My husband and I have 5 children between us, which means large holiday gatherings. But this year was delightfully different.

On December 21st, we shared Christmas with one of our daughters, who lives near by, and who worked on December 25th. We enjoyed platters of barbecued spare ribs and opened our presents. It was a special, very pleasant evening.

On December 24th our other daughter arrived from Durham, NC with her family. It was a pleasure to share a ham and all the trimmings with them on December 25th.

On December 27th, one of our three sons and his family came up from Charlotte, NC. They brought a frozen gourmet dinner, which was a treat, and my 18 and 20-year-old grandsons cleared the table, loaded the dishwasher, and were overall most helpful.

Being able to share a part of the holiday with each family group, separately, was wonderful. We were able to talk with everyone and to relax, and no sibling rivalry to deal with.

My husband I enjoyed a quiet New Year's Eve and never made it to midnight.

PHOTO: Our Son and his family and our daughter and her dog, Sela.

Not a week goes by that I do not receive fan mail, either hand written or e mail. Thank you, all of you who have taken the time to contact me. I am touched by your reactions to my work and flattered by what you say. Some of you write that you feel part of the neighborhood and feel as if you know the ladies and their extended family. Some of you have lived in this area and enjoy revisiting it through my stories. Some have been encouraged or inspired, while others say they have found comfort or hope, and many of you identify with one or another of the ladies or with issues that they confront and work through. Fellow diabetics follow Grace’s progress, and remind me when Grace gets out of line and doesn’t watch her sugar intake.

If you remember, the first novel, The Ladies of Covington Send Their Love, was not a book that I conceived. It was given to me in the bathtub. I started that novel on blind trust, for I had no idea what the plot would be or who the characters were. I simple lay in that tub, then sat at the computer, and the words came. When I hit a block, I took another long soak, and the next chapter or event unfolded.

I thank the UNIVERSE (GOD) for that novel and for the inspiration that keeps the stories coming, and again, I thank you all for reading my work.

In 2006, I will be traveling less, attending fewer events and giving fewer talks. I will, however, make two very long trips, to Philadelphia in February and to De Moines, Iowa in July.

In Philadelphia, I will be interviewed by Suzanne Roberts, the 84-year-old, Emmy Award winning host of Seeking Solutions with Suzanne, which is geared toward people over 50. This program airs three times daily on CNN headline News through Comcast and is entering its 6th season. For your information, the web site is: suzanne.tv). should you be in a Comcast TV area of the country (we get Charter Communications here). Should you wish to tune in, I will let you know in a newsletter, the exact date and times.

July will find me at the Iowa Red Hat Convention, where I join fans for an informal dinner and over the next two days, present two talks to the red hat ladies. I am so pleased to have been invited, and I very much look forward to meeting fans and friends in the mid-west.

As I do not fly, neither of these trips would be feasible without my wonderful, 23-year-old granddaughter, Toby, a recent college graduate. Toby and I have enjoyed traveling together since she was thirteen-years-old, and on this trip she will do most or all of the driving. On our return trip, we will visit my lifelong Virgin Islands friends who now live in southern Michigan.

PHOTO: Decked out and having a great time at Keowee Key, SC red hat luncheon last November.

email: jmedlicott@mindspring.com

web: http://www.joanmedlicott.com