Alas! The time has come for my longgggggggg awaited winter break. And I can say with certainty how badly I need a break from winter!
Here in very cold Canada, it feels as though we’ve been living in the frozen tundra for over two months now. Sure, people joke about Canada and the cold, but this kind of cold is NOT even the kind we grew up used to here – the usual 20 degrees F to zero. But these minus 20 and 30 temps for weeks on end are something I never signed up for as a Canadian. 🤣😂 I can’t recall going anywhere in winters past that required myself dressing for the Arctic every time I have to run out for an errand – just in and out of the car turns my legs into frozen blocks after mere seconds.
But this frostmare will be ending real soon! This will be my last post until April. I’m preparing for the summer temps I’ll be feeling in a few day’s time. My Canadian winter friends are already in Puerto Vallarta sending me messages and pics of some of our gang who are fortunate enough to already be there. I can’t wait!
As you can well imagine, there will be stories galore as always upon my return to blogland. This vacay is going to be so action-packed, I may need a vacation after my vacation. Lol. This year, my friend, children’s author, Cheryl Spears, will be joining me for the first leg of my trip, along with my very close friend Za and her husband will be flying down as well and staying in our hotel, because they need a break from the deep freeze. So many friends guarantees another amazing time. After the hotel holiday, I’ll be moving into my old homestead next door, the Grand Venetian, staying again with my good friends, Liz and Grant.
Don’t forget the Tshirt! Yes, it was last year that our friend Kevin who works in corporate for Vista Print, announced that it’s time we all had a club Tshirt, and one we are all going to wear at the Canadian karaoke dive bar we discovered last year. And he was kind enough to have them all delivered to us – so he didn’t have to use half his suitcase to bring them all.
I love the image. The Grand Venetian is the condo complex where we all stay and became friends at. Featuring the most important artifacts of both Canada and Mexico – hockey and margaritas! Lolol.
I was thrilled to be featured at Sally Cronin’s new book promotion series at her Smorgasbord Blog Magazine. In this series we share an excerpt of one of our books. Sally invites authors who’ve previously been featured at her blog to be featured in this series.
In this regular series for 2026, you are invited to share an excerpt of 400 to 500 words from any book you have written you would like to give a boost to.
This feature is for any author who has been promoted on Smorgasbord previously.
Please read full details of how to participate at the end of the post and I will respond to your emails as soon as possible.
The aim of the series
To showcase any of your books you would like to give a boost to.
To gain more reviews for the book.
Promote a selection of your other books that are available
Today an excerpt from my friend and collaborator D.G. Kaye, Debby Gies… About the Real Stages of Grief: A Journey Through Loss
.
About the book
The truth about grief: it has filled countless pages in clinical studies and personal stories, but no words can prepare us for its reality. When I lost my beloved husband, I searched for solace in grief groups and forums, longing to make sense of my experience. There I discovered something rarely spoken aloud—that many of us carry the same hidden aches and side effects of loss, the ones that seldom find their way into books.
Love does not die, and so grief never truly leaves us. It lingers, reshaping itself, teaching us to live with its many faces. This book is the story of my own passage through loss—an endurance of sorrow, and a testament to the strength of those left behind.
Grief is a heart-wrenching journey each of us will one day face. I write not only for those who are grieving, but also for the ones who walk beside them—for the friends, family, and witnesses to heartbreak—so they might understand, even a little, what it means to live with loss.
Trailer created for Debby by author Diana Wallace Peach.
Thanks so much for featuring my book here today, Sally. I’m always stoked to be featured at your house of Smorgasbord Blog Magazine.
I chose this excerpt – Condolences, to share here today because I wrote this chapter with people in mind who find it difficult to find the appropriate words when approaching someone who is grieving.
.
Excerpt Condolences
“The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing…not healing, not curing…that is a friend who cares.” — Henri Nouwen
Condolences. There are no right or soothing words for a griever. Just be present. Why is it often so difficult for people to offer their condolences? I know this difficulty myself; when it’s my turn to send condolences, I too feel stumped. In my case, I know it’s because my empathy makes me feel too much and believe that the words I have to offer could never be adequate, because I can’t make it better for them. So I do have an inkling about why so many people have a difficult time expressing condolences. Friends have asked me, what is the right thing to say? I admit, it’s a tricky topic because trying to muster up those words can sometimes become difficult. This is because, in essence, there really are no appropriate words to make us grievers feel any better in our darkest moments of loss. One thing I can say for sure; plenty of things are better left unsaid.
Sometimes, people who are lucky enough not to be familiar with this painful thing called grief may say the wrong things unintentionally. Even with good intentions, their words may not bring any comfort to us. Let’s begin with what not to say.
When we hear things like “He’s in a better place,” “He’s at peace,” “At least he’s not suffering” ad nauseum, these words only make me think, No! He was better off here with me on earth, not under it. So please refrain from these cliches. Like I said earlier, a hug and an ear are what is most beneficial for us. Sometimes, there are just no appropriate words.
We don’t need people offering us cures for our broken hearts and souls. These aren’t comforting to us while we are in the depths of our sadness—because there is no cure, merely the time, however long of it, that it takes for us to learn how to live with our grief and move forward with it. Some people feel compelled to blurt out things they think we may want to hear, just as some will say things we’d prefer be left unsaid. Yes, in our hearts, we know our loved ones are in a better place than that of suffering. But our grief is raw. And despite our knowing this is true, our hearts are aching to have them here with us. After burying the loves of our lives, we know we didn’t want them to suffer, but we are not yet ready to acknowledge the loss in our hearts.
Saying something more heartfelt is a much better option in those awkward moments. So—what is more heartfelt? For me, more heartfelt words are those that convey an understanding of the person who is grieving. For example, if a friend or family member has just lost someone, say something to the effect of “I can’t pretend to imagine your great loss, but I am here for you.” This does a lot more for me than someone saying things that have no value or leave the wrong taste.
Having said this, and having been in the same position when it’s me offering condolences, I know how easy it is to be caught off guard when comforting someone I care about who has just suffered a giant loss. We always mean well in these situations, even though our words don’t always come off as warm and fuzzy. Many people are death averse. When faced with grievers, they appear like deer in headlights—stuck for words. It happens.
Please visit Sally’s blog for a great review for this book, and for Sally’s instructions for how to be featuredat Smorgasbord Blog Magazine.
Smorgasbord Book Promotions 2026 – Share an Excerpt – Boost one of your books – #Grief #Relationships #Strength – About the Real Stages of Grief: A Journey Through Loss by D.G. Kaye
Welcome to my last Sunday Book Review before my blogging break. Today I’m reviewing Jackie Lambert’s second book to her ‘Beast’ series, book 2. In this second book of Jackie’s adventures, traveling narrow roads in the UK with the tank-like beast provides lots of humor and good information on the trials and tribulations of building this beast, getting it road worthy, and all the bits and bobs that go on to make this journey fun and doable.
“I haven’t laughed so much at the written word since Pam Ayres released Some of Me Poetry in 1976!” Drew Johnson, author of the Andalucian Adventures series
When Jackie and Mark bought The Beast, a vintage, six-wheel army lorry sight unseen off the internet, they planned the ultimate overland adventure to Mongolia with their four dogs. But when COVID-19 slammed shut international borders – it abruptly rerouted their dream.
Stranded in the U.K., they tackle life on the road in a home-built truck camper laughably over-engineered for the quaint English countryside. What follows is a laugh-out-loud British road trip, filled with mishaps, mechanical mayhem – and the hidden marvels of their homeland.
Blending travel tales with dogs, wit, and heart, More Manchester than Mongolia is a celebration of embracing life when it doesn’t go to plan. Perfect for fans of Bill Bryson, Tony Hawks, and Mark Wallington, this is a funny, feel-good memoir of resilience, rediscovery, and finding that sometimes, the best adventures are the ones we never intended to take.
.
My 5 Star Review:
After reading the first book in this series, it was a given I had to read this one. Lambert has an interesting way of sharing her storied journeys, including lots of nuggets of wisdom shared along the journey, written as though she’s speaking directly to us in her stories and descriptions.
In this book, the author shares the story about their journey through the UK in their converted, newly re-fitted (Swedish army tank) – perhaps, not yet finished, as the author, her hubby Mark, and their dog family attempt to drive to Scotland as a test drive with their new monster vehicle/home. Narrow ancient roads and all, this beast is moving! Maybe just not to Mongolia. And maybe they don’t even make it to Scotland!
Time constraints with the length it took to convert this vehicle – and Covid and Brexit, got them to a late finish, and ultimately, leaving them no choice but to move into the vehicle before, let’s say, all was perfected. Brexit added to making travel that much harder for Brits going to the EU. Praying for luck, the Beast sets out, first facing some very narrow country roads, which the author describes perfectly with added hilarity. And not to mention the many passerbyers who are marveled at such a creation. Trials and tribulations abound from sticky crossings, to broken windshield(s), to new tires required, let’s not forget about visa issues, add some electrical issues and getting stuck in soggy grounds, and just about any obstacle to put a pause on things, will happen. But then there are always – the people we meet along the way that just helps to make life better – especially at times you really need them.
On the maiden jaunt north to Scotland, the Lamberts encounter some interesting twists and turns, and some interesting people along the way, as well as the author sharing of some interesting literary sights in her detailed journey and guided tours of people, places, and events of some of the UK’s rich history. And some very helpful information for fellow RVers along the way.
A few poignant quotes from the author and what inspired the journey sums up the adventure perfectly:
“The path Mark and I have chosen is not just a way of living. It’s a means to reclaim freedom in a society that tells you to anchor yourself with a house, mortgage, and possessions. Preferably ones you need to get in debt to afford.”
“Our lifestyle offers something different. It offers time. Time to explore, to think, to breathe. And time to be present in an existence that rushes by too quickly.”
“From our obsession with travel, we had already learned that happiness doesn’t come from things; it comes from experience. And we’d observed that variety, and breaking out of everyday patterns, had the side effect of making time appear to slow down.”
” An obsession with longevity urges us to hoard time, clinging to it as though we could own it. But the lesson of a free life is that it’s not the years or the possessions you accumulate that count. It’s the richness of your days…”
“Our lifestyle is not about rejecting responsibility or ambition. It’s about prioritising joy and meaning. It’s realising that the best way to honour time is not to stretch it out endlessly, but to savour it deeply.”
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to turn an army tank into your abode and means of travel transportation, with roadblocks, restrictions, and plans, you’ll want to read this fun jaunt with the Lambert’s through some interesting parts of England for entertainment, and for some wonderful lessons in history. Like we say – it’s not only about the destination – but the journey to there.
I recently published my January Writer’s Tips before coming across this important article for authors, from the Kindlepreneur, I felt it was an important share. I don’t know about you peeps, but I don’t relish the idea of Amazon A.I. speaking for me.
Amazon’s A.I. is now describing our books – WITHIN our books! I couldn’t believe this when I came across the article from the Kindlepreneur. Since I recently published my January Writer’s Tips, this article didn’t make the cut, but so important for authors to know. It actually would have been nice had Amazon even bothered to email us and inform us, even though we have ZERO ability to stop it.
.
From the Kindlepreneur:
“Amazon just rolled out a new Kindle feature called Ask This Book. It lets readers ask questions about whatever they’re reading and get AI-generated answers on the spot.
Right now, it’s available in the Kindle iOS app for U.S. customers, with plans to expand to Kindle devices and Android later in 2026.
Forget who a character is? Want a reminder of what happened earlier? Confused about a scene? You can now ask, and the system will tell you.
What makes this different from most reading tools is that it doesn’t send you back to the page. It offers its own explanations.
And it does it without the author’s involvement, permission, or ability to intervene.
That’s the problem…”
.
My thoughts: Just no! I don’t appreciate Amazon OR A.I. describing what I MEANT in a passage of my book. I don’t appreciate A.I. translating what I intend for my readers.
DGKayewriter.com 