Everyday Stuff
Let's Have a Worry-Free Week
All right, I will settle for a semi-worry-free week. I spend too much time worrying about things. One of my main worries is always the book I’m working on. Will I meet my deadline? Will it please my readers? Will the reviews be good? Will it make any bestseller lists? Etcetera, etcetera. I was thinking…
Read MoreRecipe Reviews Crack Me Up
Even though I have a cupboard full of cookbooks, I often end up turning to the Internet when I want to make dinner. I go to one of the recipe sites, plug in what I have on hand, such as “chicken” “mushrooms” and “basil”, and track down a recipe that sounds good. I print it…
Read MoreLooking Back and Moving Forward
Welcome to 2012, everyone! I want to take this opportunity to tell you what you mean to me. 2011 was a fantastic year for me, career-wise. I’ve been writing a long, long time with the usual ups and downs that accompany most careers, but starting with Target selecting The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes as their…
Read MoreHappy Holidays!
Thanks to everyone who participated in the blog contest, which ended at 10pm EST last night. We had nearly 300 comments! The random number generator picked #156 and that comment belonged to Amber Hauger of Dayton, Ohio and she’s received a $100 gift certificate. Thanks for your enthusiasm, everyone, and especially for sharing the titles…
Read MoreFive Simple Things that Make You Happy
I proclaim today gratitude day. What five simple things make you happy? Here’s my list, both the profound and the not-so-profound: 1. Discovering someone else has unloaded the dishwasher. 2. My computer and car both start up without a hitch. 3. Swinging on a swing. 4. A long, heartfelt phone call from a treasured friend. 5. Waking…
Read MoreStory Weekend: Sneaking a Peek at Gifts
Don’t try to tell me you’ve never done this. You’d better not mention any gifts you’ve investigated for this Christmas or Hanukkah, just to be on the safe side, but I’d love to hear about your checkered pasts. Remember that everyone who comments on my blog before December 23rd at 10 pm EST is in…
Read MoreDecking the Halls!
Every year, Margaret Maron invites our little writers’ coven to her house in the country to gather greenery for our homes. Today was the day and it was perfect: 58 degrees and sunny. Margaret and her granddaughter Natalie took us for a tour through the rosemary, boxwoods, cedars, holly, and nandina in the Maron’s spiffy…
Read MoreLove Sing-Off's A Capella Competition!
http://youtu.be/d-dB8ms5XqQ This post has nothing to do specifically with writing but everything to do with knowing how to entertain, which is what writing fiction is all about, correct ? For the past couple of months, John and I have been watching the Sing-Off on TV, hooked on five kids who call themselves Pentatonix. Have you…
Read MoreStory Weekend: Holiday Magic
Okay, I’m going to admit it. I can’t think of a personal story for this topic, but it was suggested by a friend and I think it’s a good one, so I’m leaving it up to y’all to share your own stories. Remember that anyone who comments on any of my blog posts before December…
Read MoreVisit my Photo Gallery!
As part of my new website design, I’ve updated my photo gallery. Here’s one of my favorite pictures. You can see why I used to be able to dress up as Yoko Ono for Halloween, can’t you? I got a super big kick out of all the comments for Story Weekend this time, which is…
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