Let’s Talk with Cheryl Hollon Archive


Versatility of Pickles

  Did you know today is National Pickle Day? Neither did I.   The origins of National Pickle Day trace back to the early 2000s when the Pickle Packers International, a trade group representing pickle manufacturers, began promoting the holiday to bring awareness to the long history, cultural significance, and surprising versatility of pickles. However, […]

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  Did you know today is National Pickle Day? Neither did I.   The origins of National Pickle Day trace back to the early 2000s when the Pickle Packers International, a trade group representing pickle manufacturers, began promoting the holiday to bring awareness to the long history, cultural significance, and surprising versatility of pickles. However, […]

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Addicted to Writer’s Conferences

My name is Cheryl Hollon, and I am addicted to writer’s conferences. I am absolutely addicted (in a good way) to mystery conferences. It’s where I get inspiration and support from fellow writers. I’m usually lucky to find my fellow Booklover’s Bench authors at some point. In the image below are Debra H Goldstein, Cheryl […]

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My name is Cheryl Hollon, and I am addicted to writer’s conferences. I am absolutely addicted (in a good way) to mystery conferences. It’s where I get inspiration and support from fellow writers. I’m usually lucky to find my fellow Booklover’s Bench authors at some point. In the image below are Debra H Goldstein, Cheryl […]

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Celebrating Happiness Happens Day

August 8th is Happiness Happens Day, a day dedicated to spreading happiness. This day reminds us to cherish the moments that bring us joy and appreciate the positive impact of happiness on our lives. Happiness Happens Day was founded by the Secret Society of Happy People (SOHP), an organization established in 1998 by Pamela Gail […]

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August 8th is Happiness Happens Day, a day dedicated to spreading happiness. This day reminds us to cherish the moments that bring us joy and appreciate the positive impact of happiness on our lives. Happiness Happens Day was founded by the Secret Society of Happy People (SOHP), an organization established in 1998 by Pamela Gail […]

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Celebrating our Women Pioneers in Aviation

Did you know that on this day, June 20, 1966, Sheila Scott became the first woman to fly solo around the world? This remarkable feat caught me by surprise as I was searching for a topic for today’s Let’s Talk blog. Her journey is not just a tale of aviation but a testament to perseverance […]

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Did you know that on this day, June 20, 1966, Sheila Scott became the first woman to fly solo around the world? This remarkable feat caught me by surprise as I was searching for a topic for today’s Let’s Talk blog. Her journey is not just a tale of aviation but a testament to perseverance […]

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Celebrating Indulgence!

Greetings, chocolate lovers! Today is National Truffle Day. For me, however, this celebrates a velvety ball of pure cocoa bliss, meticulously crafted to melt in your mouth, sending waves of euphoria through your taste buds. Not the fruiting body of a subterranean fungus. Oh, the marvels of chocolate truffles! They are the ultimate indulgence, perfect […]

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Greetings, chocolate lovers! Today is National Truffle Day. For me, however, this celebrates a velvety ball of pure cocoa bliss, meticulously crafted to melt in your mouth, sending waves of euphoria through your taste buds. Not the fruiting body of a subterranean fungus. Oh, the marvels of chocolate truffles! They are the ultimate indulgence, perfect […]

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Celebrating the Flavors of Math: Why March 14th Is Pie Day

In the world of quirky holidays and celebrations, March 14th stands out as a day dedicated to something everyone loves – pie! But why March 14th? The date corresponds with the first three digits of the mathematical constant π (pi), approximately 3.14. Hence, it’s affectionately known as Pi Day, when math enthusiasts and foodies come […]

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In the world of quirky holidays and celebrations, March 14th stands out as a day dedicated to something everyone loves – pie! But why March 14th? The date corresponds with the first three digits of the mathematical constant π (pi), approximately 3.14. Hence, it’s affectionately known as Pi Day, when math enthusiasts and foodies come […]

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A Crafty Takeover: Is your house a display venue for hobbies?

My husband’s hobby is taking over all the display space in our tiny apartment. I’m not protesting too much. The transformation is a result of my husband’s growing passion for building wooden models. His beautiful and intricately designed models are gradually claiming all the scarce display surfaces. Once upon a time, our dining sideboard stood […]

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My husband’s hobby is taking over all the display space in our tiny apartment. I’m not protesting too much. The transformation is a result of my husband’s growing passion for building wooden models. His beautiful and intricately designed models are gradually claiming all the scarce display surfaces. Once upon a time, our dining sideboard stood […]

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Sneaking Away to Read on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day is my favorite holiday of the year. It is packed with turkey feasts, family gatherings, and expressions of gratitude. This year especially, I am thankful for a loving family that all live within a few minutes away. For the avid – no, obsessed reader, this holiday can offer a different kind of escape […]

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Thanksgiving Day is my favorite holiday of the year. It is packed with turkey feasts, family gatherings, and expressions of gratitude. This year especially, I am thankful for a loving family that all live within a few minutes away. For the avid – no, obsessed reader, this holiday can offer a different kind of escape […]

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Do you have a packing routine?

Do you have a packing routine? I have a ritual I’ve used since I started traveling internationally for my engineering job back in the 80s. Now that I’m attending mystery conferences, I use the same techniques. Here’s what my rack looked like for the largest and longest mystery conference, Bouchercon. It was held in San […]

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Do you have a packing routine? I have a ritual I’ve used since I started traveling internationally for my engineering job back in the 80s. Now that I’m attending mystery conferences, I use the same techniques. Here’s what my rack looked like for the largest and longest mystery conference, Bouchercon. It was held in San […]

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Growing By Leaps and Bounds

My hometown is growing by leaps and bounds. In fact, our most popular local bird at this moment is the construction crane. At least eight, maybe more, high-rise developments are going up within downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. It’s exciting and alarming to see so much change so quickly. I’m not complaining. The adage is that […]

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My hometown is growing by leaps and bounds. In fact, our most popular local bird at this moment is the construction crane. At least eight, maybe more, high-rise developments are going up within downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. It’s exciting and alarming to see so much change so quickly. I’m not complaining. The adage is that […]

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It’s National Camera Day!

I’ve always been interested in photography. I think it’s because my parents were both avid photographers. On the left is my mom’s ANSCO SHUR-SHOT JR box camera that she bought as a teenager. On the right is my dad’s camera, a Kodak Retina IA 35mm Film Camera with a Schneider 50mm f/3.5 lens. Mom had […]

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I’ve always been interested in photography. I think it’s because my parents were both avid photographers. On the left is my mom’s ANSCO SHUR-SHOT JR box camera that she bought as a teenager. On the right is my dad’s camera, a Kodak Retina IA 35mm Film Camera with a Schneider 50mm f/3.5 lens. Mom had […]

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National Family Reading Week!

It’s National Make-A-Book Day. Observed each year on Thursday of National Family Reading Week! This literacy initiative aims to promote the importance of reading and encourages families to read together. The history of National Family Reading Week was first established by the National Center for Families Learning (NCFL). Founded in 1989, the nonprofit organization is […]

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It’s National Make-A-Book Day. Observed each year on Thursday of National Family Reading Week! This literacy initiative aims to promote the importance of reading and encourages families to read together. The history of National Family Reading Week was first established by the National Center for Families Learning (NCFL). Founded in 1989, the nonprofit organization is […]

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It’s National Puppy Day!

National Puppy Day is a day that celebrates the joy and love that puppies bring into our lives. Observed every year on March 23rd, it has become a popular holiday for dog lovers around the world. But where did this holiday come from? In 2006 Colleen Paige, an animal behaviorist and author, founded the holiday. […]

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National Puppy Day is a day that celebrates the joy and love that puppies bring into our lives. Observed every year on March 23rd, it has become a popular holiday for dog lovers around the world. But where did this holiday come from? In 2006 Colleen Paige, an animal behaviorist and author, founded the holiday. […]

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It’s Groundhog Day!

Groundhog Day, which takes place on February 2nd every year, is a traditional holiday in the United States and Canada. It is based on the belief that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If the groundhog does not see […]

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Groundhog Day, which takes place on February 2nd every year, is a traditional holiday in the United States and Canada. It is based on the belief that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If the groundhog does not see […]

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New Year Thoughts

For 2023, our author collective resolves to take positive actions to make the world better in some way. There’s so much we can do for the people we already know and for those we haven’t met yet. Here are a few thoughts about how one kindness often begets another. First we shouldn’t worry about what […]

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For 2023, our author collective resolves to take positive actions to make the world better in some way. There’s so much we can do for the people we already know and for those we haven’t met yet. Here are a few thoughts about how one kindness often begets another. First we shouldn’t worry about what […]

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Happy Holidays to All of You from All of Us!

Happy Holidays to all of our friends, fans, and writing communities! Our authors are here to share their self-care tips that help them make it through the busy holidays. When your schedule gets overloaded, remember to take time for yourself. It will get better. Plus, what fun it is to de-stress with us! Maggie Toussaint: […]

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Happy Holidays to all of our friends, fans, and writing communities! Our authors are here to share their self-care tips that help them make it through the busy holidays. When your schedule gets overloaded, remember to take time for yourself. It will get better. Plus, what fun it is to de-stress with us! Maggie Toussaint: […]

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Time to Start my Advent Calendar

It’s the first day of December. Time to start my Advent Calendar! I’m a big fan. My earliest advent memory was when my mother bought one for us three kids when we were all under five. It wasn’t fancy. The calendar merely revealed a Christmas image, but still, we were so excited for each day […]

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It’s the first day of December. Time to start my Advent Calendar! I’m a big fan. My earliest advent memory was when my mother bought one for us three kids when we were all under five. It wasn’t fancy. The calendar merely revealed a Christmas image, but still, we were so excited for each day […]

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Today’s my Lucky Day

Today’s my lucky day! It’s October 13th. I’m one of those folks who adore the number 13. Not everyone is a fan, and some cultures are extremely adverse to anything associated with it. For me, it was the day I became a mother. It was also the day of my first international trip to the […]

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Today’s my lucky day! It’s October 13th. I’m one of those folks who adore the number 13. Not everyone is a fan, and some cultures are extremely adverse to anything associated with it. For me, it was the day I became a mother. It was also the day of my first international trip to the […]

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My Appalachian Heritage

I’ve been celebrating the release of my latest mystery, DEATH A SKETCH (Paint & Shine Book #3). This book means the world to me. It is set in the county where my family originates. These precious guitars spent their existence in the talented hands of my parents. The long marriage of my parents – over […]

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I’ve been celebrating the release of my latest mystery, DEATH A SKETCH (Paint & Shine Book #3). This book means the world to me. It is set in the county where my family originates. These precious guitars spent their existence in the talented hands of my parents. The long marriage of my parents – over […]

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Once in a Lifetime

I’ve returned from a once-in-a-lifetime tour to visit a site on my bucket list – Petra, Jordan. I’ve been fascinated with this wonder of the modern world since it was featured in one of my all-time favorite movies: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The final scenes in the movie feature the iconic Treasury, the […]

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I’ve returned from a once-in-a-lifetime tour to visit a site on my bucket list – Petra, Jordan. I’ve been fascinated with this wonder of the modern world since it was featured in one of my all-time favorite movies: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The final scenes in the movie feature the iconic Treasury, the […]

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Our Favorite Celebration

It’s our Anniversary! It’s a BIG anniversary! George and I are celebrating this one by repeating a previous favorite. We’re taking a Royal Caribbean cruise on one of their giant ships to Aruba and Curacao. We’ll be having a special dinner tonight. The internet service in these floating cities is abysmal, so please be patient […]

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It’s our Anniversary! It’s a BIG anniversary! George and I are celebrating this one by repeating a previous favorite. We’re taking a Royal Caribbean cruise on one of their giant ships to Aruba and Curacao. We’ll be having a special dinner tonight. The internet service in these floating cities is abysmal, so please be patient […]

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It’s National Tater Day

Today is special because it’s National Tater Day. Husband and I can’t resist them. If they appear on the menu, we’re probably going to order them. I’m so glad they have a special holiday. Our favorites (at the moment) are at Bier Boutique in the Round Lake area of St. Petersburg, FL. I’ve been walking […]

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Today is special because it’s National Tater Day. Husband and I can’t resist them. If they appear on the menu, we’re probably going to order them. I’m so glad they have a special holiday. Our favorites (at the moment) are at Bier Boutique in the Round Lake area of St. Petersburg, FL. I’ve been walking […]

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Valentine’s Day

by Cheryl Hollon My favorite holiday after Christmas is Valentine’s Day. My husband is terrible at remembering our other special days like birthdays or anniversaries, but he never misses Valentine’s Day. He’s knocked it out of the park every time. Most times, it’s a sweet popup card. Sometimes, it’s a fabulous box of chocolates. The […]

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by Cheryl Hollon My favorite holiday after Christmas is Valentine’s Day. My husband is terrible at remembering our other special days like birthdays or anniversaries, but he never misses Valentine’s Day. He’s knocked it out of the park every time. Most times, it’s a sweet popup card. Sometimes, it’s a fabulous box of chocolates. The […]

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Let’s Talk with Cheryl Hollon

Posted on December 2, 2021 by Cheryl Hollon

The perfect decoration for the Holidays! By Cheryl Hollon This is the first holiday season after my beloved mother passed. It is a bittersweet joy to hang this treasured banner on my wall to celebrate the twelve days of Christmas. It’s a fascination we shared from my childhood. One year, my mom’s sister-in-law gifted her […]

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Let’s Talk with Cheryl Hollon

Posted on October 14, 2021 by Cheryl Hollon

I found a new co-working space for writing! By Cheryl Hollon Even before the shutdown last year, I had fallen in love with co-working spaces throughout downtown St. Petersburg. I loved the energy of a creative environment usually fueled by an in-house coffee shop. I would pick a quiet corner and pound out my word […]

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Let’s Talk with Cheryl Hollon

Posted on August 26, 2021 by Cheryl Hollon

Red Hot Time By Cheryl Hollon It’s a Red Hot Time in St. Pete! Unfortunately, cooler weather is still months away. As the calendar reaches the end of August, my tolerance for the relentlessly hot days also reaches an end. Typically, we would be on vacation to mountain country, enjoying cool mornings and firepits at […]

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Let’s Talk with Cheryl Hollon

Posted on July 8, 2021 by Cheryl Hollon

New eateries in St. Petersburg by Cheryl Hollon Things are opening up quite a bit here in St. Petersburg. My husband and I have both been vaccinated and find that we’re comfortable with outside dining. We have tried a few new places. One is called Bier Boutique. They specialize in scratch-made food, a fine selection […]

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Let’s Talk with Cheryl Hollon

Posted on May 20, 2021 by Cheryl Hollon

It’s World Bee Day By Cheryl Hollon In 2014, the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association proposed the idea for World Bee Day. Instantly, a resolution was proposed to the United Nations for the project. All UN countries adopted it unanimously and 115 countries signed on as co-sponsors. The day was designed “to raise awareness of the importance […]

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Let’s Talk with Cheryl Hollon

Posted on April 1, 2021 by Cheryl Hollon

Don’t Fool with my Sourdough By Cheryl Hollon It’s National Sourdough Day which is no April Fools’ Day joke with me. For my late father, it was a serious business. Dad made the holiday cloverleaf dinner rolls for Easter with his usual exacting focus. It was a production effort that rivaled the D-Day landing for […]

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Let’s Talk With Cheryl Hollon

Posted on February 11, 2021 by Cheryl Hollon

Happy Valentine’s Day! By Cheryl Hollon I’ve been receiving amazing Valentine’s Day gifts almost my whole life. Partly because my husband and I met on a blind date when I was only sixteen. Even then, he knew the secret to my heart and remembered the lesson every year. I love chocolate – a lot! Last […]

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Let’s Talk about Resolutions

Posted on December 31, 2020 by Terry Ambrose

We hereby resolve to… by Debra H Goldstein, Nancy J Cohen, Lois Winston, Cheryl Hollon, Diane A.S Stuckart, and Maggie Toussaint I’ve given up resolving to do things like exercise, lose weight, or be a kinder person; so, my resolutions for 2021 (beyond hugging family and friends again) are 1) embrace my tendency to procrastinate […]

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Let’s Talk about Light

Posted on December 24, 2020 by Terry Ambrose

Happy Holidays to All! What a strange year 2020 has been! And there’s good news-we’ve all survived the pandemic thus far. Keep up the great work of protecting yourself and your family by wearing masks and social distancing until we get through the vaccination process. Meanwhile, your friends at Booklover’s Bench want to help shine […]

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Let’s Talk with Cheryl Hollon

Posted on December 17, 2020 by Cheryl Hollon

City Lights in St. Petersburg by Cheryl Hollon As the holiday season approaches, I’m grateful to live in downtown St. Petersburg, FL. The city shines in so many delightful ways – the lighting of the tree is the start. Many festive scenes are displayed around the North Straub Park near the waterfront. The figures are […]

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Let’s Talk with Cheryl Hollon

Posted on November 5, 2020 by Cheryl Hollon

Pelicans Everywhere by Cheryl Hollon Earlier this year St. Petersburg, Florida declared the pelican as the official bird of the city. It’s been the unofficial bird for decades. It has adorned recycling bins, trash cans, and city promotional materials since the 1980s. A new sculpture at the entrance to the renovated pier is a large, […]

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Let’s Talk with Cheryl Hollon

Posted on September 24, 2020 by Cheryl Hollon

The sculptures around town are masking up By Cheryl Hollon Wild Bill Hickock in front of The James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art is setting a good example of a masked sculpture. In order to tour the museum during the pandemic, you must wear a mask in addition to having your temperature checked. It […]

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Let’s Talk with Cheryl Hollon

Posted on August 13, 2020 by Cheryl Hollon

St. Petersburg has a New Pier By Cheryl Hollon We have a delightful brand-new pier in downtown St. Petersburg, FL. It’s been quite a long construction phase and quite a lot of money to replace the inverted triangle that was the city’s prior icon. In fact, I loved that pier so much, I had my […]

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Let’s Talk with Cheryl Hollon

Posted on July 2, 2020 by Cheryl Hollon

Summers on the farm in Kentucky By Cheryl Hollon It’s a new series! The Book Birthday for Still Knife Painting was two days ago and I’m still over the moon in delight! This new series is close to my heart. The setting is in eastern Kentucky where my parents were born and my grandparents were […]

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Let’s Talk with Cheryl Hollon

Posted on May 21, 2020 by Cheryl Hollon

Happy Anniversary By Cheryl Hollon It’s our wedding anniversary month. Over the years, George and I have celebrated in several spectacular but many more mundane ways. The tradition for your first anniversary was to have the top layer of your wedding cake as a dessert. However, George was in the Air Force stationed at Loring […]

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Let’s Talk with Cheryl Hollon

Posted on April 9, 2020 by Cheryl Hollon

Nah Dogs, Ice Cream, and Fried Chicken By Cheryl Hollon When life goes sideways, I seek comfort food. Eating well has become a habit in my family. Perhaps an obsession. We have been eating an organic, locally sourced, low sodium diet for a couple of years. The changes were VERY slow, but we feel fantastic. […]

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Let’s Talk with Cheryl Hollon

Posted on February 27, 2020 by Cheryl Hollon

An Extra Day by Cheryl Hollon It’s almost leap day! It happens every four years. We get an extra day to balance out the untidiness between the actual time it takes our planet to make an orbit around the sun versus trying to keep seasonal sense by the cycles of our moon. Some strange customs […]

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Let’s Talk with Cheryl Hollon

Posted on January 16, 2020 by Cheryl Hollon

Happy New Year! by Cheryl Hollon I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. Nope. Not me. None of those well-intentioned wishes ever made it past February anyway. It turned out that they were also the same over and over again. Every. Single. Year. I was setting myself up for failure and feeling wretched. Not good. What […]

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Holiday Let’s Talk

Posted on December 19, 2019 by Terry Ambrose

Happy Holidays! Today, we’re sharing how holiday traditions changed over the years. New birth and Hanukkah for Nancy. December holidays for our family in the earlier days meant gathering around the menorah each evening in the dining room, lighting the candles, and then watching our kids open one of eight or more gifts for Hanukkah. […]

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Let’s Talk with Cheryl Hollon

Posted on November 21, 2019 by Cheryl Hollon

Thanksgiving Thanks! by Cheryl Hollon I am grateful for so many things this year. The list is long, but here are the most important ones. Specific to this blog, I’m grateful for readers like you. Without you, these books wouldn’t exist. I am extremely grateful that you keep support struggling authors by simply buying their […]

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Let’s Talk with Cheryl Hollon

Posted on October 10, 2019 by Cheryl Hollon

Falling into Writing By Cheryl Hollon When I retired early from a career in flight simulation engineering to pursue full-time writing, I knew some big changes were going to take place. Now that it’s been five years ago, I look back and I’m surprised at what was easy and what was challenging. A gradual transition […]

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Let’s Talk with Cheryl Hollon

Posted on August 29, 2019 by Cheryl Hollon

Service Dogs are Professionals By Cheryl Hollon One of the subjects I address in my Webb’s Glass Shop Mysteries is that service dogs are professionals. There’s Suzy on the cover of the first book in the series. She’s a beagle just like the one my family had when I was a little girl. I have […]

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Let’s Talk with Cheryl Hollon

Posted on July 18, 2019 by Cheryl Hollon

Comfort Reads by Cheryl Hollon You’ve heard of comfort food, right? There are also comfort reads! My father passed away last month at nearly 92. He lived a full and rich life filled with both challenges and blessings. He was an example to his four children in the diligent application of persistent tiny steps towards […]

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Lets Talk with Cheryl Hollon

Posted on June 6, 2019 by Cheryl Hollon

Summertime, and the reading is easy! by Cheryl Hollon   I always read more in the summer than in the winter down here in Florida. This is because I’m spending more time indoors in lovely air-conditioned comfort. The reason? It’s HOT here. It’s too hot to walk downtown in the noon-day sun. In fact, we […]

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Let’s Talk with Cheryl Hollon

Posted on April 25, 2019 by Cheryl Hollon

Decisions and Changes by Cheryl Hollon This is day 115 out of 365. Yikes, that means that this year is almost one-third done – how did that happen? I haven’t yet written down my goals for this year. But that’s another story. This is a year of change for me. Big changes. We’ve put our […]

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Let’s Talk with Cheryl Hollon

Posted on March 14, 2019 by Cheryl Hollon

Split Personality of a Writer by Cheryl Hollon At our January meeting of Florida Gulf Coast Sisters in Crime chapter, I interviewed one of St. Petersburg’s newest debut authors, Gale Massey. The interview was casual and intended to mimic a conversation. One of the topics we talked about is the split personality aspects of being […]

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Let’s Talk with Cheryl Hollon

Posted on January 31, 2019 by Cheryl Hollon

Just One Goal by Cheryl Hollon For my New Year’s Resolution, I’ve given up New Year’s Resolutions. At this time of year, most of us have a list of resolutions that read a bit like this: Save Money Exercise Lose Weight Make New Friends Find Love Every January, I would bring out my programming and […]

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Holiday Scents Group Post

Posted on December 20, 2018 by Nancy J. Cohen

HOLIDAY SCENTS Dear Friends, We’re sharing our special holiday scented memories with you. Enjoy! POTATO LATKES. Since we celebrate Hanukkah, my favorite holiday scent is the smell of potato latkes frying in oil. When I grew up, we lit the menorah candles each night for eight nights and got a small gift as well. Potato […]

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Let’s Talk with Cheryl Hollon

Posted on December 6, 2018 by Cheryl Hollon

It’s all about Beginnings by Cheryl Hollon A Holiday Season hello from Cheryl Hollon, the newest member of the Booklover’s Bench. I’m excited to join this amazing group of writers. Their posts make this site interesting, popular, and a source of inspiration. I write the Webb’s Glass Shop Mysteries published by Kensington. The books are […]

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