Some readers love escaping into a land of sugar and spice that in no way resembles real life. Other readers feel isolated by sappy-happy stories because they don't see themselves and their lives reflected.
There's a place for the sappy stuff. There's a please for stark realism. Both are valid forms of entertainment.
Growing up as a queer kid in a situation of domestic violence, I hated the feel-good Christmas movies my mother loved. All the happy smiling people just reminded me how rotten my little life was. I wanted representation. I looked for fiction that was darker, fiction that reflected the fear I was experiencing in my own life.
As an adult, I appreciate the need for escapism more and more. As I write this post, I'm watching some kind of musical family Christmas special on TV. Little me would be rolling her eyes, big-time. But the world is just so awful sometimes. It helps to absorb other families' joy, even if it's fictional.
Having said all that, I would like to introduce the story I've written for you this Christmas.
A Teacup for Trilby sits somewhere between those two extremes of happy-sappy and stark realism. It's about a little girl spending Christmas at a shelter for women and children escaping domestic violence.
You might think a story about being homeless for the holidays would be a total bummer, but I'm hoping that's not the case here. My main character, Amelia, befriends Trilby, a lovely older trans woman, and they pretty much adopt each other as grandmother and granddaughter. When Trilby is wronged, Amelia is the first one who wants to stick up for her. But what good can she do? She's only a child.
These characters experience great challenges, but, in the end, they are rewarded with love and acceptance. And I think that's something we're all looking for, especially this time of year.
Start a new tradition today by reading A Teacup for Trilby, a heartwarming holiday story from me, Foxglove Lee, for you, with love and affection.
A Heartwarming Holiday Story
By Foxglove Lee
Amelia and her family are homeless this Christmas. How can their days be merry after they’ve lost everything?
When Trilby arrives at the shelter just in time for the holidays, Amelia’s family takes the older trans woman eagerly into their hearts. Trilby reminds the young girl of her late grandmother, who was always so loving and supportive. Everyone is over the moon when a wealthy benefactor arranges a festive shopping trip for the shelter’s residents, but the evening goes sour when a cold-hearted shop assistant denies Trilby the only gift she really wants. Can anyone set things right? And can they do it in time for Christmas?
You can purchase the ebook at many retailers, including:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L7L62G5?tag=foxglovelee-20
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/911689?ref=RainbowCrush
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=wxN-DwAAQBAJ
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/a-teacup-for-trilby-a-heartwarming-holiday-story
Universal Link: https://www.books2read.com/b/3yDA1n
You can also find it at the following and other subscription sites:
Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/book/395417647/A-Teacup-for-Trilby-A-Heartwarming-Holiday-Story
Playster: https://play.playster.com/books/10009781370260881/a-teacup-for-trilby-a-heartwarming-holiday-story-foxglove-lee
And at Radish: https://radish.app.link/yrljelwZzS
