Enjoy my blog and my #GR8BlogHop author friends posts, as we celebrate how we find our “Wintertime Bliss.”
Each of us will give you our take on what “Wintertime Bliss” brings to each of us. I hope you will click on their links at the bottom of this page to join in. Don’t forget to share with us what wintertime means to you and yours.
Book Launch!
First up in November, is my book launch for Maggie, Millie, and Merrie’s Mystery Mail.” I hope you will stop by on my “Books by Rose” Facebook page on November 07, 2019 at 9 am CST.
Thanksgiving
Next up, is Thanksgiving!
I wish everyone the best from A-Z for a wonderful November and Thanksgiving Day.
If you live outside of North America, you may celebrate a different holiday. Write us a note and tell us all about it.
Now on to the Rest of My Wintertime Bliss
December!
We celebrate Christmas at our home. We have so much fun exchanging gifts and eating a traditional Christmas Eve dinner each year. Our special meal is called, “Velveeta Chicken.” I usually make it along with a Sweet Potato Casserole, our favorite veggies, and rolls. Morning is spent opening presents and visiting with family and friends late into the evening.
Share with us on how you celebrate this holiday or your special holiday.
New Years!
It’s been pretty quiet around our house these past years on New Years Eve. When our sons were home, we’d eat snacks, watch the ball drop on T.V. and play board games.
How do you celebrate the upcoming New Year at your house?
Winter Reading
I plan to make sure I have a stack of books on hold from our library for those snowy days. There’s nothing better than relaxing and reading. It’s fun to get a mixture of fiction and non-fiction books. I usually have many going on at the same time. It depends on my mood that day.
Are you a “one book at a time reader” or do you read like I do? Oh, and if you have any great books to suggest, please leave the titles in the comments below.
Winter Shows
Outside of all the holiday movies to get through, my husband and I have been binge watching a bunch of shows. We are currently watching “Heartland.” Have you seen it? It’s a show based out of Canada and it’s really good. I’m learning lots of facts about horses which leads me to my next subject…Winter Writing
Winter Writing
Now that my Picture Book, “Maggie, Millie, and Merrie’s Mystery Mail” is finished and out into the world, I’m giving my full attention to the MG story I’m co-writing with Cat Michaels Writer.
We are having so much fun with this book. Here’s a snippet of our story to come.
Our protagonist, Olivia, and her friend, Isabella,
introduce new girl Candace to Olivia’s horse, Lucky.
“There now, boy,” Olivia crooned, moving to Lucky and stroking him gently alongside his neck. “Candace is just trying to be friendly.”
“Your horse doesn’t like me,” Candace blurted. “He’s mean.”
“He’s just not used to you. It’ll take time for him to know you, that’s all,” Olivia said.
“Yeah, right.”
“Try a friendly horse handshake like this, Candace.” Olivia suggested. She stuck out her hand with fingers held down and slightly bent. “Hold your hand like this near Lucky’s nose. That way, he can smell your hand and get to know you.”
Unconvinced, Candace kept her distance, hands clasped securely behind her back.
“I was explaining the best way to pet a horse,” Isabella said, “but before I could finish, Candace reached over and petted Lucky in that small blind spot in front of his face. It startled him, so he bucked sideways.”
Check out Cat’s photos here, as she visited a farm for our research. Sounds exciting, huh? Keep watching!
Anticipating
I’m looking forward to what 2020 brings. I will start another Picture book later next year. It has been written for some time now but has been put on the back burner to work on my past projects. I’m excited to get started with it. This story will melt your heart. It’s already melting mine.
Illustrating
Not only will I have the cover to finish for the book I’m writing with Cat Michaels, I’m excited to use some new techniques I found for my new Picture Book. I draw with a Wacom Drawing Pad to create digital art. What do you use?
If any of you want to begin illustrating or want to create art, please visit YouTube. It’s amazing the free lessons you’ll find. Don’t forget to follow your favorite artists. They will welcome you and love to have you on board to follow them in their journey.
What’s your Wintertime Bliss?
Please leave us a note in the comment section below. Don’t forget to subscribe to my page at the top right corner or the bottom of this page for more updates on what’s to come.
Click on the links below for more Winter Time Bliss.
Thanks for stopping by and Happy Winter!
And, always, Happy Reading!
Rosie
Author and Illustrator Carmela Dutra – Click on Part 1 and Part 2.
Part 1 .
Haha Rosie, can’t believe you are watching Heartland too. I mention the same series in my blog. What season are you up to? I am really enjoying the scenery, the horses and the stories.
Impressed with all the projects you have planned for next year. I can’t see beyond (hopefully) finishing my next chapter book by the end of this month. Good luck with all your writing and illustrating.
As for Christmas, our family does a big Christmas lunch, roast pork, turkey and lots of roast vegetables. Crazy in our heat I know, but it’s tradition.
Enjoy your winter bliss, I am looking forward to some warmer weather, but hopefully not too hot, with the drought, heat also brings bush fires.
Hi Sandra, I’m so happy to hear you are watching, “Heartland,” too! I will have to look tonight and get back to you on what season we are in. I feel like we are half way through it, though. Isn’t it great? I’ll get to your blog soon. I’m still trying to catch up from this past weekend. Busy times.
Thank you for your kind words and best wishes to you on your upcoming projects.
Yes, you are going into your summer as we are hunkering down getting ready for our winter. Your turkey, pork, and roasted vegetables sounds amazing. It’s great to carry on traditions. They build a lifetime of memories.
I hope your summer is wonderful.
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Sandra, I wanted to get back to you and let you know, we’re almost done with season 6 in the show, “Heartland.”
So many great twists and turns.
Enjoy!
We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving here in New Zealand but any time is a good time to practice gratitude… and of course snuggle up an read a good book.
Hi Julie, thanks for stopping by. Thanks for letting us know about what your traditions are like in New Zealand. I’d love to learn more about your holidays. Yes, being thankful everyday is always a good thing.
I’m looking forward to the release of your new book. You have been working so hard on it. Best wishes always.
Thanks for sharing what you have planned for this winter season. I am excited to see more about your project with Cat Michaels, I imagine it’s exciting working with another author but not without challenges as you are bringing multiple ideas and opinions to create one fluid piece.
I’m a mole one book at a time person. I get very wrapped up in my books and finish them in a short period of time and then I move onto the next. My husband will sometimes do multiple books at a time. I illustrate by hand, I learned old-school with a pencil. I’ve tried dabbling with digital art but I just cannot get the hang of it. Here’s to 2020!
Hi Carmela, Cat and I are having lots writing our book. Someday, we will have to reveal what has worked, and/or, challenges we faced being co-writers. I can tell you, one has to always keep an open mind to all things created.
As for reading, I keep my “main” book to read when relaxing. That’s the book I really want to finish and read more constantly. Now, just a while ago though, I picked up one of my non-fictions and read a chapter of it. I really am excited to get to it. That’s the book I’ll read when I’m waiting for something and can put down easily. I hope that makes sense. 🙂
I love your illustrations! I picked up many pencil art books at the library and realized I’d have to invest in a lot of supplies. Since I had to make a decision on which route I was going to take when I first started this, I chose digital art. It’s more expensive but has payed off in the long run for me. Who knows, I may switch it up someday. I also have found painting a lot of fun. I’ve seen books with illustrations with fabric art. That’s another one I’d like to try. There are so many fun things out there.
Here’s to 2020, Carmela! Wishing you and your family the best always!