ART IN THE BAHAMAS

 Daisha Douglas (left) & Akira Smith (right)

Erskine and I had a lovely time this afternoon at Baha Mar, Cable Beach. It was packed with people attending international conventions or Tailgate Super Bowl Parties there, as well as residents out for a family Valentine’s lunch. 

After a bite to eat and coffee at Starbucks, we decided to check out The Current Gallery and Art Center. We had never been there before. It was quiet and peaceful and the large collection of art work by local artists spectacular. We were glad to see that our artists are deservedly commanding top prices for their work and we highly recommend a visit. There is no charge for entry.

The two ladies on The Gallery’s front desk, Daisha Douglas and Akira Smith, who are students at the University of The Bahamas, told us it’s usually quiet when there are a lot of events going on. Daisha is an Art student at UB and Akira is training in the medical field.

After we left Baha Mar it lashed down with rain and we got soaked. Then we had quite a job getting home with all the roadworks under way on West Bay Street, but it was a very worthwhile afternoon!

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A SPECIAL VALENTINE'S TREAT!

♥ ♥ ♥ LOVE IS IN THE AIR! – AS A SPECIAL VALENTINE'S TREAT, the e-book edition of my popular book SUNBEAMS FROM THE HEART: A COLLECTION OF TWELVE ROMANTIC SHORT STORIES is currently DISCOUNTED to $0.90! 

♥ ♥ ♥ Love themes in “Sunbeams from the Heart” tell of nostalgia, bright new beginnings, homecoming, second chances, and the unexpected. The stories propel the reader on a journey through Scotland, England, The Bahamas and rural America.

♥ ♥ ♥ Sunbeams from The Heart is also available in paperback (regular and large print) and Kindle Unlimited.

TO DOWNLOAD SUNBEAMS FROM THE HEART CLICK ONE OF THE LINKS BELOW:-

AMAZON U.S.

AMAZON U.K.

AMAZON CANADA

AMAZON WORLDWIDE

If required, the free Kindle app can be downloaded from Amazon for most major smart phones, tablets and computers.

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WHY THE BAHAMAS?

 

Miami, Florida, on my way to The Bahamas

In the summer of 1965, I had been working for a few months as an Editorial Assistant in Toronto, Canada, after emigrating there, but I didn’t want to endure a Canadian winter. I told my uncle’s secretary Irene that I wanted to go somewhere warm. She said “why not The Bahamas?”

“The Bahamas?” I asked with excitement. “Where is that?” She pointed on a map to some little “dots” offshore at the bottom of the United States! She had once been to Freeport, Grand Bahama, and loved it.

The next day I found a travel agent in Toronto. I wanted to stay in major cities of the countries I planned on visiting as I made my way “around the world”, so I chose Nassau, the capital of The Bahamas. The cheapest way to get to Nassau was a four nights’ Greyhound bus trip from Toronto to Miami and a short flight from there to Nassau. I bought a package from the travel agent, which covered getting all the way to Nassau and three night’s hotel accommodation.

I had only planned on staying in Nassau for three months, then I was going to see if I could find a friend in England to travel east with me as far as Japan. But I fell in love with The Bahamas and my husband to be Erskine, who I met a month after getting there. I managed to get a job and accommodation right away and never did travel the world!

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LOCAL AUTHOR PAUL BETHEL FEATURED IN THE TRIBUNE

Great article this weekend about local author Paul Bethel in The Tribune "Weekend". Paul is published by JOFFE BOOKS of the UK:

CLICK HERE FOR TRIBUNE ARTICLE FEATURING AUTHOR PAUL BETHEL

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BACK ON BAY!

 

Bay Street - the bleachers are up and everyone is ready for Junkanoo!

Christmas lights along the Western Esplanade, Nassau

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Joyeux Noël, Feliz Navidad, Happy Hanukkah! 

After two years absence from Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, due to the pandemic, the Bahamas’ world famous Junkanoo is back on Bay Street, downtown Nassau!

Fifty-seven years' ago, I rode side saddle on the back of Erskine's scooter "Over The Hill" after a New Year’s party that he and his band "The Invaders" had played at on West Bay Street. Discarded Junkanoo floats and costumes were strewn all over the streets. We went from night club to night club until the wee hours. I wore a long white evening gown, but by the time the sun rose my dress was no longer white!

In my mystery romance novel "Dangerous Devotion" (described by Juanita Coulson, "The Lady" Books Editor, as "A moving tale of family dynamics and relationships in later life"), Gordon and Violet experience the Christmas season in Nassau. Then as Gordon is Scottish, they fly back to Scotland for Hogmanay.

Excerpt from "Dangerous Devotion":

"Bell ringers stood at strategic points on downtown Bay Street, collecting money for charity in Salvation Army kettles. The street was decked out with festive decorations. A heavily laden Christmas tree towered next to the colonial buildings in historic Rawson Square. Bleachers for the upcoming Boxing Day and New Year’s Junkanoo parades were already in place."

"Dangerous Devotion" is available on Amazon as an e-book and in paperback. Click the links below to buy on Amazon:-

DANGEROUS DEVOTION AT AMAZON U.S.

DANGEROUS DEVOTION AT AMAZON WORLDWIDE

Wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy, Peaceful and Prosperous 2023!

 

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NEW REGENCY MYSTERY ROMANCE RELEASED!

I’ve just finished reading Bahamian bestselling author Paul Bethel’s latest Regency novel “The Whispering Tongues”, full of scandal, romance, mystery and murder! The U.K. publishers Joffe Books sent me an advanced reader copy and I also preordered it on Amazon because I liked it so much! Paul writes his Regency novels under the pseudonym Beth Andrews. 

The Whispering Tongues is Book Three in the Beth Andrews Sussex Regency Romance Series. It became a #1 Best Seller as soon as it was released today by Joffe! 

I thoroughly enjoyed it, like I did Books One and Two and several of his other books! The Kindle version is available now at the special launch price of just £0.99 | $0.99.

CLICK HERE FOR THE WHISPERING TONGUES

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REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY BAHAMAS 2022

 

So good to be back in Starbucks, Baha Mar! It’s been a long haul.

It’s Remembrance Sunday here in The Bahamas. Fondly remembering my late parents who served in World War Two – Josephine Johanson, Women’s Royal Air Force, and William Johanson, Royal Australian Air Force.

Erskine and I also had a fast walk all around Baha Mar. It’s been over two years since we were last able to do this. Felt great!

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