No, this isn't an entry about another heavenly book.  It happens to be 5 years today that my dad passed away, and I thought I'd send him a letter.  Maybe somehow it'll find it's way beyond earth.

Hey Dad,

I can hardly believe it's been 5 years already that you've been gone.  How I wish you could have stayed around awhile longer.  Mostly because I miss you, but also because you would have been shaking your head on a daily basis as to the things that's occurred.........

Remember that war that started a few weeks before you died?  It's still going on.  Unfortunately.  Heck, this has lasted longer than your tour of duty during WWII.

And politics......oh, how you would have enjoyed these past five years!  Things have happened in our government that you never would have thought possible.  You would have really enjoyed those talk shows on the radio that you listened to every day.  And the discussions that you and I would have had.....it would have been fun and informative.

The celebrity world is as crazy as it ever was.  Okay, maybe more so.  I remember how you'd hear a snippet on the news and you'd call me and say, "Hey, Theresa, did ya hear......"  And the climate and global warming.....it's gotten worse since you left.  Hurricanes, and tornadoes and all kinds of crazy weather.

And since you've left, we've had other losses too.......Mom went on to join you and also Aunt Marie and Uncle Barney.  We also lost Angus......you loved that cat, so I have no doubt he's fine.  And last year, we lost our beloved Holly, right on your birthday, May 9........you also loved Holly, so it made me feel a little better that she had to leave earth on that particular day.  She was a great dog and I like to think she's getting extra special pats from you now.

I sure wish you could have been here these past five years to see........your great-grandson graduate high school as Valedictorian and then go on to win a four-year scholarship to Worcester Poly Tech.  Or to see what a star basketball player your 14 year old great-granddaughter is.  It would have been a lot of fun to celebrate my 60th birthday in Paris last year with you there.  And it sure would have been great to go to Normandy next month........sixty-four years after you landed on Omaha Beach.......and have you there with your grandson and me.  Somehow though, I know we'll feel your presence.  And how great it would have been if on Feb. 26 of this year I could have picked up that phone after my call from Kensington Publishing and said, "Hey, dad.  Guess what?"

I think of you often........every time I look at that cribbage board here in my studio that you made so many years ago.  My last game of cribbage was the one I played with you.  I think of you sometimes when I'm making coffee in the morning and I go to put a paper filter in the coffee maker.......those darn things always stick together, but you taught me many years ago to blow on them and sure enough, magically they come apart.  Every single time I use that huge dictionary that you gave me, I think of you.  It stays permanently here on my desk. 

I miss you a lot, Dad, and I'm so glad that I always made sure you knew how proud and happy I was to be your daughter. You were the best Dad.  All those things you taught me........I value them more each day.  So even though you're not right here with me.......I always strongly feel your presence, still looking out for me, still making sure I'm okay and still loving me. 

I love you too, Dad.

Your daughter  ~  Theresa

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And I'll see everyone here next time..............

Isn't that a great title for a book?  And isn't this a great cover?

Like most readers, I admit I'm pretty picky about my reading choices.  I love a great story, with characters that I feel I know when I finish that last page.  I like stories that have meaning, take me "away" (like that old Calgon commercial) or make me think.  And if the stories make me smile or laugh, all the better.  I even don't mind having a box of tissues next to me as I read along. (Think:  Marley and Me)

As you might recall, I got together with this author recently and bought a few copies of her latest novel.  I began reading it Sunday morning and literally couldn't put it down.  I finished it Monday morning.  It's been quite awhile since I enjoyed a book that much.

So what was it that grabbed me like that?  Everything about it.  Here's what the jacket blurb says on the back:

                                    When Skye Sebring, a hospitality greeter inside the pearly gates of Heaven, meets

                                    lawyer Ryan Blaine during his brush with death after a motorcycle accident, she

                                    falls so deeply in love that she follows him back to Earth, a world with strange

                                    customs she knows nothing about--until she discovers that all of life's lessons can

                                    be learned from the lyrics of five Beatles songs.

I admit.....when I first read that, I thought, "Hmm, sounds a bit silly."  Silly, it is NOT!  I must say that this little jacket blurb really doesn't do the entire novel full justice.  There's so much more to the story.  I did love the fact that the main character was a "hospitality greeter in Heaven."  I mean, come on, how many of those characters do you get to meet?  And that's how the entire story struck me.  The author came up with a very clever plot and I'm amazed at the ability of her imagination.  It's creativity at it's best, in my opinion.

Karin's writing is superb.  The story moves along at a very fast clip and has you turning pages to see what will happen next. (Hence, why I devoured it in 24 hours!) The characters are not only "real" (yes, even the Heavenly ones) but they make you feel happy to know them. 

I was really captivated with the author's concept and description of Heaven......When you check in there, everybody gets a "WishBerry."  She states in the book, "In Heaven, you can wish for anything you want, and, abracadabra, it appears!"  So that means all of us have to wait to leave Earth to get ones of those, I think.

And Earthly Pleasures?  That's a special television channel that they have in Heaven.  That's where we can check up on what's happening to our loved ones here on Earth.  (Personally, I just love the thought of that!)

You'll meet Skye's client, 13-year old Chelsea, who entered Heaven before her time due to a skateboarding accident without a helmet.  And also Rhianna, Skye's best friend in Heaven and a whole cast of other characters, both earth-bound and celestial. 

When Skye gets the chance to return to earth, she must attend Dr. Mullins class, Earth 101.  This is where she learns about the Beatles songs and I have to say this was one of my favorite parts of the book.  The author has woven five of life's very important lessons into the lyrics.

The novel is humorous, witty, poignant and beyond entertaining.  I loved the life lessons from Earth 101, and the way the author wove them into her story was just part of the charm.  I believe in angels (very strongly) I believe that those who have passed on before us pay us visits here on earth in many various ways and now, I'd like to believe that Heaven is exactly as this author tells us it is.

Karin's latest release leaves the reader feeling delightfully entertained when that final page is read.  If you haven't had a chance to read it yet, I strongly recommend you get a copy at your local book store or Amazon.com.  And you can visit Karin's website at:  www.karenneches.com

See you here next time..........

I had a wonderfully relaxing and enjoyable weekend......and here it is Monday again already!

Ray and I attended the dedication of the Sculpture Garden (above) at the Arts Center Saturday evening.  It was very nice and a chance to socialize and gab with everyone. A lot of work and dedication went into creating the garden and it now provides a beautiful and restful spot in downtown Cedar Key.

 Upstairs in the Arts Center was the gallery opening and reception for this month.......Connie Nelson has lived on the island almost thirty years and is a mixed media artist with extraordinary talent.   Her work displayed both a sense of humor and the serious tone of her pieces following 9/11. 

Arts Center members also had their art displayed in the Members Gallery and I was pleased to see a wonderful piece by my friend Joyce's son, Thomas.  And I'm ashamed to say I didn't manage to snap a photo of his wonderful work.

All of the work will be on display at the Arts Center through the month of April, so if you're in town, do plan to stop by there.  This coming weekend is our annual Arts Festival which everyone looks forward to.

Saturday was also a red-letter day for me.............my signed contract from Kensington arrived along with the first portion of my advance.  I can now say that I'm officially on board and a Kensington author.  And yes.......how sweet it is! 

My webmistress is doing a fantastic job with my new website and I'm very pleased.  Still a bit more work to be done, but it won't be long before I'll be releasing it to the public.

Yesterday it poured for the entire day on the island.  It just made everything a more vivid shade of green and brought forth even more blossoms on trees and bushes.  It was also a great day to curl up with a good book and that's exactly what I did.  It was so good that I finished it in 24 hours. 

So join me here next time and I'll tell you all about it.  See you then...........