There is a busy street in our town, not that the traffic passes quickly on it, but it’s a well-traveled street that is part of a route to two schools, along with leading to the main drag that runs through our city. A large storm drain runs under one section of the street. It definitely […]
The Christmas of Candle Glow
Here’s one of my favorite Christmas memories, almost 40 years ago and I still remember it vividly. I’d just turned 10 and I was very excited to be spending Christmas at my grandparents’ house. As the oldest grandchild, I’d get to sleep on the living room couch. I would fall asleep looking at the beautiful […]
Prepping for ‘the big day’, or: reinventing tradition
I realize our blog isn’t an American blog, but as the ‘big day’ approahces next week, I’ve been mulling over the idea of thanksgiving, in addition to some new-to me recipes I’m hoping to try out (like Rachael Ray’s deep fried stuffing balls!) One other thing I’ve been thinking about during this season of Thanks-giving […]
Story Sparks
There’s an old song that begins, “It only takes a spark, to get a fire going.” So true! Unless you’re camping, in the rain. If you are someone with a vivid imagination, you find you end up getting sparks of stories everywhere. You can watch a news clip or read an article, or hear a […]
Read the book, see the movie?
There are times when I’m in the middle of a really good book and I think, “Wow, this would make a great movie, too.” I can picture the characters acting out and living the story as it unfolds. Often as I write, I can picture the scenes in my head as if real people are […]
How to write a book
In my travels as a news reporter in my local community, one of the most common things people tell me when they learn I am an author is, “I’ve always wanted to write a book.” I usually ask them, “Why not get started?” Their answers vary, and one of the most common reasons for […]
Water parks and control freaks
As a fiction writer, I’ve come to be aware of those everyday lessons in unexpected places. And, I’ve come to the conclusion that water parks are no place for control freaks. I learned a couple of things during a simple family outing to the waterpark. I prepared for a day of sun, water, good times […]
A love rekindled
Sometimes there are wonderful background characters who pop up in a story. For me, that was Rochelle Keim, known to her younger family and friends as Aenti Chelle in the Seasons of Pinecraft series. For books one and two (A Season of Change, and A Path Made Plain), she stepped up to be a good […]
Warm fuzzies
There’s something about the summertime that brings me right back to warm fuzzy things, like a first crush. One night some years ago I was working on some online research for a future project. I was clicking through an employee newsletter for an organization related to a new proposal. Gotta get that research right, you […]
Love in the summertime
Many times writers get their story ideas from places they’ve visited, places they’ve lived, or places they’d like to go (or places made up in their imagination). I’ve been blessed to call three beautiful and special parts of the United States home, although I’ve been a Texan for 23 years now. From ages two until […]
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