Saluting Mothers! -- Anne McAllister

This blog is a little late in the day because we've been celebrating Mother's Day (and yesterday I wasn't anywhere that the computer could get a signal).

Things have been a little fraught here lately.  Changes are coming, and thinking about that in conjunction with Mother's Day has made me think of a lot of the changes in the lives of mothers I know -- and how they handled them.

My maternal great-grandmother picked up her life and moved to Butte, Montana from England to follow her miner husband, bringing with her two little girls.  She liked civilization. She didn't get a lot of it in late nineteenth-century Butte.  She coped. With grace.

My maternal grandmother grew up in Butte.  She didn't have a lot of expectations. Good thing, too, as she was never disappointed.  She was strong, resilient, worked like a horse, and gave her daughters a role model they revered.

She gave her grandchildren her time, her interest, her unwavering support, and her unswerving faith.  We couldn't have asked for better.

My mother had high expectations. Some of them were disappointed.  She learned how to deal with them, how to be kind in the face of adversity, how to take the higher road,
and do what needed to be done.

Another great-grandmother left Germany with two little girls to marry a man in Iowa with three little children.  I suspect her brother suggested the marriage.  She and her prospective husband had never met.  It took a leap of faith and real desperation to make that kind of move.

Another made a home in the literal wilds of west Texas for her husband, children and an increasing number of grandchildren who came to 'visit' and whom she ended up raising.

All of them met challenges with determination and inner strength.  They gave me lots of family values on which to build my own life.

I see my daughter meeting challenges every day that I never had to face. She does so with fortitude and grace and a wry wit that makes me terribly proud of her.  Earlier this month I watched my daughters-in-law, each in her own way, do wonderful things which will make their own children stronger as they grow up.

These women all embody the sorts of women I write as heroines in my books.  They are the sorts of women I admire --- independent yet nurturing, resilient yet flexible, strong and capable, understanding and at the same time challenging.  They are supportive, but they are never doormats. They have individual goals, but they also share goals with their husbands and families -- and they bring out the best in all of them.

So, happy Mother's Day to all the mothers.  May you all feel about your own mother the way I feel, the way my six year old grandson, Henk, feels.  He wrote to his mother this morning, "Of all the moms in the world, I got the best!"

What's your most special memory about your mom?  Please share with us.

May-December Friendships

Yesterday was Mother's Day.  I saw, or heard from, all of my kids.  And as always, I marveled that I am so lucky to have these four amazing people in my life!  Oh, it's not that they don't drive me a bit crazy on occasion, but they are some of my very favorite people on earth (along with my husband).  Being a mother has been one of my most treasured jobs.

Yesterday I wrote a blog for Mother's Day about my grandmother and a very special teapot.  She was a strong woman, a 'feisty' woman who loved so fiercely.  Add to that my own mother and my mother-in-law, two women who taught me so much...well, I think that's why the idea of family is the the focus of so many of my stories.  It's because I've been blessed to be surrounded by a family I not only adore, but truly like!

You Are Invited...

This month, the second book in my A Valley Ridge Wedding trilogy, April Showers, was released.  The first book, You Are Invited..., dealt with a woman who inherits three children. This second book  in addition to the romance between Lily and Sebastian focuses on a May-December friendship between  Lily, and the hero's grandfather, Hank.

April Showers

There's something special about May-December friendships.  The generations who came before us offer so much wisdom, so many insights.  I've been lucky to have people like Hank in my life!

Yesterday was a day for family.  It was great to have my children celebrate Mother's Day with me yesterday.  It was nice to be able to honor a women who helped shape me in my blog, and to go visit my mom.  I also took time to remember all the people who helped shape the woman I've become.  My grandmother's best friend, Jean, who's read all my books and supported me in so many ways.  Marge, an older friend who helped me shape Lily and Hank's May/December friendship.  And Papa John, a man who wasn't related to me, but was my grandfather in every way that counts.

A Walk Down the Aisle

Do you have older people in your life, related or not, who helped shape the person you've become?

Holly

Celebrating Mothers - with Kate Walker

Today is my mother's birthday.  She was born on 3rd March  in Clones County Monaghan, Ireland.  Sadly she died just before the publication of my first book - though she did know that it had been accepted and was about to be published. 

My mother was the first person to open the door into the enchantment of stories and that wonderful questions ‘what happened next?’ I was one of five daughters, all of different ages and interests but we all used to come together at bed time and listen to the stories Mother would read to us. She read so many stories – many I can’t remember – but there were the Brer Rabbit, Irish legends and folk tales, King Arthur and his Knights of The Round Table.  Or sometimes she would make up stories herself, with characters based around the  personalities of her five daughters, or perhaps some special toys who would come alive in those imaginary lands.  These were the best because we had no idea what was going to happen  and we had to wait until the next night to hear what was going on. I’m sure my mother had no idea of what was going to happen either and spent the next day frantically trying to think up what might be the next instalment in the plot she was making up as she went along.

Perhaps it was from her that I learned how to tell a story. How to add  in excitement and adventure, how to lead up to an intriguing moment and then leave it at a cliff-hangers , saying  ‘ and if you want to find out what happened . . .well I’ll tell you that tomorrow night.’  She certainly  taught me to love stories and to want to feed my imagination with these wonderful people, events and mysteries.  And when I was old enough to read for myself she fed that imagination with books – from second hand book sales, from trips to the library, and birthday and Christmas gifts.  One of the best things that was always guaranteed to be in our Christmas stocking was a brand new and unopened annual.  I know it was  put there for us to read so that we would keep quiet and  stay in bed a little while longer on Christmas morning so that she could get some sleep – and it worked!  But it was still such a treat.

Of course, sadly  I can't actually celebrate her day with her,  but I do want to mark today – for a couple of reasons.  One is obviously Mother’s birthday, another is the fact that I’ve just been sent the brand new cover of my upcoming Presents  title – A  Throne For The Taking.  (out in June) I’ll post it here so you can see what you think.

Here in the UK,  next weekend is also Mother’s Day, again something worth celebrating – so, although it’s not Mother’s Day in America until May, I think  mothers are really well worth celebrating – so to mark today, and this new cover – I’m offering a giveaway of one of my backlist books for someone to give to their mother. Tell me about your Mum – does she love reading? Or is there something else she’s really interested in?  Why would you like to give her one of my books? Just post a comment and I’ll get Charlie the Maine Coon to pick a name  so that someone can hopefully make their mother’s day with a little special gift.

Kate’s latest hero is Alexei Sarova, a black sheep prince who has to face up to a new and unexpected destiny. A Throne For the Taking will be published in the Royal and Ruthless miniseries (in UK) in June.

Other up to date news and details of all Kate’s books can be found on her web site and in her blog.

 

Michelle Styles: Mothering Sunday

This Sunday is Mothering Sunday (aka Mother's Day) in the UK. It is always the Sunday before Palm Sunday (the fourth Sunday in Lent) as traditionally it was the day when people went home to their Mother Church, rather than worshiping where they lived. This normally meant seeing their mother as well and it naturally evolved.
Mother's Day in the US was started by Anna Jarvis in 1912 who sought to honour her mother with a day of peace. In the US, Mother's Day is the second Sunday in May because it is the one nearest to Miss Jarvis's mother's birthday.  Anna Jarvis. Australia started their celebration in 1924 as Mrs Janet Hayden saw many lonely and forgotten mothers in a hospital and wanted to do something to cheer them up.  because the UK already had Mothering Sunday, there was no need for a special day to be set aside.
Other countries celebrate different days which are special to women and mothers. In Muslim countries, this is 21 March as it celebrates the birth of the daughter of the prophet Muhammad.  So the day celebrating mothers depends on the country but thanks to the efforts of several determined people, it is celebrated.
The whole thing confused me when I first moved to the UK. Because I live in the UK, my children do Mothering Sunday. I have to remember to send flowers to my mother on the US Mother's Day. My mother gets very cross if I failed to remember the right day. My eldest son son had this problem last year as he was in the US. I was sent a Mother's Day card in May, rather getting one in March.
Personally I am just pleased to be remembered what ever day it is.
 This is my daughter's first year at university and she made sure she sent me a card and because she was feeling homesick,  she included a letter detailing why I was important to her. It made me cry as  it came from the heart and I was so pleased she had done that. I plan to do the same for my mother come the second Sunday in May.
So whatever day you celebrate Mother's Day, take the time and tell your mother why she is special to you. Not just a card or flowers but why you love her. And if your mother is no longer here, you can still write her a letter and tell her as she does live on in your heart. Your mother will be glad you did.

Michelle Styles writes warm, witty and intimate historical romance for Harlequin Historical. Her next book His Unsuitable Viscountess will be published in August 2012, and then Hattie Wilkinson Meets Her Match in November 2012. You can learn more about Michelle's books by visiting her website www.michellestyles.co.uk

Honoring Mothers and Mothers' Day

This Sunday is Mother's Day in the US, Canada, Australia and a number of other countries. The UK has Mothering Sunday during Lent when mothers are appreciated. As I now live in the UK, and my mother lives in the US, I do have to remember the US date as my mother prefers to celebrate Mother's Day on Mother's Day rather than on Mothering Sunday.
As I am sure you know, Mother's Day was chiefly the work of one woman -- Anna Jarvis. She wanted to honor her mother and to celebrate the role of the woman in the family. She began handing out carnations at her church in 1907, choosing the Sunday closest to her mother's birthday. The movement took off and in 1914, Woodrow Wilson signed the bill making the second Sunday of May Mother's Day in the US. Later Anna Jarvis denounced the day as it had become far too commercialised. But the day remains and mothers do like to think they are appreciated.
It is interesting that it started in this time period. International Women's Day which is celebrated at the beginning of March (particularly in Italy as the Festa della Donna) started as a result of the 1907 fire in New York City. Many of the seamstresses who were killed were Italian.
But whenever you celebrate, I do think mothers and motherhood are well worth celebrating.
Thankfully, my lot understand that often the gift of time and a romance novel are what I want.
Anyway, as a mother, one of my great joys is to read some of the quotes about motherhood. My aunt sent through some yesterday and so I wanted to share some with you. Does anyone else have any good quotes or sayings about being a mother?
All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.--Abraham Lincoln
My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my
mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and
physical education I received from her.--George Washington
A mother is not a person to lean on, but a person to make leaning unnecessary.--Dorothy Canfield Fisher
Youth fades; love droops, the leaves of friendship fall; A mother's secret hope outlives them all.--Oliver Wendell Holmes
The joys of motherhood are never fully experienced until the children are in bed.--Author Unknown.
Becoming a mother makes you the mother of all children. From now on each
wounded, abandoned, frightened child is yours. You live in the suffering mothers of every race and creed and weep with them. You long to comfort all who are desolate.--Charlotte Gray
A suburban mother's role is to deliver children obstetrically once, and by car forever after.--Peter De Vries
It kills you to see them grow up. But I guess it would kill you quicker if they didn't.--Barbara Kingsolver
God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers.-- Jewish proverb

Michelle Styles's latest release in the UK was Impoverished Miss, Convenient Wife.