Chicken Soup for the Soul book signing in St. Charles, MO

Our third annual Chicken Soup for the Soul booksigning/Canned Food for the Body food drive was a huge success. T'Mara Goodsell, Theresa Sanders, Linda O'Connell, Cathi LaMarche gathered at Main Street Books in St. Charles, MO. Vicki Erwin, proprietor.

The Christmas Festival and parade were an added attraction for visitors who flock to this quaint little historic river town during December to browse the independent shops and purchase from local merchants and crafters. Thanks to Dianna Graveman, Lynn Obermoeller, and Sioux Roslawski, fellow writers who came to support us.

Jack frost was nipping at my nose, and I was in a hurry to return to my car. I had to stop in my tracks at dusk and take a picture of this gorgeous tree.

This lovely angel was a beautiful reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.

Right out of Charles Dicken's novel, walking directly towards me, came characters portraying Bob Cratchit and little Tiny Tim hobbling with his homemade crutch.

This young lady represented Sweden where the celebration of Christmas lasts two months beginning with Advent. December 13th is St. Lucia's Day. The eldest girl in
the family wears a white robe and head wreath with lit candles. She serves the family St. Lucia buns (lussekatter) and coffee in bed.

The holidays would not be complete without a visit from the Sugar Plum Fairy.

He does not look like our jolly Old St. Nick, but this is one of the many 'Santas from around the world' who were on hand to greet the children. Perhaps Pere Noel.

Not a one horse open sleigh, but certainly a lovely carriage ride down Main Street listening to the clip-clop of horse hooves on the cobblestone streets and taking in the sights, sounds and aromas of chestnuts roasting on an open fire, and Grandma's Cookie shop selling freshly baked saucer sized cookies on the street corner.

There were groups of carolers on every block wearing period clothing singing the traditional Christmas carols in perfect harmony. We wish you a Merry Christmas...

Writing news

Good news, one of my poems will be published in Storm Country, the Missouri Writer's Guild anthology to benefit the residents of Joplin who were affected by the tornado.

I will be doing a book signing along with Faye Adams and Sheree Klemites Nielsen
October 1st, at Main Street Books in St. Charles. We're signing copies of Nurturing Paws. Come see us.

Critique group tonight was more than fun. Thanks Lynn for your generosity and hospitality. A good laugh is like a colon cleanse, it gets rid of all the crap in your life for a while.

Focus on the Family magazine, Thriving Family, is seeking humorous parenting quips, particularly about Christmas. Pay is $20.00

Email Vance.frye@fotf.org

Chicken Soup for the Soul, Canned Food for the Body Event

Becky Povich, Theresa Sanders, Linda O'Connell, T'Mara Goodsell and V.P. of Missouri Writer's Guild, Deborah Marshall in back.

The Chicken Soup for the Soul book signing was a huge success, we practically sold out. Becky, Teri, Tammy and I shared laughter and friendship. Thanks to all of our friends, shoppers, my students and their parents and grandparents, my family members,(Aunt Dororthy, cousins, Jeff, Liz, Dororthy, Bradley and Anna) and David Lucas from St. Louis Writer's Guild, who stopped by for a visit or purchased books and brought non-perishable donations for the local food pantry. Deborah Marshall, vice president of Missouri Writer's Guild attended. We shared hugs with Lou Turner, owner of High Hill Press and outgoing president of Saturday Writers and also Donna Volkennant, VP of Saturday writers. These women are all great writers too. Bea Siros covered the event for Patch.com.

Outside, it was a wintry day with occasional light drizzle. There were families bundled up to watch the parade, but inside Main Street Books, the percussive beats of the drum corp reverberated, and we could hear the colorful and charismatic entertainers (the sugar plum fairy, angels, Santas from around the world and more) whooping and hollering. It brought out the child in all of us. We rushed to the windows to watch the gaiety.

If you happen to be on Main Street in St. Charles, MO for next weekend's parade, stop in and say hello to Vicki Erwin, proprietor of Main Street Books, and purchase a book or two for a loved one or YOURSELF.

Cookies-cookies-cookies

Shhh! Be the first. Google "The Cookie Chronicles Linda O'Connell". Belief Net.com has my story on its page as top story today. The book release is 12/28/10 Please buy a Chicken Soup for the Soul Book for yourself or someone this holiday.

Today is the booksigning for four of us Chicken Soup writers, from 1-3 p.m. at Main Street Books in St. Charles, MO. Press coverage by Patch.com. Last year Santa dropped by to say hi. Bring a canned good and receive 20% off entire purchase at Main Street Books.

Chicken Soup for the Soul book signing at Main Street Books, St. Charles, MO 12/12/09

Pictured from left to right: Patsy Zettler, Sherry Stanczak, Teri Sanders, Tammy Goodsell, Pat Wahler, Becky Povich, Linda O'Connell



Thirty-five degrees, sporadic rainy weather, parking places a commodity -none of these things kept the crowds away. The sidewalks and shops along historic South Main Street in Old St. Charles, MO were packed with families enjoying the holiday season. Babies bundled like polar bears perched on their daddy's shoulders and little kids snug in their coats, hats and mittens stood curbside as young and old alike watched the Christmas parade. The fife and drum corp, led by the color guard, rattled windows with their rooty-toot- toots and rummy-tum-tums; Christmas carolers and street performers dressed in period garb made beautiful music. A life-sized female "angel" wearing huge feathered wings crossed the street in front of my car, an experience to remember. Everyone enjoyed the nostalgia of Christmas Past as Santas wearing costumes from many countries interacted with passersby. Nothing more appealing than those blazing fire pits, and oh, the blending aromas of chestnuts being roasted and sold by the bag; freshly popped popcorn in 34 enticing flavors, and the tempting homemade cookies being sold on street corners. Two melt-in-your-mouth snickerdoodles and one chocolate chip cookie later, I knew I had blown my diet! A block east, on the riverfront, ice skaters zipped around the rink as carols blared from a loud speaker. Truly, this was a day to remember.

The Chicken Soup writers donated a gift-wrapped box of canned soup to a local food pantry.