Tag Archives: Christmas tree

Why do we put Christmas Trees up in our homes at Christmas?

It’s a given, right? We put up a Christmas tree hoping the Big Guy will visit. We put out cookies and milk, and carrots for the reindeer.  Oh, yes, we like to bribe the big guy with chocolate chips, don’t we?

But there’s a little more to it than that. The Christmas tree is an extension of an advent wreath. The evergreen branches are a symbol of everlasting life. The lights we place on the tree symbolize Jesus, the light of the world. So what is a Christmas tree, then but a big old birthday candle!?

In some cultures, the tree symbolizes life itself. It is the light of faith, hope and love.

So remember on this, one of the most holy days of the year, to remember what really matters in your life.

Peace, hope, love, family.

It is the season of giving, but there is no better gift in life than family. Call someone you love today, and wish them a Merry Christmas. Give someone the gift of joy.

And for those of you reading this over seas, serving your respective countries to protect the ones you love at home… an extra special hug.

We appreciate you, and you are missed.

_____Merry_Christmas

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A Different Kind of Christmas Story. Well, kind of anyway

Here’s a Christmas story with a twist for you. (Well, there’s a Christmas tree at least) Check out Book Three of the Whispering Woods series by Brinda Berry.  Catch it while it’s hot!

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Senior year should bring fun, friends and happiness. Not portals, treachery, and murder.

Seventeen-year-old Mia Taylor, gatekeeper to an interdimensional portal, wants nothing more than to heal from her romance gone wrong. Illegally falling for her co-worker Regulus had been a huge mistake. But when Regulus goes rogue to hunt down a murderer, Mia must forget her broken heart and use her unique abilities to save him.

Sound Cool?  Need more to tantalize you?  Here’s a mini excerpt:

Jingle Bells

I detested planned surprises.
I could read the expectation in the air from the shimmery orange vibe that glowed like a Cheetos binge gone bad.
A few months ago, my friends had discovered my secret. The secret I’d hidden so teachers and doctors wouldn’t treat me like an amped up sensory perception freak. So friends wouldn’t ask.
Synesthesia. The condition sounded like the name of an electronic punk band. I’d made the full round of emotions about my sensory perception and being able to find portals. First, I’d hid it like you hide an ugly rash. Later, I’d learned to trust my friends with my secret. I’d even embraced it.
Now, I was back to wishing for normal.
Working with Regulus and Arizona was like playing Pop Goes the Weasel—a surprise around every corner. And did I mention I hate surprises?
Give me predictable any day. Then I could be ready. It’s why I made sure I knew the contents of every box under the Christmas tree.

Hop on over to Amazon to pick up your copy of Watcher of Worlds

No happy shruggers — Rule #29 of 32 Simple Rules to the Writing the Best Novel Ever

Writing_A_Great_Novel

I’m dissecting the article Hunting Down the Pleonasm, by Allen Guthrie, using it as a cattle prod to search for little nasties in my manuscript.  Yep, you can join in the fun, too.  Let’s take a looksee at topic #29

I Love Love Love smile and shrug.  I’ve learned to curb my sighing, but I used to be guilty of that too.

I think smiling and grinning are overused in a lot of writing.  I really don’t worry about it in a first draft.  I let them smile and shrug away.  But these words are on my list of little buggers to pare down when I’m all done.

I just go in to my manuscript, do a search for “shrug” and my manuscript lights up like a Christmas tree.  So like a good little editor, I give my manuscript a present and curb them down to once every 50 pages or so.

Smiling Sadly has to do with that “ly” rule.  Almost every “ly” word can be removed from a manuscript.  I try not to type them at all, even in a first draft.

What words do you overuse?  Do you smile sadly while you shrug off your grin?

Jennifer___Eaton

Who is your favorite all-time hero? Do you have a soft spot for a hero in a book you’ve read/written?

This is one of my favorite interviews in this tour.  Admittedly, it was one of the first ones I did, and I was a little nervous, but these were some of the best and thought-provoking questions.

Today I am over at Denise Moncrief’s blog, and all of her questions surround my thought on heroes, so please stop by.  I’d love to hear about YOUR heroes!

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Make BelieveFor The Love Of Christmas CoverWhy all the hullabaloo? Well, it’s to promote my two new releases “Make Believe” and “For the Love of Christmas”

That’s why!

And don’t forget to click on “Enter to Win” for a chance to win your choice of the two titles! Yay!

Oh, I almost forgot… A few random commentors along the tour path will win their choice of anthologies, too. So be sure to hop on over and say “Hi”

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Hop on over and send me some love!

Jump on Santa’s sleigh for a ride to Denise Moncrief’s site.

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Visit my Anthology buddies!  They are celebrating too!

Jenny Keller Ford

J.A. Belfield

Kelly Said

Lynda R. Young

Terri Rochenski

Janelle Lee

Dani-Lyn Alexander

JenniFer_EatonF

My Parents always fought at Christmas. It’s one of my Fondest Memories.

My parents always fought at Christmas.  Seriously, they did.  It is one of the few times I remember seeing them fight.  It really warms my heart to think about it now– as an adult– now that I understand why my mom was screaming and laughing at the same time.

Today I am guest posting at my publisher Still Moment’s website, so please click on over to find out why I am so wacky, and why I remember the fights so fondly.

Click here to be whisked back into the past with me.

ChristmasFiligree

Make BelieveFor The Love Of Christmas CoverWhy all the hullabaloo? Well, it’s to promote my two new releases “Make Believe” and “For the Love of Christmas”

That’s why!

And don’t forget to click on “Enter to Win” for a chance to win your choice of the two titles! Yay!

Oh, I almost forgot… A few random commentors along the tour path will win their choice of anthologies, too. So be sure to hop on over and say “Hi”

ChristmasFiligree

Hop on over and send me some love!

Still Moments Web Site 

ChristmasFiligree

Visit my Anthology buddies!  They are celebrating too!

Jenny Keller Ford

J.A. Belfield

Kelly Said

Lynda R. Young

Terri Rochenski

Janelle Lee

Dani-Lyn Alexander

JenniFer_EatonF

Six Sentence Sunday – From my Work in Progress

Yep… Gonna give ya a sneak peek at my latest little swarray (is that how you spell that?) into the world of Romance.  I’m still writing the Explosion novel Fire In the Woods, but so I don’t get stagnant, I’m mixing things up with some shorts for those days when I just need a break from it.

This is from my current WIP “A Test of Faith”.  It starts out with a line stated by our hero, Jack. He is driving, and Jill is in the passenger seat with her daughter Nicole in the rear.

“If I didn’t get drunk last night, I wouldn’t have woken up under your Christmas tree … I wouldn’t have had the guts to finally tell you how I feel.”

Nicole leaned up between our seats. “You woke up under our tree because God put you there, Uncle Jack. You were Mom’s Christmas present.”

His hand slipped back to my knee. “I’m not sure that I was her present. I think she was mine.”

Hmmm.  Okay so that was more than six sentences.  Sorry Counting Gods!  I’m a writer, not a mathematician!

So, Whattya think?