Temporarily M-I-A

As some of you know, I had some pretty major spinal surgery in late February. The surgeon had warned me that I might have some trouble walking initially because of his entering through the psoas muscle. Well, yes! My right leg and foot are totally non-functional, and I am doped up on pain meds. This…

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The Ups and Downs of the Writing Life

I’d submitted the first ten pages of my middle grade novel for a paid critique at an upcoming Mid-South SCBWI Writers Conference. I had high hopes for these pages and felt I’d really nailed the voice of my protagonist. Cue the violin music, because this does not have a happy ending! The critiquer shredded my…

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Patient in Room 244

As some of you know, I recently had major spinal surgery and spent four days in the hospital. The nurses and other staff members were friendly and competent. Theoretically, I could choose to leave “against medical advice” at any time. And yet, it strikes me that hospital and prison stays have a lot in common.…

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If He Makes You Laugh…

My oldest sister once gave me her honest opinion of my personal blogs: “No one wants to read about how much you love your husband.” If so, STOP READING! NOW! This blog is about one of the things I love most about my husband. He’s hilarious. Even on my worst days, he can make me…

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It’s Never Too Late: Meet M.E. Roche

I’m delighted to welcome ME Roche to my blog today, who began writing later in life after a distinguished career as a registered nurse. This month, she’s celebrating the release of BIGAMY, her fifth novel. Below are her responses to my interview questions followed by her bio and contact/buy links. First off, congratulations on the…

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The Book Signing That Wasn’t: Meet Lisa Haneberg

   As some of you know, I serve as president of Derby Rotten Scoundrels, the Ohio River Valley chapter of Sisters in Crime. One of our newest members is the delightful, motorcycle-riding veteran author Lisa Haneberg. Below is her account of one of those book signing events that didn’t quite go as planned, followed by…

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Three Lovely Writing Things!

As a writer, I have plenty of discouraging days—when the words don’t come easily, something comes up that takes me away from my desk, or a rejection arrives in my inbox. But this past week, what I felt was overwhelming gratitude. First, I got to write every single day, and unexpected ideas crept into my…

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