Cindy A. Christiansen's Blog, page 4

Thanksgiving Bookpalooza!

Thanksgiving Bookpalooza- 
Online book fair featuring authors in all genres (including my two latest releases)from November 23-27, 2018. 
At the end of the event, one lucky winner will win a gift basket with an Amazon gift card worth $25 and lots of books!Join the Facebook page at:BookpaloozaCindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

A Holiday Release: Hawk Mountain Heist!

Excited to share my latest novella release, Hawk Mountain Heist, on November 5, 2018! It is available now for pre-order for 99 cents.
Story-line: When easy-going Tanker Sutherland is jilted at the altar, he moves to Utah for a job on the ski patrol and to train a new avalanche rescue dog, Tobler. Tank is annoyed when he’s assigned to help a pretentious, well-to-do woman named Olivia find her brother instead of an official search and rescue. Never once did he dream it would involve criminal recyclers, kidnapping, an avalanche and serious danger.
Olivia is terrified of being buried alive, but it doesn’t stop her from going to the winter mountains during a huge storm to find her real estate developer brother when he doesn’t return her calls. Unfortunately, she’s assigned a ski patroller who doesn’t have his heart in the search.
Will Olivia and Tanker set their distrust aside long enough to rescue her brother from criminal recyclers?
Pre-order on: AmazonWill be available from other distributors this week!
Just letting you know that all of my back titles of novellas will be made available for print purchase soon. Also, all of the books I write going forward will be novellas instead of full-length novels. I'm still donating to Community Animal Welfare Society (CAWS) from proceeds of my books. 
Happy Reading,
Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs! Fly into a good book at: http://www.dragonflyromance.com 

Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

Featured Post: A Miracle for Ann by Sara Fitzgerald

So honored to feature a local author and friend on my blog today--Sara Fitzgerald! She is amazing! Here is a behind-the-story look at A Miracle for Ann :
I wrote A Miracle for Ann because of my daughter. Savanna has autism. When she was first diagnosed, private insurance did not cover treatment for autism. My husband and I struggled to pay for the expensive treatments she needed. We had many miracles from God to help us along this journey. 
I got involved in helping get the “autism” bill passed so private insurances now cover autism. We were blessed to have her attend Pingree as a toddler and now Spectrum Academy.
Savanna is our miracle child. We prayed for her every day for seven years. She has blessed our lives with so much love and joy. I dedicated this story to my husband, Russ, and Savanna. 
I think some of the best stories are written from the truth you know. Although  A Miracle for Ann  is fictional, the emotions are real. I hope you enjoy reading this story, and wish you happy holidays this years.
Below is more about A Miracle for Ann :
Story-line:  Ann is two-years-old and was recently diagnosed with autism. Her parents are desperate to help her. Ann shows great promise. However, she needs early intervention at an expensive preschool.

Going to school could give Ann the life her parents always dreamed of for her. But paying for the school would take a miracle, and this Christmas season, miracles seem to be in short supply.
Review:

“ A Miracle for Ann is an intimate peek into a family’s response to receiving an Autism Spectrum Diagnosis. It highlights how this can affect people differently within each extended family system. I was touched deeply by the emotion, love and dedication of the family for their daughter." Marie Seoane, LCSW


Here is more information about Sara:
Sara Fitzgerald has a daughter with autism and was involved in getting the S.B 57 Autism Services Amendments passed. Sara was named Writer of the Year by the League of Utah Writers in 2006. She is also the author of the Christmas story, Saving Savanna . She lives with her husband and daughter in the Rocky Mountains. She enjoys spending time with her family.
Other Titles by Sara Fitzgerald:
Saving Savanna Mine for Keeps Just What the Doctor Ordered Yesterday’s Wish Anything for Charity Darkness Within Magic Within
Available on Amazon at:  https://www.amazon.com/Sara-Fitzgerald/e/B0034RK19Q/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1540235862&sr=8-1
Wishing Sara much success on her latest release!

Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs! Fly into a good book at: http://www.dragonflyromance.com 
Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

New Release: Christmas Spoons!

So very excited to share with you my new release, Christmas Spoons!
Yes, it has been a long time since I've had a new release. Chalk it up to health issues with both me and my children. However, I think you will love this new novella. It's a little different from my usual books. This is a historical, set post World War II! Here's the blurb:
Louise has been passed from one relative to another for years. Now, World War II has ended, she’s ready to graduate high school and wants to escape to Salt Lake City, Utah on her own. That is, until she meets Danny who has just returned from the war.
Danny longed for two years to return to his small home town. Now that he’s home, nothing feels the same. He finds himself wishing for more out of life than working his family’s farm and turning his money over to his parents.

When friends decide to elope to Las Vegas, Danny and Louise find themselves along for the ride. With very few possessions, little money and limited jobs after the war, the two struggle to build a future with only their love, friends, optimism and faith.  


This novella is also not considered a romance, either. The couple get together right away. Oh, and there's a dog, but he is not front and center in the story. I guess you'll just have to read it to see what you think.
Christmas Spoons is available for pre-order and will release on Amazon on October 8, 2018. Other retailers will follow soon.

Happy Reading,

Cindy

Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs! 
Fly into a good book at: http://www.dragonflyromance.comBook cover copyright: Cindy A. Christiansen 2018 Top dog image by: http://bit.ly/2oVm3N7Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

The Lightbulbs: It’s Amazing!

Lightbulb that has been burning since 1901Have you heard about the lightbulb that has been burning since 1901? It resides in Livermore, California and hangs on a cord from the ceiling of the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department’s Fire Station #6. If you want to know more, there are links below.

Well, my lightbulb isn’t as old as all that, but it is still pretty amazing. 
When I hit fourteen, over somethin’-somethin’ years ago, my mom gave me my first makeup mirror—a Jheri Redding II Image Plus lighted mirror with double mirror that flips to a magnified side. Hey, that kinda sounds like Ralphie in "The Christmas Story" with his “official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle, with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time.”

My mirror today.
Well, that was about how I felt about my mirror. I was now all grown up and felt very special indeed.
Me on my 14th birthday. Mirror is in the box behind the card.
I remember that birthday more than any other. I received lots of gifts from my family and my older sister made me a birthday cake that looked just like my very first dog—Scottie. Oh, how I loved that dog!
My sister and the "Scottie" cake she made me. Scottie - my first dog.
Anyway, believe it or not, some forty-odd years later, all four light bulbs are still original and burning! I’ve never replaced a one. Now, you have to admit that that’s pretty astonishing after being used every single day of my life at least once a day, if not twice.
My oldest son is so amazed by it that every time he comes to our house, he goes in and turns it on and off and on and off to see if it is still going. As you can see by the photo, one of the bulbs is completely black but still keeps burning.

The top left just started to go dark. The right has been dark for years.Some might have thrown the mirror out by now, but I guess I’m sentimental. It’s been a part of my life on a daily basis. Through my teen years, my twenties, marriage, children, sickness and in health. It's endured me pulling funny faces while I brush my hair for years. I don’t know that the bulbs will continue to last as long as the lightbulb in the firehouse, but I still think it is pretty amazing.

Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs! Fly into a good book at: http://www.dragonflyromance.com
Copyright on all photos beside the Firehouse lightbulb belong to Cindy A. Christiansen.

Firehouse Lightbulb: http://mentalfloss.com/article/66009/light-bulb-has-been-burning-1901http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1243138/Still-glowing-strong-109-years-worlds-oldest-lightbulb.html




Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

Dancing in the Rain

Life is hard. Over the last three years, my youngest son who deals with anxiety disorder, autism, bipolar disorder, learning disabilities and depression, has also been dealing with a debilitating physical illness. Recently, he received a diagnosis of ME/CFS, an autoimmune illness that is physically and cognitively draining that will be life-long with no cure.
Of course, we have been looking at all kinds of things to do that will help. I recently found this article written by Kimberly Giles on KSL.com. It is marvelous and I just had to share it. There is a link to the full article at the bottom of my blog.
Many of life’s challenges are impossibly hard and painful. Many of these problems have no answers, solutions or remedies. They are painful and they are going to stay painful for a long time. In this situation, with no escape available, your options are limited. For the most part, all you can do is work on choosing your attitude and mindset inside the challenge.
Vivian Greene said it best: "Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…It’s about learning to dance in the rain."
Here are eight suggestions to help you dance in the rain (and find joy and peace) despite an impossibly hard challenge:
1. Accept what is."It is your resistance to 'what is' that causes your suffering," Buddha said. It is your wishing and wanting things to be different, that is the real cause of your pain. The problem is, life rarely meets our expectations, and more often it takes us in a direction we never saw coming.
2. Trust there is order in the universe and purpose and meaning in everything.Choose to see the universe as a wise teacher, who knows what it’s doing. Choose to see life as a classroom whose objective is your learning ad growth. This would mean every experience you have is here to facilitate learning and make you smarter, stronger, wiser or more loving in some way. This means things don’t happen to you, they always happen for you.
Choosing to trust there is a purpose in your pain, does make you suffer less. I first learned this from reading about Viktor Frankl, who during intense suffering in the concentration camps of World War II, found if he chose to believe there was meaning in his suffering (that it was here for a reason) he not only suffered less, but also felt motivated to rise and get through in the best possible way. He wrote: “Suffering ceases to be suffering the moment it finds meaning.”
3. Focus on this present moment only.If you try to process the weight of all the coming years of loneliness or pain, it will crush you. It is too much, too scary and too discouraging. So, set that weight down.
Focus only on this present moment or hour. Get through this hour choosing to be as positive and happy as possible. What can you do at this moment for yourself to relieve pain, create joy or just distract yourself?
You have great power in this moment to choose your mindset — it is actually the only time you have the power of choice at all.
4. Find a passion project.
During times suffering we can often find ourselves unproductive, stuck and useless. It helps if you can find a passion project of some kind that makes you feel fulfilled, productive, and accomplished. Even if it is just a journal or blog, a puzzle or a scrapbook. What could you do with your time instead of wallowing? Find something productive you can do.
5. Allow yourself limited pity party time.It is natural during times of suffering and challenge to feel self-pity, sadness and grief. You should feel and experience these emotions, and not try to suppress them all the time. It is actually important you give yourself time to feel these feelings and have a good pity party or cry every once in a while, just don’t live there.
6. Lower your expectations.When you are going through an impossibly hard experience at least half your brain power and energy are being used to process the trauma of the situation. This doesn’t leave you with enough bandwidth for all the other tasks or interests you usually do.
Go easy on yourself and expect less. Give yourself permission to have a messier house or get less done. Be realistic with the energy you have and say no to things you know will wipe you out. Give yourself permission to lower these expectations without any guilt.
7. Give up envy and wishing you had someone else’s life journey.It is really easy to find yourself in a place of envy when your life is hard. It does seem unfair that other people get lives that seem easier than yours, but dwelling on this does you no good and in fact, will make you feel even worse.
8. Use this experience and the unique knowledge (on the human condition and suffering) it is giving you, to bless the world in some way.
Your misery can often become your message. If you suffer with chronic illness you could show others how to cope in a positive way. If you are a single mother, you could help newly divorced women handle their new reality with more joy. If you lose a loved one, you can be a resource to others who are suffering grief. There is always a way to use what has happened to you to make a difference in the world.
Every day is another chance to practice the power of choice, choosing joy, peace, happiness and laughter, and you don’t have to do it perfectly, just keep making progress.


Isn't that awesome? You're welcome. Full article: https://www.ksl.com/?sid=46231995&nid=1010&title=coach-kim-8-ways-to-cope-when-life-is-impossibly-hard


Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs!Fly into a good book at: http://www.dragonflyromance.com
Copyright of photo: halfpoint / 123RF Stock PhotoCindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

The Pink, Fuzzy Robe

Embarrassing or proud? What if I told you the pink, fuzzy robe I still wear is twenty-four years old? Yes, it's a little tattered. The pocket is coming unsewn. Some of the fuzz is worn thin in places, especially the hem. There's a hole by one of the buttons. But, I wouldn't give up that robe if you offered me a new one woven out of 24 karat gold.
You see, my mom gave me that pink, fuzzy robe to wear in the hospital to deliver my oldest son. She was ailing and hadn't been well enough to even attend my baby shower. I'm sure my brother had to help her purchase the robe, but it will always be from my mom.
The two of them came to the hospital to see me and my new little baby boy who looked like a little Indian baby. He had dark skin and thick black hair. I proudly wore my pink robe and watched as my mom cautiously held the baby for only a few moments as she sat in her wheelchair, the pain clearly stretched across her face from her failing heart.
It was the last thing she bought me. The last time she held my son. The last time I saw her. 
She died in less than four weeks from my son's birth.
For years, it was too difficult to look at the photos of her holding my son that day because it was so shocking to see just how ill she really was.  However, the robe has always comforted me when I needed a hug that you can only get from your mom as I've dealt with continued health problems, a challenging marriage and the day-to-day difficulties of raising two children with anxiety disorder, autism, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, oppositional defiance, health issues, and learning disabilities.
Have you kept something from someone you cared dearly for that helps you through the difficult days? Please share in the comments.

Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs! 
Fly into a good book at: http://www.dragonflyromance.com 
Photo of dog from 123rf.com: Nataly Ponomarenko 


Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

Fierce Writer: Unlock Your MICE Quotient

My apologies for not updating my blog for so long. I have been having a difficult stretch with both of my boys who deal with autism, anxiety disorder, health issues and other mental conditions.

I have chosen to share a wonderful blog post by author Flossie Benton Rogers. Hope you enjoy!




http://flossiebentonrogers.com/fierce-writer-unlock-your-mice-quotient/


Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs! 
Fly into a good book at: http://www.dragonflyromance.com 

First dog photo with mouse: http://i.imgur.com/abIgZAQ.jpg
Second dog photo with mouse: http://www.funnyanimalsite.com/pictures/Dog_With_Mouse.htm

Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

The White Moth: An Autism Story

If you don’t already know, I have two sons with Anxiety Disorder, Autism and Learning Disabilities. Sparky, the oldest, was about seven years old when we went camping up around Paris, Idaho. It was purely a camping trip—no fishing, traveling, boating, etc. We parked the trailer amongst the pines, facing on open flat and stayed.
On the second evening of the trip, Sparky spotted a little white moth just outside the trailer window. He named him Whitey but called him Little Buddy. The moth consumed his thoughts for the next three days. Now whether it was the same moth or a different one (honestly, who can tell) that little white moth continued to fly around our camp.
I’m sure we used bug spray. I’m sure we had a campfire. Nothing seemed to send Sparky’s Little Buddy on his way. Sparky chased him around the camp by day and watched him flutter about his head while we sat by the fire. My husband and I were sure he would fly into the flames, but Whitey never seemed to leave and particularly hung around the outside of Sparky’s window. We were doubtful that it was the same moth. We also got a little tired of hearing about this moth for four straight days. When we tried to tell Sparky that it wasn’t the same moth, he promptly told us he could identify him. Yeah, right.
And so, our camping trip went, and it was finally time to pick up camp and head home. Sparky asked if he could take his little buddy home with him. Of course, the answer was no which lead to snot and tears. As we slowly rattled away from our camp spot, I swear I saw a little white moth in the rearview mirror…following us.
Spring went by and the Fourth of July soon came. It was time for hotdogs on the grill and a night of fireworks.  Who should show up at the party? Yes, Whitey. With much joy and happiness, Sparky was certain that the little white moth was his little buddy. He could identify him, you know. We tried to explain that there was no way Whitey could have traveled all that distance to West Jordan, Utah. Sparky wouldn’t accept that answer and danced around the yard with glee.
Now mind you, my husband and I didn’t want to share this story with anyone. We were certain it meant our son not only had disabilities but was also a mental case.  We certainly weren’t going to discuss it with his therapist. We didn’t want to know the answer. I also wondered if that moth had hopped a ride on the bumper of our trailer in order to stay with Sparky, but then I questioned my own sanity.
About a month later, we headed down to central Utah for another camping trip, about 200 miles away. Sparky asked on the way, “Do you think Whitey will be there?” My husband and I looked at each other and groaned.  Sure enough, as we setup camp, a little white moth appeared. Sparky was overjoyed.
To this day, and with Sparky in his twenties, we still try to never bring up the subject of moths…or Whitey…because Whitey lives, and he can still show up just about anywhere, especially out camping.


Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs! Fly into a good book at: http://www.dragonflyromance.com
Copyright: relikten1 / 123RF Stock Photo (Dog added)Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

The White Moth

If you don’t already know, I have two sons with Anxiety Disorder, Autism and Learning Disabilities. Sparky, the oldest, was about seven years old when we went camping up around Paris, Idaho. It was purely a camping trip—no fishing, traveling, boating, etc. We parked the trailer amongst the pines, facing on open flat and stayed.
On the second evening of the trip, Sparky spotted a little white moth just outside the trailer window. He named him Whitey but called him Little Buddy. The moth consumed his thoughts for the next three days. Now whether it was the same moth or a different one (honestly, who can tell) that little white moth continued to fly around our camp.
I’m sure we used bug spray. I’m sure we had a campfire. Nothing seemed to send Sparky’s Little Buddy on his way. Sparky chased him around the camp by day and watched him flutter about his head while we sat by the fire. My husband and I were sure he would fly into the flames, but Whitey never seemed to leave and particularly hung around the outside of Sparky’s window. We were doubtful that it was the same moth. We also got a little tired of hearing about this moth for four straight days. When we tried to tell Sparky that it wasn’t the same moth, he promptly told us he could identify him. Yeah, right.
And so, our camping trip went, and it was finally time to pick up camp and head home. Sparky asked if he could take his little buddy home with him. Of course, the answer was no which lead to snot and tears. As we slowly rattled away from our camp spot, I swear I saw a little white moth in the rearview mirror…following us.
Spring went by and the Fourth of July soon came. It was time for hotdogs on the grill and a night of fireworks.  Who should show up at the party? Yes, Whitey. With much joy and happiness, Sparky was certain that the little white moth was his little buddy. He could identify him, you know. We tried to explain that there was no way Whitey could have traveled all that distance to West Jordan, Utah. Sparky wouldn’t accept that answer and danced around the yard with glee.
Now mind you, my husband and I didn’t want to share this story with anyone. We were certain it meant our son not only had disabilities but was also a mental case.  We certainly weren’t going to discuss it with his therapist. We didn’t want to know the answer. I also wondered if that moth had hopped a ride on the bumper of our trailer in order to stay with Sparky, but then I questioned my own sanity.
About a month later, we headed down to central Utah for another camping trip, about 200 miles away. Sparky asked on the way, “Do you think Whitey will be there?” My husband and I looked at each other and groaned.  Sure enough, as we setup camp, a little white moth appeared. Sparky was overjoyed.
To this day, and with Sparky in his twenties, we still try to never bring up the subject of moths…or Whitey…because Whitey lives, and he can still show up just about anywhere, especially out camping.


Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs! Fly into a good book at: http://www.dragonflyromance.com
Copyright: relikten1 / 123RF Stock Photo (Dog added)Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author