Happy Thanksgiving Epi 38

Happy Thanksgiving Episode 38

Happy Thanksgiving and welcome to this blog post for The Djuna Shellam Podcast episode 38!

I decided to publish this week’s episode a couple of days early so I could give my listeners an option to sneak away from the festivities for a bit if they need to get some downtime. Ha! For my international listeners, obviously, this episode may not have any meaning for you other than a peek into the American culture. Not that American films and television shows haven’t broached the subject a gazillion times already. You’d have to be from another galaxy not to have had some exposure to our Thanksgiving tradition.

Tradition

Yes, there are controversies in abundance over this annual gathering and feasting of ours, but that’s the way it is for nearly every tradition anymore, isn’t it? The incessant outrage about everything anymore has only become noise to me. I liken it to the sound of a leaf blower that never stops. Gets under my skin and makes me want to scream—at first. Then? My brain, thankfully, blocks it out.

Interestingly enough, the Thanksgiving tradition here in the States, however, is not uniform from house to house, town to town, state to state, or region to region. In my life, I’ve experienced Thanksgiving dinner and family traditions with more families other than mine than my own. The variety of dishes, the household traditions for that particular day are varied and so very interesting. Yes, with each Thanksgiving that wasn’t with my family, I yearned for my own family’s traditions and those I love. However, as a writer, my myriad experiences outside of my own family have provided me with a unique perspective and a rich and varied tapestry of traditions from which I can draw.

Writing History Into Fiction

I also talk about writing history into fiction, or at least how I approach it. It’s something I like to do in my novels to bring a sense of authenticity to the story. It’s mostly for the reader in that, 1) if they’re familiar with the history in some way, hopefully, it will connect them more to the story. 2) If they’re not familiar with whatever event or tidbit I add, whether it’s because of their age or that they’re from another part of the world, I like to think I’ve provided a service of introducing them to something they didn’t know before. 3) It helps me write the story if I’ve got some type of historical context to keep me grounded.

On Sale

If you’re looking for a gift for a reader (or readers) this holiday season, Amazon currently has a couple of my titles (paperback and digital), Dot in the Weeds, and Nom de Plume on sale for a super great price. I don’t know why they’re doing it, and I don’t know for how long, but if you’re contemplating it, don’t wait too long.

Wrapping It Up…

In this time of gratitude, I am so grateful for the many different families who welcomed me into their homes over the many decades, sharing their Thanksgiving celebrations with me. Even though most were not my family, they made me feel as if they were. Wishing everyone a wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving day (and if you don’t celebrate it for whatever reason, I still hope your day is stellar!), and a fantastic weekend.

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