Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

My wish for you this holiday season is that you find peace in your heart. And I hope that nature's beauty causes you to rejoice and find happiness.

 

Merry Christmas! And if you celebrate a different holiday - then Happy Holidays!

 

Wishing you:

 

Peace ~ Love ~ Joy

 

To Everyone!

"Tis the Season"

"To be Jolly?" While I might put on a brave face and wish people Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays all over town, I also (probably like many of you) tend to get really stressed this time of year.

So much to do! So many loose ends to tie up to make everything perfect. And the weather is not cooperating. In fact, it's downright frigid! As it all begins to weigh heavily on me, I smile and try to stay happy. But it's sometimes hard, right?

So while you're racing all over town, trying to find that perfect gift for that special loved one and feeling more and more frazzled by the minute:

Take a deep breath.

Think about all of the things you are thankful for - the things that really matter.

Call a friend and wish them well (a friend called me this morning, to see how I was doing, and it was such a nice feeling.)

Realize that even with your best intentions, there is no such thing as perfect. Do the best that you can, and that will be enough.

Remember that presents and gifts are not the reason for this season. So whatever you believe, try and stay close to friends and family, be loving, keep your chin up, and spread good cheer!

A tall order, but you can do it!

Thanks for listening to me give myself a pep talk! *grin* 
Hang in there, everyone - and I hope your holiday season is going well!!

A Free Read for the Holidays

The Winter Kitten, my new short story, is garnering great reviews! And to celebrate the holidays, I've decided to offer it for free this weekend, December 14-15th. http://www.amazon.com/The-Winter-Kitten-ebook/dp/B00GD4TDCI

It's a sweet read if you are sitting by your fire watching it snow. Or maybe, like me, you are (finally) watching the snow melt, celebrating the fact that the temperature is now above freezing, after a long week of frigid weather. Either way, kick your feet up, relax this weekend, and enjoy a free story that will hopefully warm your heart for the holidays!

So go! Start your e-readers! (Or the Kindle app on your phone, tablet, laptop, whatever!) Go forth and download! Then make yourself a cup of hot chocolate, dose it with some peppermint schnapps (if you're old enough) and enjoy this sweet holiday read. For Free!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Whatever! Celebrate!!

Here's the link again: http://www.amazon.com/The-Winter-Kitten-ebook/dp/B00GD4TDCI

Enjoy!

Time Travel for Horses

What an interesting premise! It's actually the idea behind a cute horse book that I just finished, from author Jackie Anton. Called Frosty and the Nightstalker, it takes place in both the 1900s and the 1800s, with human and horse characters from each time period.

Frosty is a young appaloosa horse who begins to have a very bad dream when under a tranquilizer, given by a veterinarian for an operation. Later, as he goes on trail rides with his owner, he has difficulty at water crossings. More than normal difficulty, it seems.

Many horse people make jokes about their horses spooking at tiny things, chiding their mounts: "what, did you just see a ghost or something?" But in Frosty's case, every time he crosses a river or stream, the memories come deep and strong - as if transporting him to another place and time.

Which leads us to the other part of this story, set in the 1800's, where a horse named Nightstalker, who belongs to a herd of appaloosas owned by the Nez Perce tribe, is about to experience changes and adventures he could not possibly foresee.

Author Jackie Anton does a good job here, weaving elements of both history and horse knowledge into a very interesting concept for a horse book. With lovely illustrations by Sandy Shipley, there is much information and lore about horses in general, and appaloosa horses in particular, that a young horse lover might enjoy.

Frosty and the Nightstalker is actually Book 2 of the author's series called Backyard Horse Tales. You can find links to buy them, as well as excerpts, at Jackie Anton's website: http://talesbyjackie.com/Jackie/Welcome.html

And for you horse people, next time you ride a horse that spooks at something, you might wonder what is really going on in his mind!

I am Thankful for . . .

Ah, Thanksgiving! For many of us, it means a gigantic meal of turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and whatever other trimmings your family puts on the table. And yes, family and friends. With any luck, we'll get to spend the day with our families, enjoying each other's company, swapping stories, eating too much, and then peacefully kicking back and relaxing.

For me, although this week seems hectic, with shopping and cleaning and preparing for the big day, it also makes me pause and reflect on things for which I'm truly thankful.

Here are a few of them:

I am thankful for a loving and supportive family. Although some of us are far apart, my family members are close in spirit, and we try to stay active in each other's lives. We almost always end each conversation with "I love you."

I am thankful to have enough to eat. I realize how lucky I am to be able to push away from the table, saying "enough" when there are many people in this world not so fortunate.

I am thankful I have a roof over my head, and a warm house to live in.

I am thankful for my animals, which bring joy and laughter into my life.

I am thankful for my health, which I sometimes take for granted.

I am thankful for my smarts and my education, which allows me not only to write, but also to read well.

I am thankful for time to dream, time to write, and time to relax.

I am thankful I don't have any plans to go to Black Friday Sales.

I am thankful to get to know you, my readers, and connect with you through my books.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Stay safe, and I hope that however you celebrate the holiday, it's a good one for you.
Gobble, Gobble!

Darling, Mercy Dog of World War 1

I just finished reading a great book for dog lovers - young and old - Darling, Mercy Dog of World War 1. One of a series of new books from Peachtree Publishers called Dog Chronicles, this one sheds light on service dogs used during the First World War. Written by Alison Hart, author of numerous books for children and teens, it is perfectly suited for upper elementary, as well as older readers.

Told from the dog's point of view, we follow Darling from her family life in England to the trenches of war in France and Belgium. Just as the book (and movie) War Horse informed us of the plight of so many horses during this horrific war, this book shows another group of animals who were also useful. Personally, although I'm a huge dog and animal lover, I was largely unaware of dogs being used for messengers, scouts and mercy dogs during this time period.

Here's a short summary:

At home in England, Darling is a mischievous but much loved pet to Robert and Katherine. But when the British military asks families to volunteer their dogs to help the war effort, they send Darling off to be trained, even though it is very hard to say goodbye. Darling goes through training along with many other dogs and is ultimately used as a mercy dog, seeking out injured soldiers on the battlefield and leading the medics to them. After saving the lives of numerous soldiers, Darling is faced with a major challenge.

What I liked about this book: I learned something new. Mercy dogs were taught to go quietly through the battlefields, amidst the noise and chaos, to search for injured and wounded soldiers. Then they would return to seek help.

It has some great interior illustrations from Michael G. Montgomery, which lend an element of understanding to the text.

I also liked that although the horrors of war are touched upon, they are not dwelt on excessively in this book, making it (in my opinion) suitable for children. The story is mostly about what the dog Darling goes through in her ordeals, the human connections she makes along the way, and *Spoiler Alert* it has a happy (although not perfect) ending, which is one reason I am recommending it. And yes, I did shed a tear or two at the end. It got to me.

For more on Alison Hart and her numerous other books, please visit her website: http://www.alisonhartbooks.com/

Darling, Mercy Dog of World War 1 is available in hardback from your local independent bookstore, or from online retailers. It's definitely one to put on your Christmas list for young dog or animal lovers.

Veterans Day - and a Free eBook!

On this Veterans Day, we honor all veterans, past and present. I truly appreciate all of the men and women serving in our armed forces, and offer thanks and gratitude for their sacrifices.

 
For many of us, today marks a holiday from work or school. With cold weather settling in, some of you might enjoy curling up with a good book. Or a short story. So for today only, November 11th, my brand new eBook, called The Winter Kitten is FREE on Amazon.

 Here is the link to download it: http://www.amazon.com/Winter-Kitten-Linda-Benson-ebook/dp/B00GD4TDCI

And if you don't have a Kindle? You can download the Kindle app free from the same page, to read it on your computer or other device.

Hurry! One day only! Download your free eBook.

Then call or hug someone and thank them for their service, and curl up to read a sweet story. It's a short read, and I hope you like it!