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Dear Reader,
Today's guest author, Carla Stewart's passion for times gone by, is reflected in her heart-warming fiction. It is her desire to take readers to that familiar place in their hearts called "home."
In A Flying Affair her sixth and newest release, daredevil Mittie Humphreys navigates her heart as well as the skies, in this beguiling adventure of grit and determination during the rollicking Roaring Twenties.
Carla is giving away three copies of A Flying Affair to book club readers. To enter email: Faithwords@hbgusa.com
To contact Carla go to: http://www.facebook.com/carlastewartauthor
Welcome to the book club, Carla Stewart...
What a Wonderful World
As a writer I'm always on the lookout for treasured moments. A glorious sunset. The laughter of children. The simple things of life.
A few years ago, our neighbors joined my husband, Max, and me for my birthday dinner. We had reservations at a Cajun restaurant, and a jazz combo was performing a Louie Armstrong song as we were seated.
After placing our orders, Russ--our neighbor's son--bubbled with excitement. "You should see the Camaro I bought today. It's awesome!"
Russ, a special needs teen, had made dozens, maybe hundreds, of model cars since we'd been neighbors. Camaros were his favorite.
"I'm going paint it red. How do you think a white stripe would look?"
"It will be awesome."
Russ turned to his mom. "Carla thinks a white stripe would look awesome."
Melissa smiled and nodded. She'd heard this conversation innumerable times.
Dinner came--heaping plates of crawfish and shrimp--and the jazz combo began another lively number.
Russ took a bite. "Carla, you are awesome. And Max, too."
We chuckled and returned the compliment.
"Mom, Dad, did you hear that? They think I'm awesome."
Russ's zest for life was contagious and endearing. Warmth stirred inside.
The tune ended and after the applause, the vocalist asked for requests. I knew exactly what I wanted to hear and delivered a note to the stage.
When dessert time came, we nibbled delectable bites of bread pudding. On stage, the singer lifted the trumpet to his lips. Max reached over and squeezed my hand as the intro began.
It was a song we both loved, but then my breath caught. The musician stepped from the stage and came straight to our table. With a voice as rich and deep as Satchmo himself, he looked at each one of us in turn and sang, "I see trees of green, red roses, too." The words hung in the air, lilting and sweet.
The hurricane lamp on the table flickered as he crooned the verse about friends shaking hands. Russ's eyes glistened as he extended his hand toward mine. My throat was filled with cotton, the air a warm blanket of friendship as the final refrain came... "what a wonderful world."
In Russ's words, it was awesome!
A month or two later, I called the restaurant to ask when the vocal artist would be performing.
"Oh, he was just here for the one night. He's gone back to Australia."
Here for only one magical night.
--Carla Stewart
Three copies of A Flying Affair are waiting for readers. Enter the book giveaway. Someone will win, it could be you. To enter email: Faithwords@hbgusa.com
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
AUTHORBUZZ: A CURIOUS BEGINNING (Mystery) by Deanna Raybourn
Are you ready for adventure? Victorian explorer and butterfly hunter has packed up her parasol and petticoats and traveled the world in search of the rarest specimens--and a few love affairs. But what happens when she returns to London and begins to hunt a murderer instead? The first installment in the new Veronica Speedwell Mysteries.
Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on A CURIOUS BEGINNING to read more and to email author Deanna Raybourn, you'll get a reply.
KIDSBUZZ: Meet new authors--send an email, ask a question and they will reply. Plus enter to win a free copy of BRAIN GAMES: The Mind-Blowing Science of Your Amazing Brain by Jennifer Swanson. For a chance to win, say hello to the author and more, see http://www.authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz.
* This month's Penguin Classics book is THE CENTURIONS by Jean Larteguy. Start reading now and enter to win a Penguin tote bag: http://www.supportlibrary.com/bc/v.cfm?L=drclassqqxqQ1AFE3FA7EE4&c=CLASSICS
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