Christmas Gift Idea - Meyer

A few days ago, I pulled a copy of the original Hot Apple Cider down off my shelf and started reading it. I had read it when it first came out four years ago but I’m enjoying it all over again now. I am an extremely fast reader with a low retention rate, which allows me to enjoy all over again books that I have read in the past.

Hot Apple Cider is a book worth reading again. In the past four years, 30,000 copies have been given out at Girls Night Out and Couples Night Out events, and 15,000 additional copies have been sold, making Hot Apple Cider a Canadian bestseller.

Jane Kirkpatrick says, “Inventive and filled with grace, Hot Apple Cider is just what its name implies: an open door, a warm invitation, a friend when needed and least expected, a gentle calling toward a generous life. From the shores of Australia and a woman’s grief, to Romania and a choice we all must make, to the town of Stuckville anywhere in the world and a dozen other settings, in prose and poetry and non-fiction, these stories remind us that God draws us together and speaks to us uniquely and in community. If you’re looking for inspiration, something to breathe in for reassurance that you’re not alone, something to remind you to hear God’s voice in acts of compassion, spend an afternoon with Hot Apple Cider. It could just change your life.”

People sometimes find they have a bit of extra time during the Christmas season to read a book. Hot Apple Cider is a great choice for winter reading for yourself, or it would make a great gift for just about anyone on your Christmas list. You can also put it together as a gift set with A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider. Both books are available on Amazon or directly from the publisher. 

To beat the winter blues, curl up with a cup of Hot Apple Cider!

Dorene Meyer

www.dorenemeyer.com

www.goldrockpress.com

Author of Rachel's Children

Also available as an eBook

Standing Alone - Meyer

When you lead a charge into battle

Don’t be surprised

When you find yourself

Manitoba Launch of A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider

Standing alone

There’s times they’ll be with you

And times when they won’t

It’s not really a betrayal

But just the way things are

It was your idea in the first place

You who rallied the troops

You who convinced them

The cause was worthwhile

They seemed to be with you

Eager to help

Eager to join in the fight

But when the chips are down…

And you lead the charge into battle

Don’t be surprised

When you find yourself

Standing alone

I wrote this poem a while ago, and although there are times when this is very true, I want to share with you today some cases where I have not stood alone.

The Word Guild recently celebrated their 10^th year as an organization that gives support to Canadian Christian authors.  I have been a part of this wonderful organization for the past eight years. I recently returned from Write!Canada, a conference that unites writers from all across Canada. I plan my year around this conference. I have had travel grants from the Manitoba Arts Council which have enabled me to attend in previous years.

The Manitoba Writers Guild recently celebrated their 30^th year. I’ve been a member of that organization for the past eight or so years as well. There is a bookstore in Winnipeg, McNally Robinson Booksellers, that is VERY supportive of Manitoba (and other) authors hosting book events almost every night of the year.

As the owner of Goldrock Press, I have had the privilege of being the editor to various anthologies. Each time, there is a bond of friendship that grows between the writers. On July 1^st, I will be doing a joint book signing at “The Forks” in Winnipeg with a writer from my Prairie Writers anthologies, volumes 1 and 3. Recently, this writer, Barbara Becker went on to be the editor of her own anthologies and I was privileged to be part of one of these: Measured Words, volume 2. On July 1^st, Barbara and I will have a table with both of our anthologies on it. Also on that table will be some copies of A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider, another collaborative effort between authors from across Canada.

And yes, there are still moments when we will feel alone. The picture above is a case in point. A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider has sold over 5,000 copies across Canada but I had only ONE person show up for the “Manitoba launch of A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider.” Some days are like that. And I wasn’t truly alone even then. That one person and I had a very good, long overdue, visit. And the carrot cake and hot apple cider were quite yummy.

And although there will be times when we FEEL alone, we are never truly alone. Jesus promised “I will be with you always.” Anytime… anywhere… in our good days and in our bad, He is always with us.

Dorene Meyer

Editor of Northern Writers volume 3

www.dorenemeyer.com

www.goldrockpress.com