“If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give.” ~George MacDonald Sometimes an encouraging word can be a special gift. I got one of those today from a reader who was reading my book, Scent of Lilacs. …
Every Dog Needs a Name
Dogs, Dogs, and More Dogs Last week on my Facebook author page, I asked for suggestions for a dog’s name. I posted the first picture above as a look alike of the dog in my current work in progress. But he’s not exactly right. My dog may be a little more like picture two. And of course Oscar in picture …
Jocie Shares a Scene from Summer of Joy
February 17, 1965 Jocie Brooke here reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky three days after Valentine’s Day. It’s been snowing and snowing. That’s given me lots of time to think about all the different kinds of love and back to some of the things that happened in those Heart of Hollyhill books I’m in. You know it’s funny that last Hollyhill …
A Giveaway to Celebrate Summer of Joy
Celebration time! For a writer, there’s not much more exciting than seeing a new book coming out for readers – even when that new book is simply one dressed up in a new cover. With the re-release of Summer of Joy, in a few weeks, my Heart of Hollyhill books will once more all be in print again and inviting …
A Hard Day’s Night at the ER
Here’s Mom about five years ago with a lap full of great grandbabies. She was beginning to have problems with her thinking then, but they were things you just passed off as getting older. Dementia was actually raising its ugly head, but we either didn’t recognize the symptoms or didn’t want to see them. I, for one, never thought Mom …
Chocolates Spell Love
February 10, 1965 Jocie Brooke here reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky. Snow is still on the ground but the school buses are running again. I don’t ride the bus. Dad takes me to school on his way to the newspaper office. Thank goodness. If I had to ride the bus, I’d be on it for an hour. That might be all …
The Hard Choices of Dementia
When I was a little girl I always wanted to look like my mother. I thought she was the prettiest woman ever. And I wanted to be like her too. Strong. Determined. Smart. Patient. Loving. She was ready to do whatever necessary to take care of her family. She loved us, her three daughters. Mom grew up during the Great …
When 45 Records Ruled and the Beatles were New
Fifty years ago Beatlemania hit America. When I look back on it now, you might wonder why that song “I Want to Hold Your Hand” took the country by storm. The Beatles were already hitting the music scene in England, but here in America, the record companies were reluctant to put out their songs. Maybe because those songs were so …
Thinking Joy in the Middle of Winter
February 4, 1965 Jocie Brooke here reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky. First I have to let you know that last week was a disaster here in Hollyhill. A foot of snow and cold. Somebody told Dad that it was twenty below out on their farm. Wow! That’s too cold to do anything except sit by the fire and hope you don’t …
Sneak Peek at Love Comes Home
I usually hold off on putting the cover of my books out here on the net until closer to time for them to actually be on the shelf, but I’m giving you a sneak peek at Love Comes Home since I’ve been working on edits for it all week. The release date isn’t until summer, July 1, 2014 to be exact. …