Better Plug Your Nose
Friends,
They snatch salmon from fishing lines. Tangle and shred gillnets.
The bane of fisheries, they pester marinas up and down our Pacific coast.
And man oh man they’re loud. The grunts and barks of some of these pinnipeds keep people up at night . . . and awaken them way, way too early.
And you can smell them for miles.
But are they ever entertaining.
California and Steller sea lions. Harbor and elephant seals. Though they’re often lumped together, from their ranges and socialization habits to their ears and flippers, each is quite distinct.
Sometimes, however, they lump themselves together.
We discovered this gregarious mixed colony on the Oregon coast, where we plugged our noses and laughed.
(You have any sea lion or seal stories? I’d love to hear.)
Can you tell who’s who?
How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!
—Psalm 133:1
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Meanwhile, Bookish News!
CONGRATULATIONS to the winners of last week’s Reader’s Wonderland Giveaway! This was a big one. Prizes included books from 24 of us authors, and $400 in Amazon gift cards.
The winners? 
Kyla L. – Book Bundle #1
Yolanda W. – Book Bundle #2
Kari B. – $200 Amazon Gift Card
Donna B. -$200 Amazon Gift Card
So happy for all of you!
***
In this week’s GIVEAWAY, I’ll draw TWO winners, and will send you each a signed copy of my latest novel Leaning on Air! Reply by Friday, November 22 with the word LEANING, and I’ll drop your name in the hat.
It’s a celebration, too—since the book recently added three 1st place GOLDs in American Bookfest’s 2024 Best Book Awards competition (General Fiction, Romance Fiction, and Cross-Genre fiction)—adding to the novel’s 2024 American Fiction, International Book, and Reader’s Favorite wins.
To God’s beautiful glory.
Awards . . . I’m sheepish telling you about them, dodgy of the attention, but I do hope they prompt you to choose Leaning on Air and/or its award-winning companion novel Sugar Birds for Christmas gifts! I’m getting lots of enthusiastic letters about the books from both men and women—especially those seasoned by . . . life.
My coming-of-age novel Sugar Birds is also a bullseye gift for teen readers. They may not grasp all the layers, but the story will sow good seeds.
‘Nuff said.
BTW, all this talk about sea lions prompted me to plan an outing with my grands over Christmas. When I dialed the aquarium, they told me my call would be recorded for training porpoises.
So glad you’re here.
Love,
Cheryl
Watching Nature, Seeing Life: Through His Creation, God Speaks
