On to a better 2021

 On this last day of the year, I'd like to wish everybody who reads this blog all the best for the new year.

May 2021 bring you health, love, friendship, freedom to do as you like and go where you like, hug your family and friends, meet people without wearing a mouth mask.

May we go back to what life used to be, before corona. May we hope that this virus will be something of the past within a few months. The more people get vaccinated, the more chance is we'll get back to normal. 

Until then, keep it safe tonight.

The Calling

 Today we welcome Branwen Oshea, author of The Calling, a young adult science fiction available December 29, 2020 from Sigma Orionis Publishing. Branwen is doing a virtual book blast tour, which runs from December 28 to January 1, 2021.

Branwen will be awarding a prize pack of 1) one signed paperback, 2) one tote bag with the Finding Humanity series logo (Savas' Compass) and 3) two different bookmarks for The Calling, one sined by the author to one randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Please use the following link to place your comment: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f3604/

Blurb

Humanity’s wake-up call. Answer it or face extinction.

 

When Bleu’s little sister shows symptoms of the deadly Sickness, a strange vision directs him to leave humanity’s subterranean haven and seek the cure on Earth’s glacial surface. Joining the expedition team, Bleu expects extreme temperatures, not a surface ruled by ingenious predators.

 

Rana and her fellow star beings have co-existed with Earth’s top carnivores since the humans disappeared. But when her peers transform into Crowned Ones, the final stage of star being development, she fears remaining Uncrowned like her parents. To prove her worth, she undertakes a dangerous mission—contacting the hostile and nearly extinct humans.

 

But Rana’s plan backfires, and Bleu’s team retaliates. As war with the more advanced star being civilization looms, both Rana and Bleu separately seek a way to save their people.

Excerpt

A bloodcurdling howl pierced the darkness nearby. He startled, and the rover lurched to the side, the treads grinding against the ice. In all his years of secret studies, he’d never considered studying animal vocalizations. Anything, including the Undescended, could be making the howls beyond the range of his snow rover’s headlights. As much as he had longed for this world, he was lost here.

As he scanned the inky horizon, a large dark blob drew his gaze to an elevated area of ice. Did it move? He narrowed his eyes, straining to confirm reality. Just get to the camp. Just get to the camp.

It moved.

“Base, something’s out here…pacing on a hill above me. I’m maintaining course, but I’m going to have to pass below it. Should I change course?”

“You heard Commander Savas. Shoot it as soon as it’s in range. Continue course.”

“Continue course. Got it, sir.” Bleu hastily checked his gun, wishing for Stamf’s longer-range rifle. It’s not close enough yet… 

His hand tightened on his gun. I don’t even know what it is, and I have to kill it? The rover sped along as his indecision churned within him. Trust your instincts, Bleu, his mother had said. It lured us, Savas had said.

In his mind, Bleu replayed Neviah’s terrifying video footage. That creature could be stalking him right now. Orders were orders. He raised his gun. 

Author bio and links

As a young girl, Branwen wanted to become an ambassador for aliens. Since the aliens never hired her, she now writes about them.

Branwen OShea has a Bachelors in Biology from Colgate University, a Bachelors in Psychology, and a Masters in Social Work. She lives in Connecticut with her family and a menagerie of pets, and enjoys hiking, meditating, and star-gazing. Her previously published works include contributing to a nonfiction yoga book, wellness magazines, and her published science fiction novella, Silence of the Song Trees.

 Website: www.branwenoshea.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/branwenoshea

Instagram: www.instagram.com/branwenoshea

Facebook: www.facebook.com/branwenoshea

Order Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735915998

Christmas at the coast

Since long we won't be spending the Christmas holidays anywhere abroad. Last winter we were in Egypt, the one before in Mexico and the years before in Hungary, Denmark and Great-Britain. Now we're following the advice not to travel (won't do this before I get vaccinated) and have just taken the train to Knokke-Heist.

A stay at the coast is always something of a holiday. You have the fresh sea air, walks on the beach or in the dunes, cycling through the hinterland. The only negative is that restaurants and cafés are still closed. So you can't venture too far away in case you need the toilet... for which the only place is home.

I suppose it will be pretty busy here anyways. Lots of second-home owners will arrive this evening or tomorrow and when the weather is nice, lots of day tourists as well. Knokke-Heist has the most second homes of the whole Belgian coast. You could say we make their living and pay their taxes - inhabitants of Knokke-Heist don't have to pay city tax because the income of the tax on second homes is high enough (goes into the millions).

My sister is still at work. She had two online meetings today, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. That last one should be finished by 3.30 pm so with a bit of luck she can get the 16.02 train to Ghent and from there the 17.02 to Knokke.

For both Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve we've ordered take-away dinners. It's nice not having to cook on these occasions. We'll celebrate just the two of us, and although we're sisters we never hug or kiss, so that makes us less vulnerable of catching corona.

Hopefully the weather is somewhat nice the coming week and the next one. When it's dry you can go outside for a walk or a ride. Otherwise we have to keep busy by making some new furniture (Chris wants to redo a little sideboard because she's not happy with the present one). 

Happy holidays!

Secret Angel

 Today we welcome Cherry Christensen. Cherry is doing a virtual book blast tour for Secret Angel,  a Christian Holiday Romance available now. The Book Blast Tour will take place December 14 - 18, 2020. 

Cherry Christensen will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Please use the following link to place your comment:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f3571/

Blurb

Doctoral student Hannah Wagganer has big dreams of leaving her hometown of Glen Arbor behind to teach at a large university. That is, until Jasper Morgan, the new mail carrier, arrives in town. Not only does he send Hannah’s heart racing, but he creates an instant bond with her cat, Jingles.

 

While Hannah is busy preparing for the church’s candlelight Christmas Eve service and running the family store, she keeps bumping into Jasper—right in front of the prying eyes of the locals, who suspect there’s more going on than business as usual.

But then, a series of unexpected blessings occurs that changes the town’s focus: first, an anonymous donor pays to have the church furnace repaired, and then other locals suddenly find solutions to their problems. Is it coincidental, or the work of a secret angel?

Excerpt

“I’m not sure about this color,” Naomi, the preacher’s wife, informed Hannah. “I look like a wad of pink chewing gum.”

“No you don’t.” Hannah tied a brown snowflake scarf around the woman’s neck. The color brought out the richness of her dark eyes. “Lovely.” Heavy footsteps sounded on the wooden floor behind them. Turning, she spotted Jasper coming their way. “I’ll be right with you.”

“Take your time,” he said.

“Hmmm. I was wondering if you’d run into him yet,” Naomi said, backing into the changing area. “I’ll take the sweater and the scarf,” she announced.

“Pastor Amos will do a double take when he sees you at the candlelight Christmas Eve service.” She laughed, envisioning the older man letting out a low whistle for his wife. Married forty years, they still managed to maintain an endearing fondness for each other.

“Speaking of the service, you’re planning to help us decorate the church, right?”

“I wouldn’t miss it,” Hannah said, strolling over to a small table where Jasper was thumbing through a stack of woolen socks. “See anything you like?”

He lifted his gaze. “As a matter of fact, I do.”

Hannah’s chest tightened while he held her stare. Swallowing hard, she noticed how his eyes sparkled like water when the sun danced across the waves. And how the color of his skin resembled the sand dunes.

Author bio and links

Cherry resides in the Mitten State with her husband of 19 years and a tabby cat named Caden. A true Michigander, she points at the palm of her right hand when telling people where she lives, drinks Vernors ginger ale when she’s under the weather, wears shorts and a sweatshirt at the same time, and measures distance in minutes, not miles. She also cheers for her favorite football team, the Michigan Wolverines. Go Blue!

A confirmed night owl, Cherry wholeheartedly agrees with whoever said, “I could be a morning person, if morning happened around noon.” It’s no surprise then she prefers to write in the evening. She’s a bit of a pantser writer, meaning she dreams up stories without using an outline, so every day is an exciting adventure as she waits to see where the characters lead her next!

A lifelong avid reader, Cherry turned to writing as a creative outlet. Drawing partly from her own experiences, and partly from her wild imagination, she weaves romantic tales with a smidgen of religion and a hint of mystery. Cherry’s first novel, The Fearful Heart, debuted in 2014, and she has never looked back. She continues to grow as an author, learning more about the writing craft with each book.

 

Social Media: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cherry-Christensen-Author-1427146804175227

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/cherry-christensen

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9872402.Cherry_Christensen

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cfyfechristense/_saved/

Buy Link:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081JCH37D 

Note: Secret Angel is regularly priced at $0.99. It’s the first book in my Secret Series.

 

Why Christmas songs are so popular now

 Much earlier than ever, you hear Christmas songs on the radio. The previous weekend, they only played songs that remind us of Christmas.

Why? Well, I don't know about you, but hearing those songs always puts me in a good mood. I guess it's the same for lots of other people. And good cheer is what we need in these dire times, filled with corona news.

A bit of warmth, hope and well-being can do a lot of good. Take myself as example. I really can't complain - I do have cancer, but I'm feeling fine and don't suffer any other health issues. I haven't caught corona up to now. I have a financial situation that is stable (not rich, not poor) and allows me to live as I want. But what pains me is I can't travel. And I'm not much used to this. Normally my sister and I travel often in a year. Practically each school holiday and often some long weekend. Now we have to stay at home and can only go to our flat at the coast. It begins to weigh on my mood, as I think the prospects for 2021 aren't any better. 

But my mood definitely increased the last week. It's cosy in the house, with all the Christmas decorations put up and the lights in the tree. And then hearing and singing along with all these Christmas songs... I'm looking forward to Christmas and New Year's Eve, even when it's only with my sister and we have to get take-away food.

What's your favorite Christmas song? Mine is 'Lonely this Christmas' from Mud. Chris and I were big fans of this pop group in their time!

 

The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh

 Today we welcome author Ella Quinn. She is doing a virtual book blast tour for The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh, a historical romance available as of December 1st from Zebra. This book blast tour will take place from December 7th until December 11th.

Ella will be rewarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Please use the following link to place your comment:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f3600/

Blurb

Now available in print for the first time, USA Today bestselling author Ella Quinn's second installment in The Marriage Game series is a witty, romantic historical tale about a young lady who must choose between her head and her heart...

Since she was a young girl, Anna Marsh has dreamed of Sebastian, Baron Rutherford asking for her hand in marriage. But that was in another life when her brother Harry was alive, before she vowed to secretly continue the work he valiantly died for. Now as Sebastian finally courts Anna, she must thwart his advances. Were he to discover her secret, he would never deem her a suitable wife...

Sebastian has always known Anna would become his wife someday. He expects few obstacles, but when she dissuades him at every turn he soon realizes there is much more to this intriguing woman. Somehow he must prove to her that they are meant to be together. But first he must unravel the seductive mystery that is Miss Anna Marsh...

Excerpt

Rutherford regarded the large, buff, fair-haired gentleman with a sapient eye. “What is it you need me to do?”

“We think we’ve a bit of a problem in your area of Kent.” Jamison glanced through some documents on his desk. “All along the coast actually. You’re not the only one we’re calling in.” His bushy brows drew together. “We’ve heard rumors out of France that some of Napoleon’s former officers might take up his cause. I’ve no doubt they’ll be trying to run information through the smuggling gangs. That’s where you come in.” Jamison put his elbows on his desk and leaned forward. “Harry Marsh used to keep track of the smugglers in your area. You’ll have to do it now.”

Rutherford frowned. “I thought they’d disbanded. That was the reason Harry could leave to work elsewhere.”

Jamison shook his large head. “No, my boy. Harry had got someone else to take them over. Never told us who it was. All he said was the man was responsible and would have good control over them. After all, it was only to have been for a few months.”

Rutherford leaned back in his chair and blew out a breath. “I wonder who? I’ll have to scout around and try to find out who the smugglers’ head man is. Harry always took the lead with them. I went a few times, but I’m not even sure they’d remember me.” Rutherford sat up and scowled. “I wish to hell he’d stayed and not gone over to France.”

The only good thing to come of this was that he would be able to escort Anna home after the wedding ceremony. He wondered how she’d take that bit of news and decided not to tell her until they were already at Marcus’s family’s estate.

Author bio and links

USA Today bestselling author Ella Quinn's studies and other jobs have always been on the serious side. Reading historical romances, especially Regencies, was her escape. Eventually her love of historical novels led her to start writing them.

 

She is married to her wonderful husband of over thirty years. They have a son and two beautiful granddaughters, and a Great Dane. After living in the South Pacific, Central America, North Africa, England and Europe, she and her husband decided to make their dreams come true and are now living on a sailboat. After cruising the Caribbean and North America, she completed a transatlantic crossing from St. Martin to Southern Europe. She's currently living in Germany, happily writing while her husband is back at work, recovering from retirement

Ella loves when readers connect with her.

Author Contact and Social Media:

 

Website:  https://www.ellaquinnauthor.com

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

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/ellaquinnauthor

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7044274.Ella_Quinn

Bookbub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ella-quinn

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Ella-Quinn/e/B00CAE0FSQ

Buy Links for the Mass Market Paperback:

Kensington:  https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/9781420147292/the-secret-life-of-miss-anna-marsh/

Amazon:   https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1420147293/

Barnes&Noble:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/secret-life-of-miss-anna-marsh-ella-quinn/1115458071?ean=9781420147292

BAM:  https://www.booksamillion.com/search?query=9781420147292&where=All

Indiebound:  https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781420147292

Target:  https://www.target.com/s?searchTerm=9781420147292 

Walmart:  https://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_query=9781420147292&ic=16_0&Find=Find&search_constraint=3920

Christmas Cookies on a Cruise Ship

 Please welcome Parker Fairchild today. Parker is doing a virtual book blast tour for Christmas Cookies on a Cruise Ship, a romance available as of November 17th, 2020 from 5 Prince Publishing. This book blast tour will run from December 7th until December 11th.

Parker Fairchild will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Please use the following link to place your comment:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f3590/

Blurb

On a Caribbean cruise, a platter full of cookies, and a shot of Christmas magic yields a perfect pairing.

Chemist and budding romance writer Olivia Chasen is on a cruise to avoid spending Christmas with her beautiful twin sister and new fiancé—Olivia’s ex. Now, thanks to her lonely, intoxicated ramblings on Santa’s lap, her fellow passengers think she’s in love with a fictional character.

 

Former Navy SEAL Commander Jace Morse has dealt with plenty of unusual situations in his career, but he’s never had the honor, the pleasure, or the privilege of being a beautiful and intelligent woman’s fantasy hero come to life. While he hasn’t officially met the sexy chemist, he’s sure eager to explore the chemistry that’s sizzling between them.

 

Bringing the charming SEAL together with the skeptical Olivia is going to take more than just Christmas cookies and a little help from Mrs. Claus; it’s gonna take a heaping dose of Christmas magic.

Excerpt

“Dr. Olivia Chasen,” Santa’s jolly baritone popped her mental fuzzy bubble.

She stopped as she struggled to whirl around. “Me?” She touched her chest with a dramatic flourish she didn’t know she possessed.

A powerful spotlight illuminated her; its heat burned her already flushed face.

She pressed a clammy palm to her chest. “How do you know my name?” The haze in her mind was paralyzing all cognitive function.

“My dear girl,” Santa chuckled, “you should know by now that Santa knows everything and everyone,” he tapped an index finger to his temple.

Santa Claus turned to address the waiting line. “Girls, Boys, Moms, Dads, everyone, if you don't mind waiting for a brief moment, I'd like for Olivia,” he pointed a white gloved finger at her, “to please come up here on stage, and tell me what she wants for Christmas.”

She stood dumbfounded as the audience and the people in line clapped and chanted her name, “Olivia! Olivia! Olivia!”

Oh no! What was she going to do? She couldn’t possibly go up onto that stage. She was far too shy to address a theater full of people.

But if she didn’t go that would be so unexciting and so like the old Olivia.

But she wasn't unexciting! She was the new Olivia, and she was exciting! And she wanted to have fun! Correction: She was determined to have fun. Besides, she’d never see these people—her fellow passengers—ever again.

Author bio and links

Parker Fairchild is a social media copywriter, a freelance writer with multiple writing credits, and a model. Recently, she finished writing a client's memoirs, which will be published in the next few months. 

A Virginia native, she and her husband have their own shipboard romance as they met on a cruise ship tender in Maui, and as her mom is fond of saying, "they haven't stopped talking since." When she's not busy playing with words, she loves spending time with her husband and family in Arizona where she now resides.

 

Links:

www.5princebooks.com/parkerfairchil

www.parkerfairchild.co 

parker@parkerfairchild.com

https://www.facebook.com/ParkerFairchildAuthor

https://twitter.com/ParkerFairchild

https://www.instagram.com/parker.fairchild/

https://www.pinterest.com/parker_fairchild/_saved/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/69048882

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/120400979-parker-fairchild

http://amazon.com/Christmas-Cookies-Cruise-Perfect-Pairing-ebook/dp/B08N8P1G1P/ref=sr_1_1

 

Vaccinations start in January

 At last some good news: our country will start vaccinations as of January 5th! This will be with the vaccin of Pfizer/BioNTech, which already has asked for approval by EMA. Shortly after that Moderna will follow. They expect to have approval by mid January.

Today, the government will decide how the vaccinations will take place and who will be first. Probably they'll give preference to the ones living in care homes and those caring for them, then the personel of hospitals and such, then people over 65, then people between 45 and 65 with health problems, then all members of the police, firebrigades and education, and then at last the rest of the population. 

I guess it will depend on the time schedule in which group I'll be. I'll be 65 in May, but I'm a cancer patient and also have diabetes. Hopefully I can be vaccinated before summer. Our prime minister claims that half of the Belgians will be vaccinated by summer. Just cross our fingers!!!!

Bringing some Chrismas spirit into the house

 Although it's not even Saint-Nicholas (December 6th), we decided yesterday afternoon to put up the Christmas decoration already. Everyone is doing it. All the streets in the various towns are already in Chrismas mood. The big fir tree is up at the Grand Place in Brussels and despite the corona measure the light festival is going on as well. According to the news, there were a whole lot of people at the Grand Place to watch it - which is not very clever, imo. They should have cancelled the light festival for this year. 

We were in Brussels for a weekend last year, and also watched it. It's quite beautiful and worth going out for. I remember it was a cold night, but this was before corona and then you could still buy a cup of mulled wine at one or other stall...

I quite like the atmosphere around Chrismas. It's a special season, although this year it will be somewhat different. Not so much for us, as we don't have any close family which we meet regularly. We are used to celebrating by the two of us. So Chrismas and New Year's Eve will only be that different in the way we can't go to a restaurant but have to order take-away instead. Luckily all the best restaurants in Knokke-Heist are preparing food boxes for the festive season, so there will be more than enough choice. 

Parcels, parcels, parcels

The lockdown is definitely a boost for the online sales! Here in Belgium all non-essential shops (such as fashion shops, shoe stores, furniture galleries, etc.) are closed and will probably remain so for a longer while.

But the festive season is coming ahead and people need to buy presents for their dearest. On December 6th we celebrate Saint-Nicholas, then Christmas and New Year arrive. And of course, you don't only need to buy presents. You also need ordinary stuff, and normally you go to the shop and buy it. Now you have to order online, and as a result you see delivery vans stopping in the street all the time. DHL, Post NL, Belgian post, ... 

Our Belgian post system isn't coping well. They have trouble going through the vast amount of parcels waiting to be delivered. At the end of last week, they made a statement they wouldn't deliver a certain percentage of these parcels at home, but people need to collect them themselves at some depot or other. You can image the reaction! The minister who deals with the postal system talked with the board of directors and now they've agreed that all parcels will be delivered - only it could take some time! 

Personally, I prefer other services than Belgian post. I don't have a big regard for BPost. Last summer, they managed to claim I no longer live at my address and so they didn't deliver any mail/parcels anymore. Took me a few weeks to sort this out!!

Today, I'm expecting two deliveries. One of them is a parcel from Amazon and the other one from Marks&Spencer. Normally we buy a lot at M&S when we are in the UK, but for the biggest part of the year, this has been impossible and so I now order online. I know my sizes and can safely do that.

Darkest days

 We're well into the darkest days of the year. Those on which it's only clear sky around 10 am and dark once more as soon as it's 4 pm. And they're even darker when the skies are cloudy or when it rains. These are days for snuggling up in a cozy sofa, reading a book or watching some tv show. 

With the lockdown, all kinds of organisations ask you to put up some lights, to bring some sheer into the world. Even when it's not yet Saint Nicholas (a kind of Santa Claus for Belgium and Holland) most people already have their Christmas decorations up. We'll do ours next week. 

Thinking of dark days, I must think of an ancecdote. It goes back to when I was writng Maria Gonnzalez, my 16th century novel. I regularly sent chapters to my group of proofreaders, who could give their say-so about them. One of these guys was a former CIA-agent. When one of the scenes in London plays in the later afternoon, I wrote about the settling darkness around 4 pm. Do you know what that guy did? He actually dug up old records and came to the conclusion that the sun had indeed set at 4.01 that exact date! He wondered if I'd done the same research? That made me laugh. The sun ALWAYS sets around this time in December, so it must have been so centuries ago... Fond memories!

The older you get, the more importance you put to memories. Had a good (online) conservation a few days ago, with a former student of mine. As I'm well into my pension, it's nice to see you're remembered and your former students still think kindly of you.

There's a light shining at the end of the tunnel

 At last we can see some light shining ahead in what concern the corona crisis. Both Pfizer and Moderna announced they have a vaccin that is safe for around 90%. With a bit of luck, both will be ready to sell their vaccin at the end of this year/beginning of the new one.

And they are not the only players. Also the university of Oxford is practically ready with its vaccin, and others are also on their way. Here in Belgium we count on Janssens Pharmaceutica and on the test the university of Leuven is carrying out for a vaccin, developed from the one for yellow fever. That would be ready in 2021 and would give lifelong protection, just like the shot for yellow fever.

Our government thinks that by the end of next year, all Belgians will have their vaccination. They are working on a strategy to disperse the vaccins, once they have them. Question will be, who will get one first? Those who work in hospitals and clinics, of course, but then? It would be great if we could have a vaccination before summer, because that would allow us to travel once more. 

Anyway, it's great that science has come so far. Normally it takes years to develop a vaccin. Now they succeeded in only 11 months! We can finally see the end of all this misery and have some positive thoughts!

Friday 13th

 Are you superstitious? Do you believe in black cats, Friday 13th etc???

I'm not. I walk under ladders as long as no guy is standing on it, a paintbrush in hand. I don't think that numbers have any special meaning. I've broken mirrors (that's what happens when you have no feeling in your fingers) and not experienced seven years of bad luck.

Really! Just the same with horoscopes. Making one is not very difficult. Talk to a person, and you can safely make some predictions. It's a case of psychology, not superstition. 

My sister and I (both blessed - or cursed - with a high IQ) have the ability of putting a label on people, just on sight. And in 99% of the cases it proves to be correct. Yesterday evening, she and I were viewing a list of candidates for a new job at her workplace. As the eldest co-worker and the one with the most knowledge, Chris has a say in most things that happen in the office. So she brought the list of candidates home to have a look at it together. As you know, lots of candidates for a job add a photo to their CV. And from that picture, you can tell a lot. Of the list of 28 candidates, only 5 or so seemed worth a try. That's our idea. Just hope that one of them will be good enough to help Chris and Stijn to do their job properly. Now they're both sinking away in work and both have more than 100 hours overtime. 

Armistice Day 1918

 Today we remember the end of World War One. A day of remembrance and one in honor for all those who fought for us and lost their lives.

At 11 am the Last Post will be held in Ypres. Normally a big celebration, but due to corona it will be a minor occasion this year. The bugles will sound, and the poppies will fall down, but that's about all.

Our own grandfather fought in WWI. He was only 17 years old when it started. He was at the military academy and all these students were made officers in the army. He had the command of a bunch of guys who were between 30 and 40 years old and all who spoke Flemish (officers in those days were educated in French). Luckily he had grown up in Limburg because his mother was Flemish and so he spoke the two languages fluently. His father, equally an army man, had married this girl from Bree and they had 3 children. The mother died giving birth to the third one. We assume - we don't know for sure, because he never spoke of it - that the kids were taken in by the girl's parents or one of her sisters and raised in Bree. Must be, because according to a former colleague at the school in Temse, I use phrases and expressions that are typical for Bree. 

Granddad suffered some injuries and also took in some gas, but he survived the war and was given various decorations for bravery and such. After the end of war he met my grandmother in Antwerpen, they fell in love and married. Some twenty years later the next war broke out, and he equally took part in that one.

He survived a second time and could return to his family and home. He lived to the age of 75. He was a great granddad, he loved me a lot and I've taken over many of his traits. I remember well he used to read to me (I was 1,5 - 2 at the moment) from his French novels - that's where my love for books comes from. He took me visiting friends in Brussels and Wallony, and although I didn't speak French, I must have understood it unconsciously. 

I'll always remember my grandfather with pride and love, just like my grandmother and my parents. Both my sister and I had a great childhood, we felt loved and protected.

Sunny days at the coast

 The autumn break we began last Saturday has been unexpectedly sunny. The weather forecasts didn't predict this kind of weather but we don't complain!

With this sunny weather you can do almost everything. My sister has been freshening up the facade of our rooftop flat - a job she started in summer but had to stop because of too much wind. Now it's almost windless and she can paint and repair. 

Each afternoon we go for a walk. Along the beach (where you don't have to wear a mask), along the promenade, in the park, through the dunes, ... Most shops and restaurants/cafés are closed because of the lockdown, but those who are real entrepreneurs have found a way of selling their goods. Here you can buy coffee, tea and hot chocolate, there you have warm waffles or ice-cream. We found a new place where the waffles are the best we ever had!

So we are  having a quite enjoyable holiday here at the coast. And we're not alone! More people than ever have come to the coast to enjoy the nice weather. Although in Heist it's still not too busy and still safe enough when you go walking. Everyone wears a mask and keeps distance. 

Tomorrow we're going to enjoy a take-away dinner. We've ordered fresh seafood and that will be a feast - a nice conclusion of our week here. On Monday we go home once more.

The Sinister Superyacht

 Let's say hello to Ana T. Drew today. Ana's doing a virtual book blast tour for The Sinister Superyacht, a cozy mystery available since October 31st. This tour will take place between November 2nd and November 6th.

Ana T. Drew will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a  randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Please use the following link to place your comment:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f3536/

Blurb

French tycoon Jean-Louis Ponsard is having a bad year.

Unwise investments, canceled orders, deals falling through…

In the thick of it, his yacht becomes the scene of a suspicious death, and his year of misfortune hits the bed of the Mediterranean Sea.

To make matters worse, the victim isn't just anybody.

She's his much-hated mother-in-law.

 

Onboard, caterer Julie Cavallo and her quirky grandma Rose do some poking around.

But every luxury cabin hides a secret.

Every passenger has an alibi or no reason to want the victim dead.

Discretion rules.

The crew keeps mum.

So do the marble countertops, gem-incrusted walls, and gold sinks.

When the cops take charge, things go to pieces, and not only for the Ponsard family.

 

Can Julie dive to the murky bottom of the sea, unravel the case, and come back up still breathing?

Author bio and links

Ana T. Drew is the evil mastermind behind the recent series of murders in the fictional French town of Beldoc. When she is not writing cozy mysteries or doing mom-and-wife things, she can be found watching “The Rookie” to help her get over “Castle”. She lives in Paris but her heart is in Provence.

>>> Visit ana-drew.com for a free cookbook and a game!

Website: www.ana-drew.com

 

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/ana-drew

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

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ana-t-drew

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/anadrew

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authoranadrew

Releases November 20

Amazon Buy Link:  https://www.amazon.com/Sinister-Superyacht-Provence-Mystery-Investigates-ebook/dp/B0882J3652/ref=sr_1_1

 

Twelve days of autumn break

Because of the new lockdown, the government has extended the autumn break with one week. My sister, however, needs to start work on November 12th. But it means we have at least 12 days of holiday! Twelve days in which we can sleep longer (normally we wake up around 7 am) and take it a bit more easy.

The new lockdown doesn't forbid owners of a second home to go to their other place, so we can travel to the coast and enjoy those free days there. Shops, restaurants and cafés will be closed, but we can walk on the beach and the promenade. Our favorite restaurant offers take-away too, so one of those days we can order some, and also the tearoom next room will have take-away waffles and coffee. As it is next door, we only need to take the lift up and down!

In the meantime, the number of infections keeps going up, and accordingly the number of people in the hospital and in intensive care. The number of deaths also rises, well around 100 per day.  

Yesterday was a shame. The new measures only start tonight, so the big masses went shopping yesterday. You should have seen pictures of the Rue Neuve in Brussels! Black with people. No care whatsoever. It's this behaviour that causes the virus to spread around.

In my opinion they should forbid people to see others besids those who live under the same roof. Forbid it and make the fines so high they won't be doing it another time. What's 250 € for most people? Nuts. But give a fine of 2500€ and it's something else. Not everyone has monthly wages that high. It would hurt - and that's the only lesson a Belgian understands. Touch his/her money and you reach your goal.

Second lockdown unavoidable

 This afternoon, representatives of the various governments in our country come together to decide what to do about the rising number of infections by Covid-19. A lockdown is almost sure to come.

The ICU's of the various hospitals in Belgium are full already with patients suffering from corona. Soon they'll have to decide who lives and who dies.

The measures taken by the previous government have failed, were not strong enough. To be honest,  I must also state that about half of the population didn't (and doesn't) follow the rules - especially those about not having close contact with many people. 

We'll know what to expect in the late afternoon. But we're almost sure it'll be a quiet Christmas. Restaurants and cafés have already closed and we expect they'll close most of the shops too. Imo they should better close the schools as well, as I think they are the source of the virus spreading around. If you see how most of these kids behave - running around in groups, hugging and kissing each other - it's no surprise they take the germs of the virus to their environment. They often don't fall ill, but their parent or grandparents do. 

I just hope we'll have a vaccin in the course of the new year. Hopefully by next summer our life will get to be somewhat normal once more...

Miracles

 Today we welcome Bobbi Smith. Bobbi is doing a virtual blurb blitz tour for Miracles, a faith-based contemporary romance available from Montlake Romance. This tour will run October 19-October 30.

Bobbi Smith will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Please use the following link to place your comment:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f3567/

Blurb

Newspaper reporter Lydia is investigating the deadly sniper terrorizing her town. She hopes to find some information to help the police track down this killer. Detective Steve Mason is doing all he can to stop the murderous gunman from striking again. Meanwhile, members of Lydia’s prayer group are facing life-changing problems. Elderly George Taylor, diagnosed with terminal cancer, decides to secretly leave lasting memorials. Teenager Jim Hunt is granted the wisdom to turn away from the temptations of peer pressure and alcohol. And for Lydia, who refuses to despair in the ugly side of life that her reporting often uncovers, there is true love to bring laughter and joy to all her days

Excerpt

THE TERROR GROWS

THREE DEAD IN THREE WEEKS

POLICE STILL BAFFLED IN SEARCH

FOR DEADLY HIGHWAY SNIPER

The main headline of The Daily Sun and the article that followed criticized the police and their lack of success in arresting the killer. The sniper read the article and smiled. He enjoyed learning that the authorities were no closer to identifying him.

He knew they would never catch him.

He was too smart for them.

Satisfied that all was well in the world, he carefully folded the paper so as not to crease the headline, and then set it aside. He would read it again later.

Author bio and links

After working as a department manager for Famous-Barr, and briefly as a clerk at a bookstore, Bobbi gave up on career security and began writing. She sold her first book to Zebra in 1982.

Since then, Bobbi has written over 40 books and 6 novellas. To date, there are more than five million copies of her novels in print. She has been awarded the prestigious Romantic Times Storyteller Award and two Career Achievement Awards. Her books have appeared on the New York Times Best Seller List, the USA Today Best Seller List and the Wal-Mart Best Seller List.

The rights to Ms. Smith’s books have been sold to China, France, Germany, India, Israel, Russia and Sweden. Bobbi has also written two faith-based contemporary novels – Haven and Miracles – using the pseudonym Julie Marshall.

http://www.Bobbismithauthor.com

https://www.amazon.com/Miracles-Bobbi-Smith-ebook/dp/B001D210GM/ref=sr_1_3

 

A good children's book is for everyone

 As you all know, I'm an avid reader. I began to read from an early age and by the time I was 10 years old I had gone through the books of the youth library 3 times!!! 

So I suppose I know a bit about books. When I was younger, I loved some children's/YA books so much I read them various times. And what's better - I still like them now!

In my opinion, the main characteristic of a good children's book is that you have more fun at it as an adult. And in all truth, the authors didn't really write for kids. They just chose to make their main character a youngster and had it go through many adventures. That's what kids like. But there are all sorts of undertones, hidden meanings, etc. that you can only understand when you have some life experience.

A good example of such a book (or series of books, rather) is Harry Potter. I don't know how many times I've read them already. Every time I start reading them again, I experience more fun from it. 

Another is the series about Eddy Wagram, the hero in a couple of books by Aster Berkhof (he died some weeks ago, and was a well-known Flemish author). These are the sort of books that inspired me. And you know what? I thought I'd lost the books. I wasn't able to find them in the attic room for some twenty, thirty years. And while looking for some tax forms a couple of weeks ago, I discovered their hiding place! What a piece of luck! I've brought them down and plan to start reading them soon. 

Do you have fond memories of books you read as a kid?

Getting in the mood for Halloween

 Yesterday afternoon, my sister didn't need to work (!) and so we took the opportunity to get rid of the summer/autumn decoration and change it for Halloween.

In these corona times, you must make  your home as cozy as possible. We think that putting up and placing some decorations around the living room area brings some atmosphere into the house. Don't you?

Even as today, restrictions will become even more severe and we're not far away from a total lockdown. The number of infections is rising alarmingly, more than ten thousand per day already and going to twenty thousand. Now it's forbidden to attend sports events, or go to the theatre or cinema with more than a couple of people in the hall. And you must prevent contact with others. Yeah, we know! 

Hopefully, the government won't forbid us to leave the house in the coming weeks. The schools' autumn break is coming up in a week (starting at the end of the month) and we hope to be able to take the train to the coast, to spend the week at our flat there. Although all pubs and restaurants are closed, there will be enough take-away possible, and the shops are (still) open as well. We can go for walks and then return home to have some coffee/tea. I've taken to drinking tea in the afternoon, as it seems to settle my stomach better. Since I started doing this, I haven't been nauseous once. 

Impeachment

 Let's say hello to Mark Spivak. Mark is doing a virtual blurb blitz tour for Impeachment, a thriller available October 15th from City of Light Publishing. This tour will run October 19-November 13.

Mark Spivak will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Please use the following link to place your comment:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f3519/

Blurb

A pair of billionaire brothers with unlimited resources, a secret agenda, and no accountability.

 

Mysterious “peace-keeping forces” that materialize out of nowhere.

 

Detention camps on the U.S.-Mexican border.

 

Bungled assassination attempts with untraceable origins.

 

A reactive Congress, lobbyists bought and paid for, and upheavals at the highest levels of government.

 

How was it all engineered, and could it happen tomorrow? 

Is it fiction or uncomfortable reality?

Excerpt

“Thanks for coming.”

“No problem,” said Mendoza. “I always drive twenty miles out to the boondocks to get myself a cappuccino. The journey clears my head.”

“I figured that neither of us needed to be seen in public with each other. My instinct was it wouldn’t play well with our respective constituencies.”

“I suspect you’re right. So tell me, Mr. Lapham, what have I done to deserve this audience? Have the Haft brothers decided to donate a billion dollars to Criollos Unidos?”

“We have some areas of mutual interest. I think we might be able to come to an accommodation.”

“I’m listening.”

“You’ve been quite outspoken recently in your criticism of Khaleem Atalas.”

“I think he’s a great man. If he wasn’t holding a hundred thousand of my people in concentration camps along the Mexican border, I’d nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize.”

“As you can imagine, my employers share your disgust for the President. Although their specific reasons are different, of course.”

“To be honest, he double-crossed us. And I do not like to be double-crossed.”

“I think you’re a man of principle, even though I may not agree with many of your convictions. And as I said, we’re not fans of Atalas either. The only difference is that we haven’t been surprised at the way things turned out.”

“Before we join hands and start singing kumbaya, why don’t you tell me why you dragged me down here?”

“I could have sworn you came of your own free will.”

“I have to admit, I was curious.”

“As I said, we find ourselves on the same side of this problem, but for different reasons. I was thinking there might be some way we could work together.”

Author bio and links

Mark Spivak is an award-winning writer specializing in wine, spirits, food, restaurants and culinary travel. He’s the author of Iconic Spirits: An Intoxicating History and Moonshine Nation: The Art of Creating Cornbread in a Bottle. His first novel, Friend of the Devil, tells the story of America’s most celebrated chef who has cut a deal with Satan for fame and fortune.

Mark is also a political junkie who loves turning his fascination with the seamy underbelly of the American political system into taut, page-turning thrillers. The American Crusade, the story of a devastating terrorist attack and the government’s response, was published in April 2019;  Impeachment, a tale of two billionaire brothers who manipulate that system for their own ends, is a sequel that also stands alone as an unusual and compelling story.

 

Website: https://markspivakbooks.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.spivak.3

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/eatdrinkjourney

Buy links:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HR1CF8B/

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/impeachment-mark-spivak/1137054375