It is surprising how the holidays can bring out the best, and the worst in us. I believe and see the best in people. I like to catch people being good and it is an easier job during this time of year. What is it about this time of year? Perhaps it is a forgotten primal knowledge that surviving a long cold winter is easier when you work together.

We share the bounty of the things we have, and reach out to others, validating our shared existence. It is as if the holidays grant our souls license to emerge from the depths where they hide. If only for a little while.

What will you do to preserve the holiday spirit?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Pick a platform, Goodreads, Amazon, Wattpad, Medium wherever your author hangs out. Take a moment and leave a review. I know they will love the gesture.

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Long after this holiday has passed, a book will serve as a wonderful reminder of you to the recipient. Food is eaten, gift cards are spent and soon forgotten, but the words remain.

Don’t forget to pen a personal inscription on the flyleaf.

How many books are you giving this year?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Now I get it. Thank you, Harlan. In a world where we buy, buy, buy we writers are truly needed. I think we have somehow lost the ability to express the love we feel for our friends and family.

Perhaps we need to challenge ourselves to spend more time putting our love into words instead of dollars into silly gifts. But that takes time and thought and digging deep into our souls. That is the gift that is most dear, the one that money can’t buy. It is the gift of sharing our true self.

What one true gift can you give this year?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The holiday season is full of anticipation. We look forward to gatherings of friends and family, hope for magical Christmas Eve snow, and play games trying to guess which present is ours.  Each day the suspense builds. The plot is simple and familiar. The characters wheel in and out of view, dancing in a kaleidoscope of color. The message remains the same. We hope for brighter times in the coming year.

It is a familiar story and one I await each year. We remember those who have passed and those who have not yet appeared. Each year is uniquely different and yet it somehow holds to tradition.

What is your favorite Christmas story?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

“Mary Poppins Returns” is being released in theaters today. To be honest, I didn’t care for the original “Mary Poppins” movie, you know the one with Julie Andrews? So, I am wondering if it I will like this new one. The books, however, I find enjoyable. P. L. Travers published a series of eight Mary Poppins books between 1934 to 1988. Fifty-four years is a long time to wait for a series.

Anyway, it occurred to me that most movies pale compared to the magic the author creates in a book. How many times have I heard the comment, “I saw the movie, but the book was better”? It is one more reason to read books and let your imagination soar with the words, let the author tell a story that transports you to another world.

What book do you wish had never been made into a movie?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Two or three books? Is that all? I remember going to the library and checking out books when I was a kid. Once a week. The library limited the number of books you could check out at one time. I was always at the max. In fact, I remember sliding one or two books onto my brother’s stack so I would have enough to read for the week.

As I got older, I could get to the library on my own and the library’s book limit wasn’t as important. I churned through books. Times have changed, and there are responsibilities. Time available to read has diminished.  Still, when time allows…

How many books do you read?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Well if it is good enough for Hemingway, who am I to argue? Pardon me while I go and lock myself in my… eh, I don’t have an office. The cat is laying on my keyboard, yawning. She doesn’t know Hemingway and unless it involves a can of tasty treats, she isn’t moving.

Hemingway must have drunk coffee. Right? I mean when he wasn’t, well, drunk? Where are my keys? No one will bother me at the coffee shop. If I purchase a cup, I can sit in the corner, staring at my screen and type away.

What does your “office” look like?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Sleeping until eight I considered as sleeping late. She has the coffee part right. There is nothing better than and a hot cup of coffee on a quiet Sunday morning and the soft clack of keys as I write my next little story.

Do you write on Sunday, or is it your day to unwind?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

I find holiday shopping and gift-giving overrated. But it does not dampen my love of the season. Driving in the neighborhood, looking at the lights is a favorite pastime. Two or three streets away, every home on the block is festooned with lights. I detour to drive by every chance I get.

I also enjoy walking the Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza, (downtown Chicago). We often take a weekend and stay downtown for the weekend. I might make a purchase or two, but it is not the focus.  It is about enjoying the sights, sounds, and people.

What non-holiday, holiday traditions do you observe?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer