Recently, my award-winning author friend Marilyn Levinson announced she had not one but eight books coming out that year. I was astonished and incredibly impressed! I knew my prolific friend wrote both for young people and adults, but eight books? She explained that several had gone out of print and were being republished—but still! I…
Read MoreDriving home from the airport after dropping off our NYC grandchildren and their parents, I felt so sad that they had departed, and our Christmas visit was over. And then I reminded myself how lucky I was to feel that way! Advice columns are full of counsel on how to deal with difficult relatives during…
Read MoreWhen my children were young, we used to pass a candle on Sunday nights and take turns saying what we were thankful for. On one of those occasions, our younger son announced, “Let me just start with my unthankfuls.” So, I’ll follow suit. I am unthankful for the current administration which has, within less than…
Read MoreYears ago, when I was a dance teacher, I made a point of saving the notes and cards I’d received from appreciative students. Whenever I was having a bad day, I’d get them out and re-read them. They were a definite pick-me-up! I loved feeling that I’d made a difference in my students’ lives. I’ve…
Read MoreI’ve always believed that writing is risk-taking behavior. We reveal so much of who we are and what we care about when we write. Approaching our daily work as writers with humor somehow makes it all less scary. Over the years, I’ve collected a few of my favorite fun quotes about writing. Here are…
Read MoreWe’ve all had those days and weeks as writers when nothing seems to go well. We get a slew of back-to-back rejections, our critique group is less than thrilled with our latest submission, and our work-in-progress is, well…stalling. Only that pesty compulsion to write keeps us going. Fortunately, there are other weeks when lots of…
Read More