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.
(Although a murder is mentioned, it is not bloody.)
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
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.