Dear Friend
What are you hoping for this Christmas? A special gift? Peace on Earth? A visit from a loved one? Whatever it is, I pray that you will be blessed beyond belief and may the true spirit of Christmas visit us all with the knowledge that we have already received the ultimate gift. Happy birthday, Jesus!
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Read a good book lately?
Let me know and I’ll mention it in the next newsletter. Here are two I’ve just finished:
- The Help by Kathryn Stockett
- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Wonderfully written, these two books will certainly become movies. The Help is set in the early 1960’s in Jackson, MS, and it focuses on black maids and a young white woman who wants to write their stories. T he Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is told completely through letters between the characters and is set right after WWII mainly on Guernsey, one of the British Channel islands. Both of these books have light-hearted and serious moments and tell some important stories about the times they are set in.
 
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 What I’ve been up to:
You can listen to my radio interview with Diane Byrnes of the Echoes of Erin radio program on WEDO 810AM, Pittsburgh.
(At the Pittsburgh Irish Festival with Diane Byrnes)
I enjoyed a book signing during the annual Christmas parade in downtown Mount Vernon, OH, with several other authors.
I enjoyed a mini writers retreat in Dayton with members of the Ohio chapter of ACFW.
My article on the Irish Roots Cafe comes out this month in Internet-Genealogy magazine. If you've never visited The Irish Roots Cafe and you're interested in Irish genealogy, check it out.
I’ve been doing some writing and a lot of research.
Coming up:
I’m attending a two-day fiction marketing seminar Dec. 4-5 in Indianapolis with my agent Chip MacGregor and marketing expert Jim Rubart.
Two book signings of the CHRISTMAS MIRACLES book with co-contributor Sara Zinn. December 11 at 7PM at the Polaris Barnes & Noble in Columbus, OH and December 12, 2-4PM at Walden Books, River Valley Mall, Lancaster, OH. If you’re in the area we’d love to see you.
Kyle comes home December 17! He’s still in basic training, just getting time off for Christmas.
Kyle is on the end on the right (the one with the glasses.)
I leave you with this Irish Blessing:
May peace and plenty be the first
To lift the latch to your door,
And happiness be guided to your home
By the candle of Christmas.
Thanks so much for your support this year. I look forward to 2010 with great expectation.
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Contest Details:
Last month’s contest:
Had no entries! I suppose when I first wrote GREAT IN LITTLE, the answer to one of the questions, few of you knew me or knew I was writing. It’s a story based loosely on my ancestors, the Littles, who came from County Down, Northern Ireland, to America late in 1771. The family story that has been passed down is that they could not afford to take the whole family so they indentured their oldest daughter Mary in Ireland. She made her way to America about a year later. This intrigued me because it was a volatile time in our nation’s history. This is the novel that I’m rewriting.
There also were no answers to what my very first story was (which can be found on my web site: www.cindyswriting.com) I’m not giving that answer. If you want to know, you’ll have to look it up.
This month:
It’s Christmastime, so I thought we’d look for some Christmas traditions from Ireland. Here are the questions. The first person to email the correct answers will win a copy of CHRISTMAS MIRACLES.
1. What is a wren boy?
2. When is “Little Christmas” and what should not be done before that date?
3. Who is traditionally welcomed by a candle in the window?
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Take care of your Christmas shopping!
I have stock of all of my books (with the exception of CHRISTMAS MIRACLES). This month, just for my newsletter subscribers, I will send you autographed copies with free shipping! (Please let me know how you'd like the books autographed.) The costs are below. You can learn more about my books (if you're not familiar with them) on my web site.
Three Finger: The Mordecai Brown Story (paperback edition) $18
Brigid of Ireland $14
Celtic Wisdom: Treasures From Ireland $13
Checks can be sent to the PO Box listed at the bottom of this email.
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