Tara Pollard's Blog - Posts Tagged "christmas"
Season's Christmas Quest Questionaire
I am trying to create a list of questions for a book club that will be discussing their interpretations of any underlying meanings/messages in Season's Christmas Quest: The Dog's Story. Believe it or not, it is not that easy. For example, after discussing it with the group leader, I find that one of the hardest questions caused me a lot of soul searching as I wrote the story.
In the book, Season has been told that faith can move mountains. The Bible says it's true, so the question is: How do we muster enough faith to move a mountain? What if we have pulled up all the faith we have from within and we command that mountain to move and nothing happens? Do we blame ourselves for our seeming lack of faith? Not at all. As Season finds out, sometimes our approach is all wrong, not our faith. Sometimes all we need is that one person whispering in our ear to recall the things we have forgotten, and there is where the answer lies.
In the book, Season has been told that faith can move mountains. The Bible says it's true, so the question is: How do we muster enough faith to move a mountain? What if we have pulled up all the faith we have from within and we command that mountain to move and nothing happens? Do we blame ourselves for our seeming lack of faith? Not at all. As Season finds out, sometimes our approach is all wrong, not our faith. Sometimes all we need is that one person whispering in our ear to recall the things we have forgotten, and there is where the answer lies.
Book Giveaway
819 was the official total for all who entered the giveaway for Season's Christmas Quest: The Dog's Story and the winners have been drawn by Goodreads. Thank you to everyone who entered. Your signed copies will arrive shortly. ♥
Christmas at Disneyland
My daughter and I took a four day trip to a completely decked out Christmas Disneyland. Our absolute favorite part was the Candlelight Procession where, after all the lights were dimmed, the fully robed choir paraded down Main Street with lit candles. The procession ended at the Train Station where some of them formed a tree with their bodies. A full orchestra accompanied the choir as they sang Christmas hymns and Kurt Russell, who has a wonderful narrative voice, recited the story of the birth of Christ from Scripture. It was such a beautiful Christmas experience under the cold night stars.
The legend of the talking animals
(This legend is mentioned in the story Season's Christmas Quest)
The Night The Animals Talked
"In the frosty mountains and on the snowy fields of Norway, there is a legend that draws children to all kinds to stables and stalls throughout the country on each Christmas Eve night. They are hoping to hear a miracle. They are waiting to hear the animals talk.
Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem. This was no abandoned place, but was a working stable, filled with animals of all kinds. Into these humble surroundings, encircled by the innocent creatures of God, the Savior of man came into the world.
Now according to legend, at least, Christ’s birth occurred at exactly midnight. Inside the stable, the animals watched in wonder as the new-born babe was lovingly wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a manger. Suddenly, God gave voice to the animals and immediately they began to praise God for the miracle they had just seen. This went on for several minutes and, just before the entrance of the shepherds — who had hurried to the stable because angels had told them the Christ had been born there — the animals again fell silent. The only humans who had heard them were Mary, Joseph and, of course, the Christ child.
The legend of the talking animals persists to this day in Scandinavia. And every Christmas Eve, wide-eyed children creep into stables just before midnight to hear the animals praise God for the wondrous birth of His Son.”
The Night The Animals Talked
"In the frosty mountains and on the snowy fields of Norway, there is a legend that draws children to all kinds to stables and stalls throughout the country on each Christmas Eve night. They are hoping to hear a miracle. They are waiting to hear the animals talk.
Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem. This was no abandoned place, but was a working stable, filled with animals of all kinds. Into these humble surroundings, encircled by the innocent creatures of God, the Savior of man came into the world.
Now according to legend, at least, Christ’s birth occurred at exactly midnight. Inside the stable, the animals watched in wonder as the new-born babe was lovingly wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a manger. Suddenly, God gave voice to the animals and immediately they began to praise God for the miracle they had just seen. This went on for several minutes and, just before the entrance of the shepherds — who had hurried to the stable because angels had told them the Christ had been born there — the animals again fell silent. The only humans who had heard them were Mary, Joseph and, of course, the Christ child.
The legend of the talking animals persists to this day in Scandinavia. And every Christmas Eve, wide-eyed children creep into stables just before midnight to hear the animals praise God for the wondrous birth of His Son.”
Donations for Seniors/Disabled
Raising money to help senior citizens/disabled to keep their homes.
I am trying to help Senior Citizens and the Disabled keep their homes by raising money for their rent. I will pick one home at a time to help. The goal is to pay one year's rent, but anything will help to keep them from being evicted and homeless.
The first one on the list is Valli. After years of taking care of her mother and brother, they both passed away and joined her father on the other side. Valli became disabled with degenerative disc disease. She was in so much pain, she was deemed disabled, but now her meager income is 117% below poverty level. Because of that, she was unable to keep the family home and most of their belongings. She was accepted into a low income rent controlled senior citizen apartment complex, but since her income is just slightly more than her rent, she still needs help. Because Section 8 in Nevada has been closed since 2008, and there is no help from the government in sight. Her mother owned two cats who were traumatized by the deaths, and Valli just could not bear to leave them behind to loneliness and despair. She needs help not only feeding them, but for her own expenses as well. Please find it in your hearts to help with any donations you can afford. The goal is to get her at least one year's rent (which is over $7000). Thank you and may God bless you.
For every $100 donation, recieve a free signed copy of Season's Christmas Quest: The Dog's Story.
http://www.gofundme.com/4rgb48
I am trying to help Senior Citizens and the Disabled keep their homes by raising money for their rent. I will pick one home at a time to help. The goal is to pay one year's rent, but anything will help to keep them from being evicted and homeless.
The first one on the list is Valli. After years of taking care of her mother and brother, they both passed away and joined her father on the other side. Valli became disabled with degenerative disc disease. She was in so much pain, she was deemed disabled, but now her meager income is 117% below poverty level. Because of that, she was unable to keep the family home and most of their belongings. She was accepted into a low income rent controlled senior citizen apartment complex, but since her income is just slightly more than her rent, she still needs help. Because Section 8 in Nevada has been closed since 2008, and there is no help from the government in sight. Her mother owned two cats who were traumatized by the deaths, and Valli just could not bear to leave them behind to loneliness and despair. She needs help not only feeding them, but for her own expenses as well. Please find it in your hearts to help with any donations you can afford. The goal is to get her at least one year's rent (which is over $7000). Thank you and may God bless you.
For every $100 donation, recieve a free signed copy of Season's Christmas Quest: The Dog's Story.
http://www.gofundme.com/4rgb48
Win a copy
Only three more days to enter. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Excerpt of Clarion Review
Here's a thrilling new twist on the heart-warming story of a dog's odyssey to reunite with his human family. Tara Pollard creates a dark fantasy of good versus evil for the golden mixed-breed dog, Season. With layered references to traditional folklore, Christian symbolism, and an apocalyptic setting, Pollard's Season's Christmas Quest is not the sweet and expected tale of a domestic dog alone in the wild. It is a fast-paced adventure. Pollard keeps the message of following one's heart and discovering a sense of spiritual grace at the center, and the pieces fall into place.
Wonderful Kirkus Review
"In this holiday novel for middle graders, a dog's quest to save his master's daughter becomes a journey to save the world.
Season the dog's world upends when ash clouds the atmosphere and threatens the life of Melissa, his beloved owner's little girl. So, being the plucky pup he is, Season leaves his cozy home and braves the wild forest in an attempt to clear the skies, though he has no knowledge of how to do so. In other words, Pollard's debut starts out by rewriting the standard quest story, this time with a dog in the starring role.
In the opening scene (before one of several flashback), readers land smack in the middle of a confrontation between Season and a snarling pack of wolves. In smooth prose interwoven with the right amount of explication, the story follows Season through the forest as he befriends a kind but underappreciated mule, then faces danger, trickery and death.
Explaining the meaning of his quest, Season says: "It is my purpose. Have you never felt like that? That there is a purpose for you, and that only you can fulfill it?" The plot features dangerous wildlife-snakes, bats, wolves, etc.-and harsh natural elements until Season faces his final confrontation, at which point the author introduces mystical forces disguised as humans and a perplexing resolution to the quest. Readers may feel blindsided by the revelation that his quest has been engineered by divine forces at war, but this sudden turn infuses the novel with new life, converting the story from a standard quest into a more fantasy-oriented trek.
The fitting conclusion should leave readers of all ages satisfied. Any link to Christmas, a holiday mentioned several times in the story, is overwhelmed by the general, world-saving nature of Season's journey. Although not mentioned in the book, Season hopefully has more quests in his future.
Fans of animal tales will gobble up this tale of a dog who loves his girl and ends up saving the world."
Kirkus Indie, Kirkus Media LLC, 6411 Burleson Rd., Austin, TX 78744
Season the dog's world upends when ash clouds the atmosphere and threatens the life of Melissa, his beloved owner's little girl. So, being the plucky pup he is, Season leaves his cozy home and braves the wild forest in an attempt to clear the skies, though he has no knowledge of how to do so. In other words, Pollard's debut starts out by rewriting the standard quest story, this time with a dog in the starring role.
In the opening scene (before one of several flashback), readers land smack in the middle of a confrontation between Season and a snarling pack of wolves. In smooth prose interwoven with the right amount of explication, the story follows Season through the forest as he befriends a kind but underappreciated mule, then faces danger, trickery and death.
Explaining the meaning of his quest, Season says: "It is my purpose. Have you never felt like that? That there is a purpose for you, and that only you can fulfill it?" The plot features dangerous wildlife-snakes, bats, wolves, etc.-and harsh natural elements until Season faces his final confrontation, at which point the author introduces mystical forces disguised as humans and a perplexing resolution to the quest. Readers may feel blindsided by the revelation that his quest has been engineered by divine forces at war, but this sudden turn infuses the novel with new life, converting the story from a standard quest into a more fantasy-oriented trek.
The fitting conclusion should leave readers of all ages satisfied. Any link to Christmas, a holiday mentioned several times in the story, is overwhelmed by the general, world-saving nature of Season's journey. Although not mentioned in the book, Season hopefully has more quests in his future.
Fans of animal tales will gobble up this tale of a dog who loves his girl and ends up saving the world."
Kirkus Indie, Kirkus Media LLC, 6411 Burleson Rd., Austin, TX 78744
