{"id":5574,"date":"2021-12-21T12:30:16","date_gmt":"2021-12-21T20:30:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/?p=5574"},"modified":"2021-12-21T14:41:47","modified_gmt":"2021-12-21T22:41:47","slug":"the-promise-of-good-will-and-peace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/2021\/writing\/the-promise-of-good-will-and-peace\/","title":{"rendered":"The Promise of Good Will and Peace"},"content":{"rendered":"

What I’ve always loved about this time of year, whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christamas, (we celebrate both) or the Winter Solstice, it’s a family time, a time with the promise of good will and peace. The story of Christ’s birth and his humble beginnings teaches us to make room for those in need. Outside our local Canadian Tire store, the Salvation Army volunteers ring their bells and caring shoppers drop in a few bills. The CBC recently ran a campaign for the food bank and raised millions. It seems that at this time of year, people are in more of a giving mood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"the<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
William Kurelek was an artist <\/a>who wrote this lovely Christmas book, which our family reads from every yerar.<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Counting My Blessings<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Robert and I both have our vaccine boosters and we are thankful that health professionals and scientists are working hard to get us through this crisis. We need to take care of ourselves on all fronts. Eating well, exercising, and getting out in the fresh air to enjoy what nature gives us.  Also we need to make sure we laugh (through shared jokes, books, TV and film) and communicate with family and friends, whether it’s virtual or not. 

This Christmas, we’ll be celebrating with our eldest daughter Karen, son-in-law John and grandson Michael. We will miss our younger daughter Robyn, son-in-law Diego and granddaughters Chloe and Mimi, who live in Toronto.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third Book of Lukia’s Family Saga Series<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The semi-social isolation of these pandemic times allowed me to work on the final book of my trilogy. I’ve completed the first draft of the novel: PAPER ROSES on STONY MOUNTAIN<\/em>. <\/strong> This is the third book of Lukia’s Family Saga <\/a><\/strong>series, which follows SUNFLOWERS UNDER FIRE<\/a> <\/em><\/strong>and LILACS in the DUST BOWL<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. Yay! Drum roll, please! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And I’ve contacted my book cover designer.  Unfortunately, he lives in the Phillipines which was recently hit by a typhoon, but he’s optimistic he’ll be able to give me a cover to post on Goodreads<\/a><\/strong> soon.

Plans are for this story to come out sometime in 2022. I hope for late spring, but there’s lots of work ahead to get it in shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Newsletter and More<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I gave the readers of my recent newsletter a photo I’ll use on the cover of PAPER ROSES ON STONY MOUNTAIN <\/strong>and the text that will go on the back of the book. If you’re interested in learning more, sign up for my newsletter here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you sign up, you’ll get the first chapter of my other work-in-progress, ALONG CAME A GARDENER<\/strong><\/em>,<\/a> a book combining my love of gardening with what I gleaned from my 25 years as a family therapist. I started it about six years ago and put it on the back burner so I could write my novels<\/a>.<\/strong> I hope to finish this non-fiction book next year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n


<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"along<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

EVENTS<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

On January 17th, I’ll be doing a television interview (virtually) for Kontakt TV<\/strong> network out of Toronto. I’ll be discussing LILACS in the DUST BOWL<\/em><\/a><\/strong> and probably a little bit about my work-in-progress. And on Feb. 2nd, I’ll be presenting at a Literature Webinar.<\/strong> I’ll have news about that in the new year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For More News You’re welcome to browse my website<\/a><\/strong> for interviews and such. And do check out my Facebook Author Page<\/a> <\/strong>or follow me on Instagram at diana.stevan<\/a> or on Twitter @DianaStevan<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

OVER THE HOLIDAYS
  <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"the<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Let me leave you with this beautiful flower. The poinsettia symbolizes good cheer and success and is said to bring wishes of mirth and celebration.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas, and all the best in the New Year to you and yours! <\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Much Love,<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n


<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What I’ve always loved about this time of year, whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christamas, (we celebrate both) or the Winter Solstice, it’s a family time, a time with the promise… <\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5576,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Wishing you all peace, love, and good health over the holidays and in the new year. 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They're the ones whose tireless efforts to raise a child in our increasingly complex world are often overlooked. To honour her mother who had just died, Anna Jarvis, an American peace activist, started Mother's Day in the USA in 1905. 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