So cursive is on the way out. Starting next year, North Carolina teachers will no longer have to teach cursive and this change is happening all around the country. Some North Carolina school districts may still teach cursive, but they won’t be required to do so. I think this is fine. Let’s face it. Keyboarding…

Read More

As I pull the suddenly pink towels (and the culprit: a red t-shirt) out of the dryer ($%#%&*#!), I can think of only one topic for Story Weekend. So have at it, folks. What’s your laundry story? If you’re new to Story Weekend, here’s how it works: I pick a theme and you share something…

Read More

I’m rushing around the house today as I try to get organized for a quick getaway to my little place at the beach where a couple of appliances are in need of replacing. Let’s see: I’ve had my beach place two years and this will make  three major appliances I’ve had to replace. Oh, and…

Read More

You may have earned the money to buy it, or it may have been your parents’, or you may have stolen it. Whatever! One way or another, most of us have feelings about our first car. I’d love to hear yours. If you’re new to Story Weekend, here’s how it works: I pick a theme…

Read More

I’m lucky to be surrounded by talented writers here in North Carolina and to count so many of them as my friends. I’d like you to meet one of them, Anne Clinard Barnhill. Anne writes historical fiction and her latest novel is At the Mercy of the Queen, the story of Anne Boleyn’s cousin, Madge. I…

Read More

Sunday night is the Grammy Awards and American Idol is gearing up and I have music on my mind. I thought it would make a good topic for Story Weekend, so here we go. You may interpret the theme any way you like. If you’re new to Story Weekend, here’s how it works: I pick…

Read More

One of my Facebook friends, Stephanie, asked me what actors I’d like to see play my characters in the movie versions of my books. I hasten to add there are no movie versions planned at the moment, but we can fantasize, can’t we? I’d love to know who you think should play some of the…

Read More

Each year, I like to share my favorite reads from the last 12 months. As I looked over the books I read in 2011, two things stood out to me: 1) much of my recent reading has been nonfiction as I research the time and place of my work-in-progress, and 2) I started quite a…

Read More

I can’t believe we haven’t had hair as a Story Weekend topic yet. (Isn’t this a stunner of a photograph? That’s me, in my dreams). Whether “hair” makes you think of childhood perms, fright wigs, your grandma’s snow-white bun or the broadway musical, tell us about it! If you’re new to Story Weekend, here’s how…

Read More