Season of Miracles

The December 2015 issue of Sasee magazine is aptly titled, "Season of Miracles."

I love the cover of this issue. It's eye-catching and memorable, with one woman with a broad stride who stands out from the crowd. The woman is dressed in black gloves, a red dress and matching shoes, with a tiny black-and-white bow on them. Just from looking at that cover, you can imagine that woman is going places.

I'm pleased that an essay I wrote titled "Sweet Memories" is included in this issue. The story might bring a tear to your eye, but it ends on a hopeful note. If you get some time, click on the link above and read it. Another local writer, Linda O'Connell, also has an essay in the same issue.

Here's wishing you a joyful Christmas season filled with sweet memories and maybe even a miracle or two.

Free Writing Resource: Planning Calendars from Literautas

Here's a gift you can give yourself without feeling guilty -- and it's free!

Just in time for Christmas, the generous folks at Literautas, whose motto is, "If you like writing," are giving away downloadable writing calendars.

For 2015 there are three varieties: wall calendar, desk calendar, or monthly planner

Last year I used my 2014 monthly planner to:
* Record upcoming deadlines
* Document my monthly goals
* Have a visual displays of what I'd accomplished
* Help account for my monthly income and expenses

So, if you like free, here's a link to the Literautas blog, where you can find directions on how to download the calendar of your choice.

Happy writing --  and planning!

Whimsey, Wurst and Wine in Hermann, Missouri

After the horrific events in Connecticut last Friday it's been hard to get into a light-hearted mood. I've been reluctant to post more of the photos I took in Hermann. Then I thought maybe some holiday cheer might lift my spirits and those who read this post.

 

I started this last Thursday, then the strong winds knocked out our electricity briefly and my Internet service was down for a couple days. Unfortunately, I lost much of what I had typed to post, but fortunately the photos survived. 

 

While the Christmas decorations in St. George's rectory included Nativity scenes and religious icons, there also were touches of whimsey sprinkled throughout the four-story home. 

 

A silver-plated knight in shining armor stood outside the Queen's room announcing the queen was not in.

 

The Wizard of Oz room was complete with a yellow brick road.

The tree in the Military room had a tree with photographs of veterans, including WACs and WAVEs, and a pillow with an image of Elvis.

 

Multi-colored masks were the centerpieces of the Mardi Gras room.

 

After touring the rectory we headed for Stone Hill Winery for lunch and a tour.

Pelznickel, the fur clad Santa with origins in Northwestern Germany, made an appearance during lunch.

Pelznickel is one of Santa's helpers who visits kinder (children) who have been naughty during the year. He carries a stick and lumps of coal. 

And after lunch at Stone Hill Winery we toured the caves where the wine barrels are stored.

 

At the Wurst Haus, our group was treated to sausage snacks and a demonstration of sausage making.

 

Hope you enjoyed this virtual tour of Hermann.  



 

Christmas at St. George's Rectory in Hermann, Missouri

Yesterday I was part of a bus tour that visited the lovely village of Hermann, Missouri, which overlooks the Missouri River. Hermann is a popular tourist destination known for its "vintage charm and timeless beauty."

Jan Lay, a charming friend from our old DISA workplace, made the arrangements with the "Are We There Yet" tour company for our group of "Kindred Spirits"-- a dozen of former co-workers and friends.  

The highlight of yesterday's tour was a visit to the rectory of St. George's Catholic Church, located at 128 West Fourth Street. The old Franciscan Rectory has become a must-see attraction for tourists to Hermann each December.

For the past several years, the non-Franciscan pastor -- Father William Debo, a priest from the Jefferson City Diocese who is known as Father Bill -- plans, designs, and orchestrates the decorating effort.

Parishioners volunteer their time and donate many of their treasures to transform the rectory into a Christmas delight, which they share with visitors from across the country. The St. George Rectory open house is an annual fund raiser for the Hermann Ministerial Alliance, with free-will offerings used to assist needy families in the community.

During Christmas time, the four-story rectory holds more than 50 Christmas trees and dozens of Nativity scenes. My descriptions won't do justice to the displays, so I'll post some photos I took of the many rooms in the rectory.

Enjoy!

Next week I'll post more photos of the rectory, along with a few snapshots from our visit to the Wurst Haus and Stone Hill Winery.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Gift of Christmas

Add caption

Last Friday I found a thick brown envelope with a return address from Simon and Schuster waiting for me on my doorstep. I wasn't expecting a book to review from S&S and couldn't imagine what was inside the envelope, so I tore it open right away to find out.

The envelope held a soft cover copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Gift of Christmas. I flipped open to the Table of Contents and, sure enough, I found my true story "Unexpected Joy" listed on page 195 in Chapter 6 (A Few Good Elves).

This new book is a reissue of a hardcover which was published in 2010 with limited distribution.

I love the nostalgic-looking, muted colors on the updated cover. The youngsters peek out from the stairs, dressed in their pajmas and slippers, gazing in awe at the presents beneath the Christmas tree.

The endorsement on the back cover is priceless: "Chicken Soup for the Soul has done it again, with an extra-large collection of joyful Christmas stories!" Santa Claus!

 According to the Chicken Soup for the Soul website, the publication date for The Gift of Christmas is October 9.

Time to Get Your Jingle On - Call for Submissions: Fifty Shades of Santa

Time to get your jingle on!

A couple weeks ago Pat Smith, editor of Welkin Press and one of my writing buddies, called to invite me to submit a story to a new anthology. The excitement in her voice flowed through the phone lines. Pat is putting together humorous holiday stories for a romance anthology titled "Fifty Shades of Santa." 

The anthology will be published in October (yes, you read it right) by Welkin Press.

 

Pat writes that "the title is already attracting media attention."

She is looking for your best writing, featuring unusual situations, interesting characters, great romantic chemistry and lots of laughs.

She is NOT looking for stories about tying anyone up or beating them with whips or anything like that. She writes, "It's Christmas, people!"

Story Length: 2,000 to 8,000 words

Deadline: September 30, 2012 (Better get moving!)

Payment: $10.00 per story, plus royalties on sales of the anthology.  

Authors retains copyrights for their stories after publication. Submit stories to Pat at mizgotrocks@wt.net 

Thoughts on Writing: Critique Groups

If someone asked me to name the factor that has affected my writing most, hands down it would be belonging to a good critique group.

Over the years I've belonged to several groups and I've benefitted from each one in some way. Belonging to a good critique group has helped me become a better writer and has helped me get published, but most of all, I've made life-long friends.

During the day on New Year's Eve, Bill Mueller, a member of our weekly group, received a phone call from an editor at Writer's Digest. A story Bill read at critique group last year won second place out of more than 1700 entries in the crime fiction short story contest. Bill is an award-winning and accomplished writer whose work needs little improvement. When he read his story--I believe in two sessions--it was about 99-percent there. Our group made minimal suggestions. In the WD contest, Bill won big bucks, several books, and recognition on the WD website and in their magazine. How's that for a critique group success story?

If you're wondering what this Christmas-day photo below of my grandkiddos--who are about to take a ride on my brother's tandem bike--has to do with belonging to a critique group, here's what: 

Both involve teamwork and trust.

Someone has to take the lead. While critique group members can help, the writer is in control.

Like a first draft, you need to take a test drive before you start.

A bad partner (or group) can mess you up.

A good partner (or group) can help you get to your destination quicker and safely.

When you fall, you have someone to pick you up.

When you get to the finish line, you have someone to cheer you.

It's fun!

If anyone has thoughts on the benefits of a good critique group, please share them in the comments. I'd love to hear them.

Christmas Carols -Too Much of a Good Thing?

I love listening to Christmas music, and, even though I'm not a good singer, I love to sing along.

When Christmas rolls around, I drag out our special musical wreath and hang it on the front porch. The wreath has a string of lights imbedded in it and a music box attached. It plays six Christmas tunes in a continuous loop. The music is catchy. The music is loud. If you're any where near the front of the house, you can hear the songs. I love it.

I hit the play button every evening when I turn on the Christmas lights. Shortly thereafter someone else in the house hits the stop button.

"Why do you like listening to the same songs all the time?" Grandchild #1 says. "Don't you get tired of it?" She's the one who blasts the same CD in the bathroom while taking a shower at 11 p.m. each night.

"That is so annoying," Grandchild #2 says. "The whole neighborhood can hear it." I want to tell him that he and his friends are also annoying when the whole neighborhood can hear them playing outside.

"Turn that crap off," Husband says, grabbing the TV remote. "It's time for O'Reilly."

Away from home, I sing along with the radio and hum as I'm buzzing through stores. It puts me in a festive mood as I try not to think about how much I'm spending.

Yesterday while I was at Macy's I was enjoying the music and getting energized listening to the upbeat song, "All I Want for Christmas is You."  Every time that song comes on the radio while I'm driving I turn it up and sing along. The lyrics give me chills. Sometimes the lyrics make me cry. People in other cars give me strange looks.

Apparently not everyone shares my love for that song. While I was paying for a gift, two Macy's cashiers were discussing Christmas music, oblivious to the fact that they were waiting on a customer, I guess.

"I'm so sick of that song," says Cashier #1 as she folds a sweater.

"Me, too," said Cashier #2 as she rings up my order. "I'll be glad when Christmas is over so we don't have to listen to it any more."

By the time I left the Service Counter I was bummed. "Bah, humbug," I mumbled. Then another song came on and I was humming along again.

How about you? Do you get tired of listening to Christmas carols? Or do you love the way they make you feel and are a bit sad when it's time to take down the tree, bundle up the lights, and turn off the music?

Merry Christmas to "Santa Wore Cowboy Boots" Commenters --You All Are Winners

Thanks to everyone who left a comment on my post and asked for their names to be put in the hat to win a copy of my story "Santa Wore Cowboy Boots" which appeared in A Cup of Comfort for Christmas. In the spirit of Christmas, I decided that rather than just selecting a few names at random I would send a copy of the story to each person who left a comment.

So the winners are

 Bookie (Claudia)

Sally

Linda

Sioux

Melissa

Val

Janet

Carol

If you all will e-mail me at dvolkenannt (at) charter.net with your name and mailing address I will get your copy in the mail right away.

Merry Christmas, and thanks for continuing to visit my blog and sharing your thoughts and encouraging me to continue writing.

Donna 

"Santa Wore Cowboy Boots" Story and Giveaway

Several years ago my story "Santa Wore Cowboy Boots" was published in A Cup of Comfort for Christmas (Adams Media). The story is about the Christmas my husband, children, and I spent in Southern Arizona -- and the lesson my nine-year-old son Erik taught me about the real meaning of Christmas.

Earlier this year I gave permission for the story to be used as a handout at our parish Advent Candelight Service, which occurred two weeks ago.

The finished product is lovely. It's a full-page booklet printed on both sides on pink-tinted paper.

After the service I called the Parish Office to see if I could get some extra copies, and they graciously made extras for me. I'm going to include some copies in Christmas cards but am keeping a few to give away.

So, to celebrate the season of Christmas and as a special remembrance to my son, I'm giving away a few copies of the one-page booklet with the story "Santa Wore Cowboy Boots" on my blog.

To win a copy of the one-page booklet:
* Become a follower and leave a comment between now and Friday, December 16
* OR - if you already are a follower, just leave a comment
* I will announce the names of the winners one week from today, on Monday, December 19, at which time I will request mailing addresses for the winners.
* Winners must have mailing addresses in the USA, or if military service or family members overseas, must have APO addresses.

To be clear, I'm not giving away copies of the Cup of Comfort for Christmas book, but I am giving away copies of the one-sheet, double-sided booklet of the "Santa Wore Cowboy Boots" story that is in the book.

Good luck!

The Spirit of Christmas Bus Trip - Lights, Trees, Nativity Scenes, Candy Canes, and More

Last evening our parish (All Saints in St. Peters) sponsored a bus tour to several local Christmas light displays. After eating a simple, but filling, meal in the Parish Center, more than 100 brave souls, including my sister Kathleen, some of my friends from my old work, and I hopped on two large tour buses and headed out for Tilles Park in St. Louis County to drive through their Winter Wonderland light display.

Because of rush-hour traffic it took some time to finally get there, but the non-religious displays were bright and sparkly, and so much to see. There was a jumping frog, skaters, trees, carriage rides, Santa, a toy house, a Peace on Earth sign, and lots more.   The driving tour took about a half hour, and is something kids of all ages can enjoy. Admission fees range from $9.00 for a family vehicle to $75 for a bus.

After once again braving rush-hour traffic, we rode across the Mississippi into the Land of Lincoln. Our second stop was the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, IL, for the Way of the Lights display, which runs until Jan 1.

After climbing off our bus we headed inside, where we were greeted by a group of children performing Christmas carols. As Kathleen and I walked down the hallway, we admired the decorated wreaths on the walls. The wreaths were donated for a silent auction. Some were simple, others ornate, but almost all were elegant.

The fun part of the tour was a walk through the Christmas tree display room.

The theme was children's books. What a delight!

The room isn't too large, but it was crowded and took about 15 minutes to walk through. I stopped a few times to snap photos of most of the trees on display.

Trees were decorated like The Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, Toy Story, Cinderalla (my favorite), The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and several others.

The display sponsored by the School Sisters of Notre Dame, called ONE,  included handouts for a 2011 Christmas Tree Blessing.

After leaving the Christmas Tree room, we peeked into the Children's Room, where there were a variety of activities for children, including a puppet show.

We wandered down the hall and visited the gift shop, which also had some lovely displays, most notably was a Nativity scene under the tree at the entrance.

Another highlight of our visit was a portrait of the Blessed Mother carrying the Infant Jesus and being serenaded by three angels.

What's remarkable about this portrait is that it's made out of Legos. Isn't it amazing?

I was told there is another, larger, portrait made out of Legos in the hotel at the center.

The suggested donation for the outside tour varies depending on the size of the vehicle. For a car it would be $10. Our bus paid $50, and with each $10 donation came a cute and cuddly stuffed animal--this one was a goat. Oh, the tour also offers camel and donkey rides. It truly is a sight to behold, and one I highly recommend for children of all ages, and anyone who is looking for displays with a spiritual message of Christmas.

After leaving Illinois we headed back to Missouri and took in a glimpse of downtown St. Louis City Park, then on to a special treat on Murdock Lane called --- Candy Cane Lane in the St. Louis Hills section of St. Louis. John Kuehner, the brother of Patti Niestat, one of our tour organizers, plans and produces this annual event. If neighbors can't afford to decorate, John foots the bill. All the houses on both sides of the street for a few blocks are brightly decorated. Red and white lights circle the bases of large oaks lining the streets, giving it a candy cane appearance. This brief drive was a delight, and a sweet way to finish up our evening before heading back to All Saints.

I hope they have this bus trip again next year, because I definitely want to go!

Free Author Open House - Tuesday, November 29 (I'll be there from 6-7:30 p.m.)

If you live in the metro-St. Louis/St. Charles area and want to meet a passel of local authors (including me) and eat some free snacks, check out the Author Open House sponsored by the St. Charles City-Country Library District.

The open house will be at the: Middendorf-Kreddel Branch Library 2750 Hwy. K, O'Fallon,MO 63368

Here's the shameless plug portion of this post: While I can't be at the entire event, I will be there from around 6-7:30 p.m., along with a few of my writing friends and several other writers.

This year I've been a busy girl and have been fortunate enough to have stories published in several anthologies. I will have copies of the following books with my stories in them available for purchase and will gladly sign copies.

"Read Away Vacation" in Flashlight Memories (a true story)

"Look Back but Don't Stare" in A Shaker of Margaritas: Cougars on the Prowl (pictured above, bottom right hand corner) (Me? A Cougar? This one is definitely fiction!)

"The Night the Circus Came to Town" in Mysteries of the Ozarks (Vol II) (Ozarks mystery short story)

"Bridie O'Shea's Golden-Haired Visitor" in Cactus Country (Western short story)

"Golden Lilacs Under the Worm Moon" in Storm Country Anthology (funds go to the Joplin Libraries)

"Under Grandma's Bottle Tree" in Voices Anthology (nominated for a Pushcart Prize)

If my back isn't hurting from hauling copies of all those books to the library, I might also bring a couple copies of A Cup of Comfort for Military Families, A Cup of Comfort for Women, Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Gift of Christmas and other anthologies my stories have appeared in over the past years.

The event is FREE and registration is not required, but I believe the library wants people to register to get an estimate of how many will be there so they can purchase enough refreshments. Check out the list of other writers appearing at the event.

Even if you're not in the mood for shopping, I hope you will stop by and visit tomorrow night, Tuesday, Nov 29. I'll be there from 6 till 7:30 p.m. 

Feast of the Epiphany and A Giveaway on Cathy C. Hall's Blog

Today is the Feast of the Epiphany, the day when the Wise Men brought the gifts to the Christ child. The word epiphany comes from the Greek verb, "to reveal."

The feast is celebrated in many parts of Europe, where gifts are exchanged. In our home, it's the day we take down our Christmas tree, box up the lights, put away the ornaments, and hope we can remember where we put everything so we can find it next year. Having a good memory is a blessing, and a gift.

Speaking of gifts, Cathy C. Hall, one of my blogger buddies, is in a gift-giving mood. Cathy is a wise and witty writer with a good and generous heart. To celebrate the new year, she is giving away a $20 Barnes and Noble gift card to a new follower. To win the gift card, sign up to be one of her followers and leave a comment on her blog between now and January 24th. Be sure to mention you heard about her contest here, on Donna's Book Pub. If you win, I can win, too!

Cathy will pick the winner's name from her new followers. If you're already one of her followers, you can also win. Check out her Jan 3 post for details.

While you're visiting Cathy's blog, check out her posts about submission opportunities, contests, and other cool writing stuff. I love reading her posts. She is always so upbeat and funny--and did I mention--generous?

One word of caution: After reading Cathy's posts you might start saying Y'all a lot and craving grits and fried green tomatoes. That's cause Cathy is a Southern belle from Georgia.

Good luck, y'all!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Wishing you and yours a blessed Christmas and a joyful New Year. I'll be taking a break from blogging for the rest of the week, but I'll be back next Monday.

Until then, I leave you with this Irish blessing:

"May you always walk in sunshine. May you never want for more. May Irish angels rest their wings right beside your door."

What's On Top of Your Tree?

Top O' the morning to ya,
and the rest o'the day as well.

That Irish greeting put me in mind of what people put on top of their Christmas trees.

My sister Kathleen has a large black top hat on hers. She bought it a few years ago when my niece Jamie had a shop on Main Street in St. Charles. The top hat is unique and stylish, and definitely an attention grabber, but it's not something I would put on top of my tree.

I like angel tree tops and have a collection in different colors and styles. For the past several years I've selected a different one depending on the color of ornaments we use.

This Christmas is different.

While we were decorating, Cari asked why we always have an angel on top She wanted to use a gold star. Deciding it was time for a change, I drove to several stores looking for a gold star but couldn't find one. I was about to give up when I discovered one at Wal-Mart.

So, here's a photo of our tree, which is a work in progress. We add ornaments each day.

Yesterday Michael brought home a grinch ornament he made in art class. It's made out of a lightbult painted bright green with a red and white hat on top.

Notice the gold and white star, which has passed Cari's very critical eye as being "tree top worthy."

So, I'm curious: If you have a Christmas tree, what do you put on top?

December Giveaway #2 - Extraordinary

My second giveaway this month is for an Advance Reading Copy of EXTRAORDINARY, published by Dial books, and written by New York times best-selling author, Nancy Werlin.

What does it mean to be extraordinary? That is the question posed by this intriguing young adult fantasy novel, which is not the type of book I usually read.

When I read the book's title on the list of possible review books for Teenreads, I wasn't sure if it was a book I would enjoy. It's about fairies who live in our world and a pledge made generations ago. Not my cup of tea, but I decided to step outside my reading comfort zone and try something different. I have to say I was enchanted with the story about Phoebe and Mallory, who become unlikely friends, and whose friendship is tested after Mallory's brother Ryland appears.

Beyond being a fantasy about fairies, it's also about family and courage and loyalty and sacrifice. To read more about the novel, visit Nancy Werlin's Extraordinary site.

To spread some Christmas cheer, I'm giving away my ARC of EXTRAORDINARY to one lucky person who posts a comment between today and December 13. I will pick one name at random (drawn from slips of paper out of a hat) and announce the winner next week.

So, good luck!