Storyteller at heart

Tag Archives: Holidays

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Posted on by Posted in Book recommendation, Books, Free Books!, Freebies, Haunting from the Past, Holidays, Remember Me, Sanela Ramic Jurich

WISHING YOU A NOVEL-OUS HOLIDAY SEASON!

“Books make great gifts because they have whole worlds inside of them. And it’s much cheaper to buy somebody a book than it is to buy them the whole world!” ― Neil Gaiman

I am giving away audiobooks as presents this year. To claim your gift, you must email  sanela@sanelajurich.com, and I will send you a free code to your own copy of Remember Me. In order to listen, you do not need to have an account with Audible. All you need is your Amazon sign-in information. Claim your code and listen for free!

 

Merry Christmas!

 

 

CHRISTMAS IS IN A WEEK AND EVERYONE’S GIFTS ARE STILL IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS

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Today I will be as useless as the “g” in “lasagna”.

 

Destination: Isolation.

 

A few days ago, I was putting up my Christmas decorations, singing my favorite Christmas songs just to get on my sons’ nerves while sipping on my favorite beverage. I was thinking about how happy and fortunate I truly was. I thought I had all the time in the world to get my shopping done in time for Christmas and to make this Christmas more memorable than all the others. After all, I thought, this is the season of perpetual hope!

If you are anything like me, you are probably trying to juggle your own family holiday traditions against the litany of seasonal obligations—office parties, invitations to countless cookie exchanges, volunteer opportunities, and holiday productions—you are also very likely in need of a moment of levity. 

Two days ago, I got extremely sick. Just out of the blue, I got this weird cold, but stronger than cold / flu, but still a little different than flu ailment. Worried it might be the c-word, I went to get tested  and sure enough, it came out POSITIVE for COVID-19. It was really strange for me to receive such results. I dodged it so well for the past two years while everyone else around me was getting sick. I couldn’t help but wonder why now? And so close to Christmas? When I have so much to do and so little time to do it! 

My view while battling Covid-19

Today I’m stuck at home with an enormous headache that won’t quit, tightness in my chest, snot leaking out of my nose and eyes … My sons are refusing to get near me (and with good reason), and … 

No one is bringing me tea! 

The high fever is making my skin ache. This horrible cough is hurting my throat. I feel miserable, afraid, and a little lonely. My body feels heavy and is refusing to move off this couch. It has had enough and it wants me to stay put! There is no going out to do Christmas shopping today and it’s too late for shopping online.

COVID-19 is helping me see how unimportant all of it really is. How in moment’s time everything can change. How, just two days ago, I had all kinds of energy to do all kinds of things, and today, I can barely hold my head up long enough to type up this blog post. And honestly, as I lay alone on this couch in my nicely decorated living-room, thinking of all the things that won’t get done, I am not even stressing over it. I am just happy to be here. To be alive. To hear my sons tease me about having a “plague” and to know that they’re doing that to make me laugh and, people who go out of their way to make me laugh are my favorite types of people.

Regardless whether you show up or skip all of those festivities and events, people who love you will still love you and will go out of their way to make you laugh.

So, I guess what I’m trying to say is–and Bob McFerrin said it best–“In every life we have some trouble, but when you worry you make it double. Don’t worry. Be happy.” 

Love always,

Sanela

 

 

       

 

GONE fishing – catch you later

Posted on by Posted in Holidays, Sanela Ramic Jurich

SANELA AT HOME, BOYS, THE OUTDOORS

 

“If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there’d be a shortage of fishing poles.” Doug Larson

 

Fox River, Illinois

Everything here is passing by so quickly, and the summer months are gone. It’s only been a little while since you left, but everything already feels different.

Saying goodbye to summer-time and autumn months is always hard for me knowing that the harsh winter months are just ahead. We’ve already seen some snowfall and a lot of ice covering the ground. The other morning, I almost fell while taking out the trash, not realizing everything was covered in pure ice.

Just the thought of what’s coming is making me want to hide inside and hibernate until it’s over. 

I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate you purchasing, reading, and reviewing my books. Thankful for You.
~Sanela

The weather went from absolute perfection to freezing cold quickly and it’s really hard to keep reminding myself that it is still the best leaf peeping time in America and that there’s truly no better time to take in the beautiful landscape this country has to offer. Which brings us to one of the biggest reasons to love fall yet: Thanksgiving! Next week is one of my favorite holidays — the bookend to this fabulous time of year.

Not only am I thankful for those sweet potato pies and apple desserts, I’m also thankful for the friends and family I can share those with at the dinner table.

As I ponder over how much I am not looking forward to winter, I’m trying to make the most of autumn and to enjoy all that comes with it—the crisp air, cozy atmosphere, the apple picking, and everything else this wonderful season has to offer.

So on Saturday, even though there was chill in the air and the weather seemed more like winter than fall, my sons and I, along with some friends, decided to take the time to go fishing one last time this year. It was an unbelievably enjoyable day. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That’s about it from my home front. Still playing the waiting game when it comes to Remember Me coming out in audio. It shouldn’t take long now — a few more days, I was told. In the meantime, I hope all is well with you.

Love always,

Sanela

 

 

 

Happy Halloween!

Posted on by Posted in Book recommendation, eBooks, Haunting from the Past, Purchase Books, Remember Me, Sanela Ramic Jurich

Just thought I’d send a little extra love your way today—Halloween hugs from me!

Fun fact: 

 

Jack Nicholson’s divorce inspired a scene in “The Shining”? 

According to today.com, there’s a scene in “The Shining” that writers — including Nicholson — know all too well: Wendy approaches Jack at his typewriter and he scolds her for trying to get in the way of his writing process. Nicholson later revealed that his character’s reaction, although exaggerated, stems from his own personal experience.

“That scene at the typewriter — that’s what I was like when I got my divorce. I was under the pressure of being a family man with a daughter and one day I accepted a job to act in a movie in the daytime and I was writing a movie at night and I’m back in my little corner and my beloved wife, Sandra, walked in on what was, unbeknownst to her, this maniac — and I told Stanley [Kubrick] about it and we wrote it into the scene,” the actor told The New York Times.

Hope you don’t have a scare in the world this Halloween!

On Halloween you get to become anything that you want to be.

“If Human Beings Had Genuine Courage, They’d Wear Their Costumes Every Day Of The Year, Not Just On Halloween.”– Douglas Coupland

 

What is Halloween to you? For some, October is the time for moody reads that take place in dark mansions or fog-shrouded country lanes. For others, Halloween means slasher horror films, vampire reads and creepy Stephen King novels. Some, however, prefer stories of real monsters that live among us disguised as humans. 

Remember Me and Haunting from the Past are available as eBook downloads. 

Within minutes you can be reading these books on your computer, PDA, cellphone or a stand-alone eBook reader–at a reduced cost!

 

Click the “Digital eBook Download” below to purchase today!

 

                                                              $2.38 digital download

                                                  Digital eBook Download $2.38  Digital eBook Download $2.38

 

“Ms. Jurich is a master story teller with a historically important background that must be read in its entirety to be appreciated – Don’t worry, once she’s introduced, you’ll hang on every word.” – iSTAR

 

 

Happy Independence Day!

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Proud to be an American! 

American by choice. That’s what I consider myself to be. I entered this world in a far away land across the Atlantic Ocean. When I was fifteen years old, my whole life changed in a blink of an eye. I became exposed to the trials and tribulations of war overnight, and had to live through an unimaginable horror and pain. However, on August 10, 1993, sixteen days before my seventeenth birthday, my biggest wish came true. With not a penny to my name, nor any knowledge of the English Language, I landed in Chicago. 

Although being a refugee was almost as bad as living in a war, it didn’t take much for me to progress. Americans made it easy for me to feel comfortable and accepted. I am now a proud American and nobody can take that away from me. Each day is a blessing and I thank God for giving me the opportunity to move here, to learn and grow. Independence Day has a special meaning for me and I celebrate it with so much love, pride and gratitude in my heart. 

As Americans, we are individuals who come from different cultures, religions and economic backgrounds– but our future is made together, made in the USA!

May God bless our country! 

I wish you all a safe and happy Independence Day celebration.

~Sanela

“Ms. Jurich is a master story teller with a historically important background that must be read in its entirety to be appreciated – Don’t worry, once she’s introduced, you’ll hang on every word.” – iSTAR

     

 

Happy Easter!

Posted on by Posted in eBooks, Holidays, Sanela Ramic Jurich

The very first Easter taught us this: that life never ends and love never dies.

Easter season has finally arrived, so grab your baskets for festive egg hunts!

Somebody once told me that the earth laughs in flowers and I cannot agree more. In a couple of weeks, I’ll be hitting my favorite nursery for plants—I can’t wait! The storm has finally passed. The spring has come. Love, hope, and renewal are in the air. It is time for a second chance!

I haven’t done many blogs over the last few months because not much has been going on. My life is finally calming down after a storm that hit it so hard and lasted for so long — a storm I thought I would not survive, but here I am. Reborn again. Some day I will tell you all about the latest storm that was determined to destroyed me, but not today. Today, I am happy. I’m happy to report that not much has been going on. I write, work-out, cook. On the weekends I clean and make it a point to visit my parents. 

That’s pretty much how it goes.

The rest of my time is spent with these two gorgeous humans. 

My sons

Tomorrow I’m making beignets, my guilty pleasure. 

So, while celebrating with the yummiest Easter candy and snapping pictures of you and your family looking your Sunday best, it’s also important to remember what this springtime holiday is really about: the season of renewal. This day marks rebirth in so many different ways, whether you celebrate the religious origins of the holiday or not, one thing is for certain, spring will come and so will happiness. Hold on. Life will get warmer. 

“Easter is the only time when it’s perfectly safe to put all of your eggs in one basket.”

And with that being said, I’m going to curl up with a book for awhile. Wishing you and your loved ones a happy and safe Easter weekend.

Sanela

 

Happy New Year!

Posted on by Posted in Books, Bosnia, Holidays, New Year, Purchase Books, Remember Me, Sanela Ramic Jurich

May the year ahead take you on an exciting new adventure, complete with life-changing experiences and deeper friendships. ~Sanela

Snuggle up with a cozy winter read. Remember Me and Haunting from the Past are available wherever books are sold.

Happy New 2022!

SRETNA NOVA GODINA!

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Cyber Savings!

Posted on by Posted in Book recommendation, Books, Cyber Savings, eBooks, Holidays, Purchase Books, Sanela Ramic Jurich

Remember Me from websiteRemember Me: Revised edition Kindle Edition

By Sanela Ramic Jurich (Author)

5-star-rating smaller

 

 

Save 65% by purchasing before Christmas. Only $2.99 on Kindle. You save $5.54!

Editorial Reviews

Review

Reviewed by Alice DiNizo for Readers’ Favorite

“Remember Me” is a thought-provoking novel about a dark time in recent history. The characters of Selma, her parents, grandparents, neighbors and friends who lost a lovely way of life are well-created and believable. The reader will agonize over the way innocent people were killed, their homes destroyed, their surviving families get grief-stricken but somehow carry on.
“Sjeti Me Se”, Johnny’s last words to Selma, is a novel that should be widely read and remembered. Unforgettable!

Crazy and Fun New Year’s Eve Traditions

Posted on by Posted in Holidays, New Year

When I was thirteen years old, a friend gave me a brand new set of tarot cards. My happiness only lasted a few hours before my dad got home from work and threw them away. His only explanation about why he did it was I should not believe in superstition.

Although I never let my dad see me follow any superstition after that day, I could not help but think about how much fun some of them are, so much so that they became traditions.

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