December has arrived with bells ajinglin’. The Christmas holidays are a time for family, for children, and just being together with those you love.

My children have reminded me that they want their Christmas goodies like yesterday. You’d think they were five years old again. Every year I take several days and bake a lot of goodies just for them and their families, homemade bread, pound cake, banana bread, different kinds of fudge, divinity, cookies and more cookies and the list goes on and on. That’s what they want for Christmas and are adamant about receiving it. And, if their goodie box isn’t prepared by the time they think it should be, I get all kinds of phone calls: Where is it? Isn’t it done yet? When’s it gonna be ready? What's taking so long? Every year I swear will be my last but it has become our tradition, a tradition formed from my love for my children that I find hard to break and will continue until I hand it over to another to carry on this family tradition of the Hassell Family.

November is birthday and anniversary month. Four birthdays, two kids, a grandson and a son-in-law and our anniversary. For our 53rd anniversary, we spent a week in Helen, GA and Gatlinburg, TN. Stayed in a cabin with a creek right at our back porch. It even snowed. I was not prepared for twenty-some degree weather. All in all it was a great getaway.

For COMING NEWS, my latest novel, THE FERRY CROSSING, hopefully (fingers-crossed) will be out in late January/early February. I'll be working hard to meet that deadline.

THEN THERE WERE FIVE is a novel I've been working on sporadically. I hesitate to give a release date since I have no idea when that will be. This is the story of a young woman whose sister dies leaving three young children. Taking on their care is a monumental task which she undertakes, increasing her household to four. Then without warning it becomes five.

A story I've been dabbling in is another tale to add to THE LADIES OF SUMMER PLACE series. This time the ladies name is CHARLAYE. We’ll see how her story goes. Best laid plans always go awry.

Another idea swirling around in my head is ANASTASIA'S MOUNTAIN. More details to come on that next month.

Please take special care this month. Remember those less fortunate than you and give what you can. But above all be safe and be happy.

I wish each and every one of you a glorious Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!