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 […]
Twenty years of romance tips
Twenty years ago this coming Wednesday, I walked down the aisle and exchanged vows with my husband. Wow. Twenty years. That’s like, older than a teenager! When I think about old married couples, I don’t think about us, because I don’t think we’re old. But then, after two decades of experience, I ought to have […]
My real-life romantic comedy
My husband and I didn’t go on our first date until July 1994, but back in June 1994 I had a sudden realization that something could possibly be brewing between us. One fine Texas Saturday afternoon in June, I borrowed my friend Lisa’s Nissan Pulsar to attend a piano recital at a nearby college. Lisa was […]
Keeping warm ‘n cozy
It looks like winter has most of the northern U.S. and Canada in a tight, snowy grip with all kinds of the frozen stuff falling and crusting up everything and everyone. I have refrained (aside from teasing my sister by posting a photo of the dandelions in my Texas backyard) from talking much about our […]
The way to anyone’s heart
There’s an old saying that a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Maybe that’s true in some cases. However, it’s definitely true that a love of good food can bring people together. I find it great fun to include food in my books. In fact, I do try to shy away from […]
Raspberry Kisses
I love books, and food, in no particular order. That’s why I’m excited to have author Cecilia Dowdy as my guest today because her newest release, Raspberry Kisses, is set in a bakery. And, it has a delectable cover. I took a few moments to chat with Cecilia about her book, life as a writer, […]
Books, books, and more books!
I remember a special paper my teachers would send home in elementary school. Within its pages, it was a mini-magazine of books galore—the Scholastic book order form. It was my favorite time of the month, when we’d “take one and pass them down” until all of us in the class had a copy of the […]