Birthday Reflections for My Grandson
Sixteen years ago, my life changed when I became the totally besotted grandparent of Cameron, my first grandchild. I love this young man more than life can say. Along with the four grandchildren who’ve followed, he’s enriched my life in ways I could never have predicted. This isn’t exactly the sixteenth birthday year I’d hoped…
Read MoreWhen It’s Hard to Sound Upbeat about “The New Normal”
Okay. I’d planned to write an upbeat blog about practicing gratitude. I made up a whole list of things I was grateful for during this crazy time: The courageous medical personnel risking their lives to care for us My amazing husband who still holds my hand when we take our daily walks Thanks to technology,…
Read MoreExcitement in the Midst of Craziness
With millions of Americans stuck at home worried about how they’re going to pay the rent or buy food, it’s been tough to feel upbeat about much of anything. But last night, I experienced a genuine mood-elevator. We got a surprise Face Time call from our five year old grandson. After years of having stories…
Read MoreParents Still Belong on Stage in YA Fiction
Several years ago, when I was first dipping my toes into fiction, I took a children’s writing course in which I wrote a proposal for a young adult novel. The protagonist was a teenager coping with lots of family drama on the home front. Her mother was obsessed with her other daughter’s burgeoning acting career…
Read MoreButt-In-Chair: The Only Prescription that Works for Me
With three deaths in the family over the past few months, not to mention holiday visits with family, my regular writing schedule has unquestionably taken a hit. There have been days and even weeks of interruptions. Each time, as I’ve gotten back to my writing, I’ve noticed a definite pattern: Paralyzing fear about starting back…
Read MoreIn Praise of SWAN (SUPPORT WOMEN ARTISTS NOW)
A couple of years ago, I was honored to be chosen as a participating artist in SWAN (Support Women Artists Now) Day, an annual international celebration of “women’s creativity and gender parity activism” held on the fourth Saturday in March. Louisville’s celebration began in 2008, thanks to the dedication and commitment of playwright Nancy Gall-Clayton…
Read MoreWriting What You Know- Or Want to Know
The other day, I was sitting in a writer’s group getting some feedback on my latest work. A fellow writer turned to me and asked, “Are you always writing about people in the arts?” I realized the answer was “yes.” It wasn’t as though I decided that I was going to make a career out…
Read MoreNo Sooner Had I Written This Blog Than…
I’m starting to think it’s dangerous for me to write glowing blogs. No sooner has the ink dried on the page than I feel like retracting whatever I’ve just written. Take my blog in December about “Why I Love the Holidays.” A few days after I posted it, my mom died. Suddenly, in the midst…
Read MoreThe Course of True Love Isn’t The Only Thing That Doesn’t Run Smooth
Last week, I was thrilled to sign a contract for my third novel, a coming of age romantic mystery. Leisha’s Song is scheduled for publication early next year. Leisha’s story is a project close to my heart, and I wish I could say that the process of finding a publishing home for it was a…
Read MoreOne of Those “A-Ha” Moments
I don ‘t often speak publicly about my faith journey. But recently, my Unitarian Church began including a new component in our Sunday services called “Sharing Our Stories” where we speak about how we found our way to Unitarianism and what it’s meant to us. Recently, it was my turn to speak. The comments below…
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