia Blacke. The Record Shop Mystery series is so much fun!

Kathryn Lane – THE AMERICAN PROMETHEUS, the Pulitzer Prize winning novel that the Oppenheimer film was based on. I highly recommend it!

Lois Winston – My Stiletto Gang post on September 27th was all about the books I checked off my TBR pile while dealing with my own bout of Covid. Since then, one book I’ve enjoyed is LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY by Bonnie Garmus.

Saralyn Richard – Recently, International Thriller Writers hosted a first line contest, and I entered the first line of my book, BAD BLOOD SISTERS. I was delighted when it won, and the prize was a critique of my next book’s opening pages by mystery writer, Clare Mackintosh. I loved her critique and read her latest, THE LAST PARTY, which was a fun read.

Bethany Maines – I’ve been on a rom-com bing lately and I can tell you a couple NOT to read.  When you pick books based on Facebook ads, I suppose there are bound to be a couple of duds.  I just started Debra Sennefelder’s MURDER WEARS A LITTLE BLACK DRESS and I’m loving it.

Linda Rodriguez – I’ve just finished reading Thea Harrison’s AMERICAN WITCH and am just starting Catriona McPherson’s THE MIRROR DANCE. I would recommend the first, and I’m sure I will recommend the second, because I love her books.

Debra H. Goldstein – I recently read and enjoyed Ann Patchett’s TOM LAKE and Bonnie Garmus’ LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY.

Joyce Woollcott – I’m reading an advanced copy of Lou Berney’s DARK RIDE. Fantastic. He is simply wonderful. I have just finished Charlie Donlea’s book, ‘THOSE EMPTY EYES.’ He’s a great mystery/suspense writer. And any of Kate Atkinson’s Jackson Brodie books. I reread them constantly.

Barbara J. Eikmeier – I’ve been on a roll with reading great books. DR. TAN’S CIRCLE OF WOMEN by Lisa See is excellent and stayed with me long after I finished it.  I also enjoyed HANG THE MOON by Jeannette Walls, I love her unapologetic style of writing. And, although they creep me out a bit, I recently flew through two of Lucy Foley’s books:  HUNTING PARTY which is set in Scotland and WEDDING GUESTS which is set on a remote Irish island. I can’t put Lucy Foley’s books down but I also can’t read them when I’m home alone!!

Mary Lee Ashford – I’m loving The Thursday Murder Club books and looking forward to the new release in that series. At the moment I’m reading VERA WONG’S UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR MURDERERS by Jesse Q. Sutanto and really enjoying it.

T. K. Thorne – Just finished ALABAMA AFTERNOONS by Alabama journalist and novelist, Roy Hoffman. The book isa collection of interview-portraits of remarkable Alabamians, famous and obscure. I felt I had actually met these engaging people . . . and was much the better for it.

Paula G. Benson – I’ve been reading short story collections. In particular, I found EDGAR AND SHAMUS GO GOLDEN to be very interesting. It contains an Anthony nominated story by the author of the Lupe Solano mysteries, Carolina Garcia-Aguilera, as well as stories by Doug Allyn, O’Neil De Noux, John Floyd, Lia Matera, Art Taylor, and Martin Edwards.

Who are We?

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Who are We?

Nothing was more tedious for me as a student than the requirement to memorize dates and events of the past. What’s so important about the past, anyway? As an avid reader of science fiction, I was much more interested in the future.

No one has been more surprised than I, here in the latter part of my life, that I have written two history books.

Events of the past, I have decided, are important, but they are the surface of history. Depth of understanding what happened comes with examining the people of the time, the decisions they made, the actions they took or didn’t take, and the situations/beliefs that formed them.

Events are sterile. We are hard wired to care about people.

The people of our past are stories that we can identify with and connect to even across time. We need to understand what made them who they were. Hearing their experiences, their wisdom, and even their mistakes teach us what is important and possible.

Women’s stories are particularly valuable because women seem to slide through the cracks of history. A circle of women in Birmingham’s 1960s braved their fears and the intense pressures of society to break through racial barriers and effect real change. They were not the power players in their world. It was (and to some extent, still is) a man’s world. Learning how they created leadership roles inspired me. Today, women are again being constrained. It is especially important that young girls, struggling to understand who they are and who they could be, hear these stories.

Both of my history books are about civil rights days in Birmingham, Alabama. Writing and researching them has changed me in profound ways I can’t articulate yet.



But it has become too clear that I am living days that will be studied by future historians. Already, many books have been written. But the historical events and the people influencing them are still in play. And we have no idea what will happen.

Too many people have not heeded the warning that ignoring history dooms us to repeat it. That we are repeating it seems very clear.

The past is echoing.

Loudly.

Heartbreakingly.

Right now.

Deciding who we are in this moment is difficult because things are (as usual) complicated.

But we will be called on to decide anyway. This moment is tenuous (or exploding if you live in Ukraine or the Middle East), but even here in the US, the place that is supposed to be safe and a refuge for all, we must decide who we are and who the terrorists are.

Our president recently said, “You can’t give up what makes you who you are. If you give that up, then the terrorists win. And we can never let them win.” –

So, who are you? Who are we?

Writing Workshops for Chicanx by Juliana Aragón Fatula

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Dear Reader,

This month I’m zoom zoom zooming online with Palabras del Pueblo sponsored by Somos en Escrito and am enjoying the experience. It spans two weekends and one weeknight with a panel.

I’ve learned how to avoid signing up for every workshop I am emailed or Facebooked about. I’ve had some terrible Zoom writing workshops and some great ones. This workshop has been educational, and emotional, and it evoked something inside me, the desire to tell my story. There are so many stories inside me I hardly know where to start. At the beginning, stupid! So I’m beginning today. A new path that I’ve never been on before. A path to the truth.

This sounds so dramatic, but honestly, I’ve had a revelation. I need to get busy and write those stories dying to be told because I’m not getting younger. I turned sixty-six this year and lost another tooth, had to buy stronger reading glasses, and need a hearing aid desperately! What did you say? I hear words but not the right words.

I’m sitting in my Love Shack, my office on wheels, taking notes and listening to the icon, Luis J. Rodriguez. If you’ve never read one of his many novels, shame on you. You’re missing a wonderful opportunity to hear from a man who is a legend. I felt impressed after meeting him on Zoom. He’s real. A path to the truth. He encouraged me with just one sentence and I knew he meant what he said because he’s genuine.

He wrote a book that changed the lives of many Chicanos. Always Running. Check it out if you are brave and ready for the truth. He points out that he never graduated from college. He comes from the streets in East L.A. and he’s seen lives destroyed and lives saved.

There are a total of 15 participants in the workshop and they are fascinating. They tell their stories to total strangers and open up about the darkest and brightest times of their lives. It feels like group therapy but also like some vatos and vatas got together, had tea, and chatted and chilled. It felt easy.

The assignment for next weekend was not easy but we had the choice to do the work or read something we’ve written. One page.  After 15 participants read their work, their one page, we will have another writing prompt and we will not judge each other’s writing. This sounds cool to me. I’m not interested in everyone’s opinion of my writing but anxious for Luis J. Rodriguez’s feedback.

Tonight we have a Zoom scheduled to hear from publishers from Chicanx Presses. I’m looking forward to hearing from the panel on what they are looking for in their writers. I have a goal to be published by a Chicanx Press. I’ve published poems and essays in anthologies but never with a specific publisher who shares my heritage.

Wish me luck. I’m off to Zoom and will have more to report next month. Remember to be kind to one another.

Juliana Aragón Fatula, a 2022 Corn Mother, women who have earned accolades for community activism and creative endeavors is the author of Crazy Chicana in Catholic City, Red Canyon Falling on Churches, winner of the High Plains Book Award for Poetry 2016, and a chapbook: The Road I Ride Bleeds, and a member of Colorado Alliance of Latino Mentors and Authors, and Macondo, “a community of accomplished writers…whose bonds reflect the care and generosity of its membership.” She mentors for Bridging Borders, a Teen Leadership Program for girls. No justice no peace.

 

 

Stop! You’re Hurting My Eyes!

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By Lois Winston

One day when my oldest son was two years old, I was singing to him in the car when he covered his ears with his hands and cried, “Stop singing, Mommy. You’re hurting my ears.”

It turns out he was born with perfect pitch, while I was saddled with two tin ears. Ever since I failed to make the cut when I auditioned for the elementary school talent show, I’ve known my singing leaves quite a lot to be desired. I’m no Taylor Swift or Beyonce. Never was and never will be. I wouldn’t even qualify as a backup singer for a third-rate tribute band. However, I never realized until that moment just how off-key I was.

Lately, I’ve felt the urge to rant at car manufacturers for hurting my eyes the way my singing had hurt my son’s ears. Have you noticed the garish colors of so many new cars? Some are the equivalent of chalk on a blackboard, shrieking and shrill, while others can only be described as homages to the scatological. What were they thinking? We’re living in a world that bombards us 24/7, causing us to yearn for anything soothing, whether it’s soft clothing, comfort foods, or escapist fiction.

The psychology of color is big business. Color experts get paid big bucks to determine which colors should be used in everything from clothing to home décor to appliances to automobiles. If you’re old enough to remember the sixties (or have a penchant for anything mid-century modern), you know that harvest gold and avocado green were the two colors that reigned supreme back then. Do you think it was a coincidence that your mother’s appliances matched your father’s station wagon? Those color choices were dictated by people deemed authorities in the field.

Has psychology done an about-face? If the screaming oranges, greens, and yellows aren’t bad enough, the other group is awful in another way. I really don’t want to drive around in a vehicle that reminds me of the last time I changed a diaper or hovered over the porcelain throne with stomach flu.

I wish some knowledgeable person would tell me what in the world were these so-called experts thinking. I’m flummoxed.

How about you? What do you think about the colors of automobiles you see on the roads lately? Post a comment for a chance to win a promo code for a free download of the audiobook version of Drop Dead Ornaments, the seventh Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery.

 

~*~

USA Today and Amazon bestselling and award-winning author Lois Winston writes mystery, romance, romantic suspense, chick lit, women’s fiction, children’s chapter books, and nonfiction under her own name and her Emma Carlyle pen name. Kirkus Reviews dubbed her critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” In addition, Lois is a former literary agent and an award-winning craft and needlework designer who often draws much of her source material for both her characters and plots from her experiences in the crafts industry. Learn more about Lois and her books at her website www.loiswinston.com where you can also sign up for her newsletter and follow her on various social media sites.

In Search of Moose, Part II by Rosalie Spielman

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Please join me in welcoming Rosalie Spielman to the blog! Her wonderful publisher is
donating a portion of the proceeds of her newest book, MURDER COMES HOME, to the DAV.

Details below. — Shari

There’s a common joke with mystery writers about their computer search histories being arrest
worthy should we ever be suspects in real life crimes. Which leads me to reflect on mine.
“moose chin thing?”
“how heavy moose”
“picture moose by minivan”
“video moose losing antler”
“moose herds?”
“How long does leather last when buried”

Okay, well, other than that last one, as you can see, my search history is rather moose heavy.

If you’ve read my Hometown Mysteries, you get why. Magnus the Moose wanders around the
countryside in my stories, presenting himself at opportune times, walking through clotheslines
and &”wearing” a bright red bra on his antler, and in the most recent book, losing an antler.

Of course, I do research to make sure I”m not sharing misleading facts. But also…I like moose.
What can I say? They are weird-looking, but their size is what amazes me and leaves me in awe.

I wrote a blog post last year about my unrequited search for moose on my visits home to Idaho.

The moose is the one creature in the area that has eluded me so far. They are seen
fairly regularly around town, munching away in people’s gardens, in fields,
crossing roads, or creeping about in the trees like a quadrupedal sasquatch. I
even saw a video on Facebook of a moose and her calf moseying right down the
center of Troy’s Main Street.

My father offered to take me to town to look for one after there was a picture in
the paper of a bull moose walking down Moscow’s Main Street. I declined. I
mean, a city moose? Naw.

A month or two ago, there was an emergency text sent to students to give the
moose sighted on [the University of Idaho] campus a wide berth. There were
pictures of a moose peering into the windows of the bookstore and lounging on
the grass in the Arboretum. It seems to me the dang things are everywhere, except
when I’m around.

I go on to say how that about two days after our visit, a moose wandered by my folk’s place. On my next un-moosed visit, I hadn’t even gotten to the airport yet – which is only twenty minutes away – when a moose again made an appearance.

In order to soften the blow, my parents sent me a beautiful painting of a moose walking through a stream. I’ve also been gifted a mug, a stuffed moose, moose lip balm, a moose cookie cutter, moose stickers, and, courtesy my father…a moose poop necklace.

Yes, really, and no, I’m not going to show a photo. Moose droppings are actually pretty when they are fresh – they look exactly like unshelled pecans! But the treatment he had to do to the droppings to make them into a necklace ended up making the droppings look exactly like what popped into your head when I said “poop necklace.” And no, I haven’t worn it. (Sorry, Dad!)

I am headed to Idaho in November for the launch of my third Hometown Mysteries book, Murder Comes Home. I’m actually having my first launch party, right there in the real New Oslo! I think the odds of seeing a moose in the wild on this visit is a little higher than previous.

A month or so ago, they sent this photo of a moose near their home.

 

And a week or two ago, this one, on their game cam:

My mother also sent a video of her talking to a moose (who wasn’t amoosed) through the fence around their house. It was maybe fifteen or twenty feet from her. (She was on her doorstep and could easily go inside should he get ancy.)

I am hoping, fingers and toes crossed, that this dude will still be around when I am there, and I will finally be able to meet Magnus in the flesh. Or, rather, in the fur.

Wish me luck!

And Magnus, I’ll tell you once more – I am making you famous, so you had better make an appearance!

**Gemma Halliday Publishing is donating a portion of the presales to a veterans’ charity, the Disabled American Veterans, or DAV.

7 November 2023: #3 in the Hometown Mysteries, Murder Comes Home

Preorder: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C9S126XG

US Army retiree Tessa Treslow and her Aunt Edna put their auto restoration business on hold to host an “American Pickers” style TV show, hoping their trash might be treasure to fun their new business. But not only do the pickers come with cameras and likeable stars, but also a murderer…

Rosalie Spielman is a mother, veteran, and retired military spouse. She was thrilled to discover that she could make other people laugh with her writing and finds joy in giving people a humorous escape from the real world. She writes for the multi-author Aloha Lagoon mystery series and her own Hometown Mystery series.

She currently lives in Maryland with her husband in a rapidly emptying nest. For more information on her books or to subscribe to her newsletter, go to www.rosalie-spielman- author.com, follow her Facebook page (Rosalie Spielman author) or Instagram (Rosalie.Spielman). Rosalie strives to provide you a cozy escape…one page at a time.

Scotland, Setting, and Story

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by Sparkle Abbey

We are just back from an amazing trip to Scotland and so our heads and hearts are full of all of those experiences.  We were there two weeks and still didn’t get to see everything that we wanted to, but we certainly hit most of the high points.

We started in Edinburgh, traveled north to Loch Ness and Inverness, then farther north to Ullapool, the Isle of Skye and the Isle of Lewis. And finally, we headed back south to Loch Lomond, Glasgow and then back to Edinburgh to fly home.

So many fantastic new experiences, so many breathtaking views, so much history.

One of the things that becomes clear when you travel to landscapes that are unlike those you’re used to, is that where we live is all a part of our story. It’s not just where we live. It’s who we are. And that’s very much true in the stories we write as well.

Understanding the place a story is set and how that place plays a part in the mood, the characters, and sometimes even the conflict, is important. And we can certainly see why writers who have chosen Scotland for their setting have been drawn to that atmospheric element of the Scottish landscape.

Culledon

Are there particular settings in books that speak to you? Are there places that you especially enjoy reading about?

As you already know, we usually tend to write stories set near lovely sunny beaches. But don’t be surprised if sometime in the future a wee bit of Scotland creeps into a Sparkle Abbey story.

Sparkle Abbey is actually two people, Mary Lee Ashford and Anita Carter, who write the national best-selling Pampered Pets cozy mystery series. They are friends as well as neighbors so they often get together and plot ways to commit murder. (But don’t tell the other neighbors.)

They love to hear from readers and can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest, their favorite social media sites. Also, if you want to make sure you get updates, sign up for their newsletter via the SparkleAbbey.com website

 

Clicking Our Heels – Addressing Covid in Our Writing

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Authors are divided on how to handle the pandemic in their writing. Kathy Reichs chose to write a book that referred to it in past tense but played on its fears (The Bone Code), Elizabeth Strout embraced the emotional and behaviors it arose head on, (Lucy by the Sea), while Ann Patchett incorporated it by sly references as to why the family was all at home together (Tom Lake). Here is how Stiletto Gang members are addressing the pandemic/Covid in our writings:

Paula Benson – I have written two short stories that take place during the pandemic. In particular, I deal with families coping with the restrictions upon schools and businesses. The first story, “Covid Christmas Economics,” (here’s the link) had an eight grader struggling with home schooling and watching as his family’s restaurant had to make changes in its schedule. The second story, “Crossfire in the Crosshairs,” (published August 2023 by Dragon Soul Press in A DEATH IN THE NIGHT) had a single mother assassin competing with her ex-husband to take out a mark. As the story points out: “Assasinations remined essential services during Covid 19.”

T.K. Thorne – My current work-in-progress is a suspense novel, The Old Lady. It’s set just after the emergency phase of the pandemic, and my character lost her husband to Covid. Funny, at first I wrote “lost her husband to the disease,” but that sounded too impersonal and I changed it to “Covid.” I also notice I capitalized it, as I would a person’s name. I would not have written “lost her husband to Smallpox.”  I guess having lived through it, this one is personified and personal.

Mary Lee Ashford – As I’m working on the fourth in a series and it hasn’t been mentioned in previous books, I’m not addressing it at all. However, I’m also working on a new series and in that one, I am alluding to it but mostly as a part of our lives today post pandemic but with Covid still an issue. I think it depends on the type of book and the audience so I might feel differently if I was writing in a different sub-genre.

Barbara J. Eikmeier – As a writer I haven’t addressed Covid at all but as a reader I feel like a lot of books that were written during the stay home part of the pandemic are now releasing. I always read the author’s notes at the end and appreciate their sharing of their struggles to complete books while schooling children and sharing workspace with spouses or while working in seclusion.

Joyce Woolcutt – I have addressed it by cleverly setting my books before it started. Any new ones, afterwards.

Linda Rodriguez – I’m not currently, because my reading of the zeitgeist is that people aren’t ready to read about it yet.

Debra H. Goldstein – Other than a short story written from the viewpoint of a doctor with Covid for a Covid fundraising anthology, I haven’t had the opportunity to incorporate the pandemic into my current work.

Bethany Maines – During COVID and directly after, I did feel like readers did NOT want to read about it since they were experiencing it too intimately in real life.  However, as we have moved forward, I’m mentioning it as part of the background of my contemporary stories. For example, I might say, “During the pandemic was the only time traffic had been light.”  I don’t see any reason not to mention as we continue to deal with the fallout.

 Saralyn Richard – During Covid lockdown, writing a mystery novel was my salvation, but since I didn’t know what the future held in terms of life changes resulting from the pandemic, I chose to set the book pre-pandemic. In subsequent books I allude to the pandemic (the elephant in the room) in small ways, such as having a character explain why she didn’t host parties for a time, or having a character wear a mask. Since Covid has profoundly marked our generation, I feel it’s wrong to ignore it, but I also don’t give it full reign over my stories.

Lois Winston – Because I write humorous cozy mysteries, I made the decision early into the pandemic that I would not address Covid. My books are meant as an escape from the problems of the real world. In addition, although my Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series is now up to twelve books, the series has spanned less than two years in the life of my sleuth and her family. Even if I’d wanted to shoehorn Covid into the series arc, it wouldn’t have worked.

Kathryn Lane – My Nikki Garcia mystery – Missing in Miami – has Nikki traveling to Cuba to investigate a missing teenager. I decided to include a minor amount of Covid in that book since the pandemic, like an unpleasant visitor, has stayed around way too long.

Dru Ann Love – As a reader, I prefer not to read about the pandemic, especially in detail. A mention that it happened would work.

Lynn McPherson – I don’t address it as I don’t like to read about it either.

 

 

 

Cozy up for fall reading

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As the leaves turn vibrant shades of red and gold and the air becomes crisp and inviting, there’s no better time to cozy up with a good book than during the fall season. To enhance your reading experience and immerse yourself fully in the autumn atmosphere, consider creating the perfect fall reading space—a cozy nook that invites you to escape into the world of stories while surrounded by the warmth and charm of the season.

Whether you’re able to dedicate a space solely for reading or you have to create a reading corner somewhere in your home, these five tips will help you make your reading spot perfect for fall.

I’d like to share five tips with you on creating that cozy reading spot today. Ready?

 Comfy Seating:

  • Find a comfortable chair or a plush armchair with soft cushions. You want a seat that invites you to sink in and stay a while. Add a cozy throw blanket for added comfort and warmth.

Fall-Themed Decor:

  • To infuse your reading nook/space with the spirit of fall, decorate it with autumn-inspired decor. Here are some ideas:
    • Pillows and Throws: Adorn your chair with throw pillows featuring fall colors and patterns like leaves, pumpkins, or plaid.
    • Foliage and Wreaths: Hang a fall wreath on the wall or incorporate faux autumn leaves and branches into your decor.
    • Candles: Place scented candles with fall fragrances like cinnamon, apple, or pumpkin spice on nearby surfaces. Be sure to practice safety when using candles.
    • Seasonal Artwork: Hang or lean fall-themed artwork or prints on the walls to bring in the colors and aesthetics of autumn.

A Side Table:

  • A small side table or bookshelf is essential for holding your current book, a hot beverage, or reading glasses. Decorate it with a vase of autumn flowers or a mini pumpkin arrangement.

Portable Reading Materials:

  • Suggest using portable reading materials like e-readers or audiobooks. These can be enjoyed anywhere in the house, from the kitchen table to a cozy corner of the bedroom.

Reading Caddy:

  • Recommend the use of a reading caddy or tote bag to keep all reading essentials in one place. This makes it easy to move around the house and read wherever they feel comfortable.

And here’s the little pup who makes every area of our home cozy. She’s the perfect reading companion (when she’s not stealing socks). 🙂

 

Do you have a dedicated reading spot in your home? If so, tell us about it. Do you have any tips for creating a cozy reading nook? If you don’t have a dedicated space, where do you primarily read?

 

 

 

Debra Sennefelder is the author of the Food Blogger Mystery series and the Resale Boutique Mystery series.

She lives and writes in Connecticut. When she’s not writing, she enjoys baking, exercising and taking long walks with her Shih-Tzu, Connie.

You can keep in touch with Debra through her website, on Facebook and Instagram.

 

 

 

Native Bound Unbound by Juliana Aragón Fatula

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Juliana Aragón Fatula, a 2022 Corn Mother, women who have earned accolades for community activism and creative endeavors is the author of: Crazy Chicana in Catholic City, Red Canyon Falling on Churches, winner of the High Plains Book Award for Poetry 2016, and a chapbook: The Road I Ride Bleeds, and a member of Colorado Alliance of Latino Mentors and Authors, and Macondo, “a community of accomplished writers…whose bonds reflect the care and generosity of its membership.” She mentors for Bridging Borders, a Teen Leadership Program for girls. No justice no peace.

Dear Reader,

The month of September for me includes numerous birthdays and my wedding anniversary on September 26th. This year marks my 31st anniversary with my amazing husband, Vinny. Yesterday he called from Wyoming to wish me a happy anniversary from his camp where he is hunting with his brother and nephew. It’s an annual hunting event for him and I consider it my vacation. For forty-five days he scouts, hunts, and harvests his wild game for our freezer. I remain at home to write, revise, and read in the luxury of my home free from distractions like cooking, cleaning, and laundry.

This year I decided to do things differently. I concentrated on doing things my husband normally does: yard work, and house and vehicle maintenance. I wanted my husband to come home to minimal work. I decided to think of someone besides myself.

Normally I would spend the forty-five days writing and ignore everything else like housework, laundry, and shopping. I’d live amongst the fur balls my dogs leave in every corner and on every surface. I’d let the dishes stack up. I’d order out from my favorite restaurants and have the meals delivered after I ran out of clean dishes. I’d wear my clothes inside out when they got dirty and let the laundry stink up the hamper. The vacuum cleaner would stand idly in the closet resting from the puppies’ fur balls. The bills get piled on my desk and go unpaid. The weeds outside would grow to astronomical size and the hedges, and roses go untrimmed and untamed to cover every fence and gate until I am imprisoned in my own yard and my home. I usually keep the curtains closed and live like a mushroom in the dark.

This year is different. Instead of writing, I’m plotting. I’m imagining what my characters are up to and what plans they have for the next book in this series of three mysteries about the Colorado Sisters and their mayhem, murder, romance, and stilettos.

I have been busy trying to keep my social life active for example: I recently drove to Alamosa, Colorado a six-hour round road trip for an interview with Denver Channel Nine. I’m part of the program Native Bound Unbound organized by Estevan Rael-Gálvez, Ph.D.  about indigenous slaves.

My great-grandfather was a genizaro, a slave sold into servitude as a four-year-old Navajo orphan. He was baptized by his adopted parents into the church, taught Spanish, and put to work herding sheep on the ranch owned by the Gomez family. He didn’t speak English, Spanish, or Christian. We’ll never know his name, his people, or his life before he was sold by the Indian Trader, Layfette Head, to the Gomez family as an Indian Captive. The Indian Rolls from 1864 show his name, Jose Antonio Gomez, four years old, Navajo, born in New Mexico, purchased by Jose Gomez in Alamosa.

I drove to Alamosa last week to do the interview for Channel Nine News in Denver. The journalist, Jeremy Jojola, and Corky, his cameraman, and I walked through the cemetery to my great-grandparents’ grave. I said a prayer for delivering me safely from my home to their home, their final resting place. They are buried in the Spanish Cemetery because of their last name, Gomez.  My great-grandfather Jose Antonio Gomez, the Navajo, and my great-grandmother Abrana Jacobs, half Ute from her mother’s side, Abrana Quintana, and European from her father, the Reverend Jacobs, were buried in the Spanish Cemetery.

The interview went off without a hitch even though my new Subaru Forster Wilderness was rear-ended. I took a deep breath and journeyed on and did the interview the best I could. It will air in Denver on Channel Nine on October 11th at 9 p.m.

The program Native Bound Unbound is locating the descendants of these genizaros, slaves, and educating them on their ancestors’ history. I also was recruited through this program to do an interview for Story Corps. These recordings are collected in the U.S. Library of Congress and in their online archive which is now the largest single collection of human voices ever gathered. Stories are broadcast weekly on NPR.  StoryCorps shares select stories with the public through their podcast, animated shorts, digital platforms, and best-selling books.

I met Dr. Rael-Galvez at a conference in Pueblo, CO last month and learned about his amazing research that my great-grandfather is part of and now I am included as one of the descendents. As a Corn Mother, I am learning about my culture, my heritage, and my ancestors. I survived because my ancestors survived and gave me their Navajo, Ute, and Pueblo DNA. I plan on writing a book about my journey and research and the program Native Bound Unbound and the genizaros who survived despite their hardships.

I realize now why I am so brown-eyed, with dark hair and skin. I come from strong, people who never gave up and fought to survive in a world that did not value them as people but as something to be purchased and used for slavery to work the ranches and farms. I have a photo given to me by Dr. Rael-Galvez of my great-grandfather and I see my mother’s eyes in his eyes.  I wish my mother had lived long enough to see the photo of her grandfather; she was born in 1923 and he died in 1921. He was born in 1856 in New Mexico to the Diné, Navajo people, and was buried in Alamosa in the Spanish Cemetery. How ironic. His name will be part of history and future generations will learn about him through the Native Bound Unbound research.