Did Santa Bring a Kindle for Christmas?

Bob Parlier of the Petersburg Progress-Index interviewed me about Daddy's Christmas Angel. See the article in today's newspaper.

 

Did you get a new Kindle for Christmas? Are you already a Kindle owner?

My publisher, Oak Tree, just put my new novel, Daddy's Christmas Angel on Kindle at the special price of $0.99. This special will last until January 1, 2013 when the Kindle price goes back to $5.95.

Of all the books I've written, this is my favorite. It's a heartwarming story that appeals to people of all ages. Teachers especially will enjoy this story.

"Angel of the Holy Cross" pastel painting copyright MMSikes

If you've read my book, please let me know what you think!

Here is my latest angel painting for Christmas 2012. I created this pastel in mid-December and had not planned the cross necklace. It suddenly became an important part of the painting as I was working on that section of the drawing. That's when the name, "Angel of the Holy Cross," came to me, relating it to the Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona AZ. The face of the angel developed from using the catalog cover photo of a young brunette woman as reference material. I wanted my angel to be generic, not someone I know. I also wanted the viewer to be able to see the angel as someone in his/her life. The wing forms in the painting came from my love of patterning.

Each year, the angel I create for Christmas becomes my favorite, so, of course, "Angel of the Holy Cross" is my favorite now.

At least, so far...

--Mary Montague Sikes

Creating an Angel Card at Christmastime

For the past several years, I've created a new angel card for Christmas. This year, I thought about making my cover image from Daddy's Christmas Angel into my card but decided against it. Instead, I went into my studio yesterday and created a brand new pastel angel painting.

Chapel of the Holy Cross - MMSikes

Although I hadn't planned it, a cross necklace suddenly appeared around the neck of this year's angel. I named the image, "Angel of the Holy Cross." When my husband reminded me of our visit to the Chapel of the Holy Cross, I realized the connection.  Although I am not a Catholic, I was very drawn to the church situated among the picturesque Red Rocks of Sedona, Arizona. Unfortunately, I did not go inside that day four years ago because it was too near closing time for the area. Also, it was a rare, gray afternoon which eliminated the possibility of dramatic colors in my photographs. When we were in Sedona last month, we passed the road leading to the Chapel almost every day, but we did not go visit it again. Now, I wish we had.

I will have my angel cards and Daddy's Christmas Angel at the Tides Inn Christmas Marketplace in Irvington, Virginia on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will unveil my new image, "Angel of the Holy Cross" there. Here are two of my other angel cards:

"Angel Close Beside Us" Copyright 2010 MMSikes

"Angel of the Endless Garden" Copyright 2011 MMSikes