Four Canasta-playing friends from the Greatest Generation
mold Boomers with their tales of wobbly marriages, a World War, a soldier’s
love story, a polio epidemic, a straying from faith, and more, even a murder
mystery. The four pals embrace poignant moments and douse life with humor and
lavish love.
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Broken Cups Hold Love demonstrates the power of
friendship and that every life is valuable, no matter how it’s lived because a
holy God created and breathed life into each flawed person. Broken lives teach
valuable, hard lessons.
(Although a murder is mentioned, it is not bloody.)
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Lana's Bio:
Hi, I’m Lana Newman Kruse—last
name pronounced KRUZEY. I love God, family, friends, and a good story. I live
in McKinney, Texas, and am a former Bible Study Fellowship, Community Bible
Study, and home Bible study group leader, and have facilitated discussions in the
gathering Simply Social. I’m a member
of ACFW, Wildwood Writers, and a new podcast, Wevegotbooks33@gmail.com. My writing
targets women over 50. My life verse is Ephesians 3:20, “Now all glory to God,
Who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish
infinitely more than we might ask or think.” NLT Lana's
Pen
Here's a treat! An interview with one of Lana's characters!
Interview with Canasta buddy, Camilla, aka, Cam,
Camilla-Dilla, or Dilly:
Hi, y’all, out there in Literary Land! We’re going to
interview one of our lead characters from Lana Newman Kruse’s Broken Cups
Hold Love – Our dear and adorable Camilla Lancaster. I’m your interviewer,
Marge Frickey. Hello, Mrs. Lancaster.
Cam Lancaster: Oh, please, call me Cam, or call me
what my Canasta buddies do—Camilla-Dilla, or just plain ol’ Dilly, cuz, I am
one, Hon. A real dilly!
Interviewer Marge: Okay, Camilla-Dilla, or Dilly. A
pleasure. Your loyal fans want to get to know you better. Where are you from?
Cam: All over the Deep South really, honey lamb. We
moved a lot because of Mother’s asthma, until we lighted here in San Antonio,
Texas. She could breathe here so we stayed. Then I met my true love, so another
good reason to stay.
Marge smiled: Good logic. Now, please tell us what are
some of your favorite things to do?
Cam: Well, I love parties—givin’ and goin’. I love
cookin’ too—I fry everything, then cover it in gravy. I love to tell jokes and
play cards, especially Canasta. My gal pals and I started playin’ Canasta
umpteenth years ago, and we’re still goin’ strong.
Marge: I’ve heard about your Canasta games and that
you four ladies laugh real loud, have barrels of fun, and even have nicknames.
Cam: Yes, darlin’ ya wanna hear our nicknames?
Marge: Absolutely!
Cam: Now, my sister-in-law, Hortense is Hy or
Hy-fidelity. Her partner is my cousin by marriage and best friend, Betty or
Bitty Betty, cuz she’s the smallest, (Cam whispers … but she may be the
mightiest). Then my partner is Bitty’s sister Sophie, or affectionately called
Sassy…and she has a different hair color ever week. And you know, I’m Dilly.
Marge: So, dear Camilla, how did you get the nickname,
Dilly?
Cam: I guess cuz I act the silliest, tell jokes, and
cuz I like to write little ditties for fun. Would ya like to hear one of my
poems, darlin’?
Marge: I’d be honored.
Cam: Here’s my latest: Memememe.
“Such
great friends I’ve never had before
You
make me laugh till my sides are sore.
We
giggle until we cry and get woozy
Yes,
every inch of you is a dear, delicate doozy.
No
matter who wins or loses, no one flips her lid
To
me you are God’s gift that He Himself outdid.”
Marge: I love your ditty. It’s fun but poignant. I
think I love your friends and you already.
Cam smiling: Thank you, They’re a great group of
girls.
Marge: You mentioned you like jokes. May we end our
interview with a quick one?
Cam: Sure, Honey. Here’s an excerpt from our last
crazy Canasta party:
“Say, girls, did y’all read in the Gazette’s Lost and
Found asking if anyone lost a wad of hundred-dollar bills wrapped in a big
rubber band?”
Betty hollered, waving her right hand: “They found my
money?”
Cam: “They found your rubber band!”
Marge chuckling: For more fun and more stories, check
out Broken Cups Hold Love by Lana Newman Kruse on Amazon.com.