D.D. Marx's wonderful weekend...plus a book giveaway

We're pleased to have D.D. Marx here to talk about her idea of a fun night (or weekend) out. Hers just happens to be "in." D.D. is the author of the Beyond Series: Beyond Believing (October 17th), Beyond Love (November 7th), and Beyond Forever (coming December 12th). There will be a fourth book coming in April, as well. The books were inspired by the untimely death of her best friend.

D.D. Marx is a contemporary romantic fiction writer and blogger, as well as a lover of all things social. She is a graduate of the University of Dayton, as well as the Second City program in Chicago, where she currently resides. A proud aunt and self-described hopeless romantic, Marx has always has a knack for humorous and engaging storytelling. Her pen name is a dedication to her beloved friend Dan, who continues to guide and inspire her in her daily life. Visit D.D. at her website and on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

D.D. is generously sharing one set of the series in print and one set of e-books.

Friendsgiving

This is the time of the year where I reflect and remember how truly blessed I am in my life. One of the things I am most appreciative of is my TRIBE. The circle of women I am honored and grateful to call the sisters life has given me. We are of the age where we are starting to lose the great loves of our life – parents, friends and siblings. Nothing and no one can prepare you for these moments or describe the endless pain it will bring. It’s an individual battle that never goes away. The ache just fades with time.

Most of us are separated by distance and are spread out throughout the country. This doesn’t stop us. We understand the importance of maintaining our special bond, so we plan an annual girls weekend. We pick a new and fun destination, rent a house and look forward to it all year long. These gatherings have recently taken on a new and deeper meaning that replenishes the soul.

As a treat, we purchase “one of our favorite things” to share with each other to enjoy. Nothing elaborate, just thoughtful. We present these items to each other at our weekend ‘roundtable’. We sit around the dining room table or fireplace and we each share the best part and the hardest part of our lives, in that moment. Everyone is given a turn and can take as long as they need. In a world of hustle, bustle, texting and social media you only get to see snippets of each other’s lives so this exercise has been enlightening. Learning what is really going on with each other. The pendulum swings from the celebration of a job promotion to the challenges of struggling with child, marriage or an aging parent.

A couple years ago we went to Saugatuck, Michigan. It was a special place for our dear friend and her mom, who had recently passed. She invited us to participate in a beautiful ceremony where we each spread some of her mom ashes. It was a cold and overcast October day. We went down to the beach and said a quick prayer, then separated to have an individual moment. When we returned as a group the sun pierced through the clouds for a few brief seconds to let us know she had received our blessings and to say thank you for taking care of her dearest daughter Kellee.

So, spending a night holed up with my nearest and dearest being open, honest and raw is one of my favorite nights on the town.

Thanks to D.D. for visiting with us and for sharing her books with our readers.

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway ends December 3rd at midnight EST.