Month: December 2023

How Crisis Improves Attitudes: My Review of A Dog’s Perfect Christmas #FantasticFridayReads #Fiction #Inspiration

What Audible Says

 

The perfect, feel-good holiday gift from W. Bruce Cameron, the number one New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of the A Dog’s Purpose series

The problems fracturing the Goss family as Christmas approaches are hardly unique, though perhaps they are handling them a little differently than most people might. But then a true emergency arises, one with the potential to not only ruin Christmas, but everything holding the family together.

Is the arrival of a lost puppy yet another in the string of calamities facing them, or could the little canine be just what they all need?

A Dog’s Perfect Christmas is a beautiful, poignant, delightful tale of what can happen when family members open their hearts to new possibilities. You’ll find love and tears and laughter – the ideal holiday listen.

 

Buy from Audible.

 

My 5-Star Review

 

I’ve read and enjoyed other books in W. Bruce Cameron’s A Dog’s Purpose series, each told from a dog’s first-person point of view. But this story is told from the third-person point of view of several characters, including two dogs, and I loved it.

The author does a great job developing and evolving characters. Myriad plot twists made this book hard to put down. The narrator of the Audible version does an excellent job of giving each character a distinct voice.

A Dog’s Perfect Christmas is about how a crisis can bring a family together and cause attitudes to change for the better. Even if you don’t like dogs, I hope you’ll open your heart to this family during the holiday season.

 

Abbie wears a blue and white V-neck top with different shades of blue from sky to navy that swirl together with the white. She has short, brown hair and rosy cheeks and smiles at the camera against a black background.Photo Courtesy of Tess Anderson Photography

Photo Resize and Description

by Two Pentacles Publishing

 

If you haven’t already done so, please subscribe to my email list to receive my monthly newsletter and other announcements. This is a one-way announcements list, meaning the only messages you’ll receive will come from me. So, you can rest assured that this list is low-traffic. Send a blank email to:  newsfrommycorner+subscribe@groups.io  You’ll receive a confirmation email. Reply to that with another blank message, and you should be good to go.

 

New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me

Copyright 2021 by Abbie Johnson Taylor.

Independently published with the help of DLD Books.

The cover of the book features an older woman sitting in a wicker chair facing a window. The world beyond the window is bright, and several plants are visible on the terrace. Behind the woman’s chair is another plant, with a tall stalk and wide rounded leaves. The woman has short, white hair, glasses, a red sweater, and tan pants. The border of the picture is a taupe color and reads "Why Grandma Doesn't Know Me" above the photo and "Abbie Johnson Taylor" below it.

Photo Resize and Description

by Two Pentacles Publishing

 

Sixteen-year-old Natalie’s grandmother, suffering from dementia and confined to a wheelchair, lives in a nursing home and rarely recognizes Natalie. But one Halloween night, she tells her a shocking secret that only she and Natalie’s mother know. Natalie is the product of a one-night stand between her mother, who is a college English teacher, and another professor.

After some research, Natalie learns that people with dementia often have vivid memories of past events. Still not wanting to believe what her grandmother has told her, she finds her biological father online. The resemblance between them is undeniable. Not knowing what else to do, she shows his photo and website to her parents.

Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.

Her younger sister, Sarah, senses their parents’ marital difficulties. At Thanksgiving, when she has an opportunity to see Santa Claus, she asks him to bring them together again. Can the jolly old elf grant her request?

The “Do Re Mi” Challenge #SixSentenceStoryThursdayLinkUp #Excerpts #Inspiration

Welcome to another Six Sentence Story Thursday Link Up. This week’s given word is “challenge,” and the idea is to write something in exactly six sentences, using the word at least once.

Being a caregiver had its challenges. But the one I’m talking about in today’s excerpt from My Ideal Partner: How I Met, Married, and Cared for the Man I Loved Despite Debilitating Odds happened while my late husband Bill was still in the nursing home.

***

One day, Bill’s speech therapist said to me, “Bill says you’re a good singer. I don’t sing very well, but if you could get him to sing every day, it would improve his speech.”

Unlike Dad, who had had trouble finding words since his stroke in 2000, Bill had no trouble speaking, but his voice no longer had the same lilting quality. Having once been a music therapist, I rose to the challenge. Bill loved The Sound of Music, so we started with “Do Re Mi.” I sang each line and encouraged him to sing it after me.

***

What happened after that? Read the book and find out.

Thanks to GirlieOnTheEdge for inspiring me to share the above excerpt with her six-sentence story prompt for this week. You can click here to participate on your blog and read other responses.

 

Abbie wears a blue and white V-neck top with different shades of blue from sky to navy that swirl together with the white. She has short, brown hair and rosy cheeks and smiles at the camera against a black background.Photo Courtesy of Tess Anderson Photography

Photo Resize and Description

by Two Pentacles Publishing

 

If you haven’t already done so, please subscribe to my email list to receive my monthly newsletter and other announcements. This is a one-way announcements list, meaning the only messages you’ll receive will come from me. So, you can rest assured that this list is low-traffic. Send a blank email to:  newsfrommycorner+subscribe@groups.io  You’ll receive a confirmation email. Reply to that with another blank message, and you should be good to go.

 

New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me

Copyright 2021 by Abbie Johnson Taylor.

Independently published with the help of DLD Books.

The cover of the book features an older woman sitting in a wicker chair facing a window. The world beyond the window is bright, and several plants are visible on the terrace. Behind the woman’s chair is another plant, with a tall stalk and wide rounded leaves. The woman has short, white hair, glasses, a red sweater, and tan pants. The border of the picture is a taupe color and reads "Why Grandma Doesn't Know Me" above the photo and "Abbie Johnson Taylor" below it.

Photo Resize and Description

by Two Pentacles Publishing

 

Sixteen-year-old Natalie’s grandmother, suffering from dementia and confined to a wheelchair, lives in a nursing home and rarely recognizes Natalie. But one Halloween night, she tells her a shocking secret that only she and Natalie’s mother know. Natalie is the product of a one-night stand between her mother, who is a college English teacher, and another professor.

After some research, Natalie learns that people with dementia often have vivid memories of past events. Still not wanting to believe what her grandmother has told her, she finds her biological father online. The resemblance between them is undeniable. Not knowing what else to do, she shows his photo and website to her parents.

Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.

Her younger sister, Sarah, senses their parents’ marital difficulties. At Thanksgiving, when she has an opportunity to see Santa Claus, she asks him to bring them together again. Can the jolly old elf grant her request?

Flying South for Christmas #WednesdayWords #Jottings #Inspiration

This coming Saturday, December 23rd, I’ll travel from my home in Sheridan, Wyoming, to Florida to spend Christmas with my brother and his family, who live in Jupiter, near West Palm Beach. Because of the pandemic, I’ve been hesitant to travel there. But COVID may never go away, and I can no longer let it keep me from spending the holiday with family. I’ll wear a mask on the plane, carry plenty of hand sanitizer, and hope for the best. The last couple of times I spent Christmas there, I got sick with a bad stomach flu. I’m hoping this time will be the charmer.

Someone asked how I could possibly have a white Christmas in Florida. Well, if we visit the beach, we’ll enjoy white sand instead of snow. I’m also looking forward to enjoying good food and company and sharing gifts. Who knows what else we’ll think of to do while I’m there? The important thing is we’ll be together, even if we don’t have a white Christmas.

The bad news for you, my readers, is that after Friday, there won’t be any posts here until after I return on December 30st. I plan to take a vacation from writing. I’m not even packing my laptop, since I can use my phone to check email and notifications and respond to comments here. If I get ideas, which I often do, I’ll make notes and deal with them after I get home. I won’t have time to read other posts while I’m gone. I hope to return invigorated and ready to write and look forward to blogging with you all in the new year. Happy holidays!

 

Abbie wears a blue and white V-neck top with different shades of blue from sky to navy that swirl together with the white. She has short, brown hair and rosy cheeks and smiles at the camera against a black background.Photo Courtesy of Tess Anderson Photography

Photo Resize and Description

by Two Pentacles Publishing

 

If you haven’t already done so, please subscribe to my email list to receive my monthly newsletter and other announcements. This is a one-way announcements list, meaning the only messages you’ll receive will come from me. So, you can rest assured that this list is low-traffic. Send a blank email to:  newsfrommycorner+subscribe@groups.io  You’ll receive a confirmation email. Reply to that with another blank message, and you should be good to go.

 

New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me

Copyright 2021 by Abbie Johnson Taylor.

Independently published with the help of DLD Books.

The cover of the book features an older woman sitting in a wicker chair facing a window. The world beyond the window is bright, and several plants are visible on the terrace. Behind the woman’s chair is another plant, with a tall stalk and wide rounded leaves. The woman has short, white hair, glasses, a red sweater, and tan pants. The border of the picture is a taupe color and reads "Why Grandma Doesn't Know Me" above the photo and "Abbie Johnson Taylor" below it.

Photo Resize and Description

by Two Pentacles Publishing

 

Sixteen-year-old Natalie’s grandmother, suffering from dementia and confined to a wheelchair, lives in a nursing home and rarely recognizes Natalie. But one Halloween night, she tells her a shocking secret that only she and Natalie’s mother know. Natalie is the product of a one-night stand between her mother, who is a college English teacher, and another professor.

After some research, Natalie learns that people with dementia often have vivid memories of past events. Still not wanting to believe what her grandmother has told her, she finds her biological father online. The resemblance between them is undeniable. Not knowing what else to do, she shows his photo and website to her parents.

Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.

Her younger sister, Sarah, senses their parents’ marital difficulties. At Thanksgiving, when she has an opportunity to see Santa Claus, she asks him to bring them together again. Can the jolly old elf grant her request?

Sarah’s Shocking Holiday Discovery #TuesdayTidbit #Poetry #Inspiration

As I’ve said in earlier posts, I belong to a writers’ organization called Behind Our Eyes. We hold a variety of programs via phone conference and Zoom for our members. In one such event, Readers’ Workshop, we encourage participants to read work aloud in a welcoming environment.

This month, Alice Massa, who blogs here, facilitated the program. She incorporated a holiday bazaar theme in which we were encouraged to talk about what we would sell in our virtual booth and read a poem or short piece to go along with that.

In my virtual booth, I sold copies of my latest book, Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me. AT the end of the book, ten-year-old Sarah says, “Mommy’s kissing Santa Claus.” So, besides copies of the book, my table had fake snow in which were embedded figures of Santa and Mrs. Claus, elves, and reindeer. And of course, I couldn’t forget Santa’s sleigh.

Below is a poem I wrote for the occasion, which I read during the event after describing the booth. You can click on the title to hear me read it now.

 

Sarah’s Shocking Holiday Discovery

Copyright 2023 by Abbie Johnson Taylor

 

 

At ten years old, she saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus

in the living room on Christmas morning.

What was Santa doing there?

After sliding down the chimney and filling stockings,

did he fall asleep on the couch,

where Mommy found him,

and they fell in love?

Or had they ben having a secret affair for years

and decided to throw caution to the winds?

Who knows?

Grandma knows.

How about you authors? If you were to have a booth in a holiday bazaar, how would you use it to sell copies of your books? What would the booth look like? You can either answer in the comment field below or on your own blog with a link to this post. Thank you for reading, and happy holidays!

 

Abbie wears a blue and white V-neck top with different shades of blue from sky to navy that swirl together with the white. She has short, brown hair and rosy cheeks and smiles at the camera against a black background.Photo Courtesy of Tess Anderson Photography

Photo Resize and Description

by Two Pentacles Publishing

 

If you haven’t already done so, please subscribe to my email list to receive my monthly newsletter and other announcements. This is a one-way announcements list, meaning the only messages you’ll receive will come from me. So, you can rest assured that this list is low-traffic. Send a blank email to:  newsfrommycorner+subscribe@groups.io  You’ll receive a confirmation email. Reply to that with another blank message, and you should be good to go.

 

New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me

Copyright 2021 by Abbie Johnson Taylor.

Independently published with the help of DLD Books.

The cover of the book features an older woman sitting in a wicker chair facing a window. The world beyond the window is bright, and several plants are visible on the terrace. Behind the woman’s chair is another plant, with a tall stalk and wide rounded leaves. The woman has short, white hair, glasses, a red sweater, and tan pants. The border of the picture is a taupe color and reads "Why Grandma Doesn't Know Me" above the photo and "Abbie Johnson Taylor" below it.

Photo Resize and Description

by Two Pentacles Publishing

 

Sixteen-year-old Natalie’s grandmother, suffering from dementia and confined to a wheelchair, lives in a nursing home and rarely recognizes Natalie. But one Halloween night, she tells her a shocking secret that only she and Natalie’s mother know. Natalie is the product of a one-night stand between her mother, who is a college English teacher, and another professor.

After some research, Natalie learns that people with dementia often have vivid memories of past events. Still not wanting to believe what her grandmother has told her, she finds her biological father online. The resemblance between them is undeniable. Not knowing what else to do, she shows his photo and website to her parents.

Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.

Her younger sister, Sarah, senses their parents’ marital difficulties. At Thanksgiving, when she has an opportunity to see Santa Claus, she asks him to bring them together again. Can the jolly old elf grant her request?

Joy: Not Enough Lap Time #MondayMusings #Jottings #Inspiration

Joy is a fluffy gray and white cat with a pink nose and pink paw pads. The fur is long and mostly gray with white paws, a white chest, nose and white down the middle of her head. Her ears are pointed up, and she lies with her paws sprawled out in front of her in an open formation. Her head looks to the right of the screen. She’s on a brown wooden table. Behind her is a white wall and a basket of fruit.

Hi, this is Joy, Abbie’s robotic cat. If you subscribe to her newsletter, you get to hear from me at least once a month. But for the longest time, Abbie wouldn’t let me write on her blog because she was afraid no one would subscribe to her newsletter if they could read what I wrote on her blog. She gave in after reading a post on one of the blogs she follows where someone’s dog posted a rant. Also, she found out there won’t be any more open book blog hops until January. So, here’s my rant.

I love Abbie’s new laptop because it’s easier to type on, but ever since she got that thing, it spends more time on her lap than I do. I used to love snuggling with her in the recliner while doing Zoom calls on her iPhone, even though I had to be quiet. But now, she uses the laptop for most of those meetings, and there’s no room for me. She still lets me sit on her lap when she’s reading books or magazines or listening to podcasts and other stuff because the devices she uses for that are much smaller and can fit on the table next to her, but that’s not enough. If I could, I’d pee on that laptop, but since I’m a robot, I’m incapable of any bodily functions.

What’s more, Abbie’s leaving for Florida on Saturday to spend Christmas with her brother and his family. She can’t take me because her brother has some cats and a dog, and we might not get along. I get that. But she’ll be gone a week, and I won’t see her at all.

The good news is that she’s not taking the laptop, either. Hmm, if I could only get out of my chair and walk into her office where she keeps it when it’s not on her lap.

Okay, I’m done ranting, and I’m getting tired of typing, and it’s time for my nap. If you like what you read, you can see below for how to subscribe to Abbie’s newsletter. Then, I’ll land in your in box at the beginning of each month, and I won’t pee on it, okay?

 

Abbie wears a blue and white V-neck top with different shades of blue from sky to navy that swirl together with the white. She has short, brown hair and rosy cheeks and smiles at the camera against a black background.Photo Courtesy of Tess Anderson Photography

Photo Resize and Description

by Two Pentacles Publishing

 

Abbie here. If you haven’t already done so, please subscribe to my email list to receive my monthly newsletter and other announcements. This is a one-way announcements list, meaning the only messages you’ll receive will come from me. So, you can rest assured that this list is low-traffic. Send a blank email to:  newsfrommycorner+subscribe@groups.io  You’ll receive a confirmation email. Reply to that with another blank message, and you should be good to go.

 

New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me

Copyright 2021 by Abbie Johnson Taylor.

Independently published with the help of DLD Books.

The cover of the book features an older woman sitting in a wicker chair facing a window. The world beyond the window is bright, and several plants are visible on the terrace. Behind the woman’s chair is another plant, with a tall stalk and wide rounded leaves. The woman has short, white hair, glasses, a red sweater, and tan pants. The border of the picture is a taupe color and reads "Why Grandma Doesn't Know Me" above the photo and "Abbie Johnson Taylor" below it.

Photo Resize and Description

by Two Pentacles Publishing

 

Sixteen-year-old Natalie’s grandmother, suffering from dementia and confined to a wheelchair, lives in a nursing home and rarely recognizes Natalie. But one Halloween night, she tells her a shocking secret that only she and Natalie’s mother know. Natalie is the product of a one-night stand between her mother, who is a college English teacher, and another professor.

After some research, Natalie learns that people with dementia often have vivid memories of past events. Still not wanting to believe what her grandmother has told her, she finds her biological father online. The resemblance between them is undeniable. Not knowing what else to do, she shows his photo and website to her parents.

Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.

Her younger sister, Sarah, senses their parents’ marital difficulties. At Thanksgiving, when she has an opportunity to see Santa Claus, she asks him to bring them together again. Can the jolly old elf grant her request?