Happy Holidays 2025

 

2025 is pulling into the station. The final gasps of the year are upon us with Thanksgiving coming this week and Christmas not far behind. As we edge our way into the holiday season, I wanted to thank all of you for your support over the last 25 years. Who would have thought that I would still be standing as an author 25 years after my first book, Hiking Alabama, was released, and it's all because of you. Thank you for buying my books and your encouragement. 

As a thank you, once again this year, I'll be holding my Holiday Giveaway. There will be lots of freebies including free audiobook samples and ebooks to download, special discounts on select books, and of course, a big contest. This year, you will have a chance to win one of two collections: either a collection of my Arcadia history books (Hidden History of Mobile, A History Lover's Guide to Mobile, Notable Women of Alabama), or a collection of my Prometheus space books (Space Oddities, Everyone's Gone to the Moon).

The contest begins Monday, Nov. 24th and ends Monday, Dec. 1st. You can download the freebies through Christmas. Visit my website, http://joecuhaj.com, to start downloading freebies and for you chance to win a collection.

In other news...

I need to send a big thank you out to Rebecca, Sherry, and the staff at Mobile's Bellingrath Gardens & Home for hosting me Nov. 14th for my first ever reading. I know, right? All of these years and my first reading. We had a nice little turnout for my reading and a fun conversation about writing. Next up: a signing at Page and Palette in Fairhope, AL, January 10th from 1 to 3pm.

 

I was so proud when I received the email telling me that my short story was selected to appear in the 23rd edition of the Emerald Coast Review. Out of over 175 entries by incredible writers, poets, and artists on the Alabama and Florida Gulf Coast, 70 were selected.

The story I submitted has a long history. It was the first short story I ever wrote; I performed it once on on my overnight radio show 45 years ago. I later transformed it, along with others, into my podcast, "Joe Cuhaj's Shorts." This is the first time it has appeared in print and I can't be more excited.

I've just started reading the anthology and the editors did select the best of the best. You can purchase a copy through Amazon.

That's all for now. Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Till next time...

Here Comes Another One

 

It's hard to believe that after 25 years of writing and 20 books, I have never done a reading. Of course, 13 of those books were hiking guides. Kind of difficult to get a crowd engaged reading trail directions. "Start at the trailhead. Go north 0.1-miles. Turn left..."

Yeah. Not very exciting. That's about to change Nov. 14 @ 10:30am when I discuss writing, read some fun stories from my history books, and sign copies of my books including the latest, Notable Women of Alabama. It's all part of the Ink & Insight series at Bellingrath Gardens & Home. Mark your calendar and I'll see you there.

In the Good 'Ol (Almost) Winter Time

 

We’re entering my favorite time of year, not because of the festive holidays of the season, but because of the weather. I love late fall and early winter, when the temperatures finally start to chill. Maybe we’ll see a little frost on the ground.

I moved to the Alabama Gulf Coast from New Jersey over 40 years ago and you would think that by now, I would adjust to the heat and humidity of the South. Nope. But once November and December arrive, I am a happy camper. Of course, the temps don’t drop that low, maybe 40s at night then back up to the 70s the next day, but that’s alright. There will be those cold, wintery nights when we drop into the 30s. And hey, last year we had up to 9-inches of snow in some areas. I was giddy as a schoolgirl.

I have a couple more events scheduled around my latest book, Notable Women of Alabama . The first will be on November 14^th when I return to the beautiful BellingrathGardens in Theodore, Alabama. I will be there at 10:30am for my first ever reading and book signing. I know, crazy, right? I have had 20 books published in 25 years and have never been invited to do a reading, so this will be fun.

Then on January 10^th from 1 to 3 p.m., I will be signing copies of the book at Page and Palette in Fairhope, Alabama. I hope to see you at one of these events.

So, I was asked the question the other day, "Have you ever used people you know as the basis for characters in your writing?" The answer is - how can you not?

I've met so many interesting people over the years, I can't help but mix their personalities into my writing. And that's what I do, when creating a character, they are usually a mashup of personalities - a bit of this one, a touch of that.

That's how I crafted the characters for my new cozy mystery. The banter, their quirks, the romance, the atmosphere at the station, it's all based on the great people I worked with over the years in the field. Yes, even my sarcastic personality shines through. Don't get me wrong. There wasn't a murder at any of the stations I worked at.

So, yes, I do use people I know as the basis for characters in my writing. And as the saying goes, "Be careful or you'll end up in my novel."

Until next time...