Mourning with UCC
I managed to lose my phone this morning. When I found it in my son's school parking lot it had already been run over. The screen was crushed, and broken shards of glass threatened to slip from the case. I was irritated, but consoled myself with, “Oh well, does anyone...
read moreEpic Hike to Mystic Lake
Outdoor Enthusiast is an inclusive kind of guy. Like, almost to a fault. Outdoor Enthusiast: I've been experimenting in the kitchen with apples from our backyard. I made my first apple crisp. Friend: Congratulations. That sounds delicious. Outdoor Enthusiast: You and...
read moreHappy Birthday Agatha Christie
When I was in college someone passed on their used Agatha Christie collection to me. Mostly I felt a little indignant when I read the first one. Not because someone had given me used books. (You should know me better than that.) But because I hadn’t been introduced...
read moreThe Reluctant Wife of an Outdoor Enthusiast
I like the outdoors. Really I do. But not like my husband. He can't stand to stay indoors for very long. And by very long I mean more than three minutes. He can't sit still. He gets stir-crazy. I can literally feel the anxious energy, like his sanity is about to...
read moreMystery on the Menu
(All images used are either mine or public domain. There's an unspoken rule about book covers...publishers and authors alike love to have their books promoted as much as possible. So while the artwork is copyrighted, it's also generally considered fair use.) Is there...
read moreNumber One Fan
I don’t have much experience interacting with famous people. The few times it's happened I feel like Chris Farley interviewing Paul McCartney. Chris Farley: Remember when you were with the Beatles? Paul McCartney (laughing): Sure. Sure. Chris Farley: That was awesome....
read moreReading: Creating Opportunities for Magic
The doorbell rings right after breakfast in the summertime. Four pairs of pounding feet rush for the door, trying to be the first to turn the knob. I don't even bother checking the door. It's not for me. Our neighbor has come down to play. The other day this familiar...
read more3 Helpful Resources
I mentioned in an earlier post that I look to other writers to get better at the craft of writing. Here are 3 resources that I've found helpful: On Writing by Stephen King I'm not into the horror that Stephen King writes so I tend to shy away from his work. But can...
read moreStealing Time
One afternoon I was trying to finish up a scene I was working on. I was keeping one eye on the clock, knowing I had to pick up kids from school, and trying to eek out every last minute I had left before running out the door. I was meeting with my critique partner...
read moreShut the Door, Write the Drivel
Reader Ann Marie commented that putting words on a page can have a sense of permanence. She expressed the fears that I think are pretty typical for writers. I could relate anyway. "What if they don’t approve? Why should I care? Augh!" Do you get the same sense of...
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