More of my favorite books plus the two I wrote

In July I posted on my blog a list of my Top 20 Favorite Books.
That was hard to winnow the number down to 20.
Here are a few more favorites that came close to being in that favored 20.

The Sisters (a biography of the Mitford sisters) by Mary S. Lovell.

The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Antonia Fraser. When reading books about Tudor times I remember "Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived" to help me recall the lives and fates of Henry VIII's wives.

Yikes, Jan Karon's Mitford series about the kindly Father Tim did not reach my top twenty either.I love each book in this series, best to begin with the first one, "At Home in Mitford".

Pomfret Towers by Angela Thirkell. My favorite of hers thus far and I adore these covers of the new Virago editions.

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson. I suggest reading "Let's Pretend This Never Happened" first, Jenny's first book. The author explores her lifelong battle with mental illness with humorous writing.

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. Uplifting true story of Corrie being in a concentration camp because her family sheltered Jews in WWII, and how she survived and became a beloved writer and speaker about her Christian faith.

The Faithful Gardener: A Wise Tale About That Which Can Never Die by Clarissa Pinkola Estes.
Estes also wrote "Women Who Run With Wolves."

I realize my two precious "babies", books I co-authored, must be on my list of favorite books. I don't want them to think I am neglecting them. I have new blog readers who don't know about these pretty books. The first book I co-authored is "Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts: Stories to Warm Your Heart and Tips to Simplify Your Holiday."
Here is the Amazon link: Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts 

The second book I co-authored is "A Scrapbook of Motherhood Firsts: Stories to Celebrate and Wisdom to Bless Moms." It was a delight to dream up and then write these books with the other gals.
Today on Amazon the Christmas book is $10 (hardcover, full color) and the Motherhood book is $8 (also hardcover and full color).
Here is the Amazon link: Scrapbook of Motherhood Firsts
I looked over my list and see the books in this second installment are all written by women. Just an observation. My three favorite all time authors are men though, see the earlier list for their names.
Thank you to all the authors whose books give me such pleasure.Imagine the hours and years they spent perfecting their craft and bringing stories to life. As I know, writing is by its nature a lonesome profession.

Terra counts her blessings from Buttercup

Thank you dear Buttercup Blog Friend Buttercup Counts Her Blessings for creating a Christmas / Chanukah gift list and including me in your list of 3. She bought gifts from we three (artist, candle maker and book author) to give to friends and family and I am honored and thrilled to be on her list.

Besides my books "Scrapbook of Motherhood Firsts: Stories to Celebrate and Wisdom to Bless Moms" and "Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts: Stories to Warm Your Heart and Tips to Simplify Your Holiday" Buttercup suggests the artist Marie at The Artful Heart and Rebecca and her candles at Hospitality Lane
I do like to support my fellow bloggers, and recently told you about blogger Wanda and her pretty notecards. I bought a dozen cards and they are being sent out to my friends and family.
Thanksgiving, then Chanukah and Christmas are on their way!

Me on a donkey and castle walls in Turkey

Here is a change of pace for my blog: two photos from my college days in Turkey.
One is of me riding a donkey to a picnic spot on the Island of Buyukada, near Istanbul.
Turkish college friends created a feast including shish-kebob which they cooked there, feta, olives, sturdy bread, rose petal jam,  borek and baklava for dessert.
The other photo shows a friend standing on the ramparts of Rumeli Hisar, right below our college which is built on the heights of Bebek, in Istanbul. From the college we could look down to see the Rumeli Hisar fortress, and the Bosphorus, a mighty river that runs from the sea through Istanbul.

And oh friends, my new book is available on Amazon at
Scrapbook of Motherhood Firsts: Stories to Celebrate and Wisdom to Bless Moms
Hardcover, full color and less than $12.00; reviewers suggest it as their go to gift for new moms, or for baby showers, or for you.

My book for moms giveaway

Here 'tis friends, my new book for moms is released and I am giving away one copy to a lucky commenter. To enter just leave me a comment.

It is titled "Scrapbook of Motherhood Firsts: Stories to Celebrate and Wisdom to Bless Moms"
 http://www.amazon.com/Scrapbook-Motherhood-Firsts-Stories-Celebrate/dp/0915547716/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1334867178&sr=1-1
 and is written by me in California and two friends in Ohio and two in Texas. Can you believe we are online friends and have never met in person, all in one room?
We co-authors are Terra Hangen, Leslie Wilson, Trish Berg, Cathy Messecar and Karen Robbins.
We have a lot of fun together online and it shows in this book; one reviewer said reading it is like chatting with friends and sharing laughs and an occasional tear.
Lifeway Stores carry our book, and Amazon and Christianbook.com and lots of other stores.
Leave a comment here for a chance to win, and I will announce the winner on May 1.

Cover Art for my Motherhood Book

I am delighted to see the art work and design of the front and back cover for my second book "Scrapbook of Motherhood Firsts: Stories to Celebrate and Wisdom to Bless Moms". I praise Leafwood Publishers for creating the covers with such pretty art work. Our book will be available in April. Hey, that is soon! It is on Amazon already for pre-order.