5 Romantic Christmas Movies to See

Hey! I went to the first Christmas party of the season.

We had fun even though it was raining buckets outside complete with thunder and lightning. Still pouring rain.

We came home a bit early so I could clean my office--a task that's been on my To-Do list every day for 2 weeks.

I want to get it done before we go to the ranch in the morning. It's been 2-3 weeks since we were there so we'll drive up and back in the same day just to check and make sure all is okay.

Romantic Christmas Movies Rock

My daughter and I binge-watched Christmas movies on Netflix the week I stayed with her when her hubby was in Italy. Here's a quick list of the ones worth watching. Not included are perennial favorites, just new ones to us. I'll have a similar list for Amazon sometime this week.

1. Christmas Chronicles -- absolutely #1 on the list
 Kurt Russell as Santa? How could you not watch this? This fun movie is an homage to Home Alone, Adventures in Babysitting, and jaw-dropping Elvis impersonations. If you're a child of the 80's or 90's or just an adult who loved those decades referenced in Stranger Things, a Netflix Original series, you'll love this. It's a riot, and the ending is cherry on top. Don't miss it.

2. The Princess Switch
An updated version of Twain's The Prince and the Pauper, this adaptation stars Vanessa Hudgins who does a splendid job in the dual role. Romance, royalty, and a castle. What more can you ask for in a Christmas romance?

3. A Christmas Prince
More royalty and romance starring Rose McIver and Ben Lamb that's also part Cinderella story. A good time chick flick.

4. The Spirit of Christmas
Starring Jen Lilley and Thomas Baudoin, this story will have you needing a box of tissues at the end. It's romantic, believable characterization, nice mystery element, and poignant. You'll be rooting for a happy ending that just doesn't seem possible.

5. Christmas Inheritance
Eliza Taylor, Jake Lacy, and Andie McDowell star in this tale of a rich girl who's always splashed across the tabloids. Challenged by her dad, she tries to make a fresh start. Sounds easy, but it's harder than she anticipated. (Kind of sounds like a couple of my books.)

Talking About My Books

In my latest romance, Brianna's Season for Miracles,  Brianna and Daniel, her hero, attend the biggest Christmas party in New Estacado, a small town in the Panhandle of Texas--with some unintended consequences.

Brianna's story is an homage to one of my favorite Christmas movies, A Season for Miracles starring Carla Gugino.

Last Christmas was the last straw for Brianna Walker. She hated her life. Too much whisky, too much misery, and too much loneliness had resulted in a very public embarrassment. Vowing never to return to her hometown, she left for Vegas, a city where she could be anonymous instead of grist for her hometown’s gossip mill.

Brianna faced the fact that if she wanted her life to be different, she had to change,and thus begins her journey. It's not an easy one either.

Only at Amazon and only 99cents for 1 week after release on Dec. 11. Preorder now! Price rises to $2.99 after the first week. Get your copy today.

What's your favorite Christmas movie?

Answer the question in Comments and leave your email address written out to be entered in my December Giveaway.

For details, see December Giveaway at the top of the left sidebar.

Takeaway Truth

Ah, the weekend is here. Time to read, watch some more Christmas movies, and relax. Have a great one!

Farewell, President George H. W. Bush

Official portrait. George H.W. Bush 1989

Today was an emotional one for most of us in the Houston area. Our President George H. W. Bush was laid to rest next to Barbara and daughter Robin on the grounds of the Bush Library at Texas A&M.

One of our sons is an Aggie, and he always calls that part of Texas "God's Country."

My husband and I always admired "41" because he had the guts to do what needed to be done--not what was popular with voters. He lived what he believed.

Emotional Days

We couldn't seem to not watch every moment that unfolded from last weekend through this evening.
We watched every service from the one in Washington to the one at St. Martin's Episcopal to the final one at A&M. Watching the train carrying him from the station in Spring to College Station was especially moving.

So many Americans came to pay their respects. Despite the light rain and the cold temperatures, people lined the railroad tracks and the adjacent highways as the train went through all the small towns and rural areas between Houston and College Station.

Many saluted--some with hands over hearts, others with a military salute. Flags waved. Men and women shed tears. As the train made its way through towns, silence fell over the crowds.

This was George Herbert Walker Bush.

I wonder sometimes if there will ever be another president like George Herbert Walker Bush.

Many broadcasters say he was the end of an era. I guess that's true.

It's rather sad that there aren't other politicians who can see the virtues of both sides of an argument, respect the opposition, and come up with a compromise from all concerned parties for the good of the American people.

If anyone wants to know how a President should act, he or she has only to look at Mr. Bush's life and career.

He knew how to be presidential, no schoolyard bully tactics for him. He also knew how to treat everyone, from a waiter to a head of state, with respect.

Takeaway Truth

The world has lost a good man--a great man. Yet, I know he's at peace with his beloved wife and daughter.

Review: DesignCap, An Online Poster & Flyer Maker

Poster I made with DesignCap

I'm always interested in websites that offer free online graphic design services. Several weeks ago, a representative from DesignCap contacted me and asked me to review their graphic design app.

It's been such a crazy autumn, but I finally had time to cruise around DesignCap, billed as an online poster and flyer maker,  and check them out.

Why Review So Many

Yes, there are other apps out there like BookBrush, Canva, Vectr, etc. Each offers something for the DIY graphic designer.

What one may love about one of these online apps, another may dislike. That's why I try to profile all of them and encourage you to try them and find the one that suits your needs and is user friendly for you.

Key Features

DesignCap is free and offers these key features:

(1) Hundreds of poster and flyer templates

(2) Thousands of resources including clipart images, shapes, fonts, and backgrounds

(3) Fully customizable to help your design be unique

(4) Convenient and quick: no download or registration required (but I urge you to register so you'll be first to know about new features).

(5) Written, step by step instructions that are concise and clearly understandable--some of the best I've seen. Screenshots included.

(6) Ability to download the image you created in sizes from small to extra-large.
posters for promoting events and giving presentations.

Try DesignCap yourself. It's intuitive and easy to use and very similar to the design setup of BookBrush. If you have difficulty, go to the written instructions.

I quickly made the poster for Brianna's Season for Miracles (only 99cents for the first week of its release) and used a combination of apps.

I created the 3D image of the cover with BookBrush and used it as the photo for the poster. The pink rose background came from DesignCap as did the embellishments of the tag at the upper left corner and the starburst at the lower right corner. Easy peasy to do, and I think it looks great, don't you?

Question of the Day: Whether for personal use of business, are you a DIY graphic artist? If so, what kind of designs do you make?

Answer the question in Comments and leave your email address written out to be entered in the December Giveaway. See DECEMBER GIVEAWAY at the top of the left sidebar for details.

Takeaway Truth

I think you'll like DesignCap. Give it a try and let me know.

VISIT JOAN & FOLLOW HER ONLINE

Amazon Author Page * BookBub Author Page * Facebook Fan Page * Twitter * YouTube * Joan's Website.

Be the first to know about New Books and Giveaways, sign up for Joan's Mailing List.

5 Free Online Grammar Resources

There are many free online resources for just about every application you may need.

Since I see so many people make mistakes in grammar, I thought I'd give you some free websites to help you with these pesky issues. 

If your grammar isn't quite up to par, you may feel anxiety gnawing at your nerve endings when you need to write an important letter.

Maybe you want to try to write a story or even a book, and you're unsure about your grammar skills. Don't be anxious or scared away from something you want to do. Be proactive and improve your skills.

5 Free Online Grammar Resources

Grammar Check is quick and easy. Just paste your text into the form and press the grey Free Check button. If you see anything underlined, click on it to see suggestions or options for correction.

spelling error, style suggestion, or grammar suggestion in your text, click on them to see more options. Apply corrections where you need them. Then, the system will automatically check grammar usage and spelling and give you the final verdict.

Virtual Writing Tutor

This website works pretty much the same as the one above. "It helps writers count words, check spelling, check grammar and punctuation, check paraphrasing, improve word choice, self-assess the use of target structures, and master English pronunciation." There's also an aspect of it that trains one to be a better proofreader.

Scribens

This website is a grammar, spelling, and style checker and gives statistics on the text you enter. Try the sample when you go there. They say they correct 10 times more mistakes than MS Word.

Grammar Look Up

This website uses artificial intelligence to check grammar and punctuation mistakes and highlight  style issues too. They also are user friendly and fast.

Grammar Book

On this website, you can actually look up grammar rules so you won't keep making the same mistakes.  

Question of the Day: What's your grammar gremlin that troubles you most?

Answer the question in Comments and leave your email address written out to be entered in the December Giveaway. See DECEMBER GIVEAWAY at the top of the left sidebar for details.

Takeaway Truth

Being proactive is always better than ignoring a problem. The internet makes it easy with good, free resources.

VISIT JOAN & FOLLOW HER ONLINE

Amazon Author Page * BookBub Author Page * Facebook Fan Page * Twitter * YouTube * Joan's Website.

Be the first to know about New Books and Giveaways, sign up for Joan's Mailing List.

Review: Stink!

I guess it had to happen. I'm already anxious about the food industry in America, our health care, harmful prescriptions and implants of every description, and the fact that the pharmaceutical industry is in the driver's seat at the FDA.

Then I watched Stink, a 2015 American documentary directed by Jon J. Whelan whose wife died young from cancer.

Netflix added this documentary to their lineup on November 1, 2018.  If you don't subscribe to Netflix, you can also watch it on Amazon.

Stink explores why there are toxins and carcinogens legally hidden in American consumer products. Products we use every day. Products we use on our babies from birth.

Beware, Beware

If you see the word fragrance (or perfume/parfum) on a product's ingredient list, beware! That one word can mean literally 100's of chemicals that the manufacturer can legally hide under that innocuous word may be in your shampoo, hand lotion, soap, cleaning products, etc.

Did you know that children's clothes labeled "flame retardant" can be treated with chemicals that cause cancer? Unfortunately, the chemicals used to make something flame retardant do not have to be listed under ingredients.

Is Greed Killing Us?

This is so wrong! Anything used in a consumer product should be listed on the ingredient label, and if that ingredient is carcinogenic, the item should be labeled, "This product may cause cancer."

I'm on a rant, but this documentary made me angry at the politicians, the FDA, and the lobbyists who seem to run the big industries in this country.

Last example, and then I'll get on with my day. In the U.S., 10 chemicals are banned from women's lipstick. In Europe, over 1200 chemicals are banned. Even China where many of these toxic products are created has stronger product safety guidelines than we have in the U.S. We have become a dumping ground for toxic products.

Knowledge Is Everything

Educate yourself. Be aware of what you're putting on your skin, in your laundry, and with what you're cleaning your house. There are "green" alternatives like using white vinegar in a spray bottle to clean countertops and just about anything you'd clean with a spray disinfecting cleaner.

There are a lot of blogs about "going green" and books about it too like DIY Natural Household Cleaners which is available in Kindle and Paperback.

I remember my mom often used baking soda and white vinegar instead of the cleansers from the supermarket. Like many things, I think she might have been on the right track.

This morning, I took an empty spray bottle, washed it, and filled it with white vinegar. I've always used cloth napkins, tossing them in the washer after every meal rather than paper napkins. I'm going to assess everything from this point on. I hope you'll do the same.

Question of the Day: Read your shampoo label. Does it contain "fragrance" or "perfume?"

Answer the question in Comments to be entered in the December Giveaway. See Giveaway Details at the top of the left sidebar.

Takeaway Truth
 
Tell your elected senators and representatives that the burden of proof for product safety should be on the manufacturer. Nothing should go to market containing any kind of toxic ingredients.

Prizes for December Giveaway

Gee, I guess I'll be running late until next year. Seriously.

I'm still trying to get pictures taken of the prizes for the December Giveaway. You can see a couple of them below.

At the left, you'll see the details regarding the December Giveaway introduced yesterday on the blog.

No purchase is necessary.

Just be sure to read and understand the rules.

Important Reminder

If you live in the U.S., you are eligible for the prizes I'll show below.

If you live outside the U.S. and your name is chosen by random drawing, your prize will be an ebook or audio book package--your choice.

Here is a list of the prizes and some photographs.



(1) Print copy of JANE (I'm Still Single) JONES, a romantic comedy and one of my all-time bestselling books.

(2) Pens and Notepads

(3) Post it Note Binder
(purse-size)

(4) writing journal

(5) Tee-shirt

(6) Holiday ornament

(7) Flashlight Pen

Today's Question: How do you prefer to take pictures--camera or cell phone?

Leave your answer with your email to be entered in the December Giveaway Random Drawing.

By the way, I'm blogging today at Gems in the Attic, so drop by in the afternoon and leave a comment in answer to the question posted there too.

Takeaway Truth

When I have all the pictures taken, I'll write another post with all the prizes shown. Have a great Sunday!

VISIT JOAN & FOLLOW HER ONLINE

Amazon Author Page * BookBub Author Page * Facebook Fan Page * Twitter * YouTube * Joan's Website.

Be the first to know about New Books and Giveaways, sign up for Joan's Mailing List.

December Giveaway Now Open

May I be the first to wish you a wonderful holiday season?

I'm busy decorating so I don't have photos yet of the prizes I'm giving away in December.

The December Giveaway is open from today, Dec. 1, through Dec. 24.

The rules appear at left.

You can leave a comment in answer to a question in each of my December posts on any of the blogs lifted at left.

The winner will be contacted by email no later than Dec. 28, and once confirmed, announced here on SlingWords, regardless of which blog the comment may have appeared.

Subscribe to SlingWords by email or Follow (see right sidebar for these options) or  subscribe to my mailing list so you won't miss any news.

Check the blog tomorrow for photos of the December Giveaway prizes. This time there will be several prizes.

Question of the Day: What kind of prizes do you like best when an author sponsors a Giveaway? 

Leave your answer to the question in Comments along with your email, and you'll be entered in the December Giveaway!

Now, I'll get back to decorating the yard because the weather is absolutely gorgeous today in my part of Texas. It's 70 degrees and the sun is shining. Now that's my idea of the perfect winter weather.

Takeaway Truth

Wishing you a wonderful weekend and a great December!

VISIT JOAN & FOLLOW HER ONLINE

Amazon Author Page * BookBub Author Page * Facebook Fan Page * Twitter * YouTube * Joan's Website.

Be the first to know about New Books and Giveaways, sign up for Joan's Mailing List.