LET STORIES TAKE YOU PLACES THIS MOTHERS DAY!
WHEN I THINK OF TRAVEL, I imagine being able to embrace new sights, smells, tastes, sounds, and textures. To come away rested, relaxed, and rewarded with a new perspective on life. To recharge, refresh, and get ready to dive back into the rapids of the real world.
A few months ago the word “vacation” might have conjured no more than a pleasurable thought in our over-taxed, over-scheduled daily lives. Taking for granted we would go when, “we had the time” or “the weather got better” or “we had the money.”
But today in our world of social distancing, even the notion of leaving the house for the grocery store has us panting for more, taking scenic routes to get there and back, and lingering in the car once we get home.
Most of us love travel, don’t we? Meeting new people and learning about new cultures. And while restrictions are slowly being lifted for many sheltering at home, we must remain vigilant about where we go and how we make contact with others, especially those older or having health issues.
With Mother’s Day just around the corner, I’m reminded of just how much I love my mom. Living on opposite sides of the country I don’t see her often enough in the best of times and she is well into that “older” category (though she’s still young at heart) and the woman I admire most. My mom has also been my intrepid traveling companion for years; our “Thelma and Louise” adventures (don’t worry, we didn’t shoot anyone) have taken us to 14 different countries outside the US, and a few we visited more than once.
Our latest “grand tour” was a trip to Barcelona, Spain, where we enjoyed eating scrumptious tapas, drinking creamy horchatas, listening to beautiful Flamenco guitar and breathing in the old world smells of La Rambla, Barcelona’s busiest promenade. As an author of historical fiction, I loved being able to “relive” my vacation while writing scenes for my latest novel, Far Side of the Sea.
My mom and I are also avid readers, so for Mother’s Day this year I’m sending her a book–a story set in some exotic new land. Maybe Portugal or Russia, two countries we still have on our “go-to” list. And because a lot of moms can’t travel right now, I’m also giving away a collection of all four of my novels, each story set in different locations around the world, to celebrate our mom’s special day!
So if you are, have, or know a mom or someone special who simply enjoys “virtual traveling,” please click on the graphic below to enter the contest (ships US.) The winner will be chosen and notified on…you guessed it, Mother’s Day!
In the meantime, stay healthy and safe and enjoy this marvelous time of reading! And if you’re feeling antsy (like me) take to heart the words of St. Paul, to “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, (and) faithful in prayer.” (Rom. 12:12)
God bless and Happy Mother’s Day!
Kate
I bet your mom is missing you and your jaunts together even more now.
Yes, especially now! Praying I’ll get to see her later this summer!
It was super fun to see you and your Moms travel pics. Thanks for sharing!
I’m so glad you enjoyed them, Perrianne. They are treasured memories! Thanks for stopping by!
Love your books!!
Karen, thank you so much! And I appreciate you stopping by. Blessings!
Years ago my younger sister, Dad and Mom travelled to areas not far from where we lived. I have great memories of visiting Niagara Falls – the Canadian and American side, to the Finger Lakes region of NY, to Lititz, PA, to Conneaut Lake, PA, and to Wildwood, NJ. Those are very sweet memories. My parents are in heaven now.
I love to read books that take me to places that I have never visited. Thank you for writing the way you do.
Linda, thank you for your kind words and for sharing your happy travel memories! Once my mom and dad packed up our family and drove us across country, camping along the way. It seemed even more exciting when we were kids, a big adventure seeing new places!
In 2017 my daughter and I went with 21 others from the church we attend to tour Israel. How wonderful it was, too. I love reading and have been doing it a lot lately since I can’t go to choir practice, church, Bible Study or to a hospital auxiliary that I am a have been a member for about 5 years. Would you please enter me in your giveaway? I would really appreciate it.
Linda, how wonderful you were able to visit Israel! I’ve never been there, but would love to go one day! The contest just finished a few hours ago and I’ll be announcing the winner. I hope you were able to enter by clicking on the graphic in the blog post? Anyway, more contests to come in my June newsletter, so stay tuned! 🙂 Blessings to you, and have a happy Mother’s Day!
We have a winner! Congratulations to Judy Foroe, who won the collection of books! Thanks to all who participated and I will have another Summer Book Lovers giveaway coming up in my June newsletter!
Blessings, Kate