Hey Santa!
Well, the countdown is on now and I still have loads of Christmas letters to share! It is lovely how many friends have got in touch, both four-legses and two, to stop me having to wear those horrid antlers this year!
And it doesn’t take much… just a Christmas wish, a letter…anything to say that friends are thinking of me.
Considering I was never really what you’d call a cat lover…or at least, not in the way most two-legses would approve of, it is surprising how many cats have gathered round too. And that has taught me something. It isn’t how many legs or whether you bury bones or climb trees that matters. And it’s not how big or small you are… just how big your heart is.
I had a letter the other year from a cat called Merlin who looks after Anita Dawes and Jaye Marie. He’s the same colour as me and likes tennis balls… he’s not bad for a cat 😉 And he’d probably have liked my special tree too.
This year, I had a lovely letter from his two-legses…you can see where he gets his big heart from.
Pop an extra tennis ball in your sleigh for Merlin, please? He can have one of mine if you like.
Much love, Ani xxx
Dear Ani
We would love to wish you and your family
a very Merry Christmas, and the best New Year ever!
2020 sounds as if it will be very special, don’t you agree?
I hope Santa doesn’t forget to fill your stocking with all your favourite treats,
enough to last the year, but no peeking before Christmas Day!
Happy dreaming, Ani, and big Christmas hugs
From Anita, Jaye and Merlin…
About Jaye
Jaye Marie is affectionately known as the giant redwood, probably because she is very tall, but also because of her love for trees. Most afternoons she can be found repotting or taking care of her bonsai collection, but her love of detective mysteries soon brings her back indoors. She has written three fiction novels in this genre, Nine Lives, Out of Time and Crossfire and is looking forward to publishing Silent Payback, her fourth book.
She spends any free time learning everything she can about self-publishing, and despite all the obstacles, she never gives up on anything and is as stubborn as a mule. She also shares a website with Anita Dawes…
Find and Follow Jaye
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Find all Jaye’s books on her Amazon Author Page
About Anita
Hi, my name is Anita and although I am 71, I am by no means a ‘silver surfer’. I have been writing fiction novels for a while now, but never managed to be picked up by any of the mainstream publishers. They all said they loved what I wrote, but found it hard to slot them into a category! It came tantalisingly close, but no cigar, as they say.
I realised I would have to try something else. I saved all of the rejection letters, because most of them had very encouraging comments. If my mother had slapped me as gently when I was a child, it wouldn’t have hurt half as much!
I even wrote to James Herbert once in desperation and he was so kind and supportive, it gave me the inspiration to continue writing.
Now I am retired and with the help of my sister-in-law Jaye, (who has learnt to be a ‘surfer’) we decided to dust off some of my manuscripts and try to achieve the impossible with a second chance to find out if anyone out there likes the kind of books I write…
How do I write?
I am a paper and pencil girl. You could chain me to a computer for years and nothing would happen! Jaye, on the other hand is managing to cope with all the editing and marketing, but then she has far more patience than I do. (And she is as stubborn as a mule which helps a lot!)
They say you are never too old to learn, but in my case never is another word for infinity!
What made me want to write?
I love music, especially country music. It always seems to take me to where my own hurt lives. Songs about heartache help my pen run along the paper, almost as though the pain writes the words.
How do I find my characters?
They tend to find me. I was listening to ‘Ruby, don’t take your love to town’ sung by Kenny Rogers and a few days later the characters for Bad Moon popped into my head and just took over. I seem to have an affinity with West Virginia and the people who live there. Just hearing the way they talk makes a connection in my head, maybe I lived there once in another life.
It was the same with The Scarlet Ribbon. The words of that song put the characters in my head and they pulled me in.
Not so sure where the idea for Simple came from, even though it is a similar story to Bad Moon, but there was a girl at school when I was eleven who had a bad stammer, and I often wonder what became of her.
The books I like to read…
I love the stories of Merlin and Arthur, but my reading list covers a wide range of genres. One of my all-time favourites is ‘River God’ by Wilbur Smith, the character of Taita really spoke to me.
Find and follow Anita
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Anita’s Author Page/Amazon Link
Click to go to Anita’s Amazon page for all her books
Sue Vincent's Daily Echo 
That’s a great attitude to have, Ani. I wish everyone would remember that kind of thing. Not just at Christmas either. Lots of licks, Lilie
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Exactly, Lilie. Every day can be someone’s ‘Christmas’ xx
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Such a lovely idea and plan.
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Let’s hope all wishes come true 🙂
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Merlin is a very gracious cat!
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He is indeed 🙂
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👍❤️
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Another great letter, Ani. You have so many good friends, cats, dogs, and humans. Lucky you. Dot the dog.
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Freinds are the BEST, Dot 😉
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What a cute post, Ani. It’s nice to meet Merlin.
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Thanks, Robbie 🙂
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Ani and Merlin have the secret to happiness figured out; love. A tummy rub here and a treat there. The two-legs take good care of them.
Merry Christmas from Harley the cat.
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Harley, it sounds like you have her well trained too 😉 Happy Christmas!
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Thanks for your help, Ani and Sue. We think Christmas is going to be really special this year!
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I hope so 🙂
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Ani how exciting you got a letter from Merlin and then an extra new from his two, two legses! Now that’s got to help spare you Antlers.
That’s a lovely letter ladies, and Merlin , also it’s really lovely to see what you ladies look like 💜
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I may just have enough now to take me up to Christmas Eve… and save me from a horrid fate 😀 xxx
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Oh! Do hope so , I will join you if your two legs sneaks the antlers on you! I am here to support. Love Ruby 💜💜
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She’s better not…a deal’s a deal. We had words about that last year 😉 xxx
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But you know she is wearing that smile , we’d best keep an eye on her💜
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Yeah… not sure I trust her on this one 😉 xxx
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Me either, they can be so cunning! willow is not above the odd subdifuse 💜
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Hmmm… they’re both as bad, it seems 😉 xxx
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Yup! You have to watch them closely!
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Oh yes 😉
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🥴🙃
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Pingback: Ani’s Advent 2019! Simple things… and a letter from Anita and Jaye | willowdot21
Another lovely Christmas letter. I guess even cats can enjoy a close relationship with tennis balls. Merry Christmas!
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Everyone should have a tennis ball 😉
xxx
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You have such a big heart Ani. Look how many friends you have all desperate to keep you out of the antlers! ❤ xx
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I know! I think I have her beaten this year 🙂 xxx
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LOL you just might! ❤
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Hmmmm… 😉 xx
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