Smorgasbord Christmas Book Fair 2023 – #Poetry #Inspiration Annette Rochelle Aben, #Life #Nature Lauren Scott, #Winter #Celebration Colleen M. Chesebro

Welcome to the Christmas Book Fair where I will be sharing books by my recommended authors that I believe would make great gifts. If you are gifting someone a Kindle this year it would be a great idea to stock it up with some great books to be enjoyed.

The first collection today contains inspirational messages from poet and storyteller Annette Rochelle Aben…Go You..

About the collection

Encouraging words raise the spirit and provide strength. Find some encouragement when you need it in this book. You ARE SPECIAL! You ARE WONDERFUL! You ARE A TERRIFIC PERSON! So, GO YOU!!

One of the reviews for the collection

Tina Frisco 5.0 out of 5 stars I Know I Can!  Reviewed in the United States

Although only fifty-three pages in length, Annette Rochelle Aben’s book, Go You, packs a mighty punch. Filled with positive affirmations, it offers the reader the potential to secure a favorable outcome from myriad life experiences.

Ms. Aben believes in the power of the positive and in paying it forward. She reinforces these beliefs by giving herself a pep talk every time she looks in the mirror. What a fabulous world we would live in if everyone practiced this!

The next time you catch a glimpse of yourself, look into your eyes and say: “You are special! You are appreciated! You are the better half of the whole! GO YOU!!” Or: “You are worth protecting! You are worth supporting! You are worth loving! GO YOU!!”

The author ends the book by asking: “Now, what would YOU like to say to yourself?” This question rests atop a lined page that is blank, prepared for us to affirm our positive thoughts and aspirations.

I smiled when I read the title of this book. By the time I finished reading it, I was ready to take on the world. You will be, too. 

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

A selection of other books by Annette Rochelle Aben

Discover more about Annette, read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And : Amazon UK – Follow Annette: Goodreads – Blog: Annette Rochelle Aben WordPress – Twitter:@YouAreTheExpert

The next collection with its connection to aspects of life and nature is the recommended recent release by Lauren Scott…Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poems

About the collection

In Ever So Gently, Lauren Scott shares her strong link to nature, taking the reader on a tranquil walk through a redwood grove. You’ll find an invitation to sit quietly on a patio, captivated by the simple beauty of a hummingbird. She’ll entice you to revel on the shore of a freshwater lake, mesmerized by its stunning beauty.

Scott shares how love has shaped her life. From that first delicious kiss to celebrating decades of marriage through a love that deepens over time. How her heart melted when she became a mom, then ached when her children started their adult lives across country. And how her adorable canine companions found their way into her heart.

Scott underscores how life presents mysteries we struggle to solve. We can’t help but ponder the deeper meaning of a simple vision. She prompts you to reminisce and reflect on your past, present, and future. Through the ups and downs. what matters most is to love and live ever so gently.

One of the reviews for the book

Balroop Singh 5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant and relatable  Reviewed in the United States

Scott’s poetry celebrates memories and moments in her latest collection – ‘Ever So Gently.’ Her connection with the surroundings blends into the wisdom of nature that unfolds through stunning imagery like: “hear the rustle of a skittering squirrel,” “petals of velvet invite raindrops to bask in their peach enchantment,” and “breeze carries burdens down rivers.”

From the birds that ‘flit and flutter’ to build their nest to the owl who proclaims his presence with his ‘high-pitched toots’ and the hummingbirds that flutter around the “bright pink petals” – all find a place of honor in this book to delight your moods. Lauren’s realism captivates and appeals to all the senses. Some of her poems express profound love that we cherish and yearn for – she tells you how valuable that love has been in her life.

From ‘The Peach Rose’ to ‘Firestorm’ and not to forget ‘I Was Adopted,’ her poetry slides most naturally on the wide canvas of creativity. However, poems that speak of love, of growing up and bonding are the ones that touched my heart. Who can ever forget ‘The Old Afghan,’ which is most relatable!

I haven’t read a more beautiful description of sunset – “The sky explodes in tangerines, salmons, canary yellows – brighter with every second. It’s as though a painter swished her brush back and forth…”
Some more examples of Scott’s brilliant style:
“And water hasnt caressed the hills
The earth, parched like Chile’s Atacama.”
“Silk-thread drizzles dusted rooftops and parched hills.”
“How he tenderly tiptoed through the syllables.”(I could feel the poignancy of the emotion)

A combination of free verse and syllabic poetry like haiku, tanka, etheree, shadorma etc. this is a lovely collection of poetry. Read it slowly to savor each emotion. 

Head over to buy the collection: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

Also by Lauren Scott

Find out more about Lauren, read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Website/Blog: Baydreamer – Facebook: Lauren Scott Author

And finally today a collection of poetry and shortstories in celebration of winter by Colleen M. Chesebro..  A Winter Celebration

About the book

In this second book in the Fairies, Myths, & Magic series, step into a world where dark fairies and other magical beings converge in a collection of poetry and short stories inspired by winter and the celebration of the winter solstice.

From autumn’s scary fairies to the forgotten female characters of Yule, prepare to embrace the magical winter solstice myths from around the world. Meet Frau Holle in the Wild Hunt, Befana—the Christmas Witch of Italy, and the Japanese goddess Ameratasu who controls the springtime. Prepare to embrace the Scottish trows, the Irish Goddess of Winter—the Cailleach Béara, and Snegurochka—the Snow Girl.

Learn how to make Yuletide rituals part of your celebration by embracing the symbols of Yule by decorating with evergreens and crystals.

One of the reviews for the collection

Elizabeth Gauffreau 5.0 out of 5 stars What the Winter Solstice Has to Teach Us!  Reviewed in the United States

Colleen Chesebro’s Fairies, Myths, & Magic II celebrates the Pagan perspective on the winter solstice (the shortest day and longest night of the year) and its associated yuletide myths and traditions. As I reflected on the book in preparation for writing this review, I was immediately struck by the fact that “pagan” is still a negatively-freighted word in Western culture and “yuletide” is now used to refer to the Christmas season, despite the Yule’s predating Christianity by centuries.

Fairies, Myths, & Magic II is well-organized in sections by subject, each of which includes a research-based introduction: the Pagan development of celebratory traditions for the winter solstice; fairies associated with the Yule; myths inspired by the winter solstice; and the magic of the Yule in the form of contemplation and self-examination. A list of Works Cited is included in the back of the book for readers interested in learning more.

In each section, Chesebro has given herself free rein to explore, reflect upon, and, at times, play with the subject matter through free-style poetry, syllabic poetry, short fiction, and various forms of life affirmation. She even includes an historical microfiction piece, “The Long Walk,” which was my favorite in the collection.

Also included in the book are short stories with fairies and myths in a modern setting, which I greatly enjoyed, from a “what if?” perspective. “The Changeling,” in particular, raised the question in my mind about the role of fairy tales and myths historically and whether they still have a role in our own time.

Through Chesebro’s research, I learned just how deeply symbolic some of our current traditions are, even though the origin of the tradition and its symbolism may have largely disappeared from our cultural consciousness. At the same time, however, as the book’s final chapter attests, these traditions have not become hollow rituals but are now meaningful traditions associated with family. “How to Make Yuletide Rituals Part of Your Celebration” provides suggestions for strengthening the connection between family traditions and their Pagan roots.

What surprised me most upon completion of Fairies, Myths, & Magic II was the global nature of winter solstice myths and traditions across cultures. This suggests that at a fundamental level, cultures across the globe have more commonalities than differences. Shared myths and legends are not just amusing trivia to pass the time until social media diverts our attention elsewhere; they have something important to teach us. 

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

Also by Colleen M. Chesebro

Head over to discover more about Colleen Chesebro and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Goodreads: Colleen at Goodreads – Website Wordcraft poetry – Author website and blog: Colleen M. Chesebro      – LinkedIn: Colleen M. Chesebro – Facebook: Colleen M. Chesebro Poet and Author

 

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books..