Christine Feehan's Blog - Posts Tagged "family"
Those Sisters of Mine
There’s something special about sisters. I’m sure brothers have their own bond and brother-sister siblings are close as well, but sisterhood is like air to those of us who love it.
I can’t imagine my life without my sisters, or growing up without sisters. So, it’s probably good that I have ten. Yes…ten.
The sisterhood of such a large family isn’t without its challenges. I mean, just think about the bathroom sharing issues! LOL I’m the second to the oldest sister, though I do have a brother between my eldest sister and I. And I do want to say, up front, that I adore my brothers as well. But, since we’re getting ready to celebrate Bound Together I thought I’d talk about sisters.
I would like to tell you just a little something about each of my sisters.
Renee, the first born in the family, is my best friend. She’s my partner in crime. She’s also the acknowledged head of the family. She’s a peacekeeper and a diplomat. And she loves babies. Good thing, too since she has 11 children of her own! She’s amazing with numbers and works as an accountant.
Ruth, who I secretly think may have been Dad’s favorite (don’t tell the others I said that!) is so incredible with children! Children gravitate to her. It’s like they can sense she will love and accept them immediately. She runs an after school program for children. She’s innovate and smart and, like many of my sisters, athletic.
Dianne is brilliant! No, really…BRILLIANT! She is very giving and has a soft spot for single mothers. She is a champion of them and a fighter for the rights of children. She is a lawyer and advocates for children. You should see her in the courtroom!
Bobbi loves animals like crazy. My family tends to love animals, but Bobbie takes it to a whole new level. LOL She has rescued horses and dogs for years and stands for the rights of animals. She has worked in just about every aspect with horses, from racing, polo to ranch and is their biggest advocate.
Jeanette is truly an incredible nurse. She has such a giving nature and is so good with patients and especially the elderly. She is patient, caring and loving. She is, very much, a people person.
Denise is one of the sweetest people and doesn’t have a mean bone in her body. My youngest daughter is named after her. I can honestly say I’ve never heard Denise say a mean thing about anybody. She’s smart, sweet and caring. She works in the software industry coding things I will never understand.
Liz is a nutritionist and works with schools to make sure kids eat healthy. This is a passion for her. She is a protective mom, fun-loving and adventurous. She also is certified in helping doctors with diabetic patients and works closely with those who have the disease to aid in keeping it under control.
Lisa is scary-smart and beautiful. What a combination, right? She’s drop dead gorgeous and, most importantly, a wonderful mother. Not only is she an RN but she is also a lawyer.
Nanci is just like mom. I love to see her holding babies. Mom loved babies like that and when I see Nanci with a baby it’s like getting to see my mom again, the beautiful way she looks at a child. Nanci is an amazing ER nurse.
Mary was always a tremendous athlete. She had an uncanny ability to make anything grow. Sometimes she’d go to the store and buy their cast-off plants and take them home and make them flourish. She loved gardening. Even when she was going through chemo that girl would run, doing marathons or just jogging. And even sick she won a tennis tournament! I miss her. I miss her laughter most. She was a ray of sunshine to us all.
If you read my Sea Haven books, or any of my series really, you will always see a love of family, of children especially. So much of that is inspired by my own sisters, my brothers and my children.
I have an absolute love of family and so do my sisters. We are loyal to one another, we have each other’s backs. And we may argue from time to time, but if an outsider hurts one of us, the entire lot of us stand up and are a force unto ourselves. We are nurturers, but also protectors; of children and of animals.
There’s something special about sisters. It’s like magic.
I can’t imagine my life without my sisters, or growing up without sisters. So, it’s probably good that I have ten. Yes…ten.
The sisterhood of such a large family isn’t without its challenges. I mean, just think about the bathroom sharing issues! LOL I’m the second to the oldest sister, though I do have a brother between my eldest sister and I. And I do want to say, up front, that I adore my brothers as well. But, since we’re getting ready to celebrate Bound Together I thought I’d talk about sisters.
I would like to tell you just a little something about each of my sisters.
Renee, the first born in the family, is my best friend. She’s my partner in crime. She’s also the acknowledged head of the family. She’s a peacekeeper and a diplomat. And she loves babies. Good thing, too since she has 11 children of her own! She’s amazing with numbers and works as an accountant.
Ruth, who I secretly think may have been Dad’s favorite (don’t tell the others I said that!) is so incredible with children! Children gravitate to her. It’s like they can sense she will love and accept them immediately. She runs an after school program for children. She’s innovate and smart and, like many of my sisters, athletic.
Dianne is brilliant! No, really…BRILLIANT! She is very giving and has a soft spot for single mothers. She is a champion of them and a fighter for the rights of children. She is a lawyer and advocates for children. You should see her in the courtroom!
Bobbi loves animals like crazy. My family tends to love animals, but Bobbie takes it to a whole new level. LOL She has rescued horses and dogs for years and stands for the rights of animals. She has worked in just about every aspect with horses, from racing, polo to ranch and is their biggest advocate.
Jeanette is truly an incredible nurse. She has such a giving nature and is so good with patients and especially the elderly. She is patient, caring and loving. She is, very much, a people person.
Denise is one of the sweetest people and doesn’t have a mean bone in her body. My youngest daughter is named after her. I can honestly say I’ve never heard Denise say a mean thing about anybody. She’s smart, sweet and caring. She works in the software industry coding things I will never understand.
Liz is a nutritionist and works with schools to make sure kids eat healthy. This is a passion for her. She is a protective mom, fun-loving and adventurous. She also is certified in helping doctors with diabetic patients and works closely with those who have the disease to aid in keeping it under control.
Lisa is scary-smart and beautiful. What a combination, right? She’s drop dead gorgeous and, most importantly, a wonderful mother. Not only is she an RN but she is also a lawyer.
Nanci is just like mom. I love to see her holding babies. Mom loved babies like that and when I see Nanci with a baby it’s like getting to see my mom again, the beautiful way she looks at a child. Nanci is an amazing ER nurse.
Mary was always a tremendous athlete. She had an uncanny ability to make anything grow. Sometimes she’d go to the store and buy their cast-off plants and take them home and make them flourish. She loved gardening. Even when she was going through chemo that girl would run, doing marathons or just jogging. And even sick she won a tennis tournament! I miss her. I miss her laughter most. She was a ray of sunshine to us all.
If you read my Sea Haven books, or any of my series really, you will always see a love of family, of children especially. So much of that is inspired by my own sisters, my brothers and my children.
I have an absolute love of family and so do my sisters. We are loyal to one another, we have each other’s backs. And we may argue from time to time, but if an outsider hurts one of us, the entire lot of us stand up and are a force unto ourselves. We are nurturers, but also protectors; of children and of animals.
There’s something special about sisters. It’s like magic.
It’s a Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
For those who celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope you had a wonderful time filled with laughter, love and great food. I spent mine, as I always do, with my family. It was a crazy week just making that happen and finally we decided to go to my daughter’s house in another town since she had room, power and time to cook. It was our first time to have Thanksgiving at Billie Jo’s and it was an utter delight. Everything was inviting, delicious and filled with love.
Once it was all over and we got back home my mind went to thoughts of Christmas. I love Christmas, as many of you know. We’re just now putting up the tree, but I’ve been buying presents for months. The hard part? Not giving the presents away early because I’m so excited about them! LOL
I’ve decided to downsize a bit this year, so we’ll have two trees. We have one in the living room where the gifts will be placed and then one in the kitchen which I do for my grandchildren. They love the kitchen tree. The big one in the living room is filled with years and years of ornaments, some I bought, some gifted and some made. We call it the “I Spy” tree and have so much fun finding the various ornaments once they’re all up and placed.
It's also the time of year I send books to the soldiers who will be deployed over the holiday. I’ve worked with the same group that sends out to the soldiers each year for more than a decade now. Soldiers are there for us, defending us and our way of life and they won’t be with their families because they’re protecting mine, so they have a very special place in my heart.
It's a time of giving and appreciation and I never lose sight of that. It’s a time to reach out to old friends and remind them you love them. It’s time to hug the kids, pet the dogs and eat the goodies. Okay, well, it’s ALWAYS time for that, but you know what I mean. LOL
I would love to know about YOUR holiday traditions. Even if it isn’t Christmas. What do you celebrate? How do you celebrate?
Do you wait until after Thanksgiving to put up a tree? The day after? Do you love holiday music? Have specific ornaments that are meaningful? Special dishes that you cook? A special memory?
Share your holiday story with me!
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Once it was all over and we got back home my mind went to thoughts of Christmas. I love Christmas, as many of you know. We’re just now putting up the tree, but I’ve been buying presents for months. The hard part? Not giving the presents away early because I’m so excited about them! LOL
I’ve decided to downsize a bit this year, so we’ll have two trees. We have one in the living room where the gifts will be placed and then one in the kitchen which I do for my grandchildren. They love the kitchen tree. The big one in the living room is filled with years and years of ornaments, some I bought, some gifted and some made. We call it the “I Spy” tree and have so much fun finding the various ornaments once they’re all up and placed.
It's also the time of year I send books to the soldiers who will be deployed over the holiday. I’ve worked with the same group that sends out to the soldiers each year for more than a decade now. Soldiers are there for us, defending us and our way of life and they won’t be with their families because they’re protecting mine, so they have a very special place in my heart.
It's a time of giving and appreciation and I never lose sight of that. It’s a time to reach out to old friends and remind them you love them. It’s time to hug the kids, pet the dogs and eat the goodies. Okay, well, it’s ALWAYS time for that, but you know what I mean. LOL
I would love to know about YOUR holiday traditions. Even if it isn’t Christmas. What do you celebrate? How do you celebrate?
Do you wait until after Thanksgiving to put up a tree? The day after? Do you love holiday music? Have specific ornaments that are meaningful? Special dishes that you cook? A special memory?
Share your holiday story with me!
My Official Website
Christine Feehan Website
Christine's Facebook
Christine on Twitter
Christine Feehan Instagram
(Exclusives, Sneak Peeks, Discussions and more) - Exclusive Online Community
Merry Christmas! Good Cheer to All!
I love the holidays and most people know that about me. My great love is my family and the holidays bring us all together in this shared spirit of Christmas. My family loves to laugh so there’s always antics and jokes. Happiness is ageless, timeless and boundless and I know I am truly blessed to be surrounded by my family and friends this season.
I wish the same joy and love to all of you. Regardless of what you celebrate, we can all celebrate those things together.
All the best,
Christine Feehan
Shadow Storm: Blood Ties
Shadow Storm is about to turn the Shadow Riders' mythology on its head!
Two families from Sicily. Ties with organized crime. The Ferraros and the Saldis. The Saldi family wanted the Ferraro family to join forces. They knew there was something about the family that was different, but wasn’t sure what that was. Whatever it was, they wanted in. But, the Ferraro family turned them down. So, the Saldi family waged war, doing their best to take out the entire Ferraro family. As the blood bath took most of the Ferraros, it was only those who could ride shadows that were able to escape. They scattered all over the world in a bid to save themselves. They found other Shadow Riders and began to grow the family again.
There are Shadow Riders all over the world. It isn’t just the Ferraro family. But, the feud with the Saldi family continued through time and over continents. Each family grew stronger in their own way. Those who moved to the United States created their own territories that they would do anything to protect.
History, even a violent one, creates relationships. The Ferraros and the Saldis are no longer actively fighting, but the feud isn’t over. There is no trust. No love. Well, except for Valentino Saldi and Emmanuelle Ferraro. That love stands against years of hate and mistrust. It’s not welcome by the families. But, what is to be done when the heir to one wants the now-grown little sister of the other?
The fact is, we all are good and we are bad. With a twist of the kaleidoscope the view changes. Perspectives change. Which of the families are not killers? Which of the families are not willing to destroy the other to keep their own safe? Who is good? Who is bad? What determines that?
In Shadow Storm we realize there are good people and bad people in each family. We find betrayal in the Ferraro family. We find loyalty in the Saldi family. Nothing is simple. Not in fiction. Not in real life. We all have layers to us. And the dynamics of the two families are about to get a turn of the kaleidoscope.
Emme is loyal to a fault. Her family means everything to her. She loves her brothers. Stefano is more like a parent to her.
Valentino Saldi is ruthless and his loyalty must be earned. When his uncle, the leader of the Saldi family, adopts him after his parents die, Val feels a strong bond to the older man. And the bond is mutual.
Now, Val is under attack. His tie with Emme was severed. He stands alone against a powerful army of his own people. He’s wounded and vulnerable. When someone within his circle contacts Emme to tell her what’s happened the Ferraros must decide whether to join Val or let him die, effectively removing the greatest threat to their little sister’s happiness.
Of loyalty and love, which will win? Which is stronger? Which will ride out the storm?
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Two families from Sicily. Ties with organized crime. The Ferraros and the Saldis. The Saldi family wanted the Ferraro family to join forces. They knew there was something about the family that was different, but wasn’t sure what that was. Whatever it was, they wanted in. But, the Ferraro family turned them down. So, the Saldi family waged war, doing their best to take out the entire Ferraro family. As the blood bath took most of the Ferraros, it was only those who could ride shadows that were able to escape. They scattered all over the world in a bid to save themselves. They found other Shadow Riders and began to grow the family again.
There are Shadow Riders all over the world. It isn’t just the Ferraro family. But, the feud with the Saldi family continued through time and over continents. Each family grew stronger in their own way. Those who moved to the United States created their own territories that they would do anything to protect.
History, even a violent one, creates relationships. The Ferraros and the Saldis are no longer actively fighting, but the feud isn’t over. There is no trust. No love. Well, except for Valentino Saldi and Emmanuelle Ferraro. That love stands against years of hate and mistrust. It’s not welcome by the families. But, what is to be done when the heir to one wants the now-grown little sister of the other?
The fact is, we all are good and we are bad. With a twist of the kaleidoscope the view changes. Perspectives change. Which of the families are not killers? Which of the families are not willing to destroy the other to keep their own safe? Who is good? Who is bad? What determines that?
In Shadow Storm we realize there are good people and bad people in each family. We find betrayal in the Ferraro family. We find loyalty in the Saldi family. Nothing is simple. Not in fiction. Not in real life. We all have layers to us. And the dynamics of the two families are about to get a turn of the kaleidoscope.
Emme is loyal to a fault. Her family means everything to her. She loves her brothers. Stefano is more like a parent to her.
Valentino Saldi is ruthless and his loyalty must be earned. When his uncle, the leader of the Saldi family, adopts him after his parents die, Val feels a strong bond to the older man. And the bond is mutual.
Now, Val is under attack. His tie with Emme was severed. He stands alone against a powerful army of his own people. He’s wounded and vulnerable. When someone within his circle contacts Emme to tell her what’s happened the Ferraros must decide whether to join Val or let him die, effectively removing the greatest threat to their little sister’s happiness.
Of loyalty and love, which will win? Which is stronger? Which will ride out the storm?
My Official Website
Christine's Facebook
Christine Feehan Instagram
(Exclusives, Sneak Peeks, Discussions and more) - Exclusive Online Community
Family, Community and Love - Lightning Game
Lightning Game was a joy to write. I love research and find the science of lightning and what scientists hope to achieve with lightning is fascinating. I love mystery and there’s a touch of that in Lightning Game as well. But as most of you know I really love writing about family and community which this has in so many ways. The people of the Appalachian Mountains are a very close-knit and caring group of people who have their own ways of living. The community that Rubin and Diego were raised in has its own secrets and their own ways of doing things.
Lightning Game is about love. The love of brothers. Rubin and Diego are close and their dynamic as brothers has many layers to it. Together they are unstoppable and even more dangerous than when they’re on their own. If you have siblings that you’re very close with you know what you’d be willing to do for them. You would not want to come between these two brothers. But they are also caring and sometimes quite hilarious.
All of my novels are about romance and finding that one person who is “your person”, your soul mate. Jonquille was perfect for Rubin. She was smart and as dangerous as the two brothers. In some ways she was more dangerous. She was smart, too. As she grew to love Rubin she knew she would have to win over Diego because he was so protective of Rubin.
Lightning Game is about many things and one of those things has to do with how we let people into our lives and how close we allow them to be. There are layers of love to this story and I hope readers enjoy all of it.
