cj Sez: On December
21, the Winter Solstice occurs in the Northern Hemisphere. That’s when the
nights reach their longest in the global north—in Fairbanks in Alaska, the sun barely
makes it above the horizon during the winter solstice before the scene dips
back into darkness.
Conversely the date is the Summer Solstice in the Southern
Hemisphere, when the days reach their longest in the global south.
For you romance writers, if your protagonist exclaimed that
the earth stood still when her lover kissed her, she might be right—depending on
when the kiss happened. How is that so, you ask?
It’s because for several days before and after each summer
or winter solstice, the sun appears to stand still in
the sky, i.e., the sun actually pauses in its path at a northern or southern
limit before reversing direction… for two or three days.
§§
Star light, star bright . . . 
As 2020 skids to a close, the world will witness a celestial
Christmas phenomenon that it hasn’t seen in nearly 800 years, not since March
4, 1226.
During the December 21 Winter Solstice, the planets Jupiter and Saturn will
align so closely together that to the naked eye they will appear to be one dazzling
star—referred to as the “Star of Bethlehem” or the “Christmas Star.” The
astronomical phenomenon is expected to stay visible in the Northern Hemisphere
for the entire last week of December.
Mark your calendars for a once-in-a-lifetime look, because the
brilliant star won’t appear again until 2080.
§§
Books are Christmas gifts that keep on
giving year-round, and anthologies are even better because there’s more than
one story to enjoy.
With that in mind, let me help you out with a wonderful
gift idea: Seven short stories in one great anthology, HOMEROOM HEROES.
Better
yet, it’s a two-fer: part of the proceeds from this anthology will benefit the
Acadiana Writing Project.
My short story “The Substitute,” is about an FBI agent
working undercover as a substitute adapted physical education teacher for a
class of physically and mentally challenged students while he investigates
Federal fraud and tax evasion. His job gets even more complicated when he falls in love with the beautiful, first-grade teacher assigned to help him
with the kids.
HOMEROOM HEROES joins HOMETOWN HEROES and FINALLY HOME as
the third in a series of anthologies published by Bienvenue Press benefiting
various charities. All are free on Kindle Unlimited.
From paranormal to
contemporary to historical, there are short stories in all three anthologies to
fill everyone with the spirit of the season. Look for them on Amazon and at
other fine book sellers.
§§
December 25 is the third auspicious event this week. Though
it may seem rather antithetical to wish everyone a Merry Christmas when we’re
still in the throes of a pandemic, it is with joy that I celebrate the birth of
Christ—a figure of love and hope.
§§
That’s it for
today’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.
cj
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Thanks for the uplifting post. I hope the bright star will herald very good things! Stay safe and enjoy the holidays.
ReplyDeletecj Sez: Thank you, Kaye, for stopping by. Praying your holidaze are filled with the gift of good health.
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