A HOLIDAY CALLED HOLIDAY

I want to share this wonderful article written by Terri Blackstock. I share her thoughts and hope you will take her message to heart.






A Holiday Called Holiday, by Terri Blackstock

It’s Christmas Eve 2009, and as I work in the kitchen, I’ve had the TV on. I can’t help being amused and a little irritated at the efforts by the media to keep from saying the word “Christmas.” A few days ago I heard a morning talk show host talking about “the spirit of the Holiday,” and I thought, what holiday? Columbus Day? Labor Day? I’m sometimes a little dense, but I need her to be more specific. I didn’t know a season of days could actually have a spirit.

Then today, as I’m watching HGTV, I see a man decorating a house for “The Holiday.” He puts up the tree, decorates the tables, and hangs things on the wall, very carefully avoiding the word Christmas. And he shows us how he painted big letters to hang on the wall, spelling out the word “H-o-l-i-d-a-y.” Really? Are we really celebrating a holiday called Holiday?

It makes me wonder what people who are allergic to the word Christmas say to each other on that day. Do they show up at their families’ homes with their arms loaded with Holiday gifts (wrapped in Holiday paper), and say, “Merry Holiday”? Do they stand around their Holiday tree and sing Holiday carols and eat a Holiday meal? Does no one ever say, “But what holiday?”

We’re not afraid to utter the name of any other holiday. We’re very brazen about saying Happy New Year, Happy Halloween, Happy Labor Day, Happy Columbus Day, Happy July 4th. But to say--gasp!--Merry Christmas is just the height of rudeness? Millions of people around the world are celebrating it with traditions that go back 2000 years, yet we Americans are not allowed to say the word?

You just have to laugh. Those poor people are working so hard to remove the obvious from their … ahem … holiday, that they miss the joy of celebrating Christmas. Yes, I said it. Christmas, Christmas, Christmas, Christmas, Christmas, Christmas, Christmas! I love Christmas, and I love the spirit of Christmas, and I love the joy of Christmas. And most of all I love that it all centers around the Christ child “who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:6) I guess that’s what they’re really trying to avoid.

I hope you all celebrate Christmas boldly and passionately, and never be afraid to say the name of Christ. We’re not celebrating a holiday called Holiday.

Merry Christmas! And Happy Birthday, Jesus!

A NEW BEGINNING

SIMPLE SECRETS has been written and turned into my publisher. Of course, edits are coming! Some authors love edits. Some dread them. I'm kind of in the middle. I dread them when they come, but I recognize how important it is to have a good editor. I'm excited to have an editor I know will do her best to make SIMPLE SECRETS shine.

I've started work on SIMPLE DECEIT, the second book in this new series. I have a general idea where it's going, but I don't have it all figured out yet. Does this scare me? Not at all. I count on the Holy Spirit for ideas and direction. I find it exciting when He reveals a plot twist or shows me something special about one of my characters. I know SIMPLE DECEIT will have some surprises. Not only for my readers - but for me, too!

Along with a new book in the works, I am taking a new direction with this blog. Cindy Hickey and I have spent a couple of years working on a blog together. FINDING FAITH THROUGH FICTION has been a fun venture, but we're both so busy, we've decided to concentrate on developing our own blogs. I want to share my writing experience with you, and I intend to ask some of my author friends to drop by once in a while for an interview or blog. If you have any ideas for this blog, I would love to hear them!

I will also be starting a newsletter sometime in the next few months so I can keep readers updated on new book releases, etc. If you would like to receive my newsletter, would you write to me at: nancymehlbooks@hotmail.com? I will add your name to my list.

Now...back to work on SIMPLE DECEIT!

God bless you.

Nancy

2009 ACFW BOOK OF THE YEAR NOMINATION!

I am so pleased and excited to announce that my novel, FOR WHOM THE WEDDING BELL TOLLS, is a finalist for the 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers's Mystery Book of the Year! The winner will be announced at the ACFW Conference in September. I'm hoping to be there. I'd love to win, but I'm up against some really great authors. I'm simply happy to be in their midst.





Here is a synopsis of FOR WHOM THE WEDDING BELL TOLLS:

For Ivy Towers, life appears to be finally coming together. Her bookstore is making money; she is living in her dream house; and she is preparing to marry the love of her life. Ivy and Deputy Sheriff Amos Parker are planning a Valentine’s Day Wedding in Winter Break, Kansas.

Everyone wants to be involved in some way, especially Delaphine Shackleford, wife of the only insurance agent for miles around. The Shacklefords were recently sent to Winter Break by Farm and Field Insurance Company in Dodge City so that Barney could stay in contact with their rural customers. Delaphine is very unhappy with life in a small town. She misses the “big city” where she was known as a bon vivant in Dodge City society. She finds life in Winter Break almost unbearable – that is until Ivy lets it slip that she is hard-pressed to find time to plan her wedding. Dela, as she asks Ivy to call her, offers her services as a wedding planner, claiming to have created memorable weddings for many of her high-class friends. Ivy accepts her help, thinking her problems are solved. However, she quickly discovers that they are just beginning. Dela takes over the wedding with ideas that don’t come close to anything Ivy had in mind. From a Valentine’s Day theme overflowing with goofy red hearts, to a semi-authentic Chinese wedding, each suggestion is worse than the one before. Finally, just when Ivy is at the end of her rope, Dela comes up with an idea that just might work. But before Ivy and Dela have a chance to carry out the preparations for Ivy’s upcoming nuptials, someone puts a halt to the proceedings – and to Dela. Ivy finds Dela dead, stabbed with one of the bronze, engraved chopsticks used at her own wedding dinner.

It doesn’t take long for Ivy to realize that the police count her among the suspects in Dela’s murder. Now, Ivy has to plan her own wedding and find Dela’s killer before she’s hauled off to jail for something she didn’t do. Amos tries to help, but he up to his ears with a series of robberies in the county.

A break-in at Ivy’s house worries Amos, who is afraid that Dela’s killer has also targeted Ivy. But officials called in to investigate the murder refuse to listen to advice from a “small town hick deputy.” Amos’s concern for Ivy’s safety drives him to contact her parents and ask them to come to Winter Break and stay with her. Problems mount, however, when Ivy’s mother, Marjorie, decides to help out the investigation. Unfortunately, her “help” may end up putting them exactly where the killer wants them to be.

Through the mystery and mayhem that surround Ivy Towers and Amos Parker, love blooms on the snowy plains of Kansas in this third book in the Winter Break series.

FOR WHOM THE WEDDING BELL TOLLS is available on Amazon!

A NEW PROJECT...

I've received quite a few e-mails from readers asking what's coming next. So here's an update:

Unfortunately, my CURL UP AND DYE series has been put off for a while. It will be published - but won't come out until 2011. It will be released as a three-in-1 compilation - just like COZY IN KANSAS. If you liked COZY IN KANSAS, I think you'll like this series, too. It's been a lot of fun to write.

The reason CURL UP AND DYE has been delayed is so I can write a brand new series! Titled THE HARMONY SERIES, it will contain three books. These will be full length, individual titles. Right now, I'm writing the first novel - SIMPLE SECRETS.

SIMPLE SECRETS introduces Gracie Temple, a young graphic designer living and working in the big city. However, an unexpected phone call turns her world upside down. An uncle she's never met has died and left his estate to her. Now her father wants her to go to Harmony, Kansas, settle his estranged brother's estate, and rescue family heirlooms before they're lost. After some thought, Gracie takes two weeks off to travel to the Mennonite town of Harmony. Not long after she arrives, she discovers a long buried secret that threatens to destroy her family. In a desperate quest for the truth, Gracie finds that not all is as it appears in Harmony. Her search will uncover threads of secrecy winding through the small town. She will be helped by Sam Goodrich, a good-looking farmboy who isn't her type at all. Or is he?

I'm having so much fun writing this series! I hope you'll love it as much as I do.

If you'd like to be added to my newsletter list, please contact me at: nancymehlbooks@hotmail.com. A couple of months before the release of SIMPLE SECRETS, I'll notify you with more information.

DO DOGS GO TO HEAVEN?

I recently found the following poem online. At this time in my life, it holds great meaning to me. I am printing it with permission from its author, Dan Atcheson. His beautiful poem was written for his wonderful friend which happened to be a bulldog. I've removed the word "bully" from the poem and inserted "Eddie." I hope Dan won't mind.

Eddie was a wonderful Jack Russell terrier with a personality that shown through everything he did. He loved his toys and would sing "Happy Birthday" right along with the rest of the family. My son, Danny, was the last person who had the privilege of being serenaded by Eddie.

He always wanted to touch you. He slept on the bed - sometimes right next to you - and sometimes farther away. But he always had at least one paw reaching out to let you know know he was there - and to make sure you were also there for him.

He had a way of staring at you as if he could see into your soul. He slept at my feet while I wrote and followed me wherever I went. But a few weeks ago, he went somewhere ahead of me - not the way he usually does things. And I couldn't follow him. But I am counting on God to keep him safe until I get to where he is.

In December, my son bought me the strangest gift. A small ornament. At the time, I thought it was a little odd. Not the kind of thing he would normally buy. Too corny for his tastes. But he told me after Eddie was gone that God told him to buy it for me - five months before we had a clue that Eddie was sick.

It's an angel holding a small dog. God was reaching out to comfort me months before I would need it.

I don't know why we couldn't save Eddie. We did everything we could think of. We prayed, we confessed, we believed, and we took him to specialists. But for some reason I can't yet fathom, we lost him anyway.

I hope someday I will understand why he left us so early, but for now, my only hope is that nothing we love is ever really lost. I have to believe that Eddie is waiting for me in the way Dan's poem so beautifully expresses.

I love you, Eddie. I wouldn't trade a second of the time we had together for all the money in the world. The last thing I said to you was "See you in the morning."

And I believe I will.

Do Dogs Go to Heaven?

My little Eddie passed away, no more to breathe a sound.
I held him for the last time, then entombed him in the ground.
Day and night I wept so much, in tears I thought I'd drown.
I searched my soul for comfort, but no peace therein was found.

In great despair, I hit my knees and then began to pray.
"Father will I ever see, my dog again someday?"
I raised my eyes and saw an angel standing near a gate.
I sensed an inner peace I'd never felt before that day.

The angel smiled and said to me, "Oh woman of little faith!
God sees every bird that falls; He knows your Eddie's fate.
I have met your little dog, I saw him pass my way.
Your precious dog is still alive; he just walked through this gate.

Paradise is lovelier than you can comprehend.
No pain or grief, no tears or fears, and life will have no end.
God gave to man His only Son, to cover all his sins.
So why would God withhold from you, your pure and loving friend?”

The angel took me by the hand and said, "Now come with me.
A glimpse of paradise I'll give to you so you can see."
Through the gate and o'er the Rainbow Bridge we did proceed.
Through green valleys filled with flowers, rolling hills and trees.

“Wow, so this is paradise!” The place was filled with joy.
I saw my Eddie playing there, with dogs and cats and toys.
He also had some doggie treats, and food that he enjoyed.
He'd made a lot of new friends there, including girls and boys.

Then I saw a child come near, and hug my little mate.
She said to him, "I love you so," and kissed him on the face.
The angel said, "The child just crossed the Rainbow Bridge today.
Now she needs a little friend, to love and help her play.

God’s love for her would be enough, in that make no mistake.
But in His love, He knew full well, the child would want a mate.
This is why God called your dog unto this splendid place.
God’s entrusted her with him, ‘til you pass through the gate."

I pleaded, “May I hug them both?!” The angel answered, “No!
You’d violate a sacred site, and now it’s time to go.”
He led me back across the Bridge and through the gate to home.
He left me there with new-found hope and peace within my soul.

If someone ever asks what happens to a dog that dies,
Just give a gentle smile of joy and look them in the eye.
Take their hand and comfort them and tell them not to cry.
For dogs don’t die, they simply cross a bridge to paradise.

Dan Atcheson

THERE GOES SANTA CLAUS!

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN ASKING, THERE GOES SANTA CLAUS IS FINALLY AVAILABLE ON AMAZON!

This is the last Ivy Towers book in the series. Sorry about the delay. "Circumstances beyond our control" and all that. (S)

If you would like an autographed bookmark (I have them from all four books in the series), drop me a line (nancymehlbooks@hotmail.com), include your address, and I will mail it (them) to you. (You can have more than one if you wish - even a set of all four!) Also, I have book plates that I'm happy to autograph and send to you.

Thanks for your patience. Sometimes Santa Claus comes later than we'd like!

SHE'S BACK...

Wow. I really got behind on this blog. I'm going to try to do better. (Couldn't do much worse!)

Recent news: I just signed to do a new series for my COZY IN KANSAS publisher, Barbour. (A great group of folks, by the way!) This series will take place in a fictional Mennonite town. And yes, there will be some "mystery" in it! Stay tuned for more information.

Also, I will be starting a newsletter in the next few months. Several people have asked to receive it. If you're interested, would you please contact me at nancymehlbooks@hotmail.com? Let me know you want to receive the newsletter once I get it going. I will add you to my list.

Sales of COZY IN KANSAS have been wonderful. Thanks to all of you who bought a copy. There is one last book in the series. THERE GOES SANTA CLAUS is currently available on Barbour's Web site. Hopefully, it will be available soon on Amazon. For some reason, it hasn't been. Barbour is working with Amazon to fix the problem. If you want to order if from Barbour, you can do so here: THERE GOES SANTA CLAUS

Now...several readers have asked about additional books. Sorry, but for now, our adventures with Ivy are over. But I thought you might like to read an epilogue I wrote for THERE GOES SANTA CLAUS. Because of a space problem, I wasn't able to include it in the book. But...here it is. Hope you enjoy it. (If you haven't read THERE GOES SANTA CLAUS, there are a few references you won't understand.)

EPILOGUE

Journal Entry

I realized today that it’s been ten years since I started this journal. I began it on Christmas day, right after I told Amos I was pregnant with our first child. Goodness, ten years has certainly passed quickly. So many things have changed since then.

Hope and Zach spent that Christmas with us. But they were married before the next holiday. Now he is the assistant pastor at Faith Community. Ephraim says he will be retiring soon. I know Zach is his choice for a replacement. He won’t have any trouble being selected. Everyone loves him and Hope so much. Inez is certainly enjoying her role as grandmother to their two boys. I’m so glad things worked out for them.

Of course, one of the strangest things is the match up between Barney and Bertha. After Delbert was locked up, Bertha set out to change her life. Being under Delbert’s thumb had made her insecure and unhappy. Now she’s much more confident and interesting. Being happy has changed her on the outside, too. Funny how joy can affect us inside and out, isn’t it? Bertha is actually a rather attractive person now.

Isaac and Alma are quite content in their new profession. I know Dewey would be happy to know that they took over the store and are doing a great job of running it.

That Christmas ten years ago was Dewey’s last. He passed away the following April. I held his hand in the hospital as he crossed over. I’ll never forget how he suddenly opened his eyes, looked past me and said, “Why, there you are. I’ve been looking for you.” Then he drifted away. I’m convinced he saw Bitty holding out her hand to guide him home. I miss him terribly, but I know he is where he really wanted to be.

Ruby Bird has been gone about three years. Bert and Bonnie run the Redbird Café. It’s still the only restaurant in town. But we have a gas station now. Barney opened one a couple of years ago. He named it “Barney’s Gas and Go.”

Amos has been the sheriff of Stevens County for almost five years, and he is the most popular sheriff the county ever had. He loves his job and his deputies all respect him.

Pal is still with us, but he has certainly slowed down. He was so sad when we lost Miss Skiffins that we had to get him another cat. It wasn’t hard. Someone dumped off a batch of kittens near the road to town. They’ve all been adopted by Winter Break families, including our Miss Skiffins, Too. They are curled up together next to the fireplace sound asleep. I can hear her purring from here, and Pal has a silly smile on his face.

Well, it’s about time to get dinner ready. The kids are getting on their costumes for the play. Aaron and Mickey are playing angels. We named our boys after our fathers. We lost Aaron last year. Amos misses him, but we comfort ourselves with the knowledge that he had found the Lord before he died. My parents live in Wichita. They completed their mission in China and came back to the states to start a missionary training school. Now they send others out to the mission field armed with the years of experience they gained from their own ventures. They’re staying with us over the holidays. I can hear them arguing upstairs. My mother is telling my father that he needs to change his shirt so he doesn’t look like a bum. Some things never change.

Bitty, our daughter, is in the choir. She has a voice like an angel and will be singing a solo tonight. I can hardly wait.

The bookstore is doing very well. With three children, it’s nice to have someone who is so helpful and knowledgeable. Benjie took Isaac’s job when he and Alma reopened the store. I’ve offered him a full time job, and I think he’s going to take it.

Marion and Cecil have both passed away. I got the chance to ask Marion about the tapestry she painted and left here. All she would say is that she prayed over it and asked God to make it special. He certainly answered that prayer. It’s almost as if it changes along with the citizens of Winter Break. I could swear that Dewey used to stand behind Bitty as she sits on a bench waving at Amos and me skating on the lake. But now, he’s sitting beside her. And Emily and I have started to notice that the young man and woman who are skating near us on the ice look a lot like my Bitty and her son Charlie. They’re holding hands and looking lovingly into each other’s eyes. I wonder…

Well, gotta go. Time to get to the church. Tomorrow will be a busy day with all the guests that are coming. I’ll wait until after they leave to give Amos the news. Four children. That’s a nice, round number, don’t you think?