PAST & PRESENT NEW YEAR'S DAYS IN NASSAU, BAHAMAS!

The aftermath of a past Junkanoo in downtown Nassau, Bahamas

 

New Year's Day in The Bahamas this year doesn't ring with the excitement of New Year's Day 1966 and successive New Year's Days because of Covid-19. Sadly the popular Junkanoo festivals here in The Bahamas have been cancelled this time. 

Fifty-five years' ago, I rode on the back of Erskine's scooter "Over The Hill" after a 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 novel "Dangerous Devotion", Gordon and Violet experience the Christmas season in Nassau, but because Gordon is Scottish, they fly back to Scotland for Hogmanay (Scottish New Year).

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 at $2.99 and in paperback $10.12. Click the links below to go the book's Amazon page.

Wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy and Safe New Year!

CLICK HERE FOR AMAZON U.S.

CLICK HERE FOR AMAZON U.K.

CLICK HERE FOR AMAZON CANADA

CLICK HERE FOR AMAZON AUSTRALIA

GETTING THERE!

Now 34,000 words, but won't get to write much more of my novel DEADLY DECEIT (formerly Oleanders End) now until we get back from our Florida trip after Christmas. I'm only taking my phone as I like to travel light and I don't write on that, although some authors do. I'm most comfortable writing on my desktop. However, I've saved a pdf of my work in progress on my phone. That way while travelling I'll be able to read over the novel and make notes of any changes needed. And it's an extra backup too. You can never have enough backups!

In case I don’t get a chance again - Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyeux Noël, Feliz Navidad!

TRAVEL STIMULATES THE IMAGINATION!

Enjoying Starbucks coffee in Barnes & Noble
(imagining my books lining the shelves!)

Happy New Year! Erskine and I just got back from spending a week in Florida over Christmas. It was really hectic! We wanted to shop for items that we either can’t get here in Nassau or are much cheaper over there! However, we know now that Christmas is not the best time for that. Crowds of people all had the same idea! We had a great time though!

I say in my writer’s guide “How to Be the Best Writer Ever!”: “I write like crazy when I take a trip off the island, as there are always so many new sights and experiences. I also pick up lots of brochures and flyers to refer to later.” Unfortunately I must confess that I didn’t do any of this, as we were on the go the whole time! However, I did get ideas for some new short stories. There’s nothing like travelling to stimulate the imagination!
LINKS TO "HOW TO BE THE BEST WRITER EVER!" -https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GBFYFYYhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07GBFYFYY
mybook.to/BESTWRITER

CHRISTMAS DONE COMIN'

CHRISTMAS DONE COMIN'

by Fay Knowles

Christmas done comin'
Junkanooers in da shacks
Please give a dollar for
Salvation Army good acts

If you ain't gat a dollar
A quarter will do
If you ain't gat a quarter
Then God bless you!

(Just a little ditty I once wrote! Salvation Army members and supporters are out and about in Nassau collecting money in their kettles to help the poor. And Junkanoo groups are in the shacks feverishly creating stunning costumes and floats for the Christmas and New Year Junkanoo parades!)

NEW UPDATED COVER FOR LOVE AT SUNSET!

I had a lovely Christmas present this morning! – The beautiful new updated cover of my novel Love at Sunset has gone live on Amazon. Many thanks to the cover’s creator, best-selling author Tanya R. Taylor, who is so multi-talented!

LOVE AT SUNSET ON AMAZON

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas to all!

(Photos: Live Nativity scene by the young people of 

New Providence Community Church this morning)

CHILLIN' AT ATLANTIS!

Me at Atlantis Marina, Paradise Island

Erskine at Atlantis Marina Village, Paradise Island

Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island, today. Bit of a cool breeze, so took a cardigan, but didn’t need to use it. The temperature was just right!

Apparently business is slow over there right now, with low guest occupancy. Erskine reminded me it’s usually a little slow after Thanksgiving, but should pick up soon with Christmas approaching.

GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR A WRITER!

I just love this cushion cover that my very thoughtful sister sent me for Christmas! What writer wouldn’t love a cushion cover like this?! Thank you so much, dear Sis!

A VERY SPECIAL TIME OF YEAR

Me and Mum on one of her visits to The Bahamas
(Cape Santa Maria, Long Island, Bahamas)

This time of year always reminds me of the last time I saw my mother ten years ago. As Christmas approached, Erskine came up with the exciting suggestion that we should surprise Mum and fly to England for Christmas. She used to always visit us in The Bahamas during winters and spend Christmas and New Year with us, but those visits were sadly coming to a close as she got older.

I booked our flights, arranged for us to stay in holiday accommodation close to Mum so we wouldn’t put her out in any way, and even booked Christmas Dinner for three at a nearby hotel.

It was difficult for me to keep the secret, but once all our plans and bookings were made I called Mum to give her our surprise. I’ll never forget how happy she was and what a special Christmas and New Year that was. I am so glad we did this and am grateful to Erskine for making it possible, as three months later my dear mother passed away suddenly.

Wishing you all a very happy, healthy and peaceful New Year!

THE ENTICING MISTLETOE!

Cold, snowy days can often be as romantic as hot, sultry beaches! I remember the mistletoe we all used to try and manoeuvre our way under as giggling teenage girls at Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties! We hoped that special guy would see that we were standing beneath that little piece of greenery and he would head our way!

Mistletoe features in one of my stories in “Sunbeams from the Heart – A Collection of Twelve Romantic Short Stories”, available on Amazon as an e-book and in paperback.

Sunbeams at Amazon.com

Sunbeams at Amazon.co.uk

CHRISTMAS DAY ISLAND STYLE IN BYGONE YEARS!

Erskine as a little boy growing up on Long Island
(with his mother and five of his sisters)

When my husband Erskine hears Jay Mitchell singing the Christmas hymn, “Christians Awake, Salute the Happy Morn” on the radio, he says the hymn always reminds him of Christmas morning as a boy.

When he was a child growing up on Long Island in the Southern Bahamas, the children would wake up early on Christmas Day while it was still dark. They had no watches or clocks on the island in those days and told time by the sun, moon and stars.

Erskine, along with his siblings and friends, would first make their way to his Auntie Mary’s house on McKenzie Hill, which was the starting point for their Christmas morning house to house visits. They were all decked out in Junkanoo masks. The masks were made by the children out of cardboard and string, and painted with berries from the cactus tree (called “prickle pear” by the islanders).

Down the hill, Cousin Edward would be in his yard, singing “Christians Awake, Salute the Happy Morn”!

The children let off fire crackers as they went around the homes. They also carried paper bags. The bags were for their neighbours to deposit candy, cake, tangerines, oranges, “benny” cake (made from sugar and sesame seeds), coconut cake, coconut tart, and pound cake. This was usually all the children received for Christmas, but they were quite happy with whatever they were given. It was a simple but contented life.

As Christmas Day comes to a close here in The Bahamas, I hope everyone reading this has had a wonderful, peaceful day and I would just like to say, "A Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

CHRISTMAS DONE COMIN' - HELP SALVATION ARMY HELP OTHERS!

CHRISTMAS DONE COMIN'

by Fay Knowles

Christmas done comin'
Junkanooers in da shacks
Please give a dollar for
Salvation Army good acts

If you ain't gat a dollar
A quarter will do
If you ain't gat a quarter
Then God bless you!

CHRISTMAS CARD FROM "THE LADY" MAGAZINE!

I was thrilled to bits to receive this beautiful Christmas card from “The Lady” magazine, London, England, with a personally written greeting from the Editor! “The Lady” is a gorgeous magazine. Check it out at

"THE LADY" MAGAZINE

Eight of my romantic short stories have been published in “The Lady” since July, 2013. These now appear in  "Sunbeams from the Heart", along with one previously published in “The Broadkill Review”, Delaware, U.S.A., and two never before seen in print.