Drayton authors Glynis Belec and Theresa Goldrick, along with Jeannette Altwegg from the Conn area and Ruth Meyer of London, recently spent a few hours in Palmerston signing copies of the just-released book, Christmas with Hot Apple Cider.
The event, hosted by Sherry McRobb, owner of By the Book Christian bookstore (located in the rear of Family Home Health Care Centre), was part of the Palmerston Merchant’s Night on Nov. 29. Customers were treated to some hot apple cider, Christmas treats and a discount on store items.
Belec, Goldrick, Altwegg and Meyer are four of 55 writers from across Canada in Christmas with Hot Apple Cider who survived a competition to be included in this Canadian anthology, the fifth in a series designed to entertain, encourage, and inspire.
Christmas with Hot Apple Cider: Stories from the Season of Giving and Receiving is a collection of true stories, short fiction and poetry. This anthology provides a diverse look at the traditions, teaching and values surrounding the birth of Jesus.
Belec’s contribution includes two pieces. The first is a story, The Christmas Forest, about a stubborn wife who realizes, after creating her own unique Christmas forest, that the season is a lot more than tradition and twinkling lights. Her second piece—a short play, The Search shares the journey of three “Wise Women” who find Jesus in a most unlikely place and hearts are changed.
Goldrick’s story, The Gifts We Didn’t Need, focuses on a family who receives a Christmas gift, and is eventually able to pay it forward.
Altwegg’s story, Scary St. Nick, is a Santa-versus-the-Christ-child story that talks about skipping the bribes and threats and celebrating the true miracle of Christmas.
Christmas Revelation by Ruth Meyer talks of an eye-opening time as she remembered her introduction to Handel’s great Messiah in Massey Hall—quite a change from her usual old-order Mennonite surroundings.
Christmas with Hot Apple Cider: Stories from the Season of Giving and Receiving is sold in both print and digital format.
To see all the books in this series, go to hotappleciderbooks.com or writer@glynisbelec.com.
