| Happy Spring!
In February, our four-year-old granddaughter,
Rebeka, traveled from Africa to the United States with her mommy for her Aunt
Sara's wedding. During Rebeka's ten days here, unbeknownst to us,
she'd been collecting rocks in various shades and shapes. We found
her stash behind a plaque in the guest bathroom.
The plaque: "You are precious
in God's eyes." My little rock hound reminded me that you
and I are like those rocks in that we are each uniquely
individual--all collectables in God's eyes.
CHECKERS: THEN AND NOW
A checkered board with rounded game pieces—here in the United
States, we know it as checkers,
a timeless table game.
A couple of months ago, while waiting to be
seated at a restaurant in Phoenix, I watched a family of five
gathered around a table. A father and daughter were engaged in a
playful, but intense game of checkers. The opponent’s game
pieces were being captured, kings were crowned and granted special
battle privileges. All the while engaged family members sat on the
sidelines cheering and advising.
Checkers is a game with roots
that date back to Ancient Egypt, perhaps as early as the time of
Queen Hatasu (1400 or 1500 BC). Kings and Pharaohs may have sat
about the palace in royal garb engaged in a patteia
competition, their version of draughts.
Modern checkers dates back to 12th Century Europe.
Today, checkers is still a game of choice in countries across the
globe, as well as in the United States. However, outside the
United States, you’re likely to hear the game referred to as draughts.
While walking the narrow, congested streets of Zanzibar this past
June, I encountered many sights that made my jaw drop and my eyes
widen. Intricately carved wooden double doors with polished brass
fitments and adornments. Portuguese castle walls, the remnants of
the slave trade into Europe and Asia. The port filled with fishing
dhows. The evening open air seafood grill stands and tables. But
one sight in particular tickled me. Two Tanzanian Nationals seated
on rough cast cement benches huddled over a cement table that held
a thin wooden plank checkered by a felt marker. Coke and Fanta
bottle caps served as their game pieces.
The game of checkers was an Olympic sport at
the 1896 games. In my Sinclair
Sisters of Cripple Creek Series, set in the late 1890’s,
checkers is a favorite pastime. A Sinclair family tradition, the
sisters (and brothers-in-law now) engage in checkers tournaments
on Sunday afternoons as part of their Sabbath rest. The series
opens with one such scene in the first chapter of Two Brides Too Many and
the tournament thrives in Too
Rich for a Bride, Book Two in the series.
Do you have a story or a memory related to
the game of checkers? I’d love to hear it.
My First Facebook
Launch Party! 
May 3rd is the official release
date for Book Two in The Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek
Series. That's when Too Rich for a Bride will be
available from your favorite bookseller in
traditional format, as well as in e-book and audio formats.
Join me online on
May 6, 2011 from 5-7 p.m. (PDT) to celebrate my new release! I
will be on my Facebook Author Page in the "Notes"
section ready to give away prizes, share behind-the-scenes stories
and answer your questions. If you aren't already a "fan"
of the page, please be sure to "like" it.
"A beautiful tale! Intriguing. Inviting. Inspiring."
Cindy Woodsmall,
best-selling author of When the Soul Mends
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Rebeka's gift to us.
12 Things to See in Central
AZ
1. Oak Creek Canyon: A most scenic route between
Flagstaff and Sedona.
2. Montezuma's Castle: Amazing Anasazi Indian
dwellings.
http://www.nps.gov/moca/index.htm
3. Montezuma's Well: A natural spring
amongst ancient ruins.
http://www.nps.gov/moca/montezuma-well.htm
4. Verde Canyon Railroad: Wilderness train
ride.
http://verdecanyonrr.com/
5. Sedona: Internationally famous site of many
of
John Wayne's movies.
http://www.visitsedona.com/
6. Jerome: Billion dollar copper mine,
historical copper mining camp.
http://jeromechamber.com/
7. Blazin' M Ranch: Old West fun and
chuckwagon
dinner show.
http://www.blazinm.com/
8. Fort Verde State Historic Park: Indian war
era cavalry
fort.
http://azstateparks.com/Parks/FOVE/index.html
9. Slide Rock State Park: Cool off in a
natural waterslide.
http://azstateparks.com/Parks/SLRO/
10. Sharlot Hall Museum: Living history museum of
territorial Arizona.
http://sharlot.org/
11. Prescott Rodeo: World's oldest rodeo.
http://www.worldsoldestrodeo.com/
12. Red Rock Fantasy: A Christmas season
spectacular!
An entire community lit up.
http://www.ilxresorts.com/resort/los_abrigados_resort_spa/whats_new
Where in the World is Mona?
April 27
Speak - Cottage Home School
Colorado Springs, Colorado
April 28-30
Participate - Pikes Peak Writers Conference
Colorado Springs, Colorado
April 30, Saturday
Meet & Greet Book Signing Event, 1:00-3:00pm
Mardel on Powers
Colorado Springs, Colorado
May 1, Sunday
Meet & Greet Book Signing Event, Noon-3:00pm
Cripple Creek District Museum
Cripple Creek, Colorado
May 2
Guest on Christa Allen's Blog, The Truth in Fiction
May 3, Tuesday
The official release date for Too Rich for a Bride
May 6, Wednesday
Facebook Launch Party for Too Rich for a Bride
May 20
Bustles and Spurs Blog, Monthly Columnist
May 26
Guest on Trish Perry's Blog, Interview
August 10-13
Teach
Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers' Conference
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Am I speaking or signing books in your area?
If so, I hope you’ll come see me.
A Recipe for You!
Mona's Taco Salad
A bag of Fritos corn chips
1lb ground hamburger or ground turkey, cooked
1/2 cup diced red or green onion
1 package of Taco Seasoning
1 small can of tomato sauce
(Mix meat, onion, seasoning, and sauce and simmer in a
skillet)
2 cups shredded cheddar/jack cheese mix
2 cups shredded lettuce, I prefer romaine or other
leafy greens
2 cups diced tomatoes, I prefer halved grape/cherry
tomatoes
1 or 2 sliced avocados
Build the salad on a serving platter (or individual
plates),
starting with the Fritos, then add meat mixture, cheese,
lettuce, tomato, and top with avocado. Serve with
sour cream and fruit. Watermelon is my preference.
Thank you for sharing this time with me.
Mona
Hodgson
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