Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Easter Parade Blog Party April 11th/12th 2020 – #Flashback with Annette Rochelle Aben, Darlene Foster, Toni Pike, D.Wallace Peach and Elizabeth Gauffreau.

Welcome to the Smorgasbord Blog Magazine Easter Parade with music, guests and some Easter food… and an opportunity for you to introduce yourself in the comment section along with your blog URL and one for Amazon for your books. I hope you will enjoy the next couple of days and for a brief moment it lightens the separation we are all experiencing from our normal lives, away from family and friends.

The theme for the parade is ‘Flashback’ and my guests have all sent in a photograph from the 1960s through to the 1980s, along with a music request. There will be singing along and dancing, and I hope you will join in.

Please help yourself to a free coffee as you pass by.

My first guest today is author and poet Annette Rochelle Aben with her unmistakeable smile and blonde hair, with a photo taken at the start of her broadcasting career. About Annette Rochelle Aben

Annette has an attitude of gratitude that she spreads around on a daily basis… Annette’s Blog and also by interviewing authors on radio Tell Me A Story with Annette Rochelle Aben | The Magic Happens (TMH)

A love of writing, began for Annette when she was but a small child. Of course, she gives all the credit to her parents, who read to her and her siblings from the moment they were born. Once in school, teachers took over the roles of main influencers, as they required the students to do a lot of (wait for it… wait for it…) WRITING!

Over the years, Annette has been blessed with having both hobbies and jobs that required her to write. This resulted in her winning the admiration of peers and industry professionals alike. Publication lead to awards, which provided even more encouragement and now, Annette Rochelle Aben is a #1 Best Selling Author!

These days, Annette writes poetry books, coaches others through the writing of their books, and edits articles for the digital magazine The Magic Happens.

Along the way, Annette found time to explore the worlds of Aroma Therapy, Astrology, Bach Flower Essences, Crystal Therapy, Feng Shui, Hypnotherapy, Music Therapy, Numerology, Reiki, and Tarot. Guided by her Angels as to what to study and with whom, Annette turned many of her studies into sideline businesses.

A small selection of Annette’s books, Buy: Amazon US – And : Amazon UK – Follow Annette: Goodreads –  Blog: Annette Rochelle Aben WordPress

Annette has selected John Parr’s St. Elmo’s Fire for her music from the 60s -80s

My next guest is children’s and YA author Darlene Foster with a lovely photo taken on her 18th birthday…

About Darlene Foster

Growing up on a ranch near Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, Darlene Foster dreamt of writing, travelling the world, and meeting interesting people. She also believed in making her dreams come true. It’s no surprise she’s now the award-winning author of Amanda Travels, a children’s adventure series featuring a spunky twelve-year-old who loves to travel to unique places. Readers of all ages enjoy following Amanda as she unravels one mystery after another. When not travelling herself, Darlene divides her time between the west coast of Canada and the Costa Blanca, Spain with her husband and entertaining dog, Dot.

A selection of Darlene’s Books, Buy: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Website/Blog: Darlene Foster WordPress – Goodreads: Goodreads

Darlene’s chosen track is Teach your children well Crosby Stills & Nash

Hot cross bun anyone…

Author Toni Pike shares a photograph taken in 1983 when she stopped off in Singapore on her way to the UK.About Toni Pike

Toni Pike enjoys writing exciting thrillers and non-fiction books. She also loves travelling and being with family and friends. She lives in Australia and firmly believes that coffee and long walks are an essential part of any day.

Do you like books that you can’t stop reading? Pike is the author of Dead Dry Heart – a psychological thriller, and The Jotham Fletcher Mystery Thriller Series: The Magus Covenant, The Rock of Magus, The Magus Epiphany and Holy Spear of Magus.

She’s also the author of two non-fiction books. The One Way Diet is a no-nonsense guide to losing weight and coping with the journey. Happy Travels 101 is a short book of travel tips with great advice for anyone who wants to travel overseas.

By the books byToni Pike : Amazon US – And : Amazon UK –  Follow Toni: Goodreads – Website: Toni Pike

   

Toni’s music choice from the era is that romantic classic Up Where You Belong from An Officer and a Gentleman.

Now author Diana Wallace Peach shares a beautiful photograph from 1977 and her music choice.

About Diana Wallace Peach

I didn’t care for reading as a child – I preferred Bonanza and Beverly Hillbillies reruns, Saturday morning cartoons and the Ed Sullivan show. Then one day, I opened a book titled The Hobbit. Tolkien … literally changed my life.

I love writing, and have the privilege to pursue my passion full time. I’m still exploring the fantasy genre, trying out new points of view, creating optimistic works with light-hearted endings, and delving into the grim and gritty what-ifs of a post-apocalyptic world. Forgive me if I seem untethered in my offering of reads. Perhaps one day, I’ll settle into something more reliable. For now, it’s simply an uncharted journey, and I hope you enjoy the adventure as much as I.

A selection of books by D. Wallace Peach:  Amazon US – And : Amazon UK – Follow Diana: Goodreads – blog: Myths of the Mirror

And Diana’s track that she has selected is In My Life by The Beatles from their channel The Beatles

The final guest today is author Elizabeth Gauffreau who shares a photograph from 1960 with the family dog who has decided to mark the occasion…..love it.

About Elizabeth Gauffreau

I have always been drawn to the inner lives of other people–what they care about, what they most desire, what causes them pain, what brings them joy. These inner lives become my characters. I write to tell their stories.

My fiction and poetry have been published in literary magazines, including Rio Grande Review, Serving House Journal, Soundings East, Hospital Drive, Blueline, Evening Street Review, and Adelaide Literary Magazine, as well as several themed anthologies. Telling Sonny is my first published book.

I hold a B.A. in English/Writing from Old Dominion University and an M.A. in English/Fiction Writing from the University of New Hampshire. Currently, I am the Assistant Dean of Curriculum and Assessment at Champlain College Online in Burlington, Vermont.

Elizabeth Gauffreau, Buy: Amazon US – and : Amazon UK – Follow Elizabeth: Goodreads –  blog: Liz Gauffreau

Liz has selected Michael Row The Boat Ashore by The Highwayman which she says reminds her of that era…

My thanks to my guests for sharing their photographs and music and to you for dropping in. As always love to hear from you and don’t forget to drop your links in the comments.

Happy Easter and Stay safe….Sally