THE BOOK BUFFET

Trying to decide what books to put on my reading list this year makes me think of the endless buffet people talk about on a Princess cruise liner. Every choice imaginable, but only so much room on the plate. And you don’t want to fill up on just one thing, so I’m imagining my reading list as a scrumptious, carefully chosen meal that promises hours of blissful escape, a hearty dose of laughter, and a few tear-filled moments.

For example:

An appetizer or two: Perhaps a new author or a genre I haven’t tried before.

Soup and salad: Lighter fare, like a novella or cozy mystery to be tucked in for a quick read and taking me on a mini-cruise (think Gilligan’s Island).

Main course: The bulk of my reading list, comprised of books in the genre I write (women’s fiction), longer works that intrigue me, books on the craft of writing craft, and a literary work or two for variety.

Dessert: Ah . . . the delectable, rare tidbit that satisfies by providing the perfect metaphor, prose that inspires and takes my breath away. A story that lingers long after the last page and makes me wish for dessert three times a day. I know in this year's list I will find many sweet treats because I’ve either heard great things about these books or they are from authors who I've enjoyed in the past. So, hand me a plate . . . I’m ready to sample the buffet.

MY LIST TO BE READ: (More will surely be added – these just top the list for now)

Same Kind of Different as Me (Ron Hall and Denver Moore)
Demon, A Memoir (Tosca Lee)
Havah (Tosca Lee)
Ice Cream for Breakfast (Leslie Levine)
Where The River Ends (Charles Martin)
Daisy Chain (Mary DeMuth)
Odd Thomas – the series (Dean Koontz)
World Without End (Ken Follett) Note: this was on my list last year, and I didn’t get to it. I’m hopeful in 2009.
The Red Siren (M. L. Tyndall)
Tiger Lillie and Women’s Intuition (Lisa Samson)
What Sarah Saw (Margaret Daley)
The Christmas Sweater (Glenn Beck)
Par for the Course (Ray Blackston)
Revision and Self-Editing (James Scott Bell)
All the Way Home (Mary Sue Lopez)
Until We Reach Home (Lynn Austin)
Sweetwater Gap (Denise Hunter)
One Perfect Day (Lauraine Snelling)

Also, two special writing friends – Myra Johnson and Erica Vetsch – will have their debut novels published this year, and I can’t wait to read them. You’ll be hearing more about those when they release.

So, what book on your nightstand is screaming “pick me” in the early days of this new year? I’ll take a break from reading to check on your answers.

FOR UNTO US IS BORN . . .

MERRY CHRISTMAS

The mad rush is quickly winding down. The shopping is done, the gifts wrapped, the baked goods packed up. All we have to do is load the car and head out west where our family is waiting for the annual Christmas Eve gathering. Christmas Eve is the only tradition that has remained somewhat the same for as long as I can remember. As a child, we went to Granny's (on my dad's side). She had yummy frosted cookies with shiny icing and detailed features on the Santas and snowmen. If we weren't sick from all the cookies, there was also rich, creamy rice pudding served with warm custard sauce. And when I was a teenager, Granny had an aluminum tree with a motorized light that turned to change the tree's color from blue to green to red.

Along the way, the location changed to Mother and Daddy's house, but we still had a meal, our family gift exchange, and reading of the joyous birth of our Savior from the second chapter of Luke. One of the children has the honor of reading the beloved story, and it's become a right of passage of sorts to be old enough to read without stumbling over the words. The last two years, our grandson, Drake, has done the honors. I'm not sure who will read this year, but perhaps Allison, our new daughter-in-law who's attending our Christmas Eve for the first time.

A few years ago, my dad put a new twist in the celebration. He serves an exotic meat of some kind, so over the years, we've dined on peacock, emu, alligator, moose, Yak. There are a few others which I've forgotten (perhaps on purpose). This year is the Wild Alaskan Adventure with caribou, reindeer, smoked salmon, musk ox - we found an online place to order a sampler from our northernmost state. It should be interesting. Oh . . . we always have a ham, too, for a backup entree.

The excitement is building. In less than twenty-four hours, we will have dined, loved, celebrated, and ripped open a mountain of gifts. We are so blessed to have this family - four generations coming together - all because two thousand years ago, a baby came and changed our world forever. Blessed be the name. Jesus. Jesus.

May your Christmas be joy-filled as you remember and celebrate the birth of the Christ Child.

Feliz Navidad!

JINGLE BELLS . . . Tuba Style

Drake (my first born grandson) is one of two tuba players in his school's Sixth Grade Beginner Band, and the FIRST tuba player in our family. He goes to a small school (although not that small compared to their neighboring rural towns) so the Christmas concert is a combined effort of beginners, junior high, high school, and the jazz band. Before we left, Drake gave us a preview of the three songs he would be performing: Jingle Bells, Up On The Housetop, and Jolly Old St. Nicholas.

He takes a deep breath, positions his hand on the keys . . . or are they called valves? Then the boomp, boomp, boomps come out of the concert tuba. Rich. Punctuated. So much fun. Now I knew what to listen for when the band appeared on stage. It's really quite amazing that less than four months ago, most of these kids had never held an instrument, let alone played a song. Now, they sat erect in front of their music stands, their feet tapping out the beats as they counted quarter notes, half notes, rests, and played their hearts out. Beautiful.

One of the fun things about the concert was hearing the progression of difficulty levels as the higher grades performed their numbers. My favorite, after the beginners of course, was the jazz band. Drake liked it, too, and has his sights set on playing with the jazz group one day. I like that.

We rounded out the afternoon with authentic Mexican food at a new restaurant and playing some cut-throat games of Sorry! and Trouble that my younger grandson, Nash, delights in. I had to leave in the early evening and journey on to visit with my dad for a day. 'Twas a nice break from my writing routine and spending time with family is always time well spent.

So, O'er the fields we go, laughing all the way!

Hope you're all getting ready for some lovely times with your families over the holidays. I can hardly wait.

Fa-la-la-la-la!

Tis the season! I wish I were one of those early shoppers who had all my gifts purchased, wrapped, and under the tree by the day after Thanksgiving, but I'm not. As a matter of fact, I don't even have a list made yet, so if you're out there and still want to get your request in to me, it's not too late.

I like to think that I'm a more in-the-moment kinda person. We had a great Thanksgiving with three of our four sons, two daughters-in-law, five of the grandkids, and Max's mom and sister, Connie. Lovely day. Instead of the kitchen marathon, we ordered a dinner from the local grocery, heated it up, added a few favorite side dishes, and enjoyed time with one another. What a blessing.

So, before the Thanksgiving weekend slips away, here are a few pics from our day.

Allison & the twins

The Fab Five

Mimi, Drake, & Jorgen

Check out the matching animal print outfits!

The newlyweds

Connie & Max with Mom

Nash & Jorgen

I got the Christmas tree decorated and the Nativity scenes in place today, so tomorrow it's back to work. I'm very excited about a new writing project. Also, would love to hear what project you're working on. Just don't tell me that you have your Christmas shopping done. La-la-la-la! I don't want to hear it.

Devoted to Cooking

Lest anyone think the title of this post is a confession about me, it's not. It's the title of my good friend, Jacqueline (Jackie) King's newest book, an inspirational cookbook she's been working on feverishly for many months. Co-written with her daughter, who is a culinary expert, they combine great recipes and the stories that inspired them. I've not seen a copy yet, but the cover is magnificent (created by another writing friend, Romney Nesbitt). This talented bunch are part of the Tulsa Night Writers tribe, and I am so honored to help spread the word about Devoted to Cooking.

Blessings and Bon Apetit!