#SaturdaySpotlight is on Nikki & Nisa's Travel Adventures by Dr. Nicole J. Moncrief

Good Morning and Welcome to the LAST Saturday Spotlight of June 2026!

Whew... The year is half over. Can you believe it? I guess it is true that time flies when you're having fun because I'm having a blast! Reminds me of the old Milwaukee beer commercial where folks are sitting around a campfire and someone says, "It just can't get no better than this."

I know, I'm aging myself but hey, age is just a number.  Enough babbling though. Let's get on with our spotlight. 

Today's guest is brand new to this blog so please welcome Dr. Nicole J. Moncrief with her beautiful children's book, Nikki & Nisa's Travel Adventures!

Thanks for joining us, Dr. Moncrief. Please tell us why you wrote this book and what makes it special to you.

My pleasure, Pam, and Thank YOU for hosting me, Nikki & Nisa today.

Nikki and Nisa’s Travel Adventure is deeply personal.

The book is dedicated to my late mother, LouAnna Guillory Jean, who consistently emphasized the importance of education and literacy. She instilled in me the belief that reading could take you anywhere, even if your circumstances could not.

It is also a tribute to my dear friend Dinisa Hardley Folmar, affectionately known as “Nisa.” She and I shared a dream of traveling the world together. We even set a “50 by 50” goal to visit 50 countries by the time we turned 50. Although she lost her battle with breast cancer in 2020, her spirit of adventure and love for exploration live on through this book.

This story is special because it reflects friendship, faith, and fulfillment of a childhood declaration. In the third grade, I boldly told my classmates I would become a children’s book author and travel the world. This book represents that promise kept.

It reminds children and adults that dreams spoken with conviction can become reality.

Oh My Goodness, how sweet! I'm sure "Nisa" is with you and Nikki every trip you take. Now please share with us more about the book and yourself.

Sure.

Nikki and Nisa’s Travel Adventure (South Africa) is a heartwarming children’s book that introduces young readers ages 5–11 to the excitement of travel, friendship, culture, and imagination. Through vibrant storytelling and engaging illustrations, Nikki and Nisa explore the beauty of South Africa while learning about language, customs, and the joy of discovering the world beyond their own backyard.

More than a travel story, this book encourages children to dream boldly, read confidently, and understand that books can be passports to places they have never been. It is a celebration of curiosity, courage, and connection.

Excerpt: Join best friends Nikki and Nisa as they embark on an unforgettable journey to South Africa!  Inspired by their new friend Solomon, the girls learn about passports, packing for summer in December, and exploring a new culture. 

From a traditional braai to a thrilling game drive, their adventure is filled with exciting discoveries, lifelong memories, and the joy of friendship.  

Perfect for young readers, this story celebrates curiosity, cultural appreciation, and dreaming big! 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dr. Nicole J. Moncrief is a children’s book author, literacy advocate, and global traveler who believes that reading opens doors to the world. She has been passionate about writing since declaring in her third-grade classroom that she would one day travel the world and become an author. Today, she inspires children to dream big, embrace culture, and explore new horizons through storytelling.

Her work focuses on travel literacy, imagination, leadership, and faith-centered encouragement for young readers.

Ready to inspire your little one? Visit our website or Facebook  page. Sign up for our email list and receive Nikki and Nisa's Travel Adventures coloring pages free.

Beautiful. We certainly wish you, Nikki & Nisa the best of luck and God's blessings in your travels. 

I hope you enjoyed today's guest, Friends, and that you'll consider purchasing Nikki and Nissa's Travel Adventures for the children in your life. Dr. Moncrief shared more about her book along with a short spiritual reflection on my travel blog in May. Read the post HERE.

See you next week for another episode of Saturday Spotlight.

Until then, take care and God bless.

PamT

#ThursdayThoughts: Random Ramblings on Friendship

Hello Friends,

Please know I do not use that term lightly and I DO appreciate each and every one of you for your support over the years.

If you're new to reading my work and/or following me -- Welcome! I pray you're aren't disappointed in what you find here on my blog.

Now on to my thoughts about Friendship....

We talk about BFF's and all of our friends which a lot of time, include mere acquaintances. So, I wonder, do we really appreciate the true friends in our lives?

The Bible teaches us that a "true" friend sticks closer to us than a brother but I wonder, would we really stick close to our 'friends' in their toughest times?

What about when they are doing something we don't approve of?

Now if you know me at all, you understand I never write to judge or criticize but to uplift and encourage and yes, if what I write makes you think and evaluate then that's great too!

I guess the point of these random ramblings is this: Love and appreciate the friends in your life. Uplift them when they are down. If you can help them see the error of their ways in some situations, do so with love and peace, not judgement and criticism. 

Most of all, be the kind of friend you would like to have!

Something to think about!!
"Inspirational with an Edge!" (tm)

PS: Speaking of Friends....I recently published the Tempered Series Bundle which includes all 4 of the Tempered Novels (Hearts, Dreams, Fire & Joy) as well as Lori's Redemption....all at a lower price than if you bought them individually!

You might ask how this relates to this post on friendship. This line in the book description explains it all..... Start at the beginning and follow these beloved characters throughout the years as love crosses the lines of age and strengthens the bonds of friendship.


The Tempered Series Bundle can be purchased through Smashwords for any electronic reading device! It is also at Barnes & Noble for Nook and should be showing up at Amazon soon too!