First, let me just say this is not a politically driven post. There. Now that we have that out of the way, we can all relax. *deep breath* For those who didn’t watch the 2017 Oscar debacle unfold, no doubt you heard about it. Of course, I’m talking about the evening’s epic fail—the Best Picture mix-up. Or, more specifically, the right Oscar …
Start With Baby Steps… Leap With Faith
There’s nothing more exhilarating than watching our children take their first steps. As any parent will tell you, that milestone also comes with a mixed bag of emotion. While those baby steps excite us, we realize we’re on the verge of something new—something thrilling, yet scary, too. We no longer have an infant on our hands. We now have a …
Upcoming Fun on the Blog
While some parts of the country are knee-deep in snow and bone-chilling cold, here in the Ozarks we can’t complain. Today in my little niche the sun’s shining with a projected high of fifty degrees. Fifty degrees. In fact, forecasts predict a nice round of upper sixties for the next ten days or so. Ahh. Spring fever, here I come! Of course, …
Should Writers Write the Stories of Their Hearts?
Oh, my goodness. I wondered if I should even broach this on the blog today. So much has been said about writers writing to trends versus writers writing the stories of their hearts, it seems a little redundant to add to the chatter. But you know me. I thought another perspective might be fun. So here we go. Let’s dive …
How Newsletters Impact Our Readers
It’s great to be back with you! If you’re a member of my newsletter family, please check your inboxes. Newsletters went to subscribers yesterday, and you don’t want to miss all the great content. Hint: Be sure you’ve added my newsletter e-mail address to your contacts so I don’t mistakenly go to your spam folder. Not a subscriber yet? No …
Blog Break ~ See You Again February 3, 2017
As I do occasionally, I’ve scheduled some time off from blogging. After 700 + posts over the past six years, I’ve come to realize how important blog breaks are. Breaks allow me to work on manuscripts, consider new blog content, and rest for a bit. I’ll also put the finishing touches on next month’s newsletter so if you’ve subscribed to my …
Four Reasons to Take the High Road
Words, harsh and scathing, rained down my Twitter feed. Facebook fared no better. Name-calling, belief-bashing, and general unkindness seemed to be the order of the day. I scratched my head and slugged back another cup of joe. Oh, goodness, gracious me. All the hot, strong, black java in the world couldn’t make me un-see the rant-filled commentary that clogged my …
My Top 10 Relaxing Blog Posts
Today as we gear down for the weekend, I thought it might be fun to share my Top 10 Relaxing Blog posts. I’ve included some nuggets of encouragement, as well as thoughts to coax a smile and a pleasant memory or two. If you like something you read, I hope you’ll pass along to others. Enjoy and have a great …
Five Ways We Can Love Better
I don’t remember ever saying “I hate you.” My parents discouraged those three words in our home and we tried to raise our children with the same mindset. Love the person. Hate the act. Now, there are things I dislike. Okay—hate, even. Things like… Processed cheese. Black licorice. Paisley prints. Cat puke. A dripping faucet. Price rollbacks that really aren’t. …
Writing, Winter, and Ice… OH, MY!
Well, for those who are wondering— What they say about the Ozarks is true. If you’re tired of the weather one day, stick around. Weather here changes on a dime. For instance, on Wednesday my car registered seventy-two degrees. Yesterday? Not even half that. And today… Today it seems we are in for a get-your-blood-pumping-and-slip-on-your-long johns kind of day. In …