GAP FAMILY BLOG

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It was Christmas week, and we were in Switzerland. My family and I, along with good friends and a frozen turkey, traveled there for the holidays. We were living in London at the time, so we crossed the English Channel on a car ferry and were on our way to the Swiss countryside.

Our three sons were not so sure about the plan. “Were they getting as many gifts? What kind of Christmas dinner would we have? What about a tree?” I was having many of the same thoughts but kept them to myself.

As we drove higher into the mountains to reach the chalet lent by a friend, small delicate snowflakes danced around our two cars. Shadows deepened, and lights began to glow in houses nestled here and there in the valleys below us. Magical. A very good sign.

With darkness settling around the mountains, we arrived at our chalet. Maybe this adventure would be fine. These words became my mantra.

The next morning, we four parents and five sons explored the tiny village. And there, propped in front of a tiny store, was our Christmas tree! It was short, a little crooked, a bit spare of needles and one of the last ones left. It was beautiful to us.

The nine of us trudged along with our treasured tree and promptly set about decorating it. We popped popcorn and made white garlands with the help of needle and thread. We did the same with cranberries and wound scarlet sashes round the boughs. The boys found pine cones of different sizes and shapes in a sheltered stand of pines near our chalet. These they tucked between branches of our now festive offering to Christmas, and an aroma of pine drifted through the room. James, the youngest boy, fashioned a star out of paper and placed it on top of the tree.

That evening, Christmas Eve, the nine of us again walked to the village. Our feet made satisfying crunching sounds through the crusty snow. The village church was our destination. Candles shone in all the windows, casting shimmering shadows on the icy whiteness. It seemed the whole town had turned out for the midnight service. We were greeted with smiles and greetings of “Willkommen.” We were welcomed by everyone.

Christmas carols, all in German, but so familiar to us in every other way, filled the small church with happiness and joy. The pastor’s message, all in German, made us feel the meaning of Christmas, as if we understood every word.


Next morning, as the boys opened their allotted two gifts apiece, no one complained. Michele and I baked our now thawed turkey and completed all the usual trimmings, minus a pumpkin pie. No one complained. When it was time for all to help clean up from our meal, no one complained. Again, magical.

As I reflect on that Swiss Christmas of more than a decade ago, what made it so extraordinary? Was it Switzerland itself? Was it being with family and wonderful friends? Was it fulfilled expectations?

Yes, of course, it was all of that. And, yet, it was more. It was that intangible thing called hope. It was recognition that we are more than ourselves alone. It was the knowledge that we need one another and are here to help each other and to be selfless when called upon to be so. It was the magic of Christmas that just happened to be in a country called Switzerland.

After having been an elementary school teacher, a management consultant with New Options, Inc. in New York City and a university professor of education, Nancy Stewart now writes children’s books full time. She, her husband and three sons, lived in London for eight years, where she was a consultant to several universities, including Cambridge.

Nancy travels extensively throughout the world, most particularly Africa. She is the US chair of a charity in Lamu, Kenya, that places girls in intermediate schools to allow them to further their education.

Nancy is the author of One Pelican at a Time and two other Bella books: Bella Saves the Beach and Sea Turtle Summer, soon to be published by Guardian Angel Publishers. Nancy will be a presenter at the Illinois Reading Council Conference on March 17, 2011.

She and her family live in St. Louis and Clearwater Beach, Florida.

You can visit Nancy online at http://www.nancystewartbooks.com/.

The other day I did something I've been avoiding for some time. I put away my youngest child's favorite "babies" forever. When my oldest decided it was time to give up his Oma Bear, we wrote a loving note about this special teddy bear that described how she was a special gift from his Oma, which is the German word for grandmother. Oma Bear was his first gift and spent every night in his bed from the day he came home from the hospital until he was nine. From head to tail, Oma Bear was as long as my son when he was a newborn. My son "visited" Oma Bear in her new quiet home in my cedar chest a few times, and then all was well.

But there was something different about this goodbye because it was the last one. "Baby" was one of those lamb Beanie Babies, sans the ears, tail, and nose. Most of the lamb-looking fabric had been rubbed and washed off and this Baby still resembled dirty dishwater even after a good soak in Tide. You can imagine what I went through when it came time to give Baby a bath. I remember watching my son chew on the ears when he was teething. And the time we forgot it at Grammy's and he had to wait several days to get it in the mail. Baby was there for the hospital stays, the naps, and every kiss goodnight in between. Baby even woke my youngest up with little baby smooches on his cheek, with a little help from Mom. Sigh. It was well past the time to stop all that, but for me, asking him to give up his little bed buddies was also putting an end to a precious time in my life as a mother.

Yesterday when the house was empty, I sat down to write a note to Baby. And when I folded the note and gave Baby a goodbye kiss, there was a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. I nestled her in the cedar chest next to Oma Bear, Momma Bear, my oldest son's shaggy blanket, and my raggedy stuffed rabbit from my childhood. I shut the lid and wondered, just like the Velveteen Rabbit, what they might be saying to each other as they wait for another child to love them in the distant future.

Margaret Rose has had a passion for the written word since she was a young girl. She became a professional writer and editor after college and is fortunate to be a fulltime writer. By day she works as a copywriter and editor for a small direct marketing firm and freelances feature articles for business-to-business magazines. In the evening hours she writes children's books and romance novels.

Margaret is married and has two children. Some of her passions are all types of music, flower gardening, biking, walking her dog on moonlit nights, nature, and making people laugh. She lives in Minnesota and never plans to leave no matter how cold the winters are.

Visit Margaret Rose at: Margaret Rose Writes
E-mail: Margaret_Rose@rocketmail.com

Easy way to enter contest! Watch this video to find out how to enter to win your autographed copy of Poodle and Doodle by Donna J. Shepherd, illustrated by Jack Foster.  

Joining us today is author Nicole Weaver. Nicole was born in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. She moved to the United States when she was ten years old. She is fluent in four languages and is a high school teacher. We'll talk to Nicole about her writing, the book she self-published, and her book under contract with Guardian Angel Publishing.


Welcome to the GAP Family Blog, Nicole. It's wonderful to have you with us. Can you start by telling our readers a bit about you and your writing?

I am Haitian American, who came to the United States when I was ten years old. I lived in New York, and after college I moved to Houston, Texas. I met my husband, married, and then moved to Colorado. I have three children who are 22, 20 and 14. My daughter Michele will be a junior in college and Jean-Paul my oldest just finished a dance program affiliated with Dominican University. Luc will be a sophomore in high school in the fall. I am a full time high school French and Spanish teacher. I took up writing as a hobby. A close friend of mine talked me into attending a writer’s conference with her. The conference infused me with enough confidence to venture out and write my first children’s picture book manuscript.

What is it that inspired you to pursue a career in writing?

I love spending a lot of time in the children’s section of my local library reading new releases. I became quite discouraged to see so few books about children of color. After reading Embracing Your Second Calling by Dale Bourke, I am convinced God is calling me to write books that will portray children of color in a positive light. I do the bulk of my writing during the summer months while I am on vacation from teaching.

Let’s talk about Marie and Her Friend the Sea Turtle. You self-published this book using Outskirts Press. Can you share what that experience was like?

This is a very touchy subject for me, but I am glad you asked the question. I did not like the experience at all. It was very frustrating working with my so called author representative. Many mistakes were made during production of the book. If I had to do it again, I would not go down that road. Discouragement from too many rejections got the better of me. I became too anxious and succumbed to self-publishing my book. Overall, there is a very negative sentiment toward authors who self-publish. All I can say is I am so very happy to have my second book published the traditional way. I am thrilled beyond words. This was a confirmation from God this is indeed what He wants me to do as a second career.



Marie and Her Friend the Sea Turtle is written in English, French, and Spanish. I’ve seen several bi-lingual books, but not many tri-lingual books. Why did you choose to write this book in three languages?

I am fluent in four languages, and I know from firsthand experience that a child’s brain is wired to learn languages through immersion. The younger you are the easier it is for you to master the language. I figured it would be a good idea to have all three languages side by side on each page. I have received a lot of positive feedback from parents. One parent told me after reading my book to her daughter, her daughter wanted to learn both French and Spanish. Fortunately, in Colorado we have a slew of Immersion schools. The child now attends an immersion school where she is learning both languages.

In addition to your children’s book, you’ve written poetry that has won awards. Can you tell us about this aspect of your work?

In 2005 I entered a poetry contest sponsored by my local library. I entered the contest just for fun. I never dreamed I would win first prize. I have several pieces that have been published in my church's journal. I still write a lot of poetry, it is very therapeutic for me. I hope to publish a book of poetry someday. But for now, I have included some of my poems in my memoir.

How did you become involved with Guardian Angel Publishing?

Donna McDine did a review for my newly published picture book. I saw the GAP emblem on her blog. The name Guardian Angel caught my attention, so I decided to check out their website to learn more about the company. I liked what I read about GAP and made the decision to submit my manuscript to Lynda. After a few revisions she offered me a contract.

What is your book about and when will it be released?

My book is called My Sister is My Best Friend. It is about two twin sisters who do everything together. The script is in English, French and Spanish. I got inspired to write the book after I met my half sister from my father’s side. Meeting her left me wondering what it would have been like to grow up with her. My imagination went to work full time and that is how I came up with the script. I do not know the exact time and date when the book will be released. I can only estimate that it will be late 2010 or early 2011. When I first signed the contract Lynda informed me her books are usually published between 9-12 months. I am keeping my fingers cross.



What are you working on now?

I am working on my memoir and a second children’s picture book. A group of Black editors from London invited me to submit work for a book that will be launched on August 13th, 2010. All the proceeds from the book will go to the Lambi Fund of Haiti for earthquake relief. I have one short story and a poem that will be published. Four out of six students who submitted work from my French class will get published too. I am really excited about this opportunity. Once the book is released the local media in Denver will be interviewing me and my students.

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

I tell aspiring writers to never give up. Writing is like learning a foreign language the more you practice the better you will get at it.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Thank you Cheryl for interviewing me.

Thank you to Lynda for making my dreams come true by giving me a contract. Last but not least, a big thank you goes to all of the Angels, you all are the very best!

Thanks for being with us today, Nicole. We enjoyed learning more about you. Good luck with your writing.


You can visit Nicole online at http://www.authorsden.com/nicoleweaver.

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