Author Leanna Ellis & Her "Tea Bag" Aunts

My guest today is Author Leanna Ellis. I had the pleasure of having breakfast with her in Dallas in March. And it was fun! Here's Leanna:

"Since I write for women, I like to contemplate the unique pressures, stresses, obstacles and joys women face. One of my favorite quotes that I’ve had for many, many years is by Nancy Reagan who said, “A woman is like a tea bag, you never know her strength till you drop her in hot water.” As a writer, I like to put my characters in hot water and see what they’re made of. Do you ever feel like you’re in hot water? That you’re being steeped? I certainly have.

Many years ago, I was sitting at my parents’ home visiting with two of my aunts. They were both suffering from cancer and the effects of their treatments. Aunt Dot had fought breast and liver cancer for 12 years. Aunt Ora Lou had fought pancreatic cancer for six months. They had different battles and difficulties but they were still able to smile and laugh. But there was an intimate moment that I was privileged to witness that day. Aunt Ora Lou said to Aunt Dot (they were sister-in-laws), “I admire how you’ve fought the good fight all these years.” “Oh, no,” Aunt Dot said, “I admire you and how you’ve dealt with what you’re going through.” Tears glimmered in their eyes.

Watching those women gave me a life lesson in dealing with the harsh winds that toss our lives in the air. Life gave them both a turn they’d never anticipated on their journey. But they handled the pain and suffering with grace and humor. They’ve both gone onto heaven now, and I miss them, their quiet humor, their strength, their love.

Sometimes we are handed difficult situations as my heroine, Dottie in Ruby’s Slippers, loses her mother and her home. But she learns that at the end of that storm cloud is a rainbow of possibilities.--"Leanna

Thanks for a wonderful story, Leanna. Visit Leanna's website for more about her and her lively books!--Lyn