Hello everyone! I'm a writer of historical fiction next to being a pensioned teacher. I like to share my views on life and actuality, along with bringing you interviews with bestselling authors and guest blogs.
To all those who read my blog: I want to wish you and your family all the best for the new year. May all your dreams come true! And hopefully we'll see the end of corona in the world...
2021 was a year to forget. A lost year. Let's pray thar 2022 will be better!
... and sleeping somewhat longer! On workdays we get up around 7 am, but now we sleep until 8.30 am. Neither me or my sister are people who can't sleep well at night. Even though I'm 65, I get into bed and I sleep until I have to wake up. I always have an undisturbed sleep. Lots of older people don't sleep a lot at night, and are up at 5 am. I just can't grasp how that is possible.
One and a half year to go, and then my sister will also be a pensioner. Then we can sleep as long as we like and do what we like. We're already making up plans how to renovate the house for the last time, once the flat is sold. Making plans is just so much fun!
These two weeks of school holidays will be quiet ones for us. Originally we had planned to make a trip through France. But we cancelled this as the situation got worse. Also, once you're over 65 you need to have had your booster jab. As mine was only planned for December 23rd, and only become effective two weeks later, the Christmas holidays was a no-go.
Keep the fingers crossed, because we hope to go the north of Norway at the next school holiday (end of February-early March). Chris wants to see the Northern Light. We have bought new gear for that purpose. Warm boots, jacks and pants, thermal underwear. Ready for polar temperatures! And later on, we'll be able to use that gear to visit Canada in winter, or go to Switzerland walking in the snow.
Chris gets her booster jab tomorrow and so we'll head for the coast on Wednesday. We'll stay until the end of the holidays. Not doing anything special, just what comes to mind. We ordered a take-away dinner for New Year's Eve (and spread that over two days, as it's always way too much to eat in one session). That's one of the effects of taking this much pills: I can't eat like I used to do anymore. Nowadays I have to be glad to be able to finish what's on my plate. No extra's for me!
As we head towards Christmas Eve, I'd like to wish everyone who reads this blog a Merry Christmas and all the best for the coming year.
Hopefully we'll see an end to the corona crisis. Here in Belgium, we're getting into the fifth wave of infections. Luckily the booster campagne is going ahead full steam. By the end of this month, most of the Flemish will have got their booster jab. I got mine yesterday, and my sister will get hers on Tuesday.
I really wish life would get back to normal. Now it's almost impossible to plan anything. You make plans, you have to cancel them. Where is the time when we could plan a trip a year before and see it pass without any problem???
Anyway, up to now we've stayed healthy, didn't get Covid. We are careful, as we stay mostly just the two of us. The most risk we take is when going out dining - and then not in every restaurant. In the restaurants where we visit mostly, the tables are far enough from each other and distances can be maintained.
What are your plans for Christmas? Here at home we'll take it quietly. Today is also Chris's birthday, so we'll cook her favorite dish, have a glass of bubbles (or two) and take the desert with us to watch some tv show. There is a Cirque du Soleil show on the second national channel.
Last Friday we headed to Antwerp (by train) to spend the weekend there. We just love that town. Our grandmother was born there and when we were kids we always went to"'t stad" (the city) when we needed something you couldn't find in Dendermonde. We still go there.
It was very busy in Antwerp. It was the last weekend before Christmas and there were many shoppers. And because of the total lockdown in Holland, the Dutch were there 'en masse'. Also our hotel was completely booked, all the rooms occupied. 99% of the guest were Dutch. I believe we and a couple from Ghent were the only Flemish staying there.
But we had a nice stay. The executive lounge was opened (already was the last time in October as well) and in the early evening there was time for an aperitif and some tidbits to eat. Luckily we had made reservations to go out eating, because the restaurants were full as well. I don't know how many people came asking for a table while we were dining.
The weather was not excellent, but it could be worse. Because of the corona measures there were no christmas markets in town, but there was an ice-rink and decorated trees galore. Gave at least some Christmas atmosphere and it was cozy to walk through the streets.
We did some shopping too. I needed new pair of mittens to keep my hands warm in winter. And because there was a sale at Esprit's I bought two pullovers for the price of one. I still need to add to my wardrobe, because all of my old clothes have become too wide.
Let's say hello to author Nancy Boyarsky today! Nancy is doing a Virtual Book Blast Tour for The Moscow Affair, a Mystery available now from Light Messages Publishing. The Book Blast Tour will take place December 13 - 17, 2021.
Nancy Boyarsky will be awarding a $20 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/28e4345f4007/
Blurb
"The Moscow Affair is a thoroughly entertaining and unforgettable thriller punctuated by smart dialog, richly crafted scenes, and a topical plot." –Dave Edlund, USA Today bestselling author of Valiant Savage
In this fast-paced mystery, P.I. Nicole Graves agrees to an unusual, short-term assignment working for MI6 in Russia. It sounds straightforward, even pleasant: a two-week luxury riverboat cruise on the Volga, observing a group of fellow passengers and filing a daily report on their activities. It's simple enough, except for one caveat: No matter what these people do, she’s to tell her handler at MI6—no one else, especially not the Russian police. When one of the riverboat passengers winds up dead, Nicole realizes this assignment was anything but straightforward.
Soon, Nicole is immersed in a high-stakes game of murder and espionage where trusting a stranger can be as deadly as a bullet.
"Nicole Graves is the best fictional sleuth to come down the pike since Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone." –Laura Levine, bestselling author of the Jaine Austen Mysteries
The Nicole Graves Mysteries have been compared to the mysteries of
Mary Higgins Clark and praised for contributing to the "women-driven
mystery field with panache" (Foreword Reviews) as well as for their
"hold-onto-the-bar roller coaster" plots (RT Book Reviews).
When Nicole opened the door, Kolkov was even more abrupt than on his previous visit. No greeting, just, “Get dressed. I take you in for questioning.” He talked fast and fairly vibrated with impatience.
“Why can’t we do it here like before?” Nicole said.
“Get dressed!” He shouted, pointing to the bedroom. “I give five minutes.”
Kolkov was waiting at the door and seemed to be in a tremendous hurry. As she approached, he stepped toward her and firmly gripped her by the arm, as if he expected her to try to escape. She pulled back, pointing to the closet. “I have to get my jacket,” she said, pointing to the hall closet. He let go so she could pull out her zippered hoody and put it on. It was going to be cold out, and longed for her warm coat, but it was in the hamper, stained with Chet’s blood. Before she could finish zipping up the hoody, Kolkov took hold of her arm again and was pulling her out the door.
Other passengers stared as Kolkov led Nicole down to the main deck and across the ramp to the ship next to theirs. Surely they could tell she was being taken from the ship involuntarily; perhaps they recognized Kolkov from the day before. But no one stepped forward to ask what was happening. Nicole wondered what they were thinking.
The pair of them drew an even larger
audience as they walked through the four vessels anchored between Queen of the
Volga and the dock. Finally, they reached the street, where a boxy black sedan
was standing at the curb with a uniformed policeman at the wheel. Kolkov put
Nicole in back, not relaxing his hold on her until he was about to close the
door. He climbed in the the front seat, and they took off.
Author bio and links
Nancy Boyarsky is the author of the Nicole Graves Mysteries. Her sixth installment of the series will be released September 2021.
Nancy has been a writer and editor for her entire working career. She coauthored Backroom Politics, a New York Times notable book, with her husband, Bill Boyarsky. She has written textbooks on the justice system and contributed to anthologies, including In the Running about women’s political campaigns and The Challenge of California. She has also written for the Los Angeles Times, West magazine, Forbes, McCalls, Playgirl, Westways, and other publications. She was communications director for political affairs for ARCO.
In
addition to writing mysteries, Nancy is producer and director of the “Inside
Golden State Politics” podcast.
Nancy can be contacted through her website, www.nancyboyarsky.com You can find the other books in the Nicole Graves series at https://www.torchflamebooks.com/nancy-boyarsky
https://www.amazon.com/Moscow-Affair-Nicole-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B095CSMTHT/ref=sr_1_1
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-moscow-affair-nancy-boyarsky/1138867170
Not long now before it's Christmas. The radio is playing Christmas songs all the time - btw, what's your favorite? I like hearing Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas" and also "It'll be lonely this Christmas" from Mud.
Our house has been decorated with not one but two trees and of course our inherited Christmas crib has been given a nice spot. It creates a cozy atmosphere in the house.
We've cancelled the trip to France we wanted to do during the holidays. A good decision, as a couple of days later we learned that I wouldn't have been admitted to the country. As of December 15th, all those of 65 and more have to had had a booster shot. And mine is only for December 23rd. It would only be effective after two weeks.
So we are going to stay at home and live quietly. We'll be cooking ourselves on Christmas, and for New Year's Eve we've ordered a take-away dinner from a fine restaurant. Celebrating at home is the best option with the new Omikron variant which is spreading like wildfire.
We only hope we can do some travelling in 2022. We have some plans, the first being a trip to the north of Norway (polar circle) to see the Northern Light. We'll have effective booster shots by then and up to now the entry conditions for Norway aren't too severe.
I just wonder when corona will become nothing more than a virus that gives people a bad cold...
Today we welcome author Liza Malloy. Liza is doing a Virtual Book Blast Tour for Mafiosa Princess, a Contemporary Romance available December 1, 2021 from Teal Street Publishing. The Book Blast Tour will take place December 6 - 10, 2021.
Liza Malloy 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:
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Blurb
Two men
love her. But only one truly knows her.
College
Junior Giada Conti wants nothing more than to pursue a normal life fueled by
her own choices. Unfortunately, she doesn’t realize her father’s business isn’t
completely lawful, or how that fact will completely dictate her future.
Pre-law
student Adrian Patras is certain Giada is the perfect woman for him, until he
meets her family and grasps the extent of his girlfriend’s naivete.
As
Adrian finds himself unwillingly pulled into the family business, Giada grows
frustrated with his insinuations about her father. Meanwhile, Giada’s ex, the
notorious Luca Marino, pops back into her life with his own criminal agenda
that includes winning her back.
Mafiosa
Princess is the captivating first book in the steamy mafia romance series that
you won’t want to put down.
Excerpt
I shielded my eyes from the sun peeking in above my calypso blue sunglasses and gazed over at Luca. He was pacing back and forth ten or so yards away, clutching his phone tightly by his ear.
I tried to view him the way the other girls must. It wasn’t hard to see the appeal. He was indisputably good-looking, the quintessential Italian man. Lean muscle comprised his tall frame, long black eyelashes framed his rich chocolate eyes, and his dark brownish-black hair was soft and just long enough to run my fingers through. He carried himself with confidence, and everything about him oozed wealth and power.
I thought about what Luca said, how he’d admitted that losing me was a mistake. Had he actually meant that, or was he just trying to cheer me up? I wasn’t oblivious to the way he flirted with me, or the way he unapologetically checked me out whenever he wanted. But that didn’t necessarily signal anything except for a deep-seated sense of entitlement on his part
Years ago, I was more susceptible to Luca’s charms. Even at sixteen, he radiated control and dominance. The attention he bestowed on me in high school instantly ratcheted up my popularity and made me more sought after by all of the guys, but thanks to Luca’s smooth lines and ceaseless flattering, I had eyes only for him.
During the time we’d been a couple, my self-esteem had been at an all-time high. If the coveted Luca Marino loved me, I had to be beautiful, smart, and funny. He wouldn’t have wasted his attentions on someone unworthy. Besides, he could’ve had any girl at our school. Yet, he chose me.
Now, years later, my heart still
fluttered at the possibility that Luca still wanted me. It was flattering, and
it was precisely the ego-boost I needed after watching Adrian leave me for
Chicago. But could it be more than that?
Author bio and links
Liza
Malloy writes contemporary romance, women's fiction, new adult romance, and
fantasy. She’s a sucker for alpha males, bad boys, dimples, and muscles, and
she can’t resist a man in uniform. Liza loves creating worlds where her heroine
discovers her own strength and finds her Happily Ever After. When Liza isn’t
reading or writing torrid love stories, she’s a practicing attorney. Her other
passions include gummy bears, jelly beans, and the occasional marathon. She
lives in the Midwest with her four daughters and her own Prince Charming. Her
books are available in both paperback and ebook, and can be found on Amazon,
Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Google Play, and more!
Visit her website at www.LizaMalloy.com
Join
her email list for access to exclusive bonus content at http://bit.ly/34FrD71
Social Media Handles:
Twitter:
@AuthorLizaM
Facebook:
@authorLizaM
Instagram:
AuthorLizaM
Pinterest:
@authorLizaMalloy
Goodreads:
http://bit.ly/2EY0rps
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2wMUVW2
Buy Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Mafiosa-Princess-Romance-Liza-Malloy-ebook/dp/B09JGR84XY/ref=sr_1_1
Let's say hello to Scott P. Southall today. Scott's doing a virtual Name Before the Masses tour for The Order of Time Series, a middle grade fantasy/mythology/ancient history available January 20th, 2022 from Seaview Press. This tour will run every Tuesday and Thursday for 15 weeks starting on November 16th, 2021.
Scott is giving away a $50 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter. Please use the following link to place your comment:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f3965/
Blurb
About
the Series
Picture
two twelve-year-old fraternal twins who are like night and day. She is a smart
and highly organised MMA fighter. He’s not a fighter, he’s a lover of history,
art and Star Wars. Despite their differences they are one formidable team.
Together Anastasia and Edward Upston travel through time and navigate ancient
civilisations, angry gods and mythical monsters in their quest to protect the
integrity of human history.
About
The Order of Time
Anastasia
and Edward Upston are eleven year old twins who are different in almost every
way. Despite this they are inseparable and he best of friends. They tackle the
highs and lows of sixth grade together whether they are fending off bullies at
the elite Blake Academy or examining rare antiquities at the Smithsonian Museum
of Natural History. Then: life gets complicated.
They discover
that their friend and mentor, Dr. Gregorian, is part of a secret society called
the Order of Time. It turns out that time is not fixed, it’s a fluid continuum
where changes to the past can create ripples all the way through to the
present. It unwittingly falls to the twins to travel back through time to
ancient Egypt where they must overcome deadly assassins, evil high priests and
vengeful gods in order to prevent disaster. Together Anastasia and Edward must
navigate all obstacles to preserve the past and find their way back home.
About The Order of Time and Odin’s Door
The orange light bathed the snow-covered
fields as the fiery globe began to dip below the horizon. It was strange that
something so beautiful could signal the arrival of something so evil. One thing
twelve-year-old twins Anastasia and Edward Upston knew for sure was that when
mortals were caught between two bickering gods nothing good would come of it.
Surviving the Viking Age may be the hardest thing they ever do, if they can…
Excerpt from The Order of Time
They started to leave when the room suddenly lit up with a strange purple light coming from under a closet door.
“Why is the closet glowing?” asked Edward, his voice trailing up an octave. “Maybe we should get out of here.
“What if Dr. G’s in there? You know he always locks his door, but it was open tonight. Maybe he’s still here. He might need our help,” Anastasia said emphatically.
The light was getting brighter by the second. Now Edward could also hear a low humming noise.
“Stop being crazy, Anastasia! This is the part in the movies where you yell at the screen for the characters not to open the door. We are not going to open that door.”
“I’m not being crazy. If Dr. G is in there and needs help, we’ll never forgive ourselves.”
Edward looked at her pleadingly, but
she wasn’t giving in. His shoulders slumped in defeat. Oh god, please don’t let
there be a monster or anything really scary in there. Anastasia dragged him
over to the closet door. The light pouring out around the cracks was incredibly
bright and the humming was getting louder. She gripped the large, brass
doorknob, took a breath, and opened the door.
Author bio and links
Scott is an American author and banking executive who lives in Sydney, Australia. He grew up in the suburbs of Washington D.C. and attended Georgetown University. While he loves his job as a global banker, his true passion is making up stories with his children. His debut novel, The Order of Time, reached #1 in its category on Amazon and was the 2021 Reader’s Favorite Gold Medal Winner in the Children’s – Mythology/Fairy Tale genre.
Following are Scott's answer to a couple of questions:
Q: Any
weird things you do when you’re alone?
A: This is the kind of question that is asked because most people do something weird when they are alone. For me I sing. I sing a lot. I sing loudly. I don’t sing particularly well but I make up for it with enthusiasm (at least that is what I tell myself). I have an abnormal habit of remembering song lyrics that I hear word for word. When coupled with the fact that we have bluetooth microphones at home (for the kids of course), no singing artist’s work is really safe from me.
Q: What
is your favorite quote and why?
A: “It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” - George Eliot. I really love this quote. I believe that we are all capable of successfully reinventing ourselves multiple times during our lives. No one is stuck doing something for the rest of their life because that happens to be what they studied at college or it’s the field in which they got their first job. Just about anything can be done (except for professional singing) through a combination of passion and hard work. I’ve been fortunate enough so far to have been an accountant, management consultant, banker, author, illustrator (with my latest book), husband and father. I have loved all of these roles for different reasons. My sincerest hope is that I will enjoy many more roles before my time is up.
Q: Who
is your favorite author and why? What, in your opinion, are the most important
elements of good writing?
A: I
find “who is my favorite author?” to be an exceedingly hard question. I have a
lot of books which fill the shelves across two houses. I also have boxes of
books under the stairs which I just don’t have the room for but I can’t bear to
give away. Lack of space is the primary reason why I transitioned to ebooks in
the last ten years.
My favorite authors are all tied to the
two elements of good writing which I enjoy most: world building and story
telling. When I think of world building I think of authors who transport you to
another place altogether. By the time your done reading their books you feel
like those worlds or settings are like neighborhoods where you used to live.
They become that tangible and familiar.
Great World Builders
·
Patrick Rothfuss
·
Anne McCaffrey
·
Susan Dennard
·
George W. Martin
·
Anne Rice
When I think about great story tellers I
think of authors who get me heavily invested in their characters and keep me
turning the pages with anticipation. While world building leans heavily into
fantasy for me great story telling can be any genre.
https://www.scottpsouthall.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-southall-6bab5a4/
https://www.instagram.com/scottsouthallauthor/
https://www.facebook.com/scott.southallauthor
https://twitter.com/SSouthallAuthor
The book is on sale for $0.99 during the tour.
https://www.amazon.com/Order-Time-Scott-P-Southall-ebook/dp/B07Z3XWJQ
https://bookawards.com/book-award/the-order-of-time
https://readersfavorite.com/2021-award-contest-winners.htm#the-order-of-time
Most kids in Flanders, Holland and parts of Germany will know the answer to this question. On the night of December 5th, Saint Nicholas walks the roofs, along with his trusted horse and his helper Piet, to drop presents through the chimneys for all the kids who were good.
Americans can best compare Saint Nicholas to Santa Claus, with a couple of slight variations. Santa Claus has reindeer, Saint Nic a white horse.
Nowadays there is some controversy around Nicholas and his helper. Piet was always portrayed with a black face - creeping down chimneys makes you black with soot. But some people now see it as a sort of discrimination. Personally, I think this is going a bit too far (same goes for the Me too movement).
Saint Nicholas actually existed. Centuries back, he was a bishop in Turkey, Nicholas of Myrna. It's known he gave away some of his possessions to those in need.
In Flanders, we have not only Saint Nicholas, but also Saint Martin. It depends in which region you live. In our neighborhood it was Saint Martin. When I was around 4 years old, I concluded that St. Martin must be real (compared to Nicholas) because we got a day off (November 11th....) when he came!
But I can still remember the wonder you felt when coming down, earlier in the morning than usual, to see what the good saint had brought. All that chocolate, the toys, the cookies, .... And later, knowing how the presents came to be, it was still great. I still feel like a child when there's a surprise to be found at breakfast. I think it's nice you can keep being a child sometimes. What do you think?
You all know French fries - actually, it should be Belgian fries. The first mention of something resembling fries is in documents from the region between the rivers Meuse and Sambre. There people ate fried fish and a kind of potato with it.
Here in Belgium the fries - or 'friet' as we call them - are very popular. Especially in the weekend, nearly every Belgian goes to the 'frietkot' (a place where fries are sold) to fetch his/her portion of fries, accompanied by a sauce - the most popular being mayonaise - and some meat. Popular here are the 'curry sausages' or 'fricandels'.
Unfortunately, it's not for me anymore. I do like friet from the frietkot (they taste a lot better than those you make at home) but my system doesn't cope with them anymore. Real friet is baked twice in fat, and my bowels go crazy with too much fat.
So this week of the friet is not celebrated here at home. My sister also sticks to home-made fries, which are less greasy because we bake them in the oven with almost no fat.
As the number of covid infections is exploding, our government is deciding right now on new - and more severe - measures. It's like a yo-yo movement: first a lockdown, then freedom, then once more lockdown, again more freedom... When will it ever stop???
Probably cafés and restaurants will have to close at 11 pm, starting tomorrow. All inside events are cancelled, except those where you sit down in your chair (with facemask), like the cinema or the opera/theater. Working at home is obligatory for those who can (my sister will be glad, as she doesn't like going to the office anymore, she prefers to work from home in all quiet). Schools won't be closed, but are closing nevertheless as lots of pupils and teachers have to stay in quarantine or have covid. Chris sees these results coming in daily, and she says it's never been as severe as right now.
Everyone will get a booster shot before April next year. I already got my appointment for December 23rd. Chris will probably get hers somewhere in January or early February.
Some other European countries are already imposing new rules for travellers. Austria demands you are vaccinated twice and forbids entrance to those who are vaccinated with Johnson&Johnson. France decrees that Covid Free Passes are only valid with 3 vaccinations, as of January 15th. And here in Flanders they are already thinking of a 4th shot next year in autumn.
Who could ever think that such a pandemic would hit the world?
Today we welcome Steve Zimcosky. Steve is doing a Virtual Book Blast Tour for Polish Dragon P. I. (The Good Book), a Mystery available now. The Book Blast Tour will take place November 22 - 26, 2021.
Blurb
A bible
mysteriously disappears from a Russian businessman’s home and it is said to
have a secret hidden inside that would cause embarrassment to the Russian
Orthodox Church. The Polish Dragon P. I. is called in, along with his new
partner, to help find the bible. The problem is the bible is not supposed to
exist and there is a secret organization, sworn to protect the church, also
looking for the bible. They will stop at nothing to locate it and destroy it.
Excerpt
"I found out that before Father Zelenko was in charge of the church, there was another priest there who was excommunicated from the church."
"Really? How did you find that out?"
"I managed to talk to some of the older parishioners, who told me they were surprised when he was given the boot, so to speak."
"Did you find out why he was excommunicated?"
"Yes, it appears he began to question some of the things going on with the church and some outside group called…"
"The International Bureau of Archangels." Tom blurted into the phone.
"How did you know that?"
"I have had two calls from some mystery person who wanted me to check out Father Zelenko and who just last night left me a message to check out this group."
"Well, I'm not having much luck
finding anything about the Bureau, but most of the local churches and any
others I've contacted claim to not know anything about this group. They say
they never heard of them."
Author bio and links
Steve
Zimcosky is a multi-award winning and international selling author. He is the
creator of the Polish Dragon P. I. series and was born in the Slavic Village
area of Cleveland, Ohio where many of his stories take place. He has wanted to
be an author since elementary school while reading books like White Fang and
Call of the Wild by Jack London. He spends his retirement time writing short
stories on a variety of subjects he hopes his readers will enjoy. Some of his
favorite authors include Stephen King, James Clavell, Thomas B. Dewey and Vivien Chien.
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Steve-Zimcosky/e/B00DZ0CW58%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theoldmanfromthehill/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevezimcosky
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7219444.Steve_Zimcosky
Buy
Link: https://www.amazon.com/Polish-Dragon-P-Good-Book-ebook/dp/B09DN3QPG5
We have finally reached a decision and plan to sell one of our properties in the near future. We realize that we are getting older and that the maintenance of two properties becomes more difficult by the years - especially with the new eco-measures the government is imposing.
Also, my sister will finally take her pension in the course of 2023. Then will start our true freedom. We both have a civil cervant pension (which means the best kind in Belgium) so we're well off already. And when we sell a property, we'll have even more.
So, what can you do? We don't have children or grandchildren, nor any close relatives who look after us and deserve to get something. There's just the two of us. This way, we decided to treat ourselves to a nice cruise as soon as Chris stops working, in September 2023. We found one on the Mediterranean, leaving from Venice and doing the round of the Greek islands, Montenegro and Croatia, returning at last to Venice. We always wanted to visit Venice once more. It's so lovely there, the hotel is next to the canal and you can hear the water from your bedroom. Dining outside, overlooking the canal. So probably we'll leave for Venice a couple of days before the cruise starts and enjoy the atmosphere there. And then comes the cruise, in a suite on a high aft deck, with our own butler. It'll be nice to allow yourself to be pampered for one time in your life.
And hopefully in the future, we'll be able to do more cruising. There are still a couple of them we'd like to explore: from Dubai to Italy, and one from Iceland to the UK. Because of my condition, we can't go to far away from our country and also not for a too long time. I need new pills every 30 days and the oncologist is not allowed to hand out two bottles at a time. Probably because these pills are very expensive (and luckily I don't have to pay for them, that's one of the advantages of living in Belgium: you pay half of your income to taxes, but you get excellent health care for nearly free in return).
The corona figures are going ape here in Belgium and therefore the government decided to order severe measures. Not yet a lockdown, but close.
Facemasks are obliged for everybody over 10 years old. Inside and outside, everywhere you can't have a safe distance between people.
Contacts between people should be reduced.
Everyone will get a booster shot by April next year.
Work at home.
Nevertheless, I don't think this will do a lot. Belgian people are not the best in following orders. Like having contacts - even in the severest lockdown last year, we noticed that our neighbors received guests at a regular basis. Not everyone lives like my sister and I, who keep distance even in our own home.
Chris is glad that homework is an obligation now. She has been working from home for over 1,5 year now and her boss had just announced they should return to the office. Chris likes working at home. You are less disturbed by colleagues and you can better manage phone calls. I can bring her a cup of tea or coffee whenever she wants and we can lunch and dine on time. So Chris hopes this situation will last for a while (she still needs to work 1,5 year before retiring)...
Because November 11th was on a Thursday, my sister's employer also gave the Friday and so we could have a long weekend. We decided to head to the coast on Wednesday afternoon. It doesn't take very long by train (30 minutes + 40 minutes). In fact, by car you'd be on it longer when the traffic is busy. And by train you have the luxury of reading a book, or surfing the web while on route. And now that we have switched to 1st class we travel even more relaxed.
November is turning out a rather cold month. But it has been mostly dry, and that's the most important. On Thursday we made a long walk along the promenade, enjoying the fresh sea air. On Friday it was time for some shopping. My weight loss is ok for my health and figure (seize 38!) but it's a disaster for my clothing. I need everything new. So every month I buy a couple of new pieces. This time it were pullovers in a light woollen material.
Yesterday we went for a walk once more, this time into the dunes and then to the DIY shop to fetch some light bulbs because we've blown one at the house.
Later on this morning, we'll go for Sunday lunch at @Sea, our favorite restaurant here in Heist. And then most likely for another walk to digest the delicious food.
Tomorrow morning back home. Chris is again working from home now, because of the corona situation. We have lots of infections here. And the government does't do anything special, not like in Holland or France. Well, you just have to be careful and not come into close contact with people, that's the trick. Neither my sister or I have had Covid19 since it came into our parts.
Let's welcome Ernesto Patino today. Ernesto is doing Virtual Book Blast Tour for Enough to Make the Angels Weep, a Mystery available now from Black Opal Books. The Book Blast Tour will take place November 8 - 12, 2021.
Ernesto Patino will be awarding a $30 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/28e4345f3941/
Blurb
Hired
to investigate the murder of an 84-year-old widow, P.I. Joe Coopersmith hits
one dead end after another in his search for leads. With few clues and no
suspects, he nearly gives up, until he uncovers a connection to a bizarre plot
to kill the descendants of Irish soldiers who fought for Mexico during the
Mexican-American War. Known as San Patricios, they belonged to the St.
Patrick's Battalion, an elite Mexican unit composed mostly of Irish immigrants.
When a well-preserved diary of an Irish soldier turns up, Coopersmith knows
he's on the right track. He digs deeper into the plot, soon learning the
identity of the man behind it and his warped motive for the cold-blooded murder
of the elderly widow.
Excerpt
The killer sat in his car near a desert road that led toward the mountains. He lit a cigarette and glanced at his watch. The man was late. He’d give him five more minutes and then…he spotted a white SUV speeding toward him. It slowed and pulled up alongside him. The driver, a slender man wearing jeans and a tan sport coat, got out. The killer did the same and they stepped away from their vehicles.
The slender man spoke first, as though to break the ice. “They thought you might need some help. That’s why I’m here. All they want you to do is take a break, lay low for a while.”
“I still got a few things to check out, but if that’s what they want…” He shrugged. “I’ll bring you up to date on everything and then—”
“That won’t be necessary. I think I
know what I need to do.”
The killer nodded. “Okay, I know the rules. I’ll step aside and you can take it from here.” He studied him for a second. The man’s expressionless face made it difficult to read.
“They want me to give you this.” The man reached into the pocket of his coat, pulled out a thick envelope and handed it to him. “A bonus, just so there’s no hard feelings.” He forced a quick smile.
The killer took the envelope and shoved it into his back pants pocket. “Well, I guess that’s it, then.” He didn’t want to hang around any longer than he had to. “If they need me, they know where to find me.” He turned to walk to his car but didn’t get far. A bullet from the man’s gun knocked him to the ground. Instinctively, he reached for his own gun and returned fire, striking the man in the chest. He fired two more times. The man dropped to his knees.
Bleeding and barely conscious, the
killer got up and staggered over to where the man lay dying. He shot him in the
head, then collapsed near his body.
Author bio and links
Ernesto Patino has been a musician, soldier, schoolteacher, FBI agent and private investigator. He is a multi-genre author whose books range from Mysteries and Thrillers to Romance and Children’s books. His published works include In the Shadow of a Stranger, Web of Secrets, The Last of the Good Guys and One Last Dance. He lives in Southern Arizona with his wife Pamela with whom he shares a passion for ethnic cuisines, classical music and foreign films.
For more information about Ernesto, please visit his website at www.ernestopatino.com
Amazon Buy link: http://amazon.com/dp/B09FJ4Q136
Amazon
Author Page: amazon.com/author/ernestopatino
Let's say hello to Sara Olin today! Sara's doing a virtual blurb blitz tour for Promising Love, a contemporary romance availavle November 9th from Totally Bound. The tour will run November 8 - December 3.
Sara Ohlin will be awarding a $30 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/28e4345f3947/
Blurb
When a
glamorous spa owner seduces the grumpy neighborhood bartender, passion
smolders…
Ruby
Naylor, confident, successful proprietor of Spa La La, has been crushing on
Lachlan MacGregory for ages and finally throws herself at the grumpy bartender
as he’s helping her tipsy butt home to her apartment above his pub.
Ruby is
the only woman Lachlan has ever loved—from afar. When she makes a pass, he
finally admits he’s wanted her for a long time. He leaves her that night with
three promises—a kiss, a special connection between them and an epic tomorrow.
Unfortunately,
when tomorrow arrives and Lachlan is smacked with the knowledge that she’s
already in a relationship with two men, he feels he has nothing to offer her.
His day
gets worse when his addict father is on his doorstep again, demanding money.
The thought that he could end up sick and miserable like his father eats at
Lachlan, making him focus on what has never let him down, his successful pub in
the burgeoning Corvallis neighborhood.
Learning
that Ruby is not taken, Lachlan finally goes all out to win her back. With his
heartfelt apology, it’s easy for Ruby to forgive him—she believes in joy, in
romance, in happy ever after. What she never expected was how vulnerable
Lachlan could make her feel.
Can
their love withstand life-shattering events to lead them into a beautiful
future?
Excerpt
“Beautiful, I want that.” His voice was rough with need and it gave her a shiver to know she did that to him. “But not on Detective Naylor’s couch.”
Stunned for only a second at the last words she expected to come out of his mouth, Ruby burst out laughing. She couldn’t help it. Lachlan rocked them togethe
“Love that sound.”
“Oh my goodness, are we sixteen just waiting to get caught?”
“You think this is funny?”
“Uhm, hilarious. I’ve been waiting a lifetime for you to kiss me and do all the other amazing things. And we’re adults, but we’re getting blocked by my dad who isn’t even here.” The laughter poured out of her. Her energy needed an outlet and apparently it wasn’t going to happen how she imagined it right this minute.
“A lifetime, huh?” Lachlan’s deep, soft voice was a stroke against her skin.
“Yeah,” she whispered.
“I’ve been waiting too.” He brushed his fingers through her hair, following their path with his eyes. Pensive eyes. Tired eyes. Ruby noticed the little details. “I can keep waiting.”
“Me too,” she said, resigned but still in a happy place, lost in him.
“Waiting sucks,” he said. And his pout was so darn cut
“Yeah.” Ruby chuckled again. “But this sure is nice.”
“Mmm. Maybe you could do that thing to my head again with your hands. Felt damn good.”
Her smile was automatic. It felt amazing taking care of this man. Ruby ran her hands through his hair and kneaded his scalp with her fingers, stroking once in a while with her nails. Soothing, deepening, then soothing again. It was only a few minutes before his breathing changed and his weight settled. Her hottie was asleep. Oh, you precious man.
“Best kiss ever,” she whispered as
he slept beside her.
Author bio and links
Puget Sound based writer, Sara Ohlin is a mom, wannabe photographer, obsessive reader, ridiculous foodie, and the author of the contemporary romance novels, Handling the Rancher, Salvaging Love, Seducing the Dragonfly, Igniting Love, Flirting with Forever and Promising Love.
She has over sixteen years of creative non-fiction and memoir writing experience, and you can find her essays at Anderbo.com, Feminine Collective, Mothers Always Write, Her View from Home, Under the Gum Tree, and in anthologies such as Are We Feeling Better Yet? Women Speak about Healthcare in America, Take Care: Tales, Tips, & Love from Women Caregivers, and Chicken Soup for the Soul.
Although she’s the author of many essays about life, grief, motherhood and the connections we make through delicious food and shared meals, Sara loves creating imaginary worlds with tight-knit communities in her romance novels. She credits her mother, Mary, Nora Roberts and Rosamunde Pilcher for her love of romance.
If
she’s not reading or writing, you will most likely find her in the kitchen
creating scrumptious meals with her two kids and amazing husband, or perhaps
cooking up her next love story. She once met a person who both “didn’t read
books” and wasn’t “that into food” and it nearly broke her heart.
Website: https://saraohlin.com
Facebook = https://www.facebook.com/saraohlinwriter
Twitter https://twitter.com/SaraOhlin222
Instagram = http://www.instagram.com/saraohlinauthor
Pinterest = http://www.pinterest.com/saraohlin
BookBub = https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sara-ohlin
Goodreads = https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19491440.Sara_Ohlin
Promising
Love Buy Links
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09G3G4GRT/
B&N https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/promising-love-sara-ohlin/1140164912
Totally Bound https://www.totallybound.com/book/promising-love
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/promising-love-2
GooglePlay https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Sara_Ohlin_Promising_Love?id=GBFDEAAAQBAJ
