I was reintroduced to ground cherries the other day. A beautiful, new friend gave me a small bag filled with the sweet fruit and shared a wonderful story that will forever change the way I look at ground cherries.

“I was as the ninth of twelve children growing up on a farm during the depression. There wasn’t money for candy, cookies or other sweets, but we had a garden.” She plucked a ground cherry from the bag and showed me the small gray covering looked like a tiny Chinese lantern.  “These are nature’s candy. Each in its own individually wrapped package.”

She  opened the paper covering on a ground cherry to reveal little the golden orb inside. She looked at for a moment before smiling at me and continuing. “I was a tender hearted child. When I was scolded, my feelings would be hurt. I’d hide in the garden and console myself with one of these.”

She handed me the ground cherry, and I ate it. It had a sweet, slightly musky flavor. I can see a little girl consoling her bruised feelings with one.

Sumiyati E Monoarfa won a copy of Trust No One in the contest that ended August 15.
Keep an eye out for future contests.
Congratulations, Sumiyati!
Thank you to everyone who entered.
Laurel

After hovering in the middle of the pack in the title competition, For the Love of David received seven votes last night to win by one. So...the title for my new book, to be released in January 2013, is...For the Love of David suggested by Renee Wildes. Congratulations Renee! She wins a $25 gift certificate to amazon.com, thanks for her title contribution in the book acknowledgements, and a free signed copy of For the Love of David.

Thank you to everyone who suggest the 101 titles (literally...I received 101 unique titles). Interestingly enough, until last night, Finders Keepers,  Baby Mine, and Infant of Choice had been tied for first. I'm not certain what spurred the flurry of votes for For the Love of David during the eleventh hour, but I think it's great title.