Wickeds, the holiday is upon us. Some of us will be with loved ones and some of us will not. But let’s talk about a person who brings us joy. I know it’s unfair to make you pick one, but just like book dedications, the chance will come around again. Throw a dart at your photo wall if you must and tell us about one person and why and how they bring you joy. And then tell us about a character and the person who consistently brings them joy.
Julie: I am going to pick my sister Kristen. This is her birthday month, and we’ve celebrated her several times. She deserves all the celebrations, and more. We are very close in age (14 months apart), so I don’t remember life without her. She is kind, funny, caring, and a joy to be around. She is also the mother of two of my favorite people. I am very fortunate in that I have a life rich with folks who bring me joy. As for my characters? I’m working on a Theater Cop book this month, and thinking a lot about Sully Sullivan. I think she’s figuring out who brings her joy, which is part of her journey. To her surprise, Dimitri Traetti, the artistic director of the theater, brings her joy. He embraces life, lives large and loud, and has helped her break through a very tough period.
Edith/Maddie: Julie, you are so lucky to have your sister nearby! After much mulling, I’m going to say Cosima always brings me unadulterated joy. Now six, she’s my best friend’s granddaughter and my goddaughter’s daughter, and I was honored to be in the room providing labor support when she was born (as I was at her mother’s birth). I’m greeted by a full-speed hug every time she sees her Auntie Edie. She loves playing and reading and eating and helping cook whatever is underway. I suppose I have modeled Mac Almeida’s niece Cokie in the Cozy Capers Mysteries on our Cos. Cokie has the same exuberant spirit, energy, and confidence as Cosima, and Mac feels the same way as I do about her special little girl. (Cos’s face isn’t allowed on social media, so this shot from two years ago of the braids I made will have to do.)
Liz: Julie, I always wanted a sister and I’m so envious of your relationship! I don’t have a biological sister, but I definitely have a chosen sister – my best friend Riham. We’ve known each other for at least 12 years and I can’t imagine life without her. She’s been one of my biggest cheerleaders, a constant sounding board and awesome advice giver, and she believed in me when I had no idea how to believe in myself. Lover her to the moon and back. As for Maddie James, her Grandpa Leo is her favorite person ever. He’s the reason she moved back to the island and they are true partners in crime–both in the running of the cat cafe and the solving of murders!
Sherry: My friend Carol. We met in chorus class in ninth grade. I noticed her because she was laughing and we’ve been laughing together ever since. We call each other when we’re down, need advice, or have some fabulous news to share. I feel this deep sense of home when I’m with Carol. I’m lucky to have her in my life. Chloe Jackson can always count on Joaquin. Even though they are new friends, they responded to something in each other, and always support one another. The pictures below are: Carol and me going to a dance our senior year of high school. Two years ago when my daughter and husband arranged for Carol to be my surprise birthday present!
Barb: I’m going to pick my granddaughter Viola. In truth each of my three granddaughters is a delight, but Viola has been here the longest. She is a funny, smart, optimistic soul, who pursues her enthusiasms with vigor and focus. Bill and I delight in spending time with her and every time I see her, I smile. She’s arriving in Portland today, along with her parents, aunt, uncle, and cousins for the Thanksgiving weekend (fingers crossed: weather, air traffic, worry, worry) and I cannot wait.
As for Julia Snowden, when she moved back to Busman’s Harbor, she didn’t really have a friend. She’s close to her sister Livvie, but they are at very different stages in their lives. Then Julia made a friend in Zoey Butterfield in Muddled Through, and that friendship has become closer and more important through the books and novellas since. I’m glad Julia has a friend.
Jessie: I am going to mention my friend, Betsy. We met in 1995 and have been friends ever since. We’ve raised our kids together, walked dogs together and knitted countless items in each other’s company. She is a wonderful conversationalist and is always someone with whom to discuss ideas. She is tremendous fun!
As for my characters, I would have to say that Edwina, one of my protagonists, brings her jobbing gardener, Simpkins, unceasing joy. He loves to tease her, to provoke her, and to look out for her even though she hasn’t always appreciated, or even recognized his affection. She is like the daughter he never had and he adores her in his somewhat difficult way.
Readers: Tell us about a person who brings you joy.
The Wickeds 
My sister brings me joy. I know if I need her help, she will step up to the plate (evident as she stayed with me while I recovered from my two medical operations). As for anything outside my family, books that you write brings me joy.
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Your sister is a hero. I’m a little jealous of people who have sisters. Happy Thanksgiving!
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What a lovely post! I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with those who bring you joy. (And I hope Viola and everyone gets to you safely, Barb!)
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Thank you so much, Korina. They are in the air right now! Happy Thanksgiving.
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Yay! I’m so glad they are on their way! I’ve been worrying for you.
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They’re here!
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Without a doubt, hubby is my hero in shining armor who brings me joy each day when I can awake to see his face. He can bring me to the sunshine on the darkest of days, make me laugh when I want to cry and offers me a love that gives me the strength to face the roughest of situations. so very thankful to have him by my side for all these years and look forward to many more. He is my greatest joy!
2clowns at arkansas dot net
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What a beautiful love story. Happy Thanksgiving.
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That is a tough question; like, what is my favorite book? Today, on the eve of thanks, I will choose the nameless man I crossed paths with who had nothing to give but gave without knowing.
I pulled into a parking space and noticed an elderly man across the street thumbing for a ride. He looked ragged; skin and bones. His tan coat hung loose, and an old, worn aviator-type hat flapped in the wind. I told myself I should not give him a ride.
I exited my car with my head down and hurried into the building. After getting my large French Vanilla, extra cream, and one sugar, I stood inside the doorway watching the man as cars whipped by. I told myself again I should not give him a ride.
I put my head down and walked toward my car. He came halfway across the road and hesitantly called to me, his words lost in the wind. Traffic zipped by both ways, and I was concerned he would get hit. I motioned for him to come to the side of the road.
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“East Benton,” he answered.
“I’ll give you a ride,” I said.
Then he asked if I could bring him back. I hesitated. I was early for my appointment, so I didn’t have that as an excuse.
“Yes, I will bring you back,” I said.
I got in the driver’s seat and waited as he carefully lowered himself into the passenger seat—he smelled of dirt and sweat.
There was no turning back now; off we went to the package store.
He came out with a tall bag. Maybe wine? Maybe a quart of beer. I’m not sure. I watch him clutch the bag to his chest and make his way to my car. He lowered himself back into the passenger seat with difficulty, never letting go of his package. I pulled out of the parking lot back toward Benton Center.
“What did you do for work when you were younger,” I asked, trying to keep a conversation going.
“Machinist—tool and die.”
“My husband worked as a machinist,” I said. “It’s a very honorable profession.”
He seemed to brighten as though I had wiped a cloth across a dusty window to let in the light. He told me about the places in the area where he had worked. Then, he went on to tell me he grew up on a farm on Old Marsh Road. His father had all kinds of machinery and could rebuild anything.
“He taught me,” he said almost to himself. “I got tools in my blood.” He smiled.
I pulled up in front of his apartment. He offered me his hand, and I took it. He thanked me and wished me safe travels. I wished him well.
He gathered his bag and made his way up the driveway while I watched him and wondered what takes a man like him from that boy who loved to work with tools to this shadow of himself. But for a moment, we had shared the joy of humanity and it gave me hope. The smell of dirt and sweat lingered in my car, but I didn’t mind. After all, he gave me far more than I gave him that day.
This is a true story. My characters often come to me with stories like this one. All I have to do is listen like I did this day. I am always thankful.
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That is a truly remarkable Thanksgiving story.
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How wonderful to read all these uplifting facts about all of you!! Oh, Joy! I seek JOY from everybody and everything around me, and I hope to touch everyone with God’s light of love. That works most of the time, and sometimes not, but that is OK…I keep trying. One person who brings me such joy is my 9-year-old grandson. Ever since he was very little, he seems to bond with me every time (but I can tell he is growing up, and becoming less attached…such is life, right?). He is very loving, kind and caring, and always has been so active…hard at times for GRR (my nickname) to keep up with him. He is most interested in soccer, and for a little guy, he has been playing in older boy teams and doing well. He is also a child actor, and a member of SAG. His royalties will definitely help pay for his college. When I picture him in my mind, my heart melts. Thank you for sharing your joy with us readers. Have a Blessed, Healthy, Delicious and Happy Thanksgiving, y’all:-) !!!! Luis at ole dot travel
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What a lovely tribute, GRR. I feel the same about Viola pulling away a little. Every time she asks me to play dollhouse I say yes, because I know it may be the last time.
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My mom. She is always there for my brother and I. We are very different kids but she’s very close to each of us. aprilbluetx at yahoo dot com Happy Thanksgiving !
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What a lovely thing to say about your mother. You think you parent each child the same way, but really you’re responding to their unique personalities and needs.
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I can’t imagine a life without Sherry Novinger Harris. I know you all think you have the best friend ever, but I know I hold that title! The laughter, the tears, the memories are all better because of my the bond we share. The feeling that I have when we are together truly is a sense of home. I love us!! Happy Thanksgiving to my friend and hero!
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Way to make me cry! Love you!
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I think I’m going to have to go with my sister. We were not close as kids. I’m eight years older and I spent a lot of my tween/teen years resenting the fact that my 4-10 year old sister was constantly tagging along. But as we’ve aged (now 50 and 42), we’ve gotten to be friends. She calls me for advice. I call her for emotional support. And every phone call lasts at least 2 hours and takes 8 attempts at “good-bye” before it actually ends.
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I love this description of your phone calls, especially the endings.
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Hard one! I’d have to say my college roomie. We’ve never lost touch and when we are together, it’s as if no time has passed. We know each other from the bottom of our souls. It’s amazing how much shorthand there is in our conversations. One of the best things about our friendship? Even after all these years we still share belly laughs.
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That is an enduring friendship. I know what you mean about feeling like no time has passed.
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My daughter. We have always been close, but she lived on the other side of the country for 30 years. She knows lives 15 minutes away and we love spending time together as much as possible. We are like kids when we do things together. She always brings me joy.
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This is beautiful. How lucky for you to be in this phase of life.
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I love this post! While we could talk about the “dark corners of the internet,” I’d much rather share a little light in the open!
All of you Wickeds bring your readers so much joy. Even when you are writing about murder and mayhem, you are sharing complex charachters with rich inner lives
It is also heartening to hear how many people appreciate their family members.
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What a lovely thought by to say. Thank you so much.
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A person that brings me joy is my best friend, who does not live near me. We have been friends since I moved to Fort Worth in 1976 and started teaching at North Richland Hills Junior High. She taught math and I taught English and Art. She moved around a lot with her husband’s job, but we stayed friends and visited often. She is back in Texas, and I am in Georgia, so we don’t see each other enough. We were going to meet yearly and Covid screwed that up. But she is more like a sister to me. She gets me more than my sister does. Many of your characters are like that.
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