Thank you to talented writer, Esther Chilton, for sharing a delightful post about Something Fancy and a wonderful review. Esther has several excellent books, both fiction and non-fiction, which you will find on her site.
Esther is a very generous and supportive blogger and has a Guest Writer Spot on a Friday where she shares stories, poems and promotional articles by various bloggers. In Esther’s words:
“If you’d like to be included in this slot, please get in touch: estherchilton@gmail.com. Poems can be up to 60 lines and prose 2000 words. If you’d like to add a short bio and photo, then great. All I ask is that there’s nothing offensive.”
This week’s guest is familiar to many of you. Robbie Cheadle is a prolific writer and so supportive of other bloggers. Please give her a warm welcome as she shares her new book, which I’ve just read. You’ll find my review below. For now, over to Robbie:
Something Fancy, A Winter Wonderland Celebration book 1
Christmas in South Africa
Christmas in South Africa is a different experience to Christmas in the Northern Hemisphere. It is summer here and the temperatures on Christmas Day are frequently in the mid 30 C’s. Our Christmas menu is designed for hot weather and tends towards salads, cold meats, and light desserts rather than the hot meal enjoyed in colder climates and the heavy puddings. That being said, my family always have a traditional Christmas Cake to enjoy on and after the day. We also usually have either a chocolate house or a gingerbread house on display which goes down well with the children.
On several occasions, I have used a summer fun theme for my Christmas confectionaries. One of my favourite Christmas cakes features Santa on the Beach.
Thank you for having me on your incredible blog today, Robbie, to share the release of Ghosts & Miracles Past: A Christmas Collection Two. I’m really grateful for your support!
Interview
Do you have a favorite story in the collection? Each story has a place and a piece of my heart. “The Christmas Train Mystery” comes from a love of trains. I ride them anytime I can and incorporated that into a story. How I feel about animals shines through in “The Christmas Rescue.” That story didn’t make the first collection, but giving it a second look, it found its voice. “Is There is Santa?” though is the one closest to my heart as I brought an “Elizabeth’s War” character into it. This was my first children’s book that I wrote. It was set in WWI, and I weaved some family history into it from when my great-grandma lived in North Dakota before her family moved to Alberta. So it was fun for Dr. Rhodes to make an appearance and see where the fictional family moved to in 1920.
What is your favorite tradition? I love the time leading up to Christmas and especially enjoy decorating while listening to holiday tunes. I still listen to the old Christmas vinyl records. This can range from Johnny Mathis that I got from my in-laws, the Disney songs my kids listened to, or from my time The Partridge Family, and everything in between. My daughter just got me the Nutcracker album for my birthday. While the music fills the room, each ornament I put on the tree has a special memory attached to it. Not only do we celebrate the now, but also the past when decorating and listening to music.
What is the first thing you do to kick off the holiday season? Beginning in the summer, I begin shopping, particularly for grandchildren. That permits me to spread it throughout several months. The other thing I do early is get supplies for the big feast. If pepperoncini or gluten-free dressing is on sale, I grab them and put them away until the holiday. Then, when it’s time, I give the house a good cleaning and drag all the boxes inside so I can start decorating.
Blurb
Picture caption: Cover of Miracles & Ghosts Past: A Christmas Collection featuring a Christmas tree and old-fashioned lamp
Miracles saturate the sweet-scented Christmas season—a reminder we aren’t alone.
Miracles & Ghosts Past: A Christmas Collection brings eight stories from past holidays. Rita buys train tickets for her and Morris’s 30th anniversary in the novelette, “The Christmas Train Mystery.”She’s convinced this trip will bring her and Morris closer—if he can find the time. A murder mystery excursion will change Rita’s life in more ways than one, but will she go with her workaholic husband or by herself? In the first short story, “Christmas Rescue,” Opal trusts the wrong man and loses her mother in the same year, leaving her feeling lost. On a mission to get candles for the dinner table, she makes an unexpected find. “Is There a Santa?” goes back to the 1920s, where a widower is desperate to hold on to his farm and children. He doesn’t want charity, just a bit of luck or a miracle. In the final stories, you’ll meet an eleven-year-old who’s home alone, a family living in the aftermath of war, a girl who gets some shocking news, a widow with a warning from beyond, and a woman trapped on an elevator with Santa. Hope underlies these stories; it endures even in the direst of circumstances. Whether help comes from a ghost, Santa, or an angel, miracles are just within reach.
This is the second collection of Christmas themed short stories in this series. I enjoyed the first collection, and this book was equally entertaining.
While all the stories in this book are engrossing, I am focusing on my favourite three for purposes of this review.
The Christmas Train Mystery – this is an entertaining Agatha Christie styled near murder mystery. Rita books tickets for her husband, Morris, and her to go on a murder mystery train ride for their thirtieth wedding anniversary. As the story unfolds, the extent to which Morris has changed and become self-absorbed and selfish over the course of their marriage becomes evident and the ticket purchase triggers a series of events that change Rita’s life. In true Finn style, the story ends on an uplifting and happy note.
She’s Home Alone – a creepy short story about a young girl home alone during a snowstorm and a predator with bad intentions. I enjoyed the character of Debbie and appreciated her presence of mind and calmness in a scary situation. Having been the victim of a home invasion, I know just how scary such situations are. The intervention by the angel was uplifting and engaging.
Elevator Santa – this is another story I could relate to as I have also been trapped in an elevator and it is a most unpleasant experience. The paranormal element in this story was subtly included and I enjoyed it very much. Another delightful story that finished on a high note.
Finn’s books always leave the reader with a feeling of contentment and the knowledge that there are lots of wonderful people out there who are the ‘helpers’. I appreciate her positive messages about the spirit of humanity wrapped up in engaging stories. This collection is perfect for Christmas.
Finn Fun Facts
I love baking bread in the fall and winter.
I prefer snowshoeing over skiing.
About D.L. Finn
Picture caption: author photograph of D.L. Finn
D. L. Finn is an independent California local who encourages everyone to embrace their inner child. She was born and raised in the foggy Bay Area, but in 1990 she relocated with her husband, kids, dogs, and cats to Nevada City, in the Sierra foothills. She immersed herself in reading all types of books but especially loved romance, horror, and fantasy. She always treasured creating her own reality on paper. Finally, surrounded by towering pines, oaks, and cedars, her creativity was nurtured until it bloomed. Her creations include children’s books, adult fiction, and poetry. She continues on her adventure with an open invitation to all readers to join her.
To celebrate the release, I will be giving away three Amazon Gift Cards: $5, $10, and $15. At the end of the tour, I will randomly pick the three winners from those who leave comments during the blog tour. Good Luck!
roberta-writes.com 