Can you smell the coffee? It’s hot and delicious, ready when I wake up, and put Goldie in her yard first thing in the morning. Thanks, Vince!
Monday, we put up a Christmas tree for the first time in a couple of years. But these next few pictures aren’t our tree and Christmas decor.
Tuesday was a great day celebrating being with friends of forty years. After we had a long lunch, my car needed service, so I took it in and called Vince to come get me. Then, we drove over to the Darling Hotel so I could get some holiday photos for Terri’s Sunday Stills. I think you will agree that the trees look fabulous.
Our son and his wife arrive on Friday to celebrate Christmas with us early. The hotel they are staying at is the Historic County Courthouse. The picture of the courthouse below in the Darling Hotel was built in 1935 and reflects the Art Deco era. The building on the right was left standing when I moved to Visalia in 1985. The first one was completed in 1876, and served as a model for both Fresno and Madera Counties.
One of the owners are the Ainley’s. The land Vince and I owned in Woodlake abutted the Ainley Ranch, which was settled in the 1800s or early 1900s. I was surprised to see a picture of someone I had in my collection for my book, Images of America: Woodlake, on the wall of this upscale hotel in Visalia.
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New Instagram Ad Designed by Colleen Chesebro
Read it on Kindle or paperback today.
Meet the Book Tour Hosts
Colleen M. Chesebro who helped me with this book, grew up in a large city in the Midwest. Keen on making her own way in the world, she joined the United States Air Force after graduation to tour the world and find herself. To this day, that search continues.
Besides poetry books, Chesebro’s publishing career includes participation in various anthologies featuring short stories, flash fiction, and poetry. Read more…
Colleen has been working on her own projects as well as Story Chat. Many of you know her as the Tanka Tuesday. This is the first year she’s had co-hosts for Tanka Tuesday. This week’s cohost is David (‘ben Alexander’) Bogomolny. Now, she and Robbie Cheadle have time to publish a poetry journal, “Sunflower Tanka Into the Light.”
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This week I’m also so proud to introduce Gloria McBreen as one of the hosts on the Blog tour for this year.
“I like to have a book of short stories just to open up now and then for a quick read. Story Chat is just perfect for that, with each story taking just three to five minutes to read.” – Gloria McBreen
She highlighted three stories that touched her heart by authors Gary A. Wilson, Hugh W. Roberts, and Amanda Forestwood. Her short reviews will validate why Volume II is such a great read.
Last year, Story Chat Volume One Kindle version came out incorrectly. Gloria spent long days reformatting the entire book and helping me to publish it. On top of that, she wrote several posts for the blog tour that highlighted different stories she enjoyed in the book. Here are some of her Blog Book Tour posts for Volume I
- Post #1 which highlighted the history and types of stories included in the anthology.
- Post #2 with highlights from Hugh Robert’s and Geoff LePard’s stories
- Post #3 with highlights from Gary Wilson’s and my stories
- Post #4 with highlights from Anne Goodwin’s, Phil Cumberland’s, and Debbie Harris’ stories
- Post #5 with highlights from Cathy Cade’s, K.L. Caley’s, Charlie Mills’, and Anne Stormont’s stories
This year, she was not one of our contributors because she has been busily occupied with her best-selling novel, Secrets in the Babby House. She tells about the background of her novel and of her life in this wonderful interview.
Her novel is one of the best I read in 2024. Here is a partial overview of the story. It’s one of those novels you can’t put down, and 1:00 am moves to 3:00 am. With only a few more chapters to finish, 4:30 am slips up on you before you close the book to get a couple of hours of sleep before it’s time to start the day.
“Flossie Lynch is heartbroken when her only love, Frank Connolly, marries another. So when John O’Malley—the well-off catch of the parish—proposes to her, she resigns herself to a marriage of convenience, hoping to learn to love him.
For John, Flossie is mostly a respectable wife and caring mother to their son—and the perfect façade for his dark secret. But bloody Frank Connolly and his blackmailing wife are making things difficult for him.” Read more…
I hope you will give her video a listen and visit her website as well.
In my next posts I’ll highlight more of our wonderful blog book tour hosts.
Story Chat Volume II Book Blog Tour Schedule
- Colleen Chesebro – November 24, 2024 (US) Thank you for your Amazon Review
- Gloria – November 29 (UK)
- Robbie & Michael – November 30 (SA)
- Diana – December 1 (US)
- Doug – December 2 (AU) December 1 (US, UK, SA) Thank you for your Amazon Review. (no link)
- Cathy – December 4 (UK)
- Amanda – December 9 (AU) December 8 (US, UK, SA)
- Dan– December 11 (US)
- Philip – December 14 (UK)
- Cindy Georgekas – December 16
- Yvette – coming after Christmas Thank you for your Amazon Review.
- Hugh – coming soon In the meantime read this post on blogging in December.
- Geoff – January
- Esther Chilton – January 30
Exciting Story Chat Volume II Video
Thanks for all your input and ideas. I hope you enjoy the video. It’s peppy!
Email me at alwayswrite01@gmail.com if you want to be part of this exciting tour.
Follow me on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/tc_history_gal/
Also Inspired by
- Sunday Stills Elemental Holiday Traditions
- Cell Pic Sunday all cell phone pics processed in Lightroom
- Natalie’s Weekend Coffee Share
Lots of love to all! Hope you have a wonderful week.
Marsha Ingrao Always Write 
48 responses to “Celebrating December Over a Cuppa”
[…] before they left, we joined them for breakfast (picture of the balcony dining room) at their hotel, The Darling in Visalia. After eating way too much, Vince and I walked around downtown looking for some doors […]
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So peppy , Marsha, and fun to see all the promos and hype. What a great launch you’re having. I can tell that the collection is a hit. 🙂
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With all the great authors and stories, it ought to be a hit! 🙂 xxx What a great lineup! 🙂 xxx
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A cuppa always tastes better when somebody else makes it – you drew me right in. The trees are beautiful – and the history makes me want to stay in a hotel in a historic court house. I’ve not been here before – what a mine of information for writers!
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Thanks, I’m glad you like it. Blogging is a fun project! 🙂 xxx Come again. Your site looks great! 🙂 xxx
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I love the trees. We are putting ours up tomorrow. I did not have one last year as we had two kittens. I hope they will be older and wiser this year.
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Our dog (age around 2), and our cat (age 6) have only knocked over a few ornaments. So far, so good! Best luck with your tree, Anne! xxx
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Marsha, The hotel trees are beautiful. You’re doing a great job sharing and promoting the book. Have a fabulous visit with your son. Thank you for your weekend coffee share.
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We had dinner there last night with them, and it was one of the best meals ever!
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Great post with lots of wonderful stuff going on. Thanks for sharing, Marsha.
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Thanks, Shari. 🙂 xxx I hope you join us this year with a short story for Story Chat.
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Thank you for the invite, Marsha. I will keep that in mind; you guys sound like you have a good time.
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You get to know each other pretty well after a few comments back and forth, and it’s a way to get a little extra exposure. 🙂 xxx
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Merry Christmas ⛄🎁
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Thanks, Merry Christmas to you, too! 🙂 xxx
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Pleasure Marsha 💖
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Those trees are gorgeous. I’m looking forward to putting ours up when we get home. Hard to believe it’s that time of year again already. 😊
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You keep so busy, it goes super fast. We can’t believe we’ve already been in CA for three weeks, almost a month of our three months is gone!
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I’m glad that your son and daughter in law are visiting soon. The trees at the hotel are beautiful. Lovely pictures Marsha.
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Thanks, Sadje. It’s a lovely place, and I’m excited to have dinner there on Saturday night with them. It’s been on my bucket list of places to go since it opened in 2020, but we were in Prescott and didn’t have the chance.
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You’re welcome. Hope the holidays are peaceful and relaxing for you all.
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Thank you, Sadje. I hope yours are the best ever, too. xxxxx
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Thank you so much Marsha. Our kids ( grandkids now) get a winter break but not the adults.
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There are no real breaks for adults with kids and grandkids. Life just gets fuller, the more that are added. 🙂 xxx Enjoy!
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Very true my friend. Life gets more busy with kids at home. 💜🩷💜
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Ours are here in town and coming over in about five hours. Yay! 🙂 xxx
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Have a lovely time 🩷💞
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Thank you, dear Sadje.
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You’re most welcome 🤗
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Great post, Marsha! The trees are beautiful. Enjoy your early Christmas with your son!
I’m buying books for 2025 and will pick up Story Chat II and Secrets in the Babby House. Your review of Gloria’s book sealed the deal. It’s hard to resist a book that keeps you up all night. 🙂
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I know you will love it, Maddie. It’s our kind of book! 🙂 xxx
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The great post, Marsha! Beautiful christmas decoration. Beautiful Book review. How are you doing my friend!
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I feel like my old self, Raj. I breathe much better in CA than in Prescott, AZ. It’s great to be with good friends here and stay a while. 🙂
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Thank you so much much, Marsha!
Tack Care 🙏!
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You, too, Raj!
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First of all, I’m glad you got to decorate your place for Christmas, Marsha. You have started some new traditions! The hotel decor is lovely.
CONGRATULATIONS on the book and for putting together such a talented team of folks to write, promote and publish. Maybe you can save me a signed copy 😁 The Story Chat series is so unusual and fresh, and to think it began with bloggers. So much creativity and community building in our blogosphere!
You said you slowed down and took a break, but I’m not buying it😉
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LOL, It was great talking to you yesterday. I can’t wait to see you. It won’t be long now! I will definitely save you a copy of Story Chat. You don’t have to buy my break, it’s definitely not for sale, and I’m still sort of taking it.
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No stopping you, Marsha. It all sounds so positive. Have a fabulous visit with your son!
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You are so sweet, dear Jo. Life is good. We are blessed with it!
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How wonderful that your son is cominI soon! How fun!
The Christmas trees are beautiful.
I will take a look at Colleen’s book on Amazon. Thank you!
Merry December!
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Happy December. I’m headed over to your blog to see all the beautiful things on it! 🙂 xxx
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HI Marsha, a wonderful post. Colleen is fabulous to work with. Have a lovely afternoon.
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You, too, my dear friend. 🙂 xxx
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🤗💗
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So much to celebrate in your post, Marsha! Love this wonderful flamboyant Xmas tree so beautiful. How fun to celebrate with your son. Enjoy every minute! Great video of Gloria McBreen, so gracious and kind. Last but not least, love the new video and did I say your book is in my cart and will rest with the last one until I can pick it up and read it. Love the mention of Into The Light!💡💕
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We do have a lot to celebrate. It’s not number one, yet, I’m pleased with how much response we are getting.
Your book and Colleen are inspiring me to begin in earnest the path to publication of my poetry book. I played with titles and how I want to organize the chapters for the past three or four days.
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What an amazing post, Marsha. Thanks again for the mention. It’s a joy to be part of Story Chat. 💖
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Thank you so much Colleen. We have much to celebrate.
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